FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals Fact Sheet, Sonoma
Contact: John Cardinale (707) 933-3907 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals Fact Sheet July 28-30 WHAT: Infineon Raceway will host the top drag racers in the world at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals. The weekend will feature NHRA POWERade Drag Racing action in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle divisions. The event is presented by Supercuts. Sportsman competitors will also compete throughout the weekend in five categories to earn points leading to 2006 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships. WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, Calif. 800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> WHEN: July 28-30. The FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals is the 15th stop on the 23-race series in 2006. TRACK: NHRA dragsters will compete on the world-famous quarter-mile drag strip that features a 660-foot concrete launch pad and is located just 15 feet above sea level. This combination has helped the Infineon Raceway drag strip become one of the quickest and fastest in the country. PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.3 million. SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC): Friday, July 28 - Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, begin at 8:15 a.m.; Professional qualifying sessions at 3:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Saturday, July 29 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.; Professional qualifying sessions at 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Sunday, July 30 - Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.; Final eliminations begin at noon TELEVISION (ALL TIMES PACIFIC): Saturday, July 29 - ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, July 30 - ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. SATELLITE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC): Friday, July 28, 8:30 p.m.-9 p.m. - SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical); Saturday, July 29, 7:30-8 p.m. - SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical); Sunday, July 30, 8:30 p.m.-9 p.m. - SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) 2005 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Gary Scelzi (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). TRACK RECORDS: Top Fuel - ET (elapsed time): 4.524 seconds, Brandon Bernstein, 2005; SPEED: 329.02 mph, Larry Dixon, 2005 Funny Car- ET: 4.759 seconds, Tony Pedregon, 2005. SPEED: 325.69 mph, Del Worsham, 2005 Pro Stock- ET: 6.676 seconds, Kurt Johnson, 2005; SPEED: 206.95 mph, Greg Anderson, 2005 Pro Stock Motorcycle - ET: 6.968 seconds, Andrew Hines, 2005; SPEED: 196.13 mph, Andrew Hines, 2004 NATIONAL RECORDS: Top Fuel - ET (elapsed time): 4.437 sec. by Tony Schumacher, 2005; SPEED: 336.15 mph by Schumacher, 2005 Funny Car - ET: 4.665 sec. by John Force, 2004. SPEED: 333.58 mph by John Force, 2004 Pro Stock - ET: 6.633 sec. by Greg Anderson, 2005. SPEED: 208.23 mph by Greg Anderson, 2005 PS Motorcycle - ET: 6.968 sec. by Andrew Hines, 2005 (Sonoma). SPEED: 197.45 mph by Hines, 2005 WHAT TO EXPECT: Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) captured his fifth Infineon Raceway victory in 2005. He has won five of the last eight championships at Infineon Raceway (1998-2000, 2004-05)... John Force holds the record for most career wins at Infineon Raceway (six). ... Gary Scelzi captured his second Infineon Raceway victory in 2005, the first coming in 2003.... Andrew Hines captured his first Pro Stock Bike win at Infineon Raceway in 2005 and reset the elapsed-time national record (6.968 seconds). ... Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) captured his second Infineon Raceway victory in 2005.... Seven professional class track records were reset in 2005.... Three of the four professional class winners at Infineon Raceway (Scelzi, Anderson and Hines) went on to claim their respective NHRA POWERade Series championships... Standout Melanie Troxel holds the Top Fuel points lead with two victories entering this weekend's West Coast Swing, which culminates in Sonoma. Troxel was the first NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five events of a season. ... Ron Capps, the 2005 championship runner-up, currently holds the Funny Car points lead over 13-time champion Force. Capps has claimed five wins in seven final-round appearances entering the West Coast Swing. TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 870-7223. 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. PR CONTACTS: Infineon Raceway: John Cardinale, jcardinale@infineonraceway.com (707-933-3907), Diana Rose, drose@infineonraceway.com (707-933-3918), Jennifer Enos, jenos@infineonraceway.com (707-933-3981) NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761. Brian Hacker, ext. 424, (626) 428-0280, cell. Web-sites: www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> ; www.nhra.com <http://www.nhra.com/> . Infineon Raceway's 2006 Media Guide can be accessed through the raceway's Web-site. PASSWORD: Sonoma. The guide features detailed information including records and results from past NHRA events. ### --------------------------- John Cardinale VP of Media/Community Relations Infineon Raceway Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476 wk: 707-933-3907 cell: 707-334-9805