EIGHT-TIME TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION TONY SCHUMACHER HAS SPECIFIC MINDSET READY FOR NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, Wash. — With four wins at scenic Pacific Raceways, eight-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher knows how to close out the legendary NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Western Swing with a bang.

Another win at this weekend’s 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals in his 10,000-horsepower U.S. Army dragster would tie Schumacher with Joe Amato for the most Top Fuel wins at the facility, and just as importantly, indicate that the current points leader is primed to defend his Top Fuel crown.

But if there’s anything Schumacher has learned over the years, it’s that it takes a special kind of mindset to succeed in Seattle and carry that momentum into the final two races of the NHRA regular season.

“At Seattle we’ve probably had more success than the first two races (of the Western Swing) put together,” Schumacher said. “We have a great car at that place, very fast, and the crowd seems to be building there. Hopefully we can go out and win it, and go off and try to win a championship. It’s a fast racetrack and there’s good side-by-side racing. It’s the end of a grueling session, so you can be the team that’s not thinking let’s get this over with, but thinking let’s close this out and do it right.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the race that will again be televised on ESPN2. Serving as the only major American motorsport that visits the region each racing season, it is the 16th of 24 events in 2015, meaning the playoff madness that is the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship is not far behind.

That’s a good thing for Schumacher, who went to the final round in Denver to open the Western Swing and advanced to the semifinals last weekend in Sonoma before falling to eventual winner and teammate Antron Brown. The result kept Schumacher as the points leader for the third straight race and by qualifying at Sonoma, Schumacher became the first Top Fuel driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown playoffs. With that momentum, he knows that everything is starting to come together at the perfect time. For a team that has 80 career wins, including three this year, peaking at the right time is seemingly an annual thing but Schumacher certainly appreciates the journey.

“It’s very comforting,” Schumacher said. “The most comfortable part about it is the changes we make reflect in the car. We’ve had seasons where we’ve made changes and it does the opposite, and you’re fighting that for a long, long time. Right now, it seems to be when we do something to the car it is fairly predictable. When we miss it, we miss it by just a little bit and that’s usually when we’re trying to go faster and we have the opportunity to do that. It’s a great time to get good. The end of the year is the premier time to peak, but it’s comforting going to the end of the year with a good car.”

That means performing well in all conditions, no matter how grueling of a stretch there is during the season. The Western Swing qualifies as a rigorous three-week stretch, but racing well in Seattle to end it can create major dividends to close the regular season in Brainerd and the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indy. Schumacher knows it can also give a massive boost to his team, led by crew chief Mike Green.

“I think just driving well gives them confidence to go into Brainerd and Indy,” Schumacher said. “We understand what it’s like to get there, how big those moments are and how good you’re going to have to be in those moments. That’s how you win those back-to-back (titles), going into it knowing you can do it. You show up knowing we’ve done this before and you just try to be a machine.”

Standing in the way will be a host of challengers, including last year’s winner Kalitta as well as Brown, who has a class-best four wins in 2015 including last weekend at Sonoma and has also secured his playoff spot. Others to watch are three-time world champ Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Spencer Massey, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, who knocked off Schumacher in the final round in Denver, and Richie Crampton.

But Schumacher is well aware of the challenge before him, not only to win in Seattle but also to try and put together back-to-back world championships in a Top Fuel class as competitive as it has ever been.

“I said it last year when we won one that’s it’s very, very hard to win one and it’s going to be even harder to win back-to-back,” Schumacher said. “We’re in the position to fight for it and that’s all you can ask for, to be in the position for the battle. I couldn’t ask for any more. I just have to go out and do my job because the car is running well and I don’t want to be the weak link.”

Force’s Funny Car win last season marked his eighth victory at Pacific Raceways, more than double the next Funny Car competitor. Force already has two wins in 2015, but will face off against a talented host of standouts, including red-hot Jack Beckman, who will try to sweep the Western Swing after winning at Denver and Sonoma and lowering the national E.T. record to 3.921 seconds. Other standouts are three-time Seattle winner Tim Wilkerson, 2012 winner Courtney Force, two-time and defending world champ and 2013 winner Matt Hagan, who also punched his ticket to the Countdown in Sonoma, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria and Del Worsham.

Line’s win over teammate Greg Anderson one year ago gave the two-time Pro Stock world champ his third Seattle victory, tying him with Anderson and Kurt Johnson for second all-time. Line has two wins in 2015 and he joins teammate and points leader Anderson, who has four wins at Seattle, in searching for more Pacific Raceways glory. Both Anderson and Line earned Countdown playoff berths in Sonoma, as did defending world champ and 2012 event winner Erica Enders, who is also a past winner at Pacific Raceways. Others to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod category are 2012 world champ Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile, two-time season winner Larry Morgan, rookie Drew Skillman and Sonoma winner Chris McGaha.

The NHRA Northwest 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, Aug. 7, with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.

To purchase tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, the 16th 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 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Pacific Raceways, Kent, Wash. The track is located 10 miles east of Interstate 5 on Highway 18. From I-5, use Exit 142A (Auburn exit) and travel east 10 miles on Highway 18, following the signs to the track. From other points, use Highway 18 and exit S.E. 304th St. or S.E. 312th St.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 280 feet above sea level; Track direction is east to west.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, Aug. 7 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, Aug. 8 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, Aug. 9 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, Aug. 8, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET).

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

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, Aug. 8, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), SES 1/Transponder 22C

Sunday, Aug. 9, 9 – 9:30 p.m. (ET), SES 1/ Transponder 22C

(4140 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: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock.

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, 8, FC; Bob Glidden, 6, PS; Joe Amato, 5, TF; Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; Warren Johnson, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.765 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Aug. ’13; 322.19 mph by Tony Schumacher, July ’10.

Funny Car – 4.049 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’13; 308.85 mph by John Force, Aug. ’11.

Pro Stock – 6.526 sec. and 212.29 mph by Mike Edwards, Aug. ’13.

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 – 3.921 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’15, Sonoma, 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.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets may also be purchased online at http://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 15th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 1,206*; 2. Antron Brown, 1,169*; 3. Larry Dixon, 960; 4. Doug Kalitta, 912; 5. Richie Crampton, 901; 6. Spencer Massey, 820; 7. Brittany Force, 794; 8. Steve Torrence, 783; 9. J.R. Todd, 782; 10. Shawn Langdon, 780.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 1,142*; 2. Jack Beckman, 1,085; 3. John Force, 948; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 947; 5. Ron Capps, 935; 6. Del Worsham, 902; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 855; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 815; 9. Robert Hight, 784; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 765.

Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 1,263*; 2. Erica Enders, 1,216*; 3. Jason Line, 1,069*; 4. Chris McGaha, 1,053; 5. Allen Johnson, 877; 6. Larry Morgan, 874; 7. Drew Skillman, 779; 8. Jonathan Gray, 761; 9. Shane Gray, 757; 10. Vincent Nobile, 735.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 702; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 596; 3. Andrew Hines, 546; 4. Karen Stoffer, 468; 5. Jim Underdahl, 459; 6. Jerry Savoie, 429; 7. Hector Arana, 417; 8. Matt Smith, 389; 9. Scotty Pollacheck, 376; 10. Angelle Sampey, 336.

*Driver has clinched a berth in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs.