NHRA (MEMPHIS) - EVENT PREVIEW

Just minutes from Graceland, the mansion of the King of Rock and Roll -- Elvis Presley -- and world-famous Beale Street, where the Blues fill the air nightly, sits Memphis Motorsports Park, the home to this weekend's 20th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals.

This is one of those spots that hold fond memories for Top Fuel driver Hillary Will, who advanced to her first NHRA final round here during her rookie season last year, finishing in the runner-up position.

This year the driver of the KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed "Support our Troops and Families" dragster, wants to advance to the winner's circle. "We won three rounds at this race last year and I have every reason to believe that we can win four (rounds) this year," said Will.

With only a handful of races remaining on this year's NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, Will feels that she has unfinished business to accomplish in 2007 as the team begins to prepare for 2008.

"We have five races remaining in the 2007 season and we want to make them count," added Will, as she continues to focus on 2007 and at the same time is looking ahead. "We want to be spoilers for some of the other racers trying to make the top four in this year's Countdown. We want to gain momentum going into the 2008 season. Most importantly, we want our KB Racing team in the winner's circle."

Will begins her quest for the winner's circle at the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals when qualifying gets underway on Friday, followed by final eliminations on Sunday.

*QUALIFYING:* Nitro fuel cars begin qualifying for the 20th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals on Friday, Sept. 14, with two sessions at 4:30 and 7 p.m. (In each session, Funny Car is up first, followed by Top Fuel.) Qualifying for nitro fuel cars then concludes on Saturday, Sept. 15, with two sessions at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. (Top Fuel starts each session, followed by Funny Car.) Final eliminations for the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals begin for all teams at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16. *All qualifying and eliminations times are local Memphis time (CT) and subject to change. *

*TELEVISION:* Qualifying highlights for the 20th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD late Saturday night/early Sunday morning (Sept. 16) beginning at 12 midnight and concluding at 2 a.m. ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will also air same-day coverage of eliminations on Sunday (Sept. 16) from 7-10 p.m. The elimination show repeats early Thursday morning, Sept. 20, from 4-6 a.m. Also, be sure to tune into NHRA Race Day, the show which provides the drag racing fan with the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals installment of NHRA Race Day can be seen on Sunday (Sept. 16) on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD from 11-11:30 a.m. *Television times are ET and subject to change without notice. Check your local listing.*