Motorsports This Week on ESPN

NASCAR Nationwide Series at Phoenix           

The NASCAR Nationwide Series moves to the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for a 200-mile race and ESPN2 will have a live telecast. NASCAR Countdown airs at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 3, with the race’s green flag at 4:45 p.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets with the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.

Announcers:

Booth: Lap-by-Lap announcer Allen Bestwick; analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.

Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch.

ESPN Tech Garage: Tim Brewer

NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe (host); Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty (analysts).

NASCAR Now Schedule

The one-hour weekend edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will air on Sunday, March 4, at 11 a.m. ET with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Mike Massaro will host, joined by analyst Andy Petree from Phoenix along with reporters Shannon Spake and Marty Smith. Weekday editions of the program air Tuesday and Thursday of this week at 3 p.m.

Date	Time	Show	Host	Network
Tues., Feb. 28	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Allen Bestwick	ESPN2
Thur., March 1	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Mike Massaro	ESPN2
Sun., March 4	11 a.m.	NASCAR Now	Mike Massaro	ESPN2
Mon., March 5	3 p.m.	NASCAR Now	Mike Massaro	ESPN2

Motorsports on Other ESPN Platforms

ESPN.com -- RacingLive! on ESPN.com is a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. On Sunday, March 4, RacingLive! Phoenix will coincide with the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Fans can join ESPN.com’s NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/. ESPN.com motorsports writer Terry Blount will be on hand at Phoenix.

ESPN Radio -- Each weekend morning, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay starts its engines at 6 a.m. ET with host Pat Patterson anchored from the site of that weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay listeners get an hour of news, previews and analysis, as well as profiles and interviews with NASCAR’s biggest names and newsmakers and the involvement of listeners via calls and e-mails.

U.S. Army NHRA Top Fuel Team Looks To Take Next Step

After knocking on the door in the 2012 season opener, U.S. Army NHRA Racing Top Fuel drivers Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown will be attempting to bust through this weekend in the Arizona NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway outside of Phoenix.

Schumacher, who directs the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, advanced to the semifinals in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals last Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., while Brown, in his Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, reached the final round before losing to his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey.

Each driver has had his share of success in the Valley of the Sun. Schumacher, with three career wins at Firebird, is tied with Cory McClenathan and Larry Dixon for the most class victories. A New Jersey native, Brown captured his first Arizona Nationals trophy in 2009.

Last season, Brown beat Schumacher in the semifinals before losing to Dixon in the final. He used that effort to briefly claim the Top Fuel points lead with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship.

Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster:

How would you assess your team’s effort last weekend in Pomona, Calif.?

“I thought we performed very well. There’s no doubt we wanted to walk away with a win, but we made some strides in terms of getting the car to run quick and fast. The most important thing is we showed consistency. With the exception of one qualifying pass when we smoked the tires, we got down the track without any issues. It’s just a matter of tweaking a couple of things going into Firebird and then we should be golden.”

How did you feel getting back in the cockpit to begin your 16th professional season?

“Man, I didn’t realize it’s been that long. You’re right – even though I competed in only four races, I started way back in 1996. I guess I’m one of the old dudes, now. To be honest, it seems like yesterday when I began my pro career. Time does have a way of passing by in a hurry. But, I totally enjoy what I do. I love the competition and driving for the U.S. Army. I’m all about winning races and world championships for our Army Strong soldiers.”

Speaking of the competition, it appears your Don Schumacher Racing teammates are going to be right there with you contending for the title. Agreed?

“If last weekend is any indication, Antron (Brown) and Spencer (Massey) have picked right up where they left off last year, when they were challenging for the title right into the season finale. I wouldn’t want it any other way. They are both great drivers with great teams. I’m looking forward to going head-to-head with them all year long.”

What are your thoughts about returning to Firebird International Raceway?

“One thing is certainly different this year than last – we are back to what was our usual February date on the schedule instead of an October weekend during the playoffs. That said, I’m sure the crew chiefs will have to go back to the 2010 book to get data for this weekend. That track can be quite challenging. We’ll have to see what the weather gods deal us in a few days.”

Antron Brown, driver of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster:

Same question as Tony’s – how would you assess your team’s effort in Pomona, Calif.?

“We were so close in Pomona that we could taste it. So, naturally, we want more this weekend. My team and I are very hungry. Don’t forget that we came within a round of winning the championship last year. We don’t want to leave any stones unturned this time around.”

After seeing the quality of the Top Fuel field at the first race, do you feel like you’re in for even more of a battle this year?

“There are a lot of cars capable of being good this year. It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that. Last weekend definitely proved that. It’s like a horse race. You have the ones who get out of the gate real quick, but then you have the thoroughbreds who come up and sneak around everyone. That’s what it could be like out here.”

Given a win in 2009 and a final-round appearance last season, you seem to like racing at Firebird. Is that correct?

“We’ve had a good car there in the past. So, hopefully, that carries on. It would be good to get these Matco boys and Army Strong soldiers in the winner’s circle early in the season and get that momentum going.”

Torrence aiming for semifinals – or better – at Arizona Nationals

(Photo by Steve Torrence PR)

When it’s time to go racing at Firebird Raceway, Steve Torrence will certainly say, “come on, let’s go!”

The time is almost here.  Torrence will be there on Friday when NHRA’s Arizona Nationals begin a three-day run at the track in Chandler, Ariz., near Phoenix.  His enthusiasm for the event is prompted by his success on the sometimes-tricky asphalt.  He reached the semifinals there in his two previous races.

“We’d like to carry on our ‘tradition’ this weekend . . . but we want to win at least one more round,” he said.  “Our car seems to run well there.” 

Torrence began the 2012 Full Throttle Series last weekend at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. by qualifying the Torrence Racing/Capco Contractors Inc. Top Fuel dragster in the No. 9 position (3.850 seconds at 314.17).  

He lost in the first round when Shawn Langdon’s reaction time of .010- second – the quickest of eliminations – put him into the lead.  Torrence mashed the throttle and his car thundered down the track on its best run of the weekend, 3.820 seconds at a career topping 320.28 mph, but he couldn’t make up the difference on the 1,000-foot run.  Langdon was timed in 3.827 seconds at 322.81.

“I was happy with the car’s performance and I think we have some momentum going into Phoenix,” he said.”

Unlike Pomona, where the team didn’t compete last season, crew chief Richard Hogan has the important tuning information from their October visit to Firebird Raceway.

“This is going to a tough year in Top Fuel,” Torrence predicted.  “There were a lot of cars running good at Pomona.  We need to step up our program . . . and this would be a great place to start.”

Team Mopar Pro Stock Driver Johnson Carries Plenty of Speed into Phoenix

Team Mopar® NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson has one of the fastest cars in the class, as his team showed during the off-season, recording the quickest unofficial pass in Pro Stock history. In the season opening event at Pomona last weekend, Johnson consistently turned in some of the fastest passes each time he took to the track, qualifying in the fourth spot and advancing to the quarterfinals. He will look to build on that this weekend in the 28th Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 17–19.

“We made some pretty good runs at Pomona in our Mopar Dodge Avenger,” said Johnson. “I feel like we are about 90 percent of where we need to be right now. The entire team is working very well together and we are happy heading to Phoenix.”

Johnson, who was victorious at Firebird International Raceway in 2005, raced his way to the final round at the track last season, falling in an all-Mopar matchup with Vincent Nobile, after opening the event as the No. 6 qualifier. The Team Mopar veteran has reached at least the semifinals four times in his career at the venue, including in two straight starts. Johnson was the No. 1 Qualifier at Phoenix in 2008 and has qualified sixth or better in each of his last four appearances at the track.

“At Phoenix, we are certainly on the right track, and just have to do what we did there last year,” said Johnson. “We don’t have to change anything. If we do what we have been doing, we should be fine. We have a great team in place and the main thing is just letting everyone do their jobs and that includes me doing my job behind the wheel.”

Johnson heads to Phoenix fifth in the Pro Stock standings, with one of the most competitive fields in the history of the class assembled for the 2012 campaign. The second-generation driver is chasing his first title in his Mopar Dodge Avenger, which also carries the logo of Mopar’s aftermarket partner, Magneti Marelli, this season.

“Everyone is so close this year, and it’s tougher than ever,” noted Johnson. “You have to do a great job every time you go down the track. We have a very strong car in our Mopar Dodge Avenger and we learned a lot at Pomona that should help us this week. We have a good feel for the track in Phoenix and a good set-up as well. We’ll give it everything we have this weekend as we look for our first win of the year.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. heads to Phoenix fresh off a final round appearance in his debut in the Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Avenger at Pomona last weekend. The native of Delaware, Ohio came from the No. 14 slot, first downing No. 3 qualifier Ronnie Humphrey in the opening round, before winning an all-Mopar matchup with Vincent Nobile, the No. 6 qualifier in the quarterfinals, followed by a victory over Mike Edwards, who qualified second, in the semis. Coughlin faced Greg Anderson in the final, falling to the fellow four-time Pro Stock champion.

Coughlin has two career Pro Stock wins at Phoenix, with the first coming in 2000, and the most recent in 2009. He is undefeated in both of his final round appearances at the track.

“Pomona was our first chance to truly see where we were with our new Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Avenger, because we were able to run alongside the best of the best in the sport,” said Coughlin. “To say we are pleased would be an understatement. The car performed great and (engine builders) Nick Ferri and Roy Simmons have really impressed us with their first few HEMI powerplants. It’s not very often that the first cake you ever bake tastes so good but these first few HEMIs they’ve put together are stout.

“To reach the finals in our first race really was important because it gave us some extra race day data. It also was a nice morale booster for everyone. We’ve all been hard at it for seven months and to see a good result is very uplifting.

“Something that’s exciting for us is that we see areas where we can peck away at this thing and make it better. Things like gearing and suspension can be adjusted before we get toPhoenixand should pay immediate dividends. And I know Roy and Nick already have ideas of things they want to do with the next motor. It’s really a fun time right now.”

Matt Hagan, the defending Funny Car champion, one of four Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T drivers for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), looks to rebound after falling in the opening round at Pomona to start the season. The native of Christiansburg, Va. was the No. 5 qualifier at Phoenix last season, advancing to the quarterfinals. Hagan made his debut at Firebird International Raceway in 2009, and has reached the quarterfinals in all three of his starts at the facility.

Phoenix race holds great memories for MAVTV racer Brogdon

There's an old saying in racing that it's not where you start, it's where you finish. But MAVTV Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon knows where you start is important, too.

Brogdon qualified No. 7 for the season-opening race in Pomona, Calif., but he hopes to improve on that in this weekend's 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.

"Well, we're going to have to qualify better," Brogdon said. "We left a couple hundredths on the table last week. I'm not saying we can go as fast as (Pomona winner) Greg Anderson and those guys, but when they go 6.53, I should be able to go at least .55, maybe .54. We're going to need a better effort in qualifying."

Qualifying higher up the ladder also means facing lower-qualified cars in the opening rounds of eliminations. Brogdon made solid qualifying passes in Pomona but wanted a little more in the final time trial session, which was rained-out.

"Not having that last session hurt us because we were sneaking up on a few things," Brogdon said. "It hurt everybody, of course, but I know it cost us a little bit. We're going to try to qualify better and get a better spot in the ladder."

Brogdon and the MAVTV team now races at the site of Brogdon's first national-event victory in Competition Eliminator, scored in 2005.

"I like Firebird International Raceway," Brogdon said. "It's been good to me."

That race was one of the highlight's of Brogdon's NHRA career, as he qualified No. 1 and won the race, beating NHRA legend David Rampy in the final round.

"It was a heck of a weekend," Brogdon said. "We had a lot of trouble and hurt a motor, so we had to change a lot of stuff. But we worked hard and out-ran David Rampy, the best Sportsman racer in history. We out-ran him in the finals, so that made for a pretty rewarding weekend, because he's as tough as they get. I'm glad he doesn't race Pro Stock.

"Maybe we can recreate some of that magic this weekend. That would be something."

The event begins Friday with Pro Stock qualifying sessions scheduled for 1:30 and 4 p.m. Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday with eliminations slated for an 11 a.m. start on Sunday. ESPN2 will carry all of the action.