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BREAKOUT SEASON FOR PRO STOCK’S CHRIS MCGAHA COULD HAVE A BIG CONCLUSION AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS

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POMONA, Calif. – In what has been a breakout season by nearly every account, Chris McGaha still has one more goal to finish off his 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

The Pro Stock standout might not be able to win a world championship, as Erica Enders clinched her second straight world title with another dominating performance in Las Vegas, but McGaha can do the next best thing at this weekend’s 51st annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

That would obviously mean finishing second in the loaded Pro Stock class and he would like nothing more than to pick up his fourth win of the season in his Harlow Sammons Racing Chevrolet Camaro in doing so.

“Finishing second in the points is a pretty big goal for our Harlow Sammons team,” said McGaha, who currently sits 20 points behind four-time world champion Greg Anderson in third. “I was looking at the points the other morning and you can easily go all the way down to sixth if you don’t do well at this race. We want to end this year on a good note.

“Our mindset for finishing the year strong is to win the last race. We might’ve not won the championship but we want to be the last team to win in Pro Stock with carburetors,” continued McGaha and referencing the rule changes for 2016 in Pro Stock. “That would be pretty sweet. I’d love to win the last race with carburetors before we make the changes this winter.”

Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), 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 Enders’ ninth win of her incredible 2015 season in Vegas clinched a second world championship.

McGaha stayed in the mix for the title for most of the Countdown to the Championship, but a second-round loss to Enders in Dallas opened up a bigger advantage she never came close to relinquishing.

Still, McGaha had plenty to smile about during his memorable 2015 campaign, including back-to-back wins in Sonoma and Seattle. McGaha also picked up his first Countdown win, as he jumped into the championship mix with his victory in Reading.

He has been in third for the past three races, but one last push could give him the runner-up spot in the world title chase. It isn’t the ultimate goal, but it would give McGaha plenty of momentum in his young Pro Stock career.

“Our team has progressed pretty good this year,” said McGaha, who also had final round appearances in Bristol and Houston. “We finally got our first win and to come back and get two more was pretty neat. We have a chance to win one more and even with our new additions (crew chief Tommy Utt), our team is coming together real strong.”

That means the future is bright for McGaha, especially as his young team gains even more experience. Those prospects have McGaha thrilled for the 2016 NHRA season, but the immediate focus is picking up his first win in Pomona.

In addition to Enders, who is after her 10th win of the season, McGaha will face challenges from all angles, including Anderson, rookie Drew Skillman, who is just 15 points back of McGaha in fourth, Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan, Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, Jonathan Gray and Shane Gray.

Conditions could be favorable for some quick runs, and McGaha has been no stranger to that, going as quick as 6.474 at 214.28 mph in Charlotte. Just as important, McGaha is excited to return to Pomona for a second time this year.

“I had never been to Pomona before the 2012 Word Finals,” McGaha said. “I like going to Auto Club Raceway, it’s a neat place. You start and end your racing season there; it gives you a chance to look at your year when you start and finish there. I really enjoy it. Even if I was on a limited schedule, Pomona would still be on my list.”

Antron Brown clinched his second world championship in Top Fuel in Las Vegas, but Brown, who has a remarkable seven wins in 2015, will look to close out his outstanding season in style. Standing in his way are the likes of eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, Richie Crampton, three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Doug Kalitta, who won in Las Vegas, J.R. Todd, Steve Torrence, Dave Connolly, Brittany Force and Shawn Langdon.

In the search for his first Funny Car world championship, Del Worsham maintained his lead in Vegas, and will take a 38-point advantage over Jack Beckman into Pomona. Other Funny Car stalwarts include Tommy Johnson Jr., who sits in third and 97 points out of first after his runner-up finish in Vegas, Ron Capps, who is 140 points out of first, reigning world champion Matt Hagan, 16-time world champion John Force, teammate Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, who won in Vegas, and Tim Wilkerson.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion and points leader Andrew Hines closed in on his fifth world championship by winning in Las Vegas, opening up a 46-point lead over Vegas finalist Jerry Savoie. Teammate Eddie Krawiec trails by 81 points, while others to watch include Hector Arana Jr., who won in St. Louis, Matt Smith, Hector Arana, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Chip Ellis 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.

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.

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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 11:45 a.m. 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.

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