K&N Filters Supernationals presented by Advance Auto Parts Fact Sheet

WHAT: 36th annual K&N Filters SuperNationals presented by Advance Auto Parts, the 11th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2005 NHRA POWERade Series world championships. Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J. From the North, take N.J. Turnpike South to Exit 9, follow the signs to Rt. 18 South. Go six miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 South five miles. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Go ¼ mile, track entrance on left.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, June 16-19.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $2 million.

SCHEDULE: THURSDAY, June 16 -- Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, June 17 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 10:15 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 18-- Qualifying and sportsman time trials, 10:15 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 19-- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION: Saturday, June 18, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 19, ESPN will televise three hours of eliminations at 4 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE: Friday, June 17, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) – Galaxy 11/Transponder 12K (Downlink frequency: 11942 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, June 18, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) – Galaxy 11/Transponder 6K (Downlink frequency: 11820 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 19, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) – Galaxy 11/Transponder 6K (Downlink frequency: 11820 MHz, vertical)

2004 EVENT WINNERS: Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; Gary Densham, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel —- 4.481 seconds by Doug Kalitta, May ‘03; 330.63 mph by Kalitta, May ‘03
Funny Car-- 4.760 seconds by Tony Pedregon, May ‘03; 326.95 mph by Gary Scelzi, May ‘03
Pro Stock-- 6.670 seconds by Greg Anderson, May ‘03; 207.18 mph by Anderson, May, ‘03
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 7.016 seconds by Andrew Hines, June ‘04; 194.10 mph by Matt Hines, May ‘01

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel -- 4.441 sec., Oct. ‘03, Reading, Pa.; 336.15 mph, May ‘05, Hebron, Ohio, by Tony Schumacher
Funny Car -- 4.665 sec., 333.58 mph Oct. ‘04, Joliet, Ill., by John Force
Pro Stock -- 6.633 sec., 208.23 mph March ‘05, Gainesville, Fla., by Greg Anderson
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.991 sec., 197.45 mph March ’05 Gainesville, Fla., by Andrew Hines

TICKETS: For tickets, call (732) 446-7800. Tickets also available at Ticketmaster, nhra.com, and racewaypark.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) – Thursday: Adult, $10; Junior (6-12 years), free. Friday: Adult, $32; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Saturday: Adult, $42; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Sunday: Adult, $45; Junior (6-12 years) $10; Child (5 years and under), free in general admission and pit access areas each day.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $39; Junior (6-12 years), $18; Child (5 years and under), $8. Saturday: Adult, $52; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and under), $10. Sunday: Adult, $60; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $15.

DOUG KALITTA LOOKS TO EXTEND POWERADE SERIES POINTS LEAD WITH TOP FUEL VICTORY AT K&N FILTERS SUPERNATIONALS

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – In his real world job, Doug Kalitta is a pilot for a successful charter aviation service. In the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, where he moonlights as driver of a 330-mph Top Fuel dragster, Kalitta’s competitors might think that the Ann Arbor, Mich. native really spends his days away from the track at the controls of a sleek Stealth fighter instead of his trusty Lear Jet.

Quiet and often unassuming, Kalitta has flown virtually undetected by radar this season, overtaking his opponents with some precision strikes. He has posted three victories in five final round appearances and currently leads the NHRA POWERade world championship chase for the second time in his driving career.

While defending world champ Tony Schumacher has grabbed headlines for his jaw-dropping 336 mph national speed record, Kalitta has been going about his business – the business of winning his first NHRA POWERade world championship crown.

Kalitta hopes to add another victory to his season ledger and maintain his category points lead at the 36th annual K&N Filters SuperNationals presented by Advance Auto Parts, June 16-19 at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The $2 million race, which will be televised on ESPN2, is the 11th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

With victories at Gainesville, Fla., Atlanta and Bristol, Tenn., Kalitta marched through the southern states in impressive fashion. He also has posted two runner-up finishes – at Las Vegas and Columbus, Ohio – in his 7,000 horsepower Mac Tools dragster.

According to Kalitta, his team has been focused on attaining one thing this season – consistency. He says if his team can do that, the victories will come, which they have so far.

“Probably this year, we’re hoping to be more consistent on Sunday rather than having the fastest car on Friday or Saturday,” said Kalitta, who drives one of three Top Fuel dragsters fielded by his uncle, NHRA driving legend Connie Kalitta. “I really have to give the credit to Rahn (Tobler, crew chief), he has the car strong and consistent on Sunday.”

With the stop in New Jersey, Kalitta is returning to a quarter-mile drag strip that has been very good to him over the years. He has posted two victories in three final round appearances at Englishtown – and he will certainly be a favorite this year.

Other drivers to watch include Schumacher in his U.S. Army dragster, Brandon Bernstein in his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster and Miller Lite dragster driver Larry Dixon, the defending event winner, whose crew chief Dick LaHaie is the man to beat when the temperatures soar. Kalitta’s teammates – two time series champ Scott Kalitta, a two-time winner this season, and recent first-time winner Dave Grubnic – also may figure into the final round eliminations picture on Sunday at Raceway Park.

Kalitta’s top challengers took a step forward in the points chase after he suffered an uncharacteristic first round loss at Topeka, the third race in a grueling six-race stretch over the course of seven weeks. Kalitta, who opened that swing with back-to-back victories, says in this battle fatigue is not an option.

“I’m always ready to go, as far as that goes, a majority of the work is in the tuning of the car and I’m glad it’s left up to Rahn and all the guys (in the crew),” Kalitta said. “For them, it’s a grueling schedule for sure. Fortunately we haven’t been eating up a lot of parts.”

Other defending event winners include Gary Densham in Funny Car, Jason Line in Pro Stock, and Andrew Hines in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

In Funny Car, points leader John Force has been the driver to beat, posting a season-leading four victories in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, the last three consecutively. Whit Bazemore, Robert Hight, Gary Scelzi and Tommy Johnson Jr. also have earned victories and been regular visitors to the final round.

Greg Anderson, with three straight wins in his Summit Racing Pontiac, has begun to show signs of his dominant 2004 form when he was named the Speed Channel Driver of the Year and should be a threat along with the resurgent Warren Johnson, who maintains a slight edge over former crew chief Anderson in the POWERade point standings.

Pro Stock Motorcycle has featured some of the closest and most unpredictable competition all season as less than 130 points separate the top 10 competitors. Points leader GT Tonglet, who rides a Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, Geico Suzuki rider Karen Stoffer, Buell rider Chip Ellis and the charismatic Steve Johnson have all posted victories along the way. It is only a matter of time before defending series world champ Andrew Hines and three-time champ Angelle Sampey break into the win column.

SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17. Qualifying continues at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 18 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 19.

TICKETS: Tickets are available for the K&N Filters SuperNationals. Call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800 for ticket information, or check online at racewaypark.com or ticketmaster.com.

ON TV: ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying of the K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 18. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 4 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 19.

ON THE WEB: Quick access to NHRA media relations department press releases, electronic images and other information is available on the Internet at http://media.nhra.com.
 
2005 NHRA POWERADE POINT STANDINGS
(Following 10 of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERADE Drag Racing Series)

UPDATED 5/29/2005 (Victories in parentheses)

TOP FUEL

Place Driver Points

1. Doug Kalitta, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mac Tools dragster (3) 779
2. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (3) 754
3. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Miller Lite/Ameriquest dragster (1) 667
4. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., Zantrex-3 dragster (1) 626
5. Morgan Lucas, Riverside, Calif., Lucas Oil/Keystone dragster 612
6. Scott Kalitta, Snead Island, Fla., Mac Tools/Jesse James dragster (2) 574
7. Brandon Bernstein, Indianapolis, Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster 561
8. Doug Herbert, Cornelius, N.C., Snap-on Tools dragster 511
9. Cory McClenathan, Anaheim, Calif., FRAM AirHog dragster 496
10. David Baca, Brentwood, Calif., D. Baca & Family dragster 392
 
FUNNY CAR

1. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang (4) 752
2. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T (2) 688
3. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang (1) 646
4. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1) 573
5. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Monte Carlo 571
6. Eric Medlen, Indianapolis, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang 568
7. Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Stratus R/T (2) 547
   Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus R/T 547
9. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo 459
10. Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Checker Schuck’s Kragen Chevrolet Monte Carlo 431

PRO STOCK

1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac (3) 787
2. Warren Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., GM Performance Parts Pontiac (2) 762
3. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac (2) 738
4. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Torco Gear Chevrolet Cobalt (2) 701
5. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt 567
6. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T 506
7. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevrolet 494
8. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T 486
9. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Chevrolet 479
10. Jim Yates, Occoquan, Va., Yates Racing Pontiac 443

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following 5 of 15 events)

1. GT Tonglet, New Orleans, Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson (1) 360
2. Chip Ellis, Americus, Ga., G-Squared S&S Buell V-Twin (1) 332
3. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 325
4. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki (1) 322
5. Geno Scali, Chicago, Trim-Tex Drywall Products Suzuki 309
6. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki (1) 299
7. Ryan Schnitz, Decatur, Ind., Muzzys.com Buell V-Twin (1) 291
8. Craig Treble, Hensley, Ark., Matco Tools Suzuki 280
9. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki 270
10. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki 257