INDIANAPOLIS – Winning the world’s most prestigious drag race is not something that Morgan Lucas takes lightly. The NHRA Top Fuel standout won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals a year ago for the first time, cementing a memory that will forever be at the top of his successful career.

The driver of the 10,000 horsepower Lucas Oil dragster will return to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the 62nd edition of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Aug. 31-Sept. 5, with hopes of going back-to-back at the biggest drag race in the world – which he knows will be no easy task.

“I’ve been going to the U.S. Nationals since 1996 and I know for some people that’s not that long, but I was 10, 11 years old then,” Lucas said. “Knowing the history and knowing my name is on the same list with some of the best who have ever been involved in the sport is incredible. It’s Indy. It just feels big, feels special and so many fans show up. I equate it to winning the Indy 500, even though I know there are a lot of people who might argue with me. But in my mind, it is.”

Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also last year’s winners. For the first time, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be aired live on FOX and FOX Sports 1 (FS1). It also serves as the last event of the 18-race regular season before the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.

With an increased amount of points in play via the point-and-a-half system for this event (150 points to the winner), the drama on championship Monday is expected to be more intense than ever. Now racing on a part-time basis, Lucas, who will make his fifth start of the 2016 season, won’t figure into the Countdown to the Championship mix, which makes the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals even more important for the 12-time Top Fuel winner.

Lucas claimed the victory a year ago over Dave Connolly in the final round, giving the Morgan Lucas Racing team two straight wins in Indy following teammate Richie Crampton’s victory in 2014. It was a thrilling experience for Lucas, who was fortunate enough to share the memorable weekend with those close to him.

“There are two things that stand out for me,” Lucas said. “First, having my family there and then having one of my best friend’s father (Terry Fischle) with us. He’s a cancer survivor and had never been to Indy before. He was helping us out with the team, and then he got to be there for the win. (It was) a pretty special moment all the way around for my family and for someone I consider extended family.”

Lucas will be one of nearly 1,000 drivers competing in 12 categories at the event known as the Big Go, and the Upland, Calif., native knows he will be dueling against a star-studded lineup in Top Fuel. When it comes to the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, that list starts with nine-time event winner Tony Schumacher, but Lucas will also have to deal with the likes of reigning world champion and points leader Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta, a three-time winner in 2016, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon, who won at Indy in 2013, Steve Torrence, Leah Pritchett, Clay Millican, Crampton, J.R. Todd and Terry McMillen.

But even in a part-time role, Lucas has proven to be a legitimate threat. He won in Brainerd and Pomona in 2014, captured the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win a year ago and advanced to the semifinals this year in Seattle, running a career-best 3.701-second pass.

“It’s obviously pleasing,” Lucas said. “We kind of set our goals in a realistic standard, and when we do things like we’ve done the past couple years and win, that’s obviously the best-case scenario. Because of the part-time schedule and how hard it is to win, we don’t go into races thinking that’s going to be the outcome. We work to do that, but we get what we get out of it and we’re happy to be out there putting on a show for the fans.”

Lucas’ presence and success also helps teammate Crampton, who won five times a year ago and will be competing for a world championship this season. Having two cars can have its advantages during the Countdown to the Championship and Lucas makes sure he is prepared every time he races.

“It’s more data acquired that has the potential to help, and I can slow somebody down in the points,” Lucas said. “Realistically, it could have as much of an adverse effect. We hope (crew chief) Aaron (Brooks) can get the information he needs in order to make the decisions he needs to make to be successful.

“Richie Crampton and Jason Rush out of our shop fabricated a practice tree, so I’ll get in there and hit the tree when I’m at the shop. I still try to work out to keep my weight in check. I think it’s like anything else. If you want to do it bad enough, you get in and do the best you can.”

Jack Beckman had a Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals to remember in 2015, claiming the event victory and the win in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. He’ll try to repeat that in 2016, but standing in his way is a talented field led by points leader Ron Capps, who has four wins this season, four-time Indy winner John Force, Robert Hight, who has claimed three Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals wins, reigning world champion Del Worsham, Courtney Force, Tim Wilkerson, two-time world champion Matt Hagan, three-time Indy winner Cruz Pedregon and Tommy Johnson Jr.

Enders won her first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals a year ago en route to her second straight world championship. But it has been a different story in 2016 in the redesigned Pro Stock class, which features fuel injected engines, 10,500 RPM rev-limiters, flat hoods and shortened wheelie bars. Enders currently sits 10th in points and is seeking her first win in 2016, while Jason Line, the current points leader, and his teammate Greg Anderson, a six-time Indy winner, both have seven wins. Others to watch include Allen Johnson, who won in Denver, three-time Indy winner Jeg Coughlin, Vincent Nobile, Bo Butner, Drew Skillman, Chris McGaha, Shane Gray and Alex Laughlin. The final from the rain-postponed event in Seattle between Aaron Strong and Nobile will also be completed during the event.

Jerry Savoie will look to make it two straight Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories in Pro Stock Motorcycle, while also claiming his first win in 2016. The two-wheeled category is loaded with talent and starts with current points leader Eddie Krawiec, who won the event in 2014. Others expected to compete for the Wally include reigning world champion Andrew Hines, LE Tonglet, who won in Sonoma, Englishtown winner Angelle Sampey, two-time world champion Matt Smith, Hector Arana, Chip Ellis, Steve Johnson and Hector Arana Jr.

A $100,000 prize and bragging rights will be on the line for qualified drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car as they battle in the lucrative Traxxas Nitro Shootout. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be held on Saturday evening, while the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car is contested Sunday afternoon. The winners in each Traxxas Nitro Shootout will earn $100,000.

Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series also will look to become winners of the prestigious event during the weekend. The fastest Super Stock cars will challenge for the ultimate bragging rights and a bonus purse during the popular Mopar HEMI Challenge.

The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 5. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Sept. 3 with rounds at 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Sept. 4 for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

FOX national broadcast and FS1 will televise coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals for the first time in event history. FS1 will air highlights from the event on Sunday, Sept. 4, at noon and 5 p.m. EST. The broadcasts will continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage on Monday, Sept. 5 starting at 11 a.m. EST. The extensive coverage will then continue live on the FOX national broadcast channel at 1 p.m. EST.

Tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online atwww.NHRA.com/tickets.

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CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 62nd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, 18th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the last race in the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season. At the conclusion of this event, the top 10 drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – will be locked in to begin the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs, leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Ind. From I-465, exit Crawfordsville Road (Hwy. 136). Head west for four miles past downtown Clermont. The facility’s main entrance is on the left, one-half mile past Raceway Road. From I-74 go south on Ronald Reagan Parkway, exit 68 and turn south. Turn east on U.S. 136 and entrance on the track will be on the right.

COURSE: Championship dragstrip; Track elevation is 700 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.

POINTS: A special world championship points system is in effect at this event, where drivers in the Mello Yello Series categories will earn points based on a point-and-a-half system (150 points to win). A single racer in each category can earn a maximum of 188 points at this event. All other NHRA Mello Yello Series events offer 100 points to win. Teams also will get 15 points instead of 10 for making a qualifying attempt. Qualifying bonus points will remain at 1-2-3 for the five sessions and the standard 1-8 points will be given for qualifying positions.

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 5.

SCHEDULE:        

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

THURSDAY, Sept. 1 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations

FRIDAY, Sept. 2 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations (featuring Mopar HEMI Challenge)

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 6:30 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 3 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2 and 5:30 p.m.

TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT (Top Fuel) rounds at 4, 5:15 and 8 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 4 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1:45 p.m.; first round of eliminations at 5:30 p.m.

TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT (Funny Car) rounds at 12:30, 3 and 4:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

MONDAY, Sept. 7 – Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Sunday, Sept. 4, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at noon (ET).

Sunday, Sept. 4, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET).

Monday, Sept. 5, FS1 will televise two hours of live finals coverage at 11 a.m. (ET).

Monday, Sept. 5, FOX will televise three hours of live finals coverage at 1 p.m. (ET).

2015 EVENT WINNERS: Morgan Lucas, Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Jerry Savoie, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Bob Glidden, PS, 9; Tony Schumacher, TF, 9; Don Garlits, TF, 8; Don Prudhomme, TF/ FC, 7; Greg Anderson, PS, 6; Warren Johnson, PS, 6; Ed McCulloch, FC/TF, 6; Dave Schultz, PSM, 6; Larry Dixon, TF, 4;John Force, FC, 4.

EVENT HISTORY: The most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals has been contested annually since 1955. Originally known as “The Nationals” and first held at an abandoned airstrip in Great Bend, Kan., the event made stops at Kansas City, Mo., Oklahoma City and Detroit before eventually moving to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 1961. Past winners include “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, an eight-time winner in Top Fuel; Shirley Muldowney, 1982 Top Fuel winner; Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, a seven-time winner and one of a handful of drivers to win the event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; and Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver who dominated the race by advancing to the final round in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-’89. The Indiana native won the event a record nine times, a mark he shares with current Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher. It is the only major motorsports event to be contested on Labor Day.

FAST FACTS: The Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals is the final of 18 regular season Mello Yello Series races. Following conclusion of this event the top 10 drivers in each Mello Yello Series category will qualify for the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs that begin Sept. 16-18 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.… The Traxxas Nitro Shootout will offer $100,000 to the winners in special bonus events for qualified Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers… Tony Schumacher is an 11-time U.S. Nationals finalist in Top Fuel (winning nine)… Schumacher’s first career NHRA start came at the U.S. Nationals in 1996 and the then rookie posted a runner-up finish to Cory McClenathan… John Force, 16-time NHRA Mello Yello Series world champion and winner of a record 143 events, has won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals four times, his last coming in 2002…  Four women have earned Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories, including Shirley Muldowney once in Top Fuel, Ashley Force Hood twice in Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria once in Funny Car and Angelle Sampey twice in Pro Stock Motorcycle… Pro Stock’s Bob Glidden and Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher are the winningest drivers in the history of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, with nine victories each… Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Jim Head and Ed McCulloch have won the race in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, while Antron Brown has also won the race in multiple MYDRS classes, Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle… The event also will feature competition in the Lucas Oil Series and the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, featuring high-horsepower machines that accelerate to more than 250 mph.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Traxxas Nitro Shootout will offer $100,000 to the winners in special bonus events for qualified Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers… Tony Schumacher is seeking a record 10th Top Fuel victory at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals…  A victory by Schumacher would break a tie with Pro Stock’s Bob Glidden for most Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories…  Four-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson is seeking his seventh Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victory… Several high-profile drivers are looking for their first victory in the world’s most prestigious drag race, including two-time Indy runner-up Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, and Jack Beckman in Funny Car, 2012 world champ Allen Johnson in Pro Stock… Drivers in several Mello Yello Series categories who are on the bubble to make it into the top 10 in points will be trying to take advantage of Indy’s point-and-a-half system and secure their berths into the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race postseason playoffs.

TRACK HISTORY: In 1958, led by Tom Binford, Frank Dickie, Rodger Ward and Howard Fieber, 15 Indianapolis-area businessmen and racing professionals invested $5,000 each to fund the development of what would become Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The group purchased a 267-acre farm about seven miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a multipurpose auto racing facility. The original intention in creating Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis was to design a 15-turn, 2.5-mile road course. Nearly as an afterthought, and as an insurance measure against economic problems, the investment group decided to incorporate a quarter-mile drag strip into the long straightaway of the 2.5-mile road course design. Constructed with assistance from the NHRA, the drag strip was the first of the three courses to be completed, with the facility’s first event held on the strip in the fall of 1960. During the 1960 U.S. Nationals in Detroit, a handshake agreement between Binford and NHRA founder Wally Parks promised that the event would move to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 1961. The historic three-year pact was signed and sealed under a tree in Detroit Dragway’s pits, and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis eventually became the home of NHRA’s biggest annual event. The NHRA purchased the entire facility in 1979. The first major improvement came in 1983 with the construction and dedication of Parks Tower, the four-story drag strip tower. In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track at a cost of nearly $2.5 million, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, NHRA and Lucas Oil Raceway constructed a new drag strip racing surface, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. Prior to the 2003 race, eight new luxury suites were added along the top of the west-side grandstands of the drag strip, giving fans a unique perspective of the action on the famed track. In 2006, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. In 2007, the track announced its first track entitlement with O’Reilly Auto Parts. In 2011, the track announced a new track entitlement with Lucas Oil Products. The track – formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park – is now known as Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. During the winter of 2008, a new main track office building was constructed near the track entrance.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.740 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ’12; 328.54 mph by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ’14.

Funny Car – 3.936 sec. and 323.74 by Jack Beckman, Sept. ’15.

Pro Stock – 6.538 sec. by Jason Line, Sept. ’11; 211.13 mph by Mike Edwards, Sept. ’12.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.815 sec. and 196.76 mph by Andrew Hines.

NATIONAL RECORDS:    

Top Fuel – 3.671 sec. by Steve Torrence, July ’16, Sonoma, Calif.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car – 3.862 sec. and 335.57 mph by Matt Hagan, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.

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

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA