The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season was announced on September 8, 2011. The schedule was revised on October 12, 2011, with the events at Maple Grove Raceway and Gateway International Raceway swapping dates.
There were 23 Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock car events, and 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events scheduled.
Schedule
2012 NHRA Full Throttle ScheduleDateRaceSiteWinnersTop FuelFunny CarPro StockPS MotorcycleFebruary 9–12O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA WinternationalsPomona, Calif.Spencer Massey (1)John Force (1)Greg Anderson (1)N/AFebruary 17–19NHRA Arizona NationalsPhoenix, AZAntron Brown (1)Robert Hight (1)Jason Line (1)N/AMarch 8–11Tire Kingdom GatornationalsGainesville, FlaMorgan Lucas (1)Robert Hight (2)Mike Edwards (1)Eddie Krawiec (1)March 30–April 1SummitRacing.com NHRA NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.Spencer Massey (2)Robert Hight (3)Allen Johnson (1)N/AApril 13–15NHRA Four-Wide Nationals1Concord, N.C.Spencer Massey (3)Robert Hight (4)Greg Anderson (2)N/AApril 27–29O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring NationalsHouston, TexasMorgan Lucas (2)Mike Neff (1)Vincent Nobile (1)Andrew Hines (1)May 4–6Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern NationalsAtlanta, Ga.Steve Torrence (1)Ron Capps (1)Greg Anderson (3)Eddie Krawiec (2)May 18–20Dollar General NHRA Summer NationalsTopeka, Kan.David Grubnic (1)Jack Beckman (1)Allen Johnson (2)N/AMay 31–June 3Toyota NHRA SuperNationalsEnglishtown, N.J.Steve Torrence (2)Johnny Gray (1)Greg Anderson (4)Eddie Krawiec (3)June 15–17Ford NHRA Thunder Valley NationalsBristol, Tenn.Tony Schumacher (1)Ron Capps (2)Mike Edwards (2)N/AJune 28–July 1O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA NationalsChicago, Ill.Antron Brown (2)Jeff Arend (1)Erica Enders (1)Andrew Hines (2)July 5–8Summit Racing Equipment NHRA NationalsNorwalk, OhioSpencer Massey (4)Mike Neff (2)Vincent Nobile (2)Andrew Hines (3)July 20–22Mopar Mile-High NHRA NationalsDenver, Colo.Antron Brown (3)Jack Beckman (2)Allen Johnson (3)Eddie Krawiec (4)July 27–29NHRA Sonoma NationalsSonoma, Calif.Antron Brown (4)Johnny Gray (2)Allen Johnson (4)Eddie Krawiec (5)August 3–5O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest NationalsSeattle, Wash.Steve Torrence (3)Courtney Force (1)Erica Enders (2)N/AAugust 16–19Lucas Oil NHRA NationalsBrainerd, Minn.Morgan Lucas (3)Ron Capps (3)Erica Enders (3)Eddie Krawiec (6)August 29 – September 3Mac Tools U.S. NationalsIndianapolis, Ind.Tony Schumacher (2)Mike Neff (3)Dave Connolly (1)Andrew Hines (4)2012 Countdown to OneSeptember 14–16O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA NationalsConcord, N.C.Shawn Langdon (1)Ron Capps (4)Jason Line (2)Andrew Hines (5)September 20–23AAA Texas NHRA Fall NationalsDallas, TexasAntron Brown (5)Bob Tasca III (1)Allen Johnson (5)Michael Ray (1)September 28–30AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest NationalsMadison, ILAntron Brown (6)Jack Beckman (3)Erica Enders (4)Eddie Krawiec (7)October 4–8 Auto-Plus NHRA NationalsReading, Pa.Khalid alBalooshi (1)Mike Neff (4)V. Gaines (1)Eddie Krawiec (8)October 25–28Big O Tires NHRA NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.Bob Vandergriff (1)Ron Capps (5)Allen Johnson (6)Eddie Krawiec (9)November 8–11Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA FinalsPomona, Calif.Brandon Bernstein (1)Cruz Pedregon (1)Allen Johnson (7)Andrew Hines (6)
NOTE: All races will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.
1 The rules for the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 4 Wide Nationals differ from other races: All cars will qualify on each lane as all four lanes will be used in qualifying. Three rounds with cars using all four lanes. In Rounds One and Two, the top two drivers (of four) will advance to the next round. The pairings are set as follows: Race One: 1, 8, 9, 16 Race Two: 4, 5, 12, 13 Race Three: 2, 7, 10, 15 Race Four: 3, 6, 11, 14 Semifinal One: Top two in Race One and Race Two Semifinal Two: Top two in Race Three and Race Four Finals: Top two in Semifinal One and Semifinal Two Lane choice determined by times in previous round. In first round, lane choice determined by fastest times. Drivers who advance in Rounds One and Two will receive 20 points for each round advancement. In Round Three, the winner of the race will be declared the race winner and will collect 40 points. The runner-up will receive 20 points. Third and fourth place drivers will be credited as semifinal losers.
Notable events Gateway Motorsports Park has reopened with former IndyCar Firestone Indy Lights driver Curtis Francois as the track owner, rejoining the NHRA schedule with the Midwest Nationals and featuring all four Professional race categories.
Top Fuel driver Hillary Will announced a return to the Full Throttle racing series, beginning at the Gatornationals on March 8. She will pilot the Dote Racing top-fuel dragster.
Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin announced he will return to Pro Stock category in 2012 with Fiat's Mopar brand of auto parts along with JEGS in a 2012 Dodge Avenger.
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock will be legal as of the 2012 Tire Kingdom Gatornationals.
Points standings
Top FuelPositionDriverPointsPoints Back1Antron Brown2555 –2Tony Schumacher2548 −73Spencer Massey2505 −504Shawn Langdon2450 −1055Brandon Bernstein2450 −1056Doug Kalitta2341 −2147Morgan Lucas2338 −2178Bob Vandergriff2336 −2199Steve Torrence2300 −25510David Grubnic2260 −295
Funny CarPositionDriverPointsPoints Back1Jack Beckman2610 –2Ron Capps2608 −23Mike Neff2497 −1134Cruz Pedregon2429 −1815Courtney Force2383 −2276Johnny Gray2357 −2537Robert Hight2302 −3088Tim Wilkerson2293 −3179John Force2281 −32910Jeff Arend2267 −343
Pro StockPositionDriverPointsPoints Back1Allen Johnson2756 –2Jason Line2571 −1853Vincent Nobile2512 −2444Erica Enders2507 −2495Greg Anderson2365 −3916Mike Edwards2347 −4097V. Gaines2324 −4328Ron Krisher2290 −4669Jeg Coughlin Jr.2271 −48510Larry Morgan2198 −558
Pro Stock MotorcyclePositionDriverPointsPoints Back1Eddie Krawiec2773 –2Andrew Hines2691 −833Hector Arana Jr.2502 −2714Hector Arana2432 −3415Karen Stoffer2386 −3876Matt Smith2370 −4037Scott Pollacheck2323 −4508Michael Ray Jr2316 −4579LE Tonglet2292 −48110Shawn Gann2239 −534
References
External links Official website Official NHRA Drag Racing Podcasts Drag Race Central The Latest NHRA News and Analysis