Countdown 2017 Volume XI, Issue 15 August 1, 2017

Mello Yello Series Schedule Todd earns first victory at Sonoma

REGULAR SEASON Torrence, T. Gray & Tonglet secure wins at Sonoma Nationals CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Winners: Pritchett, Hagan, Line NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS JR Todd notched his first ca- Tools dragster. Winners: Pritchett, Hagan, Anderson reer Funny Car victory at the With the victory, Torrence AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sono- remains atop the Winners: Schumacher, J. Force, S. Gray, Krawiec ma Nationals at Sonoma Race- standings over Brown, while DENSO SPARK PLUGS NHRA NATIONALS way. Leah Pritchett sits third. Tony Winners: Brown, Johnson Jr., T. Gray Todd powered his DHL Toyota Schumacher became the fourth NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS Camry Funny Car to a 4.049- Top Fuel driver to qualify for the Winners: Pritchett, Capps, Butner second pass at 323.27 mph to countdown despite a first round NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS earn the win. He defeated Tim exit in Sonoma. Winners: Torrence, Capps, McGaha, Tonglet Wilkerson who ran a 6.823 at The Staging Lane In , Tanner Gray LUCAS OIL NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS 100.26 in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Next Race: NHRA Northwest notched his third victory of the Winners: Torrence, Capps, Butner, Tonglet Ford Shelby Mustang. Nationals season. He raced his Gray Mo- When: August 4-6, 2017 MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS “Our car showed us a lot of torsports Valvoline Chevy Ca- Winners: Brown, Capps, T. Gray Where: Pacific Raceways, promise in Denver, which gave Seattle, Wash. maro to a 6.572 at 210.05 to NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS us hope coming into here,” Todd TV: FS1, August 4, qualifying, defeat Bo Butner in the finals. Winners: B. Force, Hagan, Enders 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET; FS1, Au- NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS said. “We’ve been struggling so gust 6, qualifying, 2:00-3:00 Gray remains third in the Winners: Torrence, Beckman, Anderson, Savoie bad this season; I’m just happy a.m. ET; FS1, August 6, finals, points with the victory, while Bo to win in a Funny Car. I was able 4:00-7:00 p.m. ET Butner maintained his lead atop NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS Notable: Antron Brown (Top Winners: Millican, Capps, Laughlin to win here last year in Top Fuel, Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) the category. SUMMIT RACING NHRA NATIONALS and to be able to come back and and Aaron Strong (Pro Stock) Both Gray and Jason Line do it again in Funny Car is pretty were winners of last year’s clinched spots in the Count- Winners: Torrence, Beckman, Butner, Tonglet event...John Force (FC) will be NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS special.” racing to improve his overall down, joining Butner and Greg Winners: Torrence, Capps, Skillman, Tonglet Todd also became the second record eight victories at the Anderson on the list. MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS driver in NHRA history to win at facility…Tony Schumacher (TF) LE Tonglet locked down his will try to tie the category-best Winners: Brown, Hight, Skillman, Krawiec Sonoma Raceway in both nitro five wins at the track, while fifth victory of the season with a TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS categories. Greg Anderson (PS) and Jason run of 6.783 at 197.02 on his Winners: Torrence, Todd, T. Gray, Tonglet He remains ninth in the Funny Line (PS) look for their fourth Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki to take victories in Seattle, which Car standings, while Jack Beck- would tie them for second-most down Matt Smith in the final. NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS man and Robert Hight became Tonglet maintains a hefty lead Aug. 4-6 at Seattle the third and fourth Funny Car Capco Contractors dragster to atop the standings after the drivers to clinch their spots in the a 3.784 at 329.42 to take down victory, while Eddie Krawiec and LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS Countdown. Antron Brown who had a 3.974 Hector Arana Jr. round out the Aug. 17-20 at Brainerd, Minn. Steve Torrence piloted his pass at 281.83 in his Matco top three. CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS Aug. 30-Sept. 4 2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES COUNTDOWN TO THE POINTS STANDINGS (Following 15 of 24 races) CHAMPIONSHIP Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS Driver Pts Driver Pts Driver Pts (Eighth of 16 races) Sept. 15-17 at Charlotte, N.C. 1. Torrence (6) ...... 1369* 1. Capps (6) ...... 1276* 1. Butner (3) ...... 1341* Rider Pts DODGE NHRA NATIONALS 2. Brown (3) ...... 1294* 2. Hagan (3) ...... 1093* 2. Anderson (2) ...... 1150* 1. Tonglet (5) ...... 780* Sept. 21-24 at Reading, Pa. 3. Pritchett (3) ...... 1250* 3. Beckman (2) ...... 1049* 3. T. Gray (3) ...... 1091* 2. Krawiec (2) ...... 636 AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS 4. Schumacher (1) .. 1008* 4. Hight (1) ...... 1035* 4. Line (1) ...... 988* 3. Arana Jr...... 567 Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at St. Louis 5. B. Force (1) ...... 935 5. Johnson Jr. (1) ...... 982 5. Coughlin ...... 940 4. Savoie (1) ...... 535 AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS 5. M. Smith ...... 499 Oct. 12-15 at Dallas 6. Kalitta...... 933 6. C. Force ...... 874 6. Skillman (2) ...... 910 NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS 7. Millican (1) ...... 861 7. J. Force (1) ...... 821 7. Enders (1) ...... 894 6. Pollacheck ...... 490 Oct. 26-29 at Las Vegas 8. McMillen ...... 598 8. Wilkerson ...... 727 8. Nobile ...... 835 7. Hines ...... 455 AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS 9. Palmer ...... 575 9. Todd (1) ...... 724 9. McGaha (1) ...... 593 8. Gladstone ...... 395 Nov. 9-12 at Pomona, Calif. 10. Coughlin Jr...... 528 10. Pedregon ...... 570 10. A. Johnson ...... 547 9. Stoffer ...... 376 10. A. Smith ...... 337

NOTE: Wins in parentheses. Drivers who have clinched a spot in the Countdown are noted with an asterisk.