Compiled by SEMA Editors
NEWS NUGGETS
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2013 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES AWARDS CEREMONY CLIPS FEATURED ON NHRA.COM: Fans of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series can watch highlights from the 2013 awards ceremony, which took place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in West Los Angeles. Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcyle), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock), John Force (Funny Car) and Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and other honorees are featured on clips on YouTube. Visit the NHRA web site for more information.
2014 SEASON OPENING TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Tickets for the 54th annual NHRA Winternationals are now available for purchase. The event takes place February 6–9 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and is the start to the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. New paint schemes, new drivers with different teams and the promise of a new season will fill the pits. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-884-6472 or by visiting www.NHRATix.com.
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS TICKETS ON SALE: The classic duel in the desert, the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, will be held February 21–23 and tickets are now on sale to the general public. The event will be held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park (formerly Firebird International Raceway) outside of Phoenix, and always proves to be an early season proving grounds for teams as they look to refine their off-season changes. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-884-6472 or visiting www.NHRATix.com.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, February 6–9, 2014: The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series kicks-off at one of the most historic facilities on the NHRA circuit—Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, February 6–9, 2014. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) will attempt to defend their 2013 wins and start the season off on a positive note.
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, February 21–23: For the 30th season, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races into the Valley of the Sun for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, February 21–23. The venerable facility located south of Phoenix has seen many historic performances over the years. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) recorded wins at the track in 2013 and will once again attempt to get early season victories.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
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“This is my fifth visit, and every year, I look forward to the opportunity to thank our troops in person for everything they do for our country. Really, it’s a big deal and an incredible honor. We bring a little bit of home to them and thank them for all that they have done and continue to do for us. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
—Pro Stock racer Jason Line, who, along with teammate Greg Anderson, Pro Stock Motorcycle racers Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec and Dan Runte of the Summit Racing/Bigfoot monster truck, are visiting troops in the Middle East. Summit Racing Equipment and Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) are making the trip possible for a fourth year.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3: Number of first-round losses NHRA Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin was dealt during his entire 2013 Pro Stock world championship season. This is the third time Coughlin has posted just three first-round losses in a full season of racing. He first accomplished this in 1999 when he finshed second in the points. He also only lost three first-round apperances in 2000—the year of his first Pro Stock world championship.
DID YOU KNOW…
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LEVONAS NAMED AS NHRA 6 DIVISION DIRECTOR: Matt Levonas has been named director of NHRA’s Northwest Division. In his new position, Levonas will conduct and oversee drag-racing activities at the 19 NHRA-member facilities in the Northwest Division, providing consultation to all track operators in the division, as well as supervising development of new racetrack activity. Levonas has been involved in motorsports for most of his life, growing up in a racing family. In 2002, he joined NHRA’s West Central Division (Division 5) certification team. He also spent two years working in a variety of positions at Bandimere Speedway near Denver before joining the West Central Division full-time as a division services coordinator in 2006.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead NHRA’s Northwest Division,” said Levonas. “The division has a great amount of history and tradition, and I look forward to continuing the Division 6 legacy within NHRA and helping to grow the sport of drag racing in the Pacific Northwest. I hope to make the NHRA experience more enjoyable for everyone in Division 6—competitors, sponsors, track operators and fans.”