Backstretch Motorsports

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 15) — “Big Daddy” Don Garlits didn’t do it. Neither did Shirley Muldowney.

By qualifying for this weekend’s 44th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals Saturday afternoon, 38-year-old Jeg Coughlin Jr. did something two of his drag racing idols never accomplished — he won a fourth world championship in a professional category.

Streaking through NHRA’s ‘08 playoffs with an exceptionally strong effort that produced a victory, two runner-up finishes, a semifinal ending, and a quarterfinal result, Coughlin arrived at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona needing only to make the 16-car field to clinch the 2008 title. He’s now won four Pro Stock championships since the start of the new millennium (2000, ‘02, ‘07, and ‘08) to go with his 1992 Super Gas world title.

[read more...]

Neff, Connolly also earn provisional poles at fourth of six races in the Countdown to1

DINWIDDIE, Va. – Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher blistered the Virginia Motorsports Park track with a run of 3.771 seconds at 317.05 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position after the first of two days of qualifying Friday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.

Mike Neff (Funny Car) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) rounded out the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 22nd of 24 races this season and the fourth race in the six-race NHRA Playoff, the Countdown to 1.

[read more...]

ENNIS, Texas – Larry Dixon’s up to bat with two strikes and a day to go.

At the past two events, Dixon’s qualified No. 1 on the strength of his provisional nights of qualifying. And at the last two events, he didn’t make it out of the second round on Sunday.

[read more...]

Beckman, Humphreys and Johnson also earn victories at first NHRA drag race at zMax Dragway

CONCORD, N.C. – Tony Schumacher became the NHRA all-time Top Fuel wins leader Sunday at the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway by racing to his 53rd career victory and moving past NHRA legend and longtime record holder Joe Amato.

Jack Beckman, Justin Humphreys and Steve Johnson also were winners in their respective categories at the first of six races in the NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to 1, NHRA’s playoffs.

[read more...]

Funny Car legend John Force fails to qualify in zMax Dragway debut and Countdown to 1 opener

CONCORD, N.C. – Larry Dixon put a temporary hold on Tony Schumacher’s recent dominance by racing to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel Saturday at the NHRA Carolinas Nationals. Meanwhile, Funny Car icon John Force failed to qualify in his debut at the spectacular zMAX Dragway and the opening race of the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s playoffs.

[read more...]

CONCORD, N.C. – It’s time.

After a year of tracking press releases and updated photos, and after more than a year of rumors, the NHRA POWERade Series finally comes to the heart of NASCAR country Sept. 11-14 for the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals. It’ll be the first race of six in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs and the beginning of the march to the end of the 2008 season for the elite drivers of the world’s fastest motorsport. The race will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.

[read more...]

Robert Hight, Dave Connolly, and Steve Johnson round out winners at 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five-time champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday with his decisive final-round win over longtime foe Doug Kalitta.

[read more...]

Larry Dixon, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Matt Smith qualify No. 1

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Cruz Pedregon capped a momentous Sunday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals by defeating Tim Wilkerson to win the U.S. Smokeless Showdown, the annual bonus race for Funny Cars, and the $100,000 first prize that comes with the title.

[read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS – Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta knows that he must do well at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals to maintain his position in the Top 10 of the Countdown to the Championship. A win at his sponsor’s race would be the icing on the cake.

Kalitta was on a high two years ago when he nearly won the POWERade Series world championship only to lose it to Tony Schumacher on the final run of the season. In 2007, Kalitta had a difficult season but 2008 seems to be a turnaround year. He is 10th in the points and looking to move on to the Countdown to 1.

[read more...]

CLERMONT, Ind. – Funny Car driver Ashley Force will start from the No. 1 position in the NHRA U.S. Smokeless Showdown on Aug. 31 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, as she goes for her first victory in the special bonus event for qualified Funny Car drivers.

Force is the first female driver to qualify for the Funny Car bonus event in NHRA history.

[read more...]