National Hot Rod Association - NHRA

FORCE ENDS 40-RACE WINLESS STREAK WITH 50TH WINTERNATIONALS WIN
Dixon, Edwards complete winner’s circle at 2010 season-opening race

POMONA, Calif. – On a weekend in which NHRA paid tribute to its rich history during the 50th running of the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, NHRA legend John Force turned back the clock himself by winning for the first time in a year-and-a-half.

The other winners at the season-opening event in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). All three final rounds featured drivers who ranked in the top-10 on the all-time wins lists in their respective classes.

The holeshot win for Force (4.124 at 298.67 to Capps’ 4.123 at 305.08), who had a .016 advantage (.057 to .073) on the tree, was the NHRA-record 127th in his legendary career, but his first in 40 races dating back to Topeka, 2008.

“I’ve got a good race car and a good brain trust,” said Force, who kept Capps (29 FC wins) from tying Kenny Bernstein (30 FC wins) for fourth place on the all-time Funny Car wins list. “Then you start to think it’s me and maybe I’m not a good driver. I came out here this weekend with the right attitude to get in the fight and walked out of here with a win.”

Force, the 14-time champion, is in first place for the first time since Nov. 12, 2006, the last day of the 2006 season when he celebrated the last of his 14 championships in his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang.

“I read in the paper that 60 is the new 40, and I’m going with that. I am just a guy that won a race with a great team around me. Sometimes a little bit of change gets people moving again and this team is moving again. I am proud that I could win this 50th (Winternationals),” Force said.

In Top Fuel, Dixon powered his Al-Anabi dragster to a 3.808 at 316.60 for a narrow win over defending Winternationals champion Doug Kalitta and the Kalitta Motorsports dragster team (3.848 at 310.05).

“It’s beyond words,” said Dixon, who notched his 49th career win, tying him for eighth place on the all-time NHRA wins list with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. “With all the hype going into this race for the 50th it feels good to just have a shot at it. Then to actually do it, I really feel blessed to be in this car and with this team.”

The win was the fifth for Dixon at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (four Winternationals, one Finals), the track he grew up and the one where his father Larry won the Winternationals Top Fuel title in 1970. The Dixons are one of two father-son tandems to have won Winternationals Top Fuel titles (Connie and Scott Kalitta).

Dixon went through quite a gauntlet for the win, defeating Steve Chrisman in the opening round before eliminating Brandon Bernstein in the quarters and six-time defending champion Tony Schumacher in semis.

In Pro Stock, defending champion Edwards left the line second in his Penhall/Interstate Batteries Pontiac GXP, but he made up the difference with a booming 6.577 at 210.47 (to Anderson’s 6.618 at 209.62 in his Summit Racing Pontiac) to win by a final margin of .003 at the stripe.

“It’s a major win,” Edwards said. “What a way to start the season. My team is outrageously dependable and they make the car go down the track. We are real fortunate to have what we have.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Series continues next weekend, Feb. 19-21, in Phoenix with the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.


POMONA, Calif. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Larry Dixon; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Cory McClenathan; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Brandon Bernstein; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Troy Buff; 9. Steve Torrence; 10. Morgan Lucas; 11. Steven Chrisman; 12. Steve Faria; 13. Chris Karamesines; 14. Thomas Nataas; 15. Terry McMillen; 16. David Grubnic.

FUNNY CAR:

1. John Force, Ford Mustang; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Jack Beckman; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. Ashley Force Hood; 6. Cruz Pedregon; 7. Del Worsham; 8. Matt Hagan; 9. Melanie Troxel; 10. Jeff Arend; 11. Tony Pedregon; 12. Gary Densham; 13. Tim Wilkerson; 14. Jim Head; 15. Bob Bode; 16. Robert Hight.

PRO STOCK:

1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Allen Johnson; 4. Larry Morgan; 5. Greg Stanfield; 6. Shane Gray; 7. Rodger Brogdon; 8. Ronnie Humphrey; 9. Jason Line; 10. Vinnie Deceglie; 11. Steve Spiess; 12. Ron Krisher; 13. Johnny Gray; 14. Kurt Johnson; 15. Justin Humphreys; 16. Jeg Coughlin.


POMONA, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 3.808 seconds, 316.60 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.848 seconds, 310.05 mph.

Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.124, 298.67 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.123, 305.08.

Pro Stock -- Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.577, 210.47 def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.618, 209.62.


POMONA, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Shawn Langdon, 3.855, 315.93 def. David Grubnic, broke; Brandon Bernstein, 3.887, 312.64 def. Thomas Nataas, 10.242, 72.05; Antron Brown, 3.883, 314.61 def. Steve Torrence, 3.897, 310.98; Troy Buff, 3.950, 295.85 def. Morgan Lucas, 4.108, 263.92; Cory McClenathan, 3.843, 318.77 def. Steve Faria, 5.482, 126.82; Larry Dixon, 3.799, 318.99 def. Steven Chrisman, 5.301, 130.58; Tony Schumacher, 7.838, 73.37 def. Chris Karamesines, foul; Doug Kalitta, 4.518, 254.14 def. Terry McMillen, 11.960, 54.85;

QUARTERFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.929, 309.84 def. Buff, 7.715, 84.99; Schumacher, 3.923, 302.69 def. Brown, 4.535, 196.99; McClenathan, 3.855, 314.39 def. Langdon, 3.916, 306.74; Dixon, 3.854, 316.82 def. Bernstein, 3.929, 309.34;

SEMIFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.849, 315.64 def. McClenathan, 3.860, 315.86; Dixon, 3.836, 317.05 def. Schumacher, 3.836, 317.05;

FINAL -- Dixon, 3.808, 316.60 def. Kalitta, 3.848, 310.05.


FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.524, 270.00 def. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.572, 278.69; John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.132, 308.07 def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 6.109, 113.40; Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.188, 302.82 def. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.205, 301.67; Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.330, 251.81 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, DQ; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.191, 301.33 def. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.197, 304.32; Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.121, 307.72 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.720, 185.95; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.164, 306.12 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.210, 306.33; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.174, 301.20 def. Jim Head, Solara, 5.825, 98.88;

QUARTERFINALS -- Tasca III, 4.196, 301.00 def. Hagan, 4.636, 237.25; Capps, 4.153, 299.60 def. C.Pedregon, 4.307, 284.45; Force, 4.120, 305.49 def. Force Hood, 4.187, 305.98; Beckman, 4.183, 304.32 def. Worsham, 4.587, 244.38;

SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 4.158, 300.46 def. Tasca III, 12.686, 46.02; Force, 4.125, 305.56 def. Beckman, 5.658, 132.02;

FINAL -- Force, 4.124, 298.67 def. Capps, 4.123, 305.08.


PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GXP, 6.635, 209.17 def. Jason Line, GXP, 6.624, 209.75; Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.676, 208.14 def. Vinnie Deceglie, Dodge Avenger, 6.647, 208.71; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.608, 210.31 def. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 7.263, 163.00; Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.651, 209.07 def. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.717, 205.88; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.637, 209.49 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.667, 207.66; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.604, 210.57 def. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 10.628, 85.83; Shane Gray, GXP, 6.668, 207.66 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.685, 208.07; Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.702, 206.39 def. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 11.876, 76.45;

QUARTERFINALS -- Morgan, 6.674, 208.07 def. Humphrey, 12.837, 68.67; A. Johnson, 6.634, 209.20 def. Brogdon, foul; Anderson, 6.626, 209.75 def. S. Gray, 6.697, 207.88; Edwards, 6.610, 210.05 def. Stanfield, 6.659, 208.91;

SEMIFINALS -- Anderson, 6.632, 209.10 def. Morgan, 6.681, 208.20; Edwards, 6.615, 210.11 def. A. Johnson, 6.645, 209.95;

FINAL -- Edwards, 6.577, 210.47 def. Anderson, 6.618, 209.62.


POMONA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Larry Dixon, 122; 2. Doug Kalitta, 96; 3. Cory McClenathan, 86; 4. Tony Schumacher, 81; 5. Shawn Langdon, 55; 6. (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 52; Antron Brown, 52; Troy Buff, 52; 9. Morgan Lucas, 36; 10. (tie) Thomas Nataas, 34. Steve Torrence, 34.


Funny Car

1. John Force, 121; 2. Ron Capps, 94; 3. Bob Tasca III, 78; 4. Jack Beckman, 74; 5. Del Worsham, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, 57; 7. Ashley Force Hood, 56; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 51; 9. Robert Hight, 43; 10. (tie) Jim Head, 33. Tony Pedregon, 33.
 

Pro Stock

1. Mike Edwards, 130; 2. Greg Anderson, 95; 3. Allen Johnson, 78; 4. Larry Morgan, 71; 5. Rodger Brogdon, 54; 6. Greg Stanfield, 53; 7. Ronnie Humphrey, 52; 8. Shane Gray, 51; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 42; 10. Ron Krisher, 39.



NHRA LUCAS OIL SERIES RESULTS

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Chris Demke, 5.332, 269.67 def. Joey Severance, 5.916, 196.42.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Sean O'Bannon, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5.541, 259.96 def. Doug Gordon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.643, 259.16.

Competition Eliminator -- Lou Ficco Jr., GXP, 8.624, 114.87 def. Dean Carter, Dragster, foul.

Super Stock -- Jeff Lane, Achieva, 8.880, 153.63 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Cobalt, 8.806, 153.39.

Stock Eliminator -- Brad Burton, Formula, 10.820, 119.97 def. Ryan McClanahan, Firebird, 9.817, 135.43.

Super Comp -- Kevin Wright, Dragster, 9.902, 107.96 def. Ed Olpin, Dragster, broke.

Super Gas -- Brad Pierce, Corvette, 9.901, 146.45 def. Jimmy Lewis, Corvette, 9.905, 151.44.
 

McCLENATHAN TAKES TOP SPOT IN TOP FUEL; HIGHT, EDWARDS ALSO AT TOP OF CATEGORIES AT POMONA

POMONA, Calif. – Perennial bridesmaid Cory McClenathan stated his championship case with a stout 3.787-second pass in the next-to-last pair Saturday night to claim the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel at the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline.

The other No. 1 qualifiers at the 50th annual Winternationals were Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), each of whom celebrated his first career NHRA Full Throttle Series championship just three months earlier at this track when the curtain fell on the 2009 season.

McClenathan (FRAM dragster) was followed in the final pair by defending champion Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) and runner-up Larry Dixon (Al-Anabi) and his run held up by a thousandth-of-a-second when Dixon just missed with his time of 3.788.

“It backs up what you say,” McClenathan said. “We need to go in with the attitude that we need to take it, no one’s going to give it to us. Looking over my shoulder, yeah, we’ve got some tough competitors, but it’s nice to go out and do what we did tonight.”

McClenathan, who has 10 top-five finishes in his career and four second-place finishes, posted a top speed of at 320.05 mph on the No. 1 qualifying pass, the 34th of his career and third at the Winternationals.

“Todd (Okuhara, crew chief) came back and said it’s all or nothing. It’s going to go all the way, or 60 feet, and by the time we got to half track I knew we were on a good run,” said McClenathan, who will meet No. 16 Steve Faria in the first round of eliminations Sunday.

Hight set the pace in the first qualifying session on Thursday with a 4.059-second pass at a track-record 312.86 mph in his Auto Club Ford Mustang and that time held up on Saturday. It was the 33rd No. 1 of his career and second-straight at the Winternationals.

“I didn’t think it would hold,” Hight said. “But what is awesome, we got one good run in today … a (4.)10 and ours was backed off so that’s what’s really going to win this race (Sunday), runs like that.”

Hight will meet 2008 Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon in the first round of eliminations on Sunday in a matchup of the last two NHRA Full Throttle Series champions.

“There are no easy rounds,” Hight said. “I’m racing 2008 Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon in the first round and we know he is always tough.”

In Pro Stock, defending Full Throttle Series champion Edwards picked up where he left off in 2009 with his 10th straight No. 1 qualifier, claiming the position with his 6.578 at 211.00 in his Penhall/Interstate Batteries Pontiac GXP in the early session Saturday.

“It does (feel good). My guys did an awesome job today, made some awesome calls, made a really, really good run this morning,” said Edwards, who will meet No. 16 qualifier Justin Humphreys and the RaceRedi Motorsports Ford Mustang team in the first round.

The 50th annual Winternationals begins Sunday at 11 with Top Fuel, followed by Funny Car and Pro Stock.


POMONA, Calif. -- First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 3.787 seconds, 320.05 mph vs. 16. Steve Faria, 5.610, 121.18; 2. Larry Dixon, 3.788, 317.79 vs. 15. Steven Chrisman, 4.604, 267.43; 3. Tony Schumacher, 3.801, 320.05 vs. 14. Chris Karamesines, 4.035, 308.00; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.822, 317.72 vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.955, 303.64; 5. Morgan Lucas, 3.823, 316.90 vs. 12. Troy Buff, 3.950, 294.05; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.844, 314.17 vs. 11. Antron Brown, 3.869, 313.73; 7. Thomas Nataas, 3.844, 310.34 vs. 10. Brandon Bernstein, 3.863, 312.57; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.847, 309.98 vs. 9. David Grubnic, 3.849, 319.60.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Andy Carter, 6.093, 218.34; 18. Mike Strasburg, 7.791, 96.14.

Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.059, 312.86 vs. 16. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.300, 301.20; 2. Del Worsham, Solara, 4.062, 312.35 vs. 15. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.200, 281.13; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.066, 310.41 vs. 14. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.184, 264.49; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.075, 306.88 vs. 13. Melanie Troxel, Dodge Charger, 4.180, 304.67; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.091, 308.64 vs. 12. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.167, 293.60; 6. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.093, 310.70 vs. 11. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.167, 298.73; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.101, 310.91 vs. 10. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.151, 307.58; 8. Jim Head, Solara, 4.131, 304.74 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.144, 301.54. Did Not Qualify: 17. Terry Haddock, 4.652, 257.09; 18. Jeff Diehl, 5.869, 283.91; 19. Paul Lee, 8.165, 278.58.

Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.578, 211.00 vs. 16. Justin Humphreys, GXP, 6.650, 209.10; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.591, 210.08 vs. 15. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.645, 207.88; 3. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.595, 209.75 vs. 14. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.642, 208.23; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.595, 209.56 vs. 13. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.631, 208.26; 5. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.603, 209.36 vs. 12. Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.627, 208.52; 6. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.608, 209.82 vs. 11. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.627, 209.39; 7. Vinnie Deceglie, Avenger, 6.613, 209.23 vs. 10. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.619, 209.75; 8. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.617, 209.30 vs. 9. Jason Line, GXP, 6.619, 210.24. Did Not Qualify: 17. Bob Yonke, 6.654, 208.14; 18. Danny Gruninger, 6.657, 207.62; 19. Warren Johnson, 6.659, 208.36; 20. V. Gaines, 6.661, 207.82; 21. Rickie Jones, 7.859, 129.29; 22. John Nobile, 14.265, 207.82; 23. Gordie Rivera, broke.
 

DIXON JOINS DEFENDING CHAMPIONS HIGHT, EDWARDS ON PROVISIONAL POLE

POMONA, Calif. – Larry Dixon joined Robert Hight and Mike Edwards as the provisional pole-sitters after the second of three days of qualifying at the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline on Friday.

Dixon assumed the provisional No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel from Thursday pace-setter Cory McClenathan with a 3.795-second pass at 317.79 mph. The run all but ensures that Dixon will be in the show a year after the eventual Series runner-up DNQ’d at last year’s rain-soaked Winternationals, his first race for Al-Anabi Racing.

“We’re going to race this year so I’m thrilled about that…” Dixon said. “Today’s probably more realistic of what we’ll see during the weekend. Alan (Johnson) and Jason (McCulloch) made the adjustments (after the car smoked the tires Thursday) and it stuck so that’s nice.”

In Funny Car, defending Full Throttle Series champion Hight set the pace on Thursday with a 4.059 at a track-record 312.86 mph in his Auto Club Ford Mustang and that time held up on Friday. It would be the 33rd No. 1 of his career and second-straight at the Winternationals.

But the run of the day in Funny Car on Friday belonged to John Force, whose category-best 4.066 at 310.41 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang vaulted the 14-time champion up to No. 3 on the ladder behind Hight and Del Worsham (4.062).

“It’s just exciting always to be back. We’ve worked real hard over the winter,” Force said. “I’m excited (Austin) Coil, (Mike Neff) and Bernie (Fedderly) are working together. Coil is loving it having a young kid with a lot of energy running around.”

In Pro Stock, defending Full Throttle Series champion Edwards’ 6.580 at 210.47 from Thursday in his Penhall/Interstate Batteries Pontiac GXP also remained on top. This would be Edwards’ 10th straight No. 1 dating back to 2009 when he finished with nine straight No. 1s.

“(Saturday) morning possibly could be a pretty good run,” Edwards said. “But the hotter it gets, it definitely affects the track. You just have to make an adjustment and race the track.”

Qualifying at the historic 50th running of the Winternationals concludes with the third and fourth sessions on Saturday when the fields will be set for Sunday’s final eliminations.


POMONA, Calif. -- Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Larry Dixon, 3.795 seconds, 317.79 mph; 2. Cory McClenathan, 3.809, 320.05; 3. Morgan Lucas, 3.823, 316.90; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.835, 317.57; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.847, 309.98; 6. David Grubnic, 3.854, 319.60; 7. Antron Brown, 3.869, 313.73; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.876, 313.44; 9. Thomas Nataas, 3.880, 306.33; 10. Brandon Bernstein, 3.899, 310.98; 11. Steve Torrence, 3.929, 305.42; 12. Troy Buff, 3.950, 286.01. Not Qualified: 13. Chris Karamesines, 3.997, 308.00; 14. Steven Chrisman, 4.239, 267.43; 15. Andy Carter, 4.260, 218.34; 16. Mike Strasburg, 7.622, 91.96; 17. Terry McMillen, 8.674, 84.24.

Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.059, 312.86; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.062, 312.35; 3. John Force, Mustang, 4.066, 310.41; 4. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.093, 310.70; 5. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.101, 310.91; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.109, 305.01; 7. Jim Head, Solara, 4.166, 304.74; 8. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.167, 293.60; 9. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.167, 289.76; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.182, 294.43; 11. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.184, 264.49; 12. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.189, 305.01. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Tasca III, 4.190, 299.26; 14. Cruz Pedregon, 4.231, 301.20; 15. Melanie Troxel, 4.296, 285.95; 16. Jeff Diehl, 4.299, 283.91; 17. Paul Lee, 4.327, 278.58; 18. Terry Haddock, 4.422, 257.09; 19. Jeff Arend, 4.712, 175.02.

Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.580, 210.47; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.591, 209.59; 3. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.595, 209.75; 4. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.603, 209.36; 5. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.611, 209.56; 6. Vinnie Deceglie, Avenger, 6.613, 209.23; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.617, 209.30; 8. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.623, 209.62; 9. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.631, 208.26; 10. Jason Line, GXP, 6.640, 209.79; 11. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.642, 208.23; 12. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.644, 209.26. Not Qualified: 13. V. Gaines, 6.647, 207.82; 14. Kurt Johnson, 6.654, 208.71; 15. John Nobile, 6.660, 207.82; 16. Warren Johnson, 6.662, 208.10; 17. Larry Morgan, 6.674, 207.72; 18. Bob Yonke, 6.675, 208.01; 19. Justin Humphreys, 6.678, 207.94; 20. Johnny Gray, 6.681, 208.14; 21. Danny Gruninger, 6.681, 207.18; 22. Gordie Rivera, 6.730, 204.54; 23. Rickie Jones, 8.395, 116.98.
 

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS HIGHT, EDWARDS OPEN 2010 WITH PROVISIONAL POLES
McClenathan is provisional pace-setter in Top Fuel

POMONA, Calif. – Defending champions Robert Hight and Mike Edwards picked up right where they left off with pace-setting runs on the first day of qualifying at the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline on Thursday.

Joining Hight (Funny Car) and Edwards (Pro Stock) was Cory McClenathan, who rounded out the provisional qualifying leaders through the first of four rounds of qualifying at the historic 50th running of the Winternationals.

The Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is the first of 17 races in NHRA’s regular season, the Countdown to 10.

In Top Fuel, McClenathan claimed the provisional pole in his FRAM dragster with a 3.809-second pass at 320.05 mph. McClenathan had to wait out the final pass of the day that saw six-time defending champion Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army dragster go up in flames and 2009 runner-up Larry Dixon smoke the tires on his Al-Anabi dragster.

“I can guarantee you one thing: it won’t stick,” said McClenathan, seeking his 34th career No. 1. “But it’s nice to come out, we made a commitment to come here with a better power package than we left here (at the season-ending Auto Club Finals in November) and we were 282 at half-track, so that feels good.”

McClenathan, who finished fourth last year and second in points four other times in his career, says he’s ready to mount a challenge for the title this year from the start in his Don Schumacher Racing-owned car.

“We plan on making noise early,” McClenathan said. “I’m tired of waiting, lurking; we’re going to try to go toe-to-toe with these guys from day one.”

In Funny Car, defending Full Throttle Series champion Robert Hight set the pace in his Auto Club Ford Mustang with a 4.059-second pass at a track-record 312.86 mph. If the performance holds through Saturday’s qualifying, it would be the 33rd No. 1 of his career and second straight at the Winternationals.

“It’s definitely good to get off on a nice foot,” Hight said. “I figured it would run an oh-five (4.05). That’s what we ran in Phoenix (in testing) and we didn’t change anything.”

Hight was in the last pair of the session with teammate Ashley Force Hood and his pace-setting run moved him around Del Worsham and the Al-Anabi Toyota team.

“Definitely feel bad for my buddy, Del Worsham, on his 40th birthday, bumping him,” Hight said.

In Pro Stock, defending Full Throttle Series champion Edwards set the early pace in his brand new Interstate Batteries Pontiac with a 6.580 at 210.47. This would be Edwards’ 10th straight No. 1 dating back to 2009 when he finished the season with nine-straight No. 1s.

“We did start off good, that’s for sure,” Edwards said. “We’re happy with our start, we’re ready to start the new season and hopefully we can build on this first run and get better as the weekend progresses.”

Qualifying resumes with Round 2 on Friday and Rounds 3 and 4 on Saturday before the fields are set for Sunday’s final eliminations.



POMONA, Calif. -- Results Thursday after the first of four rounds of qualifying for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Friday and Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 3.809 seconds, 320.05 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.847, 309.98; 3. Thomas Nataas, 3.880, 306.33; 4. Troy Buff, 3.950, 286.01; 5. David Grubnic, 3.954, 258.52; 6. Chris Karamesines, 3.997, 308.00; 7. Tony Schumacher, 4.056, 206.99; 8. Doug Kalitta, 4.254, 265.95; 9. Steve Torrence, 6.124, 105.23; 10. Larry Dixon, 7.439, 112.87; 11. Mike Strasburg, 7.688, 85.52; 12. Antron Brown, 8.361, 76.03. Not Qualified: 13. Morgan Lucas, 8.580, 59.18; 14. Terry McMillen, 8.674, 80.00; 15. Brandon Bernstein, 9.402, 76.45; 16. Andy Carter, 10.485, 72.63; 17. Steven Chrisman, 11.936, 75.25.

Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.059, 312.86; 2. Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.062, 312.35; 3. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.093, 310.70; 4. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.101, 310.91; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.109, 305.01; 6. Jim Head, Solara, 4.166, 304.74; 7. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 4.167, 293.60; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.182, 294.43; 9. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 4.184, 264.49; 10. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.190, 299.26; 11. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.296, 285.95; 12. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.377, 270.81. Not Qualified: 13. Jeff Arend, 4.712, 175.02; 14. Cruz Pedregon, 5.508, 138.80; 15. Ron Capps, 8.725, 75.85; 16. Terry Haddock, 11.554, 73.27; 17. Paul Lee, broke; 18. John Force, broke.

Pro Stock -- 1. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.580, 210.47; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.591, 209.59; 3. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.595, 209.75; 4. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.603, 209.23; 5. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.611, 209.39; 6. Vinnie Deceglie, Avenger, 6.613, 209.23; 7. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.617, 209.23; 8. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.631, 208.26; 9. Shane Gray, GXP, 6.642, 208.23; 10. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.644, 209.26; 11. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.647, 207.82; 12. John Nobile, Ford Mustang, 6.660, 207.82. Not Qualified: 13. Warren Johnson, 6.662, 208.10; 14. Bob Yonke, 6.676, 205.91; 15. Danny Gruninger, 6.697, 207.18; 16. Larry Morgan, 6.707, 207.72; 17. Kurt Johnson, 6.730, 207.50; 18. Gordie Rivera, 6.730, 204.54; 19. Jason Line, 7.235, 149.03; 20. Johnny Gray, 9.483, 163.57; 21. Rickie Jones, 12.807, 69.23; 22. Greg Anderson, 13.511, 64.16; 23. Justin Humphreys, 24.106, 34.75.

START ‘EM UP! 2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SEASON BEGINS WITH

THE KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS:

The off-season is gone. The months of preparation are at an end. The wait is officially over as the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season official begins this week at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. And what better way to kick it off than with one of the most anticipated events of the year, the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals. The official start of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season has always been an exciting one, but with the celebration of 50 years of drag racing in the heart of Southern California, past truly meets present, as NHRA stars will swap stories with drag racing legends and fans will have the chance to see some of their favorite drag racing vehicles on display during the event. “It all starts at the Winternationals,” said seven-time and defending NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world champion, Tony Schumacher. “The biggest names that have ever won championships in racing and just races in general started right there. So that’s the place. The history of racing comes from California. To go out and perform at that race from the first get-go, man, you just can’t beat it.” Schumacher and all the famous drivers of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will be on hand to compete in this historical event, which will include more than just great drag racing. Here is a list of some of the special events schedule for this weekend:

*The Golden 50 Corral Car Show, effectively a museum displaying the cars including Roland Leong’s Hawaiian and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s Hot Wheels Funny Car that laid the foundation for today’s 7,000-horsepower, 300-mph dragsters

*Daily Cacklefests, featuring top cars from the last 50 years in one of the oldest traditions in drag racing

*Autograph sessions with NHRA legends, including Shirley Muldowney, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Bob Glidden, Kenny Bernstein and many, many more

*Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars on the Auto Club Raceway track

*The unveiling of the Greatest Moments in Winternationals history

Plus, see NHRA Full Throttle world champions Schumacher, Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) begin their title defense against an impressive and highly competitive pool of drivers. With so much excitement centered around one weekend, one thing is for certain. The 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals is the one race you don’t want to miss. For tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or online at ticketmaster.com.
 

MORE THAN JUST THE SEASON-OPENER: NHRA Full Throttle Series drivers discuss what it means to participate

in the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals:

ANTRON BROWN, MATCO TOOLS DRAGSTER: “This is a great way to kick off 2010 with such an important race. That gold ‘Wally’ trophy is one that you want to have in your trophy case one day. I can tell you, our whole Don Schumacher Racing Matco Tools team is excited to get back in the swing of things at Pomona. Our goal is to start off the season where we left off last season and that’s with a win at Pomona.”

ASHLEY FORCE HOOD, CASTROL GTX FORD MUSTANG: “It’s a huge event. Everybody new out there, new sponsors, new fans, it’s the race you want to do well at and start your year strong. It definitely gives you a great confidence boost if you are able to start your season on such a great note. It’s such a special one, it’s going to be cool.”

JACK BECKMAN, VALVOLINE/MTS DODGE CHARGER: “The Winternationals has always been the kickoff of the season. It’s the race where you get to see all of the new paint schemes, but for me it’s always been the local race too. When you think about it, for a Southern California boy, it’s triply exciting to be at my home race track, at the opening season of the year, and where there are so many new things to see.”

GREG ANDERSON, SUMMIT RACING PONTIAC GXP: “The first time I ever went to the Winternationals I was about 10 or 12 years old, and my father and I traveled cross-country to go see a big-time drag race. I remember getting to the track and seeing all the heroes that I had watched on TV, and looking up at the snow on the mountains when I was sitting in the stands where it was 80 degrees. It was a sight unlike any other I had experienced growing up in Minnesota. It was such a neat setting that gave me a special feeling that I still have today whenever I pull into the track, and probably the reason why I am racing today.”

NHRA CELEBRATES 50TH WINTERNATIONALS WITH

'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME' PACKAGE FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS

From the legendary cars and stars of yesterday to today's 0-to-100-mph-in-less-than-a-second
dragsters, the 'best value in sports' just got even better

POMONA, Calif. - In today's increasingly fast-paced and mobile world, with its 0-to-100-mph-in-
less-than-a-second dragsters and the wildly frenetic action in the open pits, perhaps no sport
on the planet does a better job of attacking boredom from all angles than the NHRA Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Whether you're 16 or 66, whether you know that AOL's Hottest Athlete Ashley Force Hood races a
Ford Mustang at 300-plus mph, if you live in Southern California, you should drop what you're
doing and make plans to attend the 50th running of the Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals
presented by Valvoline, Feb. 11-14, at storied Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (ticket information
at 800-884-NHRA or ticketmaster.com).

"This will be a once-in-a-lifetime event not just for drag racing fans in Southern California,
but for all Southern Californians," said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president, sales and
marketing. "To see - and feel - an NHRA drag race in person is the ultimate adrenaline rush in
sports. Combine that with our unparalleled Open-Pit access, and all of the really extraordinary
activities we have scheduled to celebrate this 50th running of the Kragen O'Reilly
Winternationals, and you have a package that we couldn't be more excited to offer to sports
fans and families here in our home market of Southern California."

Already renowned as "the best value in sports" by the SportsBusiness Journal for all of the
ways fans can entertain themselves at an NHRA event, they'll have to come up with a new
category to characterize the value of a ticket to the 2010 NHRA season-opener.

To mark the milestone 50th running of the iconic Winternationals, NHRA has scheduled a series
of "events-within-the-event" that will transform Auto Club Raceway at Pomona into a virtual hot-
rodding amusement park for the weekend.

In addition to what fans can already expect at an NHRA race - the open pit access, interaction
with drivers and crews, witnessing the quickest accelerating vehicles on the planet and so much
more - among the scheduled events specific to the 50th running of the Winternationals include:

* The Golden 50 Corral Car Show, effectively a museum displaying the cars including Roland
Leong's Hawaiian and Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's Hot Wheels Funny Car that laid the foundation
for today's 7,000-horsepower, 300-mph dragsters

* Daily Cacklefests, featuring top cars from the last 50 years in one of the oldest traditions
in drag racing

* Autograph sessions with NHRA legends, including Shirley Muldowney, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits,
Bob Glidden, Kenny Bernstein and many, many more

* Exhibition runs by legendary tribute cars on the Auto Club Raceway track

* The unveiling of the Greatest Moment in Winternationals history (the complete list of moments
can be found on NHRA.com)
NHRA has also launched an event-specific Web site that is chock full of features that will help
first-time and returning fans heading to Pomona for this historic event, including lists of all
past winners, plenty of vintage video and a decade-by-decade look back at the second-longest
running event on the NHRA circuit behind only the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

SCHUMACHER HUNGRY TO INCREASE HIS LEGEND AT LEGENDARY RACE

POMONA, Calif. - With seven Top Fuel world championship trophies on his mantle, including the
last six in a row, some might think it's a chore for Tony Schumacher to pump himself up for yet
another season, another title run, to try and keep his dominating streak going.

But Schumacher says he doesn't have those problems. He's a racer, pure and simple. He says he
was ready to race the next weekend after last year's finals. It's been a long winter for the
Chicago-based speedster.

So as his U.S. Army team rolls to the starting line for the first time in the 2010 NHRA Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series season at the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals, Feb. 11-14 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Schumacher, arguably the
greatest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history with 61 career victories, will be itching to get the
season started like never before.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) are the defending
winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2
and ESPN2 HD.

As an A-plus student of the sport of drag racing, Schumacher knows the importance of this
milestone event and all the legends that have come before him. To know that his name is now
mentioned alongside Don Garlits, Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme, to name a few, as one of
the greats, gives Schumacher even more motivation to succeed.

"It all starts at the Winternationals," said Schumacher, who won NHRA's prestigious season-
opening event in 2004 and 2008. "The biggest names that have ever won championships in racing
and just races in general started right there. So that's the place. The history of racing
comes from California. To go out and perform at that race from the first get go, man, you just
can't beat it. It was an amazing thing to be able to accomplish."

Schumacher's Winternationals titles came during some amazing championship runs during the last
decade. He claimed world championship titles in 2006 and 2007 in dramatic fashion during the
closing moments of the season. In 2008 he had one of the most dominating runs ever, ultimately
capturing the prestigious DRIVER OF THE YEAR title for all of motorsports. However his title
last year - a two-point thriller over rival Larry Dixon - may be his most satisfying of all. He
won the title with a new crew chief and new teammates, defeating former tuner Alan Johnson and
most of his former crew.

"It was an amazing year last year to be able do what we did," Schumacher said. "To be able to
go out there after losing Alan Johnson and my whole Army team and beat them by two points,
which is what everyone in the world showed up to watch."

Schumacher expects another tough battle with Dixon and the Al-Anabi Racing team. However, many
other drivers will be in the championship hunt as well, including Antron Brown, who swept the
Western Swing last season in his Matco Tools dragster, veteran Cory McClenathan in the FRAM
Tough Guard dragster, a reenergized Brandon Bernstein in the Copart dragster, and Morgan Lucas,
who won three times last year in the GEICO Powersports dragster.

"We're giving them the best show I've ever seen," Schumacher said of the competition in NHRA
Top Fuel. "It is brutal right now, the hardest thing I've ever been a part of. Best show I've
ever been a part of."

Schumacher still gets a chuckle at all of those prognosticators who predicted his downfall last
year. And he knows there may be a few who still think last year was a fluke. No matter, he
plans to keep his expectations in check and focus on the task at hand, just like he's done for
the last six championship-winning seasons.

"I never expected to win six championships in a row," Schumacher said. "And I don't expect to
go on and win every championship from here on out. The competition's too tough. We're going
to show up, qualify the best and run the best we can each round. At the end of the season
we'll know where it falls."

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

FUNNY CAR TITLE CONTENDER FORCE HOOD CAN JOIN STRONG

FEMALE LEGACY OF WINNING AT TRADITION-RICH  WINTERNATIONALS

POMONA, Calif. - Ever since Shirley Shahan raced past Ken Heinemann for the 1966 Stock
Eliminator victory and became the first female winner of a national event in NHRA history, the
Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals has become a race that's known for the girls
beating the boys.

In Top Fuel, four women have visited winner's circle at the tradition-rich event at historic
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The legendary Shirley Muldowney was the first female to win a Top
Fuel title and raced to two victories here, in 1980 and 1983. She was runner-up in 1982. Lori
Johns won in 1990, Shelley Anderson in 1994 and most recently Melanie Troxel opened with a
Winternationals victory in 2006.

There has never been a female in a Funny Car final round at the Winternationals, but that could
change this season. Ashley Force Hood, who finished second in the Funny Car point standings
last year with two wins in eight final rounds, comes into the much-hyped 50th anniversary event
Feb. 11-14 as a heavy favorite to win the race, as well as the pre-season favorite for many to
win the world championship crown.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) are the defending
winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2
and ESPN2 HD.

Force Hood, who has claimed many firsts during the past three seasons, including first female
in her category to go to a final round, win a race, lead the point standings and hold the
national speed record, to name a few of her accomplishments, seems poised to make more history
in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. She understands what it would mean to be a part of the great
Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals legacy.

"It's just a huge event," Force Hood said. "The first race of the year kicks off everything.
Everybody new out there, new sponsors, new fans, it's the race you want to do well at and start
your year strong. It definitely gives you a great confidence boost if you are able to start
your season on such a great note. And I think it's going to be a big deal. I know that NHRA is
promoting a lot and doing a lot of special events and activities. It's going to be exciting.
I hope we can do well there. It is a tough one to win because you are coming back after a few
months off. You might have a change in crew members or changes with your car. But we're all
out there. That's what's on everyone's mind in their off season is to go out and win that
race. Especially this year. It's such a special one, it's going to be cool."

While she's heard the rumblings that she may have the car to beat this season, she puts it all
in perspective. It may be an overused cliché, but she's taking them one race at a time. Her car
may top 310 mph, but her focus on the season is slow and deliberate.

"We've got to go out there for the Winternationals and we've got to qualify," she said. "We've
got to utilize every qualifying run. Get that info that we need. I need to get my experience
in the car and then go out there hopefully on Sunday and have a strong race. That is the way
that we believe, and every team might have a different philosophy for how they do it. But we
try to not even get so far ahead to where we're thinking of the championship points. For now
we want to win the Winternationals. We want to qualify and win the Winternationals. So that's
where our goals are set as of today."

After finishing 10th in points in her rookie year and sixth in 2008, her second-place run last
year came up a few points short of teammate Robert Hight, who claimed his first championship
title. Hight's Auto Club Ford Mustang will be just one of the very tough competitors she'll
have to face in order to win the Winternationals and the season title.

In addition to Hight, other top contenders in Funny Car include her father, 14-time champ John
Force, last year's third place finisher Ron Capps, 2008 champ Cruz Pedregon in his Snap-on
Tools Toyota, fellow-Ford drivers Tim Wilkerson and Bob Tasca, two-time champ Tony Pedregon and
the always tough Del Worsham.

"I believe in Funny Car the competition has gotten so close," Force Hood said. "That's why the
fans love to see the Funny Car category. There are so many different teams, every pair that
goes up there is a car that can run a great time. There is nobody really dominating anything.
So it's exciting to watch, and obviously, it's exciting to be a part of that."

And in terms of the Full Throttle Series championship hunt, Force Hood isn't putting any extra
pressure on herself or her race team.
"Maybe the championship will be ours, and maybe it won't," Force Hood said. "You know, the
talent, the skill, all those things are so important. Sometimes you just need a little bit of
luck, and that is part of this racing thing as well. We can just do the best that we can do.
And not let the pressure that media or fans might want to put on us on this championship, not
let it get to us because it doesn't help you at all. Every time you go up to run that car,
we're all doing the best that we can do. Whether it's your day to win or not, you know, it's
how it's going to be. You can't get too ahead of yourself."

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

PRO STOCK'S COUGHLIN SAYS WINTERNATIONALS OFFERS ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE, PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT

POMONA, Calif. - Every season Jeg Coughlin says he anxiously counts the days until the start of
the Winternationals. So you can imagine the popular Ohio Pro Stock driver's eagerness to be a
part of the 50th annual edition of one of NHRA's most tradition-rich and historic races.

Not only does the event mark the beginning of a new season, but for Coughlin it marks an event
at a track where the JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt driver has excelled since he turned pro in 1997.

Maybe Auto Club Raceway at Pomona just fits the eye of Midwestern-based Pro Stock drivers. Just
like Indiana's Bob Glidden, the winningest pro driver in Winternationals history with seven
victories, Coughlin has put together a strong performance record at this track. Of his 10
career finals and six wins at Pomona, two wins and four finals have come at the
Winternationals.

Coughlin will be among the Pro Stock favorites at the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts
NHRA Winternationals presented by Valvoline, Feb. 11-14. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps
(Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.

"Pomona and the Fairplex are always electric at the Winternationals," Coughlin said. "When you
roll onto those historic grounds for the first race of the year there is just a lot of
excitement in the air. All the new teams, new colors and most importantly, everybody has a
fresh start in the points. There is a lot of media coverage and the fans literally come from
all over the world to attend that race. It just really makes you want to focus that much more
to go out and perform and win the Winternationals."

He says the secret to success at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is essentially the same at all
tracks: preparation. Last year he didn't win the Winternationals, but Coughlin's JEGS.com
team's pre-season preparation paid big dividends. He raced to seven victories in nine final
rounds in the first 18 events to finish the regular season as the top seed for the Countdown to
1 playoffs.

"Without question, being prepared is the key," Coughlin said. "You have almost three months to
prepare for the first race and getting out of the gate with momentum is very important to
having a good season."

Last season veteran driver Mike Edwards ultimately won the championship, his first as a driver.
He will be back this year to defend his title with a new sponsor in Interstate Batteries. He is
one of the drivers Coughlin figures to battle in the championship hunt. Others include four-
time Winternationals winner Greg Anderson, defending winner Line, Team Mopar Avenger driver
Allen Johnson, fourth-place points finisher Greg Stanfield and the always-tough veteran drivers
Ron Krisher and Johnny Gray.

"It will be interesting to see how our off-season efforts stack up within the Pro Stock ranks,"
Coughlin said. "There are three or four teams with multiple cars that have been awesome and we
feel as though we will be back in the mix again with them. We will approach the season similar
to 2009 and that is to be prepared, drive aggressive and put ourselves in a position to win
rounds and win races."

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

FOR 50 YEARS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS HAS CREATED ITS SHARE OF MEMORABLE HOT-RODDING MOMENTS

POMONA, Calif. - Since 1961, the Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals has been
NHRA's official season kick-off event. For 50 years, drag racers have flocked to venerable Auto
Club Raceway at Pomona to show off their new race cars, paint schemes, sponsors and new
drivers. With each new season world championship hopes begin anew.

Since then, a lot has changed on the drag racing landscape. There's big money on the line for
the race victory as well as the season championship. There's worldwide television exposure.
There's bigger sponsors and bigger race car transporters. On the track the performances are
quicker and faster. And did we mention there's more pressure on each driver to win?

While the days of racing for fun and driving cross-country with your hot-rod affixed to the
back of a flat-bed trailer are long gone, the memories for several of the sport's biggest icons
remain.

Many of NHRA's legendary drivers will be participating in various special events and autograph
sessions at the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 11-14 at Auto
Club Raceway at Pomona, and sharing their stories from hot-rodding's glory days. Doug Kalitta
(Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.

For Bob Glidden, seven-time winner of the Winternationals and 10-time NHRA Pro Stock world
champion, the race always meant the first opportunity to see how the competition stacked up for
the season.

"Certainly it was proven to us that Pomona was a great springboard to the whole season,"
Glidden said. "And if we could go and run well at Pomona, we ordinarily ran well throughout
the season. Fortunately, for us, the track there at Pomona was just a great place for us to
be, because we were lucky enough to win a lot of races there."

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits, who annually towed his race car from Florida, claimed Winternationals
trophies in Top Fuel five times, and always loved to check out the latest gadgets and gizmos in
Pomona.

"The Winternationals was a special deal because that's where we saw the new cars," said
Garlits, voted the greatest drag racer of all time in 2001 during NHRA's 50th anniversary
season. "That's where we tested our new stuff like that rear engine car was tested. Well, I
tested a lot of stuff there. The first port nozzles in drag racing were tested there in
Pomona. The wing on the car in 1963 was tested there in Pomona. It was a test bed. Of course
if it didn't work real well, you went home and regrouped and you had time because there wasn't
a race real soon afterwards. But it was just a great deal because we loved it. It was out in
California where all the manufacturers were, all the equipment was out there. The track was
great, and there were lots of competitors."

According to Garlits, sometimes the real adventure was actually making it to the track, not
making it down the dragstrip.

"We towed on open trailers and four door sedans," Garlits said. "The used ones I might add. We
were all good mechanics. Most of those cars ran real good. They didn't look all that good, but
they were pretty sound automobiles. We could make that trip from Tampa to Los Angeles in 54
hours, me and Art Malone and Connie Swingle. And we did it many times just like that. It was
fun."

A young Kenny Bernstein advanced to the final round in his very first race, at the
Winternationals in 1973, where he lost to Don Schumacher. Now with six world championship
crowns and 69 victories to his credit after an amazing career behind the wheel, Bernstein
reflects on those early days with a big smile. Bernstein went on to win the Winternationals in
both Funny Car (1987) and Top Fuel (1992), one of only three drivers in NHRA history to
accomplish the feat.

"You know, the Winternationals for me, being from Texas, we called it the 'Big Go West' back in
the early days," Bernstein recalled. "That's what they named it. For all the kids back when
we were growing up, we couldn't wait to have our chance to go to Pomona for the
Winternationals. Then later when I did become able to do this as a profession, the
Winternationals always marked the start, obviously of the season. But it was almost a welcome
race in the sense that you had been off for a couple of months and you were anxious to get back
to it. You wanted to see all the new cars, all the new looks, all the new teams -- whatever
was coming would always show up at Pomona."

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

"GOLDEN 50 CORRAL" HEADLINES SERIES OF PREMIER BONUS EVENTS

ON DISPLAY AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY  WINTERNATIONALS

The once-in-a-lifetime display of vintage cars will be free and open to all NHRA fans with
their admission to the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals

POMONA, Calif. - Whatever your favorite sport or hobby, nothing stirs the emotions like a walk
down memory lane.

And nothing, not before or perhaps ever again, will compare to the walk down memory lane NHRA
fans will get to take at the 50th running of the Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 11-
14, 2010 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, when NHRA officials unveil the "Golden 50 Corral," a
car show to end all car shows.

From "Big Daddy" Don Garlits' Swamp Rat V to the Kohler Brothers' King Kong AA/GS to the Stone,
Woods & Cook Willy's coupe (voted No. 1 in National DRAGSTER's "Favorite Race Car Ever" poll)
to so many more classics, this would be a drop-everything, must-attend event for every car
enthusiast from Los Angeles to London - even if it stood as a standalone, paid-entry car show.

But admission to the once-in-a-lifetime event, amazingly, will be free and open to all NHRA
fans with their entry to the historic 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

"We know how emotionally connected our legion of fans are to this era of NHRA drag racing so we
couldn't be more excited about providing them with this rare opportunity to see and touch and
feel this very important part of their past," said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president,
sales and marketing.

The "Golden 50 Corral" will feature approximately 75 cars and from that collection of vehicles
50 will be identified as the "Golden 50" based on historical event significance, originality,
and quality of presentation.

Some of the other legendary cars on display will include:

* Don "The Snake" Prudhomme's Hot Wheels Car Hauler and AA/FC and Shelby Super Snake AA/FD
* The "big-four" Fuel-Altereds: Pure Hell, Pure Heaven, The Winged Express and the Mondello and
Matsubara entry
* The Chi-Town Hustler
* The Candies & Hughes AA/FD and AA/FC
* The Dragmaster Dart and Dragmaster Two Thing AA/D
* The Jungle Jim AA/FC
* The Bud King AA/FC
* The Hawaiian AA/FD and AA/FC
* Bruce Larsen's USA-1 Chevelle AA/FC
* Howard Cams Twin Bear AA/GD

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

TOP FIVE WINTERNATIONALS MOMENTS TO BE REVEALED

POMONA, Calif. - To help salute the milestone 50th Anniversary Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Feb. 11-14, NHRA fans had the opportunity to
vote for their favorite Winternationals moment of the past 49 years in a special poll on NHRA.
com. Moments 6-25 have already been announced. During race week the top five moments will be
revealed, culminating with the unveiling of the top moment during Sunday's pre-race festivities
at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

TOP 5 FINALISTS (listed in chronological order)

Garlits Goes Big (1963) -- Don Garlits already was a drag racing legend, but his first NHRA
win, with a revolutionary and controversial winged Top Fuel dragster, really puts him on the
map

The Mystery Train (1963) -- Bob Muravez, forbidden by his parents to drag race, wins Top Gas in
the fabled Freight Train twin-engine dragster using the pseudonym Floyd Lippencott

'Grumpy' Rules First Pro Stock Go (1970) -- Crowd favorite Bill Jenkins wins NHRA's first Pro
Stock title, besting the previously unbeatable Sox & Martin team in the final with low elapsed
time of the meet

Garlits Kicks 'em in the Rear (1971) -- A year after a near-career-ending accident, Don Garlits
wins Top Fuel with a revolutionary rear-engine dragster in its NHRA national event debut

Up, Up, and Away (1989) -- Eddie "the Thrill" Hill lives up to his nickname after a front-
spoiler malfunction sends his yellow Top Fuel dragster soaring across the finish line

PREVIOUSLY UNVEILED

6. That's Really Showing 'em (2006) -- Robert Hight's Funny Car engine blows in round two,
destroying the body; The team pulls the body off its show car and wins

7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1981) -- The roof of Raymond Beadle's famed Blue Max Funny Car
blows off at the finish line on a winning semifinal run, but fellow Texan Kenny Bernstein
allows Beadle to saw the roof off of his car and graft it to the Max; Beadle loses the final,
but not for lack of effort

8. Scelzi Sez ... Winner (1997) -- Gary Scelzi wins at his first event since taking the wheel
of Alan Johnson's dragster five months after the death of Alan's brother, Blaine; He becomes
the first driver since K.C. Spurlock in 1990 to win in his Pro debut

9. 'The Snake's' Double Strike (1998) -- The two fuel cars owned by Don "the Snake" Prudhomme
double up with wins by Larry Dixon and Ron Capps; Prudhomme hadn't won as a driver or owner in
Pomona since 1978

10. The Kid Is All Right (2008) -- Former Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Antron Brown shows that he
is as adept on four wheels as on two when he qualifies No. 1 in his Top Fuel debut

11. The Flyin' Hawaiian (1969) -- Roland Leong's first Hawaiian Funny Car, an ill-handling,
full-size Dodge Charger driven by Larry Reyes, takes flight and sails backward through the
finish-line lights; The duo wins the race the following year

12. 'The King' Gets Crowned (1993) -- Kenny Bernstein loses more than the Top Fuel final to Joe
Amato; The former world champ loses, in succession, an engine, a tire, control of his race car,
and the race car itself in a violent top-end tumble that leaves "the Bud King" dazed but
unhurt

13. Garlits' Gift (1975) -- Don Garlits smokes the tires against Don Ewald in round one of Top
Fuel, but Ewald is disqualified for crossing the centerline; Garlits wins the event and season
title and admits that had he not won the Winternationals, he likely would not have pursued the
championship

14. Hawaiian Domination (1965-66) -- Car owner Roland Leong wins Top Fuel back to back, giving
Don Prudhomme his first win in 1965 and Mike Snively his a year later

15. Thar She Blows ... again! (1984-85) -- Al Segrini wins dramatic back-to-back Funny Car
titles; In 1984, he rides out a huge top-end blower explosion; the following year, he crosses
the finish line with a cockpit full of sparks from a disintegrating clutch

16. Ladies Day (1966) -- Shirley Shahan becomes the first woman to win a major drag racing
national event eliminator title with her stunning victory in the popular Top Stock class

17. Upset of the Decade (1990) -- With the ink practically still wet on his nitro license, K.C.
Spurlock wins Funny Car in his Pro debut, knocking off John Force, Bruce Larson, and, in the
final, Ed "the Ace" McCulloch

18. Roll Over, Ivo (1974) -- Tommy Ivo barrel-rolls his beautiful Top Fuel dragster in the
finish-line lights during qualifying in a fiery and car-destroying crash

19. Rookies Rule (2001) -- Former Top Alcohol Dragster racer Darrell Russell joins Gary Scelzi
and K.C. Spurlock as the only drivers to score in their Professional debuts by winning aboard
Joe Amato's Top Fuel dragster with rookie crew chief Jimmy Walsh

20. Galloping Ponies (1968) -- Ford crashes Mopar's Stocker monopoly with a fleet of 10 Cobra
Jet Mustangs, and Al Joniec, at the wheel of the Rice-Holman entry, collects the victory

21. The Real Winter-nationals (1978) -- Southern California is supposed to be home to sunshine
and blue skies, but the 1978 event is besieged by foul weather, including a first ever: a rare
dusting of snow

22. The America's Cup, Quarter-Mile Style (1987) -- While U.S. sailors battle the Australians
in the America's Cup, American Kenny Bernstein and Aussie Graeme Cowin wage their own war in
Funny Car, complete with flags on their tow vehicles

23. Seven Seconds to Glory (1982) -- After years of using a complicated weight-break rule, NHRA
switches Pro Stock to a straight-up 500-cubic-inch limit. The big horsepower gains lead to the
class' first seven-second pass, by the late Lee Shepherd

24. Too Slick for Its Own Good (1986) -- Gary Ormsby unveils a super-swoopy streamliner, and
the car's debut is a bang ... in the worst way. An ignition short caused by the engine-cloaking
body leads to a huge blower explosion in the water box on its first pass

25. In Hindsight... (1975) -- Dennis Geisler calls his rare rear-engine Funny Car Hindsight;
after he backflips the flopper in a huge starting-line wheelstand, he might have had second
thoughts on its design

* SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 11-12 and at noon and 3 p.
m. on Feb. 13. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Winternationals presented by Valvoline. Call NHRA at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or
ticketmaster.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET) on
Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at
10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations
coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 14.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented
by Valvoline also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series,
where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes. Lucas Oil
Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 11. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.
m. on Feb. 12.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA
pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

KRAGEN O'REILLY NHRA WINTERNATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals, the first of 23 events in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories -- Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro
Stock -- earn points leading to 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world
championships.


WHERE: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif. Track is located off I-10 at Fairplex Drive.
Go north on Fairplex drive to the Fairplex.


WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Feb 11-14


SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Feb. 11 - Sportsman qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, Feb. 12 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, Feb. 13 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, Feb. 14 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.


TELEVISION:
Saturday, Feb. 13, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.
m. (ET).

Sunday, Feb. 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show,
at 10a.m. (ET).

Sunday, Feb. 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8 p.m.
(ET).


SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, Feb. 12, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)

Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 -10:30p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)

Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 - 10:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners' interviews on Sunday.


2009 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock.


TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.772 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Nov. '09; 321.58 mph by Larry Dixon, Nov. '09.

Funny Car - 4.037 seconds by Robert Hight, Feb. '09; and 301.55 mph by Hight, Nov. '09.

Pro Stock - 6.528 seconds by Greg Anderson, Feb. '09; and 211.63 mph by Jason Line, Feb. '09.

(Top Fuel and Funny Car race distance is a 1000 ft. Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle is 1320
ft)


NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.771 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Oct. '08, Richmond, Va.; 319.60 mph by Antron Brown,
Oct. '09, Richmond, Va.

Funny Car - 4.023 sec. by Ron Capps, Feb. '09, Chandler, Ariz.; 312.13 mph by Ashley Force
Hood, April '09, Atlanta

Pro Stock - 6.509 sec. by Mike Edwards, Oct. '09, Richmond, Va.; 212.36 mph by Greg Anderson,
Oct. '09, Richmond, Va.

(Top Fuel and Funny Car race distance is 1,000 feet; Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle race
distance is 1,320 feet)


TICKETS: For tickets call NHRA, (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available at Ticketmaster.
com or at NHRA.com

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - FULL EVENT: $130. DAILY: Thursday: Adult, $25; Junior
(6-12 years), $10; Friday: Adult, $30; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Saturday: Adult, $50; Junior
(6-12 years), $10. Sunday: Adult, $50; Junior (6-12 years) $10. Children (5 years-under), free
with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - FULL EVENT: $150. DAILY: Friday: Adult, $40; Junior (6-12
years), $15; Child (5 years-under), $10. Saturday: Adult, $62; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child
(5 years and under), $10. Sunday: Adult, $62; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and
under), $10.


 

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