Countdown 2013 Volume VII, Issue 8 May 20, 2013 Mello Yello Series Schedule REGULAR SEASON Gray rockets to Funny Car lead O’REILLY NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Langdon and Coughlin gain valuable championship points Winners: Langdon, C. Force, Nobile NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS Winners: Schumacher, Capps, Enders-Stevens Johnny Gray powered to the Racing dragster continues to AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS points lead in Funny Car after have his strongest season to Winners: Brown, J. Gray, A. Johnson, Arana Jr. his third win of the season at date in the Mello Yello Drag SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Racing Series. He raced to his Winners: Schumacher, C. Pedregon, A. Johnson Heartland Park Topeka. Shawn second win of the season in DOLLAR GENERAL FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS Langdon (Top Fuel) and Jeg The Staging Lane his third final round appear- Winners: Massey, Hagan, Edwards, Arana Jr. Coughlin (Pro Stock) took home ance. He was also the No. 1 O’REILLY NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS What’s next: wins and improved their cham- Toyota NHRA qualifier for the third time this Winners: Vandergriff, C. Pedregon, Line, Arana Jr. pionship hopes early in the Summernationals season and the 11th time in SUMMIT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS season. When: May 30-June 2 his career. Langdon amassed Winners: Brown, J. Gray, Edwards Gray and his Rob Wendland Where: Old Bridge seven bonus points and a total NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS -tuned Pitch Energy Dodge Township Raceway Park, of 125 points during the event. Winners: Langdon, J. Gray, Coughlin Englishtown, N.J Charger defeated Robert Hight TV: ESPN2HD, June 1, 5 He moves into second over in the finals and leads the Fun- p.m. (ET); June 2, elims., Antron Brown and is 34 behind TOYOTA NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS ny Car category with the most 4:30 p.m. (ET) Tony Schumacher. May 30-June 2 at Englishtown, N.J. Notable: Johnny Gray will wins. His three wins in a single be going for his third con- Coughlin recorded his first season is a career-best and win since 2010 in his FORD THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS secutive Funny Car win of doubles his career win total. the season as well as de- JEGS.com / Mopar Dodge June 14-16 at Bristol, Tenn. Gray and Ron Capps led the fending his 2012 victory at Avenger as well as becoming AUTO-PLUS NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS points earlier this season fol- the event; Steve Torrence the 12th NHRA racer in the June 20-23 at Epping, N.H. (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray O’REILLY ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS lowing the SummitRacing.com (Funny Car) and Greg history of the sport to record June 27-30 at Chicago NHRA Gatornationals in Anderson (Pro Stock) and 500 round wins in his career. Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock SUMMIT RACING NHRA NATIONALS Gainesville. Now Gray stands Coughlin remains second in alone atop the points for the Motorcycle) are defending the points order but gained July 4-7 at Norwalk, Ohio winners MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS first time in his storied career, ground on Mike Edwards who July 19-21 at Denver but knows there are many got as good a shot as any- was defeated in the quarterfi- NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS rounds of racing remaining. body out there," Gray said. nals. Coughlin came into the July 26-28 at Sonoma, Calif. "It's a long way before we "The better the car is, the event 126 points behind Ed- O’REILLY NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS start running for the champion- better it makes the driver wards but leaves Topeka only Aug. 2-4 at Seattle ship, but if the car keeps run- look." 76 points behind the 2009 Pro LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS ning like it's running, then we've Langdon in his Al-Anabi Stock world champion. Aug. 15-18 at Brainerd, Minn. NHRA U.S. NATIONALS 2013 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Indianapolis POINT STANDINGS (Following the eighth of 24 Races) COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle Driver Pts Driver Pts Driver Pts Rider Pts NHRA NATIONALS 1. Schumacher (2) ..... 665 1. J. Gray (3) .............. 591 1. Edwards (2) ........... 723 1. Arana Jr. (3) .......... 375 Sept. 13-15 at Charlotte, N.C. 2. Langdon (2) ............ 631 2. C. Pedregon (2) ...... 581 2. Coughlin (1) ........... 647 2. Pollachek ............... 256 AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS 3. Brown (2) ................ 593 3. Hagan (1) ............... 568 3. A. Johnson (2) ....... 602 3. Hall ......................... 187 Sept. 19-22 at Dallas 4. Massey (1).............. 541 4. Capps (1) ................ 512 4. Enders-Stevens(1) 526 4t. Arana. Sr. .............. 174 AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS 5. Kalitta ..................... 470 5. C. Force (1) ............ 485 5. Line (1) .................. 505 4t. Krawiec ................. 174 Sept. 27-29 at St. Louis 6. alBalooshi ............... 442 6. Wilkerson ............... 457 6. Nobile (1) ............... 465 6. Johnson .................. 159 AUTO-PLUS NHRA NATIONALS 7. Bernstein ............... 414 7. Hight ....................... 447 7. S. Gray .................. 456 7. Hines ...................... 144 Oct. 3-6 at Reading, Pa. 8. Lucas ..................... 409 8. Beckman ................ 444 8. Anderson ............... 424 8. Ray ......................... 141 NHRA NATIONALS 9. Vandergriff (1) ........ 358 9. Worsham ................ 397 9. V. Gaines ............... 403 9. Underdahl............... 136 Oct. 24-27 at Las Vegas 10. Millican ................. 332 10. J. Force ................ 385 10. Stanfield ............... 353 10. Smith.. .................. 133 AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS Nov. 7-10 at Pomona, Calif. NOTES: Wins in parentheses; Third of 16 races for Pro Stock Motorcycle category. .