Countdown 2017 Volume XI, Issue 14 July 25, 2017

Mello Yello Series Schedule Brown, Hight return to winner’s circle at Denver

REGULAR SEASON Skillman and Krawiec each lock down second victories of 2017 CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Winners: Pritchett, Hagan, Line NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS Robert Hight secured his first Fuel standings behind Steve Winners: Pritchett, Hagan, Anderson victory of the season at the 38th Torrence, who made a quarterfi- AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA nal appearance. Pritchett drops Winners: Schumacher, J. Force, S. Gray, Krawiec Nationals at Bandimere Speed- to third in points after the runner- DENSO SPARK PLUGS NHRA NATIONALS way in Morrison, Colo. up finish. Winners: Brown, Johnson Jr., T. Gray Hight powered his Auto Club In , Drew Skillman NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS of Southern California Chevrolet became the first driver in the Winners: Pritchett, Capps, Butner Camaro to a 3.995-second pass category to win back-to-back NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS at 317.57 mph to earn the win. events this season. He raced his Winners: Torrence, Capps, McGaha, Tonglet He defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. The Staging Lane Ray Skillman Chevy Camaro to LUCAS OIL NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS who ran a 4.099 at 297.16 in his Next Race: Toyota NHRA a 6.916 at 198.15 to defeat Bo Winners: Torrence, Capps, Butner, Tonglet Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger. Sonoma Nationals Butner in the finals. When: July 28-30, 2017 MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS “We definitely struggled Skillman moves to seventh in Winners: Brown, Capps, T. Gray Where: Sonoma Raceway, through the first few rounds and Sonoma, Calif. the points with the victory, while NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS we were lucky to get those round TV: FS1, July 28, qualifying, Bo Butner maintained his lead Winners: B. Force, Hagan, Enders 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. ET; FS1, NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS wins, but I have a great team July 29, qualifying, 10:00-11:00 atop the category with the run- Winners: Torrence, Beckman, Anderson, Savoie who figured things out and p.m. ET; FS1, July 30, finals, ner-up finish. helped get me to the winner’s 4:00-7:00 p.m. ET Greg Anderson became the NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS Notable: J.R. Todd (), Winners: Millican, Capps, Laughlin circle,” Hight said. “It’s a long- John Force (), Greg second Pro Stock driver to SUMMIT RACING NHRA NATIONALS time coming and we hadn’t had Anderson (Pro Stock) and LE clinch his spot in the Count- much luck, but today we had Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) down, joining Butner on the list Winners: Torrence, Beckman, Butner, Tonglet were winners of last year’s NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS some luck and we hope this event...Force (FC) will be rac- after his second round showing. Winners: Torrence, Capps, Skillman, Tonglet continues throughout the West- ing to improve his overall rec- Eddie Krawiec notched his MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS ern Swing.” ord eight victories at the facili- second victory of the season ty…Doug Kalitta will try to add Winners: Brown, Hight, Skillman, Krawiec Hight jumped to third in the to his category-best five wins at with a run of 7.145 at 188.28 on Funny Car standings, while Matt the track, while Eddie Krawiec his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS Hagan joined Ron Capps as the looks to increase the Pro Stock Hines Harley-Davidson to take July 28-30 at Sonoma, Calif. Motorcycle lead with his fourth second Funny Car driver to win at Sonoma Speedway... down Matt Smith in the final. clinch his spot in the Countdown LE Tonglet remains atop the NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS to the Championship. Pritchett with a 3.816 at 324.90 standings after a quarterfinal Aug. 4-6 at Seattle Antron Brown piloted his in her Papa Johns dragster. appearance on Sunday. Hector LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS Matco Tools dragster to a 3.792 With the victory, Brown now Arana Jr. remains in third with a Aug. 17-20 at Brainerd, Minn. at 319.82 to take down Leah moves into second in the Top quarterfinal appearance. CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS Aug. 30-Sept. 4 2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES COUNTDOWN TO THE POINTS STANDINGS (Following 14 of 24 races) CHAMPIONSHIP Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS Driver Pts Driver Pts Driver Pts (Seventh of 16 races) Sept. 15-17 at Charlotte, N.C. 1. Torrence (5) ...... 1253* 1. Capps (6) ...... 1244* 1. Butner (3) ...... 1240* Rider Pts DODGE NHRA NATIONALS 2. Brown (3) ...... 1199* 2. Hagan (3) ...... 1058* 2. Anderson (2) ...... 1066* 1. Tonglet (4) ...... 658* Sept. 21-24 at Reading, Pa. 3. Pritchett (3) ...... 1183* 3. Hight (1) ...... 973 3. T. Gray (2) ...... 976 2. Krawiec (2) ...... 584 AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS 4. Schumacher (1). .... 974 4. Beckman (2) ...... 970 4. Line (1) ...... 931 3. Arana Jr...... 483 Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at St. Louis 5. Kalitta...... 873 5. Johnson Jr. (1) ...... 925 5. Coughlin ...... 888 4. Pollacheck ...... 455 AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS 5. Savoie (1) ...... 453 Oct. 12-15 at Dallas 6. B. Force (1) ...... 871 6. C. Force ...... 793 6. Enders (1) ...... 863 NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS 7. Millican (1) ...... 826 7. J. Force (1) ...... 757 7. Skillman (2) ...... 823 6. Hines ...... 403 Oct. 26-29 at Las Vegas 8. McMillen ...... 541 8. Wilkerson ...... 634 8. Nobile ...... 781 7. M. Smith ...... 398 AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS 9. Palmer ...... 528 9. Todd ...... 612 9. McGaha (1) ...... 540 8. Gladstone ...... 363 Nov. 9-12 at Pomona, Calif. 10. Coughlin Jr...... 496 10. Pedregon ...... 538 10. A. Johnson ...... 514 9. Stoffer ...... 323 10. Johnson ...... 284

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