August 28, 2013
NHRA U.S. Nationals
Each Labor Day weekend, NHRA racers and fans descend on Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the biggest, oldest, richest, and most prestigious drag race in the world. They say that no career is truly complete without a win at this, drag racing’s grandest event. The stakes are high with this event being the final race of the regular season and setting the 10-driver fields for the upcoming six-race Countdown to the Championship. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout special events take place in Top Fuel and Funny Car.
2012 Recap: Tony Schumacher continued his string of success at the sport’s most prestigious event by winning the Big Go for the ninth time in his career. Mike Neff scored his second straight Funny Car win at this event by holding off final-round opponent Tim Wilkerson, who secured a playoff position. Part-timer Dave Connolly beat teammate Erica Enders-Stevens in the Pro Stock final on a holeshot with a .002-second winning margin. Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) scored his first Wally at this event.
How to Get There: The track is one mile west of Clermont on Highway 136. From Indianapolis, take Interstate 465 to Highway 136 (Crawfordsville Road). Go west toward and through Clermont. The main entrance is on the south side of the road, one mile past Clermont. From west on Interstate 74, Exit 68 (Ronald Reagan Parkway), then head south. At the light, turn left and travel east, and the track will be on the right.
Visitor Information: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, 317-291-4090; Hendricks County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 317-718-8750 or 800-321-9666
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August 15, 2013
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
NHRA’s version of a weeklong campout, this event is a popular stop due to the area’s recreational opportunities. Avid fishers often spend the days before the event trolling the area’s many lakes for walleye, bass, and northern pike, and a huge on-site campground provides nightly camaraderie for racegoers who sit around fires discussing the day’s action. A 700-foot concrete launchpad, one of the longest on the tour, helps boost performances at the second-to-last event at which teams can secure positions for the Countdown to the Championship.
2012 Recap: Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel) was triumphant at the flagship Lucas Oil event, defeating Antron Brown in the final. Ron Capps (Funny Car) claimed the points lead with his third win of the season. Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) scored her second straight win while Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) completed his third in a row.
How to Get There: The track is six miles north of Brainerd on Highway 371 North. From Minneapolis, take Highway 10 North to Highway 371 North; go north to the track.
Visitor Information: Brainerd Int’l Raceway, 218-824-7223 or 866-444-4455; Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 218-829-2838 or 800-450-2838; Nisswa Chamber of Commerce, 218-963-2620 or 800-950-9610
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August 2, 2013
26th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries
After stops in Colorado and California, the Western Swing concludes at scenic Pacific Raceways. One of the tour’s most breathtaking environments, the facility is parked in the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier and surrounded by towering trees that add more than beauty at the last stop on the Western Swing: They emit tons of power-enhancing oxygen to feed the appetites of the high-horsepower machines, resulting in prime performances.
2012 Recap: Funny Car rookie Courtney Force won for the first time in her young career and shared the winner’s circle with Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock), who prevented Allen Johnson from sweeping the Western Swing in the semifinal round and finished off Jason Line in the final. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) endured three pedalfests and one holeshot win in his third victory of the season.
How to Get There: The track is 10 miles east of Interstate 5 on Highway 18. From I-5, use Exit 142A (Auburn exit) and travel east 10 miles on Highway 18, following the signs to the track. From other points, use Highway 18 and exit S.E. 304th Street.
Visitor Information: Pacific Raceways, 253-639-5927; Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 253-833-0700; Kent Chamber of Commerce, 253-854-1770; Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 206-461-5800
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July 26, 2013
26th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals
In the heart of Northern California’s wine country, the facility annually plays host to some of the tou
r’s most dramatic moments. A $70 million modernization project was completed in 2002 that included a new 660-foot concrete launchpad and led to scores of new track records. The event is usually blessed with pleasant weather that, combined with a quality racetrack, has yielded impressive performances, such as the sport’s second six-second Pro Stock Motorcycle pass in 2005. The event is the middle leg of the Western Swing.
2012 Recap: Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) kept their hopes for a sweep of the Western Swing alive with their second consecutive wins. Like Brown, Johnny Gray (Funny Car) won by defeating a Don Schumacher Racing teammate in the final. Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) joined them in victory at the silver anniversary of this event.
How to Get There: Sonoma Raceway is 35 minutes north of San Francisco at the junction of highways 37 and 121. From Sacramento, take Interstate 80 to Highway 12 toward Napa/Sonoma to Highway 29 North. Follow Highway 29 to Highway 121, then head southwest to the track. For quick access, avoid using Highway 37 westbound from Vallejo to Highway 121. From East Bay cities, take I-580 west across the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge to Highway 101, then travel north to Highway 37 east and turn left onto Highway 121. The entrance to the track is on the left.
Visitor Information: Sonoma County Visitors Bureau, 866-996-1090, www.sonomavalley.com
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July 4, 2013
7th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
This event, which makes its seventh appearance on the schedule at fan-friendly Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, begins the second half of the season and is the final one on the tour before teams head west for the grueling Western Swing. The event features a large draw of Sportsman and exhibition classes and other promotions in addition to the competition in the always-enthralling Professional categories.
2012 Recap: Pro Stock phenom Vincent Nobile, 20, not only successfully defended his event title, he did one better by also winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge special event for the double-up victory. Meanwhile, Mike Neff (Funny Car) held off a resurgent Tim Wilkerson in the money round, and Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won their respective finals on holeshots.
How to Get There: From Cleveland and west-side suburbs, take Route 480 west to Route 10 (Norwalk exit). Follow Route 10 West until it becomes Route 20. Take Route 20 to Route 601. Turn left on 601 and drive south to Route 18. Turn right onto Route 18 and follow the signs to spectator parking. From the north, east, and west, take the Ohio Turnpike east (Cleveland) to Exit 118 (Route 250). Head south on Route 250 into Norwalk. Turn left on Republic Street and follow the red directional signs to the track on the left. From the south, follow Route 250 North. At the exchange for State Route 18, follow the green directional sign to turn right; exit immediately using Route 18 and turn right. The track is on the left.
Visitor Information: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, 419-668-5555; Erie County Chamber of Commerce, 419-625-6421, www.eriecountyohiocofc.com; Sandusky/Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau, 800-255-3743, www.gocoastohio.com; Huron County Chamber of Commerce, 419-668-4155, www.huroncountychamber.com
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June 27, 2013
16th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries
Stadium-like Route 66 Racew
ay, which opened in 1998 just outside of the Windy City, has regularly been the site of astounding performances. The event is the site of the JEGS Allstars, which pits the best NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series racers from across the country in individual and team competition. The event also is the sixth of the season for Pro Stock Motorcycle riders.
2012 Recap: Erica Enders-Stevens broke through for her long-overdue first victory, making her the first female winner in the history of the Pro Stock class. She was nearly joined in the winner’s circle by rookie Courtney Force, who lost to Jeff Arend in the Funny Car final. Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) closed in on the points leaders in their classes with wins.
How to Get There: The track is approximately 30 miles southwest of Chicago on Route 53 (historic Route 66), three miles south of Interstate 80 in Joliet. From points north, take I-355 south to I-80 west to Route 53/Chicago Street (Exit 132) and proceed south to the track. From points south, take I-55 north to Arsenal Road, then proceed east to Route 53 north to the track. From points east and west, take I-80 to Exit 132 (Route 53) and follow Route 53 south to the track.
Visitor Information: Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 815-727-5371; Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-926-2262; Illinois Office of Tourism, www.enjoyillinois.com; Joliet Visitors Bureau, 877-4-JOLIET (877-456-5438), www.visitjoliet.org
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May 2, 2013
The legion of fans in the New England states finally have an event to call their ow
n with the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series making its inaugural visit to Epping, N.H., just north of the Boston metropolis. The lon
g and storied drag racing history in New England prompted the construction of this track in 1966, and recent enhancements, including
an all-concrete racing surface, have this facility ready to host the largest event in its history.
How to Get There: The track is on Route 101 off Exit 8, an hour north of Boston and just 20 minutes from Manchester and the New Hampshire sea coast. From I-95, take Exit 2 in New Hampshire. Travel west on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn right. From I-93, take Exit 7 in New Hampshire. Travel east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left, and the track is straight ahead. From I-495, take Exit 51-B to Route 125 north. Travel east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left, and the track is straight ahead.
Visitor Information: Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 603-772-2411; Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, 603-926-8718; Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, 603-610-5510
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June 14, 2013
Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers
mountains but also because it can be home to incredible performances. The facility hosted NHRA’s Springnationals from 1965 to 1967 and non-NHRA events until it was closed in 1996 for an $18 million renovation. It reopened in 1999 and was the site of NHRA’s all-star event that year and in 2000 before hosting its first national event in 34 years in 2001.
2012 Recap: Seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher ended his much-ballyhooed drought of 32 races without a win that included 11 final-round appearances. Ron Capps (Funny Car) reached his sixth straight final and picked up his second score. Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also scored on Father’s Day in the closest race of the season, defeating Allen Johnson in a race that was decided by less than .0000-second.
How to Get There: Bristol Dragway’s Thunder Valley is on Highway 394. From the south, exit Interstate 81 at Tennessee Exit 69, then travel east on Highway 394. From the north, exit Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 3 and take Highway 11E south to Highway 394. For an alternate northbound route, exit Interstate 81 at Virginia Exit 17 and take Virginia State Route 75 south to Tennessee 44 south to U.S. 421 north to Highway 394 south.
Visitor Information: Bristol Chamber of Commerce, 423-989-4850
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May 30, 2013
44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
230 Pension Road
Englishtown, NJ 07726
www.racewaypark.com
Elevation: 60 feet
Tickets: www.racewaypark.com; 732-446-7800
Radio Frequency: 87.9 FM
One of NHRA’s original seven national events, this race is steeped in legend: a historic facility, some of the sport’s more knowledgeable (and definitely most boisterous) fans, and a score of dramatic moments. The event, known again as the Summernationals, has shifted on the schedule from its original scorchingly hot and humid July slot to May and June, and upsets have become the norm.
2012 Recap: Thanks to cool temperatures and an immaculately prepared racing surface, Spencer Massey (3.72) and Ron Capps (3.96) lit up the scoreboards with the quickest runs in the history of Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Johnny Gray (Funny Car) outlasted the unprecedented performances to find the winner’s circle, where they were joined by Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
How to Get There: Englishtown is about 20 miles south of Newark Int’l Airport, 35 miles south of New York City, and 55 miles north of Philadelphia. The track is on Pension Road, two miles north of Englishtown. From the New Jersey Turnpike, use Exit 8 (Route 33) or Exit 9 (Route 18). From Route 33, travel east to Route 527 (Englishtown exit), then north to the track. From Route 18, travel east to Route 527 (Englishtown exit), then south to the track. The main entrance is on Pension Road, which runs off Route 527 west of the track.
Visitor Information: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 732-446-7800
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May 17, 2013
NHRA Kansas Nationals
Sprawling multipurpose Heartland Park Topeka has been a Midwest favorite since it opened in 1989, but its dragstrip has gained the majority of headlines. The event, originally in the fall, has featured numerous record performances, the most significant of which was the shattering of the quarter-mile four-second and 300-mph barriers in Funny Car in 1993. The event moved to its current spot on the schedule in 2001.
2012 Recap: David Grubnic broke a six-year drought when he beat Spencer Massey by a .009-second margin in the Top Fuel final. Jack Beckman, who had swapped cars and crews with teammate Ron Capps four races earlier, cut an otherworldly .004 light in the Funny Car final to beat Capps on a holeshot. Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) won for the second time in the season.
How to Get There: The track is on Topeka Boulevard where it intersects Gary Ormsby Drive, four miles south of Interstate 470. From Kansas City, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) to the South Topeka exit and travel south on Topeka Boulevard to the track. From Wichita, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-335) to the South Topeka exit and travel south on Topeka Boulevard to the track. From I-470, take the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track.
Visitor Information: Visit Topeka Inc., 785-234-1030 or 800-235-1030, www.visittopeka.us
Visit http://www.hpt.com/ for pricing information