NHRA Announces 2007 POWERade Countdown to the Championship

NHRA Article

RONNIE SOX MEMORIAL RACE - October 19

East Coast "Drag Times" Presents the 1st RONNIE SOX MEMORIAL RACE on Thursday October 19, 2006 at ROXBORO MOTORSPORTS DRAGWAY

Special guests Diane Sox, Buddy Martin, Joe Jacono and "The Rolling Stoned" funny car, Bob Rosetty's "Tweety's Rat" Vega funny car, Shirl Greer's "Chained Lightning" funny car, Dave Heitz and "CHRISTINE" the pro mod, Marco DeCearis "Black Arrow",
Fred Bear and the S&S crew, Sox Sinclair 63 Z-11 Chevy plus many more Gassers, NSS cars and Jr. dragsters.

A pre-show event for the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame to be held in Henderson , NC October, 20 - 22, 2006.

Gates Open - 10 AM,
Time Trials - 11 AM
Race - 8:00 PM

For more information contact: Julio Marra, Promoter - 941-876-1587

In Memory of Ronnie Sox Decals

The Ronnie Sox Foundation has been formed by Diane Sox and Buddy Martin to aid several of Ronnie's favorite charities. Proceeds raised through this foundation will support charities in Ronnie's Memory among them being St. Jude Children's Research Foundation and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. Anyone making a donation will receive a specially created "In Memory of Ronnie Sox" decal crafted specifically for the Foundation. Send your contributions, payable to the "Ronnie Sox Foundation," to Diane Sox, at 1673 Independence Court, Richmond, VA 23238. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the prompt return of your decal(s).

Gassers coming to the Southern Nostalgia Shootout, October 27-29

A good field of Gassers is expected to participate in the Southern Nostalgia Shootout this October at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

Headlining the gassers is the restored Prock and Howell blown flip-top 33 Willys from Michigan. Also planning to attend is Don Brugman with his Indiana 48 Austin, Dave Cobb and his 33 Willys, and Mack Presley with the Hartsoe Brothers Anglia. The Classic Gassers circuit will be
well-represented with Roger McConnell's Mighty Mouse Anglia, a 41 Blown Plymouth, and a Blown 52 Willys. Larry McLendon is bringing his blown small block Chevy-powered Willys from Florida. Bunky Bobo will have his award winning restored Hemi Hurricane Willys on memory lane.

Gassers will participate in a dial your own event for $1000 first place. Cars running 7.99 to 8.99 seconds will run against each other. There will also be a class for cars dialing in at 8.99 to 10.50
seconds. The two class winners will run off for the money. $1000 to the winner and $500 to the runner-up. The two class runner-ups get $250 each. Gassers who wish to dial in slower than 10.50 seconds are welcome to run in the Quick 100 Class.

For more information on the Southern Nostalgia Shootout, go to www.SGMPracing.com .

Marvin T. Smith

COOVER AND WILSON RUNNER UP TWICE IN ONE DAY AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

EVENT: Summit ET Race at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
by Tim Glover

(Commerce, GA - August 26) After completing the rain and equipment delayed Challenge races in the morning, Dennis Coover (Super Pro) and Harold Wilson (Sportsman) stayed busy. Both Coover and Wilson enjoyed a final round appearance in the morning's Challenge event, and then continued that streak with some ultra close racing en route to their second final round appearance in one day, at the conclusion of the regularly Summit ET Race.

All classes were run on the eighth mile course to prepare for the upcoming NHRA Division Two Summit ET Finals.

Jonathan Anderson, nephew of the ever tough racer David Simmons, won the Spring Bracket Bash held earlier this year at Atlanta Dragway, went deep into rounds a few weeks later, and then returned to this event to take top honors in Super Pro. Anderson used his Griffin, GA based '03 Mullis dragster to full advantage through the rounds, and met Dennis Coover ('04 Fab Concepts dragster), who was making his second final round appearance in as many races. Anderson's clutch .005 react helped win the final, as Coover reacted with an otherwise great .018. Seeing Coover was going to cross the finish line first, Anderson, who anticipated Coover breaking out, "cut him loose", slowing his car to a 5.11 at 126.51mph (5.09 dial). Coover had a 4.93 dial on his car in the morning event, and still carried the same dial in the evening event. Unfortunately for Coover, he also ran a virtually identical ET to the morning race, breaking out with a 4.925 at 137.86mph. Cody Martin, another Atlanta Dragway Jr Dragster "graduate", earned his way to the semi-final round with his Buford, GA located '66 Chevy II. "I was just doing my best," Anderson quietly added. He then thanked David Simmons, his dad John Anderson, and his wife Melissa, who was also in competition today.

Jacob Rutledge of Braselton, GA made his sixth 2006 Atlanta Dragway Pro final round appearance, and enjoyed his third win of they year by breaking out less in his '79 Capri than his friend and Rutledge-Warren Ford teammate Howard Warren. Rutledge posted a way under 7.46, 94.03mph pass (7.53 dial), but Warren's '72 Maverick broke out even more with an on-the-brakes 7.16 at 90.44mph (7.24 target). Mike Jones ('77 Mustang II - Covington, GA) and Toby Barnes ('77 LUV truck - Palmetto, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round. With one race to go, Rutledge is solidly in second place in the points chase, one round behind leader and defending champion Chris Carlile.

Chad Brewer, who hails from Kennesaw, GA, is also a frequent visitor to the 2006 Atlanta Dragway Sportsman winner's circle. He and his Team Lowbuck racing friends went many rounds, including friend Tracy Schaffer, who finished in the semi-final round. Brewer talked her and her husband into coming to today's event, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Brewer and his '83 Thunderbird were both on their marks in the final. Brewer had a great .017 react, and the car put a 9.80 at 73.74mph (9.79 dial) on the scoreboards. Harold Wilson from Winder, GA was also having a great day, finishing runner up with his beautiful blue '74 Nova SS in the morning, and then making the final in the evening. His reaction time of .001 seconds was nearly
untouchable, but unfortunately, just like the morning event, his car discovered some extra ET down track, and broke out again with an 8.59 at 77.45 (8.62 dial). Tracy Schaffer ('05 Dakota - Austell, GA) and Chris Stanley ('86 Camaro - Loganville, GA) finished in the semi-finals.

Multi time track champ Joshua Sisson from Gainesville, GA earned his second win of the season in 8-12 Jr Dragster, and moved closer to second place in the points chase. The 12 year old Sisson had a telepathic .003 react in the final, and then took full advantage of a .090 second holeshot to slow his machine to 8.99 at 68.72mph (8.92 dial) against Ashton Shubert of Commerce,
GA. The 13 year old Shubert's race car posted a respectable, but second across the stripe 9.14 at 70.09mph. Blake Griffith (12 - Homer, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

"I was very, very lucky," stated 13-17 Jr Dragster winner Brandon Thompson (15 - Douglasville, GA), who moved into the top five in points courtesy of his final round defeat of Taylor Ramsey (13 - Commerce, GA). Thompson and Ramsey were close together in the reaction time department, and also close at the finish line, separated by only .007 seconds. Thompson actually broke out with a close 8.007 at 81.44mph (8.01 dial), and Ramsey crossed the big end stripe first, but broke out more with a 9.257 at 69.08mph (9.28 dial) in the process. Chase Mullinax (14 - Buford, GA) earned a semi-finalist trophy for his day's work.

Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2006 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jonathan Anderson '03 Mullis dragster Griffin, GA 5.11 126.51 (5.09)
R/U: Dennis Coover '04 Fab Concepts Cartersville, GA 4.925 137.86 (4.93)
Semi: Cody Martin '66 Chevy II Buford, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 7.46 94.03 (7.53)
R/U: Howard Warren '72 Maverick Douglasville, GA 7.16 90.44 (7.24)
Semi: Mike Jones '77 Mustang II Covington, GA
Semi: Toby Barnes '77 LUV truck Palmetto, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 9.80 73.74 (9.79)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA 8.59 77.45 (8.62)
Semi: Tracy Schaffer '05 Dakota Austell, GA
Semi: Chris Stanley '86 Camaro Loganville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 12 Gainesville, GA 8.99 68.72 (8.92)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 13 Commerce, GA
Semi: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brandon Thompson 15 Douglasville, GA 8.007 81.44 (8.01)
R/U: Taylor Ramsey 13 Commerce, GA 9.25 69.08 (9.28)
Semi: Chase Mullinax 14 Buford, GA
Semi:

OWENS, FORRESTER, ABNEY AND WILSON WIN NATIONAL DRAGSTER CHALLENGE, FANCHER AND MARSH WIN JUNIOR DRAGSTER CHALLENGE

EVENT: National Dragster Challenge and Junior Drag Racing Challenge event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006

by Tim Glover

(Commerce, GA - August 19 event, finished on August 26) The National Dragster Challenge was originally set for August 12, but Mother Nature had her say, so the event was moved to August 19. A couple of equipment problems then caused the event to be re-scheduled again to the morning of August 26. Although hot, the weather was perfect to complete the event on the morning of the 26th. In addition to the regular prizes, all winners of the National Dragster Challenge were awarded a coveted "Wally" trophy and a National Dragster Challenge cap. The Jr Dragster Challenge was also re-scheduled to the morning of August 26, and the two winners (in younger and older Jr Dragster) were awarded special trophies and an LED illuminated, laser
engraved acrylic Jr Dragster trophy.

All classes were run on the eighth mile course to prepare for the upcoming NHRA Division Two Summit ET Finals.

Super Pro is the fastest and closest class in Summit ET bracket racing, and the racers in the final round, Phil Owens of Lithia Springs, GA and Dennis Coover from Cartersville, GA, were at the top of the class today with stellar runs. Coover left the starting line first in his '04 Fab Concepts
dragster with a perfect .000 second reaction time, and Owens matched him with a deadly .001 react. Coover actually crossed the big end stripe first, but broke out with an oh-so-close 4.928 at 140.86mph (4.93 dial). Owens completed a .005 second package with a 4.794 at 144.48mph (4.79 target). The Snap-On Tools guy, Marty Wiles ('05 Mullis dragster - Tyrone, GA) and
Michael Brown ('96 Horton dragster - Covington, GA) finished their day in the semi-final round. "That thing was dead-on every run," exclaimed a happy Owens. He then mentioned his win came with the help of his PAR 598 powered '2005 M&M dragster and his wife of 28 years, Donna Owens. Donna then said this was Owen's first "Wally" in 39 years of bracket racing.

Dickey Forrester from Hickory Flat, GA is no stranger to the winner's circle, and added the National Dragster Challenge "Wally" trophy to his collection today after defeating a red-lighting Stephen Daniel in the final. Both race cars had been right on the numbers all day, and Forrester capped off the event by carding a dead-on 7.098 at 96.26mph in his '68 Firebird. Daniel made his job easier, as his Covington, GA based '83 S10 pickup left the starting line a bare .001 seconds before the green light came on, which rewarded him with a close up view of the dreaded tomato colored bulb. Defending champion Chris Carlile ('69 Camaro - Canton, GA) was the lone
semi-finalist. Merrilyn Forrester, Dickey's wife of 26 years, was present to cheer him along. "We're still in love as much as we ever were, and haven't been married long enough," added Merrilyn, who was Forrester's high school sweetheart.

Cumming, GA racer Mel Abney has been finishing close to the 2006 winner's circle all season, and chose one of the best days of the year to win with his Sportsman '67 Camaro. Abney, a previous track champion who also won the 2005 National Dragster Challenge, enjoyed the instant win as soon as opponent Harold Wilson of Winder, GA left the starting line with the cherry colored bulb glowing. Abney then legged it on out through the finish line, posting an 8.50 at 84.49mph (8.47 dial). Wilson chose to run his car on out also, putting an 8.59 at 79.58mph on the scoreboards (8.64 dial). Mark Hancock ('01 Cherokee - Commerce, GA), who just enjoyed a win at the August 20 Snap On Tools event, was the sole semi-finalist. This was Abney's first
win for 2006, although he has finished runner up, and numerous times in the semi-finals. "I think I was lucky today. Last week the car was good, and it was near dead on today. It was definitely a good time, and we had a lot of good competition today," added a happy Abney.

Michael Wilson of Tallapoosa, GA comes from a family of winners, and at the conclusion of today's event, his '94 Suzuki Katana was the last bike standing. Wilson said he thought something was wrong at the starting line at the last moment, and was preparing to back his bike up when he saw the tree activate and his opponent Paul Cavanaugh leave the line with his Loganville, GA based '02 Suzuki Hayabusa. Wilson hurried up and pulled himself together,
launched, and to his relief, watched the win light pop up in his lane 5.242 seconds later (he ran 5.24 at 129.47mph on a 5.23 dial). Cavanaugh broke out with a heart breaking 6.392 at 110.44mph (6.40 dial). Joe Roach ('06 Kawasaki ZX14 - Lawrenceville, GA) ended his day in the semi-final round. Wilson's brother, Bruce, won the Pro final in the 2001 Division Two Summit
ET finals, Michael won the 2002 Division Two Summit ET finals in Motorcycle, and his mom, Sue Wilson, finished runner up in the 2005 Division Two Summit ET Finals. Wilson thanked his wife Melissa for her help, and also thanked his mom and dad, Jessie and Sue Wilson, for all their help.

Thirteen year old Team PTI racer Justin Fancher from Loganville, GA enjoyed winning the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr Drag Racing League Challenge in his final year of 8-12 Jr Dragster racing. Fancher was on his game, using a large holeshot advantage to trim the elapsed time of his car to 9.14 at 68.38mph (9.09 dial). His opponent, Blake Griffith (12 - Homer, GA) ran a very close, but second across the finish line, 8.92 at 73.88mph (8.91 dial). Wesley Mayfield (10 - Gainesville, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy. "Thanks to George and the whole crew, Tara Fine Jewelry and Team PTI," said Fancher. His dad, Clay, then added, "Maybe he's beating his 'redlightitis' now. This was his first win for 2006." Fancher enjoyed receiving the big trophy and the very nice laser engraved, LED lit acrylic Jr Dragster trophy.

Megan "Doodle" Marsh had never even enjoyed a final round appearance in 13-17 Jr Dragster prior to the 2006 NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr Drag Racing League Challenge, but she picked a great race to get her first win. Marsh was actually a bit tardy at the starting line, but her car was right on with a .01 over 8.27 at 77.98mph (8.26 target). Her opponent, multi time champ
"Mad Matt" Gillen, went .011 seconds too quick in the final, breaking out with a 7.889 at 80.78mph (7.90 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton (16 - McDonough, GA) was the lone semi-final finisher. Marsh thanked sponsors TNT and Crazy Steve's Fireworks, along with her mom and dad, Marie and Darren. Marsh then dedicated her first win to their late family friend Thom Slamecka.

Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2006 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .

------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Phil Owens '05 M&M dragster Lithia Springs, GA 4.794 144.48 (4.79)
R/U: Dennis Coover '04 Fab Concepts Cartersville, GA 4.928 140.86 (4.93)
Semi: Marty Wiles '05 Mullis dragster Tyrone, GA
Semi: Michael Brown '96 Horton dragster Covington, GA
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dickey Forrester '68 Firebird Hickory Flat, GA 7.098 96.26 (7.09)
R/U: Stephen Daniel '83 S10 pickup Covington, GA (foul) 7.22 95.13 (7.20)
Semi: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 8.50 84.49 (8.47)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA (foul) 8.59 79.58 (8.64)
Semi: Mark Hancock '01 Cherokee Commerce, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Michael Wilson '94 Suzuki Katana Tallapoosa, GA 5.24 129.47 (5.23)
R/U: Paul Cavanaugh '02 Suzuki Hayabusa Loganville, GA 6.392 129.47 (6.39)
Semi: Joe Roach '06 Kawasaki ZX14 Lawrenceville, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Justin Fancher 13 Loganville, GA 9.14 68.38 (9.09)
R/U: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA 8.92 73.88 (8.91)
Semi: Wesley Mayfield 10 Gainesville, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Megan "Doodle" Marsh 15 Anderson, SC 8.275 77.98 (8.26)
R/U: "Mad Matt" Gillen 14 Gainesville, GA 7.889 80.78 (7.90)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 16 McDonough, GA
Semi:

ORSCA Outlaw 10.5 series at South Georgia Motorsports Park September 8-10

by Marvin T. Smith

The Outlaw Racing Street Car Association brings their exciting form of drag racing to South Georgia Motorsports Park in two weeks. Over 200 cars are expected to battle in several classes for big purses and bragging rights. The ORSCA series, presented by Year One, features unlimited power boosters – blowers, turbos, and or nitrous oxide – creating maximum horsepower in cars trying to negotiate the track on 10.5 inch tires. This combination makes for some of the most exciting racing imaginable! Better yet, ORSCA classes race heads up – no handicapped starts. This is the way drag racing was meant to be. The unlimited Outlaw 10.5 cars run in the mid-four second range in the eighth mile competition. Five other classes feature a 5.30 index, 6.00 index, 7.00 index, and the Limited Street class and the EZ street class. This is doorslammer racing at its best. In a special sponsorship deal, Atlanta Speed Shop has posted $5,000 to win in the 7.0 index class, second only to the $7,000 to win in Outlaw 10.5. Cars are coming from a large area for this event. Entries from Texas, Maryland, and Virginia have already been received. Don’t miss this major event!!

As part of the Saturday action, there is a special YearOne quarter mile street legal race with five classes: Open Street Legal, 10.0 Index, 11.0 index, 12.0 index, and 13.0 index.

Next Friday, September 1, there will be a special exhibit on the square in downtown Valdosta starting about 6:00 PM. Several racers will have their cars on display, and there will be giant screen tvs with racing films. Look for T-shirt and ticket give-aways. Don’t miss the action on the square and the next weekend at the track.

For more information go to www.SGMPracing.com or www.outlawracing.com
.

IT'S A SPECIAL RACE, SAYS TWO-TIME U.S. NATIONALS CHAMP BAZEMORE

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

CLERMONT, Ind. (Aug. 29, 2006) - The U.S. Nationals is a special race, says Whit Bazemore, who has won this prestigious event twice in his career in the Funny Car class, in 1997 and 2001. He was also runner-up in 2000 and No. 1 qualifier in 2001.

This weekend's 52nd annual running of the event at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis also comes at a time in the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season when Indianapolis resident Bazemore and the Matco Tools Funny Car team are seeing a strong resurgence in performance following early-season mixed results.

The car has been one of the quickest in the field in the last four events, despite a rare DNQ in Brainerd, Minn. Bazemore has also won once, reached the semis and the quarterfinals once in those events and stands eighth in points.

"We're very focused," says Bazemore, who will drive a special-bodied "Tales of the Rat Fink" Funny Car this weekend for Matco Tools. "We've had an up-and-down year, but the team has shown the ability to have really good performance and to win races. So we know that we're capable of having a tremendous weekend. It's just a matter of everybody focusing and being
pointed in the same direction, and we are.

"I'm in race mode already. We don't want to waste the opportunity. Testing (last week at ORP) went very, very well. We didn't make a full pass, because we didn't have to. A lot of other teams got the headlines, but the facts are that we pretty much had one of the very quickest cars in almost every session.

"We're fired up and we're ready to go to Indy and throw it down. Our team is a step behind (points leader) John Force's team, obviously. They've had the performance for most of the year, and they seem to have momentum. I think the Matco Tools team is plenty capable of challenging anyone at the race track, and that's exciting.

"The U.S. Nationals is really special. Anytime you go to a race track where you've had great success it gives you a special feeling," Bazemore added, "so I definitely get that feeling going to that track. We've also had great disappointment and some very difficult times, with the struggles in 1990, then not being able to race in 1995 (due to budgetary concerns, despite
qualifying for the event), not qualifying in 1994 and '02, but we also won there in 1997 and '01. It's a place of great emotion and you have to be really level-headed going there and not get caught up in all the hoopla.

"I'm in a great frame of mind. things are going very well, and we feel good about everything."

Bazemore is the final qualifier for the $100,000 Skoal Showdown bonus event, in No. 8, and will face No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight in the first round of an event he's never won.

"We squeaked into that," he said. "It's a race we haven't won. It's a special race and we appreciate what Skoal does for the sport, and it's one we definitely want to win.

"For me, the real focus is on the U.S. Nationals, and if we happen to win the Skoal Showdown, it will be a nice bonus."

WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Eighth in 2006 Funny Car point standings after 17 events, with one win (Seattle), one runner-up and three semifinal finishes
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Ninth in final 2005 Funny Car point standings
* Won two events in 2005 (Gainesville, Las Vegas 1), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* No. 8 qualifier at 2005 U.S. Nationals, lost semis to Del Worsham
* Has two U.S. Nationals wins, in 1997 and 2001, runner-up in 2000
* No. 1 qualifier in 2001 at U.S. Nationals
* First Funny Car driver to break 325-mph barrier (U.S. Nationals 2001)
* Career quickest ET is 4.674 seconds (Chicago 2006), career fastest speed is 333.25 mph (Chicago 1 2004)
* Has 20 career Funny Car event wins in 45 final rounds in 335 races
* Took the 2003 championship chase to penultimate race in Las Vegas in an exciting final round against eventual champion Tony Pedregon
* Was second twice in the Funny Car championship in 2001 and 2003, third in 1997 and '99 and has finished in the top five six times and 13 times in the top 10 since 1992
* Age 43, born in New York City, an avid cyclist, lives in Indianapolis with wife Michelle, a competitive amateur cyclist, and son Dashiell Aidan, born March 12, 2005 (same as Bazemore's birthday)
* 2006 is his sixth season with Don Schumacher Racing

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 1 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 6:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 3 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SKOAL SHOWDOWN ELIMINATIONS at 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4 p.m.
MONDAY, Sept. 4 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at noon (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET).
Monday, Sept. 4, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations coverage at noon (ET).
Monday, Sept. 4, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE:
Friday, Sept. 1, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11 / Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Sept. 2, 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11 / Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Sept. 3, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11 / Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz, horizontal)
Monday, Sept. 4, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) - Galaxy 11 / Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz, horizontal)