ENNIS, Texas — Appearing in his first ever NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, Pro Stock driver Chris McGaha didn’t have quite the opening race that he wanted.
But the stage is set perfectly for McGaha to make up for it in a major way at this weekend’s 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex.
The facility is McGaha’s home track and a victory, which would also be his first in his NHRA Pro Stock career, would quickly ascend to being one of the biggest moments of his drag racing career. Currently sitting in 10th position in the Countdown to the Championship it would also do wonders for his first championship run in his Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevy Camaro.
“It would mean everything,” McGaha said of winning in Dallas. “I think we want to win Dallas more than any other race on the schedule. Of course everyone wants to win the U.S. Nationals, and yes, I would love to win that one, too. But I wonder if I wouldn’t trade that win for one in Dallas. I was at this race in 1986, the year Texas Motorplex opened. This is home for us.”
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2. It marks the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. The continuation of eliminations for the Countdown opener, the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, will also be completed during qualifying rounds at the Texas Motorplex. Top Fuel and Funny Car have three rounds of Charlotte racing to complete while Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle need to complete all four rounds.
Four first-round pairs of Pro Stock cars remain, but unfortunately for McGaha he lost in a first-round race to points leader Jason Line. It wasn’t the ideal way for McGaha to start the Countdown but getting past the red-hot Line has been difficult for any driver in recent races.
“We had high hopes after leaving Indy and coming to Charlotte, but it didn’t work out well for us there,” McGaha said. “We aren’t as close as we’d like to be, but we went right back to the shop and got to work, and hopefully we’ll be better for the second race of the Countdown.”
As far as the experience of the Countdown, taking part in it for the first time in his career nearly got the best of McGaha, who has now appeared in 45 career NHRA Pro Stock races.
He admitted that the intensity was cranked up and McGaha noticed it nearly from the moment his trailer pulled into zMAX Dragway. After that first-hand experience, plus the comforts of racing at his home track McGaha is confident he will feel more at ease in Dallas. Of course seeing a strong and consistent performance in qualifying would go a long way in helping that.
“I’ve had to calm myself down,” McGaha said. “Before we even got to the race, I felt like we were in the second round or the semis. I was that psyched up coming to Charlotte, and even right before the first round the adrenaline level felt like I was already in the semis.
“You want to take it one round at a time, but the performance has to be there. That’s just the way it is in this class. It’s all about performance, and without that, you don’t stand a chance.”
Line has had one tremendous performance after another heading into the Countdown, but the list of championship challengers also includes reigning champion Jeg Coughlin, Allen Johnson, Erica Enders-Stevens, V Gaines, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray, Vincent Nobile and Dave Connolly.
It’s a daunting list to compete against but McGaha knows how much a victory at the Texas Motorplex during the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals would mean to his team and his family. In fact, he joked it may be enough for him to walk off into the sunset.
“Dallas has never really been very good to me – sometimes it’s been better than others – but to win here would mean everything,” he said. “Heck, I might quit racing if I won there just so I could quit while I was ahead. I wouldn’t really, but it would sure be something if we accomplished it.”
In Top Fuel, Kalitta has advanced to nine final rounds in 2014 and will be after a second straight Dallas win, while the ultra-talented field also features Countdown qualifiers Tony Schumacher, who has five Dallas wins, Antron Brown, reigning world champion Shawn Langdon, Spencer Massey, Brittany Force, Khalid alBalooshi, U.S. Nationals winner Richie Crampton, Steve Torrence and J.R. Todd.
In Funny Car, two-time world champ Pedregon took home the Wally last season but he is chasing points leader and reigning world champion John Force. Two-time Dallas winners Del Worsham and Robert Hight, Courtney Force, Matt Hagan, Indy winner Alexis DeJoria, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson and Tommy Johnson Jr. are among other championship hopefuls.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec and his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team has been the most consistent this season in the two-wheel category. Teammate Andrew Hines is the current points leader and Krawiec enters the Countdown off his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win. Reigning world champ Matt Smith, Michael Ray, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson, Hector Arana, Hector Arana Jr. and Scotty Pollacheck are a few of the Pro Stock Motorcycle riders who will attempt to take home a Dallas victory.
The race will also mark the return to competition for three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Angelle Sampey. After sitting out the last five seasons to start a family, she is returning to action at this event riding the Star Racing Buell owned by George Bryce. It is a fitting return for the Louisiana native during a season where women have made a huge impact with a record number of wins on the track. She is the winningest female racer in NHRA history with 41 career victories.
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.
The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19, with sessions at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m. (also Charlotte PS and PSM eliminations). The final two qualifying sessions, which will both include Charlotte eliminations, will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The Charlotte final rounds will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations for the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Texas Motorplex at (800) MOTORPLEX (668-6775) or visit www.texasmotorplex.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
* * *
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, the 20th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the second of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. 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. The race also will feature the continuation of eliminations from the rain-delayed Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals from Sept. 14 at Charlotte, N.C.
WHERE: Texas Motorplex- Track is located at 7500 W. Highway 287 in Ennis, Texas.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 18-21
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Sept. 18- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Sept. 19 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m.
*The continuation of first-round eliminations for Pro Stock and the entire first round of Stock Motorcycle from the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals will be completed during the 5:15 p.m. qualifying session.
SATURDAY, Sept. 20 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
*Eliminations for all pro categories from the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals will be completed during scheduled qualifying rounds; Quarterfinals at 11:15 a.m., semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and finals at 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 21 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 3:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will re-air 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
Saturday, Sept. 20, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
Sunday, Sept. 21, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
(3760 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: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 7; Tony Schumacher, TF, 5; Warren Johnson, PS, 5; Cruz Pedregon, FC, 4; Greg Anderson, PS, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.767 sec. and 325.53 mph by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ’13
Funny Car – 4.052 sec. and 313.37 mph by Robert Hight, Sept. ’13
Pro Stock – 6.550 sec. and 211.99 mph by Allen Johnson, Sept. ’12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.828 sec. by Hector Arana Jr., Sept. ’11; 197.22 mph by Michael Phillips, Sept. ’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. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
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) MOTORPLEX (668-6775). Tickets also are available at www.texasmotorplex.com.
* * *
NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Unofficial point standings (top 10) for Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams as eliminations are on hold for the rain-delayed Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals and prior to the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. Points totals for Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals are not official until the completion of that event on Saturday at the Texas Motorplex.
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 2,149; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,116; 3. Steve Torrence, 2,113; 4. Antron Brown, 2,112; 5. Shawn Langdon, 2,106; 6. Spencer Massey, 2,094; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 2,082; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,064; 9. Richie Crampton, 2,051; 10. Brittany Force, 2,043.
Funny Car: 1. John Force, 2,162; 2. Robert Hight, 2,141; 3. Ron Capps, 2,126; 4. Alexis DeJoria, 2,104; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,090; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,084; 7. Courtney Force, 2,076; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 2,057; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,052; 10. Del Worsham, 2,043.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 2,166; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, 2,130; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 2,117; 4. Allen Johnson, 2,104; 5. Shane Gray, 2,093; 6. Dave Connolly, 2,090; 7. V. Gaines, 2,072; 8. Vincent Nobile, 2,069; 9. Chris McGaha, 2,042; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2,035.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,145; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,128; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,114; 4. Hector Arana, 2,091; 5. John Hall, 2,084; 6. Matt Smith, 2,076; 7. Michael Ray, 2,061; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,052; 9. Angie Smith, 2,042; 10. Steve Johnson, 2,038.
