The Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoff series, opens Sept. 13-15 at spectacular zMAX Dragway, Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio” of dragstrips.
The kick off race for this season’s world championship battle for the top 10 drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, promises to provide three action-packed days of the fastest accelerating machines on the planet. In past seasons, this pristine dragstrip in North Carolina’s Queen City has produced incredible record-setting performances, like Top Fuel driver Spencer Massey’s exciting national- and track-record run of 332.18 mph, Funny Car driver Matt Hagan’s impressive milestone run of 3.995 seconds in 2011, and Mike Edwards’ incredible Pro Stock run of 6.471 seconds in April this season.
Every Countdown-eligible driver knows that the path to claiming a world championship title starts here and they will be pushing the limits to hoist a coveted Wally trophy at the sixth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the first of six races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s postseason playoffs. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.
Last season, current points leader Langdon earned his first professional victory in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster against seven-time world champion and driver of the U.S. Army dragster, Tony Schumacher. In Funny Car, veteran driver Capps claimed his fourth win of the season. Line (Pro Stock) and Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) kept their title bids alive by defeating respective points leaders Allen Johnson and Eddie Krawiec. The event is the first of what will be a grueling four straight weekends of Countdown racing that lasts until the first week of October.
There are a lot of drivers who are certifiably hot as the Countdown approaches this season. In Top Fuel, Langdon and Schumacher have been passing the baton back and forth in the No. 1 and 2 spots. But numerous contenders have been picking up crucial wins including Schumacher Electric Battery Extender driver and two-time Charlotte champ Massey and defending world champion and a former zMAX winner Antron Brown. Others seeking a victory at zMAX include Langdon’s Al-Anabi teammate Khalid alBalooshi, GEICO/Lucas Oil driver Morgan Lucas, Mac Tools dragster veteran Doug Kalitta, C&J Energy Services driver Bob Vandergriff Jr. and Capco Contractors driver Steve Torrence.
“Our class just gets stronger and stronger each and every year,” said the reigning Top Fuel world champ, Brown. “It’s a dogfight just to be in the top 10, to make the Countdown. I guarantee you, we have anywhere between 14 and 16 cars on any given Sunday that can win a race in Top Fuel. Our main goal is to focus and to contend for another championship. It’s definitely going to be 10 times harder than it was last time because everybody is throwing their best shot at us.”
Virgina cattle rancher Hagan is plowing through the Funny Car field and became the first to clinch a seat in the Countdown as well as hold on to the No. 1 spot since Englishtown in May. But former zMAX dragway champs are eager to knock Hagan off his saddle, including defending world champion Jack Beckman, two-time zMAX winner Robert Hight, NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driver Capps, and Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry driver Cruz Pedregon, who is currently No. 2 in the points standings.
The Pro Stock category, one of the hardest-fought classes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, has been led all season by three-time zMAX champ Edwards in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. A tough pack of championship contenders in the 200 mph category includes defending world champion Allen Johnson, his Dodge Avenger teammates JEGS.com/Mopar driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Mountain View Tire driver Vincent Nobile, who won back-to-back races at Sonoma and Seattle during the Western Swing. Others to watch include Gray Motorsports driver Shane Gray and local favorites and past champs Jason Line and his teammate, Greg Anderson, the winningest pro driver in zMAX Dragway.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. has won four races this season and is ready to start adding to his win total when it counts the most – in the Countdown playoffs. But a pool of talented riders wants nothing more than to run well in the playoffs including former zMAX winners Matt Smith and Hector Arana Sr., both of whom have clinched berths in the Countdown to the Championship. Other favorites in the two-wheel class are Michael Ray, John Hall, Scotty Pollacheck and rookie Adam Arana.
The NHRA Carolina Nationals is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. In addition to all of the drama and excitement going on in the Countdown playoffs, fans will also enjoy a brilliant night qualifying show on Friday, some powerful exhibition runs by two jet dragsters and an incredible fireworks display to close out Friday’s racing.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. No other sport offer fans an up close and personal experience like NHRA. Fans can stand close by as teams warm up their high-horsepower machines prior to each run.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where manufacturers and sponsors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
Be a part of the action all weekend with a 3-Day Pass to the NHRA Carolina Nationals. Purchase a 3-day package for just $99. Bring the kids along for an even better ticket offer: Children 13 and younger will receive free general admission with a paid adult all weekend.
NHRA Carolina Nationals qualifying opens on Friday, Sept. 13, with sessions at 4:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Sept. 14, at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
To purchase tickets, call zMAX Dragway at 800-455-FANS (3267) or visit www.zMAXdragway.com. For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
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NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: Sixth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the first of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: zMAX Dragway- Track is located on Hwy 29 off I-85 at exit 49 (Speedway Blvd.) in the Concord, N.C. area.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Sept. 13-15
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:30 and 6:15 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:15 and 6:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2 p.m.; first round of eliminations at 4:15 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at noon.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Sept. 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD, TBA (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 15, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
2012 EVENT WINNERS: Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.749 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ’12; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12.
Funny Car – 3.995 seconds by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’11; 322.27 mph by Hagan, Sept. ’11.
Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ’13; 213.91 mph by Line, April ’12.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.810 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, Sept. ’11; 196.79 mph by Krawiec, Sept. ’11.
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car – 3.986 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 320.58 mph by Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ’13, Charlotte, N.C.; 214.35 mph by Jason Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: Order tickets by phone at (800) 455-FANS. Tickets also are available online atwww.zmaxdragway.com.