NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Race fans packed Summit Motorsports Park for final eliminations of the 12th race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

NHRA's Alan Reinhart emceed the pre-race ceremonies, which included the pre-race interviews. Ohio Top Fuel veteran Pt Dakin, who would go on to win his first-round race, was one of the guests.

Pro Stock Motorcycle ace Scotty Pollacheck also joined Reinhart for a one-on-one discussion about his season.

The popular SealMaster TrackWalk was another highlight for fans, who got to take a stroll down the actual racing surface at Summit Motorsports Park.

Drag racing and Michigan aviation legend Connie Kalitta was acknowledged during pre-race ceremonies with a flyover from a B-17 Flying Fortress named Yankee Lady following his induction into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. The plane was supplied by the Yankee Air Museum, who nominated Kalitta for Michigan’s highest aviation honor.

Top Fuel low qualifier Brittany Force, along with nephews Jacob and Noah Hood (sons of former Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood and John Force crew chief Danny Hood), was introduced after earning her fourth green hat of the season.

Two of Connie Kalitta's crew chiefs, Rob Flynn, left, who tunes for Doug Kalitta, and Kurt Elliott, who wrenches on Richie Crampton's machine, compared notes before round one.

Erica Enders used the back window of her Elite Performance Camaro Pro Stocker as the canvas to wish her teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., a happy birthday.

Funny Car world champ J.R. Todd poured the fuel to his DHL Toytoa prior to round one, where he beat Robert Hight.

Three-time Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown, who won this event in 2014, beat Scott Palmer in round one but lost a tough second-round battle with Leah Pritchett.

Blake Alexander, who won this event last year in Top Fuel, wasn't nearly as fortunate this year, riding out a huge blower explosion in a losing first-round effort in Funny Car.

Mike Kalinowski’s Unfinished Business Austin -- also know as "the Angry Austin" -- won the Scott Rods Gasser exhibition, defeating Ed Beaumont's Orange Peel Corvette in the final.

Bob Tasca III celebrated on the hood of his Mustang after scoring his second straight Funny Car victory.

Top Fuel winner Steve Torrence went into full  celebration mode after collecting his sixth win in 12 starts this season,

Your 2019 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals champions, from left, Andrew Hines, Chris McGaha, Steve Torrence, and Bob Tasca III.