NHRA NEWS: PHOENIX ADVANCE PACKAGE

CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS presented by CASTROL FACT SHEET

WHAT:	22nd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by
Castrol, the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series. Professional competitors in three categories earn points
leading to 2006 NHRA POWERade Series world championships. Sportsman
competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2006 NHRA Lucas
Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located
off Interstate 10 from the north at exit 162A (Maricopa). From the
south, take exit 162 (Maricopa). Follow the signs.

WHEN:	Friday through Sunday, Feb. 24-26.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.5 million.

SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, Feb. 24 -- Sportsman qualifying begins at 8 a.m. 
	PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

	SATURDAY, Feb. 25 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin
at 8 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, Feb. 26 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. 
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:	Saturday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two
hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
	Sunday, Feb. 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a
30-minute news magazine show, at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
	Sunday, Feb. 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of
eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
	
SATELLITE: Friday, Feb. 24, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R /
Transponder 23K (12160 MHz, vertical)
	Saturday, Feb. 25, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R / Transponder
22K (12144 MHz, horizontal)
	Sunday, Feb. 26, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 10R / Transponder
22K (12144 MHz, horizontal)
Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro
Stock, plus interviews with winners on Sunday.
	
2005 EVENT 
WINNERS:	Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Allen
Johnson, Pro Stock.

TRACK 	Top Fuel -- 4.474 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Feb. 2005; 333.74 mph
by Brandon Bernstein, Feb. 2005. 
RECORDS:	Funny Car-- 4.703 sec. by Tony Pedregon, Feb. 2005;
329.99 mph by Robert Hight, Feb. 2005.
	Pro Stock-6.733 sec. by Jim Yates, Feb, 2005; 205.35 mph by
Richie Stevens, Feb. 2005.

NATIONAL	Top Fuel -- 4.437 sec., Sept. 2005, Joliet, Ill., by
Tony Schumacher; 336.15 mph, May 2005, Columbus, Ohio,  by Schumacher.
RECORDS:	Funny Car -- 4.665 sec., 333.58 mph Oct. 2004, Joliet,
Ill.  by John Force.
	Pro Stock -- 6.633 sec., 208.23 mph March 2005, Gainesville,
Fla., by Greg Anderson.
	
TICKETS:	For tickets call Firebird International Raceway, (602)
268-0200. Tickets also are available at Ticketmaster.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $31; Junior (6-12
years), $15. Saturday: Adult, $43; Junior (6-12 years), $15. Sunday:
Adult, $47; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Children 5 and under admitted free
in General Admission and pit areas each day.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $41-$51; Junior
(6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $20.
Saturday: Adult, $53-$74; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and
under), $20; Sunday: Adult, $57-$84; Junior (6-12 years), $27; Child (5
years and under), $22.

***

TROXEL LOOKING TO KEEP HER WINNING WAYS GOING AT PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Top Fuel driver Melanie Troxel, winner of the
season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Southern California, is perhaps
best known as the quickest and fastest woman in NHRA history.

While the title has a nice ring to it and it's an accomplishment she's
very proud of, there is one other title she wants even more: NHRA
POWERade Series world champion.

Troxel, 33, hopes to ride her current wave of momentum and score her
second consecutive Top Fuel victory at the 22nd annual Checker Schuck's
Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol at Firebird International
Raceway, Feb. 24-26. The event, which will be televised on ESPN2 and
ESPN2 HD, is the second of 23 races in the $50 million NHRA POWERade
Series. Tony Schumacher, John Force and Allen Johnson are the defending
winners of the $1.5 million race.

By winning the Winternationals she became the sixth woman to win in Top
Fuel and the eighth woman to win in an NHRA professional category.
However, she says the fact that she won shouldn't be a surprise to many,
given NHRA's diversity and history of women winners.

"It gets media attention to say I'm the 'Xth' number female to win a
race, but those of us in the NHRA know that it's no big deal because
we've had lots of female winners, especially when you compare us to all
the other motor sports," said Troxel, one of 39 women to win an NHRA
national event in all categories. "I'm thrilled there were women before
me to pave the way but really we just want to be the best team out here,
regardless of me being female."

After finishing strong last season and with the positive start to the
'06 campaign, Troxel is very optimistic about her chances for a strong
run at the title.

 "It's the first time I've ever had any kind of continuity, to be able
to carry on from the strong season that we had last year and hopefully
carry that over to 2006 and even improve on it," said Troxel, who joined
Don Schumacher Racing full time at the event in Denver last July after
competing in limited schedules for other teams during the past six
seasons. "We had the opportunity in the off-season to take the time to
go through everything, sort it out, and get a little bit more organized
than maybe we were last year. Last season we had to put everything
together in such a hurry. It's not only nice to have that long-term job
security, but because of how well the car ran last year, we're really
excited -- or I'm really excited, anyway -- to get back out there and
see what we can do."

The car ran so well from the start last season that Troxel became the
first woman to break some important performance barriers. She was the
first in the 4.4-second range (4.458 seconds) and the first to power a
car to a 330 mph run (330.31 mph), and as a result became the quickest
and fastest woman in NHRA history. She will certainly try to improve her
performance numbers this season with crew chief Richard Hogan calling
the shots, but the primary mission is to win, win, win.

"While being the fastest and quickest female driver in NHRA history is
an interesting and noteworthy item, I'm more excited that the car is
running so well," said Troxel, who outraced David Baca for the victory
at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona last weekend. "Our big goal is to be the
best team on the track and win some races, and, with any luck, be in the
chase for the championship at the end of the year."

Should she reach that goal by the end of the season, she knows she may
have to defeat her teammate - defending world champ Schumacher - to
claim the title.

"I think that being teammates with Tony is a very good yardstick to try
to measure up to," said Troxel, who defeated Tony in the second round at
Pomona en route to her victory. "I think it just makes you try harder to
be a better team. I certainly want to be a better driver, and whether we
were teammates with the U.S. Army team or not, obviously we would be
competing against them on the track. But, being a little bit closer to
them than just another competitor, it definitely makes you want to be
better. It's a good opportunity to keep you motivated to make everything
perfect all the time."

Another motivation for Troxel is her husband, veteran Funny Car driver
Tommy Johnson Jr., who pilots the Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo for NHRA
legend Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme. Although they don't compete in the
same category, the two are still competitive for family bragging rights
about who's got the better performing hot rod.

"It's nice to have somebody who's as passionate about it as you are, and
it's never a problem with all the demands on my time," Troxel said. "He
completely understands what I'm going through, because he's going
through the same thing. It's also nice having somebody who knows when to
leave you alone. When you're trying to get ready to race, get your game
face on, he knows when you're in that kind of zone and gives you some
space. If you've had a bad day, he knows when to kind of leave you
alone."

In Top Fuel, Schumacher has driven his U.S. Army dragster to three
victories in the last six years at FIR and will be more determined than
ever to keep his winning ways going in '06 as he tries to become only
the second driver in NHRA history (also Joe Amato) to win three
consecutive Top Fuel world championship titles. He will be challenged by
Brandon Bernstein, who powered his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to
back-to-back victories in '03-'04. Cory McClenathan, Larry Dixon and
Doug Kalitta are all past FIR winners who should contend during the
weekend. Like current series points leader Troxel, rookie Hillary Will,
who posted an impressive 4.483 second performance during pre-season
testing and qualified fourth in her KB Racing dragster at the
season-opener, is hoping to give the men a run for their money in '06. 

Force has dominated Funny Car competition at FIR in his Castrol GTX Ford
Mustang, winning eight times since 1994. He will try to add another
trophy to his shelf in his quest to regain his world championship
status. Defending POWERade Series champ Gary Scelzi and his teammate Ron
Capps, who finished second in the '05 point standings and won at FIR in
'03, will be major threats in their Don Schumacher-owned Dodges. Points
leader Robert Hight will try to win his second race in a row in his Auto
Club Mustang. Other top contenders in the category include Tony and Cruz
Pedregon and Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo driver Del
Worsham, a two-time winner of the event. 

Johnson was on his game last year when he used a holeshot victory in the
first round and a very fast Dodge Stratus in the final three rounds to
power past the competition for the Pro Stock victory. He will try to
repeat this season, but will be challenged by defending POWERade world
champ Greg Anderson, a winner here in '03. Anderson is already off to a
fast start in '06 in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO after qualifying No.
1 and winning the Winternationals. Warren and Kurt Johnson, both
two-time winners at Phoenix, will try to add to their career win totals
at the event. Others to watch in the 200 mph category include Jason
Line, Erica Enders, Dave Connolly and Pomona runner-up Mike Edwards.

* SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
and 6 p.m. on Feb. 24, and noon and 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 25. Final
eliminations start at 11 a.m. on Feb. 26.

* TICKETS: For tickets, call Firebird International Raceway, at (602)
268-0200. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying at 8
p.m. (ET) on Feb. 25. ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly
news magazine show, at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and televise three hours of
eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET) on Feb. 26.

* 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 <http://media.nhra.com/> .

***

2006 NHRA POWERADE FINAL POINT STANDINGS
(Following the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag
Racing Series)

UPDATED 2/12/2006 (Victories in parentheses)

TOP FUEL
Place	Driver	Points
1.	Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., Skull Gear dragster (1)	112
2.	David Baca, Brentwood, Calif., Mach 1 dragster	92
3.	Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil dragster	71
	Doug Herbert, Lincolnton, N.C., Snap-on Tools dragster 	71
5.	Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster	58
6.	Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster	57
7.	Rod Fuller, Las Vegas, David Powers Homes/Valvoline dragster
54
	Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite dragster	54
9.	J.R. Todd Lawrenceburg, Ind., Menards dragster	36
10.	Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., KB Racing dragster	35

FUNNY CAR
1.	Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern
Calif. Ford Mustang (1)	112
2.	Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T	92
3.	Phil Burkart Jr., Yorkville, N.Y., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo	72
	Bob Gilbertson, Gastonia, N.C., Autolite XP Dodge Stratus R/T
72
5.	John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
58
6.	Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T
56
7.	Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo	51
	Jim Head, Columbus, Ohio, Grateful Head Dodge Stratus R/T
51
9.	Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo	37
10.	Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo	35

PRO STOCK
1.	Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (1)
118
2.	Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life Pontiac GTO	94
3.	Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, zMax Micro Lubricants Dodge Stratus
R/T	75
4.	Mark Pawuk, Akron, Ohio, Pawuk Racing Pontiac GTO	72
5.	Erica Enders, Houston, Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevrolet Cobalt
57
6.	Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., GM Performance Parts Pontiac
GTO	56
7.	Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO	54
8.	Rickie Smith, King, N.C., Skull Gear Chevrolet Cobalt	53
9.	Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T
33
10.	Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt	32
	Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Pontiac GTO	32
	Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt	32

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