NHRA NEWS: MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS ADVANCE PACKAGE
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 27th 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 2006 NHRA POWERade Series world championships.
Sportsman competitors in five categories earn points leading to 2006 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 14-16.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.5 million.
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 14 ‑ Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 9 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 15 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 9 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:30 and 6 p.m.
(Saturday’s Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle sessions are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.)
SUNDAY, July 16 - Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at noon.
TELEVISION: Saturday, July 14, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, July 14, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, July 15, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET) –SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, July 16, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal)
2005 EVENT Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock; Ryan Schnitz, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
WINNERS:
TRACK
RECORDS: Top Fuel - 4.584 seconds by Joe Amato, July ‘99; 331.45 mph by Tony Schumacher, July ‘05
Funny Car - 4.796 seconds and 322.58 mph by Robert Hight, July ‘05
Pro Stock - 7.106 seconds by Greg Anderson, July ‘05; 194.24 mph by Warren Johnson, July ‘05
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 7.436 seconds by Andrew Hines, July ‘05; 186.54 mph by Ryan Schnitz, July ‘05
NATIONAL Top Fuel - 4.437 sec. (Sept. '05, Joliet, Ill.) 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- 6.968 sec. (July ‘05, Sonoma, Calif.) 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.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $37-$47; Youth (12 years & under), $15-$20. Saturday: Adult, $37-$47; Youth (12 years & under), $15-$20. Sunday: Adult, $45-$55; Youth (12 & and under), $20-$25.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761. Lachelle Seymour, ext. 230 (626-253-6337, cell).
DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPION SAYS HIS FOCUS IS FORWARD
AS MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR FAMED WESTERN SWING
MORRISON, Colo. – Headlines come out of the Schumacher Racing camp almost weekly - from updates on Top Fuel ace Melanie Troxel’s upcoming walk up the ESPY red carpet to crew chief Ed “Ace�?? McCullough’s battle with cancer to the signing of Pro Stock rising star Erica Enders, who stunned the drag racing world when she separated from team owner Victor Cagnazzi early this month to become a free agent under Schumacher’s umbrella.
Perhaps the most perplexing one of all, however, is that none have included reigning Funny Car world champion Gary Scelzi - the man who won the most gripping NHRA POWERade Series point chase in recent memory in 2005 to join Kenny Bernstein as the only drivers in NHRA history to be crowned world champion in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.
The 2006 season began with predictions of even closer battles, with Scelzi’s name near the top of the list with teammate Ron Capps and 13-time NHRA world champion John Force. Although he’s struggled through the first half of his defending year, the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger starts the famed Western Swing with a little momentum.
Scelzi will try to make headlines of his own when the elite drivers of the NHRA POWERade Series come to Denver for the 27th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July 14-16 at Bandimere Speedway – one of only three tracks Scelzi has not visited the winner’s circle in Top Fuel or Funny Car. The others are in Gainesville, Fla. and Englishtown, N.J.
So far this season Scelzi has yet to earn his 43rd career No. 1 qualifier. He advanced to the semifinal round in Bristol, Tenn. – a season high until another semifinal appearance in Chicago and a runner-up finish to teammate Ron Capps in Englishtown. Making it into the semifinal and final rounds in the last three events built up crucial momentum for the defending champion before the mid-season break and Western Swing.
“Denver has always been important to me because it’s a race track I’ve never won at,�?? Scelzi said. “Now that it’s my sponsor’s race, it’s even more important. After the last three races, we know we have a car that can win. We feel we’re definitely hitting our stride right now. It may be too late to win the championship, but you never know.
“The car has been a lot better since Bristol (in April) … We haven’t had as much tire smoke in the last few races. I guess the key is knowing your limitations, but also knowing you have a car that can run low E.T. at any time. Our qualifying hasn’t really shown how well we can run, but I think that’s going to change too.�??
As for the other headlines brewing in the 12-entry Schumacher Racing camp? Scelzi has one focus, and that’s the Mopar/Oakley Dodge.
“There’s so much stuff going on (at Schumacher Racing) all the time,�?? Scelzi said. “I try to worry about myself and my team, rather than what’s going on around the team and the shop – who’s dong what, who’s doing this and who’s getting that. Because at the end of the day all I have to answer to is Don Schumacher and Mopar and Oakley. We share information, but we try to worry about our own team … In Denver, all the things we learned in the wind tunnel with the new Dodge Charger should come into play. We have a car that we’ve been running brand new after Houston, and we have a brand new car ready to roll. We’re in really good shape.�??
While Scelzi continues his battle to move up the POWERade point standings from No. 7, Capps fights to keep his top spot from Force, who is only 44 points behind him. In Top Fuel, Troxel, driver of the Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels dragster, is a mere 24 points ahead of Doug Kalitta.
In Pro Stock, Ken Black Racing teammates Greg Anderson, the defending POWERade world champion, and Jason Line, are No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, with two points between them. And while Anderson is ahead in his defending year, Pro Stock Motorcycle reigning champion Andrew Hines is currently in second place, 28 points behind Angelle Sampey and her U.S. Army Suzuki.
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. on July 14, and 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 15. Eliminations start at noon on July 16.
TICKETS: For tickets, call NHRA, at (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available at Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com or nhra.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying at 10 p.m. (ET) on July 15. ESPN2 will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET) on July 16.
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.
2006 NHRA POWERADE POINT STANDINGS
(Following 12 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series)
UPDATED 6/25/2006 (Victories in parentheses)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver Points
1. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels dragster (2) 924
2. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (4) 900
3. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster (2) 814
4. Rod Fuller, Las Vegas, David Powers Homes/Valvoline dragster (2) 689
5. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., StriVectin-SD dragster (1) 675
6. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (1) 674
7. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite dragster 666
8. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil dragster 591
9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM Boost dragster 580
10. Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., KB Racing dragster 498
FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T (5) 975
2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang (1) 931
3. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern Calif. Ford Mustang (1) 742
4. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo (3) 728
5. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang 692
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1) 684
7. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger 641
8. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Charger 592
9. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck’s Kragen Chevrolet Monte Carlo 536
10. Cruz Pedregon, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., Advance Auto Parts Chevy Monte Carlo (1) 530
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (1) 801
2. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (2) 799
3. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Skull Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (2) 730
4. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., SeaRay Boats Pontiac GTO (1) 708
5. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (2) 696
6. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life Pontiac GTO (2) 681
7. Erica Enders, Houston, Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevrolet Cobalt 594
8. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, zMax Micro Lubricants Dodge Stratus R/T 589
9. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T 541
10. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Synthetic Blend Dodge Stratus R/T 533
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following seven of 15 events)
1. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (3) 536
2. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 508
3. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin (1) 454
4. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki (1) 447
5. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki 389
6. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Trim-Tex Drywall Products Buell V-Twin (1) 389
7. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Torco/Skull Gear S&S Buell V-Twin (1) 378
8. Matt Guidera, Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin Motorsports Buell V-Twin 328
9. GT Tonglet, Metairie, La., Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod 322
10. Michael Phillips, Baton Rouge, Mini Rods Suzuki 309
