The thrilling speed and intense ground-pounding action
of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to Royal Purple Raceway
for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals
presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27-29.
NHRA’s sixth event of the 2012 season will allow NHRA’s huge Texas fan base an
opportunity to see the powerful cars and meet all of the drivers who will be
racing at speeds of more than 320 mph in hopes of qualifying for the Countdown
to the Championship, the NHRA’s six-race playoff. A win at this important
regular season event can mean great momentum as drivers pursue NHRA Full
Throttle world championship glory during the 23-event season that crisscrosses
the United States.
All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will be
on hand to blast their way toward the finish line and keep the fans on the edge
of their seats. The 2011 winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
event were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro
Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The race will be televised on
ESPN2HD.
During the 25th anniversary of one of the major motorsports
attractions held annually in the Lone Star State, a large contingent of female
drivers will take center stage. An event that has been historically dominated
by male drivers, only three women have won races at Royal Purple Raceway during
the event’s first 25 years, including Ashley Force Hood in Funny Car and
Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle. That trend could
change dramatically when NHRA teams hit the ultra-quick dragstrip this season
as a host of talented female drivers are entered.
Leading the charge is second-generation Funny Car driver Courtney Force. With
several solid performances in the early part of the season the driver of the
Traxxas Ford Mustang is sixth in the points standings and has already defeated
her 15-time world champion winning father John in head-to-head competition.
Courtney, 23, will try to match her sister Ashley’s victory here in 2009 as she
has her sights set on claiming the coveted Auto Club Road to the Future Award
which recognizes NHRA’s top performing rookie driver of the season.
Standing in the way of Courtney’s run to the rookie crown is Alexis DeJoria,
who is driving the Del Worsham-tuned Tequila Patron Toyota Camry. Daughter of
famed entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, founder of Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products
and Patron Tequila, Alexis has begun her quest to win races in the Full
Throttle Series after spending many seasons perfecting her craft in the NHRA
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol Funny
Car.
In Pro Stock, Houston native Erica Enders is in hot pursuit of her quest to
become the first female winner in the highly-competitive factory hot rod class.
In 2011 Enders had one of her best seasons behind the wheel and became the
first woman to post a top 10 points finish in Pro Stock. She drove to three
runner-up finishes and claimed two No. 1 qualifying positions to finish sixth
overall in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. This season she is once
again driving the Chevy Cobalt for Victor Cagnazzi Racing and will continue to
work with crew chief Dave Connolly. Another Pro Stock female – one of only six
who have competed in the 200 mph category in NHRA history -- Grace Howell, will
be working to gain more experience behind the wheel of her Cunningham Motorsports
Ford Mustang.
One of the 11 women who have won an NHRA Full Throttle Series event, Hillary
Will, also will be in competition in Houston behind the controls of the Dote
Family Racing Top Fuel dragster. Will, who won her lone Wally trophy at Topeka
in 2008, has been without a ride the past few seasons, but is eager to return
to the sport that she loves so much and make up for lost time.
Several women will be racing for the victory in the Pro Stock Motorcycle
category including two-time Royal Purple Raceway winner Stoffer, who rides the
familiar GEICO Suzuki. Rookie rider Anne Hansen and California native Katie
Sullivan will also be fan-favorites in the two-wheel category.
In the NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the O’Reilly Auto
Parts NHRA Spring Nationals, Leah Pruett is among the pre-race favorites behind
the wheel of her R2B2 Racing Ford Mustang. Last season Pruett got a late start
in Pro Mod competition, but gained experience rather quickly and raced victory
at the final two races of the season.
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.
Full Throttle Series qualifying begins on Friday, April 27 with sessions at
2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place
Saturday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
on Sunday, April 29.
To purchase reserved seats please visit or call Royal Purple Raceway at (281)
383-7223 or via the web at www.RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. For more
information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
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