NHRA NEWS: DENVER ADVANCE PACKAGE
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, the
13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Professional competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2005
NHRA POWERade Series world championships.
Sportsman competitors in four categories
earn points leading to 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world
championships.
WHERE: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colo. The track is 10
miles west of Denver just north of the historic town of Morrison. From
Denver, take Interstate 70 west to C-470 and travel south to the
Morrison Road exit. Take Morrison Road west to Rooney Road and go north
to the track.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 15-17.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.8
million.
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 15 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations
begin at 9 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4:15 and
7:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 16 -- Sportsman eliminations
begin at 9 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 and 6 p.m.
(Saturday's first session of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle is
scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m.)
SUNDAY, July 17 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin
at noon.
TELEVISION: Saturday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise two hours of
qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise three
hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise NHRA
2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Saturday, July 15, 11:30 p.m. -- Midnight (ET) - SBS 6
/ Transponder 5 (Downlink frequency: 11823 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, July 16, 10:30 -- 11 p.m. (ET)
-SBS 6 / Transponder 5 (Downlink frequency: 11823 MHz, horizontal)
Monday, July 18, 12:30 -- 1 a.m. (ET) - SBS
6 / Transponder 5 (Downlink frequency: 11823 MHz, horizontal)
2004 EVENT Scott Kalitta, Top Fuel; Phil Burkart Jr., Funny Car;
Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Shawn Gann, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
WINNERS:
TRACK
RECORDS: Top Fuel -- 4.584 seconds by Joe Amato, July '99; 318.54
mph by Amato, July '99
Funny Car -- 4.842 seconds by Whit Bazemore,
July '04; 318.24 mph by Eric Medlen, July '04
Pro Stock -- 7.159 seconds by Greg Anderson,
July '04; 193.40 mph by Steve Johns, July '04
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 7.509 seconds by
Andrew Hines, July '04; 185.66 mph by Hines, July '04
NATIONAL Top Fuel -- 4.441 sec. (Oct. '03, Reading, Pa.) and
336.15 mph (May '05, Columbus, Ohio) by Tony Schumacher
RECORDS: Funny Car -- 4.665 sec. (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.) and
333.58 mph (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.) by John Force.
Pro Stock -- 6.633 sec. (March '05,
Gainesville, Fla.) and 208.23 mph (March '05, Gainesville, Fla.)by Greg
Anderson.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.991 sec. (March
'05, Gainesville, Fla.) and 197.45 mph (March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) by
Andrew Hines.
TICKETS: For tickets call Bandimere Speedway, (303) 697-6001
or (800) 664-UWIN.Tickets also are available at Ticketmaster, or online
at ticketmaster.com and nhra.com.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $35-$45; Youth (12
years & under), $15-$20. Saturday: Adult, $35-$45; Youth (12 years &
under), $15-$20. Sunday: Adult, $45-$55; Youth (12 & and under),
$20-$25.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761.
COLORADO NATIVE MELANIE TROXEL RETURNS TO NHRA'S FASTEST CLASS WITH DON
SCHUMACHER RACING
MORRISON, Colo. -- It's been almost two years since Melanie Troxel
piloted a Top Fuel dragster in competition. Now she's set to make her
return to the category as the ninth driver in the Don Schumacher Racing
stable - and she'll debut her Torco Gear dragster in her home state.
Troxel, 32, began drag racing in the Top Alcohol ranks, where she earned
two NHRA national event victories in 1999 for a second place finish in
the point standings. She competed in 10 events in a Top Fuel dragster
for Schumacher in 2000, earning one runner-up finish, and competed in
select events in 2002 and 2003.
Then came a hiatus that was longer than Troxel expected, but despite her
time away from driving, Troxel thinks her skill behind the NHRA's
fastest machines will come back as soon as she stages for her first pass
at the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway,
July 15-17. The $1.8 million event is the 13th of 23 events in the $50
million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Troxel is excited to make her "re-debut" where she grew up in the
suburbs of Denver, backed with the support of the largest team to
compete in the NHRA series. Troxel's new teammate, two-time and
defending Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, is second in the
point standings behind Doug Kalitta after 12 events. Tony, Don
Schumacher's son, has three wins thus far this season.
"It's an incredible team," said Troxel, who will compete in the same
driver's cockpit she used in 2000. "Just the talent and resources they
have out there, there's nobody in the sport that can match that. Tony's
team is tough. It's great to be a teammate of theirs and kind of go out
and match the success they've had."
Troxel, who was recently released as a development driver from Don
Prudhomme Racing, lives in Avon, Ind. with husband and Funny Car driver
Tommy Johnson Jr.
Don Schumacher Racing now includes nine entries: two Top Fuel dragsters
driven by Tony Schumacher and Troxel; three Funny Cars driven by Ron
Capps, Whit Bazemore and Gary Scelzi; two Pro Stock cars driven by Jeg
Coughlin Jr. and Richie Stevens Jr.; and two Pro Stock Motorcycles
driven by U.S. Army teammates Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey.
The bike duo dominated the two events before the Mopar Mile-High NHRA
Nationals, with wins at Englishtown (Brown) and St. Louis (Sampey). Both
will look to notch another win for Schumacher Racing at Brandimere in
the highly competitive category that has sent seven different drivers to
the winner's circle in seven events this season.
While Troxel makes her first bid for a win this season in
Top Fuel, Budweiser-backed Brandon Bernstein is eager for victory No. 2
after snapping a 26-race drought with a win at St. Louis last month.
Larry Dixon and Cory McClenathan are both two-time winners at Bandimere.
Drivers in the Funny Car class will look to gain ground on
front man John Force, a 13-time world champion and fan-favorite, who
with four wins on the season is leading the chase by 55 points ahead of
rival Gary Scelzi. Scelzi has won two events in 2005 with his
Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T.
Pro Stock leaders include Greg Anderson and Jason Line, who
sit atop the standings with three victories each on the season. "The
Professor" Warren Johnson, a six-time Pro Stock world champion and drag
racing guru who will retire from full-time driving after this season, is
third in points.
* Coors, Kalitta Motorsports join to honor film "Smokey and the
Bandit"
Fans will be transported back to 1977 when Scott Kalitta, defending and
three-time Top Fuel winner at Bandimere, rolls up to the starting line
in his Coors/Mac Tools/Jesse James Top Fuel dragster. Jesse James, host
of the Disney Channel's Monster Garage and co-sponsor of Kalitta's ride,
teamed up with Coors to design a special paint scheme for Kalitta's ride
in commemoration of the company's involvement in the motion picture
"Smokey and the Bandit."
"Jesse James recreated the car from the movie, West Coast
Choppers-style," said Gerry O'Brion, of Coors. "Now the dragster brings
his design to life in a car with even more horsepower."
Kalitta's adaptation of Burt Reynold's famed black Trans Am will be on
display from 2 to 4 p.m. at Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colo. and 5
to 7 p.m. at In The Zone Sports Bar on July 13.
"It should be a blast for us and the fans," Kalitta said.
"This is a great opportunity for Coors and our Kalitta Motorsports team
to bring the excitement of NHRA drag racing to the Rocky Mountains and
beyond."
Kalitta has won twice this season - at Pomona's
Winternationals and recently at Joliet, Ill.
SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are set for 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. on July
15. Qualifying continues at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 16 on Saturday,
with the first sessions of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at 10:15
a.m. Final eliminations start at noon on July 17, with pre-race
ceremonies set for 11 a.m.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.
Call Bandimere Speedway at (303) 697-6001 or (800) 664-UWIN, or check
online at ticketmaster.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
coverage of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at 8 p.m. (ET) on July
16. ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. on July
17. ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine
show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on July 17.
ON THE WEB: Quick access to NHRA media relations department
press releases, electronic images and other information is available on
the Internet at media.nhra.com.
2005 NHRA POWERADE SERIES POINT STANDINGS
(Following 12 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing
Series)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver
Points
1. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (3)
891
2. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (3)
848
3. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite/Ameriquest dragster
(2) 820
4. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., Zantrex-3 dragster (1)
792
5. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil/Keystone dragster
741
6. Brandon Bernstein, Indianapolis, Budweiser/Lucas Oil
dragster (1) 710
7. Scott Kalitta, Snead Island, Fla., Mac Tools/Jesse James
dragster (2) 643
8. Doug Herbert, Cornelius, N.C., Snap-on Tools dragster
615
9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM AirHog dragster
580
10. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., Barrett Enterprises dragster
457
FUNNY CAR
1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Start Up Ford
Mustang (4) 837
2. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T
(2) 782
3. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern
California Ford Mustang (1) 775
4. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T (1)
756
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (1) 679
6. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Advance Auto Parts
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 664
7. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T
(2) 632
8. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang
624
9. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1) 579
10. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 564
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment
Pontiac (3) 941
2. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac
(3) 926
3. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., GM Performance Parts
Pontiac (2) 913
4. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Torco Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (2)
807
5. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (1)
763
6. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T
596
7. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus
R/T 570
8. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Chevrolet
563
9. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevrolet
558
10. Jim Yates, Occoquan, Va., Yates Racing Pontiac
528
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following seven of 15 events)
1. GT Tonglet, New Orleans, Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle
Harley-Davidson (1) 511
2. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki (1)
472
3. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (1)
455
4. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle
Harley-Davidson 439
5. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki (1)
421
6. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., G-Squared S&S Buell V-Twin (1)
402
7. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Muzzys.com Buell V-Twin (1)
400
8. Geno Scali, Chicago, Trim-Tex Drywall Products Suzuki
393
9. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki
(1) 387
Craig Treble, Hensley, Ark., Matco Tools Suzuki
387
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