GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Funny Car standout Courtney Force has watched her John Force Racing teammates start the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in impressive fashion. Her legendary father, John, has kept the momentum from his 16th Funny Car world championship a year ago, winning the first race of the season and grabbing the points lead. Robert Hight posted a final round appearance in Phoenix and sits second in points, while Force’s sister, Brittany, advanced to her first career final round in Phoenix as well.
Meanwhile, Courtney is still searching for her first round win, something she hopes comes this weekend at the tradition-rich Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 13-16, at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville.
Things haven’t exactly gone as planned for the ultra-popular Force and her 8,000-horsepower Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, but she knows things can change quickly in the world of 300-mph Funny Cars.
“In this sport it’s easy to be on top one weekend hoisting a Wally and out in the first round the week after,” Force said. “That’s why it’s important to stay positive because things can always turn around at the next event. My Traxxas Ford Mustang team is ready and excited to go to Gainesville and I have high hopes after testing we will be able to start turning things around.”
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.
Despite the slow start, Force, in her third year in the Funny Car ranks, enters the event with confidence, in part because of the work the team has put in since Phoenix. There, she qualified just 12th and lost in the first round to Del Worsham, a rarity from a talented driver who has three wins, eight final round appearances and 53 round wins in two seasons.
The break between Phoenix and Gainesville came at a welcome time, giving Force and her team an opportunity to return to the level race fans have grown accustomed to since she debuted in the Funny Car ranks in 2012.
“We were able to stay over and test some things in Phoenix and I have been in Indy (at the JFR headquarters) making the cockpit feel more comfortable,” Force said. “Little changes can always make a big difference and we obviously don’t want to change anything too drastically. We’re still learning about this car and we will have it coming back around soon, I have no doubt about that.”
As frustrated as Force may have been in her slow start, she has been able to take great pleasure in the successes of her JFR teammates. John Force posted a national record time of 3.965 seconds and speed of 324.12 mph en route to the win in Pomona, while Hight also cracked the three-second mark in Pomona before being ousted by Alexis DeJoria in the finals at Phoenix.
Brittany Force’s final round appearance in Phoenix only added to the team’s banner start, but it’s also given Courtney Force confidence that her chance to jump back into the spotlight isn’t far off.
“I’m very happy with how well my teammates have done, and it makes me excited and determined to get things turned around for myself,” Force said. “We have great cars and an experienced brain trust behind all our teams at John Force Racing. I’m confident that it’s only a matter of time before we’re back where we need to be. There’s absolutely no reason to be frustrated after only two races, which is why we are staying positive and determined.”
Force also welcomes the return to a legendary facility like Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Despite a host of additional Funny Car challengers, including Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Bob Tasca III and many others, Force knows the electric atmosphere Gainesville provides could be helpful.
“The fans are always great at this track,” Force said. “They pack them in every year and the fans keep you excited and motivated. They’re what the experience is all about and we’re ready to give them a great show.”
In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon, who raced to his first world championship in 2013, and Doug Kalitta, who is the points leader in his Mac Tools dragster after posting back-to-back No. 1 qualifying positions to start the season, are two of many championship contenders. Langdon’s Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi won the 2014 season-opening event in Pomona while other top challengers in the class include Spencer Massey, Brown, 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 and defending event winner Johnson, who is 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, newcomer Chaz Kennedy, and defending event champ Arana Jr., who will be joined by his father Hector Sr. and brother Adam.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, also making its 2014 season debut, will thrill the crowds as well 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.
Mello Yello Series 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). Middle school, high school and college students can purchase tickets at 50 percent off with a special student discount ticket, which is available at the gate. 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.
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 at 8:30 a.m.
FRIDAY, March 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
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 at 8 a.m.
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 – PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations begin at 9:30 a.m.
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.
