NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Even before he came the most successful racer in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history, John Force knew the importance of wining the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Force has put together a legendary career, with 16 world championships and 148 event victories, but winning the world’s most prestigious drag race remains a priority.

He’s done it four times in his illustrious career, but with the last coming in 2002 Force is ready to return to the winner’s circle at the Big Go in his Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS. He’ll have that opportunity Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis when the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals takes place.

“Indy’s the mothership,” Force said. “I remember standing there watching 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme and Shirley[Muldowney] and Raymond Beadle and Kenny Bernstein race there. You want to just be part of it. In drag racing, you could win the championship, but if you ain’t won Indy, you ain’t won (anything). We have multiple races there for big money, like the Traxxas Shootout, and we’ll be fighting for it. But overall, it’s the big race that you want to win. You want to win the Traxxas Shootout, you want to win the Indy race. It’s huge, it’s a big event, and trust me, every race team (is) coming in with guns a blazing. We’re going after it.”

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of a race that will be broadcasted on the FOX national broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including a live broadcast of Monday’s finals on both FOX and FS1 on Monday, Sept. 4. Drag racing’s grandest event marks the end of the NHRA regular season and is the 18th of 24 races in the 2017 season. 

With the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship starting after the event, it adds another thrilling layer to the prestigious race. Thrown in the race-within-a-race Traxxas Shootout for eight Top Fuel and Funny Car teams, it can make for a hectic time. Force’s win earlier this season gave him a spot in the shootout that pays out $100,000 to the winner, but the magnitude, pressure and added media responsibilities of the race only seems to bring out the best in Force.

“When it’s time, I go into the mode,” said Force, who is currently seventh in Funny Car points. “I’m like a golfer; I don’t see nobody. I go into what they call the zone. And when I get into that zone, I’m hard to beat. At my age, I’ve got to work harder, I’ve got to sleep more, I can’t party. But I love what I do, and it ain’t over until I say it’s over. I’m going into Indy to do some damage.”

Success at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals would go a long way in turning Force’s season around. Since winning in Gainesville, Force has only advanced to one semifinal in the past 13 races. That hasn’t been ideal, but there is still time to get things in line to perform well at Indy and contend for another world championship. 

Plus, John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight had an incredible run on the Western Swing, giving the team a solid gameplan. But Force wants his entire organization, including daughters Courtney in Funny Car and Brittany in Top Fuel, to hit their stride starting at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
 
Top Fuel’s Schumacher etched his name in Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals history a year ago, becoming the first NHRA driver to reach 10 wins at the prestigious race. He’ll look to add to his legacy against points leader Antron Brown and six-time 2017 winner Steve Torrence.

McGaha’s first Indy win in Pro Stock came a year ago. Greg Anderson has six wins at the Big Go, second to only Bob Glidden’s nine at the race, while others to watch include points leader Bo Butner, rookie Tanner Gray and Drew Skillman, who all have three wins this season.

Hines picked up his second Indy win in 2016 and is after his first win of 2017. Former world champ and 2010 Indy winner LE Tonglet has been dominant this year, winning five races but will have to hold off reigning world champ Jerry Savoie, Eddie Krawiec and Matt Smith.

Bonus bucks are on the line for qualified drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car in the lucrative Traxxas Nitro Shootout. Top Fuel will run on Saturday evening, while the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car is contested on Sunday. Traxxas Nitro Shootout winners will earn $100,000. Schumacher is the defending winner in Top Fuel, while Courtney Force was the 2016 winner in Funny Car.   

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series also will look to become winners of the prestigious event. The fastest Super Stock cars will challenge for ultimate bragging rights and bonus purse during the popular Mopar HEMI Challenge. After Nitro qualifying, fans can watch the spectacular Muy Caliente Racing jet dragsters sponsored by Lucas Oil and the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters sponsored by Florida Tech and Matrix System. Jet cars are thrust driven propelled by jet engines with exciting pre-run flame shows.

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.
  
A special Monday edition of the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk also will take place prior to final eliminations, where many of the sport’s most celebrated drivers will walk alongside fans down the historic dragstrip. Fan-favorite vintage racecars will be on display in the Hot Rod Junction, along with several autograph sessions featuring the biggest stars of the sport will be featured.
  
Downtown Indianapolis will come alive with NHRA excitement at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, when the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Fan Fest comes to Monument Circle. It will feature NHRA race team showcars, classic cars, live music, video displays and giveaways, along with one of the largest autograph sessions of the season, featuring all the fans’ favorite drivers. In addition, the official event press conference will take place and the random lottery drawings for the No. 8 positions in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout will be conducted. 
  
The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Sept. 2 with rounds at 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Sept. 3 for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.
 
FOX national broadcast and FS1 will televise coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, starting with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 3 on FS1 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST. The broadcasts continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 4 starting at 11 a.m. EST, continuing live on FOX at 1 p.m. EST.
  
Tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate.