NHRA
FOX SPORTS, NHRA ANNOUNCE 2020 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Live Coverage of ‘Western Swing’ Highlights Four Consecutive Races on FOX
U.S. Nationals Coverage Includes Five Hours Live on Labor Day
CHARLOTTE, NC – FOX Sports and NHRA today announce the release of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing 
Series television schedule, highlighted by live FOX broadcast network coverage of four consecutive summer events, including the “Western Swing” (Denver, Sonoma and Seattle), as well as the iconic U.S. Nationals from Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend.
The 24-event 2020 FOX NHRA season opens Sunday, Feb. 9, with the 60th Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals live from Pomona, Calif., at 5:00 PM ET on FS1. Fifteen of the season’s final 16 events are scheduled to air live, including the season finale Auto Club NHRA Finals from Pomona.
The 2020 season also marks the 50th anniversary of the NHRA Pro Stock Division.
REINTJES NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF BROADCASTING
GLENDORA, CA – Steve Reintjes, who has served as NHRA’s Coordinating Producer for the past two years, has been 
promoted to the role of Vice President of Broadcasting.
In his new role, Reintjes will continue to oversee the NHRA’s production of all NHRA on Fox television broadcasts, as well as content created at the NHRA Wally Parks Studio, displayed at NHRA events and streamed online via NHRA.TV.
Reintjes has an extensive background in live broadcasting with over 19 years of experience in network television. He has produced over 500 live events covering 11 sports, including major college football bowl games, multiple FCS college football national championship games and NCAA national championship games in men’s and women’s soccer. He has produced the last two years of all NHRA on Fox television broadcasts.
SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION 4 HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
DALLAS, TX – Former NHRA Division Director Craig Hutchinson and Division Administration Assistant Sue Hutchinson will join the ranks of legendary South Central Division personalities that include K
enny Bernstein, Raymond Beadle, Billy Meyer, Richard Tharp, and Dave McClelland when he is inducted into the Division 4 Hall of Fame.
Hutchinson, who was only the division’s third director, was one of a group of second-generation NHRA division directors who took over the reins from the position’s founding fathers of the 1960s. When Hutchinson was hired in early 1988, he replaced George Raglin, the interim director in 1987 after Dale Ham’s retirement in 1986. Hutchinson had developed a solid reputation while working with Charlie Allen at Firebird Int’l Raceway in the early 1980s.
Hutchinson, a native Arizonan who grew up bracket racing his Pinto at tracks such as Beeline Dragway and Tucson Dragway, had been working with partner Buddy Murphy to bring a track to the Phoenix area in the early 1980s. When Allen learned that he would soon lose the lease on famed Orange County Int’l Raceway in Southern California, NHRA’s Wayne McMurty hooked up Allen and his partner, Bill Guptil, with Hutchinson and Murphy, who already had done much of the legal legwork, and fellow partners Bob Bayer and Dick Scott to make Firebird a reality in early 1983. Hutchinson’s name was on the track’s long-term lease.
BUSINESS EXPERT NAMED TO NHRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GLENDORA, CA – Lee Ann Gliha, who has strong business background in live event companies, has been elected to the NHRA Board of Directors.
Gliha’s background includes serving as Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance at Live Nation, a leading live entertainment company. Gliha has applied her business skills both at Live Nation and in investment banking, including her current position as Managing Director at Jefferies LLC where she focuses on media and entertainment companies.
Gliha graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College. She is very familiar with NHRA, its business and its events, including its historic facility and events in Pomona, CA.
“We are honored and excited that Lee Ann has agreed to join NHRA’s board of directors. We think her business experience and her love of the sport will help NHRA confidently stride forward and continue to grow,” said NHRA board chair and CEO Peter Clifford.
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO WORLD CHAMPIONS CROWNED
Steve Torrence, Robert Hight, Erica Enders, and Andrew Hines were crowned NHRA Mello Yello world champions 
in their respective classes during Monday night’s awards ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland.
All four drivers were awarded checks and trophies to celebrate season-long achievements that culminated in winning 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship titles during the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoffs.
Torrence captured his second consecutive Top Fuel world championship title after a thrilling weekend at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, taking home the title following the third round of eliminations at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. En route to the championship, Torrence raced to nine wins during the season, eight of which came during a nine race streak.
In the Funny Car class, Hight raced to his third world championship title. Hight clinched the championship in dramatic fashion during the final round at the Auto Club NHRA finals at Pomona after a thrilling half-track burnout. Hight raced to a career best six victories during the 2019 season, holding the points lead for 23 of 24 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series calendar.
HIGHT, S. TORRENCE, ENDERS, HINES WIN NHRA WORLD TITLES; KALITTA, BECKMAN, COUGHLIN, J. SALINAS, CLOSE 2019 WITH AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS VICTORIES
POMONA, CA – At his home track, Funny Car’s Robert Hight raced to his third career NHRA Mello Yello Drag 
Racing Series world title and second in three years on Sunday by advancing to the final round of the 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed world championships in their respective categories at the final race of the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. The race winners of the final event of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Jianna Salinas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Hight knocked off championship hopeful and No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan with a strong run of 3.977-seconds at 324.59 mph in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to reach the final, where he just needed to not lose any points. In the final, Hight performed a massive burnout to the delight of the fans before the car shut off, handing him the championship during what was the best season of his career.
S. TORRENCE, HAGAN, COUGHLIN AND M. SMITH EARN NO. 1 QUALIFIERS HEADING INTO CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
POMONA, CA – Defending world champ and Top Fuel points leader Steve Torrence made an impressive statement 
during the final qualifying session on Saturday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, vaulting to the No. 1 spot at the Auto Club NHRA Finals.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are all No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the last of six races in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The race also serves as the finale of the 24-race 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
After struggling on Friday, Torrence unleashed an outstanding run to close out qualifying on Saturday, jumping to the top with a run of 3.686-seconds at 329.99 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster. Looking to win his second straight world title, Torrence earned his fifth No. 1 qualifier this year and 24th in his career and will face Cameron Ferre to open eliminations. He takes a 22-point lead over Brittany Force into raceday, and the past two world champs could meet in the second round. Force qualified eighth with a 3.726 at 331.69 and races Antron Brown in the first round. If Torrence and Force both win, they would face off in the second round.
WITH TITLES ON THE LINE, HAGAN, PRITCHETT, COUGHLIN AND M. SMITH TAKE PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
POMONA, CA – Fresh off two straight wins and still in championship contention, Matt Hagan kept his hot streak 
going by racing to the provisional No. 1 spot in Funny Car during qualifying on Friday at the 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals.
Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the last of six races in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The race also serves as the finale of the 24-race 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Hagan made the quickest run in both qualifying sessions, including a top pass of 3.872-seconds at 333.58 mph in his MOPAR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody to close out the final session on Friday. It gave the two-time world champ eight qualifying bonus points, pulling him closer to points leader Robert Hight. Hagan, a two-time world champ who is racing for his second No. 1 qualifier this season and 35th of his career, entered the weekend 56 points back of Hight, but appears set on make things interesting.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE’S ANDREW HINES LOOKS TO CAP DOMINANT 2019 SEASON WITH SIXTH WORLD TITLE AT AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
POMONA, CA – Andrew Hines has had a spectacular career filled with the most wins in Pro Stock Motorcycle
6.720 record run
history. But the five-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champion has never had a year like he’s enjoyed in 2019, and now Hines looks to put one final stamp on it at this weekend’s 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
With a career-best eight victories and 10 final-round appearances this year, Hines takes a commanding 115-point lead into Pomona for the final race of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The points-and-a-half scenario in play for the season finale means nothing has been clinched yet, but Hines can put a triumphant bow on his incredible season should he pick up a win on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson in Pomona.
“It’s been a fantastic year and I’ve never had a season like this,” said Hines, who has 56 career victories. “I’ve been doing this 18 years and to have the success we’ve had this year, it’s blown everything out of the water. We couldn’t have scripted it any better. It’s been a fun atmosphere this year and hopefully we can cap it off with a big trophy and one heck of a celebration. Harley-Davidson has pushed me to be even better and that support really rejuvenated me.”
PRO STOCK’S ERICA ENDERS EYES THIRD WORLD TITLE, HOPES TO KEEP CONTENDERS AT BAY APPROACHING AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
POMONA, CA – Erica Enders has always thrived in pressure situations throughout a standout NHRA Mello Yello 
Drag Racing Series career, and that’s once again been apparent in 2019. She’s also on the verge of the third world championship in Pro Stock, looking to finish the job in style at this weekend’s 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
She takes a 92-point lead over Elite Motorsports teammate Jeg Coughlin Jr. into the final race of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs, taking full advantage of getting hot at the perfect time. She’s won two playoff races in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, earning the 150th win for females in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history along the way, meaning a third postseason victory would be the perfect capper to a third world title.
“Momentum is huge in this sport,” Enders said. “At the beginning of the year, we had some pretty deep valleys and we had to claw our way out of them. (Team owner) Richard Freeman has put us in position to do the best we can. Peaking at the right time is crucial. We’re going to go out to Pomona to win the race. We’re going to dig deep and I’m excited about the opportunity.”
