Countdown 2013 Volume VII, Issue 5 April 23, 2013 Mello Yello Series Schedule REGULAR SEASON Hagan thunders to Funny Car lead O’REILLY NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Don Schumacher Racing holds top spots in both Top Fuel and Funny Car Winners: Langdon, C. Force, Nobile NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS Winners: Schumacher, Capps, Enders-Stevens The Mello Yello Drag Racing “I’m really proud of another AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS Drag Racing Series thrilled the one-two finish for DSR. We’re Winners: Brown, J. Gray, A. Johnson, Arana Jr. fans in the Charlotte during the trying to win a championship, SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS Dollar General NHRA Four- so leaving here with the points Winners: Schumacher, C. Pedregon, A. Johnson Wide Nationals with Matt Ha- lead is really important,” Schu- DOLLAR GENERAL FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS gan emerging as a title con- The Staging Lane macher said.” Winners: Massey, Hagan, Edwards, Arana Jr. tender in 2013. In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards What’s next: Hagan has a love-hate rela- O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA retook the lead in the category O’REILLY NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS tionship with zMAX Dragway. At SpringNationals on the strength of his first win April 26-28 at Houston the track in 2011 he became When: April 26-28, 2013 of the season. the first Funny Car racer below Where: Royal Purple He also continues to amass SUMMIT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS four seconds, but in 2012 he Raceway, Houston bonus points at a breathtaking May 3-5 at Atlanta TV: ESPN2HD, April 27, 3 suffered a dramatic explosion p.m. (ET); April 28, elims., clip early in the season. NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS that made the highlight reels. 2 p.m. (ET) He led the Pro Stock cate- May 17-19 at Topeka, Kan. At this event Hagan took his Notable: Funny Car driver gory during the weekend with TOYOTA NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS John Force leads all win- first win in 17 months and pro- ners at the track with seven; six qualifying bonus points May 30-June 2 at Englishtown, N.J. pelled him to the top of the after being the No. 1 qualifier FORD THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS Vincent Nobile is a two-time Funny Car standings. This and defending Pro Stock following both sessions on June 14-16 at Bristol, Tenn. marks the first time since the Champion at the event; the Saturday. NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS end of his championship sea- track is only 10 feet above He added another 20 points June 20-23 at Epping, N.H. sea level; Screamin’ Eagle O’REILLY ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS son in 2011 that he has lead Harley-Davidson rider to his tally after setting a June 27-30 at Chicago the Funny Car points standings. Andrew Hines is going for national time record at 6.471 his fourth consecutive Pro SUMMIT RACING NHRA NATIONALS “We took over the points seconds on Saturday. lead, but it’s too early to start Stock Motorcycle victory at Arana Jr. retained his lead in July 4-7 at Norwalk, Ohio this event. MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS counting that stuff,” Hagan said. the Pro Stock Motorcycle cate- July 19-21 at Denver “But anybody who tells you they the points. Tony Schumacher gory with his second win at the NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS don’t count it is foolish; every- raced to a runner-up finish second race of the 2013 sea- July 26-28 at Sonoma, Calif. body’s counting points.” and remains the points leader son. O’REILLY NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS In the Top Fuel category by 74 markers over fellow Eddie Krawiec moved from Aug. 2-4 at Seattle Spencer Massey took the win DSR racer, Antron Brown, seventh to third in the points LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS for DSR and remains third in who lurks in second. following his runner-up finish. 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 fifth 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) ..... 479 1. Hagan (1) ............... 399 1. Edwards (1) ........... 494 1. Arana Jr. (2) .......... 248 Sept. 13-15 at Charlotte, N.C. 2. Brown (1) ................ 405 2. C. Pedregon (1) ...... 349 2. A. Johnson (2) ....... 410 2. Pollachek ............... 155 AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS 3. Massey (1).............. 370 3. C. Force (1) ............ 347 3. Enders-Stevens (1) 396 3. Krawiec ................. 143 Sept. 19-22 at Dallas 4. Langdon (1) ............ 326 4. J. Gray (1) .............. 311 4. Coughlin ............... 369 4. Johnson. ................. 127 AAA INSURANCE MIDWEST NATIONALS 5. Lucas ...................... 274 5. Capps (1) ................ 309 5. Nobile (1) ............... 309 5. H. Arana ................. 121 Sept. 27-29 at St. Louis 6. Kalitta ..................... 272 6. Hight ...................... 271 6. Line ........................ 303 6. Hall ......................... 112 AUTO-PLUS NHRA NATIONALS 7. alBalooshi ............... 252 7. Beckman ................ 263 7. V. Gaines ............... 284 7. Underdahl............... 104 Oct. 3-6 at Reading, Pa. 8. Bernstein ................ 249 8. Worsham ................ 259 8. Anderson ............... 269 8. M. Smith ................. 101 NHRA NATIONALS 9. Millican ................... 235 9. Wilkerson ................ 247 9. S. Gray .................. 227 9. Hines ........................ 87 Oct. 24-27 at Las Vegas 10. Grubnic ................. 216 10. Tasca III ................ 240 10. Brogdon ............... 200 10. Gann.. .................... 85 AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS Nov. 7-10 at Pomona, Calif. NOTE: Wins in parentheses; Second of 16 races for Pro Stock Motorcycle category. .