The National Hot Rod Association is already enjoying unparalleled success in Motorsports as it ushers in the new POWERade 2005 drag-racing season. Included in the new season is an impressive television schedule that allows showcasing the fastest cars in the world on a same-day, tape-delayed basis. ESPN2 will again televise both qualifying and racing. Look for more than 100 hours of original NHRA programming, and an additional 20-plus hours as part of the popular NHRA magazine show “NHRA2day.”
With 23 POWERade events on tap for the $50 million NHRA national event series, racers are primed and ready for what could be one of the best seasons of drag racing ever contested. Several new teams could be world championship contenders, while many already established teams are even stronger. Here are the drivers and teams to watch closely in 2005.
Jeg Coughlin — The former Pro Stock champion leaves the Chevrolet camp and signs with Don Schumacher to run Dodge Hemi cars in the Pro Stock division. Schumacher also signed “holeshot ace” Richie Stevens, who has visited victory lane in numerous Pro Stock races, both in NHRA and IHRA. Although Stevens, 26, did not campaign a car in NHRA last season, he should be considered a serious threat to win. Both Pro Stock cars are tuned by legend Bob Glidden, who dominated Pro Stock racing for many seasons.
Ron Capps — Another new Schumacher team member, he’ll return to Funny Car action behind the wheel of a Brut-sponsored Dodge with veteran crew chief Ed McCulloch calling the shots. Capps left Don Prudhomme’s team at the end of the 2004 season.
Gary Densham — Densham has successfully secured sponsorship monies for his Funny Car. “Racebricks,” a new collectables company that manufactures three-dimensional, laser-etched race cars inside illuminated glass bricks for numerous NASCAR teams, will provide the needed monies.
David Grubnic — Zantrex-3, a high-energy weight-loss formula, announced title sponsorship of Kalitta Motorsports’ Top Fuel dragster driven by “Aussie Dave” Grubnic for the 2005 season. Team owner Connie Kalitta also has two other Top Fuelers driven by son Scott and nephew Doug, and should battle the Schumacher Team car of defending champ Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher for overall Top Fuel honors.
John Force Racing — John Force confirmed his son-in-law, former crewmember Robert Hight, will bid for rookie-of-the-year honors at the wheel of the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, formerly driven by Densham. Joining Hight are Eric Medlen, driver of the Castrol SYNTEC Ford and Force’s daughter Ashley, who won three times last year in her A/Fuel Mattel-sponsored dragster. Force, who won his 13th Funny Car championship in 2004, will be behind the wheel of his Castrol Ford. Hight was the clutch specialist on Force’s Castrol GTX Funny Car for six of his championship seasons. He served as the team’s test driver last season.
Greg Anderson — Greg won a record 12 times last season in 15 final-round appearances to win the Pro Stock title in his Pontiac Grand Am. He also scored 67 round wins last year, breaking John Force’s previous record of 65 round wins in a single season. You can’t bet against this team, but it will be tougher to duplicate 2004 now that several Pro Stock teams are “stepping up.”
Other things to watch in 2005 include Warren Johnson’s “final tour,” as the Professor has announced his retirement from driving in Pro Stock following 2005. … A first ever 6-second run in Pro Stock motorcycle. … More fan interest in the “exhibition” Pro Modified class, and the possibility of the class joining the touring professional ranks by 2009 as a qualified 16-car professional field at each NHRA POWERade event.