Drag Racing Press Releases

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2015) -Don Schumacher Racing started the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on Friday at Pomona, Calif., where it left off last November when Tony Schumacher and Matt Hagan won world championships.

After opening day of the NHRA Circle K Winternationals, Tommy Johnson Jr. is on the provisional pole in Funny Car while Schumacher is No. 2 in Top Fuel.

The final two qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday leading to Sunday's championship eliminations.

Johnson and the Make-A-Wish team led by crew chief John Collins produced the first provisional pole in the first race for DSR's all new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car body designed and developed by Mopar with assistance from DSR. The carbon-fiber bodies took nearly a year to develop and is the only all-new Funny Car body style competing in the Mello Yello series.

Johnson, who finished a career-best third in last year's standings, uncorked a time of 4.018 seconds at the day's top Funny Car speed of 314.46 mph in the opening day's second qualifying session at Auto Club Raceway.

"The new body is a welcome addition," Johnson said. "The vision is so much better. That actually paid off on that run. This is a hard place to see. When the sun is going down and with all the clutch dust in the car it can be a very difficult track to see. Having the extra vision really, really helped.

"The first run was on a really good one but it came loose out in the middle of the track," he said of the run in 4.227 (236.71).

"It was an easy adjustment for John and the guys to make. John just made some subtle changes in the middle of the race course to soften it up a little through there. It was just a nice, easy, clean 4.01, not even really getting after it. It leaves a lot of hope for two more runs tomorrow. There's a legitimate shot at going into the (3-second range)."

In Top Fuel, DSR's reigning world champion Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team is qualified No. 2 with a time of 3.757 (320.20) while teammate Spencer Massey and the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant team is third with a time of 3.761 at the day's top speed of 328.30. Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team is qualified 10th at 3.803.

When Schumacher competed in the season finale at Pomona he left with his eighth world championship.

"When you've got the Countdown (to the Championship) format, you've got to go out and you've got to win," he said. "But, really, it starts with the first run of the season. You want to show your strength and you want that No. 1 on the side of the car to portray to the rest of the guys and the fans that you are the champ for a reason. (Crew chief) Mike Green and (and assistant) Neal Strausbaugh and the rest of the guys really have this Army car thumping."

Johnson almost was upstaged by DSR teammate and reigning world champion Matt Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge who jumped to No. 8 in qualifying with a second-session run of 4.090 (310.70) but a few feet past the finish line an engine explosion led to a fireball.

JOHN FORCE PROVISIONAL No. 3 QUALIFIER ON FRIDAY

POMONA – After a tumultuous off-season John Force Racing started the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season with a strong first day of qualifying and high hopes for Saturday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The team’s efforts were led by 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and defending Circle K Winternationals Funny Car champion John Force’s provisional No. 3 qualifying effort, 4.061 seconds at 313.66 mph.

POMONA, Calif. - - Shawn Langdon made the quickest pass in NHRA history in the Knuckle Sandwich/AJPE Top Fuel dragster during today’s third qualifying session for the first race of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.  Langdon, whose Alan Johnson Racing team is searching for a sponsor after unexpectedly losing its funding in the final days of 2014, is the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier for tomorrow’s 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, and the team won this event in 2014.

TEAM JFR QUALIFYING REPORT
2014 NHRA Friday Qualifying Summary
24th of 24 races in the NHRA Mello Yello Series

The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello season is ready to cross the finish line as the teams roll into Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for this weekend’s 50th Annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. For John Force, it’s all or nothing, as he will be going full steam ahead in pursuing his 17th NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Championship title. When Force gets strapped into this 8000 horsepower Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang, he’ll be focused on rewriting the NHRA record books and claiming what could be his 142nd career victory, and another world title when the smoke and clutch dust clears after final eliminations this Sunday.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 23, 2014) - Veteran crew chief Jimmy Prock has been hired by Don Schumacher Racing for a position yet to be determined, DSR owner Don Schumacher announced Thursday.

Unofficial Mello Yello Regular Season Point Standings

Unofficial Mello Yello Regular Season Point Standings

FUNNY CAR – 1. John Force, Castrol GTX Ford, 1420; 2. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford, 1340; 3. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge, 1188; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Patron XO Café Toyota, 1148; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Make A Wish Dodge, 1107; 6. Courtney Force, Traxxas Ford, 1093; 7. Matt Hagan, Mopar Express Dodge, 1074; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota, 963; 9. Del Worsham, DHL Toyota, 961; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford, 883.  

TOP FUEL – 1. Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools dragster, 1479; 2. Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster, 1385; 3. Shawn Langdon, Al-Anabi dragster, 1261; 4. Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster, 1160;              5. Steve Torrence, Capco Contractors dragster, 1075; 6. Spencer Massey, Schumacher Electric dragster, 985; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, Al-Anabi dragster, 959; 8. Richie Crampton, GEICO dragster, 958; 9. Brittany Force, Castrol EDGE dragster, 921; 10. J.R. Todd, Optima Batteries dragster, 836.

PRO STOCK – 1. Jason Line, Summit Racing Chevrolet, 1408; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, Elite Chevrolet, 1324; 3. Allen Johnson, Mopar Dodge, 1318; 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., JEGS.com Dodge, 1254; 5. Dave Connolly, Charter Communications Chevy, 1231; 6. Shane Gray, Gray Engineering Chevrolet, 1188; 7. Vincent Nobile, Mountain View Tire Chevrolet, 1093; 8. Vieri Gaines, Kendall Dodge, 805; 9. Chris McGaha, Harlow Sammons Chevrolet, 782; 10. Jonathan Gray, Gray Motorsports Chevrolet, 725.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – 1. Andrew Hines, Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, 906; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, 889; 3. Hector Arana Jr., Lucas Oil Buell, 692; 4. Hector Arana, Lucas Oil Buell, 574; 5. John Hall, Viper Motorcycles Buell, 569; 6. Matt Smith, Stockseth Racing Buell, 563; 7. Michael Ray, GottSpeed/Star Racing Buell, 501; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, Quality Tire Buell, 493; 9. Angie Smith, Kandy Magazine Buell, 490; 10. Steve Johnson, SJR Suzuki, 462.       

Countdown to the Championship Point Standings

FUNNY CAR – 1. John Force, 2110; 2. Robert Hight, 2080; 3. Ron Capps, 2070; 4. Alexis DeJoria, 2060; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2050; 6. Courtney Force, 2040; 7. Matt Hagan, 2030; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 2020; 9. Del Worsham, 2010; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 2000.

TOP FUEL – 1. Doug Kalitta, 2110; 2. Antron Brown, 2080; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2070; 4. Tony Schumacher, 2060; 5. Steve Torrence, 2050; 6. Spencer Massey, 2040; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 2030; 8. Richie Crampton, 2020;  9. Brittany Force, 2010; 10. J.R. Todd, 2000.

PRO STOCK – 1. Jason Line, 2110; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, 2080; 3. Allen Johnson, 2070; 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., 2060; 5. Dave Connolly, 2050; 6. Shane Gray, 2040; 7. Vincent Nobile, 2030; 8. Vieri Gaines, 2020; 9. Chris McGaha, 2010; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2000.     

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE – 1. Andrew Hines, 2110; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2080; 3. Hector Arana Jr., 2070; 4. Hector Arana, 2060; 5. John Hall, 2050; 6. Matt Smith, 2040; 7. Michael Ray, 2030; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, 2020; 9. Angie Smith, 2010; 10. Steve Johnson, 2000.

Final round results from Monday’s 60th annual Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, eighteenth race in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

CONCORD, N.C. – Alexis DeJoria and Erica Enders-Stevens raced to No. 1 qualifying positions in their categories Saturday at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, extending the most successful season for females in NHRA history into the playoffs.

Team Press Release: (CONCORD, NC – SEPT 13, 2014) Angelle Sampey-Drago is returning to NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racing again, teaming with George and Jackie Bryce of Star Racing. Sampey-Drago, the three-time NHRA world champion, will once again thrill NHRA crowds with her personality and impressive resume with her sights set on becoming the all-time winningest NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer and becoming a four-time champion.

--For Immediate Release - CONCORD, N.C. – Former Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan opened NHRA's playoffs by racing to the qualifying lead Friday at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders at the first of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

Pep Boys to Sponsor Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 12-14 at zMAX Dragway

-- For Immediate Release

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2014) – zMAX Dragway officials announced The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: "PBY"), the nation's leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain, will be the title sponsor when the NHRA’s best return to the Bellagio of drag strips to kick off the six-race playoffs, Sept. 12-14, at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals.

TOPEKA, KS (May 25, 2014) – Courtney Force and the Traxxas Ford Mustang made more history at the 26th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals racing to victory and claiming the 100th pro win by a female in the history of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Force outran Cruz Pedregon in the final after dispatching Dale Creasy Jr., Jeff Arend, and Tommy Johnson Jr. leading up to the final.

BAYTOWN, TX – Mello Yello Funny Car points leader Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team did not let two sub-par runs on Friday distract them on Saturday at the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals. All three John Force Racing Funny Cars qualified for the race and Hight was the highest positioned driver in the No. 4 spot with a solid 4.073 second pass at 312.42 mph. Brittany Force and the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster will go into race day as the No. 8 qualified Top Fuel dragster.

GAINESVILLE, FL ---- Robert Hight may not have had a strong two days of qualifying at the 45th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals but when it counted his Auto Club Ford Mustang Funny Car was the class of the field winning for the first time in 2014. Hight reached the final two weeks ago in Phoenix but today he notched his thirtieth career win tying him with Funny Car legend Kenny Bernstein for sixth all-time in the Funny Car class. Hight outran John Force, 4.074 to 6.345 seconds.

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2014) - Experimenting with a 10,000-horsepower Funny Car sounds dangerous, but it is exactly what crew chief Rob Flynn did with Jack Beckman's Valvoline MaxLife Funny Car in the fourth and final qualifying session at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

The historic Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona, CA has been called the “Birthplace of Drag Racing” and twice a year, the National Hot Rod Association takes center stage there with two prestigious national events on their professional Mello Yello schedule.

POMONA, CA ---- For the seventh time in his career, John Force drove his Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang Funny Car to victory at the 54th running of the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. This was John Force’s sixth final in a row going back to the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello season but today’s final can be described as an epic rematch between two of the strongest Funny Cars in recent memory. It was at this same spot at the conclusion of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello season during the Auto Club Finals that John Force and Matt Hagan squared off against each other with John coming up on the losing end.  

POMONA – John Force picked up right where he left off in 2013 when he raced to his unprecedented 16th Mello Yello Funny Car championship. On the first day of the 2014 NHRA season at the 54th annual NHRA Circle K Winternationals the winningest driver in NHRA history lowered the track elapsed time record he set in November at the Auto Club Finals twice en route to unofficially setting the national elapsed time record. NHRA national records become official at the conclusion of the race but his 3.966 second pass to close out the second qualifying session has a great chance of standing up for a long time.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10) – JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. added another page to his already stellar racing resume by clinching the 2013 Pro Stock championship Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway.

Coughlin became just the eighth driver in NHRA history to win a fifth professional championship, as he earned previous Pro Stock titles in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2008. As a sportsman driver, Coughlin also won the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1992.

POMONA, CA---- John Force ended his 2013 Mello Yello NHRA championship season on a high night but not the highest note. Force lost a close final round to Matt Hagan at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang had been nearly invincible the past five races. In the final he covered the 1000 ft. race track in 4.0057 seconds but Hagan was slightly quicker with a 4.018 second pass. His win streak may have been stopped at three races but the competitive fire was fanned heading into the off-season.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2013) - A close friend of Matt Hagan and member of the Mopar/Rocky Boots Funny Car team couldn't come to this weekend's NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season finale in Southern California.

Their friend and crew chief, Dickie Venables, had to stay back in Indianapolis after having successful intestinal surgery on Wednesday. He was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Hagan and his crew, led at the Auto Club Finals by first-year assistant crew chief Michael Knudsen, could have passed the hat to collect enough money to send Venables flowers, candy or a really nice card.

Instead, the Mopar/Rocky team delivered an unbelievable weekend to the recuperating Venables that culminated Sunday with Hagan beating 2013 Funny Car world champion John Force in the championship round Sunday.

"I'm on cloud nine that our assistant crew chief stepped up and was able to fill some big shoes," Hagan said. "Mike Knudsen has never tuned a race car by himself before. There hasn't been another crew chief in our lounge all weekend.

POMONA, CA (November 9, 2013) –John Force will go into race day at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals as the No. 1 qualifier. Force was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday on the strength of his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car’s 4.015 second pass. Today during the final qualifying session Force was bumped back by Matt Hagan’s 4.014 second pass before the newly crowned 16-time Mello Yello NHRA Funny Car champion raced into the record books with the first three second pass in Funny Car history at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, 3.995 seconds at 319.37 mph. 

POMONA, Calif. -- Jeg Coughlin Jr. is so close to the 2013 Pro Stock title he can almost feel the golden Wally trophy in his hands. But the five-time world champ won't let his mind wander that far, even though he enjoys a 71-point lead in the Mello Yello points as he arrives at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the season-ending 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals.

BROWNSBURG, Ind.  - The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series has been a remarkable turnaround for Matt Hagan.

In 2012, Hagan never won an event title or led qualifying, suffered nine first-round losses and failed to make the Countdown to the Championship playoffs for a chance to defend his 2011 NHRA Funny Car championship

Driver of Castrol EDGE Top Fuel Dragster Hopes to Affect Strong Finish

POMONA, Calif. – For rookie Brittany Force, the world’s fastest credentialed schoolteacher, this week’s season finale at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Calif., represents a final exam, of sorts, in this her first year of post graduate study at the UHP, the University of High Performance.

For the 27-year-old graduate of Cal State-Fullerton, who also spent a semester at New York’s Hunter College, the 49th annual Auto Club Finals offers one last opportunity to make the Dean’s List

16-Time Champ Aims for Ninth Victory in Season-Ending Auto Club Finals

POMONA, Calif. – He may already have clinched a record 16th NHRA Funny Car championship, but rivals know that John Force isn’t just going to “mail it in” this week when the 2013 Mello Yello tour concludes with the 49th annual Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Auto Club NHRA Final

Auto Club NHRA Finals

Auto Club Raceway Pomona

Pomona, CA (Nov 7-10)

The Auto Club NHRA Finals is the sixth and final event in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff that will determine the 2013 Full Throttle Champions. Jeg Coughlin Jr. enters the event as the leader in the Pro Stock class. He currently leads second-ranked Jason Line by 71 points

YORBA LINDA, CA (October 29, 2013) --- With one more day of testing behind her, Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future contender, Brittany Force is eager to get to the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona. The rookie driver of the Castrol EDGE Top Fuel dragster, the first Top Fueler ever campaign by the 18-time Funny Car championship team, picked up another round win at the Toyota NHRA Nationals giving her eight round wins which leads all rookies this season.

LAS VEGAS (October 25, 2013) –  After the first day of qualifying at the 13th annual Toyota Nationals, Courtney Force sits at the top of the ladder in the provisional No. 1 spot. Force slipped in the first session, but her Traxxas Ford Mustang rallied in the second qualifying attempt to put a 4.052 on the board with not only top speed of the event, but a track record of 318. 24 mph.

READING, Pa. (Oct. 6) – JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. took command of the Pro Stock points lead with a brilliant performance in winning the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway.

CHARLOTTE, NC ---- For one afternoon history repeated itself at the 6th annual Carlyle Tools Carolina NHRA Nationals as Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang won and made a dramatic jump up the Mello Yello Funny Car point standings. In 2009 Hight defeated Matt Hagan in the finals and in the process jumped from 10th to 3rd in the point standings. Today in front of a packed crowd at zMax Dragway Hight again bested Hagan and moved from 9th to 3rd heading to the second race of the Countdown to the Championship.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 15) – JEGS.com/Mopar Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. added to his already impressive resume with an important victory in the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Sept. 13, 2013)  –  Motorsports historian, car collector and retired racer Peter Sachs will speak about his racing years and his work with the Klemantaski Collection photography archives on Oct. 5 at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen.

CHARLOTTE, NC (Sept. 14, 2013) – On the eve of the Countdown to the Championship’s first race John Force and Robert Hight served notice that they will be ready for race day. The tandem posted the quickest or second quickest runs in both sessions today at the Carlyle Tools Carolina NHRA Nationals.

CONCORD, N.C. — If Top Fuel standout Shawn Langdon could pick a place to continue to his red-hot momentum after recently winning the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the Traxxas Nitro Shootout, zMAX Dragway would likely be one of his top choices.

Langdon’s first career Top Fuel win came there during the Countdown to the Championship playoff opener a year ago and when the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts gets underway Sept 13-15, the No. 1 seed will have plenty of good vibes about what has transpired since that important victory.

RICHMOND, VA - RIS - Brian Scott dominated the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.  So much so that the usually lively track seemed almost, dare I say it, boring, but the defending Sprint Cup champion had other ideas.  Driving a car that got better the loonger the race continued, the champ gave the Penske Ford Mustang it's 5th victory of the season and expanded the lead for the team in the owner's championship.

BRAINERD, MN ---- On a day when the winner’s circle eluded John Force Racing the team kept their eyes on the bigger prize as John Force and Courtney Force both clinched their berths in the 2013 Countdown to the Championship. By virtue of their first round wins and a first round loss by Del Worsham the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang and the Traxxas Ford Mustang will be running for the championship over the last six races of the season.

NORWALK, Ohio (July 3) -- Halfway through the 2013 NHRA Pro Mod Series schedule, defending world champion Troy Coughlin is right where he wants to be -- at the top of the national points ranking. It's a perch he plans on keeping, which means a big outing at this weekend's tour stop in Norwalk, Ohio, is a top priority 

After big weekend of bracket racing, Troy Coughlin Jr is ready for NHRA glory.

DELAWARE, Ohio -- Third-generation drag racer Troy Coughlin Jr. is heading to Route 66 Raceway for the next stop on the NHRA Mello Yello tour. The 22-year-old upstart will compete in both Super Comp and Super Gas, two categories where he's had multiple successes in the past.