LANGDON, C. FORCE, NOBILE TAKE SEASON-OPENING WINS: Courtney
Force raced to victory in Funny Car last Sunday at the O’Reilly Auto
Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto
Club Raceway at Pomona. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Vincent Nobile (Pro
Stock) also were winners at the first of 24 events in the 2013 NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Force, 24, powered her Traxxas Ford
Mustang past NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driver Ron Capps with a pass
of 4.025 seconds at 317.12 mph to earn her second career victory. In Top
Fuel, Langdon, 30, drove his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to the win with
his pass of 3.721 at 322.27, defeating seven-time champion Tony
Schumacher and the U.S. Army team. In front of a hometown crowd, Langdon
said his second victory is so much sweeter than the first. Nobile, 21,
rounded out the youngest trio to ever share the podium at an NHRA
national event by taking the Pro Stock title over Jeg Coughlin Jr. Visit
www.nhra.com for more on this story.
Holley has announced that Holley LS Fest 2013 will be held September
6–8. This will be the fourth year that Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling
Green, Kentucky, has been the venue for the all-LS celebration of
performance and handling.
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the Top Truck Challenge (TTC) again this year as an official sponsor. This year marks the 21st year for this annual event produced by Four Wheeler magazine, held in June in Hollister, California.
2013 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Anticipates Huge Crowd
According to Donna Garlits, general manager and CFO of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, demand for tickets has been high for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame’s latest class induction dinner and ceremony, presented by the National Hot Rod Association and Summit Racing Equipment. The event is to be held March 14 at the Gainesville, Florida, Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites.
According to Donna Garlits, general manager and CFO of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, demand for tickets has been high for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame’s latest class induction dinner and ceremony, presented by the National Hot Rod Association and Summit Racing Equipment. The event is to be held March 14 at the Gainesville, Florida, Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites.
NEWS NUGGETS
SCHUMACHER COMMITS TO THIRD TOP FUELER WITH FULL SPONSORSHIP FROM SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC CORP.: Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), with financial backing from Don Schumacher's Schumacher Electric Corp., will start the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with the same number of teams it ended with last year, including the third-ranked Top Fuel team. In addition to reigning world champion Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team and Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team, which finished seven points behind Brown last season, DSR will field a third team with crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler and driver Spencer Massey when the season begins February 14–17, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Pomona. The dragster that finished last season ranked third in points with four event titles will carry the banner of Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher. The status of DSR’s third-ranked team from last year was left in limbo for 2013 when longtime NHRA and DSR sponsor FRAM/Prestone opted last summer to not continue motorsports sponsorships upon the conclusion of the 2012 season. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.
SCHUMACHER COMMITS TO THIRD TOP FUELER WITH FULL SPONSORSHIP FROM SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC CORP.: Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), with financial backing from Don Schumacher's Schumacher Electric Corp., will start the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with the same number of teams it ended with last year, including the third-ranked Top Fuel team. In addition to reigning world champion Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team and Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team, which finished seven points behind Brown last season, DSR will field a third team with crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler and driver Spencer Massey when the season begins February 14–17, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Pomona. The dragster that finished last season ranked third in points with four event titles will carry the banner of Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher. The status of DSR’s third-ranked team from last year was left in limbo for 2013 when longtime NHRA and DSR sponsor FRAM/Prestone opted last summer to not continue motorsports sponsorships upon the conclusion of the 2012 season. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.
NEWS NUGGETS
COUNTDOWN IS ON TO NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES 2013 OPENER: The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Southern California and historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17. With kids 12 and younger allowed into general admission seating for free with a paying adult, this family-friendly event is one of the gems at the venerable Los Angeles County Fairplex. The season-opening event of what promises to be an action-packed 24-race schedule will be the perfect opportunity for dedicated NHRA fans to reconnect with their favorite drivers and continue to make memories they will carry with them for a lifetime. Many drivers will be sporting new sponsors, paint schemes and new crewmembers, and this event will allow fans to see the new combinations early in the competitive season. Fans will also be treated to a sensory-overload environment with the sights and sounds of the tradition-rich event as drivers rocket down the track at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to join the list of O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals winners.
COUNTDOWN IS ON TO NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES 2013 OPENER: The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Southern California and historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17. With kids 12 and younger allowed into general admission seating for free with a paying adult, this family-friendly event is one of the gems at the venerable Los Angeles County Fairplex. The season-opening event of what promises to be an action-packed 24-race schedule will be the perfect opportunity for dedicated NHRA fans to reconnect with their favorite drivers and continue to make memories they will carry with them for a lifetime. Many drivers will be sporting new sponsors, paint schemes and new crewmembers, and this event will allow fans to see the new combinations early in the competitive season. Fans will also be treated to a sensory-overload environment with the sights and sounds of the tradition-rich event as drivers rocket down the track at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to join the list of O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals winners.
WeatherTech Racing Audi R8 Wins GT Title in Rolex 24 at Daytona
The WeatherTech Audi R8 GRAND-AM racing team of Felipe Albuquerque (Portugal), Oliver Jarvis (England), Eduardo Mortara (Italy) and Dion von Moltke (Coral Gables, Florida) won the GT class of the 51st GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The WeatherTech Audi R8 GRAND-AM racing team of Felipe Albuquerque (Portugal), Oliver Jarvis (England), Eduardo Mortara (Italy) and Dion von Moltke (Coral Gables, Florida) won the GT class of the 51st GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Amalie Oil Co. has agreed to a multi-year title-rights sponsorship of
the NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. The Amalie
Oil NHRA Gatornationals is scheduled for March 14–17, and is the third
event in the 24-race 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Toyo Tires Racers Capture Six Stage Wins and 13 Podiums During the 2013 Dakar
Toyo Tires racers captured six stage wins and a total of 13 podiums during the running of the 2013 Dakar, which completed its final stage this past weekend. Running from Lima, Peru, to Santiago, Chile, the roughly 5,000-mile, 14-stage rally wound its way south along the Pacific Coast, while sweeping inland through parts of Argentina. Competitors were challenged with extreme off-highway conditions, which included huge sand dunes, rock-strewn desert roads, deep river crossings and treks through high mountains.
Toyo Tires racers captured six stage wins and a total of 13 podiums during the running of the 2013 Dakar, which completed its final stage this past weekend. Running from Lima, Peru, to Santiago, Chile, the roughly 5,000-mile, 14-stage rally wound its way south along the Pacific Coast, while sweeping inland through parts of Argentina. Competitors were challenged with extreme off-highway conditions, which included huge sand dunes, rock-strewn desert roads, deep river crossings and treks through high mountains.
NEWS NUGGETS
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR 2013 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS AT AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA: Tickets for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17—the season-opening event of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series—are going fast. NHRA’s season-opening event will be contested at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and will be every NHRA fan’s first opportunity to see all of the new cars and paint schemes and meet all of the drivers who will be racing at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to become O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals champions. A win at this event can mean great momentum as drivers chase NHRA Mello Yello world championship glory during the 24-event season that crisscrosses the United States. All of the stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, including defending Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein; Funny Car fan favorites “Fast Jack” Beckman, Ron Capps, Courtney Force and 15-time champ John Force; and defending Pro Stock world champ Allen Johnson, four-time champ Greg Anderson and four-time 2012 winner Erica Enders. To purchase general-admission, reserved-seat or Top Eliminator Club tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets for children 12 and younger are free in general admission with any paid adult ticket.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR 2013 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS AT AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA: Tickets for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17—the season-opening event of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series—are going fast. NHRA’s season-opening event will be contested at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and will be every NHRA fan’s first opportunity to see all of the new cars and paint schemes and meet all of the drivers who will be racing at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to become O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals champions. A win at this event can mean great momentum as drivers chase NHRA Mello Yello world championship glory during the 24-event season that crisscrosses the United States. All of the stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, including defending Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein; Funny Car fan favorites “Fast Jack” Beckman, Ron Capps, Courtney Force and 15-time champ John Force; and defending Pro Stock world champ Allen Johnson, four-time champ Greg Anderson and four-time 2012 winner Erica Enders. To purchase general-admission, reserved-seat or Top Eliminator Club tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets for children 12 and younger are free in general admission with any paid adult ticket.