Antron Brown raced to his third win of the season at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals and takes over the points lead from Doug Kalitta. Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Robert Hight (Funny Car) also took home wins in the Lone Star state. Brown defeated Pomona winner Khalid alBalooshi for his second win at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.
Bob Vandergriff Jr. described his victory a year ago at Royal Purple Raceway as having a touch of Hollywood. It’s not often that sequels are held in higher regard than the original in the movie industry, but the Top Fuel standout hopes the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 25–27, at Royal Purple Raceway provides the rare exception.
The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT).
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, A SPECTACLE LIKE NO OTHER: Without question, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, now in its fifth year, presents one of the most powerful sights and sounds on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. It marks the fifth of 24 events during the 2014 season and takes place April 11–13 at zMAX Dragway, Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of Drag Strips.” The world’s top racers will once again try to stay out in front, where cars race four-wide at the world’s only four-lane, all-concrete drag strip. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (PSM) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster enter the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas as one of the toughest Top Fuel cars on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing circuit. Their hot streak to start the 2014 season includes two No. 1 qualifying positions, two final-round appearances and one victory in a three-race stretch. Kalitta and all the Top Fuel racers will attempt to break the bank at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, March 28–30.
Allen Johnson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1 seed for the second time in his career as the special event takes center stage March 29 during the 15th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A $50,000 prize is on the table for the winner with a total purse of $76,000 for the eight drivers competing in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.
Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Matt Smith will lead the two-wheel category into its first race of the season this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Several riders are expected to challenge Smith for the PSM crown this season, including Andrew Hines, Eddie Krawiec, Hector Arana Jr., Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Sr., Michael Ray, Chaz Kennedy and John Hall among others.
Matt Smith Racing has entered into a multirace agreement with Stockseth Racing and Nitro Fish, which will include associate sponsorship for the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and five races each as the primary sponsor for two-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith.
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