Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Team Nitto swept the 2017 King of the Hammers podium. Photo credit: Chris Collard, Adventure Architects |
Team Nitto Sweeps the Podium at King of the Hammers
Team Nitto drivers Shannon Campbell, Wayland Campbell and Jason Scherer have swept the 2017 King of the Hammers podium, while 2016 champion Erik Miller finished just behind in fourth place. This victory makes Campbell the first three-time winner of the race, and is the first time a tire manufacturer has swept the podium in the race’s 10-year history. View complete results.
Lovell Brothers Repeat for a Second Consecutive Overall Win at the 2017 Smittybilt Every Man Challenge
Long-time ULTRA4 celebrities Brad and Roger Lovell claimed an overall win for a second year in a row at the 2017 Smittybilt Every Man Challenge (EMC), while Ben Varozza, owner of a small 4WD shop in Northern California, earned his place at the top of the podium in Pro Comp Stock. The big upset this year was brought forth by past King of the Motos competitor Marty Mann. With a long history of racing on two wheels, but only a few four-wheel events under his belt, Mann signed up for the Modified Stock class in a Toyota pickup. Not only did Mann take a class win, but he also pulled off a third place overall—well ahead of a number of KOH heavy hitters. View complete EMC results.
Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels Returns to NHRA as Major Event Sponsor
Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels continues its support of NHRA drag racing in 2017 as a major event sponsor of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The company will also continue its role as a contingency sponsor for all Sportsman racing classes, as well as Pro Mod and Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition to sponsoring champions Dan Fletcher and Luke Bogacki, the company plans to attend all national events with the fully equipped Mickey Thompson trailer to provide trackside support to racers throughout the 2017 season. The 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series kicks off with the Winternationals this weekend at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. The Regional series begins in Chandler, Arizona, February 24, and the Pro Mod series begins March 16 with the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Mickey Thompson will also serve as a Divisional Level Associate Contingency Sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in all Sportsman classes, and will support NHRA racers through the popular Team M/T program.
 PEAK Motor Oil has expanded its partnership with John Force Racing for 2017 and beyond. |
PEAK Expands Partnership With John Force, JFR
John Force Racing has announced an expanded partnership between the 18-time championship-winning team and PEAK/BlueDEF for the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and beyond. PEAK’s parent company, Old World Industries, has supported Force and JFR since the 2014 season. As part of the extension in 2017, PEAK Motor Oil will also become the Official Motor Oil of John Force Racing. For 2017, Jimmy Prock returns to JFR to serve as crew chief for Force’s PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet, with Chris Cunningham serving as co-crew chief. PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil and BlueDEF will also adorn JFR’s three other cars: the Auto Club of Southern California Funny Car for Robert Hight, the Advance Auto Parts Funny Car for Courtney Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster for Brittany Force.
Summit Racing Equipment Partners With United States Touring Car Series
Summit Racing Equipment has expanded its presence in the circle-track world by entering into a partnership with the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS). Now in its 19th season, the open-wheel dirt modified series will feature 77 nights of racing over the course of 269 days during the 2017 season. Summit Racing will be the Official High Performance Source of the USMTS, title sponsor of the USMTS Southern region, presenting sponsor of the USMTS Central and Northern regions, and presenting sponsor of the annual King of America Modified Nationals through the 2019 season. In addition, Summit Racing is doling out more than $10,000 in gift cards to top finishers in regional and national points battles during the course of the season. The 2017 champion of the 21-race Summit Racing USMTS Southern region will earn $10,000. The season kicked off February 9 with a three-day event at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas.
Watkins Glen International, Busch Beer Team Up to Bring Daytona 500 to New York State NASCAR Fans
Watkins Glen International and Busch Beer will welcome NASCAR fans to enjoy the 59th running of the Daytona 500 at nine New York State viewing parties, Sunday, February 26. The events will be held at venues in Syracuse, Gowanda, Pine City, Schoharie, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Utica, Palmyra and Chenango Forks, with each location offering multiple TVs to watch the race, food and/or drink specials, and prizes, including two tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. Compliments of Busch Beer, one winner will also walk away with the grand prize of a Watkins Glen International NASCAR weekend prize pack, including four weekend grandstand tickets, four Busch Turn 1 Tavern admission passes and four Sunday morning pace car rides.
 Classic Instruments has announced it will be a contingency sponsor for all Sportsman races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. |
Classic Instruments Will Participate in 2017 NHRA Contingency Program
Classic Instruments has announced it will be a contingency sponsor for all Sportsman races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The company has spent the past year creating the “racers gauge” by consulting racers such as Jason Line to reveal what racers really need and want. The manufacturer’s entire lineup of new performance series instruments is available at Summit Racing and other licensed Classic Instruments dealers.
Pritchett, Hagan and Line Win Season-Opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals
Leah Pritchett earned the second Top Fuel victory of her career at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals last Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California. Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also had wins in their respective categories at the first event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Pritchett, who was also the No. 1 qualifier of the event, piloted her Papa John’s Pizza dragster to a 3.711-second pass at 324.98 mph to defeat Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools dragster’s 7.630 at 103.85 after smoking the tires at the start. Pritchett defeated Steve Torrence and eight-time champion Tony Schumacher en route to the finals. Kalitta, who was in his third consecutive final at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, bettered Terry McMillen and three-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown. Hagan raced to his 23rd Funny Car victory with a 3.875 at 330.07 in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T. He defeated Courtney Force who ran a 3.901 at 326.95 in the final for his second win at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals. He also won in 2015. In Pro Stock, Line started his championship defense with a victory over teammate Greg Anderson. Line ran a 6.568 at 211.10 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro for his 46th career victory and 14th consecutive season with at least one win. Anderson ran a 6.579 at 211.56 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues February 24–26 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals being held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
 NMRA and Keystone Automotive have teamed up with Livernois Motorsports for the third year in a row to bring fans the EcoBoost Battle during the 23rd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout, March 2–5, 2017, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. |
Livernois Motorsports to Sponsor the EcoBoost Battle at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout
NMRA and Keystone Automotive have teamed up with Livernois Motorsports for the third year in a row to bring fans the EcoBoost Battle—a class exclusively designed for Ford’s EcoBoost-powered vehicles—during the 23rd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout, March 2–5, 2017, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. EcoBoost Battle is open to all EcoBoost-powered vehicles, including Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Taurus, Explorer, F-150 and Mustang. Many aftermarket modifications are permitted, and vehicles must meet all NHRA safety regulations. The class will race heads-up on a .400 tree (sportsman ladder). EcoBoost Battle competitors can race two classes for the price of one because they will receive a free entry into Saturday’s QA1 True Street class (must fit True Street rules) for even more chances to win. This is a $100 bonus value as EcoBoost Battle racers join more than 120 of their friends for the largest True Street event of the year, presented by Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords.
 Permatex will continue its perennial sponsorship of the Follow A Dream Race Team as the team’s corporate sponsor for the 2017 NHRA Championship Top Alcohol Funny Car Series. |
Permatex Sponsors Follow A Dream Race Team for 13th Straight NHRA Racing Season
Permatex will continue its perennial sponsorship of the Follow A Dream Race Team as the team’s corporate sponsor for the 2017 NHRA Championship Top Alcohol Funny Car Series. This year marks the 13th consecutive season that Permatex has partnered with Jay Blake and his Follow A Dream Race Team in the NHRA series. The Permatex Follow A Dream Race Team will compete in the 2017 NHRA series with veteran driver Phil Burkart behind the wheel. Burkart joined the Follow A Dream team as the full-time driver in 2016. He will help the team compete in 14 races this year, across the United States. Veteran Anthony Terenzio will also continue as the team’s tuner. Terenzio joined the team in 2016 season after the retirement of long-time tuner Tom Howell.