Thu, 31 Aug 2017, 16:31 PM Battle for 10th Spot In Funny Car to be Decided at Prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2017 Auto Imagery, Inc.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. --

Alexis DeJoria

In a loaded Funny Car class, Alexis DeJoria hopes she is hitting her stride at the perfect time. The 2014 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals winner picked up her first victory of the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season in Brainerd, moving to 10th in points. But with the final Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship spot on the line at this weekend's 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, there is still plenty to be decided among a handful of standout drivers at The World's Biggest Drag Race.

DeJoria bumped Pedregon from the 10th spot with the win, but she leads the two-time world champ by just 12 points heading to the world's biggest drag race. Jim Campbell (40 points back), Jonnie Lindberg (53 points out of 10th) and former world champ Del Worsham (60 points back) are all within range as well, adding one juicy and must-see Funny Car storyline to this weekend.

"Winning Brainerd was a huge morale boost for our team," DeJoria said. "It definitely gave us a step up in confidence and came at a great time. Obviously we're not safe in the Top 10, so we're just going to be focused on putting one foot in front of the other. We're not trying to get ahead of ourselves. We just want to enjoy every moment and hope for the best. A lot of people are gunning for that 10th spot right now so we'll see what happens."

Cruz Pedregon

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of a race that will be broadcasted on FOX and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including a live broadcast of finals on both FOX and FS1 on Monday, Sept. 4. Drag racing's grandest event is the 18th of 24 events and the final race of the NHRA regular season, with the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship to follow.

Add in the point-and-a-half system in play for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and it adds up to a thrilling weekend in Indy for Funny Car. Pedregon, a three-time winner at the Big Go, knows full well what is need to perform on the highest stage. But after an early exit in Brainerd bumped him to 11th, the Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry dragster needs a big performance in Indy.

"We're looking forward to it and the challenge, and to see how we stack up," Pedregon said. "For us, it's about consistent performances. Every run is going to be important. Without consistent runs, it's hard to make the car go fast enough to outrun people. The people hovering around this spot are all good cars, so consistency is what I'm looking for."

Jim Campbell

Campbell has excelled in his first full season driving for Jim Dunn, while rookie Lindberg advanced to two final rounds early in the season, continuing to stay in the top 10 mix. Worsham has struggled at times in a 2017 season that saw him return to racing with his father, Chuck Worsham, but he is certainly capable of dialing up something big in Indy, where he won in 2005. For Campbell, there are no nerves, only an excitement level to perform at the world's biggest drag race.

"I'm absolutely looking forward to this," Campbell said. "We need to go at least two rounds. One, we need to qualify and, two, we need to go rounds if we want to get in that top 10 spot. But I couldn't be more thrilled and excited. This is the Super Bowl of drag racing and to be in contention, racing in a sport with the best drivers in the world, I couldn't be more excited to have a shot."

DeJoria has rebounded impressively after early-season struggles and missing three races. After winning in Brainerd with a number of strong runs - jumping four spots in the process - it could be just the start of an excellent finish for the 10,000-horspower Tequila Patron Toyota Camry driver.

Jonnie Lindberg

"I really can't say enough about the guys that I work with," DeJoria said. "It trickles down from the top. (Co-crew chiefs) Nicky (Boninfante) and Tommy (DeLago) have been doing an incredible job chipping away at it. We're getting better and better. The guys are strong and resilient. They've been through a lot and we're still standing. I have a lot of faith in this team right now."

Top Fuel's Schumacher etched his name in Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals history a year ago, becoming the first NHRA driver to reach 10 wins at the prestigious race. He'll look to add to his legacy against points leader Antron Brown and six-time 2017 winner Steve Torrence.

McGaha's first Indy win in Pro Stock came a year ago. Greg Anderson has six wins at the Big Go, second to only Bob Glidden's nine at the race, while others to watch include points leader Bo Butner, rookie Tanner Gray and Drew Skillman.

Hines picked up his second Indy win in 2016 and is after his first win of 2017. Former world champ and 2010 Indy winner LE Tonglet has been dominant this year, winning five races, but will have to hold off reigning world champ Jerry Savoie, Eddie Krawiec and Matt Smith.

Bonus bucks are on the line for qualified drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car in the lucrative Traxxas Nitro Shootout. Top Fuel will run on Saturday evening, while the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car is contested on Sunday. Traxxas Nitro Shootout winners will earn $100,000. Schumacher is the defending winner in Top Fuel, while Courtney Force was the 2016 winner in Funny Car.

Del Worsham

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series also will look to become winners of the prestigious event. The fastest Super Stock cars will challenge for ultimate bragging rights and bonus purse during the popular Mopar HEMI Challenge. After Nitro qualifying, fans can watch the spectacular Muy Caliente Racing jet dragsters sponsored by Lucas Oil and the Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters sponsored by Florida Tech and Matrix System. Jet cars are thrust driven propelled by jet engines with exciting pre-run flame shows.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. Fans also will want to visit NHRA's popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

A special Monday edition of the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk also will take place prior to final eliminations, where many of the sport's most celebrated drivers will walk alongside fans down the historic dragstrip. Fan-favorite vintage racecars will be on display in the Hot Rod Junction, along with several autograph sessions featuring the biggest stars of the sport will be featured.

Downtown Indianapolis will come alive with NHRA excitement at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, when the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Fan Fest comes to Monument Circle. It will feature NHRA race team showcars, classic cars, live music, video displays and giveaways, along with one of the largest autograph sessions of the season, featuring all the fans' favorite drivers. In addition, the official event press conference will take place and the random lottery drawings for the No. 8 positions in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout will be conducted.

The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Sept. 2 with rounds at 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Sept. 3 for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.

FOX national broadcast and FS1 will televise coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, starting with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 3 on FS1 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST. The broadcasts continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 4 starting at 11 a.m. EST, continuing live on FOX at 1 p.m. EST.

Tickets for the world's most prestigious drag race can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate.