TJ Pruitt
A trio of multi-time world-championship winners, Tony Schumacher, Matt Hagan and Andrew Hines, were joined by first-time champ Erica Enders-Stevens as the headliners who were crowned Monday evening during the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in West Los Angeles.
The four drivers were honored for their season-long achievements and presented with checks and trophies for winning 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship titles during the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoffs.
Schumacher, 44, won a record eighth Top Fuel championship and earned the $500,000 top prize from NHRA and Mello Yello. He officially claimed the title at the end of qualifying during the season-ending race in Pomona, Calif. The driver of the famed U.S. Army dragster raced to five season victories, including three in the Countdown to the Championship.
Virginia cattle rancher Matt Hagan claimed his second Funny Car world championship title in dramatic fashion by holding off arch rival and NHRA icon John Force in the closing moments of the final race of the season. Hagan secured the championship title with a semifinal win over Tommy Johnson Jr., and then put an exclamation point on his season by beating Force in the final round of the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona. Hagan, 31, raced to four victories during the season, including three in the Countdown playoffs at the controls of his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger. He also earns $500,000 from NHRA and Mello Yello for the championship.
Enders-Stevens, 31, made history by becoming the first female driver to win an NHRA Pro Stock title. She is the third female driver in NHRA history to win an NHRA Mello Yello Series championship, joining Shirley Muldowney and Angelle Sampey. She beat championship rival Jason Line in a dramatic winner-take-all final round at the Auto Club NHRA Finals on Sunday to finalize her dream come true season. The Houston native powered her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro to six victories during the season and six No. 1 qualifying positions to earn the championship, worth $250,000 from NHRA and Mello Yello.
Hines, 31, earned his fourth world-championship title in Pro Stock Motorcycle by racing to six victories in eight final rounds on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, including two victories in three finals during the Countdown playoffs. The Indianapolis rider was awarded $75,000 from NHRA and Mello Yello for championship.
Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton was named the winner of the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, which recognizes the top NHRA rookie performer of the year. Crampton raced to victories at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis and the Toyota Summernationals at Englishtown, N.J. and earned a No. 1 qualifying position at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. He finished ninth in the points standings in the ultra-competitive category. The driver of the GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster received the award based on votes from a panel of the nation’s top motorsports journalists. The other candidates in the rookie class were Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock), Jonathan Gray (Pro Stock), Elvira Karlsson (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Chaz Kennedy (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Shane Tucker (Pro Stock).
For the 20th time overall and first time since 2010, Chevrolet was named the NHRA Manufacturers Cup winner. Pro Stock racers Enders-Stevens, Jason Line, Dave Connolly, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray, Vincent Nobile and Rodger Brogden, along with sportsman racer Bruno Massel, led the winning effort for Chevrolet.
Drivers in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series held at Los Angeles beaches also were recognized as 2014 world champions: Chris Demke (Top Alcohol Dragster), Steve Harker (Top Alcohol Funny Car), David Rampy (Competition Eliminator), Peter Biondo (Super Stock), Austin Williams (Stock Eliminator), Edmond Richardson (Super Comp) and Luke Bogacki (Super Gas).
The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series awards ceremony will be available in its entirety to fans worldwide on the Internet on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at NHRA.com and the NHRA channel on YouTube.
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