NHRA
Mickey Thompson Sponsors NHRA Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series
STOW, OH – Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has signed on as a multi-year sponsor of the popular Top Fuel 
Harley motorcycle category competing at select events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Top Fuel Harley riders have thrilled fans at five NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competitions so far this winter and spring, with three more events yet to come: the NHRA New England Nationals, the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and the NHRA Northwest Nationals.
“Fans across the country have been amazed by the speed and skills of the Top Fuel Harley competitors this season,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “We are excited about and welcome the involvement of Mickey Thompson and its support of what will now be known as the Mickey Thompson Tires NHRA Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series.”
FIVE-TIME WINNER JASON COAN LEADS NHRA JEGS SPORTSNATIONALS
BOWLING GREEN, KY – After finishing as runner-up a season ago, Comp Eliminator standout Jason Coan returned
to his winning ways to lead the list of champions crowned on Sunday at the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky.
Coan won the race for the fifth time, as the Kokomo, Ind., native posted a winning time of 8.717 at 113.14 mph in his dragster. Coan, who qualified No. 14, beat Terry Smith in the final round after Smith suffered a red-light disqualification.
LUCAS OIL SERIES RACES INTO MISSION RACEWAY
MISSION, BC – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Northwest Division races into Mission Raceway for the 
second of six events in the division. This Friday through Sunday, June 2-4, drivers will be racing to earn points leading to divisional, regional, and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.
The 270 mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Cars highlight the event, along with the WDRL Pro Mods and the Lucas Oil sportsman classes. The division’s JBS Top Sportsman Series and Rig Rentals Top Dragster Series will make their appearances at the event as well. Tickets are $15 on Friday, and $20 on Saturday and Sunday, with children 12 and under admitted free daily with a paid adult.
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY TO HOST BURNDOWN AT SUNDOWN
JOLIET, IL – The NHRA North Central Division is at Route 66 Raceway on June 2-4 for the Burndown at Sundown. 
The Burndown at Sundown on Saturday evening starts at 5:45 p.m. with Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car qualifying along with Jet Cars and a Wheel stander capping off with a Fireworks Finale.
Eliminations continue Sunday at 9 a.m. with Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car running eliminations at noon. Racing categories include Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s Top Dragster Series and Top Sportsman Series will also run in conjunction with the event.
Admission tickets are available for adults at $20 each day. Children age 12 & under are free on Friday and Sunday. Saturday pricing for children is $5.
FRICKE FAMILY WINS BIG AT MAPLE GROVE
Reading, PA – The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series hit the Northeast division, for the second time of 2017. Fans were in 
attendance as racers from all over the nation visited the drag strip to compete on Memorial Day Weekend. Husband and wife Shawn and Jackie Fricke, led the winners circle at Maple Grove Raceway Sunday, along with their nephew Cory Ream.
Top Alcohol Dragster champion, Jackie Fricke worked her way through the field, facing off against Richard Bourke in all New Jersey Top Alcohol Dragster final round. Fricke of Flemington, didn’t have too much trouble returning to winner’s circle as Bourke of Tappan tripped the red light at the starting line. Jackie Fricke recorded a victory pass of 5.284 seconds, 277.66 mph.
The Top Alcohol Funny Car final round featured an east versus west coast battle. Sean Bellemeur, Placentia, Calif., ran 5.470 seconds, 267.91 mph edging out Northeast TAFC standout Phil Burkart, Yorkville, N.Y., who runner upped at 5.553 seconds, 267.06 mph.
Ron Capps, Antron Brown, Tanner Gray, Stevie Fast Jackson, Austin Williams and Alan Reinhart on WFO Radio NHRA Nitro
HOLLYWOOD, FL – Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals Winners Edition featuring “Winnerviews” with Ron 
Capps, Antron Brown, Tanner Gray, Steve Jackson, and Austin Williams.
Ron Capps discusses his historic 4th consecutive Funny Car win, his role in stopping the last 4 in a row, and hanging with WFO listeners in Topeka.
Top Fuel winner, Antron Brown gives the details of his victory, talks a little Top Gear America, and has a message for Stevie Fast.
Pro Stock winner Tanner Gray takes a break from his school work to debrief on his 2nd win of the season.
BOB WILBER’S “BATS, BALLS, & BURNOUTS” AUTOBIOGRAPHY ON SALE NOW
Jumps into Top 50 on first day on Amazon.com
DALLAS — Veteran sports personality Bob Wilber has released his long-awaited autobiography, “Bats, Balls, & 
Burnouts” with publisher Outskirts Press. It is on sale to the public, effective immediately, and can be purchased online at Amazon.com and other internet retailers. It can also be obtained in both print and digital versions. In just its first day on amazon.com it moved into the Top 50 Sports Biographies or Memoirs on sale.
The memoir traces Wilber’s life from the age of three to the present day, including tales of a childhood as the youngest son of a former Major League catcher (Del Wilber) and a radio-personality mother (Taffy Wilber) before recounting numerous stories about his own baseball career, his sports marketing experiences, and three stints as a senior-level executive for professional indoor soccer franchises in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Indianapolis.
In 1991 Wilber was named general manager of Heartland Park Topeka, and in that position he saw his first drag race. In 1996, he began a career working directly for National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drivers as a team manager and public relations representative, initially for Funny Car star Whit Bazemore, followed by Funny Car driver Del Worsham (1997-2008), as well as Worsham’s Funny Car teammates Frank Pedregon (2000-2002), Johnny Gray (2003-2004), Phil Burkart (2004-2006), and Jeff Arend (2007). Wilber then completed his 20-year career with Funny Car star Tim Wilkerson (2009-2015).
MAPLE GROVE TO HOST LUCAS OIL SHOWDOWN AT SUNDOWN
READING, PA – Maple Grove Raceway hosts the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Northeast division on May 26-28 highlighted by the Showdown at Sundown on Saturday. The event is one of 46 scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.
Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s MXI/Magnaflux Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Series’ presented by Select Performance will also run in conjunction with the event.
Saturday night features the Showdown at Sundown with Jet Funny Cars, along with the Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Car eliminations once the sun sets beginning at 5 p.m. See schedule below for details on run times. Pricing for each day is $20 per day, children 12 and under are free with paid adult. A special $25 per car load price is offered on Saturday after 3 p.m.
LUCAS OIL WINNERS CROWNED AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
COMMERCE, GA – In the final results of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division event at 
Atlanta Dragway, past national champions, Kevin Brannon and Jeffrey Barker, as well as a double up win from David Rampy highlighted the list of winners for the fifth of seven events in the Southeast division.
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., gained two trophies for his collection, taking home the win in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock. In Comp Eliminator Rampy ran down Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., posting a winning lap of 7.230 seconds at 183.62 mph. Rampy’s win in Super Stock was won at the tree, defeating Alain Cauchon of Drummondville, Quebec.
Winners Crowned at Cavalcade of Stars
Spectacular racing was in the spotlight at the 11th Annual Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, May 19-22, 
2017 at Summit Motorsports Park.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event which went into overtime when rain rolled in on its last scheduled day also featured jet engine-powered vehicles and fireworks.
Top Alcohol Dragster driver JP Gutierrez led qualifying with a 5.42 and 261 mph hit from his MGM Grand Detroit/Children’s Center of Detroit car and won with a 5.52 at 259 mph over Brandon Greco’s 6.17 at 128 mph. The top qualified position and the win are firsts for the Michigan-based driver who’s been working his way up in the category he’s been in for five years.
