NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing heads back to Pacific Raceways for the 29th annual Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the final leg of the three-race NHRA Western Swing, Aug. 5-7. The event is the only major American motorsport to be contested in the Pacific Northwest region, resulting in some of the most loyal race fans. Adding to the prestige of this year’s race, final eliminations will be televised live on the FOX national broadcasting network.

 

The Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil is only three races out from the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship — a six-race playoff that decides the champions of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The stakes will be high as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock fight for a spot in the top 10, making the race weekend all the more thrilling.

 

J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), winner last weekend in Sonoma, Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), who has one victory this season, and Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event held at the multipurpose motorsports facility near Seattle.

 

In Top Fuel, Todd piloted his dragster past Shawn Langdon in the final last year. Todd has appeared in three final rounds this season, including the closest final-round finish in Top Fuel history against teammate Doug Kalitta at the Atlanta event, and is sixth in points.

 

Langdon, sitting seventh in the points, won back-to-back races in Bristol and Norwalk in early summer and will be eager to keep the momentum going in his favor as he seeks his first victory in Washington.

 

Also in focused pursuit of the Top Fuel Wally will be Kalitta, who has three wins in 2016, eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, who will be competing for a Top Fuel record five wins at Pacific Raceways, two-time reigning world champion Antron Brown, and two-time 2016 event winners Steve Torrence and Brittany Force.

 

In Funny Car, Johnson will be trying to defend his race win from a year ago over teammate Jack Beckman. Johnson’s victory prevented Beckman from sweeping the NHRA Western Swing in 2015. With a win under his belt in Bristol, Johnson sits eighth in the points standings, separated by only 49 points from fifth-place John Force, who won in Denver and Sonoma and will be shooting for his unprecedented second Western Swing sweep. Force will look to claim a record ninth victory at Pacific Raceways, where he most recently won in 2014.

 

Red-hot Ron Capps, who won three of the four consecutive races during the Eastern Swing in June and was runner-up last weekend to Force in Sonoma, will try to widen the gap between himself and Houston winner Courtney Force, who sits second in points. Both Capps and Johnson have earned wins in both nitro categories at the Seattle event.

 

With the end of the regular season fast approaching, drivers such as Beckman, who has a win and three runner-up finishes in 2016, reigning world champ Del Worsham, two-time winner Tim Wilkerson, and Robert Hight will be poised to claim all the points they can as the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship quickly approaches.

 

In Pro Stock, McGaha will be racing to defend his 2015 Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil victory, but with three spots in the Countdown to the Championship already taken by the KB Racing team, he and the rest of the field will have an uphill battle.

 

Series leader Greg Anderson and teammates Jason Line and Bo Butner, who are in second and third, have earned their positions in the playoffs. Line has raced to seven victories in 2016, and Anderson has raced to seven. Line and Anderson are both three-time Seattle winners.

 

Those looking to knock down Line and Anderson include Sonoma runner-up Butner, Denver champ Allen Johnson, 2014 top rookie Drew Skillman, Vincent Nobile, five-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., and two-time reigning world champion Erica Enders.

 

The Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where the future stars of the sport earn their racing stripes.

 

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand how the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

 

As part of NHRA’s ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Funny Car class, one legendary Funny Car driver will be honored during the pre-race ceremony.

 

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

 

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature rounds at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, and the final two rounds of qualifying Saturday, Aug. 6, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

 

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.