Megan Meyer

The Meyer Sisters Duo Dominates Drag Racing with Two Wins This Weekend

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The Meyer Sisters Duo Dominates Drag Racing with Two Wins This Weekend

Mar 19, 2019 | Featured, Megan Meyer, Race Results, Rachel Meyer
The Meyer Sisters Duo Dominates Drag Racing with Two Wins This Weekend

While Megan Meyer was racing at the 50th annual NHRA GatorNationals in Florida, Rachel Meyer was in Missouri at her home track competing at the opening bracket race for the year, and both girls parked their dragsters in the winner’s circle even though they were 1,000 miles apart.

Driving the Randy Meyer Racing Team’s NGK Spark Plugs Top Alcohol Dragster, Megan came into the GatorNationals fresh from a runner-up finish at her first race of the year the previous weekend. Although the races were held at the same track, the track prep and weather conditions were not the same and the team had to touch up their tune-up for the NHRA National event with teammate Julie Nataas also competing in the A/Fuel class. Randy powered Megan to the no. 2 position in the final qualifying session with a 5.19 ET at 280 mph while Julie sat in the no. 10 spot with her 5.30 pass.

Megan went on to defeat Ken Perry in the opening round of eliminations before facing Julie in second round. Julie shook and slowed to a 5.39 pass while Megan had the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win, running her career fastest speed for the win at 283.91 mph in 5.17 seconds. Megan moved on to take out Jeff Veale with another 5.17 ET at 283.79 mph before facing Mike Bucher in the final round.

The weather conditions were perfect for both nitro-injected cars to power down the strip at 66 degrees and track temp of only 83 degrees. Although Megan has made it to the final round before at the GatorNationals, this time she got her first win with a stunning 5.20 ET at 285.35 mph, the second fastest pass in Top Alcohol Dragster history.

“I was stunned and speechless when we ran our top speed twice this weekend,” said Megan. “Each win is special, and this one has so much meaning behind it. We struggled a lot at this race last year, I couldn’t even get past first round, and we left the track devastated. But, we returned with our heads high and get to leave as the champion. I’m blessed to have the best group of guys on my team who work late nights and long hours to make sure our dragsters are the best when we arrive in the staging lanes. My dad had to basically throw away all previous notes of racing in Gainesville since there is a new track surface now, but he still he had the car dialed-in to run smooth and fast out there. We didn’t have any major thrashing between rounds, we hurt two heads in eliminations, but they can be easy repairs. Other than that, our maintenance was normal: roll in bearings, drain the oil and add in fresh Lucas Oil, 5 gallons of nitro, and 16 new NGK spark plugs. Our car is very happy right now and we hope to continue this momentum onto Dallas.”

Megan has now achieved her lifelong goal of becoming the winningest female in Top Alcohol Dragster and plans to add a few more Wallys into the team’s trophy room this year to keep that title. Catch the round-by-round replay on Fox Sports 2 Thursday, March 28 at 9pm ET.

In the Midwest, Rachel Meyer competed in the Gold Race event held at Mo-Kan Dragway in Asbury, Missouri in the Super Pro class with her Super Comp dragster. Running only to the eighth-mile on the track, Rachel dialed her bracket car in the 4.81-4.83 second range to win all six rounds of eliminations at her first race of the year. Rachel’s winning time in the final round was a 4.88 ET at 127 mph on a 4.83 dial in with a .004 reaction time. This is Rachel’s second win in the Super Pro category at Mo-Kan.

Before she drove her dually and trailer through the gates, the Randy Meyer Racing Team made some major changes to Rachel’s Super Comp dragster over the off-season, including a motor-swap at the end of 2018. “We rebuilt the transmission and spare tranny and I completely rewired my car and replaced my switch panel with a brand new one from Taylor Cable,” said Rachel. “Over the off season I broke out the practice tree, which I have not done in years, and really tried to focus on being consistent and being able to tell myself if I felt early, late, or right on time.

“I felt really good about the race as soon as I woke up. I was completely calm and kept cutting killer lights in time trails and eliminations and my car was running excellent. As I kept going rounds I was getting nervous, so I just kept taking deep breaths and calming down before I staged. I made sure to keep my heart rate down so I could relax between rounds. It just felt natural being in the car.

“I have a feeling this year is going to be my year and I keep telling myself that. Confidence is definitely a key factor in racing. If you keep doubting yourself then it will reflect on your performance, but if you keep telling yourself ‘I got this’ or ‘I am going to win’ then your performance will reflect that. I got a lucky round once or twice, but for the most part it was me doing a good job on the tree and at the top end.”

The Meyer Sisters Racing Team will next be seen racing together in Dallas, Texas at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Central Region event. The girls had a great performance here last year and hope to do even better when they return this year.

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Event Preview – Martinsville Speedway

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Richard Childress Racing at Martinsville Speedway … In 169 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned four pole awards and posted seven victories with drivers Dale Earnhardt (five times), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Kevin Harvick (2011). RCR Chevrolet teams have earned 30 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes at Martinsville dating back to the team’s first start there on April 10, 1972. Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed four of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,930 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 488 top-five finishes and 1,068 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Menards Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

#RCR50 … Richard Childress Racing celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary in 2019. Follow our social channels season-long to join in the celebration.

Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3, @TylerReddick and @DanielHemric. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – http://www.facebook.com/austindillon3 and www.facebook.com/DanielHemric.

Catch the Action … The STP 500 will be televised live Sunday, March 24 beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week’s Symbicort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway … In 10 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Dillon earned his best finish of fourth in April 2016 at the half-mile short track after starting deep in the field from the 29th spot. He also has a fifth-place finish at the track (April 2017). He has made four appearances at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning his best finish of third in October 2011.

SYMBICORT Partners with the No. 3 at Martinsville … SYMBICORT is an AstraZeneca product and the sponsor of No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the STP 500 with Austin Dillon. You can learn more at MySymbicort.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
How do you feel about short tracks like Martinsville Speedway?
“I love going to Martinsville Speedway. It’s an hour away from my house, so it feels like home. Anytime you can get to a short track and beat and bang and really work on those hard-braking corners you feel like you got a chance so I can’t wait to get there. Our cars have had speed this year, and I’m really looking forward to going to the flat paperclip that is Martinsville with Danny Stockman and the No. 3 team. We’re all racers at heart so we love short track racing.”

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Martinsville Speedway … Daniel Hemric will be making his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway. The 2019 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has five NASCAR Truck Series starts at the 0.526-mile track, with a best-finish of ninth in October 2016.

About Bass Pro Shops … Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

DANIEL HEMRIC QUOTES:
You are now more than a month into your rookie season in the Cup Series, how would you assess your season so far and the pressures of racing full-time in NASCAR’s top division?
“It’s been a roller coaster, I think that’s a good way to look at it – but definitely more so emotionally. We had our situation at Daytona where we had a fast race car but did not get a good finish out of it. We went to Atlanta and were able to lead the race and had a top-five finish within reach when we had a right front tire come apart. This past weekend in Fontana, we had a fast No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 but made contact with the wall, cut the tire and took ourselves out of contention. That’s kind of been the trend all season. It’s been up and down, up and down. It has been a good learning experience trying to balance all of that, in addition to all of the other nuances that come with racing in the Cup Series and what makes this level what it is. It’s challenging, like everyone said it would be, but it has been fun trying to adapt and change on the fly. As a company, RCR has some good things to go off of, and it has been fun to lean on my teammate Austin Dillon through the process to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make ourselves better today than we were yesterday.”

The team has had some bad luck to start the year, but how encouraging is it to know the RCR Chevrolets have shown speed so far this season?
“The speed it there, and it is something I am very proud of. I’m extremely thankful to everyone back at the shop at RCR, ECR Engines and Chevrolet. There has been a lot of emphasis on getting us all of the tools and resources that we need to get the speed. We have all of that stuff in front of us, we just need to do a better job – on my end as well – of maximizing how much speed you need with the balance of the race car for the race. We’ve missed the balance a few times, but we hit on it well a couple of times as well. You don’t know what you don’t know until you figure it out. All of the teams in the garage are figuring more things out each time we hit the racetrack and we have learned a lot from the West Coast Swing that will help us moving forward. After Fontana we will be able to take what we learned, download it and legitimately see what we feel like are the key components to make us better.”

As a former short-track racer, Martinsville Speedway must feel like a home race. What are your thoughts heading into your first Cup Series start at the tight, paper-clip shaped track?
“It is pretty cool to go back short-track racing this weekend, plus to do it at Martinsville. I remember going to Martinsville as a kid to watch a lot of short track races, just being a fan. Outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway, I would consider Martinsville my home track. It is also a place I haven’t raced at since 2016 in the Truck Series. There has been a little bit of a drought there, so I am looking forward to getting there on Saturday and jumping all in. My crew chief Luke Lambert and all of the guys on this No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team all really enjoy Martinsville, so hopefully we can hit on the balance and have a good weekend. I’m just excited to go back short-track racing.”

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi Looking for Momentum During Next Opportunity to Compete

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Giovanni Scelzi Looking for Momentum During Next Opportunity to Compete

Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (March 19, 2019) – Two California quarter miles are on tap for Giovanni Scelzi this weekend.

Scelzi and Roth Motorsports are scheduled to compete with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Friday at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville during the Ocean Outlaw Showdown and on Saturday at Placerville Speedway in Placerville during the 49er Gold Rush Classic presented by Riebes NAPA Auto Parts.
Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Looking for Momentum During Next Opportunity to Compete →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville Advance, Ryan Preece

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
STP 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 20, 2019

IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST SHORT TRACK RACE OF THE SEASON, RYAN PREECE, NO.47 KROGER CAMARO ZL1 MET WITH MEDIA AND DISCUSSED THE YEAR TO DATE, HIS EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS OF RACING AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY, AND MORE. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville Advance, Ryan Preece →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Circuit of the Americas

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CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDYCAR CLASSIC
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
VIDEO OVERVIEW OF 2019 CHEVROLET POWERED INDYCAR
MARCH 19, 2019

DETROIT (March 19, 2019) – Race number two of the NTT IndyCar Series (NICS) season heads to a new track for the series – the Circuit of The Americas just outside of Austin, Texas. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Circuit of the Americas →

Wood Brothers

Martinsville Speedway Is A Special Place For The Wood Brothers

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Martinsville Speedway Is A Special Place For The Wood Brothers

March 19, 2019

Martinsville Speedway, the smallest track on NASCAR’s Cup circuit, holds a big place in the hearts of the Wood Brothers, whose home base is just 30 miles away in Stuart, Va.

For seven decades, the Woods have been competing in races at Martinsville, where the team’s current driver Paul Menard and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew will be competing in the STP 500 on Sunday.

The team’s founder, the late Glenn Wood, made his first start in the series now known as Monster Energy Cup on the half-mile at Martinsville in 1953, in a Lincoln numbered 21. Continue reading Martinsville Speedway Is A Special Place For The Wood Brothers →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws for Fourth Straight Season

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Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws for Fourth Straight Season

Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (March 18, 2019) – Dominic Scelzi scored his first top-five finish of the season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series last Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway.

The fifth-place run during the Silver Dollar Shootout presented by Reibes NAPA Auto Parts at the bullring in Chico, Calif., gives Scelzi at least one top-five result with ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’ for four consecutive seasons. Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws for Fourth Straight Season →

Richard Childress Racing

ECR Cadillac Engines Wins Second-Consecutive IMSA Race of 2019 Season

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ECR Cadillac Engines Wins Second-Consecutive IMSA Race of 2019 Season
Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DP1-V.R. Wins 12 Hours of Sebring

WELCOME, N.C. (March 18, 2019) – ECR Engines secured its second-consecutive win in the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar series with a win by Action Express Racing’s Whelen Engineering Cadillac at the 12 Hours of Sebring this past Saturday. ECR previously scored a 1-2 finish in the Rolex 24 Hour earlier this year.

Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac was piloted by Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, and Eric Curran. Together, the three drivers led 249 of the 348 laps at Sebring International Raceway after battling rain and poor visibility at the start of the event. The team also had to defend their lead for a final eight-minute sprint to the finish after the fifth caution period of the day came out late in the race.

“This has been a great start to the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season for ECR Engines,” said Richie Gilmore, president of ECR Engines. “To follow up our 1-2 finish in the Rolex 24 Hour with another win at the 12 Hours of Sebring is a testament to all the work and effort our team has put in during the off-season. Whelen Engineering has been so close to victory at Sebring in the past, so it’s nice to see them finally get it done.”

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac has previously finished second at Sebring in 2016 and 2018, and third in 2017. The team also finished second in the 2019 Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona International Speedway.

Roush Yates

CALIFORNIA KID, COLE CUSTER WINS AT FONTANA

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CALIFORNIA KID, COLE CUSTER WINS AT FONTANA

FONTANA, CA, March 18, 2019 – The California Kid, Cole Custer returned home to win his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his first win at his home track in Fontana, CA. Custer led the last 19 laps of the Performance Alliance Group 300, to edge out the competition, taking the checkered flag and marking the 60th overall win for Stewart-Haas Racing.

“Congratulations Cole, Tony, and Gene,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Cole showed great determination and patience throughout the race and we are proud to be part of SHR’s {Stewart-Haas Racing} milestone 60th win.”

“This means a ton,” Custer commented in Victory Lane. “To win here, at home in Southern California – I grew up racing in San Bernardino and Irwindale. It means a ton. I am pretty pumped up.”

The No. 00 grabbed the lead from Christopher Bell on Lap 132 of 150 and gradually pulled away to beat Kyle Busch to the finish line by 1.927 seconds. Custer led four times for a total of 29 laps out of the 150-lap race.

Ford Performance teammates Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric finished P5 and P6 respectively.

On Sunday, five Fords finished in the top-10 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400. Joey Logano finished P2, Brad Keselowski P3, Kevin Harvick P4, Ryan Blaney P5 and Aric Almirola finished P9.

In Sebring, FL, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing road race teams secured two podium finishes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring and FIA World Endurance Championship 1000 Miles of Sebring.

The No. 67 Ford GT, driven by Richard Westbrook, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon, led the majority of the IMSA 12 Hour of Sebring race, on Saturday. After a late race incident, in the last five minutes of the race, dropped the No. 67 out of contention for the win to finish P6.

In turn, the No. 66 Ford GT with drivers Joey Hand, Dirk Müller and Sébastien Bourdais, continued pushing, working their way up to a second-place finish.

The FIA WEC No. 67 Ford GT scored a third-place finish in the 1000 Miles of Sebring Friday night at the historic track, with drivers Andy Priaulx, Harry Tincknell and Jonathan Bomarito.

NASCAR heads to the first short track of the season for the MENCS this weekend in Martinsville, VA. In addition, IMSA will head to Long Beach, CA in April. Reference the full 2019 schedule on www.roushyates.com.

23 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 357 WINS – 325 POLES!

NHRA

NHRA–Gainesville Results

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Top Fuel — Richie Crampton, 3.769 seconds, 323.89 mph def. Clay Millican, 3.756 seconds, 324.67 mph. Both ARP Cars

Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.867, 331.61 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 11.165, 92.63. Both ARP Cars

Pro Stock — Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.505, 212.29 ARP Car def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, Broke.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.752, 199.17 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.762, 198.90.

Pro Modified — Todd Tutterow, Chevy Camaro, 5.662, 251.86 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.643, 253.95.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Megan Meyer, 5.201, 285.35 ARP car def. Mike Bucher, 7.301, 122.56.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.352, 273.27 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 5.469, 266.21.

Top Fuel Harley — Beau Layne, Weekend, 6.473, 217.42 def. Bob Malloy, Buell, 7.247, 187.96.

Factory Stock Showdown — Drew Skillman, Ford Mustang, 7.736, 176.70 def. Stephen Bell, Chevy Camaro, 7.887, 176.33.

Competition Eliminator — Craig Bourgeois, Dragster, 6.820, 184.77 def. Randy Daniels, Sunfire, 8.297, 161.65.

Super Stock — Kevin Riner, Chevy Camaro, 10.278, 124.96 def. Mark Alvey, Camaro, 10.055, 126.10.

Stock Eliminator — Randi Lyn Shipp, Pontiac Firebird, 10.517, 118.96 def. Eddie Longhany Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.223, 128.21.

Super Comp — Holden Laris, Dragster, 8.941, 181.18 def. Nichole Stephenson, Dragster, 8.926, 179.49.

Super Gas — Ed Richardson, Chevy Cutlass, 9.898, 166.83 def. Carl Watts, Chevy Cavalier, 9.871, 164.87.

Super Street — Doug Ramsey, Chevy Camaro, 10.905, 145.75 def. Colby Fuller, Camaro, 10.927, 135.56.

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 10.972, 81.76 def. Steve Furr, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Sandy Wilkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.655, 193.71 def. Bruce Thrift, Pontiac GTO, 6.620, 207.59.

Wood Brothers

After Disappointing Finish at Fontana, The No. 21 Team Heads Home To Pay Tribute To Team Founder Glenn Wood

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After Disappointing Finish at Fontana, The No. 21 Team Heads Home To Pay Tribute To Team Founder Glenn Wood

March 18, 2019

A late-race pit strategy didn’t work out for Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team, and as a result, the team ended Sunday’s Auto Club 400 in 20th place.

Menard, who started the race from 25th place, had worked his way up to just outside the top 10 just after the end of the second 60-lap Stage. Continue reading After Disappointing Finish at Fontana, The No. 21 Team Heads Home To Pay Tribute To Team Founder Glenn Wood →

John Force Racing

ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CLAIM HISTORIC VICTORY AT 50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS

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ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CLAIM HISTORIC VICTORY AT
50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2019) — Robert Hight defeated a slew of veteran drag racers on his way to winning the Amalie Motor Oil 50th NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway on Sunday evening. The two-time world champion and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team put together a series of four 3.8 passes to pick up his 47th career victory, fourth at the Gatornationals and second this season. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CLAIM HISTORIC VICTORY AT 50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS →

Chevrolet Racing

CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

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CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
POST-RACE RECAP AND WINNER TRANSCRIPTS
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019

Chevrolet claims Funny Car, Pro Stock wins in 50th Gatornationals

• Robert Hight earns second Funny Car victory in three races
• Bo Butner also records second win of the season in Pro Stock
• Stephen Bell is runner-up in COPO Camaro in Factory Stock Showdown
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2019) – Chevrolet drivers Robert Hight and Bo Butner celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by hoisting gold Wallys claimed in the 50th anniversary Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Continue reading CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE →

Mopar Racing

Beckman Races Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car to Semis at NHRA Gatornationals

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Beckman Races Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car to Semis at NHRA Gatornationals

· Defending NHRA Gatornationals champion Jack Beckman races Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to semifinals

· Five Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars reach second round of Gatornationals

· Three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers rank in top-five of point standings

· Leah Pritchett drives DSR Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster to second round, ranks second in championship standings

· Dwayne Scheitlin, Stephen Comella take Dodge Top Finisher Awards in NHRA Sportsman classes in Gainesville

· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com Continue reading Beckman Races Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car to Semis at NHRA Gatornationals →

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Post Race Report – Auto Club 400

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Austin Dillon and the Dow Chevrolet Team Earn Solid, Top-10 Finish at Auto Club Speedway

“We had a really fast Dow Chevrolet this weekend and we have shown speed all year. We earned the pole award and ran well within the top-five until the end of Stage 1. I could feel the right-rear tire going down and brushed the outside wall. The No. 3 team did a great job keeping me on the lead lap during multiple pit stops for repairs. The Dow Chevrolet remained fast. It was just an uphill battle to reclaim track position. Through hard work, we were able to finish 10th. I’m so proud of this team.”

-Austin Dillon

Contact with the Outside Wall Hurts Daniel Hemric’s Top-10 Efforts in Fontana

“I hate it for everyone on this No. 8 Liberty National Life Insurance Chevrolet team. We had a strong run going and had worked from the 17th spot to racing inside the top 10 by the end of Stage 1. I was racing in heavy traffic once we went back green, and the air just sucked me up the track and I made contact with the outside wall exiting Turn 4. That damage cut the right rear tire and we had to pit under green to repair the damage. Unfortunately, we had another flat right rear, which caused even more damage. Nobody on this team gave up and I am proud of them for doing all they could to repair the damage. The car still had speed, but without the help of many cautions, we never really had the chance to get those laps back and then we had a flat left front in the closing laps, which hurt us even more.”

-Daniel Hemric

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fontana–Post Race

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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
AUTO CLUB 400
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MARCH 17, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
6th KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1
10th AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW COATINGS CAMARO ZL1
11th CHASE ELLIOTT, NO 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
12th KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1
15th WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Kyle Busch (Toyota)
2nd Joey Logano (Ford)
3rd Brad Keselowski (Ford)
4rd Kevin Harvick (Ford)
5rd Ryan Blaney (Ford)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues next weekend at Martinsville Speedway with the STP 500 on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

TEAM CHEVY NOTES AND QUOTES:

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 6th
“We had a good day. I was just hoping to get a top 5 and came home just a bit short. But the growth rate of us at Ganassi and the adjustments we’re making, I couldn’t be happier. I’m smiling as I’m driving the car. It’s so much fun to toss it down in there with all this downforce and the horsepower, you just pitch it sideways and see if it’s going to stick. But, we know we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s awesome to run up front. I’m smiling. But, we know at our growth rate, we’re not on a plateau yet. I’ve got to keep going.”

TALK ABOUT KYLE BUSCH, YOUR BROTHER’S ACHIEVEMENT OF 200 NASCAR WINS TODAY?
HE GOT A SPEEDING PENALTY BUT CAME BACK AND WON HIS 200TH. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
“Yeah, I thought he was done. Denny (Hamlin) got back up to 7th. Those guys, man, when they’re dialed in, they’re hard to catch. And, at the growth rate we’re growing at Ganassi with the No. 1 car, we’ve got to keep going because these guys are a couple steps ahead of us, maybe even more than that, but we’ve done well as a team to find the speed we need to and to come away with good consistent finishes. But, this is a big day. For my little brother to have 200 wins, they’re all added up through his hard work and his dedication to perfection. Not bat for two kids with an attitude from Vegas.”

IT’S A BUSCH FAMILY TRADITION, ISN’T IT?
“As far as attitudes and winning? I’ve got to hold up my end of the bargain. I’ve gotten too nice and I’m not winning enough; but I’m having fun. I love the Ganassi guys. Matt McCall (crew chief) wants more. I know he does. I want more. I was hoping for a top 5 today but we’ll take it. All in all, we’re running where we need to be running.”

ARE YOU PROUD TO BE LEADING THE CHEVY CONTINGENT? THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR THAT YOU’VE BEEN THE TOP BOWTIE
“I want to see more Bowties up there all around me. It’s those teams that are there right now with Penske, SHR, Gibbs, that’s what’s towing the boat and towing the whole sequence. For us at Ganassi, we’ve got to cross over that threshold and get to that next level. Whether Chevy is going to help us or we’re taking them, we’re just going to continue to work hard as a team no matter what it is.”

AT VEGAS, YOU HAD YOUR STRONG RUN THAT WAS HELPED BY MATT’S PIT DECISION, BUT TODAY IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CAR COULD DO. HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CAR AND YOU GUYS HAVE IMPROVED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T NEED A PIT CALL TO GET POSITION?
“The biggest thing is we’re not getting stage points. At the end of the day, I think we might only get 30 points today. It’s fun to finish well and to have that accolade, but the way you run this series is you’ve got to have stage points. So, we’ve got to qualify better. Right now the RCR guys are doing that. As a Chevy group, Hendrick was good at Phoenix last week. We’ve got to cover more bases quicker. We’re going a good job of getting entrenched with each other, but we also need to start pinpointing where we can gain that time.”

WAS IT A CHOICE OF PICKING YOUR SET-UP FOR QUALIFYING OR YOUR CHOICE OF PICKING YOUR SET-UP FOR RACE DAY WITH THE SHORT TIME YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE NOW?
“I didn’t like the way our car was handling and I didn’t want to jump out in that draft. I didn’t think I was going to be able to even add throttle being in the draft. And so, I just went rogue and qualified on my own. We ended up 21st. It wasn’t the right thing to do, but we know we need more help and we have to do more work on Fridays.”

WHEN YOU SAID DURING THE RACE YOUR CAR WAS ALMOST TOO GOOD, WHAT DID YOU MEAN? WAS EVERYTHING JUST GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THAT POINT?
“Well, when I say too good it means it’s not doing anything severely wrong and yet our lap times were two tenths too slow. Then when we loosened it back up, I’m driving with elbows out as hard as I can, and we got our lap time back, but then we’ll cook our tires off at the end of the run. And that’s what happened where we didn’t quite bring hope the top 5.”

TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 27th
“We had a really great GEICO Camaro ZL1 at the start of this race. It was handling the best it had all weekend. My guys had found something that was going to work and keep our good finishes going, but the flat tire under green at the end of Stage 1 really hurt us. We had strategy plans to get our laps back if we could ever catch the cautions that we needed, but those just didn’t happen. It’s unfortunate that a tire ruined our day, but that’s not going to get this team down. We are going to keep grinding and working hard to be ready for Martinsville next weekend.”

Chevrolet Racing

Fourth-Place Finish for Acura at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

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Fourth-Place Finish for Acura at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
• #7 Team Penske Acura ARX-05 recovers from two-lap deficit to finish fourth
• Both Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo’s contend for GTD victory, but are hampered by late-race issues
• GTD pole qualifier Trent Hindman stars in wet weather run

SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2019) – Early-race difficulties for Acura Team Penske and late-race issues for Meyer Shank Racing led to a disappointing day for the two Acura teams at Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Continue reading Fourth-Place Finish for Acura at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring →

Chevrolet Racing

Valiant Effort Lands No. 3 Corvette on Podium

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CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING:
Valiant Effort Lands No. 3 Corvette on Podium

SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2019) – Corvette Racing closed its marathon weekend of racing Saturday on the class podium at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, bringing one of the team’s most demanding events to an end.

Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller placed third in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It was a remarkable effort for the trio of the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R as they competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s eight-hour race at Sebring International Raceway on Friday. Continue reading Valiant Effort Lands No. 3 Corvette on Podium →

Mopar Racing

Johnson Drives Dodge//SRT and Mopar to No. 3 Position in Funny Car Qualifying at NHRA Gatornationals

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Johnson Drives Dodge//SRT and Mopar to No. 3 Position in Funny Car Qualifying at NHRA Gatornationals
Tommy Johnson, Jr. qualifies Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car third at Gainesville (Florida) Raceway
Six Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat drivers make Funny Car field at NHRA Gatornationals
Mopar-powered Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett to start from No. 4 spot
Pritchett puts Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in top half of Factory Stock Showdown field, comes up short in opening round
Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts, features highlights from NHRA competition

March 16, 2019, Gainesville, Florida – Tommy Johnson, Jr. is the fastest of six Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers qualified for Sunday’s elimination rounds at the 50th Annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Florida) Raceway.

Johnson, who made his first professional run at Gainesville in 1984, earned the provisional No. 1 qualifying position Saturday afternoon with his lap of 3.896 seconds at 324.75 mph in the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Make-A-Wish machine, earning three bonus points. In the final qualifying session, Johnson was hoping to back up his earlier run and regain the No. 1 position, but an explosion halfway through his run resulted in the body flying off and the racecar slowing to a run of 4.385/182.92.

Johnson walked away from the scene and his DSR team will go to work to rebuild his Funny Car in order to chase history Sunday from the third starting spot. He’ll be joined in Sunday’s field by fellow DSR and Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman and Ron Capps as well as fellow Mopar-powered competitors Cruz Pedregon and Jim Campbell.

Hagan, winner of the NHRA Arizona Nationals three weeks ago, posted his best lap of 3.900/325.85 aboard the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car in his final pass to grab the fifth position. Beckman, the defending Gatornationals champion, registered the same ET (3.900) driving the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in Q4, but his speed of 323.74 dropped him to sixth. Pedregon also used Q4 to make his best run of the weekend (3.910/325.30) in the Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to grab seventh just ahead of Capps in the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, who closed qualifying with a run of 3.933/318.77.

In Top Fuel, Leah Pritchett made an impressive pass to open both qualifying days aboard her Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster earning a pair of qualifying points with her Q1 run of 3.818 seconds at 321.88 mph and two more following her run of 3.724/325.22 in Saturday’s Q3 session. Pritchett begins her fifth run for a Gatornationals Wally from the fourth position Sunday facing Pat Dakin in the opening round.

Dodge//SRT Mopar NHRA Sportsman Spotlight
Pritchett opened defense of her 2018 Factory Stock Showdown championship at Gainesville Raceway by qualifying her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak sixth with a best run of 7.852/173.87 coming in the final session on Saturday afternoon, following a pair of runs Friday with results of 8.007/171.55 in Q1 and 8.018/172.10 in Q2.

In the opening round of eliminations, she lined up her 354-cubic-inch HEMI®-engine-powered Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak against Kevin Skinner. Pritchett left first with a .024 reaction time and posted a lap of 7.891/172.59, but couldn’t hold off the Mustang driver’s winning pass of 7.799/172.59.

Pro Stock World Champion and longtime Mopar Dodge driver Allen Johnson and former Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk will look to rebound at the next Factory Stock event after failing to qualify for the 16-car ladder. Johnson’s best run was a 8.069/169.69 that placed him on the outside of the competitive Factory Stock field, while Pawuk was also unable to crack the top 16 with his pass of 8.077/170.26..

Pritchett and her fellow Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series will resume action in late April at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, the second of eight 2019 FSS events.

Mopar Dodge//SRT Notes & Quotes
(best elapsed time in bold)

Leah Pritchett, Mopar Dodge Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified No. 4, will face No. 13 Pat Dakin
Friday: (3.818 seconds at 321.88 mph – Q1); (6.919/100.84 – Q2)
Saturday: (3.724/325.22 – Q3); (6.434/105.36 – Q4)

“We like to be in the position we’re in where we’re capable of pushing. That’s where you learn, where you grow. No. 4 is a good qualifying spot. Both lanes are great. They’re nice and smooth. I feel good about our chances tomorrow, especially if we get back to where we can throw down those really big numbers. That’s what we get excited about. We learned a lot in Q4 even though the numbers didn’t show it and I think that’s going to set us up for a lot of momentum come race day. Conditions look like they’ll be favorable. We’re here to break records, break hearts and be a part of history. No better time than the 50th anniversary to bring some gold home.”

Tommy Johnson Jr., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 3, will face No. 14 John Smith. 

Friday: (5.002 seconds at 152.24.35 mph – Q1); (3.985/322.85 – Q2)

Saturday: (3.896/324.75 – Q3); (8.695/80.93 – Q4)

“That (Q4 explosion) was probably the biggest boomer I’ve ever had. There was no warning whatsoever. The car was running really good and just before the finish line, kaboom! Unexpected for sure. I hate it for the crew guys, all the extra work it’s going to cause. They went through that enough already in Phoenix. I don’t think any of (these explosions) are related, and that’s what’s unfortunate. I don’t think it’s a problem we have, it’s just maybe a run of bad luck. We’ll get it fixed, the car is running really well. We’ll come out here tomorrow, see if we can’t lay down some good runs and keep the body on it.”

Matt Hagan, Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 5, will face No. 12 Jonnie Lindberg 

Friday: (4.779 seconds at 167.68 mph – Q1); (4.007/317.05 – Q2)

Saturday: (3.946/325.37– Q3); (3.900/325.85– Q4)

“Man, we’ve got a good hot rod. (Crew chief) Dickie Venables is continuing to get more and more comfortable with this race car and the combination we have right now. I’m excited about tomorrow. I’ve never won the Gatornationals. I finished as the runner-up last year and have a great opportunity and a great race car to get it done tomorrow. We won for Sandvik in Phoenix, now we need to win for Mopar.”

Jack Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 6, will face No. 11 J.R. Todd 

Friday: (5.075 seconds at 147.46 mph – Q1); (7.996/89.17– Q2)

Saturday: (14.702/44.17 – Q3); (3.900/323.74 – Q4)

“I picked up 180 miles an hour for the first time here at Gainesville in that final run and it felt good. We struggled. I screwed up the first run. We were too aggressive on one run. We were too soft on one run. We are the defending event champions. You don’t want to go in with a whimper. We went in with some authority.”

Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

Qualified No. 8, will face No. 9 Bob Tasca III
Friday: (4.017 seconds at 313.00 mph – Q1); (3.965/89.83 – Q2)
Saturday: (7.082/84.76– Q3); (3.933/318.77 – Q4)



“We used Q3 for a little test and those are the conditions you want to do it in. We sacrificed making a run, but we learned a bunch. I’m so proud of this NAPA team. This is sacred territory here with it being the 50th Annual Gatornationals and it’d be pretty cool to get another trophy.”

Tune-in Info 

FOX Sports 1 will broadcast three and a half of eliminations coverage of the 50th Annual NHRA Gatornationals starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 17.

About Dodge

Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is America’s mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the brand in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2019, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is possessed by the Demon. Its 797-horsepower supercharged HEMI® high-output engine makes it the most powerful, quickest and fastest muscle car reaching 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds and the fastest GT production car with a ¼-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph. It also reaches a new top speed of 203 mph. Joining the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with its more powerful 717-horsepower engine, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, which features fender flares from the SRT Hellcat Widebody and adds 3.5 inches of width to Scat Pack’s footprint, as well as and the new Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320. Infused with exclusive drag strip technology from the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is a drag-oriented, street-legal muscle car and a blank canvas for the serious grassroots drag racer. The 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV with a best-in-class tow rating of 8,700 lbs. fills out the brands’ performance lineup. These visceral performance models join a 2019 brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger — a showroom that offers performance at every price point.

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Post Race Report – Production Alliance Group 300

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Tyler Reddick Overcomes Mid-Race Flat Tire to Collect Third Top-Five Finish This Year

“We had another really solid No. 2 Hurdl Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. My team worked so hard on this Camaro, from putting in the work back at the shop to fixing it up after I scraped the wall in practice. I’m really proud of us for completing the weekend sweep for RCR with pole awards in both series. That was a nice ‘thank you’ that I could give them for the effort they’ve put in these past couple of weeks. We had to fight for our third top-five finish of the year today. I started off a little too loose but built tight eventually as the race went on. We had a flat right rear tire midway through the final stage after I brushed the wall, causing us to pit off sequence and go a lap down. We got lucky when a caution came out soon after, which allowed us to take the wave around and get our lap back. We had a great car and were able to get back into the top five, but I hate that we weren’t able to really get back up to the front and fight for the win. This one should have been ours. We were so close. I’m looking forward to Texas and getting back at it still as the points leader.”

-Tyler Reddick

Racer News and Results