PRITCHETT SETS NATIONAL RECORD, FORCE SETS TRACKS RECORDS.

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Leah Pritchett set the Top Fuel elapsed-time national record with her second session pass during the 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on Friday.

Courtney Force (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the second of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Pritchett’s 3.658-second pass at 329.34 mph in her Papa John’s Pizza dragster during the second round of qualifying puts her at the top of the field heading into the final two session of qualifying on Saturday.

“To be behind the wheel of this machine that is constantly putting out time and time again fast numbers and quick numbers is, to be honest, a little bit difficult to comprehend,” said Pritchett who is coming off a win at the season opening event in Pomona, Calif. “It’s everything that dreams are made of. It’s almost too good to be true, but it’s not. Seeing the extra attention to detail that I’ve never seen before and, I’ve been around a lot of crews in my life, it’s paying off on the track so well and so much.”

Don Schumacher Racing teammates Tony Schumacher in his U.S. Army dragster is second with a 3.667 pass at 323.89, the third quickest run in NHRA history, and reigning world champ Antron Brown in his Matco Tools dragster, are in third after a 3.689 pass at 326.56. Rookie Troy Coughlin Jr. is in fourth after running a career best 3.696 in the SealMaster dragster.

Courtney Force set both ends of the Funny Car track record with her 3.838 pass at 332.67 in her Advanced Auto Chevy Camaro during the first session.

“It’s always that first run of the weekend that you’re always the most nervous about,” Force said. “To be able to lay down a number like that for a track record and having (Matt) Hagan right out my window, I knew it was going to be a great pass. We ran killer numbers here during testing, that’s going to be our goal to be able to do it here again this weekend.”

Hagan is in the second position with a 3.839 at 329.67 in his Sandvik Coromant Dodge Charger R/T and Tim Wilkerson, who won the event last year, is in third with a 3.852 run at 329.42 in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang.

Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Leah Pritchett, 3.658 seconds, 329.91 mph; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.667, 323.89; 3. Antron Brown, 3.689, 326.56; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., 3.696, 326.48; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.709, 322.88; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.751, 326.48; 7. Clay Millican, 3.751, 316.30; 8. Troy Buff, 3.764, 321.96; 9. Terry McMillen, 3.768, 322.11; 10. Scott Palmer, 3.971, 278.29; 11. Steven Chrisman, 4.771, 162.96; 12. Steve Faria, 5.295, 129.06; 13. Brittany Force, 6.377, 93.04; 14. Shawn Reed, 9.362, 78.92.

Funny Car -- 1. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.838, 332.67; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.839, 330.31; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.852, 329.42; 4. Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.873, 329.18; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.877, 327.43; 6. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 3.896, 328.22; 7. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.897, 325.45; 8. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.904, 328.22; 9. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.920, 325.14; 10. Gary Densham, Mustang, 3.938, 320.36; 11. John Force, Camaro, 3.941, 313.15; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 4.035, 256.70; 13. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.226, 215.82; 14. Jeff Arend, Chevrolet Impala, 4.479, 202.91; 15. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.950, 167.57; 16. Phil Burkart, Charger, 10.652, 90.12.

Pro Stock -- 1. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.509, 212.19; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.522, 211.73; 3. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.538, 211.79; 4. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.540, 211.43; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.542, 211.23; 6. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.557, 210.77; 7. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.558, 211.59; 8. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.561, 211.73; 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.563, 210.70; 10. Deric Kramer, Dodge Dart, 6.581, 209.88; 11. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.583, 209.62; 12. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.584, 210.21; 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.600, 209.56; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.614, 209.04; 15. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.615, 210.08; 16. Val Smeland, Camaro, 21.361, 69.45.

(Story and Stats Courtesy NHRA Communications Dept). 

 John Force TF/FC   Photo by: Dicken Wear

 Ron Capps TF/FC   Crew Person Caden Capps.  Photo by: Dicken Wear

 Robert Hight TF/FC   Photo by: Dicken Wear

Del Worsham TF/FC   Photo by: Dicken Wear

Leah Pritchett TF/D  Photo by: Dicken Wear

 Leah Pritchett TF/D   Photo by: Dicken Wear

Courtney Force TF/FC   Photo by: Dicken Wear

Courtney Force TF/FC   Photo by: Dicken Wear

Leah Pritchett and Papa Johns win the 2017 NHRA Winternationals.

(All Photos by: Dicken Wear)

POMONA, Calif. – Leah Pritchett, a Redlands, Calif. native, earned the second Top Fuel victory of her career at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, her home track.

“This definitely is taking delivery from the momentum from last year,” Pritchett said. “What just happen is the best thing that has ever happened for me professionally in my career. In my opinion, right now, we have the perfect group of people, partners, sponsors, a car that is reacting. This thing is ‘A+’, Grade A, perfect kid in school type of situation and we’re taking advantage of it right now.”

Pritchett defeated Steve Torrence and eight-time champion Tony Schumacher en route to the finals. Kalitta, who was in his third consecutive final at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, bettered Terry McMillen and three-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown.

Leah Prichett’s sponsor, “Papa Johns” was named the Official Pizza of the NHRA on Wed. 

POMONA, Calif. Sunday 2-12-17: Final finish order (1-16) at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.  The race is the first of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1.  Leah Pritchett; 2.  Doug Kalitta; 3.  Antron Brown; 4.  Tony Schumacher; 5.  Troy Coughlin Jr.; 6.  Steve Torrence; 7.  Terry McMillen; 8.  Brittany Force; 9.  Shawn Reed; 10.  Scott Palmer; 11.  Clay Millican; 12.  Steve Faria; 13.  Terry Haddock; 14.  Troy Buff; 15.  Steven Chrisman.

FUNNY CAR:

1.  Matt Hagan; 2.  Courtney Force; 3.  John Force; 4.  Ron Capps; 5.  Jack Beckman; 6.  J.R. Todd; 7.  Tommy Johnson Jr.; 8.  Del Worsham; 9.  Alexis DeJoria; 10.  Robert Hight; 11.  Tim Wilkerson; 12.  Bob Bode; 13.  Phil Burkart; 14.  Jeff Diehl; 15.  Cruz Pedregon; 16.  Jim Campbell.

PRO STOCK:

 Jason Line; 2.  Greg Anderson; 3.  Bo Butner; 4.  Erica Enders; 5.  Shane Gray; 6.  Jeg Coughlin; 7.  Tanner Gray; 8.  Vincent Nobile; 9.  Drew Skillman; 10.  Chris McGaha; 11.  Matt Hartford; 12.  Alan Prusiensky; 13.  Kenny Delco; 14.  Deric Kramer; 15.  Allen Johnson; 16.  Val Smeland.

Sunday's final results from the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Leah Pritchett, 3.711 seconds, 324.98 mph  def. Doug Kalitta, 7.630 seconds, 103.85 mph.

Funny Car -- Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.875, 330.07  def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.901, 326.95.

Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 211.10  def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.579, 211.56.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Joey Severance, 5.214, 275.51  def. Garrett Bateman, 5.486, 263.10.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.652, 127.19  def. Jonnie Lindberg, Camaro, Foul - Red Light.

Competition Eliminator -- Doug Lambeck, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.351, 156.97  def. Clint Neff, Bantam Roadster, 7.655, 156.48.

Super Stock -- Justin Lamb, Chevy Cobalt, 8.638, 153.23  def. Timothy Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.375, 120.43.

Stock Eliminator -- Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.170, 119.87  def. Justin Jerome, Plymouth Duster, 10.985, 119.38.

Super Comp -- Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.903, 185.38  def. Dave Alves, Dragster, 8.891, 184.77.

Super Gas -- Ed Olpin, Chevy Corvette, 9.886, 168.98  def. Robert Naber, Corvette, 9.882, 163.06.

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com -- Mike Coughlin, Dragster, 6.093, 212.73  def. Andy Spiegel, Dragster, 6.662, 199.85.

Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com -- Ed Olpin, Chevy Camaro, 6.978, 198.26  def. Jeff Gillette, Pontiac GTO, 6.939, 193.24.

Top Fuel Harley -- Jay Turner, Dixie, 6.276, 218.23  def. Rickey House, VTS, Foul - Red Light.

(Story and Results courtesy the NHRA).

Force and Pritchett Dominate Nitro Spring Training

COURTNEY FORCE AND LEAH PRITCHETT DOMINATE NITRO SPRING TRAINING

CHANDLER, Ariz. --- Nitro Spring Training came to an end Saturday at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. where NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel teams put all their off-season hard work to the test one week before the start of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Leah Pritchett had the unofficial quickest run in NHRA history in her Papa John’s Pizza Top Fuel dragster Saturday morning. Pritchett and her crew put down a 3.654-second pass at 331.85 mph during their first try of the day after they ran the two quickest passes Friday with a 3.677 and a 3.685.

“I have to be totally honest, we didn’t come out here to be the quickest,” said Pritchett, who won her first Top Fuel event at Wild Horse Pass in 2016. “That wasn’t the goal. The goal was to get the power that we created in the offseason to the track. We exceeded our expectations yesterday and today we did the same. For it to blast off at .65 on a warmer day today, man I’m stoked for (my team), that’s a lot of hard work and they just put it on the track.”

With a track temp of 104 degrees on Saturday afternoon, Pritchett ran a 3.697 at 327.51 to give her ownership to four of the top five times of the weekend. 

Steve Torrence, who holds the Top Fuel ET national record at 3.671, had the second quickest machine when he ran a 3.691 on Friday. Brittany Force, pilot of the Monster Energy dragster for John Force Racing, had the third quickest with a 3.695 narrowly out running  Doug Kalitta, who finished second in the points standings in 2016, and his Mac Tools dragster with a 3.697 on Saturday. Defending world champion Antron Brown was fifth with his 3.701 run from Thursday in his Matco Tools dragster.

Rookie Troy Coughlin Jr., who will be racing a full season for Kalitta Motorsports, closed out testing with his best run of the weekend posting a 3.763 at 317.42 in his SealMaster Top Fuel dragster.

Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro SS ran the weekend’s quickest time for the Funny Car class. Her 3.804 at 333.33 from Friday is unofficially the quickest run in Funny Car history. She was also quickest Friday with a 3.841 and then a 3.847.

“It was a pretty unbelievable run,” Force said. “It’s all thanks to (my crew); I’m just the one piloting the car down to the other end. But it was really exciting hearing them come on the radio and be so excited about it. I feel like I had my hands full on multiple runs, but it’s really great being able to make so many great passes just in testing – the 3.84s and then the 3.80 unofficially. It’s a great feeling. I’m proud of my guys; it’s all because of them.”

Defending Funny Car world champion Ron Capps’ NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T was the second quickest Funny Car with a 3.854 pass on Friday. Force’s father and 16-time world champion John Force had a 3.856 in his PEAK Chevy Camaro SS to take the third spot from teammate Robert Hight who ran a 3.859 Friday in his Auto Club Chevy Camaro SS.

J.R. Todd, who is making the transition from Top Fuel to Funny Car racing the DHL Toyota Camry for Kalitta, made a 3.909 pass at 312.93 for his best run at testing on Friday and Del Worsham, now racing for his family team, Worsham Racing, tested Friday and made a 4.060 pass at 283.01.

The 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing season gets underway February 9-12 with the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, Calif. Qualifying will be televised on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and live on FS1 Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Finals will be live on FOX Sports at 4 p.m. ET.

***

	Press release courtesy  the NHRA Communications Dept. Troy Coughlin, Jr.: Photo by Dicken Wear John Force: Photo by Dicken Wear John Force: Photo by Dicken Wear Jack Beckman: Photo by Dicken Wear Ron Capps  and Rahn Tobler: Photo by Dicken Wear Ron Capps: Photo by Dicken Wear Robert Hight's Auto Club Crew: Photo by Dicken Wear Robert Hight: Photo by Dicken Wear