Wed, 14 May 2003, 06:13 PM 34th annual K & N Filters SuperNationals Fact Sheet |
Courtesy of NHRA Communications |
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. --
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Sportsman competitors in seven categories earn points leading to 2003 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships.
WHERE: Old Bridge Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J. From the North, take N.J. Turnpike South to Exit 9, follow the signs to Rt. 18 South. Go six miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 South five miles. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Go ¼ mile, track entrance on left.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, May 15-18.
PURSE: Cash and contingency awards of more than $2.1 million.
SCHEDULE: THURSDAY, May 15 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. FRIDAY, May 16 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 10 a.m. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:30 and 6 p.m. SATURDAY, May 17 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and sportsman time trials, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. PRO STOCK KING DEMON CROWN rounds at 12:30, 2:30 and 4 p.m. SUNDAY, May 18 -- Gates open at 7 a.m. Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, May 17, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET). Sunday, May 18, ESPN2 will televise two hours of eliminations at 5 p.m. (ET).
2002 EVENT WINNERS: Kenny Bernstein, Top Fuel; Gary Densham, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Antron Brown, Pro Stock Bike
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Rookie Brandon Bernstein hopes to keep the winning streak alive of the famed Budweiser car over
the past two years. Larry Dixon has again been impressive in the Miller Lite dragster and he is
seeking his first career win at Englishtown. The beer cars will find a formidable challenger in
the Mac Tools dragster driven by Doug Kalitta, and Top Fuel legend Shirley Muldowney, who will be
making her final NHRA trip to the Garden State during her retirement tour. Tony Pedregon has been
the dominant driver in Funny Car this season, with team-owner John Force playing catch-up all
year. Defending event winner Gary Densham gives Force Racing three contenders, but Whit Bazemore
and the Matco Tools Dodge Stratus will challenge, as will Ron Capps and Del Worsham. Unlike last
year, Pro Stock has a couple of drivers emerging as the front-runners in the competitive
category. Defending event winner Greg Anderson and current points leader Kurt Johnson have made
early strides to distance themselves from the rest of the competition. Current and former
POWERade champions Jeg Coughlin, Warren Johnson and Jim Yates all figure to contend until the
end. The competitiveness in Pro Stock Bike is nearing that of Pro Stock, with more than 30 bikes
trying to qualify at the first three events of the 2003 season. Current points leader Geno Scali
will try and hold off a worthy bunch of riders as the season progresses. Angelle Savoie hasn't
missed a beat with her new team and teammate, defending event winner Antron Brown. Matco Tools
Suzuki rider Craig Treble is coming off a career-best year and looks to be the first rider in
NHRA history to make a pass under seven seconds and young Andrew Hines would like to earn his
first career victory and put Harley-Davidson in the winner's circle.
FAST FACTS:
Defending POWERade Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon has never won at Englishtown...Force Racing has
accounted for five of the last seven Funny Car victories at Englishtown. Gary Densham won last
year and Tony Pedregon beat John Force in 2001. Force won three times (1996, 1998-'99) and was
the runner-up to Cruz Pedregon in 2000. Force also won at Englishtown in 1993...With a victory,
Angelle Savoie can tie legendary Pro Stock Bike riders John Myers and Dave Schultz for the most
career wins in her category at Englishtown (four)...Warren Johnson, Larry Morgan and Bob Glidden
have each won the Pro Stock King Demon Crown three times. Jeg Coughlin, Bruce Allen, Kurt Johnson
and Jim Yates each have two wins and Darrell Alderman has one victory in the special event.
ABOUT THE TRACK:
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park opened in July of 1965, and has since become the Northeast's
premier drag racing facility. Conceived by Vincent Napp Sr., his brother Louis, along with
Vincent's sons Richard and Vincent, Jr., the former 308-acre farm was converted into a drag strip
in just over a year's time. A great success from the start, "Englishtown", as race fans worldwide
know it, was selected to be an official stop of NHRA's national event tour in 1968, when it held
the NHRA Springnationals. The NHRA national event tour returned to Raceway Park in 1971 with the
NHRA Summernationals. Now known as the K & N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Pep Boys,
the event was moved to May in 1993 to accommodate fans with cooler spring weather and provide
drivers with ideal racing conditions. Constant reinvestment, renovations and expansion of the
property have kept Raceway Park in the forefront of drag racing and the entire motorsports
community. In 1975, a one-mile motocross track was added to the grounds. In 1996, an eighth-mile
drag strip was built to host the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, a program created at Raceway Park.
In 2000 Raceway Park added a motocross practice facility and in 2002 a karting oval and road
course were opened. Now in it's 38th year of operation, the facility is still owned and operated
by the Napp Family and has become an icon in the world of drag racing.
TRACK RECORDS Top Fuel-4.532 seconds by Kenny Bernstein, May 2001; 326.48 mph by Larry Dixon, May 2002 Funny Car-- 4.777 seconds by Tony Pedregon, May 2002; 323.89 mph by John Force, May 1998 Pro Stock-- 6.752 seconds by Jim Yates, May 2002; 203.77 mph by Warren Johnson, May 2002 Pro Stock Bike - 7.049 seconds by Angelle Savoie, May 2002; 194.10 mph by Matt Hines, May 2001 NATIONAL RECORDS Top Fuel-- 4.477 seconds (June 2001, Joliet, Ill.), 332.18 mph (Oct. 2001, Reading, Pa.) by Kenny Bernstein Funny Car-- 4.731 seconds (Oct. 2001, Reading, Pa.) by John Force; 326.87 mph (Feb. 2002, Pomona, Calif.) by Gary Densham Pro Stock-- 6.720 seconds (April 2003, Houston) by Warren Johnson; 205.57 mph (April 2003, Houston) by Kurt Johnson Pro Stock Bike - 7.049 seconds (May 2002, Englishtown) by Angelle Savoie; 194.10 mph (May 2001, Englishtown) by Matt Hines
TICKETS: For tickets, call (732) 446-7800. Tickets also available at Ticketmaster, nhra.com, and RacewayPark.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) Thurs.: Adult, $10; Junior (6-12 years), free. Sat.: Adult, $40; Junior (6-12 years), $10. Sun.: Adult, $45; Junior (6-12 years) $10; Child (5 years and under), free with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day. RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) Fri.: Adult, $37; Junior (6-12 years), $18; Child (5 years and under), $8. Sat.: Adult, $50; Junior (6-12 years), $20; Child (5 years and under), $10. Sun.: Adult, $60; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $15.
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