Johnson Jr. outduels Fuller in Day One of Yas Drag Festival

Friday, March 19, 2010

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Tommy Johnson, Jr. scored two wins Friday evening at Yas Drag Centre behind the wheel of his Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel dragster during the Inaugural Yas Drag Festival. Teammate Rod Fuller notched one win light during the three match races in Abu Dhabi. Johnson also posted the quickest elapsed time of the day at 3.899 seconds.

Johnson, a nine-time NHRA winner with wins in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, outraced Fuller on Friday’s opening match using a run of 3.917 seconds at 499.17 kph (310.16 mph) to hold off Fuller’s lap of 3.988 at 486.78 Johnson’s speed was the fastest of the day. Fuller, a seven-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, evened the score during the second race at the spectacular Yas drag strip clocking a run of 3.908 at 497.48 to edge Johnson’s 3.938 at 488.27. In the rubber match, Johnson powered to the win with a pass of 3.899 at 496.72, while Fuller’s teal and white rail lost traction and slowed to a pass of 4.177 at 488.17.
“This is exactly what we came here to do,” Johnson said. “We wanted to put on a great show for everyone here at Yas Marina and really show the world what Top Fuel drag racing is all about. It was a great day.”

Johnson set both ends of the Yas Drag Centre track records at 3.899 seconds and 499.17 mph. On Saturday, Johnson and Fuller look to clock runs in the 3.8-second range and surpass the magical 500-kph mark. “We made three great side-by-side runs in a country that has never seen Top Fuel racing,” Fuller said. “The crowd response was overwhelming. Now, our goal is to go out and break the 500-kph mark on Saturday. It would be so cool if both Tommy (Johnson) and I could put a 500-kph speed on the board on the same run.”

The Yas Drag Festival continues on Saturday with the two Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel dragsters scheduled to make runs at 6:30, 8:30 and 10 p.m.

Run 1
Johnson, Jr. (.065) 3.917 ET, 499.17 KPH def.
Fuller (.063) 3.988 ET, 486.78 KPH

Run 2
Fuller (.083) 3.908 ET, 497.48 KPH def.
Johnson, Jr. (.060) 3.938 ET, 488.27 KPH

Run 3
Johnson, Jr. (.083) 3.899 ET, 496.72 KPH
def. Fuller (.099) 4.177 ET, 488.17 KPH

Yas Marina Circuit, the spectacular motor racing circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has partnered with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), winner of eight NHRA championships and 136 races, to provide two complete Top Fuel dragster teams to be based in Abu Dhabi.

The cars will first compete during the inaugural International Drag Racing Festival on March 18th - 20th at Yas Marina Circuit's impressive new drag racing facility. In a separate agreement, Yas Marina Circuit becomes the first NHRA member facility outside of North America.

"Yas Marina Circuit is extremely proud to be associated with Don Schumacher Racing, the current and eight-times NHRA World Champions," said Richard Cregan, CEO, Yas Marina Circuit. "Drag racing will be a significant and exciting cornerstone of establishing Yas Marina Circuit as a world class motor racing venue. Our partnership with Don Schumacher Racing, the world's best drag racing team, will help us establish the Yas Drag Racing Centre and our Yas Drag Racing Team as serious contenders on the world drag racing stage."

"What a fantastic opportunity that has been presented to DSR, to build two Top Fuel teams to run in Abu Dhabi at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit," said Don Schumacher, owner of Don Schumacher Racing, who visited the Yas Marina Circuit in October 2009. "This program began the Monday after Pomona (Calif.) and for these team members to accomplish what everyone will see in March is just incredible. The support from everyone in Abu Dhabi has been terrific and we plan on building on this relationship in the years to come."

At the inaugural International Drag Racing Festival the Yas Drag Racing Centre Top Fuel dragsters will be driven by nine-time NHRA winner Tommy Johnson, Jr., and 2007 Top Fuel championship runner-up Rod Fuller.

The Yas Marina Circuit/DSR Top Fuel project is fronted by team manager Lee Beard, who has won more than 50 races as a crew chief and tuned 10 different drivers to NHRA victories in the Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks. The team leaders for the two Top Fuel cars are veteran crew members Rip Reynolds and Mike Domagala.

The Yas Drag Racing Centre is managed by George Case, a familiar name in the NHRA drag racing circles having managed the ultra-fast dragstrip at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. for more than 20 years. Case will have the support of Rashed Al Qubaisi, who holds a license from Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. Case and Al Qubaisi will work with a world-class team to design, build, tune and race drag racing vehicles at the Yas Drag Racing Centre.