FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals This Weekend
FRAM AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 18th annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals,
presented by Supercuts, the 15th 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 six categories earn points
leading to 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. The track is located
at Highways 37 and 121.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 29-31
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.5 million.
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 29 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations
begin at 8:15 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:45 and 6:45
p.m.
SATURDAY, July 30 -- Sportsman eliminations begin
at 8:15 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 31 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin
at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION: Saturday, July 30, ESPN2 will televise two hours of
qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 31, ESPN2 will televise three hours of
eliminations coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, July 29, 11:30-midnight a.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R /
Transponder 24 K (12184 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, July 30, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R
/ Transponder 24 K (12184 MHz, horizontal)
Monday, Aug. 1, 12:30-1 a.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R /
Transponder 24 K (12184 MHz, horizontal)
2004 EVENT
WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Greg
Anderson, Pro Stock; Angelle Sampey, Pro Stock Motorcycle
TRACK
RECORDS: Top Fuel -- 4.531 seconds, by Doug Kalitta, Aug. '03; 325.85
mph, by Tony Schumacher, Aug. '04
Funny Car -- 4.814 seconds by John Force, Aug. '03;
322.42 mph by Force, Aug. '04
Pro Stock -- 6.693 seconds, by Greg Anderson, Aug.
'04; 206.42 mph by Jason Line, Aug. '04
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 7.048 seconds by Angelle
Sampey, Aug. '04; 196.13 mph by Andrew Hines, Aug. '04
NATIONAL Top Fuel -- 4.441 sec. (Oct. '03, Reading, Pa.) by Tony
Schumacher; 336.15 mph (May '05, Hebron, Ohio) by Schumacher
RECORDS: Funny Car -- 4.665 sec., 333.58 mph (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.)
by John Force
Pro Stock -- 6.633 sec., 208.23 mph (March '05,
Gainesville, Fla.) by Greg Anderson
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.991 sec., 197.45 mph
(March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) by Andrew Hines
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 870-RACE (7223). Tickets also are
available at ticketmaster.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $35; Junior (6-12
years), $10. Saturday: Adult, $45; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Sunday:
Adult, $50; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Child (5 years and under), free in
general admission and pit areas each day.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $45; Junior (6-12
years), $20; Child (5 years and younger), $10. Saturday: Adult, $55;
Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and under), $10. Sunday: Adult,
$60; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $15.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications Dept., (626) 914-4761
BROWN AND SAMPEY AMONG TOP CONTENDERS FOR POWERADE SERIES WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP AS TALENTED PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FIELD RACES INTO INFINEON
SONOMA, Calif. - With half of the 15-race season complete, less than 90
points separate the top six contenders for the NHRA POWERade world
championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The seventh rider is only 104
points out of the lead.
What has become a nail-biting professional eliminator in 2005, Pro Stock
Motorcycle is shaping up to offer a breathtaking points finish. Seven
different riders have accounted for victories in the first eight events.
The current series points leader, GT Tonglet, holds a one point
advantage over second place rider Antron Brown. The category's only
two-time winner this season, Ryan Schnitz, is only a few rounds out of
the top spot and charging fast on his Team Muzzy Buell. The defending
series champion, Andrew Hines, hasn't won a race yet on his Screamin'
Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, but has managed to firmly position
himself in the top five for most of the season.
"Right now the competition is unreal," said Brown, who has posted two
runner-up finishes in addition to a victory at Englishtown, N.J. "The
field is at least seven-deep, and realistically more than that. If you
don't have your act together on race day, you are going to go home
early."
Brown and his U.S. Army Suzuki teammate, Angelle Sampey, a three-time
world champion and defending Infineon winner, will lead the two-wheel
warriors into action at the 18th annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals,
July 29-31 at Infineon Raceway. The $1.5 million race, which will be
televised on ESPN2, is the 15th of 23 events in the POWERade Drag Racing
Series and the ninth of 15 for Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors.
Sampey, the winningest female racer in NHRA history with 36 victories,
agrees with Brown.
"There's really no room for error," Sampey said. "The rider of the most
consistent bike is going to win every race because the competition is so
close. I am just so thankful to be one of the winners. We won a race and
went from ninth to third in the points just like that. That just shows
you how tough the competition is this year."
In last year's Pro Stock Motorcycle final round at Infineon, Sampey
defeated Brown in a memorable final round meeting. In fact, she has beat
her teammate four times in final round appearances, including this
season at St. Louis. The two ultra-competitive riders are good friends
away from the track, and through their friendship like to have a little
fun with personal wagers whenever they square off against each other in
eliminations.
"We push each other so hard," Brown said. "And we always have a little
side bet riding on each race when we meet head-to-head. At St. Louis
when she beat me in the final I had to pamper her, help her up the steps
and fan her. I can tell you that was no fun. When she loses the bet she
is going to be in serious trouble."
Sampey says that Brown usually beats her if they meet in early
elimination rounds, but for some reason she has found the edge in their
final round encounters.
"We are very close away from the track; he's like my brother," Sampey
said. "But for some reason when we race I usually do very well against
him, especially in final rounds. I think it's because I don't feel any
pressure because I know no matter what the U.S. Army team is going to
win."
And speaking of winning, both riders say just attending the
event in the beautiful Sonoma wine country is a win-win situation for
every Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor, no matter the outcome on the
track.
"I love Sonoma because it's a bikers race track," Brown
said. "We have a large turnout of fans there who really love Pro Stock
Motorcycle racing. Last year we ran really quick all weekend, so you
know it's a fast race track. Besides that it's just a really cool place
to go."
Said Sampey: "The support the bikes get from the fans at Sonoma is
great. Not only is it an awesome track with two really smooth and equal
lanes, is one of my favorite places to visit on the circuit because
there's so much to do away from the racetrack."
But before the two can enjoy all that the Bay Area has to offer, they
have a little work to attend to at Infineon Raceway.
"We want to be consistent and take it round by round to try
and win the championship," Brown said. "Having two bikes out there
really helps because with each run we get double the information (track
data). Hopefully that will help us down the stretch to gain an edge
because the competition isn't going to let up."
In Top Fuel, defending event winner Doug Kalitta has posted four
victories in his Mac Tools dragster during his career at Infineon
Raceway, including three in a row from 1998-2000. Other drivers to watch
include points leader Tony Schumacher in his U.S. Army dragster, Seattle
winner Brandon Bernstein in his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster and Miller
Lite dragster driver Larry Dixon, whose crew chief Dick LaHaie is the
man to beat when the temperatures soar. Kalitta's teammates - two time
series champ Scott Kalitta and recent first-time winner Dave Grubnic -
also may figure into the final round eliminations picture on Sunday at
Infineon.
Other defending event winners include Tim Wilkerson in Funny Car and
Greg Anderson in Pro Stock.
Rookie driver Robert Hight is leading the series standings in Funny Car,
while his boss and teammate John Force is working hard to earn a 14th
world championship crown. Past Infineon winners Gary Scelzi and Ron
Capps, along with Seattle winner Eric Medlen and Winternationals winner
Tommy Johnson Jr. also are among the favorites.
Anderson, who became the first Pro Stock driver to sweep the Western
Swing here last year, hopes to add another win to his trophy case here
in 2005. Series points leader Warren Johnson, who will retire from
full-time driving at the end of the season, hopes to make his last stop
at Infineon a special one. Other Pro Stock favorites include Dave
Connolly, Jason Line, Seattle winner Kurt Johnson, Jim Yates and Jeg
Coughlin.
SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:45 p.m.
on July 29. Qualifying continues at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 30. Final
eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on July 31.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.
Call Infineon Raceway at (800) 870-RACE (7223) for ticket information,
or check online at ticketmaster.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying of the
FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at 8 p.m. (ET) on July 30. ESPN2 will
televise three hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 9 p.m.
(ET) on July 31.
ON THE WEB: Quick access to NHRA media relations department
press releases, electronic images and other information is available on
the Internet at http://media.nhra.com.
2005 NHRA POWERADE POINT STANDINGS
(Following 14 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing
Series)
UPDATED 7/24/2005 (Victories in parentheses)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver
Points
1. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (4)
1,062
2. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (3)
1,019
3. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite/Ameriquest dragster
(2) 934
4. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., Zantrex-3 dragster (1)
917
5. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil/Keystone dragster
892
6. Brandon Bernstein, Indianapolis, Budweiser/Lucas Oil
dragster (2) 861
7. Scott Kalitta, Snead Island, Fla., Mac Tools/Jesse James
dragster (2) 730
8. Doug Herbert, Cornelius, N.C., Snap-on Tools dragster
700
9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM AirHog dragster
686
10. Scott Weis, Ashland, Va., Barrett Enterprises dragster
519
FUNNY CAR
1. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern
Calif. Ford Mustang (2) 989
2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Start Up Ford
Mustang (4) 905
3. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T
(2) 894
4. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T (1)
844
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (1) 806
6. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang (1)
774
7. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T
(2) 760
8. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Advance Auto Parts
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 747
9. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1) 667
10. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 649
PRO STOCK
1. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., GM Performance Parts
Pontiac (3) 1,063
2. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment
Pontiac GTO (3) 1,034
3. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac
(3) 998
4. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (2)
955
5. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Skull Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (2)
930
6. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevrolet
703
7. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus
R/T 694
8. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T
664
9. Jim Yates, Occoquan, Va., Yates Racing Pontiac
650
10. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Chevrolet
648
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following eight of 15 events)
1. GT Tonglet, New Orleans, Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle
Harley-Davidson (1) 565
2. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki (1)
564
3. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Muzzys.com Buell V-Twin (2)
516
4. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle
Harley-Davidson 497
5. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (1)
487
6. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., G-Squared S&S Buell V-Twin (1)
479
7. Craig Treble, Hensley, Ark., Matco Tools Suzuki
461
8. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki (1)
454
9. Geno Scali, Chicago, Trim-Tex Drywall Products Suzuki
425
10. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki
(1) 418
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John Cardinale
VP of Media/Community Relations
Infineon Raceway
Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476
wk: 707-933-3907
cell: 707-334-9805
