2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Season was announced on July 25, 2018.[1]

2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season
LeagueNHRA
SportDrag racing
ChampionsSteve Torrence (TF)
Robert Hight (FC)
Erica Enders-Stevens (PS)
Andrew Hines (PSM)

It was the 64th season of the National Hot Rod Association's top drag racing competition. There were 24 Top Fuel and Funny Car events, 22 Pro Stock events (18 Championship NHRA Formula and 4 Non-Championship Mountain Motor Formula), and 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events.

Schedule
2019 NHRA Mello Yello Schedule[2]
Date Race Site TV Winners
Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock PS Motorcycle
Feb 7–11 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com 2 Pomona, CA FS1* Doug Kalitta (1) Robert Hight (1) Bo Butner (1) N/A
Feb 22–24 MagicDry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals Chandler, AZ FS1* Billy Torrence (1) Matt Hagan (1) Jeg Coughlin, Jr. (1) N/A
Mar 14–17 50th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, FL FS1* Richie Crampton (1) Robert Hight (2) Bo Butner (2) Andrew Hines (1)
Apr 5–7 DENSO Auto Parts NHRA Four-Wide Nationals 4 Lanes Las Vegas, NV FS1* Mike Salinas (1) J.R. Todd (1) Bo Butner (3) Hector Arana, Jr. (1)
Apr 12–14 Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil Baytown, TX Fox Brittany Force (1) Robert Hight (3) John DeFlorian MM N/A
Apr 26–28 NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals 4 Lanes Concord, NC FS1* Steve Torrence (1) Shawn Langdon (1) Christopher Powers MM Andrew Hines (2)
May 3–5 Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals Commerce, GA FS1* Steve Torrence (2) Ron Capps (1) N/A Andrew Hines (3)
May 17–19 Virginia NHRA Nationals Petersburg, VA FS1* Steve Torrence (3) Ron Capps (2) Bo Butner (4) Andrew Hines (4)
May 30 – Jun 2 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Joliet, IL FS1* Steve Torrence (4) Tommy Johnson, Jr. (1) Deric Kramer (1) Matt Smith (1)
Jun 7–9 Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties Topeka, KS FS1 Steve Torrence (5) Robert Hight (4) N/A N/A
Jun 14–16 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN FS1 Mike Salinas (2) Bob Tasca III (1) Todd Hoerner MM N/A
Jun 20–23 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH FS1* Steve Torrence (6) Bob Tasca III (2) Chris McGaha (1) Andrew Hines (5)
Jul 5–7 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH FS1 Steve Torrence (7) Matt Hagan (2) John DeFlorian (2) MM N/A
Jul 19–21 Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil Morrison, CO Fox Steve Torrence (8) Tommy Johnson, Jr. (2) Greg Anderson (1) Andrew Hines (6)
Jul 26–28 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA Fox Billy Torrence (2) Robert Hight (5) Greg Anderson (2) Andrew Hines (7)
Aug 2–4 MagicDry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals Kent, WA Fox Austin Prock (1) John Force (1) Matt Hartford (1) N/A
Aug 15–18 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire Brainerd, MN FS1 Leah Pritchett (1) Ron Capps (3) Jason Line (1) N/A
Aug 28 – Sep 2 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals 1.5 Brownsburg, IN Fox Doug Kalitta (2) John Force (2) Alex Laughlin (1) Jerry Savoie (1)
Countdown to the Championship
Sep 12–15 Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil Mohnton, PA FS1 Richie Crampton (2) Jack Beckman (1) Jason Line (2) Jerry Savoie (2)
Sep 27–29 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals Madison, IL FS1 Billy Torrence (3) Shawn Langdon (2) Erica Enders-Stevens (1) Karen Stoffer (1)
Oct 11–14 NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals 3 Concord, NC FS1* Steve Torrence (9) Robert Hight (6) Deric Kramer (2) Andrew Hines (8)
Oct 17–20 AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Ennis, TX FS1* Billy Torrence (4) Matt Hagan (3) Greg Anderson (3) Jerry Savoie (3)
Oct 31 – Nov 3 Dodge NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil Las Vegas, NV FS1 Brittany Force (2) Matt Hagan (4) Erica Enders-Stevens (2) Matt Smith (2)
Nov 14–17 Auto Club NHRA Finals 1.5 Pomona, CA FS1 Doug Kalitta (3) Jack Beckman (2) Jeg Coughlin, Jr. (2) Jianna Salinas (1)

* Finals televised on tape delay.

MM Pro Stock Car at this event is a non-championship race featuring the Mountain Motor formula, which has no engine displacement limit, can use carburetors or electronic fuel injection, and weighs a minimum of 2,450 pounds, compared to the NHRA Pro Stock formula that features electronic fuel injection, a 500ci (8193cc) engine displacement limit, and 2,350 pounds weight. All two-lane Mountain Motor races (except Charlotte) will feature eight-car fields. The four-lane Charlotte round will feature a full 16-car field.[3]

Additional Rules for Specially Marked Races

4 Lanes: The Four-Wide Nationals in both Las Vegas and Charlotte in the spring will compete with cars on four lanes.

  • 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.

1.5: The U. S. Nationals and Auto Club Finals will have their race points increased by 50% . Drivers who qualify but are eliminated in the first round receive 30 points, and each round win is worth 30 points. The top four receive 10, 9, 8, and 7 points, respectively, for qualifying positions, with the 5–6 drivers receiving 6 points, 7–8 drivers receiving 5 points, 9–12 receiving 4 points, and 13–16 receiving 3 points. Also, the top four, not three, drivers after each session receive points for fastest times in each round (4-3-2-1).

MM: Pro Stock Car at this event is a non-championship race with the Mountain Motor formula.

Event changes

The race events in Topeka, Kansas and Petersburg, Virginia have switched dates for this year, with the Virginia NHRA Nationals taking place in May and the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals in June.[1] In the Countdown, the race events in Charlotte, North Carolina and Ennis, Texas have switched weekends for this year in October.[1] All other events during this season remain on the same schedule, although a couple of them either moved up or down a weekend. Scheduling changes made primarily to avoid NASCAR events in the markets.

NHRA 500ci EFI Pro Stock Car will only be racing in 18 events this year, down from 24 events last year. Four of the races that they will not participate will feature non-championship exhibition Mountain Motor Pro Stock Cars (over-500 ci engines with carburetors). Those races include Houston, Charlotte 1, Bristol and Epping.[4]

2: Due to inclement weather throughout the day, Final Elimination Rounds at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California were postponed until 10 AM PST on February 11, 2019. The first round of eliminations were underway until rain suspended any additional racing.[5]

3: Final Elimination Rounds at the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, North Carolina were postponed until 9 AM EDT on October 14, 2019 due to inclement weather.[6]

Final standings
Top Fuel[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackChassis
1Steve Torrence2607–MLR
2Doug Kalitta2604−3Kalitta
3Brittany Force2555−52Force
4Leah Pritchett2474−133DSR (MG)
5Billy Torrence2458−149MLR
6Richie Crampton2399−208Kalitta
7Mike Salinas2381−226Scrappers
8Austin Prock2379−228Force
9Antron Brown2329−278DSR (MG)
10Clay Millican2300−307Hadman
Funny Car[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Robert Hight2637–Chevrolet
2Jack Beckman2629−8Dodge
3Matt Hagan2563−74Dodge
4John Force2471−166Chevrolet
5Bob Tasca III2446−191Ford
6Ron Capps2414−223Dodge
7J.R. Todd2391−246Toyota
8Tommy Johnson, Jr.2360−277Dodge
9Shawn Langdon2358−279Toyota
10Tim Wilkerson2283−354Ford
Pro Stock[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Erica Enders-Stevens2635–Chevrolet
2Jeg Coughlin, Jr.2614−21Chevrolet
3Bo Butner2524−111Chevrolet
4Jason Line2495−140Chevrolet
5Matt Hartford2448−187Chevrolet
6Deric Kramer2409−226Chevrolet
7Greg Anderson2408−227Chevrolet
8Alex Laughlin2345−290Chevrolet
9Chris McGaha2329−306Chevrolet
10Val Smeland2203−432Chevrolet
Pro Stock Motorcycle[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Andrew Hines2599–Harley-Davidson
2Gerald Savoie2573−26Suzuki
3Matt Smith2553−46Buell
4Karen Stoffer2534−65Suzuki
5Eddie Krawiec2474−125Harley-Davidson
6Hector Arana, Jr.2389−210Buell
7Angelle Sampey2381−218Harley-Davidson
8Angie Smith2281−318Buell
9Ryan Oehler2271−328Buell
10Hector Arana2209−390Buell

References
  1. "NHRA announces 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. July 25, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  2. National Hot Rod Association – 2019 Schedule & Results, Retrieved Jun. 2, 2019.
  3. NHRA.COM Staff. "Mountain Motor Pro Stock to compete at four NHRA national events in 2019". NHRA.COM. National Hot Rod Association. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  4. National Hot Rod Association, 2019 NHRA Pro Stock Car Event Schedule, November 9, 2018, Retrieved Feb. 9, 2019.
  5. National Hot Rod Association, Weather claims Winternationals Sunday; race will resume on Monday morning by NHRA Staff, February 10, 2019, Retrieved Feb. 10, 2019.
  6. National Hot Rod Association, NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals Monday preview by NHRA Staff, October 14, 2019, Retrieved Oct. 14, 2019.
  7. "NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points". nhra.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
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