Eric Dillard Joining NHRA Pro Mods At Indy
Aug.30
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – Eric Dillard will be making his NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series debut on drag racing's biggest stage: this weekend's 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.
"It's going to be a heckuva first race that's for sure," Dillard said. "I'm going to try and treat it like any other race. I don't have any past history with the NHRA, so I'm going to go in there with a clear head, think of it just like any other local race, and do my thing."
Dillard has been a vital member of the R2B2 Racing team this season, just not behind the wheel. He co-owns ProLine Racing, which builds the turbo motors that have smashed records in the Pro Mod Series this season. Dillard, whose company also based in Georgia, tested the team's turbo '53 Corvette in the preseason. Now he gets a chance to see what the team's new turbo 2011 R2B2 Race Cars Ford Mustang can do in competition.
"We've made five or six test runs in the new Mustang and I'm confident we can do really well with it," Dillard said. "Even though this is my first NHRA race, I've driven a turbo heads-up car for the last six years. I feel really comfortable in that kind of car.
"It's also a big honor to drive for Roger Burgess. It's only a one-race deal so far, but I'll take one race over zero."
Qualifying for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series gets under way with one round of qualifying at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues Saturday with two sessions starting at 2:30 p.m. and the last chance to make the U.S. Nationals will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations begin Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and continue on Monday afternoon.
Capps Still Waiting For 1st Indy Win
Aug.30
INDIANAPOLIS, August 29, 2011 – Ron Capps drives his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car – one of the hottest on the circuit – onto the drag strip of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis this weekend for the 57th-annual U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil looking to improve his position in the driver standings as the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series regular season winds down.
Two final-round appearances, including a win in Sonoma (Calif.), have propelled the Don Schumacher Racing driver into sixth place of the Funny Car rankings, three points out of fifth and 41 out of fourth.
In addition, the California native turned in the third-quickest time in last week’s pre-race testing, 4.087 seconds at 306.74 miles per hour, all of which he believes indicates good things for the race.
“This year I’m approaching Indy with a little more incentive than in the past,” explained Capps, who has been to four semifinals at the “Big Go.” “We have some unfinished business for the regular season and we feel we can move up two spots before the Countdown to the Championship begins (at the season’s next race in Charlotte, N.C.).
“In past years, I’ve gone to Indy with a car I thought could win and at times with one I doubted could qualify; this year I know, thanks to the changes in this NAPA team since Tim Richards came on board as crew chief (Atlanta, 10 races ago), we have a car which can close the deal. But Indy brings out the best in everyone, so it will be a tough battle.
“Our season started when Tim joined the team. We were hanging on in the top 10 by a thread. There are a lot of teams in top five which may have peaked – I’ve been there – with whatever made them so good in the first part of the season not working now. We’re peaking at just the right time as the Countdown (which will include the top-10 drivers after this contest, with points reset, in a six-race playoff) is set to start.”
Winning the U.S. Nationals, drag racing’s premiere event which begins with a 7 p.m. nitro-qualifying session Friday, carries additional significance for Capps, a historian of the sport.
“I don’t want my career as a driver to be complete without an Indy win,” he said. “I’m so jealous of those who have won it. I’ve felt I’ve deserved it at times, which doesn’t mean anything. Indy makes you work at it. All these years, I’ve come close, had a good car. I have won at Indy (in the all-star shoot out); just haven’t brought home a Wally for my mantel.
“And I really think we have a good shot this year. We had a phenomenal test, putting up great numbers in the heat of the day. Tim didn’t go for an ego shot in testing, but wanted to get ready for this race and for the next three or four. As usual, he just made some unbelievable decisions, like the ones which have gotten us this far and should take us even farther as the year goes on.”
AJ In Countdown Looking For Momentum
Aug.30
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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
“I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.”
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
“Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.”
Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals
Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile.
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
• Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals
• Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil
Raceway in 2008
• Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy
• Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the
U.S. Nationals
2011 Season
• Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs
• Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events
• Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown
• No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record
• No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol
• Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta
• Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol
• Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup
champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first
Pro Stock event
• Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports
Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock
car
2010 Season
• Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff
standings
• Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas,
Pomona 2) to end the season
• Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and
third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race
• Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events
• Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career
• Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events
• Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio
• Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in
Topeka
• Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race
• Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge
Avenger
• Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event
2009 Season
• Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer
Nationals in Topeka
• Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
• Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals
• Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching
the semifinals
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season
2008 Season
• Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings
• One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000
reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory
• Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and
Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals
• Racked up 28-24 round win record
2007 Season
• Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1
playoff
• Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver
2006 Season
• Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle
Career
• Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted
playoff format in 2007
• Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
• Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Claimed more than 200 career round wins
• Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of
211.73 mph
• Recorded 23 career final round appearances
• Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event
• Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings
• Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in
standings
• Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger
57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals
The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.
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Mopar-First Features
Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
• Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
• Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
• Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
• 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
• Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network
About the Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.
Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.
More than 70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
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ON THE INTERNET
Visit Chrysler’s Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com. Follow Mopar on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mopar |
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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
“I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.”
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
“Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.”
Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals
Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile.
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
• Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals
• Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil
Raceway in 2008
• Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy
• Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the
U.S. Nationals
2011 Season
• Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs
• Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events
• Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown
• No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record
• No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol
• Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta
• Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol
• Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup
champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first
Pro Stock event
• Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports
Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock
car
2010 Season
• Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff
standings
• Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas,
Pomona 2) to end the season
• Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and
third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race
• Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events
• Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career
• Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events
• Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio
• Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in
Topeka
• Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race
• Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge
Avenger
• Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event
2009 Season
• Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer
Nationals in Topeka
• Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
• Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals
• Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching
the semifinals
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season
2008 Season
• Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings
• One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000
reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory
• Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and
Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals
• Racked up 28-24 round win record
2007 Season
• Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1
playoff
• Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver
2006 Season
• Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle
Career
• Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted
playoff format in 2007
• Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
• Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Claimed more than 200 career round wins
• Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of
211.73 mph
• Recorded 23 career final round appearances
• Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event
• Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings
• Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in
standings
• Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger
57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals
The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.
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|
Mopar-First Features
Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
• Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
• Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
• Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
• 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
• Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network
About the Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.
Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.
More than 70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
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# # #
ON THE INTERNET
Visit Chrysler’s Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com. Follow Mopar on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mopar |
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Click Here To Unsubscribe From Mopar PR email, or reply with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. |
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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
“I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.”
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
“Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.”
Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals
Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile.
Johnson’s Statistics of Note
At Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
• Qualified No. 2 and advanced to the semifinals in 2010 at the Mac Tools U.S.
Nationals
• Seized the No. 1 Qualifier Award and advanced to the quarterfinals at Lucas Oil
Raceway in 2008
• Advanced to the semifinals in 2005 and 2006 at Indy
• Seized the No. 4 qualifying position in 2002 and advanced to the semifinals in the
U.S. Nationals
2011 Season
• Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs
• Sixth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• Posted a 18-14 Round win record through 15 events
• Scored a win in the NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown
• No 1. Qualifier at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• Advanced to the finals of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
• No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record
• No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol
• Reached the semifinals at the Southern Nationals at Atlanta
• Advanced to the semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals at Bristol
• Johnson and his J&J Racing team aided Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup
champion Kurt Busch in qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals in his very first
Pro Stock event
• Broke the 6.50-second barrier in a February test session at Bradenton Motorsports
Park, uncorking a 6.498-second elapsed time, an unofficial record for a Pro Stock
car
2010 Season
• Finished sixth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Pro Stock playoff
standings
• Claimed four consecutive No. 1 Qualifier Awards (Dallas, Reading, Las Vegas,
Pomona 2) to end the season
• Scored a victory at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, his second straight win and
third in four years at his primary sponsor’s race
• Advanced past the first round at 21 of 23 events
• Posted a 37-21 round win record, the most round wins of his career
• Advanced to at least the semifinals in 12 of 23 events
• Advanced to the final round at the NHRA event in Norwalk, Ohio
• Scored his second final-round appearance of the season at the NHRA event in
Topeka
• Claimed his 200th career round win at the NHRA St. Louis race
• Advanced to four straight semifinals to start the season in his new Mopar Dodge
Avenger
• Banked his first final-round appearance of the year at the NHRA Houston event
2009 Season
• Clinched a spot in the 2009 NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Captured wins at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver and NHRA Summer
Nationals in Topeka
• Finished seventh in NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock point standings
• Made three finals appearances, scoring a runner-up finish at NHRA Gatornationals
• Captured seventh career No. 1 Qualifier Award at NHRA event in Seattle, reaching
the semifinals
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted a 30-20 round win record for the season
2008 Season
• Finished seventh in NHRA Pro Stock standings
• One of only 10 drivers to qualify for NHRA Countdown to 1 six-race playoffs
• Won K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event at Norwalk, recording perfect .000
reaction time to defeat Greg Anderson for victory
• Powered to three No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Made eight semifinals appearances
• Posted two straight runner-up finishes at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals and
Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals
• Racked up 28-24 round win record
2007 Season
• Finished career-best fourth in NHRA Pro Stock point standings
• One of only four Pro Stock drivers to qualify for inaugural NHRA Countdown to 1
playoff
• Claimed win at Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver
2006 Season
• Finished sixth in NHRA Pro Stock standings, scoring win at Seattle
Career
• Qualified for Countdown to Championship in all five years since NHRA adopted
playoff format in 2007
• Claimed nine career NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock wins
• Captured 18 career No. 1 Qualifier Awards
• Claimed more than 200 career round wins
• Has a career best elapsed time of 6.538-seconds and a career best speed of
211.73 mph
• Recorded 23 career final round appearances
• Competed in 300th race at 2009 NHRA St. Louis event
• Scored second career win at Atlanta in 2002 and finished eighth in point standings
• Seized first career win in 1999 at Richmond and went on to claim first top 10 finish in
standings
• Made NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1996, driving a Mopar-powered Dodge Avenger
57th Annual Mac Tool U.S. Nationals
The 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is scheduled to take place Aug. 31–Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. Three hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Two additional hours of qualifying coverage will air on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Six hours of eliminations coverage will air on Monday, September 5, beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com.
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Mopar-First Features
Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
• Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
• Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
• Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
• 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
• Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network
About the Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.
Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.
More than 70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
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ON THE INTERNET
Visit Chrysler’s Media Services Web site at http://www.media.chrysler.com for additional Chrysler and Mopar news. For additional information about Mopar, log on to http://www.mopar.com or http://www.moparspeed.com. Follow Mopar on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mopar |
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Auburn Hills, Mich. — One race remains for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, and the Mopar Dodge Avenger driver is seeking to build momentum to carry into the six-race shootout as he chases his first title. Johnson will get his chance at the final regular season event, the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 31–Sept. 5.
Johnson was the No. 2 qualifier last season at the U.S. Nationals, advancing to the semifinals for the fourth time in his career at Indy. He first reached the semis at the 2002 event, with back-to-back appearances in the semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The Team Mopar veteran claimed the top spot in qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in 2008 and has been among the four fastest drivers in qualifying at the event in each of the last four years. The second generation driver has garnered three No. 1 Qualifier awards this season and has lined up in the top half of the field in 14 of 15 starts.
“I always love going to Indy,” said Johnson. “It’s a great race and a landmark event. We aim to do well there every year. We’ve run pretty strong there over the years and have been to the semifinals several times. We need to treat it like the Countdown has already started. We have to be fast right out of the box in our first qualifying run and have the car right.”
Johnson is currently sixth in the Pro Stock standings heading into the U.S. Nationals, with the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicking off in two weeks. The top-10 drivers will have their points reapportioned to reflect their spot in the standings before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin.
“Our goal still is to move up in points,” said the native of Greeneville, Tenn. “That was our goal going into Brainerd as well, and we stubbed our toe there. We want to be in a good position when the Countdown begins and we are going to do some testing before Indy to work on our consistency and fine tune our Mopar Dodge Avenger.”
Johnson to participate in Team Mopar® autograph session at U.S. Nationals
Allen Johnson will participate in a Team Mopar autograph session during the 57th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. The meet-and-greet and autograph session will take place at the Mopar Direct Connection display on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
Joining the Team Mopar veteran will be Mopar-powered NHRA Funny Car stars Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Johnny Gray and Matt Hagan, and Dodge Avenger Pro Stock drivers V. Gaines and Vincent Nobile.
Tasca Riding The Bump Going Into Indy
Aug.30
Aug. 30, 2011 – How does it feel to be 'on the bump'? Exactly like you'd expect it to. Uncomfortable...nerve-wracking...the word 'gut ache' comes to mind.
Fortunately Bob Tasca III's a cool customer, and he’s in the driver’s seat.
Tasca enters the U.S Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway 10th in the NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car point standings. He's in the playoffs with one race to go before the Countdown to the Championship cut, when the Top 10 drivers who will be eligible to win the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series titles in all four professional categories are determined and point standings are reset for the playoffs. Once that cut is made, drivers from the 11th spot down become spoilers for those still in contention for the title.
Enter drag racing’s biggest stage – the “Big Go,” where the focus for Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will be on staying above the cut, with Don Schumacher Racing's Johnny Gray is just 62 points behind in 11th.
“We’re going into Indy in the driver’s seat,” Tasca said. “We’re not necessarily happy we’re going in 10th, but we are certainly in the driver’s seat. (DSR and Johnny Gray) are not going to Indy to lose it, that’s for sure. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. If it plays out the way it should play out, we’ll roll into (the next race) in Charlotte and be a championship contender. We’re looking to move up, certainly not move down.”
So far, the 2011 season has yielded a little bit of everything for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team – a mixed bag of good and bad that always leaves an aftertaste of frustration. Knowing the team is striding in the right direction has been key for the Tasca, Crew Chief Chris Cunningham and Co-Crew Chief Marc Denner.
They continued up the learning curve during the annual testing session at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis last week. They didn’t uncover anything to worry about for Indianapolis, Tasca said, but “we definitely found some things that will pay dividends down the road.”
The atmosphere at the U.S. Nationals, once experienced, is something you can never forget, whether attending as a driver or a fan. Once you’re through the gates, there’s no turning back.
“I think for me, it’s just landing at the airport in Indianapolis (that makes it real),” Tasca said. “That’s when Indy starts for me. At the end of the day, it’s not a race that we try any harder to win because I don’t think there’s such a thing. We go to every race to try to win. But it’s a race you want to do well at. At the end of the day, you have to go out there and do what you do.”
Napa Auto Pros Step up For Hinbest Racing
Aug.30
 ORANGEVILLE, ONTARIO (August 30, 2011) – During the IHRA National event at the Grand Bend Motorplex recently, Katie Ward, driver of Hinbest Racing’s Quick 32 Sportsman Series top dragster, was on her way to winning the Top ET class when her car suffered catastrophic engine failure followed by a major nitrous explosion.“We suffered a blow, that’s for sure, however we don’t believe in giving up.” Katie said after the incident. “We were out for the season, with no money to rebuild and be competitive.”
“But with the can-do attitude of our team, we went out and built a marketing package for the local NAPA Auto Pro facilities. They all came on board to support our team and were pleased to help us continue racing in 2011.”
Our new team sponsors are:
Erskine’s Service Centre – NAPA Auto Pro – Orangeville, ON
Bernard’s Quality Cars – NAPA Auto Pro – Flesherton, ON
Auto Centre – NAPA Auto Pro – Shelburne, ON
Amaranth Auto – NAPA Auto Pro, Amaranth, ON
We also received support to rebuild from Ideal Supply, and the Canadian Automotive Institute. These two companies are the best in their field and continually support the community.
 “Our team is extremely grateful to know people who are there for their community when they need it most,” said Michael Hinbest, diver of the other team car. “Katie is our new star driver and has not lost a round in the last two events that she has attended.”At the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts, Katie, with her new race engine, was able to win rounds and is now in the finals for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Non-Qualifiers Race.
The upcoming round in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series over the Labour Day weekend at Grand Bend will be held in conjunction with their companion series, the Pro Modified Racing Association, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series. This will be the finish of the postponed fourth event, and then the fifth event in the 2011 six-race series.
Hinbest Racing is comprised of two teams, Mike Hinbest, driver of their NAPA Auto Parts supercharged top dragster is currently in eighth place and in championship contention. The team is expecting a strong showing at this event, and want to prove they are here and ready to win. “We have done more maintenance and upgraded a few items to ensure our success,” he noted. “The Tire Discounter Group has also supported the team in their need for racing slicks and they are known for the supply of quality tires for all automotive needs,” he added.
 The Hinbest Racing Foundation is doing its part as well, as the team has risen over $1000 and this number continues to grow. This year the team is supporting the Headwaters Hospital paediatrics ward. “We’re excited to be involved in charity work,” said Hinbest. “The racing community is supported by so many local communities and companies, and it is important for us to return the favour to those that have helped us.”
Medlen Tournament to Also Benefit Fair Victims
Aug.30
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 30) – Thursday's third annual Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Club will now partially benefit the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund, organizer Morgan Lucas announced Tuesday.
"We've decided to take a portion of the proceeds and put it towards the families that were devastated by the horrible tragedy at the Indiana State Fair," Lucas said. "My girlfriend Katie and I were at that concert and barely missed being injured by a huge speaker stack that fell right where we were standing. We saw the damage that happened and it was a big shock.
"Our main charity, the St. Vincent Foundation and the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, will remain the primary beneficiaries but we did want to do what we can to help the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund. It's something that has touched everyone in Indiana."
Lucas points out that there are still a few spots available in the tournament, a four-person scramble that has drawn stars from the NHRA, NASCAR, and NFL in the past. Individual tournament entries are $125 per golfer; players of all skill levels are welcome.
Activities at the tournament will include a ball drop, 50/50 raffle, hole-in-one prize, silent auction, and closest-to-the-pin and long-drive contests. The event begins at 10 a.m., Thursday. A cocktail hour, awards, and a live auction will follow the day's golfing
For more information or to sign up for the tournament, contact Kristene Hayden, 317-858-1333; e-mail, Kristene@morganlucasracing.com.
Morgan Just 32 Points Out Of P/S Top 10
Aug.30
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) – Lucas Oil Ford Mustang driver Larry Morgan understands the importance of the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at Lucas Oil Raceway.
But this year, the "Big Go" carries more significance for the veteran Pro Stock driver.
Morgan is 32 points out of the top 10, and Indy is the final race before the 10-driver Countdown to the Championship begins. Morgan knows this is his final chance to reach the NHRA's version of the playoffs – all the while driving for drag racing's biggest trophy.
"It is bigger to me, for sure," Morgan said. "I want to get in the Countdown for all the people involved, my sponsors, the people who work day and night on this stuff. I hope we can do it."
Morgan has raced well at Indy in the past and he said he "hopes it's my time again."
"It's just a huge deal," Morgan said. "I've won that thing twice and have been runner-up three or four times. It's a race that's been awfully good to me, so I can't wait to get there. Plus, it's like the Daytona 500 for us. It's that big."
Morgan could at least use a repeat of his performance in Norwalk, Ohio, in June, when he reached the finals, or from Denver in July, when he raced to the semi-finals.To that end, the veteran racer tested his Lucas Oil Mustang in Martin, Mich., last week, and plans to test three more days this week in preparation for the U.S. Nationals.
"I won't be wore out," Morgan said. "I can handle it."
Pro Stock qualifying begins at 4 p.m. Friday.
LE Tonglet Aiming For 2 In A Row
Aug.30
INDIANAPOLIS – Much has happened since LE Tonglet, his dad Gary and brother GT astounded the tough Pro Stock Motorcycle field by winning the 2010 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals and then went on a six-race tear that catapulted the rookie rider, Team Tonglet and Nitro Fish to an improbable series championship.
He won four times and was runner-up once to own the Countdown to 1 and the many accolades that followed.
So, there’s no chance anything LE does during the 2011 edition of the sport’s oldest, most prestigious event will come as a surprise when it begins its four-day run Friday at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. He comes into the final regular-season event on a hot streak and now is third in Full Throttle points (683), one behind Karen Stoffer and 52 behind pace-setting Eddie Krawiec in the quest for the No. 1 seed in the Countdown to 1 that begins Sept. 18 at Charlotte.
Tonglet drove the Nitro Fish Suzuki GSXR to victory at the tour’s last two stops at Sonoma, Calif. and
Brainerd, Minn. He also rebounded from not qualifying at Norwalk, Ohio by winning three of the last four events. He is now 4-0 in final rounds this season, including his earlier title at Atlanta, and 9-2 overall.
“We seem to be getting our act together and winning rounds,” LE said. “We’ve had a lot of bad luck, motor problems and wrong tuning calls on our part. Now we are trying to get back to our old routine.
“The U.S. Nationals means a lot because that’s where we turned around our season last year and then Nitro Fish owner Kenny Koretsky came on board with the sponsorship we needed. Indy is the biggest race of the year . . . it’s the Super Bowl of drag racing, and it is fun to be part of it.”
“I’m proud of the way LE, his dad and brother have worked their way out of the bad times,” said Koretsky. “They are running well, and it comes at a good time. We hope to make it two straight wins at Indy.”
Tonglet, meanwhile, isn’t eager to claim the No. 1 playoff position.
“I heard that in the Countdown, no one from the top spot has won the championship,” he pointed out, “so it might be a jinx. We just want to stay in the top three.”
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