NHRA
S. TORRENCE, HIGHT AND HARTFORD EARN WINS AT RAIN-DELAYED AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
BAYTOWN, TX – Three-time defending Top Fuel world champ Steve Torrence finally conquered Houston Raceway Park, racing to the 
victory on Monday at the 34th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park.
Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) also won in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Eliminations were postponed to Monday due to inclement weather on Sunday.
The Texas native Torrence pedaled to a 4.001-second pass at 260.06 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster to beat veteran Doug Kalitta in the final round, earning this third win this season and extending his points lead. He reached the final round with wins against Mitch King and Clay Millican, going an impressive 3.711 at 327.66 and 3.703 at 323.81 to reach the final. The victory is also the 43rd career win for Torrence, who had three final-round appearances in Houston, including one at the race last fall, before coming through with a winning performance on Monday.
TASCA, S. TORRENCE AND GLENN GRAB NO. 1 SPOTS DURING RAIN-SHORTENED QUALIFYING AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS
BAYTOWN, TX – Funny Car points leader Bob Tasca III powered to the top spot right before the rain came, taking the No. 1 qualifying position in impressive fashion on Saturday during the 34th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Pro Stock completed Saturday’s two qualifying sessions, but only one session of Top Fuel was completed due to weather. Funny Car was interrupted midway through its second qualifier on Saturday.
By then, Tasca had vaulted to the top in Funny Car with his strong pass of 3.908-seconds at 331.53 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, making one of the final runs of the second session before inclement weather wiped out the rest of qualifying. It gave Tasca his first No. 1 qualifier of 2021 and sixth overall. With two wins under his belt this year, Tasca will look to add another and win for the first time in Houston. He takes on Jim Campbell to open eliminations.
DEFENDING PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP ERICA ENDERS AFTER ANOTHER HOMETOWN WIN AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
BAYTOWN, TX – Following a first-round loss last weekend in uncharacteristic fashion, the best thing for defending back-to-back Pro Stock 
world champ Erica Enders is to get right back in the car, which she will do at this weekend’s 34th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. It’s also at her hometown track is just an added bonus for the four-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series champ.
Enders loves the chance to put on a show where her drag racing career started, and there will be plenty of family and friends on hand to watch the fan-favorite driver try to win for the third time in Pro Stock in Houston. After a first-round loss last weekend in Charlotte, it’s also a chance to get that bad taste out of her mouth in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.
“It’s nice to get another shot at things and redeem yourself, and I think that’s what we’re going to do,” Enders said. “Being it’s my hometown track and we’ve won here before, it’s a track that’s been good to us. I’m lucky to have the best crew chiefs and everyone is working hard to get back on track. I really love going home and it’s always fun to race in front of a hometown crowd. We’ll have lots of family and friends there, and I’m excited about that.”
NHRA, CONSTANT AVIATION LAUNCH BOUNTY PROGRAM
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA and Constant Aviation have teamed up to launch the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program.
Purpose of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program is to drive interest from both fan and drivers in the Factory Stock Showdown class as well as increase available prize money.
The program will see a “bounty” placed on the head of the previous event winner. As the Gainesville winner, driver Aaron Stanfield is now being hunted by the rest of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown field. If a competitor is able to beat Stanfield at this weekend’s upcoming Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented By Pennzoil in Houston, that driver will receive a $1,000 prize. If Stanfield takes home the win in Houston, his bounty is upped to $2,000.
“As the new sponsor of the Factory Stock Showdown, we wanted to shake things up a little,” said Constant Aviation Chief Executive Officer David H. Davies. “And by introducing the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program at Houston Raceway Park during the Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals, we expect to add to the excitement for both fans and drivers.”
NHRA, FOX SPORTS ANNOUNCE 2021 NHRA CAMPING WORLD DRAG RACING TELEVISION SCHEDULE
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA and FOX Sports announced today the remainder of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series television 
schedule.
The 2021 Camping World Series features eight telecasts on the FOX Broadcast Network (FOX), including the season-opener in Gainesville which saw viewership of nearly 2 million NHRA fans glued to their TVs during eliminations.
One of the seven events remaining on FOX will be the prestigious Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. NHRA fans will see their favorite drivers battle for their place in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
“The strength of our partnership with FOX Sports is evident with our 2021 programming slate,” said Steve Reintjes, NHRA Vice President of Broadcasting. “Our successful season-launch on FOX in Gainesville was followed by quality productions in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and the Charlotte 4-wide. We’re excited to hit our stride with a strong programming lineup and an exciting opportunity to race adjacent to an NFL singleheader on FOX during our Charlotte 2 fall event.”
NITRO STARS LEAH PRUETT AND MATT HAGAN LOOKING TO PUT ON SHOW AT MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL
BAYTOWN, TX – It hasn’t been quite the start Leah Pruett wanted to her 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, but the Top Fuel star has a great opportunity to change that this weekend and the venue couldn’t be more ideal.
Racing in her 11,000-horsepower Pennzoil dragster, Pruett will look to put on a show at her sponsor’s race, the 34th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The eight-time event winner is searching for her first victory of the 2021 season, as well as her second victory at the facility. The first came in 2017 and Pruett will look to replicate that during a busy and thrilling weekend where she will also be competing in the popular Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class.
NHRA, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK ANNOUNCE MOPAR EXPRESS LANE NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL AS TWO-DAY EVENT
GLENDORA, CA – Because of the impact of rain on the facility this week, and forecasted additional rain, NHRA and Houston Raceway Park have made the difficult decision to cancel racing action on Friday at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented By Pennzoil, moving the event to a two-day race.
On-track activity is cancelled on Friday, May 21, with all the action packed into Saturday and Sunday. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will have two qualifying sessions on Saturday, May 22, before race day on Sunday, May 23. The Top Fuel Harley, Factory Stock Showdown, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes will also compete this weekend, with a two-day schedule.
TASCAPARTS.COM, BANDERO PREMIUM TEQUILA NAMED TITLE RIGHTS SPONSORS OF NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS
GLENDORA, CA – NHRA announced today TascaParts.com and Bandero Premium Tequila as the title rights sponsors of the NHRA New England Nationals.
The TascaParts.com NHRA New England Nationals presented by Bandero Premium Tequila is scheduled for June 11-13 at the historic New England Dragway. Fans will see intense racing action from nitro-burning Top Fuel and Funny Car classes as well as the ultra-competitive Pro Stock division.
“We are thrilled to bring TascaParts.com and Bandero Premium Tequila on board for the NHRA New England Nationals,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “These two companies have deep roots in the New England area and we look forward to bringing these brands to the loyal NHRA New England Nationals fans.”
Tickets are on now sale for the TascaParts.com NHRA New England Nationals presented by Bandero Premium Tequila and can be purchased at NHRA.com/tickets.
For more information about the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule, visit NHRA.com.
TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMP STEVIE “FAST” JACKSON GETS WIN AT E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES EVENT AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
CONCORD, NC – After losing on a holeshot in the final round of the previous event in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing 
Series, two-time defending world champ Stevie “Fast” Jackson made up for on Sunday, winning in the final-round quad at zMAX Dragway.
The race was the third event of the 2021 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season, and Jackson picked up his first victory of the season and the 11th in his standout career.
He went an impressive 5.685-seconds at 253.75 mph in his blown Bahrain 1 Racing Camaro, racing past a final-round quad that also included Brandon Snider, Mike Castellana and Jeffery Barker. Castellana broke before staging, while Barker ran into trouble early in the run. Snider went 5.717 at 250.97, but Jackson had the lead early and never relinquished it en route to a satisfying victory.
J. FORCE, S. TORRENCE, GLENN AND JOHNSON GRAB THRILLING WINS AT NGK NTK NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS AT ZMAX DRAGWAY
CONCORD, NC – Sixteen-time world champ John Force added another win to his legendary Funny Car career on Sunday, clinching his 
152nd victory at the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fourth race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Force wrapped up a spectacular weekend at zMAX Dragway with a run of 3.916-seconds at 328.78 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK/BlueDEF Platinum Chevrolet Camaro SS in the final round. He held off a standout final quad that also featured J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria, handing Force his first victory since winning the U.S. Nationals at Indy in 2019. The legendary Force, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, went as quick as 3.897 at 330.31 on Sunday, crediting a strong team and his love of racing at zMAX Dragway to earn his second four-wide win at Charlotte.
