MIKE NEFF PLANS TO CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE PUSH IN READING

John Force RacingMike Neff Pre-Race PackageEvent: 25th annual TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals, 17th of 24 events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.Site: Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
Dates: August 20-23, 2009* * * *MIKE NEFF PLANS TO CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE PUSH IN READING“It is a double edge sword (being overly aggressive or not aggressive enough) right there (in first round of Brainerd) we just didn’t need to try to run as hard as we did. The positive is we know our car runs as good as anybody. We’ll go to Reading and try it again next weekend.�??- Mike Neff* * * *Team info at www.johnforceracing.comFollow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racingFollow John Force RaceStation store at www.twitter.com/JFRaceStationFollow Courtney Force at www.twitter.com/courtneyforce****The DriverMike Neff, 42, driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang, is entering his second season with high expectations. He is currently in 9th place Full Throttle point standings. This season he has reached one final (Phoenix) and was No. 1 qualifier in Norwalk, Ohio as well as last week in Brainerd, Minn. In his rookie year he reached three finals, was No. 1 qualifier twice and qualified for the Countdown to 1 championship race. Neff took over the driving duties for the late Eric Medlen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a testing accident in March of 2007.  * * * *Mike Neff By the Numbers:1 – Number of final rounds in 2009, Phoenix2 – Number of races Neff was the driver and crew chief this season, Phoenix and Gainesville3 – Number of JFR drivers who have been named Auto Club Road to the Future Award winners, most recently Mike Neff was honored as the professional rookie of the year (Robert Hight, 2005 and Ashley Force Hood, 2007)4 – Number of finals Mike Neff has reached in his young career, most recently Phoenix, February 20099 – Neff’s position in the Full Throttle point standings58 – Number of points Neff is behind 8th place John Force in Full Throttle point standings* * * *Full Throttle Point Standings (After sixteen of 24 Full Throttle events)FUNNY CAR - 1. Tony Pedregon, 1215; 2. Ron Capps, 1187; 3. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 1090; 4. Jack Beckman, 960; 5. Tim Wilkerson, 950; 6. Bob Tasca III, 894; 7. Del Worsham, 877; 8. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 846; 9. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Mustang, 778; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 768. Also 11. Matt Hagan, 738; 12. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 708.TOP FUEL - 1. Antron Brown, 1357; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1140; 3. Larry Dixon, 1132; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 998; 5. Cory McClenathan, 985; 6. Morgan Lucas, 944; 7. Spencer Massey, 886; 8. Shawn Langdon, 859; 9. Doug Kalitta, 732; 10. Clay Millican, 651.PRO STOCK - 1. Jeg Coughlin, 1325; 2. Jason Line, 1298; 3. Mike Edwards, 1291; 4. Greg Anderson, 1165; 5. Allen Johnson, 1006; 6. Greg Stanfield, 828; 7. Ron Krisher, 793; 8. Kurt Johnson, 752; 9. Rickie Jones, 711; 10. Warren Johnson, 659.PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE - 1. Eddie Krawiec, 911; 2. Andrew Hines, 803; 3. Matt Smith, 668; 4. Craig Treble, 641; 5. Hector Arana, 644; 6. Douglas Horne, 632; 7. Matt Guidera, 531; 8. Steve Johnson, 425; 9. Karen Stoffer, 423; 10. Shawn Gann, 442. ****Track Records:Top Fuel- 4.440 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. ’06; 333.08 mph by Schumacher, Oct. ’01Funny Car- 4.693 seconds by Tommy Johnson Jr., Oct. ’06; 330.96 mph by Mike Ashley, Oct. ’06Pro Stock- 6.583 seconds by Greg Anderson, Aug. ’07; 209.88 mph by Anderson, Aug. ’07Pro Stock Motorcycle- 6.897 seconds, Angelle Sampey, Aug. ’07;194.77 mph, GT Tonglet, Oct. ’01(*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and Funny Car at this event) ****Race Schedule:Friday – Pro Qualifying:             3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Saturday – Pro Qualifying:             11:00 and 2:00 p.m.Sunday – Pre-race:                       10:00 a.m.Final eliminations:          11:00 a.m.* * * *Television:Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA Race Day at 11:30 a.m. (ET).Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise 3 hours of final round eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). Team PR and Marketing Contacts:Dave Densmore, PR                  Elon Werner, PR                                 
Denswood Sports                     John Force Racing, Inc.               214-244-0008                             214-244-1184 denswood@aol.com                 Elon@johnforceracing.com       Chad Light, Marketing                Kelly Antonelli, Marketing           Andrew Hagstrom, SponsorshipJohn Force Racing, Inc.             John Force Racing, Inc.                 IMG714-921-8123                             317-858-8900                         714.326.3450Chad@johnforceracing.com       Kelly@johnforceracing.com         andrew.hagstrom@imgworld.comSponsor PR Contacts: Rick Lalor                                 Lori Anne Gola              Kevin KennedyAuto Club of SC                        BP Lubricants               Ford Racing                
714-885-2085                          973-633-2393                 313-203-7108lalor.rick@aaa-calif.com           lorianne.gola@bp.com     kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com MIKE NEFFMIKE NEFF PLANS TO CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE PERFORMANCE PUSH IN READINGREADING, PA (August 18, 2009) --- Mike Neff and his Ford Drive One Mustang team dodged a bullet in Brainerd, Minnesota. They went into Sunday’s elimination rounds as the No. 1 qualifier but an overly aggressive tune-up cost them a round win. Fortunately the two drivers, Matt Hagan and Cruz Pedregon, directly behind them in the Full Throttle point standings had to race each other in the first round and the winner, Pedregon, lost in the next round. Ninth place Neff has a tenuous ten point lead over Pedregon and a 40 point lead over rookie Matt Hagan who is in 11th place.After the round one mishap Neff and crew chief John Medlen both realized their aggressive tune up was too much for Brainerd International Raceway. They will continue to be aggressive for the next two races and into the Countdown but they will also keep in an eye on going rounds.“It is a double edge sword (being overly aggressive or not aggressive enough) right there (in first round of Brainerd) we just didn’t need to try to run as hard as we did. We felt that we could run a little better and the car did everything we wanted it to do it was just the track would not take it. The other guy runs a 4.19 and we are up there trying to run a 4.09 or a 4.10 we made a mistake. That is just the way it goes. We try to run as hard as we can every run. That time we just pressed a little too hard and shot ourselves in the foot. The positive is the Mustang is running good. The crew is doing a great job. Everything is working really good we just made a little error in our call that time,�?? said Neff.Heading into the 25th annual TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals Neff is excited about the prospects and the challenge in front of the Ford Drive One team.“The positive is we know our car runs as good as anybody. We’ll go to Reading and try it again next weekend,�?? said Neff.“I do think about (2005) when I start getting stressed and feeling the pressure. I know that I have been through actually more pressure, about as much pressure as anybody can image. That championship season experience of going to the last day of the season racing two other teams, Ron Capps and John Force, for the world championship where every round and every run counting like it was. I have been through this before and it is tough. I don’t let that bother me too much. I just try and stay relaxed. I want to go up there and be ready,�?? said the 2005 world champion crew chief.Last year in Reading Neff was also feeling the pressure as he was battling for a spot in the Countdown. A strong qualifying performance, No. 3, and a semi-final finish clinched his spot in the elite field. He and crew chief John Medlen battled a tricky track smoking the tires in their first and second round victories before dropping a close race to drag racing instructor and two-time world champion Frank Hawley.This year Neff is entering the race off a No. 1 qualifying performance in Brainerd. This was Neff’s second No. 1 qualifying effort in 2009 equally his total from the 2008 season.“There is no doubt our performance has gotten better this season. John Medlen and the crew have been doing a great job. I am getting better as a driver. I feel great in this Ford Drive One Mustang and I know Reading will be an important race for us. I want to go rounds and I want to be able to help my teammates John Force and Robert Hight,�?? said Neff. ####Did you know…-          When Neff does capture his first win for John Force Racing he will become the seventh different drivers to have won Funny Car races on the NHRA tour – John Force, Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Robert Hight, Ashley Force Hood and the late Eric Medlen.-          A strong 2008 rookie season for Neff allowed him to continue another John Force Racing tradition becoming the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four years to win the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year following Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley Force (2007).-          Neff and his three teammates (John Force, Ashley Force Hood and Robert Hight) will be cruising to Cabo San Lucas for New Year’s Eve as part of the John Force Racing Fan Cruise III sponsored by AAA. Fans can get more information by calling 1-888-874-7222. Get team info here: www.johnforceracing.comFollow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing