NHRA Roars Into Labor Day Weekend With Countdown On The Horizon
Seven months have passed since the NHRa Full Throttle season got underway and and for those drivers trying to make the NHRA playoffs this weekend is crucial.
Courtesy: NHRA Media Relations
NEWS NUGGETS
LAST STAND: INDY LAST CHANCE FOR MANY TO MAKE COUNTDOWN TO 1: It’s been seven months since the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, the starting point of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in
LANDMARK TOP FUEL, FUNNY CAR EXHIBITION PLANNED FOR NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four-lanes, four-wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMAX Dragway, NHRA officials announced today. In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, on Sunday, Sept. 20. The drivers of each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition. “With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said
ARANA LEADS PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE COMPETITORS INTO RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE: Hector Arana will headline a special eight-rider field from the No. 1 qualifying position as he is seeking his first victory in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis Sept. 5. The special bonus event for the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will be held during the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. The total race-day purse for the 19th annual Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle is $61,000. The winner will earn a $25,000 bonus from Ringers Gloves. Any rider who can win the
3: That’s the number of times Funny Car driver Robert Hight has been to the final round at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, in as many years. That is also how many career wins defending world champion Cruz Pedregon has at the prestigious event (1995, ’94, ’92), just one more than Hight (2008, ‘06). Hight and Pedregon are in a tight battle for the 10th-place spot in the Top 10 and Countdown to 1 playoffs. HE SAID, SHE SAID
PICKING UP AS MANY POINTS AS YOU CAN: Top Fuel pilot Brandon Bernstein on earning points and picking up round wins at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil: “This is our last shot to make up a spot and better our starting position. We’re fifth going into this race, less than one round out of fourth place in the point standings, and we’ve got the alligators nipping at our heels.”INSIDE THE NUMBERS
DID YOU KNOW…
…that of his three world championships and 17 event wins and three Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle wins, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Andrew Hines has yet to win the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil? Hines made his first final round appearance last year at the historic event and hopes to follow it up with a win at this year’s race.