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Sports season
The 2008 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series consisted of 24 national events held at tracks across the U.S. The first 18 events made up the regular season, with the final events making up the "Countdown to 1 ".
This season marked the introduction of 1000' drag racing for the nitro competitors after the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta in Englishtown, N.J. John Force returned to competition after his near fatal crash in Dallas toward the end of the 2007 Season. John's daughter Ashley became the first female funny car winner beating her father John in the finals at Atlanta. This season also marked the most dominant season by a professional driver in history, as Tony Schumacher won 15 races and became the only driver in the countdown era to clinch the championship before the season finale.
Date
Race
Site
Winners
Top Fuel
Funny Car
Pro Stock
Pro Stock Motorcycle
February 7–10
Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals
Pomona, California
Tony Schumacher
Robert Hight
Greg Anderson
N/A
February 22–24
Checker Shucks Kragen Nationals
Phoenix, Ariz.
Larry Dixon
Jack Beckman
V Gaines
N/A
March 13–16
ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville, Fla
Tony Schumacher
Tony Pedregon
Jeg Coughlin
Matt Guidera
March 28–30
O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
Houston, Texas
Antron Brown
Del Worsham
Greg Anderson
Matt Smith
April 10–13
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals
Las Vegas, Nev.
Cory MaClenathan
Tim Wilkerson
Jason Line
N/A
April 24–27
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta, Ga.
Antron Brown
Ashley Force
Mike Edwards
Andrew Hines
May 1–3
O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Madison, Ill.
Rod Fuller
Tim Wilkerson
Kurt Johnson
Andrew Hines
May 16–18
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol, Tenn.
Tony Schumacher
Melanie Troxel
Dave Connoly
N/A
May 30–June 1
O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals
Topeka, Kan.
Hillary Will
John Force
Ron Krisher
N/A
June 5–8
Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Chicago, Ill.
Tony Schumacher
Tony Pedregon
Kurt Johnson
Chris Rivas
June 19–22
Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals
Englishtown, N.J.
Tony Schumacher
Tim Wilkerson
Greg Anderson
Chip Ellis
June 26–29
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
Norwalk, Ohio
Doug Herbert
Tony Pedregon
Greg Anderson
Hector Arana
July 11–13
Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
Denver, Colo.
Tony Schumacher
Tim Wilkerson
Greg Anderson
Matt Smith
July 18–20
NHRA Shucks Auto Supply Nationals
Seattle, Wash.
Tony Schumacher
Tony Bartone
Jason Line
N/A
July 25–27
Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
Sonoma, Calif.
Tony Schumacher
Robert Hight
Dave Connolly
Matt Guidera
August 7–10
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Brainerd, Minn.
Tony Schumacher
Tony Pedregon
Kurt Johnson
Matt Smith
August 14–17
Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals
Reading, Pa.
Tony Schumacher
Jack Beckman
Jeg Coughlin
Matt Smith
August 27-September 1
54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
Tony Schumacher
Robert Hight
Dave Connolly
Steve Johnson
2008 Countdown to the Championship
September 11–14
NHRA Carolinas Nationals
Concord, N.C.
Tony Schumacher
Jack Beckman
Justin Humphreys
Steve Johnson
September 18–21
O'Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals
Dallas, Texas
J.R. Todd
Tim Wilkerson
Greg Stanfield
Chris Rivas
September 26–28
O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals
Memphis, Tenn.
Tony Schumacher
Tim Wilkerson
Mike Edwards
Craig Treble
October 10–12
Virginia NHRA Nationals
Richmond, Va.
Tony Schumacher
Cruz Pedregon
Dave Connolly
N/A
October 30 – November 2
NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
Las Vegas, Nev.
Tony Schumacher
Cruz Pedregon
Jeg Coughlin
Chris Rivas
November 13–16
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
Pomona, California
Larry Dixon
Cruz Pedregon
Greg Anderson
Chris Rivas
Funny Car[ 1]
Position
Driver
Points
Points Back
Make
1
Cruz Pedregon
2561
-
Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara
2
Tim Wilkerson
2468
-93
Levi Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala
3
Jack Beckman
2457
-104
MTS/Valvoline Dodge Charger
4
Robert Hight
2442
-119
AAA. of So. California Ford Mustang
5
Tony Pedregon
2440
-121
Quaker State/Herzog Chevrolet Impala
6
Ashley Force Hood
2385
-176
Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
7
John Force
2303
-258
Castrol High Mileage Ford Mustang
8
Ron Capps
2302
-259
NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger
9
Mike Neff
2284
-277
Old Spice Ford Mustang
10
Gary Densham
2217
-344
Racebricks Chevrolet Impala
Pro Stock[ 1]
Position
Driver
Points
Points Back
Make/Model
1
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
2523
-
JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt
2
Greg Anderson
2487
-36
Summit Racing Pontiac GXP
3
Kurt Johnson
2450
-73
ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt
4
Mike Edwards
2388
-135
YoungLife/Penhall Pontiac GXP
5
Jason Line
2388
-135
Summit Racing Pontiac GXP
6
Dave Connolly
2383
-140
Charter Communications Chevrolet Cobalt
7
Allen Johnson
2363
-160
Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus
8
Greg Stanfield
2329
-194
Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP
9
V Gaines
2234
-289
Kendall Dodge Stratus
10
Ron Krisher
2158
-368
Valvoline Chevrolet Cobalt
Pro Stock Motorcycle[ 1]
Position
Driver
Points
Points Back
Make
1
Ed Krawiec
2471
-
Harley-Davidson
2
Chris Rivas
2466
-5
Buell
3
Matt Smith
2451
-20
Suzuki
4
Andrew Hines
2334
-137
Harley-Davidson
5
Angelle Sampey
2310
-161
Buell
6
Chip Ellis
2284
-187
Suzuki
7
Steve Johnson
2283
-188
Suzuki
8
Craig Treble
2270
-201
Suzuki
9
Karen Stoffer
2167
-304
Suzuki
10
Matt Guidera
2156
-315
Buell
Drivers in bold have clinched the championship