2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Season was announced on September 5, 2015.[1]

2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season
LeagueNHRA
SportDrag racing
ChampionsAntron Brown (TF)
Ron Capps (FC)
Jason Line (PS)
Jerry Savoie (PSM)

There were 24 Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock car events, and 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events scheduled.

Schedule
2016 NHRA Mello Yello Schedule
Date Race Site TV Winners
Top Fuel Dragster Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock PS Motorcycle
February 11–14 Circle K NHRA Winternationals Pomona, California FS1 Steve Torrence (1) Ron Capps (1) Greg Anderson (1) N/A
February 26–28 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Arizona Nationals Phoenix, Arizona FS1 Leah Pritchett (1) Tim Wilkerson (1) Jason Line (1) N/A
March 17–20 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, Florida. FS1 Brittany Force (1) Robert Hight (1) Greg Anderson (2) Eddie Krawiec (1)
April 1–3 Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals Las Vegas, Nevada FS1 Antron Brown (1) Alexis DeJoria (1) Jason Line (2) N/A
April 22–24 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods Concord, North Carolina FS1* Brittany Force (2) Tim Wilkerson (2) Jason Line (3) Andrew Hines (1)
April 29 – May 1 NHRA SpringNationals Houston, Texas FS1 Doug Kalitta (1) Courtney Force (1) Greg Anderson (3) N/A
May 13–15 NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, Georgia FS1* Doug Kalitta (2) Matt Hagan (1) Jason Line (4) Eddie Krawiec (2)
May 20–22 NHRA Kansas Nationals Topeka, Kansas FS1 Doug Kalitta (3) Matt Hagan (2) Jason Line (5) N/A
June 3–5 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, N.H. FS1* Antron Brown (2) Ron Capps (2) Greg Anderson (4) N/A
June 9–12 NHRA Summernationals Englishtown, New Jersey FS1* Steve Torrence (2) Ron Capps (3) Greg Anderson (5) Angelle Sampey (1)
June 17–19 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, Tennessee FS1* Shawn Langdon (1) Tommy Johnson, Jr. (1) Jason Line (6) N/A
June 23–26 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, Ohio FS2* Shawn Langdon (2) Ron Capps (4) Jason Line (7) Eddie Krawiec (3)
July 7–10 K&N Route 66 NHRA Nationals Chicago, Illinois FS1 Antron Brown (3) Jack Beckman (1) Greg Anderson (6) Andrew Hines (2)
July 22–24 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals Denver, Colorado Fox Tony Schumacher (1) John Force (1) Allen Johnson (1) Andrew Hines (3)
July 29–31 Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, California Fox J.R. Todd (1) John Force (2) Greg Anderson (7) L.E. Tonglet (1)
August 5–7 Protect The Harvest.com NHRA Northwest Nationals2 Seattle, Washington Fox Races abandoned after semifinals. N/A
August 18–21 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd, Minnesota FS1* Antron Brown (4) Ron Capps (5) Drew Skillman (1) Andrew Hines (4)
Brittany Force (3) Del Worsham (1)
August 31 – September 5 Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals Clermont, IN FS1*/Fox Tony Schumacher (2) Matt Hagan (3) Aaron Strong (1) Andrew Hines (5)
Chris McGaha (1)
2016 Countdown to One
September 16–18 NHRA Carolina Nationals Concord, N.C. FS1 Antron Brown (5) John Force (3) Jason Line (8) Chip Ellis (1)
September 23–25 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, Missouri FS1 Shawn Langdon (3) Jack Beckman (2) Alex Laughlin (1) Jerry Savoie (1)
September 29 – October 2 Dodge NHRA Nationals Reading, Pennsylvania FS1 Antron Brown (6) Tommy Johnson, Jr. (2) Vincent Nobile (1) Eddie Krawiec (4)
October 13–16 AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas, Texas FS1 Antron Brown (7) Matt Hagan (4) Drew Skillman (2) Eddie Krawiec (5)
October 27–30 NHRA Toyota Nationals Las Vegas, Nevada FS1 Steve Torrence (3) John Force (3) Shane Gray (1) Jerry Savoie (2)
November 10–13 Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Pomona, California FS1 Doug Kalitta (4) Tommy Johnson, Jr. (3) Greg Anderson (8) Matt Smith (1)

1 The rules for the 4-Wide Nationals differ from other races:

  • All cars will qualify on each lane as all four lanes will be used in qualifying.
  • Three rounds with cars using all four lanes.
  • In Rounds One and Two, the top two drivers (of four) will advance to the next round.
  • The pairings are set as follows:
    • Race One: 1, 8, 9, 16
    • Race Two: 4, 5, 12, 13
    • Race Three: 2, 7, 10, 15
    • Race Four: 3, 6, 11, 14
    • Semifinal One: Top two in Race One and Race Two
    • Semifinal Two: Top two in Race Three and Race Four
    • Finals: Top two in Semifinal One and Semifinal Two
  • Lane choice determined by times in previous round. In first round, lane choice determined by fastest times.
  • Drivers who advance in Rounds One and Two will receive 20 points for each round advancement.
  • In Round Three, the winner of the race will be declared the race winner and will collect 40 points. The runner-up will receive 20 points. Third and fourth place drivers will be credited as semifinal losers.

2 Races at Pacific Raceway abandoned after semifinals because of rain and could not be finished because of ordinances in county. There were two Top Fuel and Funny Car finals at Brainerd, and two Pro Stock finals at the U. S. Nationals (the NHRA and the two finalists agreed to conduct it at Clermont). The first winner listed is the Saturday race, while the second winner is the Sunday (Brainerd) or Monday (U. S. Nationals) race.

  • * Finals televised on tape delay. Otherwise, finals will be televised live. Note at Norwalk, the first two rounds were televised live on Fox Sports 1, and the remainder aired on tape delay on Fox Sports 2 after the NASCAR race, as Fox Sports 1 had coverage of the 2016 Copa America final. The first Brainerd Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the first Lucas Oil Raceway Pro Stock (car) final aired on tape delay (FS1). The Pro Stock (car and motorcycle) and the second Top Fuel and Funny Car finals at Brainerd aired live. At the U. S. Nationals, the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock Motorcycle finals and the second Pro Stock (car) finals will air on Fox live.[2]

Notable events
  • NHRA and ESPN mutually agreed to end their television coverage agreement following the 2015 season. The 2016 season was to be the final year of a five-year rights extension deal that took effect in 2012.[3]
  • NHRA and Fox Sports jointly announced that starting in 2016 the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be televised by Fox Sports 1 (FS1). The channel will provide coverage of Friday and Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations for each NHRA Mello Yello Series event, with a minimum of 16 Sunday eliminations shows to be presented in a live coverage format. The Western Swing and the U. S. Nationals will be broadcast live on the Fox broadcast network, whose broadcasts will be labeled as Fox NHRA. All tape-delayed races will air as same-day delays after FS1 NASCAR coverage.[4]
  • NHRA and Fox Sports jointly announced the TV schedule for 2016, although with the addition of the Topeka race in December (the NHRA was legally unable to announce the Topeka race until new ownership group was confirmed), the television schedule for the Kansas round, which does not have a NASCAR conflict, it is expected to be live.[5]
  • The NHRA will cease offering points for setting a national record elapsed time, and will no longer require a run to be backed up within one percent in order to set the record, as points are not offered for such records.[6]

Final standings
Top Fuel[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackChassis
1Antron Brown2663–DSR (MG)
2Doug Kalitta2533−130Kalitta
3Steve Torrence2482−181MLR
4J.R. Todd2455−208Kalitta
5Shawn Langdon2443−220DSR (MG)
6Brittany Force2399−264Force
7Leah Pritchett2389−274DSR (MG)
8Tony Schumacher2387−276DSR (MG)
9Richie Crampton2279−384MLR
10Clay Millican2264−399Hadman
Funny Car[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Ron Capps2605–Dodge
2Tommy Johnson, Jr.2553−52Dodge
3Matt Hagan2493−112Dodge
4John Force2486−119Chevrolet
5Jack Beckman2480−125Dodge
6Courtney Force2414−191Chevrolet
7Del Worsham2406−199Toyota
8Robert Hight2368−237Chevrolet
9Tim Wilkerson2314−291Ford
10Alexis DeJoria2184−421Toyota
Pro Stock[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Jason Line2639–Chevrolet
2Greg Anderson2636−3Chevrolet
3Shane Gray2492−147Chevrolet
4Bo Butner III2453−186Chevrolet
5Vincent Nobile2449−190Chevrolet
6Drew Skillman2424−215Chevrolet
7Chris McGaha2327−312Chevrolet
8Allen Johnson2277−362Dodge
9Erica Enders-Stevens2239−400Dodge
10Jeg Coughlin, Jr.2208−431Dodge
Pro Stock Motorcycle[7]
Pos.DriverPointsPoints BackMake
1Gerald Savoie2595–Suzuki
2Eddie Krawiec2571−24Harley-Davidson
3Andrew Hines2564−31Harley-Davidson
4Angelle Sampey2495−100Buell
5Chip Ellis2415−180Buell
6Matt Smith2389−206Victory
7L.E. Tonglet IV2372−223Suzuki
8Hector Arana, Jr.2315−280Buell
9Cory Reed2312−283Stinnett
10Hector Arana2279−316Buell

References
  1. "NHRA unveils 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. September 5, 2015. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  2. "FOX NHRA TV schedule". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  3. "NHRA and ESPN announce television changes". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  4. "NHRA enters long-term partnership with FOX Sports". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  5. "NHRA on FOX television schedule headlined by 17 live Sunday finals shows; four on Fox broadcast network". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. November 17, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  6. "Back-up Run Certifications No Longer Required". NHRA.com. National Hot Rod Association. January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  7. "NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points". nhra.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
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