John Force Racing News

John Force Racing
Mike Neff Pre-Race Package
Event: 22nd annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, 15th of 24 events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
Site: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.
Dates: July, 24-26 2009

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NEFF LOOKING TO EXTEND JFR SONOMA STREAK

“(My Mustang) has been running good early (in this run). We know if we can get it to run on eight cylinders it would put up good numbers. This Ford is thumping. I always had confidence in my team and this Mustang.” - Mike Neff

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Team info at www.johnforceracing.com

Follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing

Follow John Force RaceStation store at www.twitter.com/JFRaceStation

Follow Courtney Force at www.twitter.com/courtneyforce

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The Driver

Mike Neff, 42, driver of the Ford Drive One Mustang, is entering his second season with high expectations. He is currently in 9th place Full Throttle point standings. This season he has reached one final (Phoenix) and was No. 1 qualifier in Norwalk, Ohio. In his rookie year he reached three finals, was No. 1 qualifier twice and qualified for the Countdown to 1 championship race. Neff took over the driving duties for the late Eric Medlen, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a testing accident in March of 2007.

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Mike Neff By the Numbers:

1 – Number of final rounds in 2009, Phoenix

2 – Number of races Neff was the driver and crew chief this season, Phoenix and Gainesville

2 – Number of positions Neff moved up in the points standings last week in Seattle

3 – Number of JFR drivers who have been named Auto Club Road to the Future Award winners, most recently Mike Neff was honored as the professional rookie of the year (Robert Hight, 2005 and Ashley Force Hood, 2007)

4 – Number of finals Mike Neff has reached in his young career, most recently Phoenix, February 2009

9 – Neff’s position in the Full Throttle point standings

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Full Throttle Point Standings (After fourteen of 24 Full Throttle events)

FUNNY CAR - 1. Ron Capps, 1039; 2. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 1018; 3. Tony Pedregon, 1009; 4. Jack Beckman, 855; 5. Tim Wilkerson, 804; 6. Del Worsham, 791; 7. Bob Tasca III, 787; 8. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 739; 9. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Mustang, 683; 10. Matt Hagan, 669; Also 11. Cruz Pedregon, 662, 12. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 626.

TOP FUEL - 1. Antron Brown, 1168; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1031; 3. Larry Dixon, 998; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 913; 5. Spencer Massey, 819; 6. Cory McClenathan, 814; 7. Shawn Langdon, 773; 7. Morgan Lucas, 773; 9. Doug Kalitta, 666; 10. Clay Millican, 567.

PRO STOCK - 1. Jeg Coughlin, 1199; 2. Mike Edwards, 1179; 3. Jason Line, 1086; 4. Greg Anderson, 951; 5. Allen Johnson, 933; 6. Greg Stanfield, 744; 7. Ron Krisher, 704; 8. Kurt Johnson, 668; 9. Rickie Jones, 608; 10. Warren Johnson, 575.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE - 1. Eddie Krawiec, 719/739; 2. Andrew Hines, 651/671; 3. Matt Smith, 559; 4. Craig Treble, 535; 5. Douglas Horne, 506; 6. Hector Arana, 472; 7. Matt Guidera, 446; 8. Steve Johnson, 360; 9. Shawn Gann, 356; 10. Karen Stoffer, 351.

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Track Records:

Top Fuel* - 4.486 seconds by Tony Schumacher, July ’06; 331.36 mph by Dave Grubnic, July ’06
Funny Car*- 4.738 seconds by Robert Hight, July ’06; 326.79 mph by Mike Ashley, July ’07
Pro Stock- 6.590 seconds by Jason Line, July ’08; 209.33 mph by Warren Johnson, July ’08
PS Motorcycle – 6.885 seconds by Matt Smith, July ’08; 196.13 mph by Andrew Hines, Aug. ’04
(*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and Funny Car at this event)

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Race Schedule:

Friday –
Pro Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Saturday –
Pro Qualifying: 11:30 and 2:15 p.m.

Sunday –
Pre-race: 10:00 a.m.
Final eliminations: 11:00 a.m.

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Television:

Saturday, July 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise 3 hours of final round eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).

MIKE NEFF

NEFF LOOKING TO EXTEND JFR SONOMA STREAK

SONOMA, CA (July 22, 2009) --- Over the past three NHRA national events Mike Neff and the Ford Drive One Mustang team have been moving in and out of the Full Throttle points top ten. As the team exited Seattle Neff and his Ford Drive One Mustang team was sitting in 9th place and poised to move up as the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Infineon Raceway for the 22nd annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals this weekend.

During the Seattle race Neff’s Mustang grabbed the No. 2 qualifying position but was less than dominant in qualifying until the last session. Still on Saturday night Neff was pleased with the team’s performance and he knew they were moving in the right direction.

“We have been trying to run good every run we just kept putting cylinders out. We knew that if it would just run on all eight it would run pretty good. That is exactly what happened. We made enough changes to get it to run on all eight cylinders and it put up a good run. We are excited about that. We really needed something good to carry over into (Sunday),” said Neff.

As the team rolls into Sonoma they know that they could be battling hot temperatures. Luckily the superior race surface at Infineon Raceway will give all the teams a decent shot at putting up good numbers. Neff knows that teams have to be able to overcome the elements at this stretch of the Western Swing.

“The hot conditions are the trickiest. I would always rather make a good run in the heat. That is what you are most likely to be racing in. John Medlen and the boys have been working hard the past two races and all season long to make this Ford Drive One Mustang one of the top funny cars out there. I think we are right around the corner from finding the consistency we need,” said Neff.

Mike Neff and teammate Robert Hight are locked into one of the tightest points battles in recent Countdown to One history. Neff is currently in 9th place with 683 points, rookie Matt Hagan in is 10th place with 669, reigning funny car champion Cruz Pedregon is in 11th place with 662 and Hight is in 12th place with 626 points. With each round win worth 20 points fortunes can change on a Sunday afternoon in the blink of an eye.

“Qualifying is important and going rounds on Sunday is important. In Seattle we made up some ground by qualifying number two and going to the second round. Having the guys around us go out in the first round was a plus. We need to go rounds in Sonoma and hopefully help Robert out as well. Our goal all season has been to get all four John Force Racing Mustangs into the Countdown to One and that is what we are going to work towards,” concluded Neff.

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Did you know…

- When Neff does capture his first win for John Force Racing he will become the seventh different drivers to have won Funny Car races on the NHRA tour – John Force, Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Robert Hight Ashley Force and the late Eric Medlen.

- A strong 2008 rookie season for Neff allowed him to continue another John Force Racing tradition becoming the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four years to win the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie of the Year following Robert Hight (2005) and Ashley Force (2007).

- Neff and his three teammates (John Force, Ashley Force Hood and Robert Hight) will be cruising to Cabo San Lucas for New Year’s Eve as part of the John Force Racing Fan Cruise III sponsored by AAA. Fans can get more information by calling 1-888-874-7222.

Get team info here: www.johnforceracing.com

Follow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing