NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals Fact Sheet for Sonoma
20th FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals Fact Sheet July 27-29 WHAT: Infineon Raceway will host the top drag racers in the world at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals. This marks the 20th anniversary of NHRA drag racing in the Sonoma Valley. WHEN: July 27-29. This is the 15th stop on the 23-race series for 2007. TRACK: 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. CATEGORIES: There will be NHRA POWERade Drag Racing in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle divisions. 2006 CHAMPIONS: J.R. Todd (Top Fuel); Eric Medlen (Funny Car); Jason Line (Pro Stock); and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle). TRACK RECORDS: Top Fuel - ET (elapsed time): 4.486 seconds, Tony Schumacher, 2006; SPEED: 331.36 mph, David Grubnic, 2006 Funny Car- ET: 4.738 seconds, Robert Hight, 2006. SPEED: 325.69 mph, Del Worsham, 2005 Pro Stock- ET: 6.631 seconds, Greg Anderson, 2006; SPEED: 207.82, Greg Anderson, 2006 Pro Stock Motorcycle - ET: 6.911 seconds, Chip Ellis, 2006; SPEED: 196.13 mph, Andrew Hines, 2004 NATIONAL RECORDS: Top Fuel - ET (elapsed time): 4.428 sec., Tony Schumacher, 2006; SPEED: 336.15 mph, Schumacher, 2005 Funny Car - ET: 4.659 sec., Tony Pedregon, 2007. SPEED: 333.66 mph, Jack Beckman, 2006 Pro Stock - ET: 6.536 sec., Greg Anderson, 2007. SPEED: 211.69 mph, Jason Line, 2007 PS Motorcycle - ET: 6.871 sec., Angelle Sampey, 2007. SPEED: 197.45 mph, Andrew Hines, 2005 SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC): Friday, July 27 - Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, begin at 8:15 a.m.; Professional qualifying sessions at 3:45 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 28 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.; Professional qualifying sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29 - Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.; Final eliminations begin at noon TELEVISION (ALL TIMES PACIFIC): Saturday, July 28 - ESPN2, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29 - ESPN2, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. WHAT TO EXPECT: Six track records were broken at the FRAM Autolite Nationals in 2006. In addition, Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson set a national elapsed time record with a 6.631-second run, beating his own record set in Gainesville, Fla., in 2005 at 6.633 seconds. Anderson again reset the national record at 6.536 seconds earlier this year ... Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Antron Brown and Tom Bradford became the third and fourth members, respectively, of the Mickey Thompson Six-Second Pro Stock Motorcycle Club at the 2006 event. In all, four Pro Stock Motorcycle riders cracked the six-second barrier, and the event featured one of the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle fields in history...Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) has won five of the last nine Top Fuel titles at Infineon Raceway (1998-2000, 2004-'05)... John Force has six wins at Infineon Raceway - the most of any NHRA pro competitor... Ashley Force, daughter of the 14-time champion, is competing in Funny Car this year...Former NFL running back Duce Staley and former NBA forward Tom Hammonds are both fielding Pro Stock teams in 2007...Peggy Llewellyn, NHRA's first African-American female competitor, has returned to Pro Stock Motorcycle competition. IN ADDITION 20th ANNIVERSARY: Infineon Raceway will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals by recognizing the accomplishments of past drag racing legends and remembering historical moments at the Sonoma Valley raceway. Winners of the 1988 inaugural race at Infineon Raceway were Joe Amato (Top Fuel), Mark Oswald (Funny Car) and Harry Scribner (Pro Stock). WALL OF FAME: Infineon Raceway will induct NHRA driver Gary Scelzi into its Wall of Fame on Sunday, July 29. Scelzi has posted a legendary career in the Sonoma Valley, both in the sportsman ranks, as well as the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. He has two national events wins in Top Alcohol Funny Car, and one divisional win in Top Alcohol Dragster. The Fresno native is also a two-time winner in Sonoma in the pro ranks for Funny Car (2003, 2005). He is also being recognized for his philanthropic efforts and support of charity events at the raceway. MAPLE GROVE CHALLENGE: Infineon Raceway will set the bar in relation to a personal challenge it issued to Maple Grove Raceway last year for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. The raceways will compete for bragging rights as to which facility can post the quickest elapsed time for a single run. On the line is a case of premium Sonoma Valley wine from Infineon Raceway and Shoo-fly pie for the entire Infineon Raceway staff from Maple Grove. There are plans for Maple Grove president and general manager George Case to attend the Sonoma event. COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP: New for 2007 is the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship. This playoff-style format will begin at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis (Aug. 29-Sept. 3) when the top eight drivers/riders in each pro category will advance to the first round of playoffs. The group will then be narrowed to four drivers with four races remaining in the season and two drivers with two races remaining. The champion in each category will be crowned at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona (Nov. 1-4). All events, beginning with Indy, will still feature full fields, but only the drivers/riders that advance to the playoffs will be eligible for championships. TICKET PRICES (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. Weekend Pass: Adult, $135; Junior (6-12 years), $65; Child (5 years and under) $35. MORE INFORMATION/TICKETS: For tickets, call (800) 870-7223. Tickets also are available at www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> and www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> .