NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series


The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is a drag racing series organized by the National Hot Rod Association. It is the top competition series of the NHRA, comprising competition in four classes, including Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The champion of each category is determined by a point system where points are given according to finishing placement and qualifying effort. The season is divided into two segments. After the first 18 races, the Top 10 of each pro category are locked in and compete in the last six races with the difference in points greatly minimized.

History

The series has four main professional classes: Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Top Fuel was the first category, with Funny Cars added in 1966, Pro Stock four years later and Pro Stock Motorcycles in 1987. Both Top Fuel and Funny Cars regularly see top speeds in excess of today, and one thousand foot times anywhere from 3.70 to 4 seconds. Both these cars burn fuel consisting of 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol. The Pro Stock record is, with times often in the 6.4-6.7 second range and the Pro Stock Motorcycles usually run at 190+ mph, with times in the low 7- to high 6-second range. Top Fuel and Fuel Funny Car have recently been limited to a track, instead of the historic 1/4 mile , as a means to limit top speeds and increase safety. Currently, driver and spectator safety has been enhanced even while top speeds often approach and exceed 300 mph.
Some of the popular racers to come through the series include "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, and Shirley Muldowney. Those three gained much attention from the 1960s through 1970s with their speed and personalities, a combination rarely achieved today through the political correctness of sponsorship in today's drivers. Nonetheless there are still colorful characters today, such as 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force. His daughter, 2007 Rookie of the Year Ashley Force Hood has made appearances on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show and was voted AOL's Hottest Female Athlete in 2007.
On July 2, 2008, following the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, the NHRA announced that race distances for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes would temporarily be reduced to 1,000 ft from the traditional 1/4 mile. The measure was intended to be temporary while safety solutions were explored; however, the races have remained at 1000 feet since Kalitta's death. Although unpopular with the fans, the distance remains at 1,000 feet today at the request of the teams as a cost-saving measure, with no indication by NHRA officials of any intent of returning to the full quarter-mile format any time soon. By late 2012, 1,000 foot racing became globally recognized as the 2012 FIA European title in Top Fuel became 1,000-foot championships, as Santa Pod and Hockenheim made the switch, and Australian nitro racing switched to the 1,000-foot distance only for selected tracks.

The Countdown

From 2007 to 2019, the NHRA implemented a playoff system to determine the champion in each class, billed as the Countdown to The Championship. Each season is divided into two segments of races, with the bulk of the races making up the first segment, and the final events making up the second segment. After the first segment is complete, the drivers in each class at or above the cutoff point in the standings become eligible for the championship, while the drivers below the cutoff point are eliminated from championship contention, though they still participate in the remaining race events. The points for the advancing drivers are readjusted so that they are separated by a fixed margin, with first place receiving bonus points. The drivers then compete for the championship over the final races of the season.
The NHRA cancelled the format during the 2020 season after originally rewarding all teams that attempted to make two qualifying passes per race during the regular season a bonus of automatic qualification as a reward for making all races when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in five races being removed from the schedule.

Title sponsors

was the title sponsor of the series from 1975 until 2001, when a condition of the Master Settlement Agreement required Winston to drop either its sponsorship of the NHRA, or the NASCAR Winston Cup Series; Winston chose to retain its NASCAR sponsorship. Winston ended their sponsorship with NASCAR two years later. The Coca-Cola Company has since held the title sponsorship rights for the series, under a deal that, in 2012, was extended through 2018. From 2001 to 2008, the series was branded with the company's Powerade brand, before switching to Full Throttle in 2009. In 2013, following Coca-Cola's most recent extension of its sponsorship, the title sponsor was changed to Mello Yello.
With Mello Yello having introduced a new logo, the NHRA unveiled a new logo for the series in January 2016, as well as a new "My NHRA" marketing campaign that plays upon the logo to feature drivers and other personalities discussing what the NHRA means to them.

Champions

Before 1974, the season champion was determined by the winner of the World Finals event. The Professional categories contain the divisions of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
YearTop FuelFunny CarPro StockPro Stock Motorcycle
1965Maynard RuppGary LawsonClassification
introduced in
1987
1966Pete RobinsonEd SchartmanClassification
introduced in
1987
1967Bennie OsbornClassification
introduced in
1987
1968Bennie OsbornClassification
introduced in
1987
1969Steve CarboneClassification
introduced in
1987
1970Ronnie MartinGene SnowRonnie SoxClassification
introduced in
1987
1971Gerry GlennPhil CastronovoMike FonsClassification
introduced in
1987
1972Jim Walther Larry FullertonBill JenkinsClassification
introduced in
1987
1973Jerry RuthFrank HallWayne GappClassification
introduced in
1987
1974Gary BeckShirl GreerBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1975Don GarlitsDon PrudhommeBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1976Richard TharpDon PrudhommeLarry LombardoClassification
introduced in
1987
1977Shirley Muldowney Don PrudhommeDon NicholsonClassification
introduced in
1987
1978Kelly BrownDon PrudhommeBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1979Rob Bruins Raymond BeadleBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1980Shirley MuldowneyRaymond BeadleBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1981Jeb AllenRaymond BeadleLee ShepherdClassification
introduced in
1987
1982Shirley MuldowneyFrank HawleyLee ShepherdClassification
introduced in
1987
1983Gary BeckFrank HawleyLee Shepherd Classification
introduced in
1987
1984Joe AmatoMark OswaldLee ShepherdClassification
introduced in
1987
1985Don GarlitsKenny BernsteinBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1986Don GarlitsKenny BernsteinBob GliddenClassification
introduced in
1987
1987Dick LaHaieKenny BernsteinBob GliddenDave Schultz
1988Joe AmatoKenny BernsteinBob GliddenDave Schultz
1989Gary OrmsbyBruce LarsonBob GliddenJohn Mafaro
1990Joe AmatoJohn ForceDarrell AldermanJohn Myers
1991Joe AmatoJohn ForceDarrell AldermanDave Schultz
1992Joe AmatoCruz PedregonWarren JohnsonJohn Myers
1993Eddie HillJohn ForceWarren JohnsonDave Schultz
1994Scott KalittaJohn ForceDarrell AldermanDave Schultz
1995 Scott KalittaJohn ForceWarren Johnson John Myers
1996Kenny Bernstein John ForceJim YatesDave Schultz
1997Gary ScelziJohn ForceJim YatesMatt Hines
1998Gary ScelziJohn ForceWarren JohnsonMatt Hines
1999Tony SchumacherJohn ForceWarren JohnsonMatt Hines
2000Gary ScelziJohn ForceJeg Coughlin Jr.Angelle Sampey
2001Kenny BernsteinJohn Force Warren JohnsonAngelle Sampey
2002Larry DixonJohn ForceJeg Coughlin Jr.Angelle Sampey
2003Larry DixonTony PedregonGreg AndersonGeno Scali
2004Tony SchumacherJohn ForceGreg AndersonAndrew Hines
2005Tony SchumacherGary Scelzi Greg AndersonAndrew Hines
2006Tony SchumacherJohn ForceJason LineAndrew Hines
2007Tony SchumacherTony PedregonJeg Coughlin Jr.Matt Smith
2008 Tony Schumacher Cruz PedregonJeg Coughlin Jr.Eddie Krawiec
2009Tony SchumacherRobert Hight Mike Edwards Hector Arana
2010Larry DixonJohn ForceGreg AndersonL.E. Tonglet
2011Del WorshamMatt HaganJason LineEddie Krawiec
2012Antron BrownJack BeckmanAllen JohnsonEddie Krawiec
2013Shawn LangdonJohn ForceJeg Coughlin Jr.Matt Smith
2014Tony SchumacherMatt HaganErica Enders-StevensAndrew Hines
2015Antron BrownDel WorshamErica Enders-StevensAndrew Hines
2016Antron BrownRon CappsJason LineJerry Savoie
2017Brittany ForceRobert HightBo ButnerEddie Krawiec
2018Steve TorrenceJ.R. ToddTanner GrayMatt Smith
2019Steve TorrenceRobert HightErica Enders-StevensAndrew Hines

By driver

DriverChampionshipsClassYears
John Force16Funny Car1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013
Bob Glidden10Pro Stock1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
Tony Schumacher8Top Fuel1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014
Dave Schultz6Pro Stock Motorcycle1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996
Andrew Hines6Pro Stock Motorcycle2004, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2019
Kenny Bernstein6Funny Car
Top Fuel
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 2001
Warren Johnson6Pro Stock1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001
Joe Amato5Top Fuel1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992
Jeg Coughlin Jr.5Pro Stock2000, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2013
Don Prudhomme4Funny Car1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
Lee Shepherd4Pro Stock1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Gary Scelzi4Top Fuel
Funny Car
1997, 1998, 2000, 2005
Greg Anderson4Pro Stock2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
Eddie Krawiec4Pro Stock Motorcycle2008, 2011, 2012, 2017
Shirley Muldowney3Top Fuel1977, 1980, 1982
Raymond Beadle3Funny Car1979, 1980, 1981
Don Garlits3Top Fuel1975, 1985, 1986
Darrell Alderman3Pro Stock1990, 1991, 1994
John Myers3Pro Stock Motorcycle1990, 1992, 1995
Matt Hines3Pro Stock Motorcycle1997, 1998, 1999
Angelle Sampey3Pro Stock Motorcycle2000, 2001, 2002
Larry Dixon3Top Fuel2002, 2003, 2010
Antron Brown3Top Fuel2012, 2015, 2016
Jason Line3Pro Stock2006, 2011, 2016
Matt Smith3Pro Stock Motorcycle2007, 2013, 2018
Robert Hight3Funny Car2009, 2017, 2019
Erica Enders-Stevens3Pro Stock2014, 2015, 2019
Gary Beck2Top Fuel1974, 1983
Frank Hawley2Funny Car1982, 1983
Scott Kalitta2Top Fuel1994, 1995
Jim Yates2Pro Stock1996, 1997
Tony Pedregon2Funny Car2003, 2007
Cruz Pedregon2Funny Car1992, 2008
Matt Hagan2Funny Car2011, 2014
Steve Torrence2Top Fuel2018, 2019
Del Worsham2Top Fuel
Funny Car
2011, 2015
Shirl Greer1Funny Car1974
Richard Tharp1Top Fuel1976
Larry Lombardo1Pro Stock1976
Don Nicholson1Pro Stock1977
Kelly Brown1Top Fuel1978
Rob Bruins1Top Fuel1979
Jeb Allen1Top Fuel1981
Mark Oswald1Funny Car1984
Dick LaHaie1Top Fuel1987
Gary Ormsby1Top Fuel1989
Bruce Larson1Funny Car1989
John Mafaro1Pro Stock Motorcycle1989
Eddie Hill1Top Fuel1993
Geno Scali1Pro Stock Motorcycle2003
Mike Edwards1Pro Stock2009
Hector Arana1Pro Stock Motorcycle2009
LE Tonglet1Pro Stock Motorcycle2010
Jack Beckman1Funny Car2012
Allen Johnson1Pro Stock2012
Shawn Langdon1Top Fuel2013
Ron Capps1Funny Car2016
Jerry Savoie1Pro Stock Motorcycle2016
Brittany Force1Top Fuel2017
Bo Butner1Pro Stock2017
J.R. Todd1Funny Car2018
Tanner Gray1Pro Stock2018

Broadcasting

NHRA events have been broadcast on television, with such efforts dating back as far as 1983. By the 1990s, events were split between ESPN, NBC, and The Nashville Network. TNN also broadcast a weekly highlight program, NHRA Today. Due to logistical and scheduling issues, including the possibility of long turnaround times between heats, weather delays, and other factors, events were typically broadcast in a condensed form via tape delay. From 1992 until 2000, TNN carried live coverage of selected final rounds, typically with a condensed package to air until the finals began.
In 2001, the NHRA entered into an agreement with ESPN for it to become the exclusive broadcaster of NHRA events, shortly after MTV Networks had effectively shut down the CBS motorsport operations after its acquisition of CBS Cable, and the demise of TNN. During its 14-year stint as rightsholder, ESPN faced criticism for the structure and scheduling of its coverage. Due to scheduling conflicts with other sports properties to which it held rights, ESPN typically broadcast its NHRA coverage in inconsistent and otherwise undesirable timeslots. In the final years of the contract, the NHRA attempted to structure selected events so that they could be televised live; by the 2015 season, at least six events were broadcast live.
In July 2015, ESPN and the NHRA agreed to end their contract one year early, with the association citing ESPN's scheduling issues as a concern. In turn, the NHRA announced a new television deal with Fox Sports beginning in the 2016 season. Coverage primarily airs on the FS1 and FS2 cable channels, while 4 events per-season are aired on the Fox broadcast network. Fox committed to televising live Sunday coverage from at least 16 of the 23 events per-season, two-hour qualification broadcasts and encores, and coverage of selected Sportsman Series events. NHRA president Peter Clifford explained that the deal would be a "game-changer" for the association, citing Fox's history of motorsports coverage, as well as its commitment to increased coverage of NHRA events, including live network television coverage.
During the first two years of the contract, Fox had achieved an average viewership of 600,000 viewers—a major increase over ESPN's broadcasts. Some events had attracted an audience of over 1 million. The association's chief content officer Ken Adelson cited favorable scheduling practices, and increased promotion of the event broadcasts as part of FS1 and FS2's programming, as having helped build their audience.