COMING ATTRACTIONS
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, April 13-15: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops of the season in Charlotte, N.C., for the only four-wide national event. Winners from 2011 were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call (800) 455-FANS (3267) or log on to CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com.
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 27-29: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first stop of the season in the Lone Star State for the sixth race of the season. Winners from 2011 were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call (281) 383-RACE (7223) or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com.
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, MAY 4-6:The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Georgia for the seventh race of the season, one of NHRA’s long-established events. Defending winners are Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.
SWITCHING UP THE THOUGHT PROCESS: Spencer Massey has earned two victories in 2012 by crossing the finish line first four times in a row at each race, but as the NHRA heads to zMAX Dragway for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the format changes, and so does his thought process: “Last year, I remember I was right behind Del Worsham and remember thinking, ‘OK, I hope I’m second, I hope I’m second, I hope I’m second, and we were second.’ It’s a little different strategy, but that’s what makes it that much better for the fans, that much better for all of us. Because it’s four-wide drag racing at 300 mph. It’s awesome.”
TOBLER NAMED NEW CREW CHIEF FOR CAPPS IN RESTRUCTURING AT DON SCHUMACHER RACING: Rahn Tobler has been named crew chief for the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car of Ron Capps effective immediately, team owner Don Schumacher has announced. Don Schumacher Racing also has hired veteran tuner Todd Smith as the new crew chief for the Valvoline NextGen Funny Car driven by Jack Beckman in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Smith's first race with the team will be the April 13-15 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway's zMAX Dragway. Tobler also will be the lead tuner for Beckman's team for at least the next two Full Throttle events as Smith transitions to his new position. John Collins will assist Tobler on the NAPA Auto Parts team, and Terry Snyder will assist Smith on Beckman's car.
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGE: The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 13-15, is one of the greatest spectacles in motorsports, so winning means that much more; a victory at the race is one of the most sought after on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit. Just ask past event winners John Force, Greg Anderson, and Jack Beckman how it feels to race and win at the greatest spectacle in drag racing. When they return with other NHRA stars to zMAX Dragway, they will attempt to make history as the only two-time winners of the four-wide event. Fans can purchase two tickets to any day of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for $60 and receive a choice of two T-shirts, two beer vouchers or two Coca-Cola soft drinks, and two hot dogs. Children 13 and younger will be admitted free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
TESTING THE WATERS IN TOP FUEL: John Force is famous for being the most successful Funny Car driver in NHRA history, and two of his daughters have followed in his Funny Car tire tracks, but his daughter Brittany has a different plan. She intends to take the Force family name to the Top Fuel ranks in 2013. The team has been testing her Top Fuel car with a Boss 500 motor following several events this season, including the Monday after the Las Vegas race. Brittany made family history when she became the first Force in the sub-four-second range with her 3.962-second pass. Although that stat is unofficial because it wasn’t in NHRA competition, it is likely official in the Force family.
Rahn Tobler
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 58TH ANNUAL MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY: Tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, are on sale, and the excitement level for this tradition-rich event builds with each new day. This year, the event will run Aug. 29-Sept. 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and will showcase all four classes in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Tickets range from $10 to $61 and can be purchased by logging on to NHRATix.com or calling 800-884-6472. Those purchasing tickets in advance will have an advantage over those waiting until the race as advance ticket purchases will cost less than those purchased the days of the races. Also, purchasing your ticket in advance will secure you a premium seat.
GLENDORA, Calif. (May 1, 2012) – It was announced today that long-time member of the Division 6 Safety Team, Frank Nelson Jr., has been named NHRA Northwest Division Director (Div. 6).
“Nelson is well established in the Northwest Division and his familiarity with the racers and NHRA Member Tracks in the region, made him the ideal candidate for the job,” said Josh Peterson, vice president of racing administration at NHRA. “His entrepreneurial assets as a small business owner are well-suited to assist and grow the NHRA Member Track network in the Northwest.”
Nelson began working with the Division 6 Safety Safari in 1994 and served as safety director starting in 2007. He is a certified SFI instructor and as safety director he works with race tracks both within and outside the division on the SFI Safety Program.
Outside his duties at NHRA sanctioned events, Nelson is a managing partner of Pacific Power Batteries of Bellingham, a retail battery store in Bellingham, Wash. Prior to that, Nelson worked for Waste Management Northwest for 13 years.
“I’m excited to serve the racing community, both drivers and track owners and operators, in Division 6,” said Nelson, who resides in Lake Stevens, Wash. “I have worked for years within the Pacific Northwest and believe the relationships I have developed will advance and grow racer participation and tracks in the region.”
Nelson begins his new role as Division 6 Director May 1.
NHRA’s Northwest Division is responsible for conducting and overseeing drag racing activities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Currently, there are 17 NHRA Member Tracks in the region including one in Idaho, two in Montana, six in Oregon, five in Washington and three in Western Canada.