Katerina Swanson
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is a drag racing series organized by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). In 2013, Mello Yello became the title sponsor of the NHRA's professional drag racing circuit. The series includes four main classes: Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The champion of each category is determined by a point system based on finishing placement and qualifying effort. In 2019, Steve Torrence won his second consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship, taking home a $20,000 prize check.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Championship | NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel |
| Winner | Steve Torrence |
| Prize money | Not mentioned |
| Winner's previous performance | 2017 champion |
| Runner-up | Brittany Force |
| Notable mentions | Richie Crampton, Cameron Ferre, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta, Mike Salinas |
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What You'll Learn
Brittany Force wins the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship
Brittany Force clinched the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship, becoming only the second woman to win this title. Force defeated Richie Crampton in the second round of the Auto Club NHRA Finals, with a 3.679-second pass at 328.22 mph. This was the first Top Fuel championship for John Force Racing and the first of two wins for Brittany Force during the playoffs.
Force became an NHRA drag racer in 2013, driving a Top Fuel dragster, and was the first John Force Racing driver to compete in that class. In 2016, she became the first woman to win the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and set a new NHRA top fuel drag racing record with a run of 3.676 seconds over 1,000 feet.
The 2017 championship win was a significant milestone for Brittany Force, as she joined Shirley Muldowney, who won in 1982, as the only other female Top Fuel champion. Force's victory also marked the first time that two cars from the John Force Racing team had won in the same season, with teammate Robert Hight also claiming a championship.
Force's success in the 2017 season extended beyond the championship win. She finished the season with four race wins, the most in a single season in her career. She won the New England Nationals and went on to secure three more victories in the Countdown to the Championship: the Dodge NHRA Nationals, the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, and the season finale.
In 2022, Brittany Force once again showcased her skills by winning the NHRA Top Fuel Championship for the second time in her career. She reset the speed record to an impressive 338.94 mph and set the E.T. record at 3.623 seconds.
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Steve Torrence wins the 2019 Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship
Steve Torrence won the 2019 Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship, his second consecutive championship title. Torrence clinched the title at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, where he faced off against Brittany Force, the 2017 champion, in the semifinals of the final day of the season. Torrence won the race with a time of 3.74 to Force's 3.77.
Torrence's road to the championship was not without its challenges. He began the regular season in Indianapolis as the top seed but lost in the first round to Clay Millican at the first Countdown event in Reading, dropping to third in the standings. However, he regained the lead by winning in Charlotte in the fall. Torrence's impressive performance throughout the season included nine wins, eight of which came during a remarkable nine-race streak.
The 2019 Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship was a testament to Torrence's skill and determination, as well as the dedication of his team, the Capco Contractors. Their hard work and consistency paid off, solidifying Torrence's place as a back-to-back champion in the Top Fuel category.
While the exact prize money for the 2019 Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship is not publicly available, it is known that Top Fuel rookie Austin Prock received a $20,000 prize check for winning the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award during the same NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
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Top Fuel Dragster racing
These dragsters are capable of incredible performance, covering a quarter-mile dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at speeds exceeding 330 mph. They are powered by supercharged and fuel-injected 500-cubic-inch engines, burning up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel per run. The cars are constructed from chromoly steel tubing and carbon-fiber composites, weighing 2,330 pounds and reaching 25 feet in length.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series determines champions through a point system, with points awarded based on finishing placement and qualifying effort. The season is divided into two segments, with the top performers in each class after the first 18 races advancing to compete in the final six races. The points are then readjusted, and the drivers compete for the championship.
Becoming a Top Fuel driver requires significant financial resources, with each run costing thousands of dollars. Most drivers start by attending drag racing schools, progressing through different classes, and eventually joining a Top Fuel team.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is another prominent competition featuring Top Fuel Dragsters. Brittany Force made history by becoming the second woman to win the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel championship, joining Shirley Muldowney as the only other female champion.
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NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is a drag racing competition organized by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The series features four main professional classes: Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Top Fuel category, introduced in 1965, was the first of these classes to be introduced, followed by Funny Cars in 1966, Pro Stock in 1970, and Pro Stock Motorcycles in 1987.
The series operates on a point-based system, where drivers compete in races to earn points based on their finishing placement and qualifying efforts. The season is divided into two segments. After the initial 18 races, the top 10 drivers in each pro category advance to the final six races, with their points differences minimized. The champion of each category is then determined by their performance in these final races.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is known for its exciting competitions and has witnessed historic achievements. In 2019, there were scheduling changes to avoid NASCAR events in certain markets. In 2008, following the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, the NHRA temporarily reduced the race distance for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet, which remains the standard distance today for cost-saving reasons.
The series has also seen remarkable comebacks, such as Johnson's climb from the bottom of the top 10 to capture the Pro Stock title. Additionally, the series has crowned female champions, including Brittany Force, who became the second woman to win a Top Fuel championship.
Tickets for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are available through various outlets, offering fans the opportunity to witness the thrilling races and experience the world of drag racing up close.
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Top Fuel rookie Austin Prock wins $20,000
Top Fuel rookie Austin Prock won $20,000 at the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series awards ceremony, where he was named the Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner, also known as the NHRA's Rookie of the Year Award. Prock is the driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Top Fuel dragster for John Force Racing.
Prock's first career victory was at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals, where he defeated Steve Torrence, the points leader, in the final round. Prock showcased his skills on the Christmas Tree throughout the day to reach his first final round. He defeated Leah Pritchett in round one, was a blistering .037 on the Tree against Clay Millican, and won his semifinal race with low qualifier Mike Salinas.
Prock's victory in Seattle was a major milestone, as it placed him firmly inside the top 10 in the class. This win motivated him to try for more wins, especially with the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship approaching. Prock joined a list of only 10 previous rookies to win in their first season and is the 13th rookie to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA's six-race playoffs.
Prock's team, led by crew chiefs Mike Green and Ronnie Thompson, shuffled through people early in the season but solidified in time for the Brainerd weekend, the penultimate race of the NHRA regular season. Prock's win in Seattle was his first, but he has excelled on the Christmas Tree all year and is now tied for eighth in points.
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Frequently asked questions
The check for the Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship is for $20,000, awarded to the top-performing rookie during the season.
Steve Torrence won the 2019 Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship, clinching his second consecutive title.
The Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship is a drag racing series organized by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). It is the top competition series of the NHRA, comprising competition in four classes: Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
