MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
Posted:7/10/2007
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA
NATIONALS
WHAT: 28th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, the 13th of 23 events
in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Professional competitors in
four categories earn points leading to 2007 NHRA POWERade Series world
championships.
Sportsman competitors in four categories earn points leading to 2007
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colo. The track is 10 miles west of
Denver just north of the historic town of Morrison. From Denver, take
Interstate 70 west to C-470 and travel south to the Morrison Road exit.
Take Morrison Road west to Rooney Road and go north to the track.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, July 13-15.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.2 million.
SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 13 — Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin
at 10 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4:45 and 7:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 14 — Sportsman eliminations begin at 9 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 15 — Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at noon.
TELEVISION: Saturday, July 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two
hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 15, ESPN2 and ESPN 2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a
30-minute news magazine show, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 15, ESPN2 and ESPN 2 HD will televise three hours of
eliminations coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, July 13, 11 — 11:30 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6/Transponder 16K
(Downlink frequency: 12092.5, vertical, analog)
Saturday, July 14, 8:30 — 9 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6/Transpoinder 16K (Downlink
frequency: 12092.5, vertical, analog)
Sunday, July 15, 9 — 9:30 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6/Transponder 16K (Downlink
frequency: 12092.5, vertical, analog)
2006 EVENT
WINNERS: J.R. Todd, Top Fuel; Gary Scelzi, Funny Car; Dave Connolly, Pro
Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle
TRACK
RECORDS: Top Fuel — 4.584 seconds by Joe Amato, July 1999; 331.45 mph by
Tony Schumacher, July ‘05
Funny Car — 4.796 seconds by Robert Hight, July ‘05; 322.58 mph by Hight,
July ‘05
Pro Stock — 7.062 seconds by Jason Line, July ‘06; 195.65 mph by Line,
July ‘06
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 7.332 seconds by Chip Ellis, July ‘06; 186.54 mph
by Ryan Schnitz, July ‘05
NATIONAL Top Fuel — 4.428 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Nov. ‘06, Pomona,
Calif.; 336.15 mph by Schumacher, May ’05, Columbus, Ohio
RECORDS: Funny Car — 4.659 sec. by Tony Pedregon, Feb. ’07, Chandler,
Ariz.; 333.66 mph by Jack Beckman, Nov. ‘06, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock — 6.536 sec. by Greg Anderson, March ’07, Gainesville, Fla.;
211.69 mph by Jason Line, March ‘07, Gainesville, Fla.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 6.901 sec. by Matt Smith, May ‘07, Madison, Ill.;
197.45 mph by Andrew Hines, March '05, Gainesville, Fla.
INTERNET: For complete online coverage of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA
Nationals, please visit http://www.nhra.com.
TICKETS: Order tickets by phone at (800) 664-UWIN. Tickets also are
available online at ticketreturn.com.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $37-$47; Junior (12
years and under), $15-$20. Saturday: Adult, $37-$47; Junior (12 years
and younger), $15-$20. Sunday: Adult, $45-$55; Junior (12 years and
under), $20-$25.
CONTACT: NHRA Communications Department, (626) 914-4761. Zak Elcock,
ext. 240, (626) 253-0862, cell.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications Dept., (626) 914-4761
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE RIDERS SAMPEY AND
LLEWELLYN REFLECT ON HISTORY HEADING TO DENVER
DENVER, Colo. – It was 11 years ago at Bandimere Speedway in Denver that
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angelle Sampey made her professional debut in
the NHRA. A decade, three championships, and 41 wins later, the most of
any woman in NHRA history, the end product of that debut is still being
felt heading into the 28th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July
13-15.
With seven women competing for a POWERade Series world championship this
season, including three in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Sampey is
far removed from the days of being the lone woman competing on a
motorcycle. But Sampey says that those first few years were not easy to
get through.
“It’s been like a roller coaster I guess,” Sampey said, reflecting on
the past 11 years. “In the beginning of my career, it was hard. There
were a lot of people I raced with in the beginning that would have
preferred I not race against them. They would say a lot of crude things
and it was pretty ugly in the beginning.”
Competing as the only female in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category can be
difficult for any person, and Sampey says there were many times that she
questioned what she was doing.
“It was hard and there were a lot of times that I wanted to quit,”
Sampey said. “But I realized that that was exactly what they wanted me
to do, so I just kept going. Then when the wins came, that’s when all
the ‘ups’ came.”
Sampey’s first few years in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category had a huge
effect on future drivers in the NHRA, much like Top Fuel pilot Shirley
Muldowneys did years previous. One of those was Peggy Llewellyn, now
riding the Klement Racing Buell. Competing in her first full season in
Pro Stock Motorcycle, Llewellyn says that it was watching those first
few years of Sampey’s career that helped spark her interest in the NHRA.
“Ever since I saw Angelle, Karen (Stoffer) and Stephanie (Reaves) make
their debut, I knew that it could be something that I could do as well,”
Llewellyn said. “And now, to actually be doing it, it’s just like a
dream.”
Competing week in and week out against both male and female riders,
Llewellyn says that when she gets up to the line for a run, it doesn’t
matter who’s in the opposite lane competing against her.
“Whoever is in the next lane, it doesn’t change anything for me,”
Llewellyn said. “The competition is tougher than it’s been in years, but
once the helmets go on, it doesn’t matter who you are. You have to run
your lane and do your job and at the end you either get the win light or
you don’t.”
“The competition is awesome now,” Sampey said. “It doesn’t matter if
it’s Andrew Hines (defending series champion) or Peggy Llewellyn. Each
rider is just as competitive. Whether it’s a guy or girl, each rider has
every chance each week to win that race because the field is so
competitive. You say: ‘That girl is just as competitive as I am and
wants to win just as much as I do.’”
With two event wins there in 2000 and 2001, as well as it being the
track where she made her professional debut, no other driver is more
excited about returning to Denver this year than Sampey.
“That’s where it all started for me,” Sampey said. “I really love that
track and the track owners. The Bandimeres are the most awesome track
owners. They make each driver feel real special. The track is so
beautiful and the fans are great. It’s just so awesome to be racing on
the side of a mountain.”
Though she has never competed at Bandimere Speedway, Llewellyn is just
as excited to get her first taste of Denver.
“From what I hear it’s totally different than any other track, so I’m
just going to take what everyone else says and just see what happens,”
Llewellyn said.
Reflecting on the past 11 years, with three world championships, 41
wins, and a large barrier broken for all women competing in the POWERade
Series, Sampey says there’s one last goal that she hopes to accomplish
before the end of her career.
“I want to be the winningest Pro Stock Motorcycle rider,” Sampey said.
“I want to drop the female part from the title and just be the
winningest Pro Stock Motorcycle rider.”
Sampey and Llewellyn will have plenty of competition when the Pro Stock
Motorcycle category heads to Bandimere Speedway. Drivers to watch
include current points leader Matt Smith, defending world champion and
2006 event winner Andrew Hines, and Karen Stoffer, who has wins in
Gainesville and Atlanta this season.
The competitive Top Fuel field features several drivers to keep on the
radar including defending event winner J.R. Todd, Brandon Bernstein, who
has won three of the four final rounds he’s appeared in this season, and
defending series champion and 2005 event winner Tony Schumacher.
Drivers in the Funny Car category to keep an eye on include defending
POWERade series champion and five-time event winner John Force,
defending event winner Gary Scelzi, who has wins in Pomona and Chicago
this season, and 2005 Denver winner Robert Hight. Current points leader
Ron Capps also will be looking to grab his first event win at Bandimere
Speedway.
In Pro Stock, drivers in contention are defending event-winner Dave
Connolly, who also won in St. Louis this season; Greg Anderson, who has
collected an impressive five wins this season; and five-time Denver
winner and 2007 International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, Warren
Johnson.
· SCHEDULE: Professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
and 7:15 p.m. on July 13, and 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on July 14.
Pre-race ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m. on July 15, followed by
the first round of professional eliminations at noon.
· TICKETS: For tickets, call NHRA, at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or (800)
664-UWIN. Tickets are also available at Ticketreturn.com.
· ON TV: On July 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of
qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET). On July 15, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will
televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race news magazine show, at 11
a.m. (ET) and also will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at
9 p.m. (ET).
· ON THE WEB: For complete online coverage of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA
Nationals, please visit http://www.nhra.com.
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2007 NHRA POWERade POINT STANDINGS
(Following 12 of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series)
UPDATED 7/8/2007 (Victories in parentheses)
TOP FUEL
Place Driver Points
1. Rod Fuller, Las Vegas, David Powers Motorsports dragster (1) 861
2. Brandon Bernstein, Lake Forest, Calif., Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster
(4) 787
3. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, SkyTel dragster (2) 761
4. J.R. Todd, Avon, Ind., Skull Shine dragster (2) 730
5. Tony Schumacher, Long Grove, Ill., U.S. Army dragster (2) 693
6. Bob Vandergriff Jr., Alpharetta, Ga., UPS dragster 615
7. Dave Grubnic, Ennis, Mont., Zantrex-3 dragster 584
8. Melanie Troxel, Avon, Ind., Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA dragster (1) 551
9. Whit Bazemore, Eugene, Ore., Matco Tools dragster 549
10. Cory McClenathan, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.., FRAM dragster 539
FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T (3)
873
2. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club of So. California Ford
Mustang (2) 753
3. Mike Ashley, Melville, N.Y., Torco/Skull Gear Dodge Charger R/T (2)
690
4. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Q Horsepower Chevrolet Impala (1)
669
5. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger (2) 647
Jim Head, Galena, Ohio, Head Racing Toyota Solara 647
7. Cruz Pedregon, Camarillo, Calif., Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala
547
8. Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., Mail Terminal Services Dodge
Charger 530
9. Ashley Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang 510
10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon, Ind., Skoal Racing Chevrolet Impala (1) 495
PRO STOCK
1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (6) 1,029
2. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt (2) 943
3. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Torco/Seelye Wright Chevrolet Cobalt (2)
851
4. Jason Line, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO (1) 717
5. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge
Stratus R/T 638
6. Kurt Johnson, Sugar Hill, Ga., ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt (1) 571
7. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Lucas Oil Dodge Stratus R/T 564
8. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Oil Dodge Stratus R/T 552
9. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T 524
10. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., GM Goodwrench Performance Parts Pontiac
GTO 507
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
(Following seven of 16 events)
1. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Torco/Skull Gear S&S Buell V-Twin (1) 616
2. Angelle Sampey, New Orleans, U.S. Army Suzuki (1) 537
3. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson V-Rod (2)
508
4. Karen Stoffer, Smith, Nev., Geico Motorcycle Suzuki (2) 458
5. Craig Treble, Hensley, Ark., Team Tigue Suzuki (1) 393
6. Chip Ellis, Salisbury, N.C., Drag Specialties S&S Buell V-Twin 388
7. Chris Rivas, Fresno, Calif., Knoll Gas and Energy S&S Buell V-Twin
350
8. Steve Johnson, Irondale, Ala., Snap-on Tools Suzuki 340
9. Peggy Llewellyn, San Antonio, Texas, Karl & Kim Klement Racing S&S
Buell V-Twin 330
10. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, U.S. Army Suzuki 318
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