Team Mopar Driver Johnson Looks to End Season in Victory Lane at Pomona

View it in your browser. Nov. 07, 2011 Team Mopar Driver Johnson Looks to End Season in Victory Lane at Pomona Auburn Hills, Mich. — Mopar® Dodge Avenger NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson would like nothing more than to finish 2011 with a win. Following final round appearances in each of the past two events, the Team Mopar veteran will wrap up the season at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. in the 47th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 10–13. Johnson enters the season finale fifth in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, after five of the six rounds, just six points out of the fourth position and well within striking distance of third. Johnson recorded the 250th round-win of his career in the previous event at Las Vegas en route to reaching the final. “Our goal all season has been to get in the top three in points and we are getting closer,” said Johnson. “We have to have a really good race at Pomona to do it. We have some momentum right now and we have to keep that up and hopefully get to that final round.” Johnson, who has reached the semifinals twice in his career at Pomona, was the No. 3 qualifier at the track in the spring. The native of Greeneville, Tenn. has been among the top-five in qualifying in each of his past five starts at the venue including No. 1 last fall, and has been one of the most consistent drivers this season on the clock, with starts among the top half of the field in 19 of 21 races. “Pomona has been good to me in the past,” stated Johnson. “We have a lot of experience there and that always helps. We have a veteran team and I am very happy with how hard everyone is working right now and how things are going.” Johnson has been one of the fastest drivers down the stretch, as evidenced by his two consecutive final-round appearances. Following the first race of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, the second generation driver and his J&J Racing team switched to a new Mopar Dodge Avenger, with a special Mopar Express Lane paint scheme. They also welcomed Jim Yates to the team before the fourth round of the Countdown, to help fine tune the new car. The addition paid dividends right off the bat as Johnson reached the final at Phoenix and then followed it up with another trip to the final round at Las Vegas, to bring his tally to four final round appearances this season. “We’re very close to where we want the new car to be,” noted Johnson. “We are working hard at it and I think we are close to being at the top of the charts. We seem to keep getting better each run we make with the new car.” Johnson’s Statistics of Note 2011 Season Clinched a spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs Fifth overall in the NHRA Pro Stock point standings Posted a 26-20 Round-win record through 21 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 Reached the final-round of the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix No. 1 Qualifier at Sonoma, setting a track record No. 1 Qualifier at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Advanced to the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals 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 even 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 Advanced to the finals of the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas 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 inTopeka 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 250 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  47th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals The 47th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals is scheduled to take place Nov. 10–Nov. 13 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. Two hours of qualifying coverage will air on Saturday, Nov. 12 beginning at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Three hours of eliminations coverage will air on Sunday, Nov. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. For more information on the NHRA, log on to http://www.nhra.com. 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 Truck 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.

HIGHT SCHEDULED FOR FULL THROTTLE APPEARANCES BEFORE POMONA

Countdown to the Championship contender to appear on behalf of NHRA title sponsor

ATLANTA (November 7, 2011)— Before the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series reaches its championship conclusion during the season-ending Automobile Club of ­Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona this weekend, title sponsor Full Throttle Energy Drink is giving fans a couple of opportunities to discuss the title quest with Robert Hight, one of the Funny Car title contenders.  

Hight, who drives the Auto Club Ford Mustang for John Force Racing, will sign autographs and greet fans from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, at the Bass Pro Shops located at 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane in Rancho Cucamonga. Hight is among the top-five contenders in the hotly contested Funny Car class.

“I can't wait to get to the Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga this Thursday. This is my Bass Pro Shops, so being able to represent Full Throttle Energy Drink and the NHRA is pretty cool,” said Hight, who hails from nearby Anaheim Hills.

“The season is winding down and we are right in the middle of the championship Countdown, so I want to get as many fans as possible out to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona this weekend. We will already have one round of qualifying in the books, so there will be lots to talk about.  I am looking forward to spending the evening with the fans.”

Following Hight’s appearance, a Matco Tools toolbox, valued at approximately $500, will be given away to one lucky fan during a drawing at 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to register for the drawing upon arrival at Bass Pro Shops and must be present to win. 

Mike Knowles/Brad Personett Vegas Previw

Knowles and Personett Take in the Vegas Nightlife at the Monte Carlo Prior to Big O Tire Nationals

Courtesy of: Knowles Racing

Photo By: Knowles Racing

For Immediate Release

October 27, 2011

Grand Junction, CO –Mike Knowles and his teammate, Brad Personett, had both their NHRA Pro Modifieds on display at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Resort. Knowles once again displayed his Pro Mod at the hotel and resort prior to the NHRA event. Knowles' association with the Vegas landmark is continuing into tit's fourth year. New for this event were the addition of teammate Brad Personett and his turbocharged Pro Mod.

 "Our association with the Monte Carlo continues to grow each time we race in Vegas. Their business and the theme of my "Blown Money" team are a perfect match," said Knowles.

The Monte Carlo also hosts the modern dance/hip hop crew, Jabbawockeez. Tune in to MÜS.I.C., an audiovisual story of inspiration brought to life through the harmonization of sound and movement with acclaimed dance crew Jabbawockeez. Dressed in expressionless white masks and white gloves, these one-of-a-kind dancers guide your attention to visualize the music through their intricate moves, leaving audiences in awe.

Knowles and Personett will have three shots at cracking the tough 16 car NHRA Pro Modified field. Their first effort will be on Friday, October 28th at 11:45 A.M and a second Friday evening at 5:00 P.M. Pro Modified competitors will receive one final chance on to make the cut on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. before the first round of eliminations later the same day at 3:30 P.M.

 The remainder of eliminations will be contested on Sunday along with the other NHRA Pro classes

Mike Knowles' Blown Money Racing would like to thank their sponsors:

GRP  http://www.grpconrods.com/

WINBERG CRANKSHAFTS http://www.winbergcrankshafts.com/

Mike Janis Vegas Preview

Eaton Aeroquip Pro Mod Team Looking to Vegas for Strong Finish

Courtesy of: Mike Janis Racing Inc.

Photos By:  Photos By: Allen Dobbs RadPhotography.Smugmug.com

For Immediate Release

October 27, 2011

Elma, NY– The 11^th annual NHRA Big O Tire Nationals marks the final race of the 2011 NHRA Pro Mod season; with veteran Mike Janis still looking for his first NHRA Pro Mod win the New York based team is sure to go for broke.

 "We ran the ADRL Dallas event last weekend and the car was running very well. I think if the conditions favor us we have a decent shot as long as we can stay away from the turbo cars. No one really has a chance against them, but it sure would be nice to head back to Buffalo for the long winter with a Wally in tow," said Janis.

 Janis is refereeing to the late season dominance shown by cars using Turbochargers as the power adder. Turbocharged vehicles have won the last two events and set the national top speed record.

 "All we can do is run our race and hope for the best," said co-crew chief Kevin Peters. "We know that we have a great car and a really good driver. Mike's reaction times have been great all year. We need that for us to have a chance against the tough group in Vegas. I can guarantee that we'll hold nothing back this weekend."

 Mike Janis and his Eaton Aeroquip crew will have three shots at cracking the tough 16 car NHRA Pro Modified field. Their first effort will be on Friday, October 28th at 11:45 A.M and a second Friday evening at 5:00 P.M. Pro Modified competitors will receive one final chance on to make the cut on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. before the first round of eliminations later the same day at 3:30 P.M.

 The remainder of eliminations will be contested on Sunday along with the other NHRA Pro classes

 Parties Interested in becoming marketing partners with Mike Janis Racing can contact the team at mikejanisracing@gmail.com

 Mike Janis is proudly sponsored by:

Aeroquip Performance Products www.eaton.com/aeroquipperformance

Eaton www.eaton.com

Jan-Cen Automotive www.jancen.com

Safety-Kleen www.safety-kleen.com

VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com

Competition Designs http://www.competitiondesigns.com

LAT Racing Oil www.lubeatech.com

NGK Spark Plugs www.ngk.com

Probell Racing www.probellracing.com

Goodyear Racing www.racegoodyear.com

BDR Torque Converters  www.bdrtorqueconverters.com

Motorsports Unlimited www.motorsportsraceparts.com

Baileigh Industrial www.bii1.com

FireCore50 Plug Wires www.firecore50.com

MAHLE Clevite Inc. www.mahleclevite.com

R & R Racing Products www.rrconnetingrods.com

Weber's Mustard www.webersmustard.com

B&J Transmissions www.bandjtransmission.com

Dan Page Race Cars www.danpageracecars.com

GZ Motorsports www.gzmotorsports.com/

KP Fabrication and Design

Precision Graphics

Line to Line Coatings

--
Rob Kozak
Mike Janis Racing

Al-Anabi Racing Goes Pink for this weekend's Las Vegas NHRA Event

Photo Caption:  Larry Dixon’s Top Fuel dragster in the Al-Anabi pit area at Las Vegas Motor Speedway being prepared for this weekend’s NHRA Big O Tires Nationals with the special pink paint scheme Dixon and teammate Del Worsham’s cars will sport this weekend promoting international breast cancer awareness. 

Photo Courtesy:  Richard Shute

                      

For immediate release.           

AL-ANABI RACING PROMOTES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WITH SPECIAL LAS VEGAS PAINT SCHEME

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - - The Al-Anabi Racing Team will help promote international awareness for breast cancer with a special “pink out” paint scheme this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was announced today.  The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the 11^th Annual NHRA Big O Tires Nationals.

With National Breast Cancer Awareness Month ending on Monday, the Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragsters driven by 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon and his teammate, Del Worsham, will sport a special pink paint scheme with pink spill plates and the familiar pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness.  Spill plates are the end caps on both the front and rear wings.  In addition, the Al-Anabi Racing autograph handout cards will be pink this weekend.  

The Al-Anabi team efforts are in addition to those of Las Vegas Motor Speedway where the starting-line area received a coat of bright pink paint for the event.  All drivers and riders participating in the NHRA Big O Tires Nationals will be invited to affix a pink ribbon breast cancer awareness decal to their helmets and well as their cars and motorcycles.  Volunteers will sell pink ribbons to the fans, who are invited to write the names of a person they know is affected by breast cancer. The ribbons will be prominently displayed at the track and all proceeds will be donated to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

The American Cancer Society website says that more than 230,480 invasive cases of breast cancer, more than 57,650 cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS, a non-invasive and the earliest form of breast cancer), and about 39,520 deaths in women will occur from breast cancer in the United States in 2011.  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer.

The disease hits close to home with the Al-Anabi team and team manager Alan Johnson. His sister, Pam, was treated for breast cancer in 2007 and is currently fighting a recurrence of the disease.  Pam will attend this weekend’s NHRA Big O Tires Nationals in Las Vegas to take part in the breast cancer awareness activities. 

 “As a survivor continuing my journey with the disease, I have personally benefited from important medical advances that helped locate my cancer at an early stage and then treat my cancer, giving me hope and courage to fight,” Pam Johnson said.  “But in 2007 it was my attention to “awareness” that helped me to find a lump, and my journey as a breast cancer survivor began.  Bringing awareness to the benefits of early detection and treatment of breast cancer makes a difference;  it did for me, and my message to women has been to not let fear of finding a lump keep them from the commitment to self exams and diagnostic testing.  

“The focused attention to breast cancer awareness in this country and internationally has also played a critical role in support of funding new research that will continue to improve diagnosis and treatment, get closer to a cure and ultimately prevent breast cancer.”

 “The thing I promote most is early detection and diagnosis gives people a better chance to fight the disease,” Pam Johnson said. “Women and men are taught how to find a lump in their bodies, not be afraid and get treatment.  The more awareness there is the better chance people have of surviving, but the ultimate goal is the cure or finding a way to prevent the disease.”

According to Qscience.com, a member of the Qatar Foundation, Breast cancer is a major global public health problem. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women worldwide.  In Arabic countries breast cancer has become the most common cancer among women. 

Breast Cancer is a public health threat in the Nation of Qatar; it is the most common cancer and the incidence rate is increasing. It has been found that women often present with breast cancer at advanced stages in Qatar.  Early detection of breast cancer is an important prognostic fact, and breast cancer screening has been found successful in decreasing mortality rates. The percentage of women in Qatar engaging in screening activities is alarmingly low.

Think Pink Qatar is working to raise awareness among Qatari women.  Its mission and vision are to raise the awareness of Breast Cancer to all residents of Qatar and to use that awareness to aid in the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.  Think Pink Qatar also strives to provide resources and support to women throughout Qatar by connecting them with essential resources that will lead to proper medical treatment, support and humanitarian services that will ensure each woman is treated with the utmost respect and dignity regardless of race, creed, nationality or position.

“Breast Cancer affects people in Qatar, the United States and all over the world,” Al-Anabi Racing team manager Alan Johnson said. “We have a race team that competes in the United States but enjoys international support so we have a perfect vehicle to increase international breast cancer awareness and urge people to get tested early.   We hope we can help people realize that this disease is treatable, especially if it’s caught early and that one day, there could be ways to prevent it.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than one in eight. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about one in 36. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. For additional information, please visit the American Cancer Society’s website, http://www.cancer.org/.

Al-Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar.  In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation is a two-car NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series team fielding entries in Top Fuel competition that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing.  At the forefront of this team is His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani’s goal to promote the domestic and international awareness of Motorsports in the nation of Qatar.  Alan Johnson is an eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Championship crew chief.  For additional information on the Al-Anabi Racing Team, Alan Johnson or drivers Larry Dixon and Del Worsham, please visit http://www.alanabiracing.com/ to view their bios. 

 

 

TEAM CASTROL/NEFF AND FORCE PRE-RACE PACKAGE FOR VEGAS #2

TEAM CASTROL/JFRJOHN FORCE/MIKE NEFFPre-Race Package for the 11th annual Big O Tires Nationals
Oct. 28-30, 2011
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev.Fifth race in the Countdown to 1 playoffs for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Championship

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follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing

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2011 Season at-a-glance:

                          Mike Neff                      Robert Hight                    John Force Event                  Castrol GTX Ford               Auto Club Ford                      Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford

                          Q/F/Pos/Performance        Q/F/Pos/Performance             Q/F/Pos/Performance

Pomona 1           3rd/3/3rd/4.060-312.42       4th/W/1st /4.056-313.00          5th /6/6th/4.093-310.48
Gainesville          3rd/W/1st/4.059-312.71      10th/8/3rd/4.079-312.57          7th /9/9th/4.119-310.48
Las Vegas 1       4th/9/3rd/4.153-306.46        3rd/W/1st/4.149-309.56          1st/5/9th/4.139-309.27
Charlotte 1          4th/7/2nd/4.072/308.75       2nd/6/1st/4.062/313.07           1st/5/7th/4.056-315.19Houston              4th/2/1st/4.122-310.34       12th/13/2nd/4.216-305.08        1st/5/7th/4.097-310.37
Atlanta                6th/2/1st/4.091-306.19       13th/13/3rd/4.172-302.62        1st /5/7th/4.072-310.98
Topeka               4th/2/1st/4.070-310.98        3rd /W/3rd/4.067/312.21         9th/10/7th/4.095-310.21
Englishtown        7th/W/1st/4.067-314.09      2nd/9/3rd/4.090-310.34           5th/10/6th/4.107-309.49
Bristol                3rd/6/1st/4.082-314.53        6th/W/3rd/4.047-316.45          8th/11/8th/4.090-311.63
Norwalk              5th/W/1st/4.110/309.06      1st/5/3rd/4.065-306.53            3rd/3/7th/4.097-307.51
Chicago              1st/W/1st/4.110-304.19      13th/14/3rd/4.287-289.94        6th/10/8th/4.158-295.14
Denver                4th/6/1st/4.204-302.21       2nd/3/2nd/4.172-300.93           5th/W/7th/4.207/297.68
Sonoma              9th/12/1st/4.135-305.49     2nd/5/2nd/4.084-300.49           1st/3/7th/4.060/311.99Seattle                5th/9/1st/4.134-307.58       4th/3/2nd/4.125-307.37           2nd/5/7th/4.115-308.85
Brainerd              12th/8/1st/4.195-292.20     5th/9/2nd/4.152-305.77            15th/15/7th/4.409-255.10
Indianapolis         9th/W/1st/4.060-314.61      8th/11/3rd/4.098-312.06          7th/10/7th/4.097-313.15

Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Charlotte 2          2nd/2/1st/4.038-314.17       8th/11/5th/4.060-314.90          11th/12/8th/4.098-312.86
Dallas                 5th/10/1st/4.151-305.70      4th/9/6th/4.154-304.32           8th/11/8th/4.173-301.40
Reading              8th/6/2nd/4.066-316.45       11th/W/4th/4.041-317.42        2nd/9/9th/4.011-319.22Phoenix              4th/10/2nd/4.251-287.23     13th/8/5th/4.361-292.71          12th/14/9th/4.352-283.31

Q – Qualifying position
F – Finishing position (W, winner; 2, runner-up; 3-4, semifinal loser [position to highest qualifier]; 5-8, second round loser; 9-16, first round loser).
Pos – Position in Full Throttle points at end of the event
Performance – Best individual elapsed time and speed of the event (underlined indicates best overall)

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This Week On 'Nitro Rewind'

Bob Tasca III discusses his season in the Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford plus Johnny Gray on being the spoiler in his Service Central Dodge, Antron Brown on the Full Throttle Championship and Phoenix race winner Jack Beckman.  Host: Bill Stephens for John Force Entertainment.  Visit http://www.youtube.com/ and search: Nitro Rewind.

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Mike Neff Countdown to..... 6 wins in a season

Only six Funny Car drivers have won as many as six races in a single season.  If he can win one of the two remaining races in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, Mike Neff would become the seventh, joining boss and teammate John Force, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon and Bruce Larson, all current or former series champions.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEforce's gamble still could pay big dividends
 LAS VEGAS, Nevada – John Force normally is not a betting man, but the gamble he took last January when he gave Mike Neff the "keys" to his Castrol GTX Ford, the Funny Car in which he won the 2010 Full Throttle championship, could pay off in spades beginning with this week's 11th annual Big O Tires Nationals.

 Although Neff starts the week in third place in the Funny Car driver standings, he is poised not only to win an 18th NHRA championship in 22 years for John Force Racing, Inc., but to become the first ever to win a series champions as crew chief one year and driver the next. 

 Moreover, in this age of specialization, he could become the first in 37 years to win a Funny Car title in the combined role of driver/crew chief.  The last to do so was the late Shirl Greer back in 1974, the first year that championships were determined on an accumulative points basis.

 In order to make history, though, the 45-year-old with the laid-back demeanor may have to duplicate Force's dramatic drive to last year's title which, coincidentally, began with a victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

 Neff brings last year's race-winning Mustang back to LVMS for this week's penultimate event in circumstances not unlike those he faced a year ago when he was handling just one job – making all the mechanical decisions for Force. 

 In 2010, the deficit to Matt Hagan at Las Vegas was 64 points.  Force made that up in two races, winning both.  This year, the deficit is smaller but, instead of trailing just one driver, Neff will have to move around two – Jack Beckman, who leads by 22 points, and Hagan, who is 17 points ahead.

 Nevertheless, he still believes he has the car and the team to go the distance – even after teammate Robert Hight took him out in the first round two weeks ago at Phoenix, Ariz.

 The truth is, Neff is just happy to be in a position where he has even a chance to win the championship considering the fact that, nine months ago, he was busy putting together a crew chief's strategy for Force's title defense. 

 That all changed with Ashley Force Hood's January announcement that she was taking a year off to start a family.

 Given a reprieve on a driving career he believed was over when economics compelled Force to park on of four Ford Funny Cars after the 2009 season, Neff has made the most of the opportunity, taking his green-and-white Ford to nine final rounds with a category-best five wins (equaling the total of teammate Robert Hight).

 "Our car is running good," said the man who won his first world championship in 2005 as crew chief to Gary Scelzi, "(and) we have come from behind and won championships before.  A lot can happen in two races."

 Neff, who won the regular-season championship, just as Force did in 2010, credits his success to his support team.

 "You get good people and you delegate," he said.  "All these guys are efficient.   You can't do everything by yourself and, if you try, you won't be effective. You have to trust your people."

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JFR history @ THE STRIP AT LVMS:

 Wins – 9, three by John Force for Castrol GTX (fall, 2002 and 2010, and spring, 2010); three by Robert Hight for the Automobile Club of Southern California ( spring, 2007, fall, 2009, and spring, 2011); two by Tony Pedregon for Castrol SYNTEC (spring and fall of 2003); one by Gary Densham for the Auto Club (spring, 2002).
 Last year – After qualifying second, John Force beat points leader Matt Hagan in the final round to win his fifth race of the season and give himself a chance to win a record 15th championship.  Robert Hight's nightmare of a Countdown continued when he failed to qualify his Auto Club Ford.
 Last spring – After qualifying third, Robert Hight beat Jim Head, Jack Becman, Cruz Pedregon and Johnny Gray to win the SummitRacing.com Nationals for the second time at the wheel of the Auto Club Ford Mustang.
 Notable #1 – When John Force failed to qualify for the SummitRacing.com Nationals on April 14, 2007, it ended at 395 his record-setting streak of consecutive starts on the NHRA circuit that dated to the start of the 1988 season.
 Notable #2 – Robert Hight's 2007 victory in the SummitRacong.com Nationals was particularly emotional insomuch as it was the first event in which John Force Racing drivers participated after teammate Eric Medlen lost his life in a testing accident in Florida.  Hight and Medlen had worked together as crewmen on Force's championship-winning Funny Cars in the 1990s.  
 Notable #3 – Tony Pedregon's sweep of the two Vegas races in 2003 powered him a series championship, the first JFR title not won by John Force.  The year before, Force's victory over Pedregon in the final round of the fall race secured a 10th consecutive title for the sport's biggest winner.
 Notable #4 – En route to his 15th series championship last season, John Force won both races contested at Pomona, Calif., and both events contested at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Robert Hight is hoping this year to achieve the same sweep with the same result.

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PRO POINTS (Current 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series point standings after four of six events in the Countdown to 1 playoffs):

 FUNNY CAR  – 1. Jack Beckman, Valvoline Dodge Charger, 2362; 2. Matt Hagan, Die Hard Batteries Dodge Charger, 2357; 3. Mike Neff, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 2340; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, 2314; 5. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 2304; 6. Jeff Arend, DHL Toyota Camry, 2239; 7. Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger, 2223; 8. Bob Tasca III, Quick Lane/Ford Parts Ford Mustang, 2221; 9. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 2168; 10. Tim Wilkerson, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Mustang, 2157.

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TELEVISION (all on ESPN2, all times Eastern Daylight):

Qualifying – 10:30 pm-12 midnight, Saturday, Oct. 29
Race Highlights – 7-10 pm, Sunday, Oct. 30

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NEXT EVENT (2011 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship):

47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California Finals, Nov. 10-13, Pomona, California.

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For additional information or photos, contact one of the representatives above or go to www.johnforceracing.com or www.nhra.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEforce is the x-factor in championship battle
 LAS VEGAS, Nevada – John Force could be the most dangerous driver in the  field this week when the Full Throttle drag racing tour returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the11th running of the Big O Tires Nationals, the next-to-last race in the NHRA's Countdown to 1 playoffs. 

 The 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion owes that distinction NOT to the fact that he is the reigning series champion; NOT to his status as the defending event champion; NOT even to the fact that he's just four round wins shy of another NHRA career milestone (1,100 rounds won).

 Nope, the reason the 62-year-old icon is such a formidable threat this week is because he has a fast car, a bruised ego and absolutely nothing to lose. 

 After playing his way out of any chance of successfully defending his most recent championship, Force brings his erratic Castrol GTX HIGH MILEAGE Ford Mustang back to an LVMS track on which he swept both races a year ago and on which he has posted a 13-4 record since missing the 2007 race because of injuries sustained in a life-threatening crash at Dallas, Texas.

 "I've just been getting spanked," Force said of the downward turn his season has taken since he won the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Denver in July, earning his record 133rd career victory.  

 "What bothers me the most," he volunteered, "is that I can't run for the championship (after falling almost 200 points behind pacesetting Jack Beckman, to whom he lost two weeks ago at Phoenix).  All I can do now is try to beat some of these guys to help Mike Neff and Robert (Hight, presently third and fifth in points).

 "As a team, we've still got a shot at this title, but I've got to get my hot rod back in the game.  (Don) Schumacher has four good Dodges with Beckman and (Matt) Hagan (plus Johnny Gray and Ron Capps) and we've got two really good Mustangs.

 "But, at the end of the day, we need all three of our cars to be able to do some damage," said the 2008 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.  "That means we've got to step up with my hot rod – and I think we can.  'Guido' and Ron (crew chiefs Dean Antonelli and Ron Douglas) have been working hard and so have I.  There's two more races to turn it around."

 Amazingly, Force hasn't won a round since Aug. 7, when he beat Jeff Diehl in the first round at Seattle.  Since then, he's lost to Beckman twice, to Ford Racing teammate Bob Tasca III twice, to Cruz Pedregon, Johnny Gray and Dale Creasy Jr.

 In fact, he is a very un-Force-like 14-19 for the season and, barring a spectacular turnaround, he will finish the season with a losing record for just the second time in the last 27 seasons.

 The only driver in any motor sports discipline to have won races in 24 different seasons (Richard Petty won NASCAR races in 23), Force has started from the No. 1 spot five times this season, second only to Cruz Pedregon (six), but rarely has his qualifying success translated into anything positive on race day.

 He's won just four rounds against Countdown drivers this year and, significantly, lost four straight races to Beckman.

 Those are stats that stick in his craw.

 "Yeah, we've struggled," Force said, "and they don't pay us to struggle.  This team is known for winning and we'lI win again – I promise you that.  But right now we have to get Neff and Robert back to the top and get another championship for Castrol and Ford, Auto Club, Mac Tools and BrandSource."

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John Force  and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson, Side-by-Side

                                          Force                                                  JohnsonBirthdate                             May 4, 1949                                         Sept. 17, 1975
Residence                           Yorba Linda, Calif.                                El Cajon, Calif.
Identifying vehicle                 Castrol GTX Ford Mustang                    No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet
Series                                 NHRA                                                 NASCAR
Career races                        577                                                     358
Career wins                         133                                                     55
% of events won                   23.0%                                                 15.4%
Runner-ups                          81                                                       30
No. 1 qualifiers/poles            139                                                     25
Championships                    15                                                       5
Signature season                 1996 (won 13 of 19 races with 3 2007     (won 10 of 36 races
                                          2nds and 13 No. 1 starts)                      with 2 2nds and 4 poles)
Signature performance(s)      15-time All-American Driver                   2009 AP Male Athlete of Year
Last racing year                   Still active                                            Still active
First win at age                    38                                                       26
Last win at age                    62                                                       36

-www.johnforceracing.com-

Summit Racing Greg Anderson NHRA Pre Race: Anderson Looks to Change His Luck in Las Vegas

  Anderson Looks to Change His Luck in Las Vegas

Mooresville, N.C., October 27, 2011 – Over the last eight years Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team have been the picture of competitive excellence in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category with four championships and no finishes lower than second in the standings. However, as the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season enters its final two events, Anderson finds himself locked in a furious battle with three other drivers for the runner-up position behind runaway leader Jason Line. 

With less than one round of competition between them, the four-time champion knows he must rebound from his recent struggles and produce a maximum points-producing effort, starting with this weekend’s Big O Tires NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“These last two races are very important to me and this entire Summit Racing team,” said Anderson.  “On the positive side, Jason continues to have the best car in the class and, as long as he qualifies for the last two races the championship is pretty well locked up.  On the other hand, we’ve been struggling to get a handle on my car over the last four races, which has me fighting to hold on to second. 

“I have three or four people breathing down my neck, so I need to have two great races.  To do that, we need to get the car better, I have to do a better job of driving, and we need to create a little luck of our own.   In any case, we are determined to do whatever is necessary to turn things back around in Las Vegas and finish the year on a high note.”

Despite the high stakes, Anderson vows to not add any extra pressure on himself or his team as they head to the Nevada desert, taking comfort in the dual benefit of a previous record of success on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which also happens to be team owner Ken Black’s home track.

“We’re going into Las Vegas ready to handle whatever is thrown at us,” said Anderson.  “We’ve had so many crazy things happen to us over the last three or four weeks, from my mistakes and the car not performing the way we want to the freak fuel line leak in Phoenix two weeks ago, that we’re just going in with a positive attitude, determined to make the most of every opportunity, and hoping that for the first time in this Countdown, a little luck goes our way.

“Fortunately, we’ve had some success on The Strip in the past, including one year ago when we put both Summit cars in the final.  Besides, it’s good any time we go to Vegas, simply because we get to spend the weekend with Ken, Judy and the entire Black family.  With all that in our favor, we’re going into this race ready to rely on what got us there.  The preparation is done, so it’s up to us to execute better than on our competition.  We have a job to do, and we’re ready to whatever it takes to get it done.”

Greg Anderson & the Summit Racing Pontiac crew

By the Numbers – The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway edition:

4.65 – Average starting position for Greg in his previous starts on The Strip.

5 –  No. 1 qualifiers by Greg in his previous 19 Vegas starts, most recently in 2006.

7 – Wins by Anderson at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in nine final round appearances coming into this weekend, the most by any professional competitor.

41 – Elimination round wins by Greg in his previous 19 starts in Las Vegas, versus 12 losses for a 77.4 win percentage.

Event Schedule:

            Friday, October 28:              Two qualifying sessions at 12:15 & 3:15 p.m.

            Saturday, October 29:         Two qualifying sessions at 11:00 a.m. & 1:45 p.m.

            Sunday, October 30:           Final eliminations starting at 11:00 a.m.

Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2):

            Qualifying:                Saturday, October 29 –   10:30 p.m. – 12:00 midnight

            Eliminations:             Sunday, October 30 –   7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

                        (Re-Air)          Wednesday, November 2 -    2:30 – 4:00 a.m.

(All times Eastern)