NHRA: Top Two Drivers in Each Class Discuss Final Two Stops On NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Schedule

NEWS NUGGETS

TOP TWO DRIVERS IN EACH CLASS DISCUSS FINAL TWO STOPS ON NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SCHEDULE: The culmination of another impressive season is upon us as the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads into its final two races of the season, beginning this weekend with the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After 21 races in nine months, the battle for the world championship has come down to less than 100 points separating the first- and second-place drivers in each of the four categories. With a grand total of 150 points possible for a driver to earn at each race, the top drivers in the point standings know that anything is possible. Below, you’ll find season comparisons between the two drivers in each class, specifically point separation, head-to-head matchups, wins, No. 1 qualifiers and a quote from each driver.

TOP FUEL:

LARRY DIXON: “I’m trying to keep my routine, keep working out and go into these last two races with the same approach the Al-Anabi team has used all season. The only thing on my mind is the first qualifying session at Las Vegas…we can’t worry about anything else.”

CORY McCLENATHAN: “We’re going to try to scrape up as many of those points as we can. And, if the racing gods are with us and we get a little bit of luck on Sunday and go to the final and Larry doesn’t, that will make the difference going into Pomona.”

FUNNY CAR:

MATT HAGAN: “We can’t make any mistakes. We have to go out there, do some good, solid racing, go some rounds. I don’t feel like we have to set the world on fire, but we need to go some rounds and keep kind of matching John round for round, and it will hopefully fall the way we want it to. This is drag racing; you never know how it’s going to end up.”

JOHN FORCE: “I’ve got to make a stop in Vegas. I’m going to have to win two races if I’m going to get this guy. I’ll get that shot that he got to get that national record and gobble up some of them points. And then every round you’ve got to run hard because he picked up a bunch of points on me there. That’s what I’m up against.”

PRO STOCK:

GREG ANDERSON: “We’re on top right now, but we have a heck of a challenge on our hands, so it’s up to us to keep it going. Fortunately, I think we have the team that can do it.”

MIKE EDWARDS: “It’s hard to get there for your first championship and it’s even more difficult to defend it. You just try to have fun, but also try to pick up as many points as you can.”

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ANDREW HINES: “We have a nice cushion. It could come down to just a few measly points there at the end. I’m trying to rely on some of the other competitors out there to take LE out early, but we keep matching up in the final round.”

LE TONGLET: “We’re going to go out to (Las Vegas) and come out swinging. We have had a lot of good eliminations runs.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA LAS VEGAS NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, October 28–31: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to Sin City for its fifth stop in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Defending event winners include Spencer Massey (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Larry Morgan (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/644-4444 or online at lvms.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, November 11–14: The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes to an end where it all began: in sunny Southern California for the final event of the season and the crowning of the NHRA Full Throttle world champions. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Mike Neff (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and 60th anniversary season of NHRA kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT: Funny Car driver Jack Beckman (who is only 93 points out of the lead) on what he needs to do to win his first world championship: “It’s put up or shut up time. Matt Hagan is five rounds ahead of us, not counting qualifying or potential national records, and there’s eight rounds of racing left. If we don’t make up at least two rounds on Matt at the Vegas race, it’s going to be almost insurmountable in Pomona.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

85: That’s how many points separate third-place Pro Stock driver Greg Stanfield from first-place driver Greg Anderson with two races to go. Stanfield has one win and two runner-up finishes in 2010 and has five final-round appearances in Las Vegas.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals will once again kick-off with a free autograph session for fans Thursday, October 28, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience in front of the 3rd Street concert stage? Drivers scheduled to be there include defending Funny Car world champion Robert Hight, Larry Dixon, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon and many, many more. To see a full list of drivers planning on attending, visit NHRA.com.

For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.