PRO STOCK STANDOUT ALLEN JOHNSON HAS NO PLANS TO LET RUN OF DOMINANCE AT MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS END

MORRISON, Colo. — Allen Johnson got the spark he was after by winning the most recent NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Chicago. But if you think that would be enough to satisfy the former Pro Stock world champion, especially heading into one of his most important races of the year, you would be sorely mistaken.

With the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship approaching and Johnson still eager to get his Mopar Magneti Marelli Dodge Dart in championship form, another prime opportunity to get locked in takes place at this weekend’s 35th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

Johnson has been incredibly dominant in Denver, claiming wins the last three years and six of the last eight, and he has no plans to stop that impressive string.

“The timing is perfect for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals event, but we have more hard work to do because we are still not No. 1,” Johnson said. “It gives us momentum and is exciting to see the hard work and perseverance pay off after a challenging start to our year. You know the Western Swing provides a lot of momentum toward the big prize and the win here at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals could keep that going and be a huge move by our team.”

J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) join Johnson as the defending winners of the event. ESPN2 will provide television coverage of qualifying and eliminations at the event. The race begins the legendary three-race Western Swing and marks the 14th of 24 events during the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Series season.

Johnson’s success at the challenging event has become a remarkable storyline and a testament to how seriously he focuses on winning his sponsor’s race. The 2012 world champion and his team have put in considerable work to find a combination that thrives in the high-altitude conditions and unique challenges of Bandimere Speedway. The elevation is more than 5,800 feet at the scenic facility, but Johnson has found a proven method that works and it is something he takes immense pride in.

“It has been such a blessing to our entire Mopar team and it is so much fun to have that success,” said Johnson, who has 25 career wins. “It’s great to celebrate that success with the Mopar folks that have been so supportive of our team and of the event for so long.”

Success at Bandimere Speedway is also something Johnson doesn’t take lightly, especially with the tough Pro Stock competition continuing to make strides at the facility. The gap between Johnson and his competitors at Denver has certainly been narrowed in recent years and he is well aware of the challenges that will be there this weekend.

Four-time world champ and current points Greg Anderson, a two-time Denver winner, has had one of the baddest hot rods in the category with four wins on the season. Defending world champ Erica Enders has four wins this season and Phoenix winner Rodger Brogdon, rookie Drew Skillman, Houston runner-up Chris McGaha and Vincent Nobile are all expected to be major contenders in the popular factory hot rod category.

“The last few years the competition has gotten closer to us and this year will probably be no different,” Johnson said. “I feel no pressure as I feel we have proven ourselves to Mopar and our sponsors. It’s just a challenge to keep it going. (It’s) a challenge we are certainly up for and to get ready, we got in some testing last week right after Chicago. You don’t take anything for granted and a win here is still very hard fought. To keep the streak going would be amazing because of how difficult it is.”

But Johnson also enters the race with considerably more momentum than he had earlier this season thanks to a victory in Chicago. That bumped him to fifth in points, giving him three final round appearances in the past five races. Sitting in 10th before that recent stretch, Johnson knew he had to get to work and that’s precisely what his team has done and continues to do heading into Denver.

“The work to get there come from lots of dyno testing at the shop and lots of test runs at the track, as well as testing during the races for the Magneti Marelli Dodge Dart,” Johnson said. “It also comes from lots of help from Mopar and Dodge engineers and our employees thinking outside the box and working as a team. The latest success gives me confidence as a driver also. We know we are on the right track and that is starting to finally show.”

In Top Fuel, Bandimere Speedway has been a highlight reel for the speedy dragsters of Kalitta Motorsports throughout the years including Todd’s win last season. Doug Kalitta claimed a victory there in 2010 and a slew of contenders also includes Antron Brown, reigning world champion and current points leader Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon, last year’s runner-up Brittany Force, three-time season winner Richie Crampton, Spencer Massey, 2013 world champ Shawn Langdon and veteran driver Clay Millican.

In Funny Car, fan-favorite John Force Racing’s stable of drivers have done well at Bandimere throughout the years with a combined 11 wins among three drivers. John Force, a 16-time world Funny Car world champion, has six wins at Denver and teammate Robert Hight has three victories. Other Funny Car stars who are expected to challenge for the win this weekend include two-time event winner Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, reigning world champion and points leader Matt Hagan, Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, two-time race winner Cruz Pedregon, Tommy Johnson Jr., who won the most recent event, Tim Wilkerson and Funny Car’s winningest female, Courtney Force.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, the Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team has had major success at the track that sits in the foothills of the Rockies and hopes to continue that trend in 2015. Matt Hines, Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec have combined for nine wins on the track. Gainesville and Norwalk winner Karen Stoffer, perennial title contender Hector Arana Jr., who won in Chicago, Atlanta winner Hector Arana, alligator farmer Jerry Savoie, two-time world champ Matt Smith and many more figure to give their best shot in the two-wheel category.

The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling side-by-side competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

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 get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, July 24, with sessions at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, July 25, at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 26.

To purchase tickets, call (800) 664-UWIN (8946) or visit www.bandimere.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 36th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, the 14th 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: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colo. The track is 10 miles west of Denver, just north of the historic town of Morrison. From Denver, take Interstate 70 west to C-470 and travel south to the Morrison Road exit. Take Morrison Road west to Rooney Road and go north to the track.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 5,860 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 24-26

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, July 24 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, July 25 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, July 26 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, July 25, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 9 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, July 25, 11:30 p.m. – Midnight (ET), SES 2/Transponder 05C

Sunday, July 26, 8 – 8:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2/ Transponder 05C

(3800 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.

2014 EVENT WINNERS: J.R. Todd, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock, Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Bob Glidden, 7, PS; Joe Amato, 6, TF; John Force, 6, FC; Allen Johnson, 6, PS; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; Matt Hines, 4, PSM

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.823 sec. by Tony Schumacher, July ’14; 322.96 mph by Steve Torrence, July ’14.

Funny Car – 4.049 sec. and 318.39 mph by John Force, July ’14

Pro Stock – 6.916 sec. by Allen Johnson, July ’12; 199.23 mph by Johnson, July ’14.

PS Motorcycle – 7.178 sec. and 186.72 mph by Hector Arana Jr., July ’14.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.51 mph by Larry Dixon, June ’15, Norwalk, Ohio.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.; 325.06 mph by Courtney Force, May ’15, Topeka, Kan.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., April ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: Order tickets by phone at (800) 664-UWIN (8946). Tickets also are available online at www.bandimere.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 1,028; 2. Antron Brown, 1,008; 3. Larry Dixon, 848; 4. Doug Kalitta, 844; 5. Richie Crampton, 796; 6. Spencer Massey, 752; 7. Shawn Langdon, 696; 8. Brittany Force, 681; 9. J.R. Todd, 651; 10. Steve Torrence, 609.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 1,024; 2. Ron Capps, 846; 3. (tie) Jack Beckman, 835; Del Worsham, 835; 5. John Force, 801; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 798; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 728; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 722; 9. Robert Hight, 667; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 658.

Pro Stock : 1. Greg Anderson, 1,148; 2. Erica Enders, 1,082; 3. Jason Line, 934; 4. Chris McGaha, 891; 5. Allen Johnson, 736; 6. Drew Skillman, 727; 7. Larry Morgan, 723; 8. Vincent Nobile, 649; 9. Shane Gray, 648; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 632.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 452; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 436; 3. Andrew Hines, 404; 4. Karen Stoffer, 382; 5. Angelle Sampey, 336; 6. Hector Arana, 324; 7. Jim Underdahl, 311; 8. Matt Smith, 305; 9. LE Tonglet, 302; 10. Jerry Savoie, 295.