GLENDORA, Calif. – The loyal fans of NHRA Pro Stock drag racing in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be able to vote their favorite category driver into the NHRA K&N Horsepower Challenge, a special bonus event for the factory hot rod class.
The K&N Horsepower Challenge will be held Saturday, April 1, during the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The lucrative event is open to eight drivers, seven of which will be determined by points earned at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. The eighth spot will be decided by the fan vote.
“The racers in the Pro Stock category look forward to the K&N Horsepower Challenge each year to prove who is the best in the category,” said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations. “The specialty race features the top Pro Stock drivers and allows the fans to be involved in the selection process by voting for the eighth finalist.”
Greg Anderson raced to victory last year in the K&N Horsepower Challenge in an uncontested final round when teammate Jason Line’s car broke on the starting line. Anderson’s Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro lost traction at the start, but he was able to cruise down the track to claim his fifth victory in the lucrative Pro Stock all-star event. With the victory Anderson earned $50,000.
Voting is open now and will end on Monday March, 27 at noon Eastern. Fans can go to NHRA.com to vote: http://www.nhra.com/KNChallenge. Fans can vote once and they must have a Facebook page to vote.
The winner of the fan vote will go up against the other seven entries in a three-round shootout in Las Vegas. The champion of the K&N Horsepower Challenge race will win a $50,000 grand prize. The runner-up will receive $10,000 with $3,000 to the two semifinalists and $2,500 to the four first-round finishers. If a driver doubles-up by winning the specialty event and the national event, that driver will win a $25,000 bonus.
Drivers that have already clinched a spot into the K&N Horsepower Challenge include Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Bo Butner, Shane Gray, and Vincent Nobile.
The following Pro Stock drivers are currently eligible for the fan vote: Jeg Coughlin, Kenny Delco, Erica Enders, V. Gaines, John Gaydosh, Tanner Gray, Joey Grose, Matt Hartford, Mark Hogan, Tom Huggins, Allen Johnson, Deric Kramer, Alex Laughlin, Kevin Lawrence, Chris McGaha, Alan Prusiensky, Dave River, Drew Skillman, Val Smeland, Curt Steinbach, Richie Stevens Jr., Aaron Strong, Shane Tucker, and Charlie Westcott.
Pro Stock points standings can be found at http://www.nhra.com/k-n-horsepower-challenge/kn-points
Drivers began accumulating points from qualifying points starting at the 2016 DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas and continued to earn points through the 2017 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 16-19.
Story and photo courtesy of the NHRA
