Countdown 2017 Volume XI, Issue 1 Feb. 14, 2017

Mello Yello Series Schedule Pritchett leads points with second win

REGULAR SEASON Hagan and Line also win season opening event in Pomona, Calif. CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Winners: Pritchett, Hagan, Line Leah Pritchett piloted her champion is third Papa John’s Pizza to behind his daughter with de- NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS the second Top Fuel victory of fending world champion Ron Feb. 24-26 at Phoenix her career Sunday at the sea- Capps in the fourth position. son opening Circle K NHRA J.R. Todd, who is making AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA Winternationals. the transition from Top Fuel, March 16-19 at Gainesville, Fla. Pritchett’s 3.711 second pass will start his career DENSO SPARK PLUGS NHRA NATIONALS tied for sixth with Tommy John- March 31-April 2 at Las Vegas at 324.98 mph bettered Doug son Jr. and former teammate NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS Kalitta in his Mac Tools drag- who is now rac- April 21-23 at Houston ster after he smoked the tires at The Staging Lane NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS the start. ing for his family team. Next Race: NHRA Arizona April 28-30 at Charlotte, N.C. With the victory, Pritchett Jason Line picked up a victo- Nationals ry over teammate Greg Ander- SUMMIT RACING SOUTHERN NATIONALS leads the NHRA Mello Yello When: Feb. 24-26, 2017 May 5-7 at Series points for Where: Wild Horse Pass son. Line’s Summit Racing MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS the first time in her career. Motorsports Park, Chandler, Equipment Chevy Camaro May 19-21 at Topeka, Kan. Kalitta, who was in his third Arizona outran Anderson with a 6.568 TV: FS1, Feb. 24, qualifying, at 211.10. Anderson’s Summit NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS consecutive final round at Po- midnight ET; FS1, Feb. 25, June 2-4 at Epping, N.H. mona, starts the hunt for his qualifying, midnight ET; FS1, Racing Equipment Chevy Ca- NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS first world championship sec- Feb. 26, finals, 6 p.m. ET maro crossed the finish line at June 8-11 at Englishtown, N.J. ond in points, defending and Notable: Leah Pritchett (Top 6.579 and 211.56. The pair NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS three-time world champion Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny start the season where they left June 16-18 at Bristol, Tenn. Car) and Jason Line (Pro Antron Brown is third and his Stock) were winners of the of, one and two in the points SUMMIT RACING NHRA NATIONALS teammate, eight-time champ event in 2016...The Top Fuel standings. June 22-25 at Norwalk, Ohio Tony Schumacher is fourth. final between Pritchett and Anderson and Line’s KB ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS was the first all Racing teammate Bo Butner is Rookie Troy Coughlin Jr. riding female final since 1982...John July 6-9 at Chicago in the SealMaster dragster is in third and two-time champion MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS Force (FC) has a record eight sixth. victories at the event and Tony , who returned to July 21-23 at Denver In Funny Car, two-time Schumacher (TF) is racing for her Elite Motorsports Chevy TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS his sixth Camaro, sits in fourth. Rookie July 28-30 at Sonoma, Calif. champ Matt Hagan raced his Tanner Gray is in the eighth NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS Mopar Express Lane Dodge Aug. 4-6 at Seattle Charger R/T to a 3.875 pass at Parts Chevy Camaro’s 3.901 spot under father Shane Gray LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS 330.07 to defeat Courtney at 326.95. who is tied for sixth with veter- Aug. 17-20 at Brainerd, Minn. Force and her Advance Auto Force’s father and 16-time an Jeg Coughlin. CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS Aug. 30-Sept. 4 2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Following first of 24 races) COUNTDOWN TO THE Top Fuel Funny Car 2016 Pro Stock CHAMPIONSHIP Driver Pts Driver Pts Driver Pts Motorcycle 1. Pritchett (1) ...... 122 1. Hagan (1) ...... 119 1. Line (1) ...... 126 Rider Pts NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS 2. Kalitta...... 105 2. C. Force ...... 99 2. Anderson ...... 103 1. Savoie (2) ...... 2595 Sept. 15-17 at Charlotte, N.C. 3. Brown ...... 79 3. J. Force ...... 80 3. Butner ...... 77 2. Krawiec (5) ...... 2571 NHRA KEYSTONE NATIONALS 4. Schumacher ...... 70 4. Capps ...... 77 4. Enders ...... 75 3. Hines (5) ...... 2564 Sept. 21-24 at Reading, Pa. 5. B. Force ...... 57 5. Beckman ...... 53 5. Nobile ...... 58 4. Sampey (1) ...... 2495 AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS 5. Ellis (1)...... 2415 Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at St. Louis 6. Coughlin Jr...... 54 6t. Johnson Jr...... 52 6t. Coughlin ...... 56 6. M. Smith 1) ...... 2389 AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS 7. Torrence ...... 53 6t. Todd ...... 52 6t. S. Gray ...... 56 Oct. 12-15 at Dallas 8. McMillen ...... 48 6t. Worsham ...... 52 8. T. Gray ...... 52 7. Tonglet (1) ...... 2372 NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS 9t. Palmer ...... 32 9. Hight ...... 36 9. McGaha ...... 33 8. Arana Jr...... 2315 Oct. 26-29 at Las Vegas 9t. Reed ...... 32 10. DeJoria ...... 35 10t. Hartford ...... 32 9. Reed ...... 2312 AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS 10t. Kramer ...... 32 10. Arana...... 2279 Nov. 9-12 at Pomona, Calif. NOTE: Wins in parentheses. 10t. Skillman ...... 32