FUNNY CAR DRIVER CAPPS EAGER TO GET 2014 MELLO YELLO SERISES SEASON ON TRACK AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season has not started exactly like Funny Car standout Ron Capps had hoped.

But if there was ever an event to spark a turnaround, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville would likely be one of the top choices for the perennial championship contender. The tradition-rich race takes place March 13-16 and is the third of 24 races in the 2014 season.

As is the case with many drivers, the Gatornationals is a special event for Capps, who holds back-to-back victories in 2006 and 2007 at the historic facility.

“It’s definitely what we consider one of our big three races,” Capps said. “It’s such a big race and one of those events where I never thought I would get a trophy. To finally win there and then win again was awesome. It’s definitely one of the most fun places to win a race.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will once again be televised on ESPN2.

A return to the winner’s circle at Gainesville would provide the momentum shift Capps and his 8,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger is looking for after a frustrating February.

Capps emerged uninjured after a spectacular engine explosion at the season-opening race in Pomona, Calif., a run that garnered a significant amount of national headlines. At the most recent event in Phoenix, Capps suffered a first-round loss to Bob Tasca, a far cry from the victory he celebrated at the same track in 2013.

But with his wealth of experience, Capps and his talented team, led by crew chief Rahn Tobler, isn’t sweating the slow start. Capps remains encouraged by how hard the team has worked through the adversity of the first two races, and he knows a swift turnaround isn’t far off.

“Even within our team we know we have a car that can win and run the low E.T. in any round,” Capps said. “So that’s good in the sense that not a lot of drivers can be this comfortable and know your car can run well.

“I’ve learned a lot in my career of being around the more experienced owners and drivers that you just don’t panic after a slow start. Maybe five or 10 years ago I might have panicked, but I’ve learned to keep chugging away and not panic. I have the great luxury of knowing we’re going to see success pretty soon.”

Tobler and Capps’ team has also worked closely with Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. and his Make-A-Wish Funny Car early in the season. They have gathered valuable information as Johnson returned to full-time driving in the NHRA for the first time since 2008, posting three round wins in a solid start to his 2014 campaign.

Capps believes the payoff from that will come later in the year with the data the team has already gained, again making him a viable championship contender. Of course Capps continues to chase after that elusive first world title, with the primary target heading into Gainesville being 16-time Funny Car world champ John Force.

Force wrote another chapter in his legendary career by claiming the 2013 title and he is the early-season points leader in 2014 after winning in Pomona. Force is a seven-time Gatornationals winner, but Capps and a host of others, including daughter Courtney, Alexis DeJoria, who won in Phoenix to claim her first career victory, Matt Hagan and Robert Hight are other capable winners at the ultra-fast facility.

For Capps, staying composed at the legendary venue is something he always has to be aware of throughout the weekend.

“It’s the first race that we have a lot of our NAPA people there and you always want to do well in front of them,” Capps said. “You can try and say it’s just another race, but nothing really prepares you for that drive to the track on Friday morning because you almost forget how big of an event it is.

“By the time you get to the gate your hair is standing up and it’s like an automatic motivator. This is a big race and it’s always special to win at a place like Gainesville.”

In Top Fuel, defending world champ Shawn Langdon raced to his first world championship title in 2013, but it was Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi who won the 2014 season-opening event in Pomona. Defending event winner and 2012 world champion Brown won the NHRA’s most recent event in Phoenix, but everyone in the highly-competitive class is currently chasing points leader Doug Kalitta, who has posted back-to-back No. 1 qualifying positions in his Mac Tools dragster. Other top challengers in the class include Spencer Massey, four-time Gators winner Tony Schumacher, 2013 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett, Amalie Motor Oil fan-favorite Terry McMillen and 2014 rookie contender Richie Crampton.

The reigning Pro Stock champ, Jeg Coughlin, will look for more success with Mopar teammate Allen Johnson, who was the most recent event winner in the class, while fellow Dodge driver V Gaines currently holds the series points lead. Winternationals winner and four-time Gatornationals winner Jason Line and his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro are seeking another early season win, and Erica Enders-Stevens, Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and Dave Connolly always provide tough competition in the parity-filled 200-mph factory hot rod category.

The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals marks the first of 16 events for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Matt Smith enters the season as the defending champ, earning his second world title after winning four times in eight final round appearances. Others to watch in the two-wheel category include three-time Gainesville winner Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, Michael Ray, defending event champ Arana Jr., who will be joined by his father Hector Sr. and brother Adam, and newcomer Chaz Kennedy.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is making its 2014 season debut, also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense competition on the track.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction on the planet. While visiting the pits, interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway, fans will also want to check out NHRA’s popular Hot Rod Junction presented by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum that offers a spectacular display of many nostalgic dragsters, race cars and hot rods on display, including vintage machines that were driven by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, K.S. Pittman, “Big John” Mazmanian, Bruce Larson, among others. There will also be several NHRA Legends of Drag Racing autograph sessions, allowing fans the rare opportunity to meet drag racing stars of the past.

Pro qualifying begins on Friday, March 14, with sessions at noon and 2:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, March 15, also at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 16.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, (800) 884-NHRA (6472). General admission tickets for children 12 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket. For more information about NHRA, log on to www.NHRA.com.

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AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 45th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, Gainesville, Fla. The track is located on 11211 North County Road 225 in Gainesville.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, March 13-16

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, March 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

FRIDAY, March 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 1:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, March 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, March 16 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will re-air 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 7:30 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of eliminations coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Friday, March 14, 5 – 5:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C

Saturday, March 15, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C

Sunday, March 16, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C

(4140 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2013 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Johnny Gray, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock, Hector Arana Jr., Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Warren Johnson, 9, PS; John Force, 7, FC; Don Prudhomme, 5, FC; Joe Amato, 4, TF; Kenny Bernstein, 4, FC/TF; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Don Garlits, 4, TF; Jason Line, 4, PS; Ed McCulloch, 4, FC; Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; Dave Schultz, 4, PSM; Terry Vance, 4, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.749 seconds by Morgan Lucas, March ’12; 326.87 mph by Lucas, March ’12.

Funny Car – 4.026 seconds by Cruz Pedregon, March ’12; 317.12 mph by Robert Hight, March ’12.

Pro Stock – 6.473 seconds by Mike Edwards, March ’12; 214.31 mph by Edwards, March ’13.

PS Motorcycle – 6.750 seconds by Eddie Krawiec, March ’12; 199.26 mph by Krawiec, March ’11.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.; 324.12 mph by J. Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ‘13, Charlotte, N.C.; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRATIX.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 191; 2. Khalid alBalooshi, 165; 3. Antron Brown, 156; 4. Steve Torrence, 155; 5. (tie) Brittany Force, 127; Spencer Massey, 127; 7. Shawn Langdon, 124; 8. Tony Schumacher, 92; 9. (tie) Richie Crampton, 84; David Grubnic, 84.

Funny Car: 1. John Force, 225; 2. Robert Hight, 159; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 156; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 136; 5. Del Worsham, 132; 6. Matt Hagan, 129; 7. Bob Tasca III, 124; 8. Jack Beckman, 92; 9. Ron Capps, 88; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 84.

Pro Stock: 1. V. Gaines, 191; 2. Jason Line, 180; 3. (tie) Allen Johnson, 161; Vincent Nobile, 161; 5. Dave Connolly, 128; 6. Shane Gray, 127; 7. Erica Enders-Stevens, 120; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 88; 9. (tie) Larry Morgan, 82; Shane Tucker, 82.