Courtesy of the NHRA

DINWIDDIE, Va. — Seeing eight different winners through the first nine Pro Stock races of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is enough to convince Drew Skillman about the impressive parity in the class. It’s also motivation for Skillman to try to become the next in the winner’s circle at this weekend’s Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Drew Skillman. NHRA photo

The seven-time event winner is one of a handful of standouts who are looking for their first win of the 2018 season, and Skillman knows he has a car and team capable of grabbing a victory at Virginia Motorsports Park, which is hosting its first NHRA event since 2009. It hasn’t happened yet in his Ray Skillman Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro, but Skillman believes his time is coming soon.

“It’s time for us to get our stuff together,” said Skillman, who is currently seventh in points. “I know darn well we’re too good not to win. This team has some of the best guys in the country and these guys have all worked together for years. If you look at our car at the beginning of the season, it was fantastic and the driver did not do his job. We had a car that could have won several races and we just didn’t do it. But we typically get hot this time of year, so I expect us to get on track.”

The stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will try to pick up wins at a race that will be televised on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including finals coverage beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is the 10th of 24 races during the 2018 season and also the second of four consecutive races. After a first-round loss in Chicago last weekend, Skillman is ready to make amends.

Drew Skillman. NHRA photo

Skillman has been close, advancing to three semifinals, but he also knows that the competition level has been incredible in 2018. Vincent Nobile is the only two-time winner this season, while standouts like Erica Enders, Tanner Gray, Chris McGaha, Jeg Coughlin Jr., who won in Chicago, Matt Hartford, reigning world champion Bo Butner and Deric Kramer all have one win. Skillman is part of a talented group that includes points leader Greg Anderson, Jason Line and Alex Laughlin who have yet to win a race this season, but Skillman predicts that winner’s list will grow.

“I’ll tell you right now, there’s going to be 12-13 different winners,” Skillman said. “I guarantee it. There’s too many good people with too much good power and any of them could win any weekend. If you’re not fast and consistent, you’re not going to do anything. There’s no lucky rounds out there. You see people losing with great reaction times, so you better have it together. You already have to start thinking about (Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship) positioning.”

The best way for Skillman, who won four events a year ago, to move up is to start winning races, and a victory in his first race at Virginia Motorsports Park would do that. With a new track surface and plenty of anticipation regarding the NHRA’s return to Virginia, Skillman is excited to make his own debut at the facility and hopefully make a sizeable impression in the process.

“I’m definitely looking forward to this weekend,” Skillman said. “They redid the entire track and I’m excited to see it. It’s nice to mix it up and go to some new places. I’ve talked to the guys who have raced there and they said it’s a beautiful area, so I’m pumped and expecting this to be a pretty good weekend. This deal is supposed to be fun and we’ve talked a lot about that, not banging our heads against the wall. We’re going to keep working hard and still have fun.”

Top Fuel standouts Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta both have wins at VMP, but everyone is hunting points leader Steve Torrence, who has three wins in 2018. Others to watch include Clay Millican, who has back-to-back wins, Leah Pritchett and defending world champ Brittany Force.

John Force has four Funny Car wins at the facility, while Cruz Pedregon, who won in Charlotte this year, also has a Virginia victory. But both are chasing Courtney Force, the current points leader who has two wins in 2018. Others to watch include Jack Beckman, Robert Hight and Matt Hagan.

Pro Stock Motorcycle will race at the track for the first time since 1998, with the event marking the fifth of 16 for the two-wheeled class in 2018. Everyone is chasing points leader Andrew Hines and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, who has two wins this season.

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service makes the fifth of 12 stops in 2018 at Virginia Motorsports Park. The event also features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing the future stars of the sport.

Those in attendance will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with a few of the most renowned names in drag racing during the NHRA Legends Tour. This will feature meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and a variety of other activities. Legends scheduled to attend the Virginia NHRA Nationals include Joe Amato, Jim and Allison Lee, and Jim Yates.

As always, fans can 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 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.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. on Friday, June 8, and the final two rounds of qualifying at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 9. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 10.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also are available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. All students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more info about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.  

VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS

WHAT: Inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.  Competition also will be featured in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, and the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service.

WHERE: Virginia Motorsports Park, From Richmond, take 95 south to I-85 exit 51 then to Route 1 Exit 63A. Route 1 turns into Boydton Plank Rd. Drive four miles and the park is on the left.
From the south: Take I-95 north to I-85 exit 51 then to Route 1 exit 63A. Route 1 turns into Boydton Plank Road.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 8-10

SCHEDULE: 
FRIDAY, June 8 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying 
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 2 and 4:30 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 9 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations 
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5 p.m. 
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 10 – Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. 
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at noon
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations begin at 1:30 p.m.

TELEVISION: 
Saturday, June 9, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise two and a half hours of live qualifying at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 10, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
 
MOST WINS: 
Cory McClenathan 4, TF; John Force, 4, FC; Warren Johnson, 4, PS

TRACK RECORDS: 
Top Fuel – 3.771 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. ‘08; 319.60 mph by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘09
Funny Car – 4.005 seconds by Robert Hight, Oct. ‘08; 311.27 mph by Ashley Force Hood, Oct. ‘09
Pro Stock – 6.509 seconds by Mike Edwards, Oct. ‘09; 215.36 mph by Greg Anderson, Oct. ‘09

NATIONAL RECORDS: 
Top Fuel – 3.628 sec. by Clay Millican, Feb. ’18, Pomona, Calif.; 336.57 mph by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ‘18, Phoenix
Funny Car – 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, 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 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets