PRO STOCK ROOKIE DREW SKILLMAN CREDITS STRONG BACKING FOR QUICK START HEADING TO AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season couldn’t have started much better for Pro Stock rookie Drew Skillman. But the six-time NHRA Sportsman winner was not about to take much of the credit for his impressive start.

Skillman advanced to the final round in his very first Pro race, the first time that’s happened in 41 years, and followed up with a semifinal performance in Phoenix. But despite bursting onto the scene in eye-opening fashion, Skillman pointed to teammate, and reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders-Stevens, and team, led by crew chief Mark Ingersoll, as the reason for his rapid ascension.

“There’s absolutely no complaints on my side,” Skillman said. “I never thought I would get this far this quick, but the people behind me that’s the key. You need the right people and I’m lucky enough to have a great team. I’m privileged to be working with these guys. They’re hard-working and obviously they know what they’re doing. I think I’ll have an opportunity to win a lot of races with this team.”

Next up for Skillman is his first chance to race in Pro Stock at historic Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville during this weekend’s 46th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. It also marks the third of 24 races in 2015, making it also just the third professional race for the 27-year-old Skillman.

He’s absorbed as much info as possible from Enders-Stevens and Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman, and the results have been instant in his Ray Skillman Chevrolet Chevy Camaro. Skillman fell to longtime class standout Jason Line in the final round at Pomona and currently sits in fourth in the points standings after picking up two more round wins in Phoenix.

“When you go to the professional ranks, you really have to step your game up,” Skillman said. “These are people who do this for a living and I have to try to learn as fast as possible. Erica and Richard have told me and helped me out a lot, but there’s definitely some pressure that comes along with this. You don’t want to be the one who screws it up for all these people.”

Skillman also knows there will be bumps in the road in the always rigorous Pro Stock class. The learning curve remains steep and Skillman, who has competed in Stock, Super Stock and Competition Eliminator in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is simply trying to soak up as much as he can as quickly as he can.

“I’m starting to get adjusted,” Skillman said. “The speed is a huge difference and then you’re learning how to shift, how to stage and basically just learning the rhythm of the car. There’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve got a lot of people helping me and I’m starting to get a little more comfortable.”

A strong team will have that effect, as will learning from Enders-Stevens, who became the first female Pro Stock world champion a year ago. She fell to Allen Johnson, the 2012 Pro Stock champ, a year ago at Gainesville, and is still seeking her first victory at the famed track. Others to watch include four-time Gatornationals winner Line, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Vincent Nobile, Chris McGaha, Jonathan Gray and Roger Brogdon, who is the current points leader after winning in Phoenix.

Skillman is also plenty capable of grabbing that first Pro Stock victory in Gainesville. He credits a strong team, but racing is also in his blood. He is the grandson of longtime racer Ray Skillman and the son to NHRA competitor Bill Skillman. Drew Skillman’s own experience also plays a part in the early-season success, as does the fact that the team has been completely in sync since the start of the 2015 NHRA season.

“Everyone on this team wants to do well but everything is constructive,” Skillman said. “That’s huge for me as a young driver. I’m just excited to get back in the car in Gainesville. We’re trying to win and I think we’ll do well. I just want to get back in the car, get more seat time and make some more laps.”

In Top Fuel, Doug Kalitta defeated Antron Brown in a thrilling final last season to claim his second Gatornationals victory. Kalitta is looking for a repeat performance in Gainesville but will face stiff competition from the likes of reigning world champ and most recent event winner Tony Schumacher, 2013 world champ Shawn Langdon, Spencer Massey, 2014 rookie of the year Richie Crampton, three-time world champ Larry Dixon, AMALIE Motor Oil fan-favorite Terry McMillen, category newcomer Dave Connolly, J.R. Todd, Steve Torrence and Brittany Force.

Robert Hight was the hero of Funny Car at Gainesville in 2014, defeating team owner John Force in the final. Courtney Force will try to become the first Gatornationals female Funny Car winner, but reigning world champ Matt Hagan, who drives the Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T, has been red hot, winning the first two events of the year. Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Del Worsham, three-time national event winner Alexis DeJoria and two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon are all expected to be competitive in The Swamp as well.

The AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is the first of 16 events for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Riders will be looking to knock reigning series and four-time world champion Andrew Hines off his title perch. Last year, Hines and his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate Eddie Krawiec dominated the series by combining to win 11 of the 16 events. Others to watch in the two-wheel category include defending race winner Steve Johnson, father and son duo Hector Arana Jr. and Hector Arana, three-time world champ Angelle Sampey, and husband and wife duo Matt and Angie Smith.

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 and 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 13, with sessions at 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, March 14, also at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 15.

The 2015 AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and will serve as the season-opener in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRA.com/tickets 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. Fans can save by purchasing their tickets in advance. For more information about NHRA, log on to www.NHRA.com.

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AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 46th 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 2015 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 12-15

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, March 12 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

FRIDAY, March 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at Noon and 3 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:45 and 3:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, March 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 2 p.m.; Round 1 of eliminations at 5 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, March 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Sunday, March 15, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1:30 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, March 15, ESPN2 will re-air two hours of qualifying coverage at 7 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, March 15, ESPN2 will televise two hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, March 14, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 24C

Sunday, March 15, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 24C

(4180 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.

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock; Steve Johnson, 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 – 3.743 sec. and 326.87 mph by Morgan 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. 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) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 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. Shawn Langdon, 200; 2. Antron Brown, 167; 3. Tony Schumacher, 165; 4. Doug Kalitta, 155; 5. Spencer Massey, 130; 6. Richie Crampton, 115; 7. Larry Dixon, 106; 8. (tie) J.R. Todd, 88; Steve Torrence, 88; 10. Brittany Force, 85.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 231; 2. Del Worsham, 173; 3. Robert Hight, 145; 4. Ron Capps, 129; 5. Courtney Force, 123; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 118; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 110; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 93; 9. (tie) John Hale, 82; Chad Head, 82.

Pro Stock: 1. Rodger Brogdon, 205; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, 184; 3. Jason Line, 178; 4. Drew Skillman, 177; 5. Chris McGaha, 130; 6. Shane Gray, 108; 7. Allen Johnson, 107; 8. Larry Morgan, 89; 9. Greg Anderson, 86; 10. Vincent Nobile, 66.