NHRA NEWS: Mopar Motorsports Season Preview

Mopar Ready to Defend Championships 

as 2013 NHRA Season Launches in Pomona

• Mopar looks to defend two NHRA Championship titles won in 2012 with Johnson (Pro Stock) and Beckman (Funny Car)
• A total of eight full-time Mopar-powered entries in Pro Stock (4) and Funny Car (4) classes
• Johnson looks to build on career season that saw him earn his first Pro Stock World Championship with 7 wins, 11 final round appearances, and 10 No. 1 qualifying positions
• Jack Beckman looking to defend Funny Car Championship; Matt Hagan working to steal it back
• Mopar will celebrate 25 consecutive years as title sponsor of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, Colo. this July

Pomona, Calif. (Thursday, Feb 14^th) – This weekend’s Winternationals at the historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., marks the start of the 2013 National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and Mopar is ready to pick things up right where it left off in 2012. Defending the two championships earned last season in both Pro Stock and Funny Car classes is at the top of that list.

“After earning two NHRA Championship titles, our Mopar drivers have set the bar high for this new season,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “We are looking forward to an exciting and competitive year watching our Mopar drivers and teams highlight the strength of our HEMI®-powered Dodge entries in both Pro Stock and Funny Car, and ultimately battle for win titles at every race event in defense of both championships.“

There will be a total of eight full-time HEMI-powered Dodge entries competing in the NHRA pro classes in 2013.

In Pro Stock, Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin Jr. will fly the Mopar banner on their Avengers with Vincent Nobile completing the trio of teammates, and Vieri Gaines rounding out the HEMI-powered entries.

In Funny Car, all four Don Schumacher Racing entries will run the Dodge Charger R/T and iconic HEMI engine, with Matt Hagan sporting the special Mopar scheme at seven events throughout the year.  Hagan, winner of the 2011 world title, along with current champ Jack Beckman and fellow teammates Ron Capps and Johnny Gray will attempt to defend Mopar’s World Championship for a third consecutive year.

Pro Stock Rewind and Fast Forward

In the last season’s NHRA finale, Allen Johnson not only earned his first NHRA Pro Stock World Championship, Mopar’s first since 1994, but he did it in commanding fashion with a title win, his first at Pomona, to cap off a career season.  Johnson won seven race titles in 2012, led all pro-category drivers in round wins, battled his way to 11 final round appearances including five of six in the Countdown to the Championship, and posted a class-best 10 No. 1 Qualifier positions. Now his Johnson & Johnson Racing team’s goal is to carry that consistency and momentum into the new season starting this weekend at Pomona.

“We just need to maintain the same consistency we had last year, continue to make good decisions, and maintain strong engine and drivetrain reliability,” says Johnson who will sport the No. 1 decal on his Mopar Dodge Avenger this season as defending champion. “The addition of Jeg (Coughlin Jr.), along with Vincent Nobile, will certainly be an extra challenge for me, since all of us will be getting good horsepower from my dad (Roy Johnson). Our goal is to have all three Dodges in the top-five, maybe even in the first three positions, at every event. It will be up to the drivers to determine in which order. I will just have to do the best I can behind the wheel and work hard on earning another championship for Mopar.”

Joining Johnson in that quest is four-time Pro Stock World Champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., who has 52 career victories. Coughlin is looking to improve on a disappointing ninth-place finish in the last year’s standings without a win the JEGS Mail Order team driver knows that is about to change.  

“The stage is set and the time has come to perform and I can tell you that I have not been this excited for a season opener in years,” says Coughlin who partnered with Johnson starting this off-season, sharing data and HEMI engines built by Roy Johnson. “Our JEGS.com Mopar Dodge Avenger has been making great laps in testing and we are stoked to showcase this J&J Racing/Roy Johnson HEMI horsepower.”

Finishing third in the standings with two wins in 2012, Mountain View Racing’s Vincent Nobile is also part of the contingency running under HEMI power supplied by Johnson’s team, adding to expectations that the trio will be both formidable teammates and competitors in the battle for another championship.

V. Gaines rounds out the number of full time HEMI-powered Dodge Avengers after finishing a career best seventh in 2012 with a win in Reading, Pa., where he also recorded the ninth quickest pass in Pro Stock history with a 6.489 second run.

Mopar’s Funny Car Battle No Laughing Matter

The battle for the Funny Car World Championship came right down to final eliminations in the 2012 season finale with Jack Beckman taking the honors over Ron Capps by just two points after an extremely competitive battle between the DSR teammates, including Johnny Gray, in the NHRA Countdown. This season, the competition is expected to be just as fierce throughout the field, making the defense of a championship, especially two in a row for Mopar with Beckman in 2012 and Matt Hagan in 2011, more challenging. But after missing out on the Countdown and winner’s circle, Hagan is approaching the task at hand with renewed confidence after reaching the semi-finals or finals at seven of the final 10 events in 2012 and posting some good results in off-season testing.

“Our season has great potential and that showed at testing last month in Florida when we ran a 4.03,” says Hagan who is in his fourth season flying the Mopar colors on his Dodge Charger R/T. “As long as we stay focused and work hard we have a lot we can accomplish this year. We still have a lot to prove to ourselves but we have all the great tools that Don Schumacher Racing provides.”

“We plan to run up front for Mopar and get back to where we were in 2011 when we won the Funny Car world championship,” adds Hagan. “We know how to do it, we’ve done it before. There’s no reason why we can’t get back to that.”

Tuning It In 

This weekend’s season-opener at drag racing’s birthplace at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona is the first of 24 events on the schedule for the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 16 and on Sunday, Feb. 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET).

Will you be my Valentine?

While the Mopar team will be in Pomona this Valentine’s Day, plans are already underway to mark a milestone in a love affair with the Mile-High city.  This July, Mopar will celebrate its 25th anniversary as title sponsor of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver, Colo. Mopar will return to the venue as defending title winners after Allen Johnson posted his fourth win at the scenic track in 2012.

Stay up to speed by following @OfficialMopar on twitter and join Mopar friends at https://www.facebook.com/mopar.  Press releases and multimedia for media can be found at http://media.chrysler.com

ALLEN JOHNSON READY TO CARRY SEASON-LONG PRO STOCK MOMENTUM INTO MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS

Allen Johnson says if he’s dreaming, please don’t wake him.

The veteran Pro Stock driver from Tennessee is having the greatest season of his 17-year career and is heading to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus as the series points leader in the 200-mph factory hot rod class, and, for the first time, as the heavy favorite to win the world’s most prestigious drag race.

With four victories in six final rounds, and a class-leading nine No. 1 qualifying positions, Johnson has been the leader of the pack since he won at Denver in impressive fashion. All he needs to do to secure the No. 1 seed for the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoffs is qualify at Indy.

However, Johnson is ready to take advantage of his great situation and strike while the iron is hot. He wants to get what every racer in NHRA wants: a Wally trophy that says “Mac Tools U.S. Nationals” winner on it.

“Hopefully the good vibes we have had the last few races will carry on into the U.S. Nationals, and we can go up there and show off a little in our Mopar Dodge Avenger,” Johnson said.

Johnson will be racing hard to secure his top seed for the playoffs and earn a coveted victory at the sport’s oldest and most tradition-rich event, Aug. 29-Sept. 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD in more than 10 hours of coverage during Labor Day weekend.

After getting off to a slow start at the beginning of the season with some early-round exits, Johnson got serious at Las Vegas and won. He added two-time world champ Jim Yates to his tuning braintrust that already included crew chief Mark Ingersoll and his father and engine builder Roy Johnson. The team hit its stride after the Vegas win and raced to victories at Topeka, Denver and Sonoma. Runner-up finishes were claimed at Bristol and Brainerd.

Next stop: Indianapolis.

“Indy is one of the most important events of the year, prestige-wise,” Johnson said. “It’s also the last event of the regular season, so you want to get some momentum going for when the Countdown starts.”

Johnson has never been to a final at Indy and his only visit to the media center at Lucas Oil Raceway came in 2008 when he was the No. 1 qualifier for the event. He hopes to make plenty of trips to the tower this time around. His confidence is at an all-time high and he knows he has a very fast hot rod.

“Heading to Indy leading the points is very prestigious for every member of our Mopar/J&J Racing team,” Johnson said. “Winning at Indy would be right up there with winning the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, our sponsor’s race. It would be very big.”

In order to take the win at Indy, Johnson will have to hold off Greg Anderson, a six-time winner of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and a surging Erica Enders, who has raced to three victories since her breakthrough performance at Chicago in July. Others to watch in Pro Stock include past Indy winners Mike Edwards, Jeg Coughlin, Warren and Kurt Johnson and Larry Morgan. Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, V. Gaines and Shane Gray also will be in the hunt for victory.

• SCHEDULE: The first of five qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31. Two sessions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 3.

• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus. Tickets are available by calling (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online at www.NHRATIX.com.

• ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise more than 10 hours of coverage of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus. Three hours of qualifying coverage and coverage of the Traxxas Nitro Shootouts will air at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 2. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage and Traxxas Shootout highlights will also air on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. (ET). Eliminations for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus will be featured during six hours of coverage on Monday, Sept. 3, starting at noon (ET).

• LUCAS OIL SERIES: The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus also will feature competition in all categories of the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series are born. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29 and eliminations begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 and continue through Monday, Sept. 3.

• NHRA PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx: NHRA’s popular Pro Mod touring series will make its seventh start of the 10-race 2012 season at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus. The series features some of the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars, with an eclectic mix of vintage and late-model body styles, in quarter-mile competition. The first qualifying session will be Friday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. Qualifying will continue on Saturday, Sept. 1 with sessions at 2 and 5:30 p.m. The final qualifying session will be Sunday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. and the first round of eliminations begins Sunday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. and will continue on Monday, Sept. 3 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

•ABOUT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS: One of five motorsports facilities owned and operated by NHRA, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis sits on 267 acres of land just west of Indianapolis in the town of Clermont, and features three race courses: a championship drag strip, a .686-mile paved oval and a 2.5-mile, 15-turn road course.

SEVEN DRIVERS EARN FULL THROTTLE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BERTHS AT NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

Seven drivers clinched Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoff berths at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, bringing the number of drivers who have secured their invitations to the playoffs to 14.

Top Fuel racers Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher, along with Funny Car driver Ron Capps, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Jr. all locked up their positions during NHRA Sonoma Nationals qualifying.

On Sunday, Pro Stock racers Mike Edwards and Vincent Nobile clinched by advancing to round two, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Hector Arana Sr. clinched by advancing to the semifinals.

The NHRA Full Throttle Series regular season concludes Labor Day weekend at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus in Indianapolis. A six-race playoff series, the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, will lead to the crowning of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champs. The Countdown begins Sept. 14-16 at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C.

COUNTDOWN FIELDS TO DATE

Top Fuel

1. Spencer Massey

2. Antron Brown

3. Tony Schumacher

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight

2. Ron Capps

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson

2. Jason Line

3. Allen Johnson

4. Mike Edwards

5. Vincent Nobile

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Eddie Krawiec

2. Andrew Hines

3. Hector Arana Jr.

4. Hector Arana Sr.

BROWN, GRAY, A. JOHNSON AND KRAWIEC RACE TO VICTORIES AT NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

Antron Brown raced to the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, and moved into position to become the first NHRA driver to sweep the three-race Western Swing twice.

Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near San Francisco.

Brown, who became one of seven drivers in NHRA history to sweep the Western Swing in 2009, outran Spencer Massey in the final to claim his third win at Sonoma, his fourth victory of the season and 35th of his career. Brown’s Matco Tools dragster produced a final round performance of 3.814 seconds at 318.02 mph to hold off Massey’s charging FRAM/Prestone dragster, which finished in 3.826 at 323.50.

“The car is just running phenomenal, it’s so easy to drive,” said Brown, who defeated Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein to advance to the final round.

“The boys (crew chiefs Mark Oswald and Brian Corradi) made great decisions each and every round,” Brown continued. “It’s one of those weekends that worked out. It was brutal for us given the (eliminations) ladder we had. We had to take it one round at a time. We kept our head down and kept digging. We aren’t going to talk about (sweeping the Western Swing). We can talk about sweeping if we get to the final round at Seattle next weekend. First we have to qualify. Then we have to get past first round. The competition is just that good.”

Brown says he’ll try to remember what worked for him in 2009 as he approaches a second sweep of the Western Swing.

“We’re going to take the same approach this time like we did the last time,” Brown said. “We aren’t going to look into the future and we’ll just focus on the here and now.”

Due to qualifying bonus points earned by Massey, he and Brown moved into a tie for the series lead. They are 126 in front of third place Tony Schumacher, the seven-time world champ.

“We’re just trying to shoot for it and win as many races as possible,” Brown said. “We want to go into the Countdown as the points leader and there’s an extra 20 points on the line if you can do that. That proved to be huge last year in the final race of the season. We are clawing for everything that we can get.”

In Funny Car, Gray claimed his second victory of the season by defeating defending world champ Matt Hagan in the final round. Gray posted a winning effort of 4.142 at 305.15 in his Service Central Dodge Charger, while Hagan trailed with a 5.461 at 146.67 in his Aaron’s/Mopar Charger.

“We had a great race car all weekend,” Gray said. “We struggled a little in qualifying, but I have a great crew and crew chief and they gave me a great race car today.”

Gray won from the No. 6 qualifying position, beating Tim Wilkerson, Gary Densham and Denver winner Jack Beckman en route to his third final round of the season. With the win he remained in fifth place, but now trails fourth place Mike Neff by 18 points. He’s 62 points out of third.

“I’d like to move up a little bit more and earn a few more points to start the Countdown with,” said Gray, who didn’t make the Countdown last season. “I’m ready for the Countdown, we’ve got a great race car.”

Johnson raced to his fourth Pro Stock win of the season, beating four-time world champ Greg Anderson in the final round. Johnson, who will join Brown in a quest to sweep the Western Swing in Seattle next week, won from the top qualifying position with a final round effort of 6.542 at 211.76 in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, overcoming a near perfect reaction time from Anderson, who trailed with a 6.573 at 210.93 in his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro.

“We’ve got an awesome race car and a great team making decisions,” Johnson said. “It’s a sweet feeling knowing every time you go up there you are going to be the fastest car. You just have to be consistent as a driver. I was able to do that today and hopefully I can carry that on into Seattle.”

Johnson used a consistent string of low 6.50s to beat early round opponents Matt Hartford, Jeg Coughlin and Jason Line. He also had the quicker reaction time in each round except the final.

“We’re learning how to win, round by round by round,” Johnson said. “And we’re taking it one round at a time.”

Johnson, who increased his series lead to 54 points over Anderson, feels confident that he can become the eighth driver to sweep the swing and only the second Pro Stock driver to accomplish the rare feat, joining Anderson (2004).

“I can’t imagine winning two in a row and we’ve done it with earning maximum points,” Johnson said. “Every round of qualifying and eliminations we had the quickest car. It’s mind-boggling to me. We are getting in the championship mind set. I’ve never thought of myself as the best out here. So I have to start thinking that way and get my confidence up so we can get ready for the Countdown.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, top qualifier Krawiec raced to his fifth victory of the season and second in a row, once again beating teammate Andrew Hines in the final round. In a battle between Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidsons, Krawiec raced to a final round performance of 6.809 at 197.74 to drive around the quicker-reacting Hines, who trailed with a 6.839 at 196.27.

To advance to the final, Krawiec defeated Angie Smith, John Hall and Hector Arana Sr. Krawiec’s bike posted the low E.T. of the weekend in the first round win with a 6.785. He then ran low 6.80s in the final three round wins.

“You can’t make mistakes out here,” Krawiec said. “We’re focusing on round wins. You get enough of them and that will equal race wins and then enough of those will win championships. I just want to see win lights.”

The win was the eighth of the season for the Harley team and continues their domination dating back to last season. Hines advanced to his fourth consecutive final round appearance. The two riders are one and two in the series standings and pulling away from the pack.

“Hopefully we don’t peak before the Countdown,” Krawiec said. “We can dominate and be the team for the first 10 races, but we could fizzle out for the final six, and the end result is you don’t win the championship. Our main goal is to stay on top of our program and do the best we can.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues Aug. 3-5 with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Pacific Raceways near Seattle, the third and final leg of the Western Swing.

* * *

SONOMA, Calif. -- Final finish order (1-16) at the 25th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Raceway at Sonoma.  The race is the 14th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1.  Antron Brown; 2.  Spencer Massey; 3.  Doug Kalitta; 4.  Brandon Bernstein; 5.  Clay Millican; 6.  Shawn Langdon; 7.  Tony Schumacher; 8.  David Grubnic; 9.  Steve Torrence; 10.  Bob Vandergriff; 11.  Mike Strasburg; 12.  Terry McMillen; 13.  Mike Salinas; 14.  Morgan Lucas; 15. Khalid alBalooshi; 16.  Scott Palmer.

FUNNY CAR:

1.  Johnny Gray; 2.  Matt Hagan; 3.  Jack Beckman; 4.  Cruz Pedregon; 5.  Robert Hight; 6.  Gary Densham; 7.  Jeff Arend; 8.  Alexis DeJoria; 9.  Courtney Force; 10.  John Force; 11.  Jeff Diehl; 12.  Mike Neff; 13.  Tim Wilkerson; 14.  Ron Capps; 15.  Dale Creasy Jr.; 16.  Bob Tasca III.

PRO STOCK:

1.  Allen Johnson; 2.  Greg Anderson; 3.  Jason Line; 4.  Mike Edwards; 5.  Vincent Nobile; 6. Erica Enders; 7.  Larry Morgan; 8.  Jeg Coughlin; 9.  Warren Johnson; 10.  Shane Gray; 11.  V. Gaines; 12.  Matt Hartford; 13.  JR Carr; 14.  Gordie Rivera; 15.  Kurt Johnson; 16.  Ron Krisher.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1.  Eddie Krawiec; 2.  Andrew Hines; 3.  Hector Arana; 4.  Hector Arana Jr; 5.  Karen Stoffer; 6. John Hall; 7.  Scotty Pollacheck; 8.  Shawn Gann; 9.  Angie Smith; 10.  Jerry Savoie; 11.  Michael Ray; 12.  Steve Johnson; 13.  Katie Sullivan; 14.  Matt Guidera; 15.  Matt Smith; 16.  Michael Phillips.

SONOMA, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the 25th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Raceway at Sonoma. The race is the 14th of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Antron Brown, 3.814 seconds, 318.02 mph  def. Spencer Massey, 3.826 seconds, 323.50 mph.

Funny Car -- Johnny Gray, Dodge Charger, 4.142, 305.15  def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 5.461, 146.67.

Pro Stock -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.542, 211.76  def. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.573, 210.93.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.809, 197.74  def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.839, 196.27.

Super Stock -- Justin Lamb, Cobalt, 8.586, 154.32  def. Dave Raybourn, Dart, 8.589, 154.14.

Stock Eliminator -- Tommy Gaynor, Camaro, 10.863, 109.19  def. Dave Bridgewater, Camaro, 10.505, 123.01.

Top Dragster -- Bobby Ray McMahan, Dragster, 6.553, 206.76  def. Val Torres Jr., Dragster, 6.648, 202.21.

Top Sportsman -- Ed Olpin, Camaro, 7.575, 181.11  def. Todd Stewart, Cobalt, 7.097, 186.20.

Super Comp -- Aaron Kinard, Dragster, 8.952, 164.75  def. Justin Morgan, Dragster, 8.894, 173.09.

Super Gas -- Rob Willis, Firebird, 9.958, 148.97  def. Ronnie Lahn, Cavalier, foul.