What: 4th Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, the 21st of 23 events in the drag racing series.
Where: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet. The track is 30 miles southwest of Chicago on Route 53 (historic Route 66), approximately 3 miles south of the Interstate Highway 80 in Joliet. Take I-80 to exit 132A (Route 53 south) to the track.
When: Thursday through Sunday.
Schedule: Thursday–Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin at 9 a.m.; Friday–Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 8 a.m. Professional qualifying sessions at 3:30 and 6:30; Saturday–Sportsman qualifying and time trials, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Professional qualifying sessions at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Sportsman all-star competition at 11 a.m., 2:15 and 3:45; Sunday–Prerace ceremonies, 10 a.m. Final eliminations begin 11 a.m.
TV: Saturday, 3 p.m. ESPN2 (two hours of highlights); Sunday, 11 a.m., NHRA 2Day (30-minute news show), 7-9 p.m., ESPN2 (eliminations).
2003 winners: Kenny Bernstein, Top Fuel; Tony Pedregon, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock.
Track records: Top Fuel–4.420 seconds by Doug Kalitta, May 2004; 333.41 m.p.h. by Brandon Bernstein, May 2004; Funny Car–4.713 seconds by Whit Bazemore, May 2004; 333.25 m.p.h. by Bazemore, May 2004; Pro Stock–6.722 seconds by Greg Anderson, Sept. 2003; 205.07 m.p.h. by Anderson, Sept. 2003.
National records: Top Fuel–4.441 sec. (Oct. 2003, Reading, Pa.) by Tony Schumacher; 333.41 m.p.h. (May 2004, Joliet) by Brandon Bernstein; Funny Car–4.713 sec. (May 2004, Joliet) by Whit Bazemore; 330.55 m.p.h. (May 2004, Joliet) by Gary Scelzi; Pro Stock–6.670 sec., 207.18 m.p.h. (May 2003, Englishtown, N.J.) by Greg Anderson.
Tickets: All include pit pass. Thursday: Adult, $10; Under 12 free. Friday: Adult, $35; Under 12, $10. Saturday: Adult, $45; Under 12, $10. Sunday: Adult, $55; Under 12, $10. Call (815) 727-RACE. Tickets also available at Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com and nhra.com.
