NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series rockets into Space City, April 29-May 1, for the 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals, the sixth of 24 events on the season, at Royal Purple Raceway.

The best in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock will go head to head at one of the circuit’s quickest and fastest tracks, located just minutes east of downtown Houston. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying highlights on Friday, April 29, at 8 p.m. (ET) and Saturday, April 30, at midnight. The finals on Sunday, May 1, will air on FS1 at 5 p.m.

Royal Purple Raceway is known as a site of record-setting performances. It is one of only two tracks in the Lone Star State where fans can see the best drag racers in the world power their 10,000-horsepower, fire-breathing machines down the dragstrip for a chance to hoist the Wally trophy on Sunday. For 29 years, fans have filed into Royal Purple Raceway to witness the ground-shaking and heart-throbbing three-second, 320-mph spectacles only NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing can provide.

Doug Kalitta

In Top Fuel, Kalitta raced to his first win of 2015 in Houston, pushing his Mac Tools dragster past eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher in the final round. Kalitta raced to three victories in four finals last season to finish fifth in the points standings. He has two career wins at the NHRA SpringNationals and is currently third in points. Kalitta will hope to defend his title against a very tough Top Fuel field that includes a couple of recent first-time winners.

The Top Fuel category has been very exciting so far this season. Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force both raced to their first career victories in Phoenix and Gainesville, respectively. Pritchett powered her dragster past Force in the final round in Phoenix to collect her first Wally, and then at the following race in Gainesville, Force piloted her Monster Energy dragster past Terry McMillen in the final to take the win and the points lead. Force will hope to ride the momentum of her second career victory, last weekend in Charlotte at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods, into the winner’s circle in Houston. The excitement is sure to continue in Top Fuel as everyone on the entry list, including seasoned veterans like Schumacher, defending world champ Antron Brown, Texan Steve Torrence, and 2014 rookie of the year Richie Crampton, will put up a fight for the race victory.

Ron Capps

Capps claimed the Funny Car win last year at the NHRA SpringNationals, and it was his second win of 2015. Capps and his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T outlasted Don Schumacher Racing teammate and eventual 2015 points runner-up Jack Beckman in the final round. Capps ended 2015 with two wins, three runner-up appearances, and a fourth-place finish in the points standing. He is a three-time Houston winner and already has one victory in two final-round appearances this year. Currently second in points, Capps will enter Houston looking to hold off points leader Robert Hight, teammate Beckman, two-time season winner Tim Wilkerson, John Force, Courtney Force, and reigning world champ Del Worsham, among others.

Hight took control of the Funny Car points lead when he raced his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS to victory past Capps in Gainesville. Hight, a member of the John Force Racing clan, is a two-time Houston winner, and his teammate John Force has a staggering seven victories at the NHRA SpringNationals. Force, the 16-time world champ, was the runner-up in Phoenix in late February and is currently third in points. He hasn’t won in Houston since 2002 but will hope to change that at the end of April.

Erica Enders

Two-time and reigning Pro Stock world champ Enders will be eager to defend her title at her hometown track. The driver of the Mopar Performance/Elite Motorsports Dodge Dart GT and Houston native tallied her second win of 2015 in Houston when she beat Odessa, Texas, product Chris McGaha in the final round. She won a total of eight races last season en route to her second consecutive Pro Stock championship. With the changes to the category, Enders is still trying to hit the right combination in her Mopar/Elite Motorsports Dodge Dart GT.

No one is taken lightly in the hypercompetitive Pro Stock class, especially not Ken Black Racing teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson, who have combined to win the first five races of 2016. Line, who won in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and last weekend in Charlotte, is the points leader, and Anderson, who won in Pomona and Gainesville, is in second. The two Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro drivers each have a couple of wins at Royal Purple Raceway as well. They’ll look to keep their early season momentum going in Houston, but they will have to fend off Enders, Bo Butner, 2015 rookie of the year Drew Skillman, McGaha, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile, and Allen Johnson.

The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will make its second stop of the 2016 season at Royal Purple Raceway. Two-time national champ Rickie Smith sprinted to victory at the season opener in Gainesville. Two-time and reigning national champion Troy Coughlin will be among those gunning for victory in the thrilling 250-mph doorslammer category.

The race will also feature plenty of thrilling action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing the future stars of the sport.

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 the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

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.

The NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway will also honor all of the great performances showcased on the track by female drivers throughout NHRA history — including the memorable early season victories this year by Brittany Force and Pritchett — by offering a special promotion during the Friday night qualifying session on April 29, where all female spectators will receive free admission with a reserved seat on the spectator side of the track. This offer is available for walk-up ticket purchases only.

Qualifying for the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 30, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 1.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 281-383-RACE (7223) or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com. Kids 13 and under are free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.