NEWS NUGGETS
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SILLY SEASON BEGINS! MASSEY JOINS DSR FOR 2011 SEASON: Just three weeks after the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the moving and shifting within the teams of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series has begun, as Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) announced that Top Fuel pilot Spencer Massey will drive the Prestone/Fram dragster under the DSR banner in 2011. According to Schumacher, the addition of Massey gives his Top Fuel program three legitimate candidates for a championship in the coming season. Massey joins a stellar Top Fuel program that includes seven-time world champion and driver of the U.S. Army dragster, Tony Schumacher, and Matco Tools dragster pilot Antron Brown, who finished in the top five in point standings in 2010. This will be Massey’s second full season racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel category. In his first in 2009, Massey won two national events (Chicago, Las Vegas 2) and went on to finish sixth in the points standings and earn the 2009 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, which recognizes the top performing rookie of the season.
“Spencer is one of the most talented Top Fuel drivers and a perfect addition to DSR,” said Schumacher. “We expect him to battle Tony and Antron for the 2011 championship from the first race and to be a great representative for the Honeywell team of Fram, Prestone and Autolite.”
“This is a great opportunity,” said Massey. “I am driving for a drag-racing legend in Don Schumacher on a team with an incredible list of accomplishments. I know I can learn a lot from teammates like Tony and Antron, and just being around them will make me better.” To keep up with all the changes and moves this off-season, visit NHRA.com.
TICKETS FOR SEASON-OPENING KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS ON SALE NOW: General-admission and reserved-seat tickets and Top Eliminator Club Tickets are now available for the 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, February 24–27, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The first event of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series and NHRA’s 60th anniversary season also kicks off with a unique tribute to drag-racing legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. Highlighting the tribute will be the Snake Pit, a display of race cars from Prudhomme’s racing career. Also included in the display will be cars from the legendary Road Kings Car Club. Prudhomme will also be at the race throughout the weekend. New for the season, NHRA has partnered with the ticket system ExtremeTix and is providing many new options for ticket buyers. Fans purchasing tickets online at www.NHRAtix.com have the opportunity to select their actual seats. Fans may also print their tickets at home and e-mail tickets to friends attending the race at no cost. Tickets are also available by phone at 800/884-NHRA (6472). Full-event advance-purchase adult ticket prices start at only $130; single-day advance-purchase tickets start at $25. For more information or to purchase advance tickets for the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, visit NHRA.com.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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
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HUGE HONOR FROM FAMED AUTOMAKER: John Force on receiving the Spirit of Ford Award from Edsel Ford II after winning his 15th NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world championship: “To be presented with this honor by Edsel Ford and to see the list of previous winners, this is a tremendous honor. Ford Motor Company has been a great partner, and I will cherish this award. I want to thank Ford for giving me this honor, and I am not going to say much more because I am getting emotional. Thank you very much.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
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15: That’s how many consecutive seasons Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon has finished in the top 10 point standings, including this season. In fact, since he made the move from Top Fuel to Funny Car in 1995, Pedregon has only had one season (the first in 1995) that he hasn’t finished in the top 10 standings. Where did he finish that year? 15th.
DID YOU KNOW…
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…that the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, usually the third race of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season and first race of the season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, will now be the second stop in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series schedule? The last time the prestigious race was the second stop on the tour was 1988. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.