Download Print Back To Search Results Mopar Ready to Roll at NHRA Carolina Nationals and the ‘Countdown to the Championship’ 6th annual Carlyle Tools Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway is the 19th of 24 NHRA events The Carolina Nationals is the first of six NHRA playoff events in the ‘Countdown to the Championship’ Hagan paces the Mopars with a sub four-second run for the provisional second place spot in Funny Car qualifying Hagan, Capps, Gray and Beckman start 1-2-3-5 in the Countdown standings Johnson, Coughlin and Nobile get the Countdown started in 2-3-4 in Pro Stock standings Gaines in eighth but is on a hot streak with three final round appearances in the last 5 events (Denver, Brainerd, Indy) Mopar –powered Pro Stock drivers have advanced to the final round in 8 consecutive events leading up to the playoffs September 12, 2013 , Concord, N.C. - A new season begins for Mopar teams and drivers this weekend at the 6th annual Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals, the first of the six-event playoff series called the “Countdown to the Championship”. Following the last regular season event of the year at the 59th annual U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the championship points were reset to help bunch up the top ten candidates in each professional category vying for a NHRA world title and setting the stage for an exciting showdown. Mopar Dodge drivers are at, or very near, the top of those standings in both the Funny Car and Pro Stock classes entering the playoffs. All four Don Schumacher Racing Mopars begin the battle in the top five Funny Car positions with Matt Hagan leading the fray in his “Magneti Marelli Quality Auto Parts Offered by Mopar” / Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T. His teammates Ron Capps and Johnny Gray are hot on his heels in second and third place, along with defending Funny Car World Champion Jack Beckman rounding things out in fifth spot. In Pro Stock competition, the 2012 World Champion Allen Johnson is within striking distance of the leader with his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Avenger as second seed in the Countdown, while his teammates Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Vincent Nobile are breathing down his neck in third and fourth place respectively. The HEMI-powered Dodge of V. Gaines, while sitting in eighth place, has been on a hot streak as of late, cutting a perfect 0.00 second reaction time in eliminations at Indianapolis and making three final elimination appearances (Denver, Brainerd, Indy) in the last five events. Mopar –powered Pro Stock drivers have advanced to the final round in 8 consecutive events leading up to the playoffs. "This is the most pressure-packed time of the season but it's also the most fulfilling and rewarding if you can find some success,” said four-time Pro Stock champ Coughlin who is hoping to get things going in that direction by taking his JEGS.com Mopar to the winner’s circle at Charlotte for the first time, only one three venues he has yet to earn a victory. “The Countdown does everything a playoff format is supposed to do; it stacks all the fun into the end of the year. We've got six races to make it happen." To start things off at zMax Dragway, Hagan followed up the second quickest run of the first Funny Car session with a sub four-second pass (3.992 seconds / 320.58 mph) in the cooler Friday evening conditions to pace his Mopar teammates and remain in second place and earn four valuable bonus points after two qualifying runs. Competitor Cruz Pedregon stole the provisional pole from him with a 3.980 e.t (319.22 mph). Gray was tenth on the strength of his first run (4.093 sec / 308.14 mph) after hazing the tires in the evening session. Beckman endured a similar fate and was right behind in 11th (4.099 sec / 309.91 mph), while Capps was on the outside looking in 14th place after his two difficult sessions. In Pro Stock, Nobile topped the first session to earn three bonus points, but by the end of the day it was Coughlin (6.552 sec /210.31 mph) who led the Mopar contingent with a provisional fourth place spot in qualifying. Johnson was close behind with the fifth quickest run of the day posting an e.t. of 6.555 sec (211.06 mph). Gaines and Nobile ended up seventh and eighth while adversary Jason Line (6.541 sec / 211.86 mph) earned the provisional No.1 qualifier position. Qualifying coverage from the 6th annual Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Raceway near Charlotte, N.C. will be televised on ESPN News commencing at 11:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Sept. 14, then replayed at 3:30 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2. Three hours of elimination rounds coverage will be broadcast on ESPN2 starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 15. 2013 NHRA Championship Points Standings (Reset for start of six-event playoff that begins at Carolina Nationals) COUNTDOWN STANDINGS PRO STOCK (season wins in parentheses) 1. Mike Edwards (6) – 2110 2. Allen Johnson (4) - Dodge Avenger – 2080 3. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (2) - Dodge Avenger – 2070 4. Vincent Nobile (3) - Dodge Avenger – 2060 5. Shane Gray – 2050 6. Jason Line (1) – 2040 7. Greg Anderson – 2030 8. V. Gaines - Dodge Avenger – 2020 9. Erica Enders-Stevens (1) –2010 10. Rodger Brogdon (1) – 2000 FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses) 1. Matt Hagan (4) - Dodge Charger R/T – 2110 2. Ron Capps (3) - Dodge Charger R/T – 2080 3. Johnny Gray (4) - Dodge Charger R/T – 2070 4. John Force (1) – 2060 5. Jack Beckman - Dodge Charger R/T – 2050 6. Cruz Pedregon (3) – 2040 7. Courtney Force (2) – 2030 8. Tim Wilkerson – 2020 9. Robert Hight (1) – 2010 10. Del Worsham – 2000 About Mopar Motorsports Mopar’s commitment to professional motorsports competition was established in the 1950s when a partnership ignited with drag racing pioneer Don Garlits, resulting in the breaking of numerous speed and performance barriers in HEMI®-powered vehicles over the next several decades. In 2013, Mopar looks to defend its two NHRA 2012 World Championship titles in Pro Stock and Funny Car categories, and celebrates 25 consecutive years as title sponsor of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Colorado. While Mopar remains involved in a various professional motorsports series, it continues to honor its roots by being a proud supporter of amateur racing within the NHRA with its sponsorship of the HEMI Challenge and Mopar Sportsman Cup. Mopar Brand Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand and distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the industrial alliance between Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A., Mopar is extending its global reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support worldwide. Mopar’s global portfolio includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories that are distributed in more than 130 markets. Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for Chrysler Group brands as well as Fiat brands. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler Group and Fiat vehicles – a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at www.mopar.com. Mopar-first Features Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including: Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with customers Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format. First to offer complete vehicle-information kits in Spanish Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot Wireless charging: first to introduce in-vehicle wireless charging for portable devices Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters wiAdvisor: first to provide factory-connected tablet technology in the service lane for instant vehicle diagnosis wiTech: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car More than 75 Years of Mopar Mopar (a simple contraction of the words Motor and PARts) was trademarked for antifreeze product in 1937. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle-car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use. The brand has expanded to include technical service and customer support. About Magneti Marelli Based in Italy (Corbetta, Milan), Magneti Marelli was established in 1919. The company is a subsidiary of Fiat Group and has a presence and reputation in racing, including Formula 1 and World Rally Championship (WRC) and now the NHRA. With 2012 revenues of $7,5 billion and approximately 36,900 employees, Magneti Marelli designs and produces advanced automotive systems and components. The company has 83 production facilities, 12 research and development centers and 26 application centers in 19 countries. The group supplies leading automakers in Europe, North America, South America and the Far East. Magneti Marelli USA coordinates the activities of all Magneti Marelli divisions in the NAFTA region from its North American headquarters, located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Magneti Marelli has established a significant presence in the world of aftermarket and service networks in the US, thanks to the partnership with MOPAR Mopar Express Lane Service Mopar Express Lane service, offered at participating Chrysler Group dealerships, provides a dedicated service lane for fast oil changes, and much more, in order to maximize customer convenience for all make and model vehicles. Available services include oil and filter changes, multi-point vehicle checkup, tire rotation with brake inspection, air and cabin filter replacement, wiper blade replacement, headlight and light bulb replacement and battery testing. Mopar Express Lane service is a consumer’s best choice for vehicle maintenance, with highly-skilled Chrysler Group dealership technicians ready to get to work and get you back on the road in no time. No appointments. No waiting. No worries. NHRA Mopar Countdown Charlotte Carolina Nationals Hagan