NHRA
SPORTSMAN PERFORMANCE BONUS AWARDS INCREASE PURSES
DALLAS — Stanfield Racing Engines has signed on as the Sportsman Performance Bonus Award sponsor for Super 
Stock and the 2017 Division 4 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The Stanfield Racing Engines Sportsman Performance Bonus Award will aim to increase payouts to racers in the Super Stock Eliminator class at all six NHRA Division 4 Lucas Oil events.
With years of experience in the engine building world the Stanfield Racing Engines sponsorship will provide the winners and runner-ups with some extra bonus money this season. The Sportsman Performance Bonus Award is worth an additional $500 for the winner and $250 for the runner-up.
“I would like to thank NHRA for giving Stanfield Racing Engines the opportunity to be a part of the sportsman bonus award program during the 2017 season,” said Aaron Stanfield. “We look forward to seeing you all at the race track.”
SMILEY & COVINGTON LEAD LOCAL RACERS TO WINNER’S CIRCLE IN HOUSTON
HOUSTON, TX – Texas racing was on full display as local racers; Clark Smiley and Joel Covington celebrated with their teams in the winner’s circle following their final round wins at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, Texas Sportsman Challenge at Royal Purple Raceway.
Smiley, Denver City, Texas, ceded the starting line advantage to Ray Goodman, Boerne Texas in the Comp Eliminator final round. However, Smiley was able to pull out the win, registering a victory pass of 7.343 seconds, 183.72 mph; Goodman runner-upped at 7.435 seconds, 179.06 mph.
NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE 2017 DIVISION ET FINALS SCHEDULE
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA announced the Summit Jr. Drag Racing League Division ET Finals for each of the seven 
NHRA divisions. The League offers children 5 to 17 the chance to race half-scale dragsters at many of NHRA’s member tracks as the 2017 season marks the 25th anniversary of the NHRA Summit Jr. Drag Racing League.
Champions will be crowned at each event, kicking off with the West Central Division 5 at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., June 23-25. The Northeast Division 1 will follow with its championship race at Numidia Dragway, Numidia, Pa., August 11-12.
WHITELEY AND RAMPY WINNERS AT GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL – Ann Marie Whiteley and David Rampy raced to victory at this weekend’s NHRA Amalie Motor 
Oil Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Whitely grabbed her fourth national event win in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Rampy added his 93rd national event win.
Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., ran 5.412 seconds, 273.22 mph to defeat Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., who was unable to return to the starting line after breaking following the semifinal round. Whiteley ran the tenth quickest pass and ties John Lombardo for seventh fastest in the history of Top Alcohol Funny Car. The Colorado driver eliminated Bill Naves and Andy Bohl in rounds 1 and 2 before taking out Lombardo to advance to the final round.
THE TEXAS SPORTSMAN CHALLENGE AT ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY
Baytown, TX – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series South Central Division opens its 2017 season at Royal Purple Raceway for the Texas Sportsman Challenge. This is the first of seven events for the division that will run Friday through Sunday, March 24-26. Drivers will be racing to earn points leading to divisional and national championships, as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000.
Classes scheduled to run include; Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division’s SDPC Raceshop Top Sportsman Series and SDPC Raceshop Top Dragster Series will also be run in conjunction with the event. Tickets are $20 each day and children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. The schedule is as follows:
MEYER AND MARTIN RACE TO WINS IN NHRA LUCAS OIL SERIES
GAINESVILLE, FL – Megan Meyer and Ray Martin raced to victory at this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing 
Series at Gainesville Raceway. Meyer grabbed her third win in her fourth final round in Top Alcohol Dragster and Martin took home his first in Top Alcohol Funny Car to go along with his three in dragster
Meyer, Spring Hill, Kan., ran in the 5.20 second range throughout eliminations with a best of 5.243 seconds at 276.86 mph in the final to defeat Rich Bourke, Old Tappan, N.J., clocking in at 5.388, 251.30. Meyer took out Jackie Fricke, Flemington, N.J., in round 1 then ousted Mia Tedesco in round 2 to advance to the final.
Martin, Anchorage, Alaska, faced off against Ulf Leanders, Viksjofors, Sweden, and posted a winning run of 5.498 seconds, 262.69 mph in his ’13 Monte Carlo. Leanders drove to a 5.888 second, 202.21 mph lap for his runner up finish.
NHRA CONTINGENCY PROGRAM ADDED TO SAM TECH FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA announced today the addition of a new contingency program for the School of Automotive 
Machinists & Technology NHRA Factory Stock Showdown with more than 20 postings for the specialty event.
The SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown will kick off the 2017 season at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 16-19 for its first of five events in 2017. The popular series has seen increased car counts across the country and rabid interest from fans of the series.
The program will also be contested at zMAX Dragway, April 28-30; Summit Motorsports Park, June 22-25; the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 30-Sept. 4; and Gateway Motorsports Park, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
LANE FATHER AND SON CROWNED, OLPIN WINS THIRD WALLY OF SEASON
Chandler, AZ – Champions were recognized yesterday for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division 
Drag Race at Wild Horse Motorsports Park. Fans in attendance were treated to Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp, Super Stock, Super Gas, and the rest of the classes that encompass the nationwide sportsman series.
Sunday was a special day for father and son, Jeff and Cody Lane of North Bend, Wash., as both took home divisional Wally trophies. In the Comp Eliminator final round, Jeff Lane, took the starting line advantage running 8.132 148.92 defeating Tony Mandella, Eastvale, Calif., 8.440, 145.09. In the Super Stock finale, Cody Lane , made a victory pass of 8.864, 136.59 outlasting Ray Martin, Anchorage, Alaska, 8.947, 137.98.
NHRA PACIFIC DIVISION OPENS 2017 at WILD HORSE MOTORSPORTS PARK
CHANDLER, AZ – NHRA Pacific Division Points Race opens at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park as the first of seven events in the Pacific Division competition. This Friday through Sunday, March 3-5, 2017 drivers can 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 Pacific Division Top Sportsman Series, Top Dragster Series and Sportsman
Highlighting the event is the 270 mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes as well as the division’s Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Series that will also run with the other sportsman classes at the event. Ticket pricing for the event is $30 per day. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult.
TREADWELL KICKS OFF LUCAS OIL DIVISIONAL SERIES WITH A WIN
ORLANDO, FL – The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series kicked off its first divisional event of season in the southeast division, hitting Orlando Speed World Dragway this past weekend. Drivers from all over the southeast visited the strip to battle head-to-head in the Pro Winter Warmup. Winners were crowned in the Lucas Oil Series classes as well as STOTTS FORD Top Sportsman and Hickory Enclosed Trailers Top Dragster.
Fans were treated to an all Florida final round in Comp Eliminator. Jenny Treadwell of Mount Plymouth, and Steve Schumacher of Jacksonville went toe-to-toe. Treadwell, the reigning Division 2 champion opened up her title defense successfully, making a victory pass of 8.224 seconds, 141.62 mph as Schumacher finished at 8.046 seconds, 166.52 mph.
