MIKE NEFF
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

*In 2008, became the third John Force Racing, Inc., driver in four seasons to win the Auto Club’s Road to the Future Award as the Rookie-of-the-Year on the NHRA tour.

*Started two races from No. 1 and went to three final rounds in a Ford Mustang powered by the new BOSS 500 Ford nitro engine designed and developed by John Force Racing, Inc.

*Became first rookie to earn a berth in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs, ultimately finishing ninth.

YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

2008

*Earned Rookie-of-the-Year honors as winner of the Auto Club’s Road to the Future award.

*Reached the final round in just the seventh race of his rookie season.

*Qualified No. 1 for the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol, Tenn., in just his eighth race with JFR and crew chief John Medlen.

2007

*After being released by Don Schumacher Racing, Inc., as crew chief on Gary Scelzi’s Dodge, began his driving career by qualifying the Old Spice Ford Mustang for the final two races of the season.

*Tuned driver Gary Scelzi to two tour victories including one in the season-opening Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in which he beat Robert Hight in the Funny Car final.

2006

*Followed 2005 championship season by tuning Gary Scelzi to victory in Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Denver, Colo., and a seventh place finish in POWERade points.

2005

*As crew chief on the Oakley Dodge Charger, shared the NHRA Funny Car championship with driver Gary Scelzi.

*With Scelzi driving and Neff tuning, Oakley Dodge won three times and posted top speed of the season at 331.53 mph.

2004

*After slow start, put Scelzi in the winners’ circle in two of the season’s last three events to claim No. 3 spot in Funny Car points.
                                                           
2003

*Earned his first victory as a crew chief by directing driver Gary Scelzi to victory in the FRAM/Autolite Nationals at Sonoma, Calif., en route to a sixth place finish.

2002

*In first season as a pro crew chief, guided driver Scotty Cannon to eighth place in NHRA Funny Car points with two No. 1 starts and two final round appearances.

2001

*Moved to Don Schumacher Racing, Inc., as assistant crew chief on the Funny Car driven by Whit Bazemore.

1995-2000

*Crewman on McDonald’s-sponsored Top Fuel dragster driven to 22 victories in six seasons by Cory McClenathan.
   
1993-1994

*Crewman on McDonald’s backed Larry Minor Racing Funny Car that won five times, finishing third to John Force in 1993 and second in 1994.

1992    

*Handled bottom end duties on the crew that won the NHRA Funny Car Championship with Cruz Pedregon.