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ENNIS, Texas --
Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships. WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas. Track is located at 7500 W. Hwy. 287. Follow I-45 or 35E to Hwy 287, then follow 287 to the track. WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 9-12. PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $1.9 million.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Oct. 10 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 11 -- Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. SUNDAY, Oct. 12 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION: 2002 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Del Worsham, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock. WHAT TO EXPECT: The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series' annual autumn visit to Texas Motorplex usually results in some very happy competitors who are itching at the opportunity to throw loads of horsepower at the only all-concrete quarter-mile on the circuit, usually resulting in very impressive numbers from the 6,000 horsepower beasts. In the Top Fuel ranks, Tony Schumacher has been the hottest driver on the circuit, recently driving his Alan Johnson-tuned U.S. Army dragster to victories at Indianapolis and Memphis, Tenn. Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon will look to improve on his category-leading eight victories and extend his commanding lead over second place driver Doug Kalitta and possibly secure his second consecutive NHRA POWERade title at the Texas facility. Others to keep an eye on will be the Mac Tools duo of Kalitta and his cousin and two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Scott. Also, 2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year and native Texan Darrell Russell in his Joe Amato-owned dragster will pose a threat. The race for the 2003 NHRA Funny Car title has shaped up as a two-man war and no, one of the drivers isn't John Force. The 12-time NHRA Funny Car champ appears locked into the third position after posting just two victories in a disappointing 2003 campaign. The battle for the $400,000 first-place check has come down to Force's teammate Tony Pedregon, who raced Force until the semifinal round at the 2002 season finale in Pomona, Calif., and Whit Bazemore. Both drivers are looking to claim their first series crown. Pedregon, who looked poised to run away with the title with six victories in the first 12 races, has been mired in a second-half slump that has seen him lose a double-digit points lead to Bazemore. Bazemore, who claimed the points lead for the first time in his career at Memphis, Tenn. in mid-Sept., has used a consistent tune-up on his Dodge Funny Car from veteran crew chief Lee Beard to put him in contention for the championship. The Pro Stock championship can also be sewed up in Ennis as a result of Greg Anderson's dominant 2003 performance in his Pontiac Grand Am. Anderson has nine wins and is on pace to break Darrell Alderman's 1991 record for the most Pro Stock victories in one season (11). Other drivers in the factory door-slammer category looking to knock off Anderson are defending series champion Jeg Coughlin and second-place driver Kurt Johnson. FAST FACTS: Current points leaders Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) can clinch NHRA POWERade championships in their respective categories if they finish the event with a lead of 277 points or more. It would be Dixon's second straight Top Fuel championship and the first for Anderson...Anderson's championship would break a five-year run of either Warren Johnson or Jeg Coughlin winning the Pro Stock title...Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Ed "Ace" McCulloch, and Mike Dunn all have won at the Texas Motorplex in both Top Fuel and Funny Car...Pro Stock driver V. Gaines has two career victories, both coming at the Texas Motorplex...Since 1992 Force has been to the final round at the event eight times, winning four. ABOUT THE TRACK: Built by Waco businessman and nitro Funny Car driver Billy Meyer, the Texas Motorplex was billed as drag racing's first "supertrack." The Texas Motorplex opened with a three-story timing tower with 24 corporate suites, permanent restrooms, concession stands and paved pit areas. Texas Motorplex is the only NHRA member track to feature an all-concrete quarter-mile surface.
TRACK RECORDS: Top Fuel - 4.500 seconds by Larry Dixon, Oct. 2001; 330.76 mph by Mike Dunn, Oct. 2001. Funny Car -- 4.753 seconds by Whit Bazemroe, Oct. 2001; 325.37 mph by Bazemore, Oct. 2001. Pro Stock - 6.785 seconds by Kurt Johnson, Oct. 2002; 204.03 mph by Johnson, Oct. 2002. NATIONAL RECORDS: Top Fuel-- 4.441 seconds (Oct. 2003, Mohnton, Pa.) by Tony Schumacher; 333.00 mph (Sept. 2003, Joliet, Ill.) by Doug Kalitta. Funny Car-- 4.721 seconds (May 2003, Joliet, Ill.) by John Force; 329.18 mph (Sept. 2003, Joliet, Ill.) by Gary Scelzi. Pro Stock-- 6.670 seconds (May 2003, Englishtown, N.J.) by Greg Anderson; 207.18 mph (May 2003, Englishtown, N.J.) by Anderson. Pro Stock Bike -- 7.049 seconds (May 2002, Englishtown, N.J.) by Angelle Savoie; 194.10 mph (May 2001, Englishtown, N.J.) by Matt Hines. TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 668-6775, or (214) 373-8000. Tickets also are available at www.texasmotorplex.com. RESERVED SEATS - Thursday: Adult, $10; Junior (6-12 years), $5. Friday: Adult, $30-46; Junior (6-12 years), $5-20. Saturday: Adult, $30-53; Junior (6-12 years), $5-28. Sunday: Adult, $36-62; Junior (6-12 years), $5-30.
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