NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Fan Fest, the traditional event kickoff for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, will take place Wednesday, Aug. 31, in downtown Indianapolis at 11 a.m.

The three-hour Fan Fest will feature the event press conference, where Top Fuel racers Morgan Lucas and Tony Schumacher, Funny Car stars John Force and Jack Beckman, and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Eddie Krawiec will preview the world’s largest race.

Also taking place will be the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout lottery to determine the eighth and final drivers to qualify for that weekend’s big bonus events in Top Fuel and Funny Car. Eligible drivers will be entered into a weighted lottery based on fan votes collected on NHRA’s Facebook page.

The Fan Fest will include an autograph session, car displays, music, giveaways, and a big-screen video display to celebrate the jaw-dropping action of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returning to central Indiana for what is the world’s most prestigious drag race. The best of the best from all over the world head to Indianapolis to compete in the event known as the Big Go. Nearly 1,000 drivers will compete in 12 categories with hopes of hoisting the elusive Wally on Labor Day Monday. With heightened competition and a holiday weekend crowd in attendance, a win at the Big Go often goes down on racers’ résumés as their biggest single-race achievement.

Throughout the years, fans have cheered on drag racing immortals such as “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, and Don “the Snake” Prudhomme as they raced to the winner’s circle at the Big Go. Today’s stars — including nine-time Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner Schumacher, four-time Funny Car winner Force, and six-time Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson — are all racing with plenty of determination to continue to build on their legacies.

This year’s edition of the famed event will feature intense side-by-side racing as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle compete for their share of Mello Yello Series points. Lucas (Top Fuel), Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners.

For the first time, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be aired live on FOX and FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Dave Rieff leads the coverage with Tony Pedregon offering insight as an analyst, and they, along with the rest of the broadcast team, will give the viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the sport.

For tickets to the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRA.com/tickets.