2008 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series season
Introduction The '''2008 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series''' consisted of 24 national events held at tracks across the U.S. The first 18 events made up the regular season, with the final events making up the "Countdown to 1".This season marked the introduction of 1000' drag racing for the nitro competitors after the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta in Englishtown, N.J. John Force returned to competition after his near fatal crash in Dallas toward the end of the 2007 Season. John's daughter Ashley became the first female funny car winner beating her father John in the finals at Atlanta. This season also marked the most dominant season by a professional driver in history, as Tony Schumacher won 15 races and became the only driver in the countdown era to clinch the championship before the season finale.
Schedule DateRaceSiteWinnersTop FuelFunny CarPro StockPro Stock MotorcycleFebruary 7–10Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals Pomona, CaliforniaTony SchumacherRobert HightGreg AndersonN/AFebruary 22–24Checker Shucks Kragen NationalsPhoenix, Ariz.Larry DixonJack BeckmanV GainesN/AMarch 13–16ACDelco NHRA GatornationalsGainesville, FlaTony SchumacherTony PedregonJeg CoughlinMatt GuideraMarch 28–30O'Reilly NHRA Spring NationalsHouston, TexasAntron BrownDel WorshamGreg AndersonMatt SmithApril 10–13SummitRacing.com NHRA NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.Cory MaClenathan Tim WilkersonJason LineN/AApril 24–27Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern NationalsAtlanta, Ga.Antron BrownAshley ForceMike EdwardsAndrew HinesMay 1–3O'Reilly NHRA Midwest NationalsMadison, Ill.Rod FullerTim WilkersonKurt JohnsonAndrew HinesMay 16–18NHRA Thunder Valley NationalsBristol, Tenn.Tony SchumacherMelanie TroxelDave ConnolyN/AMay 30–June 1O'Reilly NHRA Summer NationalsTopeka, Kan.Hillary WillJohn ForceRon KrisherN/AJune 5–8Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA NationalsChicago, Ill.Tony SchumacherTony PedregonKurt Johnson Chris RivasJune 19–22Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationalsEnglishtown, N.J.Tony SchumacherTim WilkersonGreg AndersonChip EllisJune 26–29Summit Racing Equipment NHRA NationalsNorwalk, OhioDoug HerbertTony PedregonGreg AndersonHector AranaJuly 11–13Mopar Mile-High NHRA NationalsDenver, Colo.Tony SchumacherTim WilkersonGreg AndersonMatt SmithJuly 18–20NHRA Shucks Auto Supply NationalsSeattle, Wash.Tony SchumacherTony BartoneJason LineN/AJuly 25–27Fram Autolite NHRA NationalsSonoma, Calif.Tony SchumacherRobert HightDave ConnollyMatt GuideraAugust 7–10Lucas Oil NHRA NationalsBrainerd, Minn.Tony SchumacherTony PedregonKurt JohnsonMatt SmithAugust 14–17Toyo Tires NHRA NationalsReading, Pa.Tony SchumacherJack BeckmanJeg CoughlinMatt SmithAugust 27-September 154th Mac Tools U.S. NationalsIndianapolis, Ind.Tony SchumacherRobert HightDave ConnollySteve Johnson2008 Countdown to the Championship September 11–14NHRA Carolinas NationalsConcord, N.C.Tony SchumacherJack BeckmanJustin HumphreysSteve JohnsonSeptember 18–21O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas, TexasJ.R. ToddTim WilkersonGreg StanfieldChris RivasSeptember 26–28O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South NationalsMemphis, Tenn.Tony SchumacherTim WilkersonMike EdwardsCraig TrebleOctober 10–12Virginia NHRA NationalsRichmond, Va.Tony SchumacherCruz PedregonDave ConnollyN/AOctober 30 – November 2NHRA Las Vegas NationalsLas Vegas, Nev.Tony SchumacherCruz PedregonJeg CoughlinChris RivasNovember 13–16Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA FinalsPomona, CaliforniaLarry DixonCruz PedregonGreg AndersonChris Rivas
Points standings Top FuelPositionDriverPointsPoints BackChassis1'''Tony Schumacher'''2703 -Hadman2Larry Dixon2445 -258Hadman3Cory McClenathan2406 -297Hadman4Hillary Will2405 -298Attac5Antron Brown2370 -333Hadman6Rod Fuller2368 -335Hadman7Brandon Bernstein2327 -376McKinney8Doug Herbert2307 -396McKinney9Doug Kalitta2209 -494Attac10David Grubnic2194 -509HadmanFunny CarPositionDriverPointsPoints BackMake1'''Cruz Pedregon'''2561 -Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara2Tim Wilkerson2468 -93Levi Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala3Jack Beckman2457 -104MTS/Valvoline Dodge Charger4Robert Hight2442 -119AAA. of So. California Ford Mustang5Tony Pedregon2440 -121Quaker State/Herzog Chevrolet Impala6Ashley Force Hood2385 -176Castrol GTX Ford Mustang7John Force2303 -258Castrol High Mileage Ford Mustang8Ron Capps2302 -259NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger9Mike Neff2284 -277Old Spice Ford Mustang10Gary Densham2217 -344Racebricks Chevrolet ImpalaPro StockPositionDriverPointsPoints BackMake/Model1'''Jeg Coughlin Jr.'''2523 -JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt2Greg Anderson2487 -36Summit Racing Pontiac GXP3Kurt Johnson2450 -73ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt4Mike Edwards2388 -135YoungLife/Penhall Pontiac GXP5Jason Line2388 -135Summit Racing Pontiac GXP6Dave Connolly 2383 -140Charter Communications Chevrolet Cobalt7Allen Johnson2363 -160Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus8Greg Stanfield2329 -194Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP9V Gaines2234 -289Kendall Dodge Stratus10Ron Krisher2158 -368Valvoline Chevrolet CobaltPro Stock MotorcyclePositionDriverPointsPoints BackMake1'''Ed Krawiec'''2471 -Harley-Davidson2Chris Rivas2466 -5Buell3Matt Smith2451 -20Suzuki4Andrew Hines2334 -137Harley-Davidson5Angelle Sampey2310 -161Buell6Chip Ellis2284 -187Suzuki7Steve Johnson2283 -188Suzuki8Craig Treble2270 -201Suzuki9Karen Stoffer2167 -304Suzuki10Matt Guidera2156 -315Buell*Drivers in '''bold''' have clinched the championship
References