{"id":11754,"date":"2015-02-05T12:20:42","date_gmt":"2015-02-05T20:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=11754"},"modified":"2015-03-05T16:35:48","modified_gmt":"2015-03-06T00:35:48","slug":"fresh-paint-fresh-faces-at-nhra-circle-k-winternationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/fresh-paint-fresh-faces-at-nhra-circle-k-winternationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresh Paint, Fresh Faces at NHRA Circle K Winternationals"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"15EESPaintScheme<\/a>
Erica Enders-Stevens Camaro is ready to make a statement – again!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the NHRA Circle K Winternationals weekend launching today to kick off the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello series season,\u00a0many drivers and teams are showing up to this first race sporting new colors and new sponsors. The smell of fresh paint is practically wafting throughout the pits (at least until the welcome smell of race fuel takes over!) Here’s a guide to who’s\u00a0gonna be part of the playing field this year, and the (for some) new liveries they’ll be sporting.<\/p>\n

TOP FUEL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"15TonySchumacherPaintScheme\"<\/a>
New paint for Sarge and his crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Starting off in Top Fuel, the defending champions\u2019 title belongs to Tony Schumacher and the Don Schumacher Racing U.S. Army team.\u00a0 They have been Schumacher\u2019s sponsor for all eight of his championships and we’re sure that Sarge is gunning for\u00a0his ninth in 2015.<\/p>\n

Spencer Massey has DSR affiliate Red Fuel high-tech batteries back on board and Antron Brown returns in his familiar Matco Tools dragster.<\/p>\n

Steve Torrence continues on with\u00a0his Capco Contractors Top Fueler for another fast and furious season.\u00a0 This year, Torrence is aiming to be\u00a0better and faster, and that’s going to make this team a dangerous foe come Sunday.<\/p>\n

A familiar name with a different look this year is Shawn Langdon.\u00a0 The Alan Johnson team had a major surprise when long-time supporter Al-Anabi and the country of Qatar pulled up their North American stakes, leaving this championship caliber team without funding for this season.\u00a0They’re looking for sponsors for upcoming races and we think this would be an excellent investment for someone looking to get their name out there.<\/p>\n

Connie Kalitta teams with nephew Doug and teammate J.R. Todd to remain strong in their bid to win the Top Fuel championship.\u00a0 Doug has been close too many times not to have a golden Wally sitting on his mantle. He has renewed his contract with Mac Tools for the long term. This Top Fuel tag-team can tear up the racetrack at any moment. Either one could strike out with low elapsed time in contending for their first title since Scott Kalitta in the 90s. Teammate Todd started the Countdown in tenth and finished with a second place finish by the end of last year.<\/p>\n

In one of the biggest\u00a0off-season moves, Dave Connolly joins the Bob Vandergriff C&S Energy team with multi-champion driver Larry Dixon as his teammate.\u00a0 Connolly showed lots of promise in pre-season testing and seems to be enjoying his transition.\u00a0 Dixon is ready to return to the winner\u2019s circle and this year he\u2019s in the capable hands of a great team that can get that done for him.<\/p>\n

U.S. Nationals champion Richie Crampton is back behind the helm of the Morgan Lucas Racing ride.\u00a0 It appears GEICO has left and will be replaced with Lucas Oil.\u00a0 Thank goodness, the sport has team owners like Morgan Lucas and his family to support the sport in only the way they can with full support of the sportsman series.<\/p>\n

Leah Pritchett and the Dote Racing team are planning on making a sponsorship announcement on Friday.\u00a0 This is the little team that could and she hopes to run better than ever.\u00a0 Her team just needs more time to gel in order to run against some of the best in the business.\u00a0 She\u2019s not afraid to race for it and that has other teams worried about an early round upset.<\/p>\n

Clay Millican brings with him Parts Plus as his sponsor under new ownership. The Memphis native couldn\u2019t be any more excited about 2015.\u00a0 His time is limited and knows that his operation will be his best bet to finally win his first race.<\/p>\n

Brittany Force will be making an announcement on Friday, as well, about her new sponsor for John Force Racing\u2019s Top Fuel side of the camp.\u00a0 Everyone is tight-lipped and we\u2019ll have to wait until Friday to find out.\u00a0 She\u2019s looking for her win as a pro and 2015 could bring it.\u00a0She rocked the drag racing world clicking the clocks with a 4.69 time in Phoenix testing and appears the sport is heading that way.\u00a0 How quick is quick in 2015?<\/p>\n

The rest of the Top Fuel field for the Circle K Winternationals is Terry McMillan, Troy Buff, Steve Chrisman, and Steve Faria for a 17-car Top Fuel entry list.<\/p>\n

FUNNY CAR<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Get<\/a>
Get used to seeing John Force in blue!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just like Top Fuel, it looks like Don Schumacher racing will be the leader of the Funny Car pack and again be a thorn in John Force\u2019s side for Funny Car supremacy.<\/p>\n

Matt Hagan goes for his third championship with Mopar and Rocky Boots sponsorship on his side.\u00a0 His teammates, Tommy Johnson, Jr. join hands with the \u2018Make-A-Wish\u2019 foundation for another competitive season.\u00a0 Rock ‘n Roll Ron Capps heads into the season again as the dark horse and fan favorite of the Fuel Coupe.\u00a0\u00a0 As a sentimental choice\u00a0to finally win their\u00a0first Mello Yello Championship, this team is so capable of accomplishing that feat and again Capps and crew chief, Rahn Tobler will give it their best effort.<\/p>\n

Teammate Jack Beckman, who didn\u2019t make the Top 10 in the Countdown, comes into this year with a stacked deck.\u00a0 Joining him is Jimmy Prock, along with John Medlen, and Chris Cunningham as crew chiefs.\u00a0 This could be the surprise team of the year and get Beckman his second championship.<\/p>\n

Now the team that is best known in NHRA Drag Racing as \u2018Title Town\u2019 is John Force Racing.\u00a0 After a shakeup at the end of last year in crew personnel, Force is mightier than ever.\u00a0 Championships are hard to come by and his armada of Robert Hight and his youngest daughter, Courtney Force, will be just as strong.\u00a0 All have three-second runs in Phoenix testing offering the question of how quick will we see times this year?<\/p>\n

Force debuts his Peak Anti-Freeze Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car this weekend so\u00a0look for the new,\u00a0blue livery this season.\u00a0 Robert Hight still races for his sponsor, the Auto Club of Southern California, and Courtney will be trying to rejuvenate her winning ways.\u00a0 She and dad came close last year in winning the championship and I don\u2019t see things straying far from their target.<\/p>\n

\"Alexis<\/a>
Alexis is sporting fiery orange this year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Kalitta Racing Funny Car teams are again major players in the Funny Car championship chase.\u00a0 Alexis DeJoria had a break-out season with three wins \u00a0including the U.S. Nationals and Patron\u2019s will be back as sponsor.\u00a0 You can never count out Del Worsham\u2019s DHL Toyota either. He will be a strong driver to beat.<\/p>\n

The Pedregon brothers of Cruz and Tony will mount another campaign to make it back to the top.\u00a0 There have been times in past seasons where Cruz looked unbeatable, turning out low elapsed times weekly only to have things go awry on Sunday.\u00a0 If this Snap-on Tools team gets on a roll, they could be the third wheel into the Hagan-Force battles of recent seasons.\u00a0 They have been long overdue and 2015 could be their turn-around season.<\/p>\n

Journeyman driver Tim Wilkerson has hired Richard Hartman to take some of the load off him and letting a fresh face in his camp share the tune up.\u00a0 Wilkerson and his Levi, Ray and Shoup, Inc. team have shown glimpses of competitiveness, but know they need to overhaul everything to be back as a contender for the championship.<\/p>\n

\"Chad<\/a>
Chad Head’s new look Aeroburner car comes after teaming up with new sponsor TaylorMade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chad Head debuts TaylorMade\u2019s AeroBurner sponsorship for a one-race deal for his Head, Inc. Toyota.\u00a0 They also have shown signs of brilliance, but only reached a semi-finals appearance last year.\u00a0 In preseason testing, the Head Racing Toyota team ran a pass of 4.05 seconds and will be considered an upset contender in eliminations.<\/p>\n

Jim Dunn Racing has a fresh face behind their steering wheel in the name of John Hale and is sponsored by ALO drink.\u00a0 They hope with the extra funding will bring more round wins this year.<\/p>\n

The rest of the Pomona Funny Car field is made up of Gary Densham, Bob Bode, and Terry Haddock in making up the 18-Funny Car entry list for Pomona.<\/p>\n

PRO STOCK<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Detroit muscle of the Pro Stock division is now tighter than ever.\u00a0 Defending champion, Erica Enders-Stevens can\u2019t wait to get back behind the wheel of her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro.\u00a0 If last year was a sign of anything, this team could reign for many years.\u00a0 The combination is formidable against any name out there and unless unseated, she could be headed to another championship podium at the year-end ceremonies.<\/p>\n

Now Enders-Stevens has to go out and do it all over again and she’ll be matched against some of the best in the business.<\/p>\n

KB Racing with Greg Anderson Jason Line and Vincent Nobile as their primary members is bringing back Jimmy Alund for the early part of the season.\u00a0 The Summit racing teams came up short last year and had to struggle when Anderson had emergency open-heart surgery delaying his start in the season.\u00a0 Alund won the Charlotte 4-Wide Pro Stock segment and Line was the last person attempting to take down Enders-Stevens finishing second in the standings.\u00a0 Alund will be piloting a KB Racing 2011 Pontiac GXP for the first four events.\u00a0 It\u2019s the same car that took Jason Line to the championship.<\/p>\n

Gray Motorsports has brothers Shane and Jonathan as contenders in the Pro Stock category.\u00a0 Shane Gray is kind of an outside shot at the championship.\u00a0 Now he could turn it around and get on a roll.\u00a0 It\u2019s definitely possible.\u00a0 Jonathan started late at Gainesville last year but made the Countdown ousting Greg Anderson for the coveted No. 10 spot.<\/p>\n

Mopar brings back Allen Johnson, but without a teammate in 2015.\u00a0 Five-time champion, Jeg Coughlin suddenly decided that his ever expanding family needed to take more of his time and decided not to compete.\u00a0 You can learn so much more with team cars, but AJ has been in this position before and has the championship trophies to prove it.<\/p>\n

V Gaines has a new Dodge Dart after totaling his in Charlotte for 2015.\u00a0 As a very strong and powerful team in qualifying and race day is long overdue for another win.\u00a0 With a break here and there, he could get back there.<\/p>\n

Another frustrated Pro Stock driver, Larry Morgan, is leaving Ford and coming on board with a new Chevy Camaro with Gray Racing power under his hood with FireAid as his new major sponsor.<\/p>\n

Chris McGaha\u2019s on track performance was disappointing in buying all of Mike Edwards’ equipment and only had moments of grandeur periodically throughout the year.\u00a0 He needs lots of improvement to be considered a championship team.<\/p>\n

Now Roger Brogdon, who had a renaissance season, will again have Elite Motorsports horsepower under his hood and late in the season showed signs if he had a better start would have been a lot higher in the standings.<\/p>\n

Australian\u2019s Derek Kramer will be driving for his own team with Alan Johnson Mopar power.\u00a0 His rookie season was moderate and did win some rounds to get the attention of other competitors, but just wasn\u2019t consistent.<\/p>\n

Making up the rest of the Pro Stock Pomona field will be Matt Hartford, Joey Grose, Jeffrey Isbell and Drew Skillman to make up the 17-car entry list.<\/p>\n

NHRA television starts on Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 pm on ESPN2 and will be followed by final round coverage on a same-day basis at 7:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NHRA Circle K Winternationals are here, which means the NHRA Mello Yello Series for 2015 is upon us. Here’s a guide to who’s going to be burning rubber this season.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":11757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3465,17,3399],"tags":[1461,76,82,1941,606,1943,1336,77,604,907,961,640,38,719,75,1552,128,7,4801,608,442,483,1942,1093,607,575,73,1321],"class_list":["post-11754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drag-racing","category-guest-column","category-nhra","tag-2015-nhra-mello-yello-drag-racing-series","tag-alexis-dejoria","tag-antron-brown","tag-britanny-force","tag-chad-head","tag-clay-millican","tag-connie-kalitta","tag-courtney-force","tag-cruz-pedregon","tag-dave-connolly","tag-drag-race-101","tag-erica-enders-stevens","tag-funny-car","tag-j-r-todd","tag-john-force","tag-leah-pritchett","tag-matt-hagan","tag-nhra","tag-pro-stock","tag-richie-crampton","tag-ron-capps","tag-spencer-massey","tag-steve-torrence","tag-tim-wilkerson","tag-tony-pedregon","tag-tony-schumacher","tag-top-fuel","tag-v-gaines"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/15EESPaintScheme-feat.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42YSK-33A","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11754"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11824,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11754\/revisions\/11824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}