TOP FUEL ROOKIE RICHIE CRAMPTON READY TO KEEP WINNING WAYS GOING AT FORD NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Richie Crampton may be only nine races into his NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel career, but the driver of the 10,000-horsepower GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster is already creating a lifetime of memories.

Just two weeks after the birth of his first child, Crampton became the 100th different driver to win in Top Fuel, knocking off points leader Doug Kalitta in the final round at the most recent NHRA event in Englishtown, N.J. The magnitude of it all is still overwhelming for the Australia native, but to say Crampton has enjoyed himself would be a vast understatement.

“My head is still spinning a little bit and my feet haven’t really touched the ground,” Crampton said. “It’s truly been an amazing two weeks for me.”

Crampton is ready to extend those good feelings even longer and gets his next chance this weekend at the 14th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

It is the 10th of 24 events during the 2014 NHRA season and Crampton is already in the mix of competing for a championship driving for the Morgan Lucas Racing team in his rookie campaign. He made a major move at Englishtown, qualifying a season-best No. 2 with a 3.750 at 326.95 mph.

He took out defending world champion Shawn Langdon in the semifinals before edging out Kalitta in a thrilling final round at Englishtown. That set off a memorable celebration that started with team owner Morgan Lucas, who stepped away from full-time driving duties in 2014 and handed the reigns over to Crampton.

“It’s still just surreal to me to think that we won like that since Doug Kalitta has got the best Top Fuel car around right now,” Crampton said. “Obviously, I had no idea that I could ever possibly stake my claim on that list of so many legendary drivers in that unique slot of No. 100. It is kind of like the cherry on top. Trying to go out and win a Top Fuel drag race has always been something that I have always dreamed about doing. To get to contend in a final and win and then be No. 100 on a list that’s full of so many legends, that’s definitely still surreal to me.”

The win shot Crampton up to ninth in the points standings in the loaded Top Fuel class, but continuing to climb against a litany of championship contenders will be difficult. Torrence recorded his first win at Bristol a year ago, and Kalitta is a three-time winner in Bristol. Other marquee challengers that Crampton will face in Bristol include five-time event winner Tony Schumacher, 2012 world champion Antron Brown, J.R. Todd and 2013 Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner Brittany Force.

The Englishtown victory certainly put Crampton, who worked at MLR for the past seven years, in the mix for NHRA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2014, something he said is only made possible by the backing of a great team that starts with crew chiefs Aaron Brooks and Rod Centorbi.

“We all know the caliber of this team and we all know the way that Aaron Brooks goes about running this race car,” Crampton said. “I’m very fortunate to start my career driving in one of the best Top Fuel cars around. The car I get to drive finished No. 4 in the world last year, so when you kind of keep that in mind, there’s no reason why this team shouldn’t perform.”

The next challenge comes this weekend in trying to solve the Thunder Valley riddle that has been hard to crack for the Morgan Lucas Racing team.

“Bristol is one of my favorite race tracks to visit and the fans are so great, so I’m pretty excited to go race there,” Crampton said. “However, Morgan Lucas Racing, traditionally, hasn’t run very well there, so it’s exciting to go with a great running racecar. We hope to do better than we have in the past and keep the ball rolling.”

Funny Car points leader Robert Hight, who won at Bristol in 2011, is arguably the most consistent driver in NHRA, appearing in five finals out of nine races this season and winning three of them. 16-time Funny Car world champion Force has four career wins at Bristol including his victory over Cruz Pedregon last season, while other Bristol standouts include Ron Capps (three wins) and Del Worsham (two wins). Alexis DeJoria, Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman, Courtney Force and Tommy Johnson Jr. are also among the pre-race favorites in the class.

Texas native Brogdon secured his first career Pro Stock win at Bristol last season, knocking off Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. This season Enders-Stevens has won twice, is the class points leader and this two weeks ago in New Jersey reset both ends of the Pro Stock national record (6.464 seconds, 215.55 mph). Other talented drivers chasing her include local favorite Allen Johnson, who has three victories this season but has never won at his home track in Bristol, reigning world champion Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson, Dave Connolly, Vincent Nobile, Chris McGaha, V Gaines, Shane Gray and Jason Line.

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 and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, June 13, with sessions at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 14, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 15.

The event will also showcase the thrilling action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Series.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Bristol Dragway at (866) 901-2679 or visit www.thundervalleytix.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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FORD NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS PRESENTED BY TRI-CITIES AREA FORD DEALERS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 14th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn. From Interstate 81 North, take Hwy. 11E. Take the Virginia Exit 3 and Hwy. 11E will take you directly to the dragway. From the I-81 South, take Tennessee exit 69 and go south on Hwy 394 directly to the dragway.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 13-15

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, June 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2 p.m.; First round of eliminations at 4:30 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:30 and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at noon.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, June 14, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 15, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of elimination coverage starting at 11 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Friday, June 13, 10 – 10:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 2 / Transponder 11C
Saturday, June 14, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 2 / Transponder 11C
Sunday, June 15, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 2 / Transponder 11C
(3920 MHz, horizontal; 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: Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Rodger Brogdon, Pro Stock.

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; Mike Edwards, 4, PS; John Force, 4, FC; Doug Kalitta, 3, TF; Ron Capps, 3, FC.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.775 seconds by Spencer Massey, June ’13; 326.79 mph by Massey, June ’13.
Funny Car – 4.008 seconds by Del Worsham, June ’13; 317.05 mph by Jack Beckman, June ’13.
Pro Stock – 6.633 seconds by Mike Edwards, May ’09; 208.23 mph by Mike Edwards, June ’13.

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 – 6.464 sec. by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.; 215.55 mph by Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call Bristol Dragway at (866) 901-2679. Tickets also available at www.thundervalleytix.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS

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

Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 809; 2. Antron Brown, 706; 3. Shawn Langdon, 638; 4. Spencer Massey, 598; 5. Steve Torrence, 580; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 503; 7. Tony Schumacher, 495; 8. Brittany Force, 462; 9. Richie Crampton, 433; 10. J.R. Todd, 392.

Funny Car: 1. Robert Hight, 847; 2. John Force, 601; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 564; 4. Del Worsham, 535; 5. Ron Capps, 534; 6. Courtney Force, 527; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 508; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 506; 9. Jack Beckman, 480; 10. Matt Hagan, 454.

Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, 791; 2. (tie) Jeg Coughlin, 668; Allen Johnson, 668; 4. Jason Line, 623; 5. Shane Gray, 582; 6. Vincent Nobile, 563; 7. Dave Connolly, 535; 8. V. Gaines, 456; 9. Chris McGaha, 427; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 355.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 406; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 382; 3. John Hall, 285; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 263; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, 252; 6. Michael Ray, 235; 7. Matt Smith, 206; 8. Steve Johnson, 187; 9. (tie) Hector Arana, 168; Chaz Kennedy, 168.