PRO STOCK’S DREW SKILLMAN HOPES TO CAP OFF A STANDOUT ROOKIE SEASON IN STYLE AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS

POMONA, Calif. – A glimpse of what was to come in Drew Skillman’s fantastic rookie season in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series came all the way at the season-opening event in Pomona when Skillman advanced to the final round in his first Pro Stock race.

It was quite the entrance into the competitive Pro Stock class but Skillman hasn’t backed off since, proving the quick start was much more than beginner’s luck. He has since won a race during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and advanced to four total final rounds in 2015 with a strong shot to post a top-five finish.

Skillman also has his sights set on winning the Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the NHRA’s top rookie. A strong performance at the track where his impressive rookie season started during the 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Nov. 12-15, would go a long way in achieving that goal.

“This year has really flown by,” said Skillman, who is currently fourth in points. “But we got a lot of things done and were able to accomplish a lot of our goals, which was great. I really like going back to Pomona to finish the year. It’s nice to end the year there and I like it there. It’s a great track.”

Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the tradition-rich Southern California event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. The lucrative event is the final of six playoff races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and Skillman has already put together a strong showing in the NHRA’s playoffs.

He knocked off Elite Motorsports teammate Enders in the final round at St. Louis and posted semifinal berths at both Dallas and the most recent event in Las Vegas before Enders extracted a bit of revenge. But Skillman has no qualms about the direction his rookie Pro Stock season has gone heading into the final stretch.

“Mathematically we still have a chance to finish as high as second and that’s what we’re going for,” Skillman said. “If Erica and I could finish first and second, that’s what we want as a team. In a class like this, doing something like that would speak volumes for everyone on this team. We have such a good team that we’ve assembled and I believe that will allow us to continue to do well.”

That goal is still possible. Enders clinched her second consecutive Pro Stock world championship with a her recent win at Las Vegas, and Skillman is only 35 points behind second place Greg Anderson.

Watching Enders, who has nine wins during her incredible 2015 season, has been extremely beneficial for Skillman, who has asked her advice on a multitude of topics throughout the season. What he has noticed is a driver who is dedicated to her craft and who is prepared for every moment.

“Talking to Erica has been huge,” Skillman said. “Anytime I have a question she helps me and that communication has been big. I’ve learned the basics from her and really about so many different things. This team taught me how to be successful and I believe that’s what happens when you surround yourself with winners. Everyone knows what their jobs are and when you don’t have to worry about anybody, that’s a huge stress reliever.”

In addition to the final round appearance at the season opener in Pomona, Skillman was also the runner-up at Norwalk and the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. That gave him confidence during the Countdown and now Skillman hopes to finish the season in style.

To do well in Pomona, Skillman will have to deal with the likes of Enders and Anderson, as well as Chris McGaha, Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray. But as he makes a second trip to Pomona, Skillman sees a noticeable difference in how much he has improved as a driver.

“It’s just being comfortable in the car,” Skillman said. “You go from almost having a panic attack every time you get in the car to that feeling of being calm and being comfortable in the car. At the beginning of the year I struggled to handle it but now I get in and feel calm. It’s just seat time and being around everyone on this team.

“The competition level in this class is so high and it’s been great to be competitive. I wanted to be in this class so bad and it’s just a huge honor to be part of it.”

In Top Fuel, Antron Brown clinched his second Top Fuel world championship with wins at three of the four races in the Countdown. Brown officially claimed the title when he advanced one round farther than rival Tony Schumacher in eliminations at Las Vegas. Other stars in the class include Richie Crampton, who won in Dallas for his fifth victory in 2015, Brittany Force, three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, Steve Torrence, Shawn Langdon and Dave Connolly.

In the search for his first Funny Car world championship, Del Worsham picked up his third Countdown win in Dallas. Worsham, who didn’t make it past the quarterfinals in Las Vegas, still holds a 38 points lead over Jack Beckman. Other Funny Car stalwarts include Tommy Johnson Jr., who sits in third and 97 points out of first, reigning world champion Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, 16-time world champion John Force, teammate Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight and Tim Wilkerson.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion and points leader Andrew Hines earned his fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of the season and third in the Countdown at the most recent event in Las Vegas. Hines raced past Jerry Savoie in the final round and increased his series lead to 46 over the hard-charging Savoie, who won in Dallas. Hines gained some momentum heading into Pomona but will have to deal with the likes of teammate Eddie Krawiec, who is 83 points back, Hector Arana Jr., who won in St. Louis, Chip Ellis, Matt Smith, two-time 2015 event winner Karen Stoffer, Hector Arana, Jim Underdahl and Scotty Pollacheck.

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be racing hard in their quest to become winners of the thrilling event as well as national champions during the weekend.

Before the Christmas tree hits green and the fireworks explode over the track to signify the end of another thrilling season at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, fans will have the opportunity to meet multiple stars of the Mello Yello Series at the NHRA Fanfest at Lordsburg Taphouse in downtown La Verne, Nov. 12., from 6:45-8 p.m. Beckman, John Force, Courtney Force, Brittany Force and Hight will be signing autographs and mingling with fans while Hight’s AAA Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car and Schumacher’s U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster will be on display. Ticket giveaways and food and drink specials will be offered and everyone who attends will also receive a free Mello Yello t-shirt.

Race fans will also have the chance to meet living legend and four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Don “The Snake” Prudhomme in the Snake Skybox with the purchase of a Skybox Pass. Skybox Passes include the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch nitro qualifying and eliminations with Prudhomme in an air conditioned suite, as well as an autograph session and a photo opportunity. Don “The Snake” Prudhomme goodie bags will be handed out and each ticket includes free catered meals daily with non-alcoholic beverages. Limited space is available in the Snake Skybox. Passes can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Office at 800-884-NHRA.

The NHRA’s Hot Rod Junction will also make its return to the Auto Club NHRA Finals, offering nostalgic entertainment for race fans. The Hot Rod Junction will feature photo opportunities with past and present NHRA celebrities, a remarkable display of historic race cars and hot rods, and daily Cacklefest shows that will rattle the senses. Cacklefests will take fans back to the early days of drag racing with amazing sights and sounds. First-time Cacklefest spectators call it a sensory overload when dozens of nitro-burning historic, front-engine dragsters and other classic race cars are fired up simultaneously, creating a roar of engines and flame-throwing headers. All spectators attending the Auto Club NHRA Finals will have free access to the Hot Rod Junction.

A variety of drivers will also participate in the Night of Champions at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif., Friday night after racing has concluded. Drivers will be on hand to answer questions from fans and share some of their most cherished memories from the track. Beckman will moderate the Night of Champions.

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, Nov. 13, with sessions at noon and 3 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, also at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.

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

Keep up with all the action on ESPN and ESPN2.

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AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals, the final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the final 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 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif. Track is located off I-10 at Fairplex Drive. From I-10, go north on Fairplex drive and follow the signs to Auto Club Raceway at the Fairplex.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is north to south.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 12-15

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, Nov. 12 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

FRIDAY, Nov. 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, Nov. 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, Nov. 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Sunday, Nov. 15, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 2:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 15, ESPN2 will re-air two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 15, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Morgan Lucas, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Hector Arana Jr., Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 8; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 6; Greg Anderson, PS, 5; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; John Myers, PSM, 5; Warren Johnson, PS, 4; Dave Schultz, PSM, 4; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.700 sec. Shawn Langdon, Feb. ’15 and 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, Feb. ’15
Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 by John Force, Feb. ‘14
Pro Stock – 6.480 sec. and 213.67 mph by Erica Enders, Nov. ’14
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.766 sec. by Andrew Hines, Nov. ’14; 198.29 mph by Eddie Krawiec, Nov. ‘12

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – 3.897 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ‘15, Reading, Pa.; 330.47 mph by Matt Hagan, Sept. ‘15, Madison, Ill.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

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AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS POINTS STANDINGS

POMONA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 15th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 23rd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

1. Antron Brown, 2,588; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,426; 3. Larry Dixon, 2,372; 4. Richie Crampton, 2,356; 5. Brittany Force, 2,331; 6. Doug Kalitta, 2,316; 7. Steve Torrence, 2,289; 8. Shawn Langdon, 2,275; 9. Dave Connolly, 2,271; 10. J.R. Todd, 2,249.

Funny Car

1. Del Worsham, 2,545; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,507; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,448; 4. Ron Capps, 2,405; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,361; 6. Robert Hight, 2,314; 7. John Force, 2,300; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 2,260; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 2,233; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 2,227.

Pro Stock

1. Erica Enders, 2,631; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,409; 3. Chris McGaha, 2,389; 4. Drew Skillman, 2,374; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,331; 6. Larry Morgan, 2,324; 7. Jason Line, 2,298; 8. Vincent Nobile, 2,293; 9. Jonathan Gray, 2,252; 10. Shane Gray, 2,236.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Andrew Hines, 2,534; 2. Jerry Savoie, 2,488; 3. Eddie Krawiec, 2,451; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 2,363; 5. Chip Ellis, 2,337; 6. Matt Smith, 2,329; 7. Karen Stoffer, 2,314; 8. Hector Arana, 2,291; 9. Jim Underdahl, 2,189; 10. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,160.