San Diego, CA – As the NHRA’s Western Swing makes its way to sunny California, the Beal Racing AutoAnything Nitro Funny Car Team will return to their home state in hopes that they can build on recent performance gains.
The team’s most recent race at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago provided a glimpse at the potential of the car’s newly overhauled combination. Although the team did not make the 16 car nitro funny car field, rookie driver Brandon Welch ran a career best elapsed time in qualifying. The run was disqualified due to the car making contact with a timing block, however the run was evidence that the team had improved over the offseason.
The NHRA Sonoma Nationals will pose a new set of challenges as Beal Racing looks to continue fine-tuning the new setup.
“I feel that we have made strides in the right direction,” Brandon Welch stated. “We are excited for Sonoma and hope that we can keep moving forward as a team. We are really starting to get a handle on the tuning aspect of the new setup and are becoming confident in the changes we make round to round.”
The Sonoma Nationals is the second of three consecutive events on the NHRA Western Swing. Beal Racing is slated to run the third event in Seattle the weekend following the Sonoma race.
“Racing back-to-back weekends is always a challenge,” said owner and crew chief, Chuck Beal. “As an independent team, our crew is made up of volunteers that carry regular jobs and run businesses outside of our racing operation. Their commitment and dedication for two straight weeks during the season is phenomenal.”
The Sonoma Nationals will be the second NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event to be televised live on FOX. The race will kick off on Friday July 29th with the opening two rounds of qualifying followed by two more qualifying rounds on Saturday. Eliminations will take place on Sunday.
Television Schedule:
QUALIFYING:
Friday 7/29 at 4:30-5:30 PM PST (FS1)
Saturday 7/30 at 7:00-8:00 PM PST (FS1)
ELIMINATIONS:
Sunday 7/31 at 1:00-4:00 PM PST (LIVE on FOX)
Sunday 7/31 at 6:30-9:30 PM PST (FS1)
More information including the days and times for replays of television coverage can be found at: http://nhra.com/nhraontv/melloyello.aspx
ABOUT BEAL RACING
San Diego-based Beal Racing campaigns a 300+ mph nitro funny car on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team is owned by Chuck Beal and driven by 2016 rookie and Chuck’s grandson, Brandon Welch. After 45 years in drag racing, veteran driver Beal handed over the reins of the family race car to grandson, Brandon in 2015. Beal Racing is sure to be a focus of media and fan attention with a new driver continuing a storied family racing legacy. To learn more about Beal Racing visit www.bealracing.com, or tune in to NHRA competition on Fox and Fox Sports 1.