The Little Ol' FR 2009 NHRA Drag Racing Thread

FlAttorney's FR Racing ^ | March 12, 2009 | FlAttorney & Co. and a "cast of many"

[flattorney]

The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
No Turns. . . No Pit Stops. . . Just White Knuckles Ground Pounding Speed



NHRA-CDR: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle <> HRH: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Groups 1 & 2
Drag School Locations: Gainesville & Pomona ~ Frank Hawley, 2 Time NHRA Funny Car World Champion
NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Schedule - Full Nostalgia Drag Racing Schedule

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Championship Drag Racing Schedule
For Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock cars there are twenty-four(24) racing events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series divided between a regular season and playoffs format. The regular season eighteen(18) “Countdown to 10” races concludes at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis. The final six(6) playoffs “Countdown to 1” races begins at the NHRA Nationals, Charlotte and concludes at the NHRA Finals, Pomona. After the first 18 races, only the top 10 drivers in each of the divisions advance to the Countdown to 1, based on total points won. Their points are reset to within 10 of each another except for the points leader who will have a 30-point advantage over second place. The drivers will then compete for NHRA Full Throttle Championships. Drivers earn NHRA national event points as follows: Winner 100; Runner-up 80; Third-round loser 60; Second-round loser 40; First-round loser 20. Additional points are awarded at national events as follows: 10 points to all contestants - 1 qualifying run required. Qualifying positions earn points as follows: 1st 8; 2nd 7; 3rd 6; 4th 5; 5th & 6th 4; 7th & 8th 3; 9th thru 12th 2; 13th thru 16th 1. For the highly popular Pro Stock Motorcycles, they follow the same championship format as the other three divisions. However, their 2009 regular season is twelve(12) Countdown to 10 races, which begins at the legendary NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville. Their Countdown to 1 playoffs is the final five(5) races, which like the other three divisions, begins at the NHRA Nationals, Charlotte, and concludes at the NHRA Finals, Pomona. However, they do not race at the October 9-11th Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond. ~ fla

NHRA RaceDay | Full Throttle Championship Drag Racing | Classic NHRA

Watch NHRA Finals On-Line ESPN begins its ninth consecutive year of NHRA action with same-day coverage of qualifying and eliminations on ESPN2 and ESPN2-HD. Paul Page anchors the coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn also host NHRA RaceDay to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action. NHRA drag racing is also being broadcast on the American Forces Network and for the eighth year on TSN (Canada). Websites: Paul Page Blog | Mike Dunn
Paul and Mike are an outstanding broadcasting team and a major asset. NHRA would not be the same without these two in the booth. Here’s a great “inside look” article Paul wrote on Feb. 6, 2009.

NHRA Official: News | Media Center | Notebook | Tracks Directory | Staff
Owners/Crew Chiefs | Drivers: Profiles Blogs | Dragster Insider | Ticketmaster-NHRA

Auto Imagery – 2009 NHRA
NHRA: Photos | Videos | Full Throttle TV || Competition Plus | Flickr-NHRA

NHRA Top 50 Greatest Drivers | Greatest Races | Photos: Legends in Action '09 Photos

1974-2008 NHRA World Champions | Quarter-Mile Record Holders (1,000 feet nitro records not recognized)
NHRA Founder Wally Parks RIP Tribute | MotorSports Hall of Fame-NHRA
Petersen Automotive Museum
Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing 741 Photos | Smithsonian: Don Garlits "Swamp Rat XXX"

About the "Wally" Winners Trophy | Drag Racing Basics
Lingo: Drag Racing | Racers Definitive List | Nostalgia Racers
What's occurs in the pits between a race: The 75 minute turaround(PDF)
The Sound’s of NHRA Nitro Racing: Nitro Motor Start-up | Top Fuel Dragster “Pass”
(Windows Media Player Direct Links)

Remembering Drag Racers Lost doing what they and we love
Additional Resources, Off-Thread Items, and Comments
FlAttorney's FR Racing - NHRA

[flattorney]

More from the 2009 Gatornationals file. . . .

2,975 '09 Gatornationals Photos

03.12.09: Hanging on by a string, Pro Stock Motorcycle ace, Craig Treble, calls out NHRA
- - "NHRA has a plethora of marketing people," he said. "They have sponsorship. What they need to do, in my opinion, is support the racers a little more. NASCAR tries to keep their racers out there. They know they need the main teams flowing so they can continue putting on a show and making money. NHRA has a tendency of gathering up money for the NHRA and they don’t worry so much about the racers. They need to support the racer more so they can keep the program running. They say, 'If you get somebody, we’ll send some people out there to try and market our program and tell them what it’s all about.'

NASCAR Could Learn From NHRA's Diversity
Orlando Sentinel by Tania Ganguli
March 12, 2009

      A beat-up old khaki Hummer with no top stopped at a light in downtown Orlando and Tom Hammonds pointed at it. "I'd race that if I could," Hammonds said, laughing, as we sat having lunch and chatting about his roots in drag racing. It all started with the most dangerous kind. Street racing in his hometown of Crestview. He even raced in his mother's station wagon. "Needless to say," Hammonds said, "I lost a lot of races in that car." He was drafted into the NBA with the ninth pick of the 1989 draft and suddenly he had enough money to drag race professionally. He raced throughout his 12-year NBA career, doing eight or nine races through the offseason. He even got a clause removed from his contract that would have prevented him from racing or doing other such dangerous activities. Now Hammonds, eight years removed from his retirement from the NBA, is the only African-American driver-owner in the NHRA's Pro Stock division. But diversity isn't in short supply in the racing series.
      More than any other type of auto racing, the NHRA attracts women and minority drivers. Last season, two high-profile wins went to funny car driver Ashley Force Hood and African-American Antron Brown who drives a top fuel dragster. It's been that way for a long time. One of racing's female pioneers was drag racer Shirley Muldowney who won NHRA Top Fuel championships in 1977, 1980 and 1982. Angelle Sampey is currently the winningness women in NHRA history and has won Pro Stock Motorcycle("PSM") NHRA championships in 2000, 2001, 2002. She currently holds the NHRA record for the quickest PSM elapsed time at 6.871 seconds. It's a tradition and culture of diversity that NASCAR just can't accomplish. Maybe it can, but so far it hasn't. A lot of bright minds in racing are trying to figure out how to bring more diversity into the sport. Some say there needs to be a way to get young minority kids and young girls involved in the sport, so that by the time they're in their late teens, they'll be preparing for stock car racing at its highest level. Others say the good drivers are there, they just aren't getting sponsorship.
      Theories are everywhere. But maybe it's time to stop looking at what doesn't work and start looking at what does. Why does drag racing succeed? "I think all the pieces are in place to have a very diverse group," said Karen Stoffer, who drag races in the NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle division. "Many people can do it, everybody understands it and it's very accessible." Stoffer pointed out that people can take their everyday cars to a drag strip and race for a fee. Because of that, it isn't costly to get involved with drag racing at its early stages.
      As drivers go higher up in the series to more professional levels, drag racing starts getting more costly. The only reason Hammonds can afford to run his team without a sponsor is he spent 12 years in the NBA. And he likely will need sponsorship to run the whole season. But at its roots, it's easy to start drag racing. Without millions of dollars. Without big-time sponsorship. Without needing a team owner to take a chance on you. As drag racing grows — and it is growing — that grass-roots feeling will stick around. (Technical edit and added Angelle Sampey info to article - fla)

'09 Gatornationals: Antron Brown & Angelle Sampey, original courtesy Angelle

Still no '09 ride for Wonder Women. - fla

TAB

[flattorney]

Add to "there's not enough upcoming racing action" *lol* a.k.a. "glad I'm taking a break from GOP politics this year" file. ~ fla

FlA's Upcoming Motorsports, and related, Dance Card:
01. Mar 27-29: 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, Houston (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
02. Mar 27-29: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (Season Opener)
03. Apr 02-05: 10th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
04. Apr 03-05: Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
05. Apr 04-05: NASCAR O'Reilly 300 & Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway
06. Apr 09-11: Barrett Jackson Collector Car Auction, Palm Beach, FL (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
07. Apr 16-19: 29th annual Summit Racing Equip. NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta (FR FlA & Co. Covered)
08. Apr 17-19: 19th annual Miami Super Boat Grand Prix (Season Opener)
09. Apr 17-19: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
10. Apr 25-26: NASCAR Aaron's 312 & Aaron's 499, Talladega Superspeedway
11. Apr 24-26: Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
----- COMMENTS -----
01. Attending all three days of pro racing. My 17th NHRA Spring Nationals
02. (A) It was great last year and I/we(girlfriend) are F1 fans.(B)(C)
03. (A) Great facility, I/we usually go every other year in the Fall, if no schedule conflict.
04. (A) I really like this track and excellent facility. Rain can be a problem.
05. (A) Not my favorite track but a great Texas event that draws massive crowds.
06. Attending the final day on Saturday. NHRA & NASCAR drivers will be in attendance.
      Many racing cars to be auctioned.
07. (A) I would like to attend this race more frequently but schedule usually conflicts.
08. Third year racing. SBIP/APBA lost two big Florida races this season due to loss of
      cities/local sponsorship. The recession takes no prisoners.
09. (A) Great track and facility. I boycott watching or reading about anything held in communist China,
      which included the 2008 Summer Olympics, but my girlfriend likes this race so. .
10. Attending both races. My 6th time this decade.
11. (A) I'm not a fan of this facility but usually flip through the recording to see if the race is good.
----------
(A) DVR record to watch.
(B) You think NHRA & NASCAR are having sponsorship problems? In the off-season F1 had their heads
      handed to them by a huge sponsorship pull-out. F1 has always been the most expensive motorsports
      in the World, and in a major global recession, many sponsors said no thanks for 2009.
(C) If interested, see my Formula 1 Section on my FlAttorney's FR Racing.
      It will be updated again after the Australian Grand Prix.

I'm also a big NHL hockey fan so I'll have to find time for the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs which begins on April 15, 2009 and lasts until June.

(Talking about his very busy Van Halen touring schedule) "Ya know. . . it's kinda like my pants. It's hard to fit it all in" - Diamond David Lee Roth, 1980

[flattorney]

March 27-29, 2009
4th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
First of Five O'Reilly Auto Parts Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
Spring Nationals, Houston ~ Midwest Nationals, St. Louis ~ Summer Nationals, Topeka
Fall Nationals, Dallas ~ Mid-South Nationals, Memphis
Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Antron Brown ~ FC Del Worsham ~ PS Greg Anderson ~ PSM Matt Smith
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Baytown Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. SCentral SC IR Satellite | Live Radar: Multi NWS Severe Storm Loop
Forecasts may be inaccurate. Houston Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

      FlA Says: After the legendary NHRA Gatornationals comes the legendary Spring Nationals. While this is the 22nd event at Houston Raceway Park, the first Spring Nationals was held in 1965 - Champion Spark Plugs NHRA Spring Nationals, Bristol Dragway - which makes this event the third oldest on the NHRA tour. Prior to moving to Houston, the Spring Nationals was held at National Trail Raceway, Columbus Ohio, since 1972. Before Columbus, it was held at Dallas International Motor Speedway from 1969-71 after Bristol Dragway switched to AHRA sanction.
      NHRA Funny Car driver and visionary Billy Meyer built the Texas Motorplex supertrack south of Dallas in Ennis. Debuting in 1986, it was a state-of-the art facility with an all concrete drag strip. With the long standing Dallas-Houston rivalry we(my hometown of Houston) demanded a new drag racing supertrack. Houston Raceway Park("HRP") was built in 1988 by Greg(President) and Seth Angel(Track Manager, "Angel Brothers" Enterprises) and is situated on 500 acres on the eastern edge of the greater Houston metropolitan(Harris County) area in Baytown. The drag strip has a large three story tower building that incorporates 23 VIP suites, a media center, and race control facilities equipped with state-of-the-art timing and scoring equipment.
      HRP's first NHRA national event, in the Fall of 1988, established it as one of the sport’s quickest with NHRA’s first four-second Top Fuel quarter-mile pass and a new national record. Since then, the track has been host to a dizzying array of record runs, including the first sub-4.5 seconds Top Fuel quarter-mile pass by Larry Dixon in 1999. The current HRP quarter-mile track records are Top Fuel dragster: ET 4.480 secs, Gary Scelzi, Oct 1999 - MPH 335.32, Tony Schumacher, Apr 2005; Funny Car: ET 4.695 secs, John Force, Mar 2006 - MPH 328.06, John Force, Mar 2006; Pro Stock: ET 6.649 secs, Jeg Coughlin, Mar 2007 - MPH 208.59, Greg Anderson, Mar 2007; and Pro Stock Motorcycle: ET 6.947 secs, Angelle Sampey, Mar 2007 - MPH 195.73, Andrew Hines, Apr 2005.
      The largest problem for the Spring Nationals is the annual Spring rains and/or overcast, humid, and windy conditions. Also, daily weather fluctuations this time of year can make the track very tricky for the pro drivers and crew-chiefs. It appears the track will be tricky again this year with a weather forecast of isolated thunder storms for Friday's Day 1 Qualifying, from a front passing through the area that will drop the temperature 10-15 degrees. For Saturday's Day 2 Qualifying, a humid, windy, and partly cloudy high of only 65 degrees. For Sunday's Final Eliminations, a sunny high of 72 degrees with moderate winds and lower humidity.
      Over the last decade, the other problem has been that the east side of Harris County has experienced several significant flood events that affected HRP's drag strip. Again, at last year's Spring Nationals, one lane had a significant problem due to a drop-off at the end of the concrete launch pad where the track transitions to asphalt. It was so bad that, for some nitro and pro stock cars, it unloaded their rear drag slicks when they went over it. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike - the third most destructive hurricane to ever make U.S. landfall - addressed this problem by causing over $100,000 of damage to Houston Raceway Park. Not only did Ike damage the track, it completely destroyed the two top-end scoreboards, and damaged the control tower.
      From insurance proceeds, the Angel Brothers had everything repaired and updated the facility. The entire drag strip was completely repaired and resurfaced, using an expensive road construction machine(see photo, 2nd post down), in two phases. The second phase, which consisted of resurfacing the concrete eighth-mile starting line launchpad, was completed in January 2009. The shutdown area gravel trap and catch-net was extended from 150 feet to 250 feet. For additional safety, the new finish-line scoreboards were placed 35 feet away from the retaining walls. The spectator parking lot was expanded along with new permanent lighting infrastructure. And, all VIP luxury suites and the HRP media center was completely remodeled and outfitted with 42-inch plasma TVs. HRP is now a newly renovated facility and drag strip with possibly the best racing surface on the NHRA tour.
      NHRA continues to experience reduced attendance at their 2009 Full Throttle events. Accordingly, they are again discounting selected tickets for the Spring Nationals. Their reduced selected tickets prices didn't appear to help attendance at the Gatornationals. It will be interesting to see what attendance is for the Spring Nationals. In the past, it has attracted very large crowds.
      The other good thing about having the Gatornationals and the Spring Nationals together is that, I strongly believe, Floridian and Texas women are the hottest in the Country. . . but I only waste one eye. My girlfriend likes a number of the NHRA drivers (more like she has the hots for some of them *lol*) so she enjoys our time in the pits when I get to tech talking too much. This will be my 17th time to attend the NHRA Spring Nationals. We fly to Houston Thursday evening, March 26, and are attending all three days of pro racing and hanging out in the pits with our group. It's my first trip back home since Christmas to see family and friends.

O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 03.28: Qualifying 8:00 - 9:00 pm (1)
Sun, 03.29: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 am
Sun, 03.29: Eliminations 4:30 - 7:30 pm (2)
Mon, 03.30: Repeat Eliminations 2:30 - 4:30 am
(1) Only 1 hour, instead of 2, due to NCAA Basketball March Madness
(2) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360





Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
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[flattorney]

EVENT SCHEDULE

22nd annual

WEDNESDAY, Mach. 25, 2009
	Sponsor Midway Parking	8:00 AM  -  5:00 PM
	Competitor Parking only (all categories)	12:00 PM  -  5:00 PM
THURSDAY, March 26, 2009 - Parking, Registration & Tech (all categories)		8:00 AM  -  6:00 PM
FRIDAY, March 27, 2009
	Spectator Gates Open	7:30 AM
	Registration/Tech Inspection (all categories)	7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
	Sportsman Qualifying	8:00 AM
	Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session	10:00 AM
	Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Dragster)	11:30 AM
	Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session	12:30 PM
	Pro Mod Qualifying Session	1:00 PM
	Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car)	1:30 PM
	Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster)	2:30 PM
	Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Dragster)	3:30 PM
	Pro Mod Qualifying Session	4:30 PM
	Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car)	5:00 PM
	Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster)	6:00 PM
	Secure Track	7:30 PM
SATURDAY, March 28, 2009
	Spectator Gates Open	7:30 AM
	Sportsman Eliminations	8:00 AM
	Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session	9:00 AM
	Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Dragster / Funny Car)	9:30 AM
	Pro Mod Qualifying Session	10:30 AM
	Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car)	11:00 AM
	Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car)	12:00 PM
	Top Alcohol (Dragster / Funny Car) - Round 1	1:00 PM
	Comp Eliminator - Round 1	2:00 PM
	Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car)	2:30 PM
	Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car)	3:30 PM
	Pro Mod - Round 1	4:30 PM
	Secure Track	6:30 PM
SUNDAY, March 29, 2009
	Spectator Gates Open	8:30 AM
	Sportsman Eliminations	9:00 AM
	Pre-Race Ceremonies	10:00 AM
	Final Eliminations	11:00 AM
	Secure Event	4:30 PM
Schedule subject to change
NOTE:  Local ordinances require that no race car engines be operated prior to 7:30 AM any day of the event
(this includes driving to and from the staging lanes).  Also, engines may not be operated after 10:00 PM any
day of the event.

[flattorney]

Houston Raceway Park's Drag Strip Gets an Extreme Makeover After Hurricane Ike

John Force Racing News
03.26.09: John Force Spring National Preview
03.24.09, ESPN Video: Quarter Mile Profile - Ashley Force Hood

FlA's Personal High Notes from 2008 Spring Nationals

      You know there's going to be a party when Houstonian "Reverend Willie G" a.k.a. Billy Gibbons is in the house. It always fantastic when Billy attends the NHRA Spring Nationals in either an official capacity as last year, or comes out on his own to see the nitro action. For 2009, ZZ Top is celebrating being together and performing for forty(40) years. They are playing the best live concerts since the 80's. The last two times we saw the home bros live, Billy, Dusty, and Frank, were incredible. It was 1 +1 +1 = 12. ZZ usually does a U.S. tour every year. Hardest working international touring band I've ever seen for their age. Do not miss seeing ZZ Top live if they play anywhere close to where you live. Last year, ZZ came out with their first ever live DVD entitled ZZ Top - Live From Texas - DVD Announcement. Eleven bucks and it kicks serious butt. It was filmed at the Nokia Theatre in Dallas(Grand Prairie), Texas on November 1, 2007.
      Last September, both Dusty's home/estate in San Leon and Frank's home/ranch in Richmond were damaged by Hurricane Ike when it devastated Galveston-Harris(Houston) Counties and several adjoining counties. Billy said his home in Houston was undamaged. San Leon is on Galveston Bay and received significant damage. I FR posted about this with before/after photos of the legendary Balinese Room, Galveston that Ike wiped off the map. ZZ Top wrote a song about the "Balinese" room in 1975 that was on their Fandango! album.

[flattorney]

Del Worsham ~ Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Funny Car
2008 NHRA Spring Nationals Winner
NHRA Profile | Del's '09 Spring Nationals Pre-Race Team Report

      FlA Says: 2008 Spring Nationals -- It was an incredible win by my main man Del Worsham. Del winning his first "Wally" since 2005 made the Spring Nationals my favorite NHRA event attended last year. Del had a great and consistent Spring Nationals qualifying fourth, 4.881 @ 313.66, and his low E.T.'s gave him lane choice in 3 of 4 elimination rounds on Sunday. And, man-o-man did Del, and his team run by his father Chuck, put a one-two K.O. on Team Force to earn the honor to hug the NHRA trophy girls as part of his big payday. On Sunday, Del took down John Force in the Semi-Finals, (.086) 4.917-313.37 to John's losing (.063) 5.005 303.57. In the Funny Car Finals, he sent Ashley Force packing with another great pass of (.033) 4.933-316.60 to Ashley's losing (.142) 4.971-302.62. Even if Ashley had not been so late on the tree, she still didn't have the car to beat Del. Worsham's reaction time of .033 was the second lowest in eliminations. He left nothing to chance against "Princess". Here's a good background article that O'Reilly Auto Parts did last year on Del and Chuck Worsham entitled Just Me N' Dad.
      2009 Spring Nationals -- Del is an excellent driver and very level headed. The problem with he and his father's nitro Funny Car team was they didn't have the big bucks to be a serious championship contender. They couldn't afford to blow up a bunch of parts, to get a win, like many of the other top teams. Del doesn't have this problem for 2009. Al-Anabi Racing has the big bucks to give him the opportunity to step it up and run for a NHRA World Championship. His teammate, Top Fuel dragster jockey Larry Dixon - previously with Don Prudhomme Snake Racing - won at the Gatornationals two weeks ago. It would be incredible if Del could win the Spring Nationals again this weekend.

[flattorney]

Saturday morning, during breakfast at our hotel in Gainesville, a friend said he looked on his computer at the Gatornationals results for the first day of qualifying and it was only a 12 cars qualified field for each pro class. He said he thought it was supposed to be 16 cars. I told him at the beginning of the 2008 season NHRA changed the format to a 12 car provisional qualified field prior to the final day of qualifying. I explained the situation but he said he didn't understand. I told him I would post the rule change on my/our new FR 2009 NHRA thread and hopefully that helped. And, asked him to forward his email address to my secretary so he was on my racing hub, which this was distributed. - fla

01.16.08: NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series Change in Qualifying Format
      Given the significant impact weather and atmospheric conditions have had on qualifying for NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in past seasons, NHRA announced today it has modified its race qualifying procedure. Beginning with the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 7-10, the top 12 elapsed times in each pro category will be provisionally recorded prior to the last day of qualifying. Those teams who were unable to earn a provisional spot in the top 12 will have an opportunity to make the 16-car starting order during the final day of qualifying. While the 12 provisional times are officially recorded prior to the last day of qualifying, those positions are not locked-in. All teams will have the opportunity to improve their positions during the final day of qualifying and can bump in or be bumped out of the field.
      "There are no guarantees with this system," said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA. "If you are one of the 12 quickest cars, you can still be bumped out on the final day of qualifying, or you can improve your position in the order. However, if weather conditions change and become less optimal and as a result the performances are not as good throughout the field, the four quickest cars from outside the provisional 12 on the final day of qualifying will complete the 16-car lineup."
      The field of 16 for each of the four professional categories will be set at the conclusion of the final round of qualifying, using the traditional 16-car race bracket for eliminations. "We feel this new qualifying format will heighten the intensity for each and every qualifying session throughout the weekend," Light said. "We're certain it will make the racing on the track even more entertaining for fans."
      All qualifying elapsed times will count in the Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship standings as well as towards national records(1). The Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship awards the top-performing pit crews in each of the four professional categories at each event as well as a year-end champion. Teams are rewarded based on performance and consistency during qualifying runs, with points deducted for quarter-mile passes that result in oil on the racetrack.
(1) National records were suspended in the two nitro classes after the Saturday, June 21, 2008 track death of Scott Kalitta during qualifying. - fla

[flattorney]

Darrell Russell
1968 - 2004
2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year, 6 Top Fuel Event Wins, 17 Final-Round Appearances, 81 Events - 0 DNQ
2001: Only the third driver in NHRA history to win in his first professional start.
Three-time Division 4 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion | Three-time Division 4 Driver of the Year
Six-time Top Alcohol All-Star Representative
Tributes: Russell Family Official Site Photos Video (Direct WMPlayer Link)
NHRA Photos: Racers Edge | Chris Graves

03.23.09 Darrell Russell Tribute Party at Houston Raceway Park open to drivers, crew, and fans
      The top teams in drag racing will get together for a special party Friday night at Houston Raceway Park("HRP") to remember local Texas hero Darrell Russell and raise money for The Eric Medlen Project and Racers For Christ(Founded 1978 - fla). Fans are welcome to join in the fun and hang out with their favorite drivers in a casual atmosphere. "We've been working with the Russell family and Rob Geiger to put together a fun party where racers and fans can just hang out and enjoy each other's company," said Seth Angel, general manager of HRP. "The main idea is to remember Darrell and the others who have lost their lives doing what they love, like Eric Medlen, Scott Kalitta, and Blaine Johnson, just to name a few, and celebrate their lives."
      At the conclusion of Friday's second round of professional qualifying at this weekend's 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, the party will begin with a massive fireworks display. As soon as the smoke clears, the rock-n-roll sounds of The Slags will fill the night and Houston-based Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurants will begin serving their famous sizzling fajitas and margaritas. Superstars like 13-time Funny Car champion John Force, six-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, four-time FIA European champion Urs Erbacher, Houston's own Erica Enders, Rookie of the Year candidate and back-to-back Super Comp world champion Shawn Langdon and his teammate Morgan Lucas, as well as U.S. Nationals winner Steve Johnson already have committed to the event along with their entire crews. Many more are expected to join in the fun as the evening approaches.
      The party is free to attend. Food and beverages will be sold at a nominal cost with all proceeds going to The Eric Medlen Project, which funds research and safety initiatives for drag racers, and Racers For Christ. Brothers Greg and Gary Angel, who own HRP, already have pledged $2,000 to the cause. Erbacher crewman Johnny Bang, who also owns Johnny Bang's Bang and Bump Shop in Tomball, Texas, has committed $500. "We encourage everyone to come over to the Corporate Hospitality area on the north end of the pit-side grandstands and join the party," Angel said. "The main objective is to have fun and remember our friends. If we can raise a good amount of money for charity at the same time then all the better. "The sportsman guys have been throwing a pit party during this race for the last few years and we're just expanding on their idea and inviting a few more people. We're using the same band they've used in the past that everyone really enjoyed and having Stan Holt and his group from Lupe Tortilla there will give people the option of eating and getting a cold drink if they so desire."
      A photo booth where fans can get their picture taken with a life-sized cutout of Darrell Russell will be used to raise donations. Rob Geiger, author of Darrell Russell: Broad Smiles, Quarter-Miles(1), also will be on hand selling and signing copies of his book. - Credit: HRP

(1) The book Darrell Russell: Broad Smiles, Quarter-Miles can be purchased online at Jegs.com for $24.95. All proceeds are donated in Darrell’s name to the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW).
09.26.07: SpeedTV's Book Review.

Darrell was an outstanding fellow Houstonian, Texan, and drag racer who I still greatly miss. ~ fla

[flattorney]

John Medlen Bio

Great News! - fla

03.24.09: John Force Racing's John Medlen Returns - Will Be At Spring Nationals
      Recovered From Heart Issues, Medlen Is Houston Bound - - Pulling double duty is a challenge that sophomore Funny Car driver Mike Neff didn’t shy away from, however a return to his original role of driving only won’t require much coercion. This weekend in Baytown, Texas., at the NHRA O’Reilly Springnationals, Neff’s crewchief, John Medlen, will return following a medical leave of absence to correct coronary issues. Medlen missed two events while he recuperated at home in Indianapolis from a heart procedure. Prior to the event in Phoenix Medlen checked himself into an Indianapolis hospital with chest discomfort and eventually spent five days in the hospital as a number of tests and procedures were conducted to regulate his heart rate.
      While Medlin was out, Neff was a trooper pulling double duty, driving and handling all the on-site tuning responsibilities. He got plenty of input from Medlen via cell phone and text messages but it was not the same as having his crew chief a few feet away. For his efforts Neff raced to a runner-up finish in Phoenix but an aggressive tune-up in the first round of the Gatornationals in Gainesville ended his day early. “The conditions were a little better (on race day) and we tried to get more aggressive. We gave it a little bit too much. It went up in smoke as it went past the tree. I am just kicking myself for that. We gave it our best shot. All in all it wasn’t the best weekend but it certainly wasn’t the worst either. We are still learning and trying to get some things figured out,” said Neff. Few driver and tuner combinations could have pulled off this kind of arrangement, but considering both Neff and Medlen are championship winning tuners, the challenge wasn’t that overwhelming.
      John Medlen won his crown tuning Tony Pedregon to the championship in 2003 and Mike Neff steered Gary Scelzi to his lone Funny Car championship in 2005. Both men have a tremendous amount of respect for each other and it was Medlen who championed Neff to fill the driver’s seat formerly occupied by his son, Eric, who passed away just over two years ago following a testing accident in Florida. “There’s only one Eric Medlen and no one’s ever going to take his place, but to fill that spot and carry on where he left off is a real honor. John Medlen was one of the main reasons I came over here – to work with him,” said Neff. “I have high expectations. I know the performance of the car will be there plus we should be better just because we have a year of experience behind us. I know that if I do my job, we should be in the hunt for the Full Throttle Funny Car championship.” The experience of running the Funny Car almost solo for two races is believed to have given Neff a leg up when it comes to understanding where the car needs to be in qualifying as well as race day. It is an advantage that Neff hopes to exploit when he and Medlen get back on the track together again. “I think we will be better now that I have been able to learn more about the car. I think I’ll be able to give Medlen a better perspective since I’m now a lot more aware how it is all working,” summed up Neff. - Credit: CP

John Medlen, 1982 Pomona

[flattorney]

KEY PRO STOCK NEWS
03.24.09: With realistic expectations, Erica Enders looks forward to Hometown NHRA Event
      There’s nothing worse for a driver than sitting on the sidelines without a ride, particularly when the event is being held at the driver’s home track. Just ask Erica Enders. When last year’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil rolled around, Enders was without a ride, relegated to watching peers take the track where she began her drag racing career 17 years ago. Fast-forward one year, and things are much different. Enders is back behind the wheel of a Pro Stocker with new sponsor Dragstar, a new team, and a renewed level of excitement, which is only made stronger by a trip home. “There’s no place like home, that’s for sure,” said Enders. “All 17 years of my career, most of my passes have been in Houston, so I’m looking very forward to this weekend’s race. Granted, we’re not going to go out and set the world on fire and be able to win the race, but it will be great to be back in front of the hometown crowd. Last year, Richie [Stevens Jr.] and I went down for the Houston race, and neither of us was driving at that event, so it was extremely difficult to be there and not be driving — it really kind of sucked, to be honest. I’m so stoked to be coming back to my hometown.”
      This weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals will mark the fifth event for Enders behind the wheel of Jim Cunningham’s Ford Mustang, which she piloted at last year’s Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil and the first three events this year, and though she is happy to be back racing in front of friends and family, she’s realistic in her expectations. Enders has failed to qualify at all three races this year (Miserably failed - fla), and with 24 teams on the entry list for the Houston event, she says that will likely be the outcome there, too. “I know the track, and yes, I’ve done well in the past, but considering our position with parts and stuff, I don’t think we’re going to make the show here,” said Enders. “I don’t want to sound like Debbie Downer, but I saw there are 24 cars on the entry list, so that’s pretty stout for a Pro Stock field.”
      The team is using an old car and old engine components (and it runs like an ol' heap - fla) while waiting for brand-new ones from Ford, which has already tested the '10 Mustang body in the wind tunnel and, with a great deal of help from team owner Cunningham, has begun work on the cylinder heads and engine blocks, which the team hopes to have by July. In the meantime, the team is using its time to jell, get Enders more seat time, and give the crew data and tuning experience. “We’re learning a lot,” said Enders. “We’re out there, I’m learning about the car, I’m getting more seat time, and my crew chief is getting more runs under his belt. We’re like every team out there; we learn from every run.
      “When I started at Victor Cagnazzi’s [team], we weren’t qualifying — I don’t think we qualified for the first 10 races. Our program was new over there, and things came together, and towards the end of my deal over there, we were third in the world in points and had been to two finals. Every new program needs time to come together. We’ll be just fine. I really, really have a lot of confidence. I’ve never worked with a more committed group of people. My crew chief and the two guys that work on my car and Jim Cunningham are so amazing. They believe in the program and in me as much as I do, and that really means a lot to a driver.” The team will continue its learning process this weekend at Houston Raceway Park, where it will have an added cheering section of Enders’ friends and family, including her father, Gregg, who has missed the first three races this year due to work commitments at Momentum Biofuels, which is one of the team’s backers this season. No matter the outcome, Enders is just happy she has the chance to take part in this year’s Houston event in front of her friends, family, and fans. “I’m so happy to be back in the car,” she said. “It was so weird not driving. It was like part of me was missing last year. It was so frustrating. I’m just so happy to be driving again and be getting seat time and getting to be out there with the rest of the guys and the fans and stuff because I surely did miss it last year.” - See previous Erica Enders thread post #31 and photos. - TAB

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03.24.09: Dave Connolly To Race At Spring Nationals
- - Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly will make his 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series debut this weekend at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston. But he will be driving Kenny Koretsky’s colorful Nitro Fish Dodge instead of the familiar Cagnazzi Racing Charter Communications Chevrolet Cobalt. Connolly, one of the category’s best, has been sidelined by the current economic downturn for the first three 2009 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events, so he accepted the offer to drive Koretsky’s car. Connolly, a 21-race winner, is eager to get back to racing, even if it is for one race. “I’m still part of Cagnazzi Racing and when Kenny offered his car for me to drive this weekend, I was excited. But I wanted the blessings of Victor, General Motors and (crew chief) Tommy Utt, and they said ‘yes’. It will be good to get behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car again. I’m honored they picked me to drive the car. “Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, Cagnazzi Racing can find someone to partner with Charter Communications and I can get back in my Chevy Cobalt. Then we can get back to trying to win a championship. I’m looking forward to racing again with Tommy Utt and the rest of my team.”
FlA Says: I don't follow pro stock very closely except for Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team. However, five years ago, the one guy that really caught my attention was Dave Connolly. He is a great PS driver and I am equally impressed with Dave when I've gone to his pit. He had the same sponsorship problem last year missing the first five races.

[flattorney]

More King Billy NHRA News - fla

01.05.09: The Kid is Back - 75th Anniversary of the 1933-34 Ford Model
      Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum - - The 75th Anniversary of the 1933-’34 Ford Model 40, arguably one of Ford’s sleekest designs, will be celebrated in a special exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, Jan. 23, 2009 through June 2009. “The 1933-’34 Ford Model 40 was a very important car both for Ford and for hot rodders. It helped pull Ford out of the depression and powered racers from Indy to El Mirage. It’s an important milestone anniversary that the Parks Museum’s is excited to celebrate,” said Tony Thacker, executive director of the museum. “This exhibit is for all the racers and rodders who embraced the Model 40.”
      The exhibit, will feature a number of legendary 1933-’34 Ford hot rods, including the Pierson Brothers’ Coupe; the SO-CAL Coupe; the famed Mooneyham & Sharp 554 car (courtesy of Don Garlits’ Museum of Drag Racing); and the Allison V-12-powered Big Al. Representing the hot rod community will be the California Kid, the Super Bell Coupe, Jake Jacobs’ coupe and, just announced, Billy Gibbons’ Eliminator made famous in rock band ZZ Top’s award-winning music videos. Other cars will also be on display, including the new, all-steel ’34 3-window coupe from Steve’s Auto Restorations. The exhibit will also include photographs, memorabilia and artifacts that tell the story of the iconic 1933-’34 Ford. # SNIP#.

Videos: ZZ Top, Gimme All Your Lovin'
THE Legendary MTV Video featuring "Eliminator" | Nov. 2007: ZZ Top Live From Texas (Dallas)

From Fall 2008 "In Your Face" Tour

[flattorney]

. . . . and speaking about the Great State of Texas

Vaughan Estates, Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas Texas

One of the greatest musicians God ever put on the planet.
And praise the Lord he choose Texas where I got to see Stevie play many times. ~ fla

SRV Rocks (5 Stars)
Site owner has the largest SRV audio collection in the Country.
He posts different ones, for download, in the MP3s section usually every six weeks.

[flattorney]

NHRA Event Announcement
(Click to hear nitro motor start up)

TAB

[flattorney]

Texas Ping

TAB

[kickonly88]

‘Always fascinated me how a pro drag rider might get into the high nines on a stock bike like a Hayabusa, but put a regular street rider on the bike for the Friday night drags and he’ll be lucky to get into the low elevens.’

If anybody could do it, no one would watch.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Thanks for the PING, ready to radc...WOO HOO

[Cheetahcat]

Thank you for the thread

[SouthTexas]

Hell of a lead in, hope the races follow through!

[flattorney]

Not pretty pictures. "Houston we have a problem" - TAB

[flattorney]

JFR trailer at the Spring Nationals (L-R) John Force's crew chief Austin Coil, driver
Mike Neff, and Mike's crew chief John "I'm back and I'm bad" Medlen. - credit JFR

Video: ESPN interview with John Medlen and John Force after the loss of Eric.

TAB