51st ANNUAL MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Professional competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2005 POWERade world championships. Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2005 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.

Sport Compact competitors in one championship class will earn points leading to 2005 NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series world championship.

WHERE: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Clermont, Ind. >From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for approximately four miles through the town of Clermont. The main entrance to the facility is on the left-hand side, one-half mile past Raceway Road.

COURSE: Quarter-mile drag strip.

WHEN: Wednesday through Monday, Aug. 31-Sept. 5.

PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $2.6 million.

SCHEDULE: WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31 -- Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, Sept. 1 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 6:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 3 - Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE at 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:25 p.m.
SPORT COMPACT (PRO RWD) QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 4 -- Sportsman eliminations, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SKOAL SHOWDOWN ELIMINATIONS at 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4 p.m.
SPORT COMPACT (PRO RWD) QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

MONDAY, Sept. 5 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION: Saturday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 1:30 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, Sept. 4, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 4, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at noon (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 4, ESPN2 will televise three hours of qualifying coverage at 10:30 p.m. (ET).

Monday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 will televise a special presentation of NHRA 2Day at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Monday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 will televise one hour of eliminations coverage at noon (ET).
Monday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE: Friday, Sept.2, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6 / Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal)

Sunday, Sept. 4 (Saturday’s racing), Midnight-12:30 a.m. (ET) – Galaxy 11 / Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Sept. 4, 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6 / Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal)

Monday, Sept.5, 6:30-7 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6 / Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal)

2004 WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Gary Densham, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Antron Brown, Pro Stock Motorcycle; Gary Densham, Skoal Showdown; and Andrew Hines, Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle.

MOST WINS: Bob Glidden, Pro Stock, 9; Don Garlits, Top Fuel, 8; Don Prudhomme, Top Fuel and Funny Car, 7; Warren Johnson, Pro Stock, 6; Dave Schultz, Pro Stock Motorcycle, 6; Ed McCulloch, Funny Car, 5; John Force, Funny Car, 4; Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel, 4.

EVENT HISTORY: The most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as “The Nationals” and first held at an abandoned airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1961. Past winners include “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, an eight-time winner in Top Fuel; Shirley Muldowney, 1982 Top Fuel winner; Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, a seven-time winner and one of a handful of drivers to win the event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; and Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver who dominated the race by advancing to the final round in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-’89. The Indiana native won the event a record nine times. It is the only major motorsports event to be contested on Labor Day. Last year the event celebrated its 50th anniversary in memorable fashion with spectacular racing witnessed by one of the biggest crowds in NHRA history.

FAST FACTS: Tony Schumacher is seeking a fourth consecutive Top Fuel victory at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals… The U.S. Army dragster pilot has won the prestigious event four of the past five seasons… 2004 Driver of the Year Greg Anderson is seeking his third straight Mac Tools U.S. Nationals victory in Pro Stock. He has won the race three times in the past four years… Five female drivers representing three professional categories will compete at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Angelle Sampey, a two time winner, and Shirley Muldowney, who won the race in 1982 in Top Fuel, are the only women to win the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals… Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Melanie Troxel (Top Fuel) could become the first married couple to share winner’s circle at a POWERade Series event in NHRA history. The two drivers live in nearby Avon, Ind. …John Force, 13-time NHRA POWERade world champion and winner of a record 118 events, has won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals four times, his last coming in 2002… Whit Bazemore, a two-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner and resident of Indianapolis, holds the track speed record for Funny Car at 325.69 mph, which he set in 2001… John Force has won the Skoal Showdown a record five times… It will be Force’s 22nd start in the Skoal Showdown, also a record… This will be Del Worsham’s 10th start in the Skoal Showdown and the CSK Chevy Monte Carlo driver has never advanced to the final round in the bonus event… “The Professor” Warren Johnson has six Pro Stock victories at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, but none this decade. His last victory there came in 1999 when he defeated his former crew chief Greg Anderson in the final round… Rookie Pro Stock driver Erica Enders will continue her quest to become the first woman to qualify No. 1 and win in the 200 mph category... For the first time in NHRA history an NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series category – Pro RWD -- will be included as an official eliminator at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

WHAT TO WATCH: Top Fuel series points leader Doug Kalitta, who drives the Mac Tools dragster, is in a tight world championship chase with four-time U.S. Nationals winner Tony Schumacher and two-time U.S. Nationals winner Larry Dixon … Doug Kalitta leads Schumacher by four points in the Top Fuel category, while Dixon is 99 back in third place… Schumacher recently powered to the fastest speed in NHRA history in his U.S. Army dragster, a blast of 337.58 mph… The Funny Car points race is extremely close, as rookie Robert Hight, Ron Capps, three-time Top Fuel champ Gary Scelzi and Eric Medlen are challenging perennial world champ John Force for the season crown … Eric Medlen is the hottest Funny Car driver, as the second-year pilot of the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang has won three of the last four races, and brings a two-race win streak into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals… The top five points positions in Funny Car are separated by 71 points, with rookie Hight leading… Kurt Johnson has been the hottest Pro Stock driver in the last three months, as the driver of the ACDelco Chevy Cobalt has earned three victories in five final round appearances in the last six races. A two-time Indy winner, Kurt is looking to keep the momentum going and keep gaining ground on series points leader Greg Anderson and hold off his father Warren, who is third overall… Only 15 points separate the top two championship contenders in Pro Stock Motorcycle – current leader and defending POWERade Series world champion Andrew Hines and his teammate, GT Tonglet, who has led the standings at two separate times this season.

BONUS RACES: Two lucrative bonus races highlight the action at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

SKOAL SHOWDOWN ($100,000 to winner, Sunday, rounds at 12:30, 2:15 and 4 p.m., first round pairings below)

No. 1 John Force, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang vs. No. 8 Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang
No. 2 Gary Scelzi, Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus vs. No. 7 Cruz Pedregon, Advance Auto Parts Chevy Monte Carlo
No. 3 Eric Medlen, Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang vs. No. 6 Tommy Johnson Jr., Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo
No. 4 Del Worsham, Checker Schuck’s Kragen Chevy Monte Carlo vs. No. 5 Tony Pedregon, Q-Racing Chevy Monte Carlo

Most victories, Skoal Showdown: John Force, 5; Al Hofmann, 3; Ron Capps, 3; Kenny Bernstein, 2; Mark Oswald, 2.

RINGERS GLOVES PRO BIKE BATTLE ($15,000 to winner, Saturday, rounds at 1, 6 and 7:25 p.m., first round pairings below)

No. 1 Andrew Hines, Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson vs. No. 8 Craig Treble, Matco Tools Suzuki
No. 2 Antron Brown, U.S. Army Suzuki vs. No. 7 Steve Johnson, Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki
No. 3 Chip Ellis, S&S G-Squared Buell vs. No. 6 Geno Scali, Trim-Tex Suzuki
No. 4 GT Tonglet, Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson vs. No. 5 Angelle Sampey, U.S. Army Suzuki

Most victories, Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle: Matt Hines, 4; John Myers, 4.

NHRA offers a Double-Up Bonus for any driver/rider who can win his or her respective bonus race and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The NHRA Double-Up Bonus for competitors in the Skoal Showdown is $50,000. The NHRA Double-Up Bonus for competitors in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle is $10,000.

Past NHRA Double-Up Bonus winners: Skoal Showdown – Gary Densham, 2004; John Force, 1996 and 1993; Jim White, 1991; Don Prudhomme, 1989; and Kenny Bernstein, 1983. Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle – Reggie Showers, 2003; Antron Brown, 2000; Matt Hines, 1998; and Jim Bernard, 1991.

QUICK QUOTES: Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster, four-time U.S. Nationals winner: “We’ve been fortunate to have won Indy three straight years and three out of the last four years. Each win was that much more exciting, let me tell you. It never gets old winning the U.S. Nationals. How can it? It’s our biggest race of the year and the most prestigious. That being said, this year we really can’t get caught up in all of the excitement surrounding the event because we’re in a battle for the world championship. That has to be the priority. Of course, should we manage to get to winner’s circle again, that will clearly help our cause for the title.”

Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Chevy Monte Carlo, 2002 U.S. Nationals runner-up: "You run the whole season, and then you run Indy. It's that special that it separates itself from the rest of the season. We're having a good year, but if we can win Indy or the Skoal Showdown, it will be a great year."

Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki, two-time U.S. Nationals winner: “We’re certainly hoping we can get another Indy victory under our belts. There’s nothing quite like winning a U.S. Nationals. It’s such an indescribable feeling. But, our concentration once we get to IRP will be on the Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship chase. We’re in serious contention this year and we have to stay focused on that huge piece of business.”

Whit Bazemore, Indianapolis, Matco Tools Dodge Stratus, two-time U.S. Nationals winner: “Indy is the race with the most prestige and the most meaning behind it, so it is the one. What really sets Indy apart from the other races is the desire that most of the competitors carry into Indy and that desire, I think, is stronger to win there than it is at some other races. In fact, everybody raises their game and it makes it that much harder to succeed there. When you succeed there it makes it that much more meaningful. On one hand, you have the history and drama and prestige of Indy and on the other hand you have the fact that everyone digs really deep there and when you combine those two, as for me, it's what defines the race and makes it so special.”

Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt, two-time U.S. Nationals winner: “If you’re a drag racer and it’s Labor Day weekend, you’re at the U.S. Nationals. It’s that simple. It’s the one race everyone wants to win, even if you’ve won it before. I have been coming to Indianapolis Raceway Park for most of my life, first with my dad (Warren, six-time U.S. Nationals winner), and since 1993 with my own ACDelco Cobalt team, and it’s still just as special. As tough as it sounds, we always try to treat Indy as just another race, and this year isn’t any different. After all, the best way to win a championship is to score more points than everyone else, which is our goal every time out. Of course, we know the car count will be larger than it has been all year, with everyone bringing their ‘A’ game to Indy. Basically, it’s up to us to figure out how to be better than all of them. We’ve done it twice before, and now we’re looking to put a third U.S. Nationals trophy on the mantle in Sugar Hill.”

Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Stratus, 1998 U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner: “Indy has a lot of prestige, but other than that it is the U.S. Nationals, it's no more important than any other race that is left in the season. There are going to be six races from there on out, so Indy is just another one that is extremely important. You're going to have everybody with fresh parts and trying to pay attention to every small detail, every fuel line and every spark plug wire. Everything that could go wrong is going to be new on our car. We go through great pains for the U.S. Nationals to make sure everything is perfect. They should call it Hell Week, because you're going through hell. I've seen big names like Kenny Bernstein and Larry Dixon not qualify, with an extra qualifying run. It could make you or it could be the end of you.”

Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki, two-time U.S. Nationals winner: “It’s been a couple of years since I won Indy. I wouldn’t mind re-capturing that magic again. Actually, right now, I can use a win anywhere. I need points in the worst way. We’re looking to get on a roll over these last few races of the year, Indy included. We’re trying to get back in the hunt for the championship. Either Antron or I won Indy in four of the last five seasons, so that gives the U.S. Army team some confidence going into that race.”

Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Stratus, three-time Skoal Showdown winner: “Everybody every year talks about how your career isn't complete without a win at Indy. And that is definitely true. It's the race to win if you were to win one race. When you look down at the list of winners it's all the guys who were my heroes growing up. It's all the guys who made their place in history. I believe that the guys who have won Indy in the past have gone on and are more famous for other things, whether it's championships or doing this or that. When you've won Indy, and my crew chief Ace (Ed McCulloch) has won it five times, you're a racer, you've gone the distance, you've gone the whole weekend, the week, under the unbelievable amount of stress that's put on this one race. To win it would be awesome.”

TRACK HISTORY: In 1958, led by Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward and Howard Fieber, 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become Indianapolis Raceway Park. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention in creating Indianapolis Raceway Park was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility’s first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1961. The historic three-year pact was signed and sealed under a tree in Detroit Dragway’s pits, and Indianapolis Raceway Park eventually became the home of NHRA’s biggest annual event. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979. The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and IRP constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. Prior to the 2003 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, eight new luxury suites were added along the top of the west-side grandstands of the drag strip, giving fans a unique perspective of the action on the famed quarter-mile track.

POWERade SERIES STANDINGS:

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 1,280; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1,276; 3. Larry Dixon, 1,181; 4. David Grubnic, 1,057; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 1,041; 6. Morgan Lucas, 1,032; 7. Doug Herbert, 900; 8. Scott Kalitta, 870; 9. Cory McClenathan, 852; 10. Scott Weis, 613.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, 1,134; 2. Ron Capps, 1,104; 3. Gary Scelzi, 1,099; 4. John Force, 1,087; 5. Eric Medlen, 1,063; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 990; 7. Whit Bazemore, 896; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 863; 9. Del Worsham, 831; 10. Tony Pedregon, 792.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, 1,340; 2. Kurt Johnson, 1,267; 3. Warren Johnson, 1,208; 4. Jason Line, 1,139; 5. Dave Connolly, 1,043; 6. Greg Stanfield, 867; 7. Ron Krisher, 862; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 810; 9. Richie Stevens, 781; 10. Jim Yates, 764.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Andrew Hines, 850; 2. GT Tonglet, 835; 3. Antron Brown, 746; 4. Ryan Schnitz, 638; 5. Angelle Sampey, 628; 6. Chip Ellis, 621; 7. Karen Stoffer, 612; 8. Geno Scali, 604; 9. Craig Treble, 559; 10. Steve Johnson, 513.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel — 4.498 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Sept. 2003; 328.86 mph by Doug Kalitta, Sept. 2003
Funny Car -- 4.749 sec. by John Force, Sept. 2004; 325.69 mph by Bazemore, Sept. 2001
Pro Stock — 6.778 sec. by Kurt Johnson, Sept. 2003; 205.01 mph by Greg Anderson, Sept. 2003
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 7.115 sec. by Chip Ellis, Sept. 2004; 190.65 mph by Andrew Hines, Sept. 2003

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel -- 4.441 sec. (Oct. '03, Reading, Pa.) and 336.15 mph (May ’05, Columbus, Ohio) by Tony Schumacher.
Funny Car -- 4.665 sec. (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.) and 333.58 mph (Oct. '04, Joliet, Ill.) by John Force.
Pro Stock -- 6.633 sec. (March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) and 208.23 mph (March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) by Greg Anderson.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.968 sec. (July '05, Sonoma, Calif.) and 197.45 mph (March '05, Gainesville, Fla.) by Andrew Hines.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available at ticketmaster.com, nhra.com, and irponline.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) – Wednesday: Adult, $5, Junior (6-12 years), free; Thursday: Adult, $12, Junior (6-12 years), free; Friday: Adult, $32; Junior (6-12 years), $10; Child (5 years and under), free in general admission and pit areas each day. Saturday: Adult, $40; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Sunday: Adult, $46; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Monday: Adult, $46; Junior (6-12 years), $10.

RESERVED (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $42; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and under), $10. Saturday: Adult, $48-$52; Junior (6-12 years), $18-$22; Child (5 years and under), $8-$12. Sunday: Adult, $56-$60; Junior (6-12 years), $20-$24; Child (5 years and under), $10-$14. Monday: Adult, $56-$60; Junior (6-12 years), $20-$24; Child (5 years and under), $10-$14.

MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS: NHRA’S PRESTIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF SPEED AND HIGH PERFORMANCE RACES INTO 51ST YEAR AT IRP

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 22, 2005) – As NHRA celebrates the 51st anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race is set to provide its traditional offering of the very best in speed and high performance for countless thousands of hot rodding enthusiasts. More than 1,000 competitors in 12 different racing categories will perform in front of the standing-room only crowd during the much-anticipated Labor Day classic.

The Super Bowl of drag racing takes place at revered Indianapolis Raceway Park, Aug. 31-Sept. 5. It is the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for 2005 and will be showcased nationwide on ESPN2, which will air more than 10 hours of coverage of drag racing’s marquee spectacle.

Throughout the years fans at IRP have cheered on drag racing immortals like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Bob Glidden, Kenny Bernstein and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme as they raced to the winner’s circle at more than 300 mph to etch their names into the NHRA record book. Today’s stars – such as four-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winners John Force and Tony Schumacher – will be racing hard to solidify their status as modern-day legends. For many of the competitors, the race has evolved into much more than an annual contest of speed. For those who seek to become a part of its mystique, winning the event has become a must-do to complete any great driver’s resume.

This year’s follow-up to the historic and memorable 50th anniversary showcase last year will feature the same intense side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle chase their share of the $2.6 million purse, and more importantly, a spot in history. Teams will be working hard to earn coveted points in their quest to win NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world championship titles. Teams in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series and the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Racing Series also will compete during the weekend.

In addition to the thrilling racing on the track, many activities are planned around the event that will make the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals one to remember.

With the support of Hod Rod Magazine, NHRA will present an exceptional display of impressive hot rods titled “NHRA Salutes the Finest 51.” The exclusive hot rod exhibit, which represents 13 states and involves eight different body styles and customs, will commemorate the 51st running of the world’s most prestigious drag race.

“The cars in this exhibit are must-see, the genuine article for any hot rodding enthusiast,” said Finest 51 coordinator Bob Daniels. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see all of these cars together in one place. Hot Rod Magazine is taking advantage of the opportunity to join NHRA to pay tribute to hot rodding and those who built and own these spectacular machines. As such, the vehicles reflect the highest quality in fit and finish, and are classic examples of the best the sport of hot rodding and customizing has to offer.”

A sample of the Finest 51 includes Garlits’ 1936 Ford Coupe, which the eight-time U. S. Nationals Top Fuel winner says he rebuilt during his spare time in 1953. Dennis Eppers’ 1932 Ford Roadster features a paint design identical to the famed Blue Angels air squadron. One of the most historic hot rods from the East Coast, Frank Spittle’s 1933 Hudson Essex Terraplane, and noted NHRA multi-time Division champion Al Bergler’s 1932 Ford Roadster, also will be included in the Finest 51 collection.

A parade of these vintage hot rods will take place during pre-final ceremonies on Monday, Sept. 5. Otherwise, the cars will be available all weekend for race attendees to view in the Mac Tools Concourse.

The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is annually a hot spot for celebrities who are into watching cars go fast, and this year is no exception. Among those attending this year’s event include two stars from George Lucas’ popular cult-classic American Graffiti -- Paul Le Mat, who played John Milner, and Cindy Williams, who played Laurie Henderson. Both will be available in the Mac Tools Concourse around the Finest 51 collection to meet with fans, talk about hot rods and sign autographs.

Autograph sessions also will be available to fans at designated times during the event featuring NHRA heroes of the past and present. Two spectacular nights of fireworks (Sept. 2 and 3) will add to the drama as well as several gravity-defying skydiving performances throughout the weekend.

There will be two lucrative bonus events guaranteed to increase the level of excitement for fans during the weekend. The world’s eight best Funny Car drivers will compete for the $100,000 winner’s share in the Skoal Showdown on Sept. 4, and the eight-best Pro Stock Motorcycle riders will race for their share of the top prize in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle on Sept. 3.

Prior to the start of official racing at IRP, fans can get a taste of the excitement on Wednesday, Aug. 31st at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Fan Fest, which will feature a display of race cars, interactive displays and team transporters at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. The Fan Fest, which starts at noon (CT), also will feature a premier autograph session with many of the top professional drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

SCHEDULE: The first of five pro qualifying sessions is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. Qualifying continues at 1:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 and concludes at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle eliminations are at 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:25 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3. Skoal Showdown eliminations are at 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 5.

TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) for ticket information, or check online at ticketmaster.com, nhra.com and irponline.com.

ON TV: ESPN2 will televise more than 10 hours of coverage of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals beginning with a one-hour qualifying show on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1:30 a.m. (ET). A two-hour qualifying show will be telecast by ESPN2 at noon (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 4, along with a three hour qualifying show at 10:30 p.m. (ET). On Monday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 will telecast two shows, with one hour of early eliminations coverage at noon (ET) and a three-hour final eliminations show at 8 p.m. (ET). NHRA 2Day, ESPN2’s popular magazine show that covers the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, will feature two shows live from IRP during the event. The regularly scheduled NHRA 2Day show will air at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 4; a special presentation of NHRA 2Day will air on Monday, Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. (ET).