NHRA News: Sonoma Advance Package
FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS
WHAT: 19th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, the 15th
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: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. The track is located
at Highways 37 and 121.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 28-30.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.3
million.
SCHEDULE: 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: Saturday, July 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two
hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will
telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will
televise three hours of final round eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, July 28, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) - SBS 10 R,
Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, July 29, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) - SBS
10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, July 30, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) - 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 - 4.524 seconds by Brandon Bernstein, July '05;
329.02 mph by Larry Dixon, July '05
Funny Car- 4.759 seconds by Tony Pedregon,
July '05; 325.69 mph by Del Worsham, July '05
Pro Stock- 6.676 seconds by Kurt Johnson,
July '05; 206.95 mph by Greg Anderson, July '05
PS Motorcycle - 6.968 seconds by Andrew
Hines, July '05; 196.13 mph by Andrew Hines, Aug. '04
NATIONAL Top Fuel - 4.437 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Sept. '05,
Joliet, Ill.; 336.15 mph by Schumacher, May '05, Columbus, Ohio
RECORDS: Funny Car - 4.665 sec., 333.58 mph by John Force, Oct.
'04, Joliet, Ill.
Pro Stock - 6.633 sec., 208.23 mph by Greg
Anderson, March '05, Gainesville, Fla.
PS Motorcycle - 6.968 sec. by Andrew Hines,
July'05, Sonoma, Calif.; 197.45 mph by Hines, March '05, Gainesville,
Fla.
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.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761. Brian
Hacker, ext. 424, (626) 428-0280, cell.
****
CAPPS HOPES FOR A WIN AT HOME TRACK;
LEADS POINTS STANDINGS GOING INTO SONOMA
SONOMA, Calif. - Ron Capps does not want to repeat his performance from
last year at Infineon Raceway. Although, he did consider his runner up
position to teammate Gary Scelzi pretty exciting.
"You know, last year was the first time I got a taste of teammates going
against each other in the final," said Capps. "I lost, but that was
huge."
This showdown of teammates prepped Capps for the eventual showdown he
had with Scelzi for the most captivating points race in recent memory at
the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. at season's end.
Capps lived in the Bay area while attending Santa Clara University, so
he considers Infineon Raceway his home track. He also met his wife
Shelley in the Bay area, and spent some time up there at Lake San
Antonio before he joined the Western Swing in Denver.
"Besides the fact that when I was growing up, when my dad raced we went
to Fresno and Sonoma all the time, Sacramento for that matter," Capps
said. "The Bay area has always been a home track for me."
The Carlsbad, Calif. driver hopes to earn his 18th career win and stay
ahead of the point lead at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 28-30
at Infineon Raceway in beautiful Sonoma, Calif. The $1.3 million race,
which will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, is the 15th of 23 events
in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Defending race winners include Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel); Gary Scelzi
(Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock
Motorcycle).
Capps looks to capitalize on his five wins in 2006 (Gainesville,
Houston, Bristol, Topeka, and Englishtown) to earn his first world
championship. Even with these five wins he is holding on to a slim
points lead over 13-time world champion John Force. Yet, in head-to
head competition Capps has the edge with a 4-1 record over Force this
year.
"I just get up for the guy," Capps said. "I try to get up for anybody.
That just tells you how big a deal he still is in the sport. I've said
it before. If you can beat him to the hotel in a rental car,
qualifying, final round, whatever it is, it's going to be a big deal."
Capps finished second in the 2005 title chase by only 8 points - but
there is one person more than any other than himself that Capps would
want to win a championship for, and that would be crew chief Ed "Ace"
McCullough. He has been with Capps on two teams, first with Don "The
Snake" Prudhomme, and now with Don Schumacher Racing. Recently, "Ace"
underwent surgery to remove some polyps in his colon.
"I even said last year, all my guys on the crew, we all wanted to win it
for Ace," said Capps. To be honest I thought he had won a championship,
at least one or two. I was kind of dumbfounded when they told me he
never won one. I hope I have lots of years left in me, but right now we
are concentrating on this is our best chance to get him a championship
ring."
In Top Fuel, Melanie Troxel has raced to two victories in seven final
rounds and led the standings for most of the season in her Skull
Shine/Torco Race Fuels dragster. However, at Denver, Doug Kalitta moved
into the points lead. Kalitta, who is second only to Force with five
career victories at Infineon (2005, 2004, 2000, 1999, and 1998), has
posted four victories in his Mac Tools dragster this season. Brandon
Bernstein and Rod Fuller have claimed two wins each and are certainly
threats to win. Three-time and defending world champ Tony Schumacher
earned his first victory of the season last month in St. Louis and
posted a runner-up finish to rookie first time winner J.R. Todd at
Denver and could be primed for a late season championship run in his
U.S. Army dragster.
Funny Car has been dominated by Capps' five wins, but other winners
include three-time winner Tony Pedregon, and a multitude of single event
winners, such as defending world champion and Infineon event winner
Scelzi, Force, and Cruz Pedregon.
Three-time world champ Greg Anderson has led the way all year in Pro
Stock in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO but gave up the lead at Denver to
his teammate and two-time winner Jason Line. Three-time 2006 winner Dave
Connolly is making a strong move late in the season with a win at Denver
over the weekend. Kurt Johnson, Mike Edwards, and former two-time series
champ Jim Yates are all ones to watch, and young phenom Erica Enders
continues to have the best Pro Stock season ever for a female driver.
Last year's Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, Andrew Hines, is
sitting atop familiar territory after winning at Denver. Other winners
this year have included, Angelle Sampey, Antron Brown, Chip Ellis, Ryan
Schnitz, and Matt Smith.
SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:15 and
6:45 p.m. on July 28, and 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on July 29. Eliminations
start at noon on July 30.
TICKETS: For tickets, call (800) 870-7223. Tickets also are available at
Ticketmaster.com.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying at 8
p.m. (ET) on July 29. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute
weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET), followed by three hours
of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on July 30.
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 14 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing
Series)
UPDATED 7/23/2006 (Victories in parentheses)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver
Points
1. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (4)
1,031
2. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels
dragster (2) 991
3. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., Budweiser/Lucas Oil
dragster (2) 888
4. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (2)
881
5. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., StriVectin-SD dragster (1)
825
6. Rod Fuller, Las Vegas, David Powers Homes/Valvoline dragster
(2) 789
7. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite dragster
772
8. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil dragster
653
9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM Boost dragster
643
10. Hillary Will, Ypsilanti, Mich., KB Racing dragster
605
FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T (5)
1,105
2. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
(1) 1,017
3. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern
Calif. Ford Mustang (1) 855
4. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (3) 854
5. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang
811
6. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger (1)
810
7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo (1) 792
8. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Charger (1)
737
9. Cruz Pedregon, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., Advance Auto Parts
Chevy Monte Carlo (1) 609
10. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck's Kragen
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 599
PRO STOCK
1. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (2)
935
2. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO
(1) 910
3. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Skull Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (3)
879
4. Jim Yates, Alexandria, Va., SeaRay Boats Pontiac GTO (1)
792
5. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (2)
767
6. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life Pontiac GTO (2)
745
7. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar
Dodge Stratus R/T (1) 694
8. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, zMax Micro Lubricants Dodge
Stratus R/T 673
9. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T
641
10. Erica Enders, Houston, Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Stratus R/T
635
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following eight of 15 events)
1. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson
(1) 620
2. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (3)
592
3. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki (1)
521
4. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin
(1) 512
5. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Trim-Tex Drywall Products Buell
V-Twin (1) 443
6. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki
422
7. Matt Guidera, Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin Motorsports Buell
V-Twin 420
8. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Torco/Skull Gear S&S Buell V-Twin
(1) 413
9. Geno Scali, Lake in the Hills, Ill., Performance Machine
Suzuki 360
10. GT Tonglet, Metairie, La., Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson
V-Rod 354
Brian Hacker
NHRA, Media Relations Manager
O - 626-250-2424
C - 626-428-0280
