BAYTOWN, Texas – Troy Buff came as close as he ever has to winning his first Top Fuel race at the most recent event in Las Vegas. Buff eventually lost in the final round to defending world champion Antron Brown, but the Houston-area native was overwhelmed by the support he received by his first career Top Fuel runner-up finish.

“My phone is still ringing off the hook,” Buff said. “I’ve gotten nonstop texts and phone calls. I really thought we were going to win. I’ve definitely had a good feeling the last couple years. (A win) hasn’t happened yet but I know it’s going to happen.”

Buff appears closer than ever in his 10,000-horsepower BME dragster and the chance for a storybook celebration now seems within the realm of possibility. Buff first raced at his home track, Royal Purple Raceway, in 1981 and he has the opportunity to claim his first Top Fuel victory there April 29-May 1 at the 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals.

Last year’s winners were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and local favorite Erica Enders (Pro Stock). The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

The tradition-rich race near Houston is the sixth of 24 races during the 2016 season and it is an event Buff definitely has circled on his calendar. He has claimed three NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series wins in his Top Alcohol Dragster career, but none came in Houston.

With the momentum from his final round appearance in Las Vegas still fresh, Buff and his team, led by team owner and crew chief Bill Miller, are riding high heading into Royal Purple Raceway. The next step is carrying that momentum into a memorable stretch in the ultra-talented class.

“I’ve never won a Houston national event and I want to really bad,” said Buff, who moved to 12th in points with the runner-up showing in Vegas. “It’s really cool to have all your family and friends there. You figure it’s probably going to be pretty warm and that’s our kind of track.

“If it’s hot like Vegas, we can run in the 3.80s and have success. We’re close to running in the 3.70s in the right conditions but this is such a humbling sport. You can go from hero to zero real quick.”

Buff enjoyed his run as the hero in Vegas, but the showing, which included round wins against class standouts Richie Crampton, points leader Brittany Force and J.R. Todd, has been in the works for a while.

Buff debuted a new car this season and they also tested for the first time in a number of years, making several preseason passes in Phoenix. The testing wasn’t impressive as far as results, but Buff and his team found out what the car didn’t like. They worked from there and the progress has been impressive ever since.

“The guys have really pushed me and I know I have to continue to step up and do a better job,” Buff said. “But I know I’ve got a car that can consistently go down the track and that’s just huge in every aspect. We have a new car for this year and that’s been a big bonus for me. I feel comfortable in the car, it does what I tell it to and it goes right where I want. That’s helped everything – confidence, reaction times, consistency, you name it.”

A more confident Buff has led to improved consistency, with the next goal being to inch his way toward running in the 3.70s. That may not happen in Houston, but Buff knows he can compete with the best in Top Fuel.

That starts with defending champion Brown, who chased down Buff in Las Vegas for the victory, as well as class stars Tony Schumacher, two-time Houston winner Doug Kalitta, Winternationals winner Steve Torrence and Shawn Langdon. Buff, though, loves the direction his team is headed, in part because of how well everyone has worked together.

Buff believes wholeheartedly that a win is coming soon, a belief shared just as enthusiastically by a team making strong improvements.

“We’ve got a really good team,” Buff said. “Everyone is really positive and I just really like working with all of them. I’ve always been a pretty positive person, but just being around these guys helps me stay positive and all of them have a great attitude about winning. It’s a great bunch of guys on this team and they all do a great job. It really just makes me want to work even harder. Our goal is to win a race this year and I really believe that it is going to happen.”

In Funny Car, Capps earned his third Houston win in 2015 and already has a victory in 2016. Standing in his way of a fourth victory is star-studded group of drivers, including 2014 SpringNationals winner and points leader Robert Hight, seven-time event winner John Force, defending world champion Del Worsham, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Las Vegas winner Alexis DeJoria, Phoenix winner Tim Wilkerson, Courtney Force, Chad Head, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Cruz Pedregon.

Enders claimed the Pro Stock victory in Houston last year en route to her second straight world championship, but is chasing the Summit Racing Equipment tandem of points leader Jason Line and Greg Anderson, who have split the first four races in the new-look class. Other talented stars in the class include five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., Drew Skillman, last year’s top rookie, rising star Bo Butner, Vincent Nobile, Allen Johnson, Chris McGaha and Alex Laughlin.

The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

The first round of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will start at 4:30 p.m. on Friday followed by the night session that will begin at 7 p.m. The final two rounds of qualifying will take place Saturday, April 30 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 1.

For the Friday night qualifying session there will be a special pre-race ceremony highlighting some of the nitro stars and will feature a special Ladies Night promotion. All female spectators will receive free admission with a reserved seat on the spectator side of the track. This offer is available for walk-up ticket purchases only. In another promotion, kids 13 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult ticket.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (281) 383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

Before the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series arrives in Houston, the circuit will visit Charlotte, N.C. for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods, April 22-24 at zMAX Dragway. Keep up with all the NHRA action on Fox Sports 1.

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NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS FACTS

WHAT: 29th annual NHRA SpringNationals, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.  Competition also will be featured in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series.

WHERE: Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas. From Interstate 10 take the State Hwy. 99 (Grand Parkway) exit, which is exit 799. Take a right on State Hwy. 99 and go to the first exit (2 miles) which is FM 565. Take a right on FM 565 and Royal Purple Raceway will be on your right. For additional information about directions please visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com.

COURSE: Championship dragstrip; Track elevation is 10 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 29-May 1

SCHEDULE:        

FRIDAY, April 29 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 30 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2:30 p.m. Round 1 of eliminations at 5 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1 and 3:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 1 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Friday, April 29, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).

Saturday, April 30, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at Midnight (ET).

Sunday, May 1, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 5 p.m. (ET).

2015 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock.

MOST WINS: John Force, 7, FC; Warren Johnson, 6, PS; Jeg Coughlin, 4, PS; Tony Pedregon, 4, FC; Kenny Bernstein, 3, TF; Ron Capps, 3, FC; Larry Dixon, 3, TF; Mike Edwards, 3, PS; Bob Glidden, 3, PS; Cruz Pedregon, 3, FC.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.726 seconds by Tony Schumacher, April ’15; 330.07 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’15.

Funny Car – 3.988 seconds by Jack Beckman, April ’15; 320.81 mph by Matt Hagan, April ’15.

Pro Stock – 6.519 seconds by Jason Line, April ’15; 212.66 mph by Mike Edwards, April ’13.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car – 3.879 sec. by Jack Beckman, March ‘16, Gainesville, Fla.; 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call (281) 383-RACE (7223). Tickets also available online at www.royalpurpleraceway.com.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA