CHEVROLET AT BRISTOL

What:
16th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
When:
Friday, June 17-Sunday, June 19
Where:
Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee
TV:
FS1: Qualifying – 2 p.m. ET Saturday (taped highlights)
FS1: Eliminations and finals – 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday (taped)

Chevrolet Drivers Seek to Enjoy Father’s Day Weekend in Tennessee
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is the third event in four consecutive weekends of racing

DETROIT (June 15, 2016) – Brittany and Courtney Force have the perfect Father’s Day presents planned for the man who has everything – victories in the 16th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee.

“I can’t wait to be in my race car and wouldn’t want to spend it anywhere else,” said Courtney Force, who is third in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car standings heading into the 11th race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. “I get to be with my family, friends and team and get to celebrate Father’s Day with my dad within the same weekend. I definitely hope there is a John Force Racing car in the winner’s circle and hope it’s the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS.”

Added Brittany Force, a two-time Top Fuel winner this season who advanced to the semifinals last Sunday at Englishtown, New Jersey, in the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster: “It would be pretty awesome to double up on Father’s Day and end up in the winner’s circle with the Monster Energy team and the PEAK team with my dad.”

Their father – 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force – also would like to record a fifth win at Bristol. Prior to the first round of eliminations Sunday, he’ll be inducted into the Legends of Thunder Valley.

“I love racing at Thunder Valley and we have had some success there,” said Force, who in 1999 drove the iconic Superman Funny Car to the winner’s circle following the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car Winston Showdown.

Force and teammate Robert Hight will be driving the new Chevrolet Camaro SS for the second consecutive event. He said data acquisition is integral in developing the sleek, high-performance car.

“We have been making good runs in qualifying since we got the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car body but there is an adjustment period for sure,” said Hight, who drives the Auto Club-sponsored car. “Plus we are trying a couple other things and getting everything to work together is a process.”

KB Racing’s Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) aims to add to his two-race winning streak in Pro Stock. Anderson, who has won five of the 10 events this season, has 83 career victories. Teammate Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) also has five wins and remains the class points leader.

Chevrolet drivers hold the top three spots in the Pro Stock standings and seven of the top 10. Shane Gray (Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro SS), a two-time semifinalist, is only one point behind defending Pro Stock champion Erica Enders for 10th.

In addition, Bob Letellier (Bob’s Auto Sales Chevrolet COPO Camaro) will compete in both Super Stock and Stock Eliminator classes this weekend. Five other Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers will compete in Stock Eliminator.

Chevrolet also will welcome fans to its Chevrolet Performance Display during the weekend. It
FOX Sports 1 will telecast taped highlights of first- and second-round qualifying at 2 p.m. ET Saturday. FS1 will telecast taped eliminations and finals at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

CHEVROLET ENGINEERING OUTLOOK FOR NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
ROGER ALLEN, CHEVROLET RACING PROGRAM MANAGER, NHRA: “The Thunder Valley Nationals mark the 11th race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season at historic Bristol Dragway, which is celebrating its 51st year of hosting exciting racing. John Force, who has provided fans at Bristol Dragway with thrills during his illustrious Funny Car career, will be inducted as a Legend of Thunder Valley on Sunday. It is a well-deserved honor, and everyone at Chevrolet congratulates John and wishes him continued success driving the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
“Chevrolet Racing teams and drivers, including the John Force Racing family in Top Fuel and Funny Car, will be prepared for the competition on this third consecutive weekend of racing. Greg Anderson and Jason Line of KB Racing both have won five Pro Stock events as Chevrolet has swept the class so far this season, while other Chevy drivers have been making performance gains. We’re looking forward to more success in all three pro categories this weekend.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT – NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER: “It definitely feels good to be going rounds. It was a tough weekend for us (in Englishtown). We struggled a little bit in qualifying. As a driver, I was really struggling on the tree. I just couldn’t seem to find it so it felt good on that third round to finally have a decent tree. We didn’t get the win, but it feels good to leave on that note and overcome the struggle I was having this weekend.”

FUNNY CAR:
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Jon Schaffer and these PEAK crew guys have been giving me a good race car. We have the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and I love it. A lot of work went into getting it just right and I am excited to be driving this hot rod. Robert (Hight) got his 2016 Camaro a couple races ago and Courtney (Force) should get hers in Chicago. All my teams have been doing well this season and we are up there in the points. When I put on my firesuit I feel like I am 20 years old again. I have all these young crew guys working on this PEAK Camaro and I can’t let them down. They give me energy and I hope I teach them something about being champions. Last race I got them all together and we talked about what this team means to me and how much I love every one of those kids. You have to have a team to win out here and I think I have a pretty good team.”

COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, TRAXXAS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Not only is Bristol one of my favorite tracks on the NHRA circuit because of the beautiful scenery and dedicated fans, but it will also be a race that I hope to win as a birthday gift (turns 28 on June 20) to myself. Our team has had a consistently strong performance so far this season, but lost our rhythm this past weekend. I’m excited to get right back at it, and I know my entire Traxxas team is as well.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “We tried a lot of new things on this Auto Club Camaro last weekend in Englishtown and I was really excited to see the performance numbers. We are making progress, and even though we had a short day on Sunday that doesn’t take away from my confidence. My crew chief Mike Neff is a smart guy and my crew guys are some of the best guys out here. We have been making good runs in qualifying since we got the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car body but there is an adjustment period for sure. Plus we are trying a couple other things and getting everything to work together is a process. I am excited to be getting back to Bristol. I love the fans there and the track is awesome.”

PRO STOCK:
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (about runner-up finish at New Jersey): “As always, it ran good; it ran really good. We qualified No.1 and had a car capable of winning. We lost lane choice in the final and had to go for it. Still a great weekend though. (Looking forward to Bristol): “We go fix what we may have broken and try to find more power. There is always something to do.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Obviously, you have to try to continue to get better. I’ve said it every race that if we don’t get better each race we will get passed by. These other guys have done a great job. They are gaining, they are absolutely gaining every week, but fortunately we’re digging in hard and trying to go forward, too. There is still a lot to be learned with the fuel injection, a lot to be learned with the new package, and the landscape is going to change as we go forward. I’m proud of the job we’ve done so far. We’ve done a better job than the rest of them, and I have no earthly idea what it will look like a month from now or two months from now. You just have to do the best you can every day and try to get better the next race your come out. I feel good about the effort that’s been put in so far, but we are absolutely not going to quit digging because we know the other guys want to beat us bad.”

VINCENT NOBILE, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “My confidence is at its best it’s been all year, my Chevrolet Camaro is running great. My team has been working non-stop and I’m looking forward to racing in Bristol. I race every weekend with my dad, John Nobile, but it’s Father’s Day weekend, so I would love to hand him a Wally on Sunday.”

DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN RACING, RAY SKILLMAN CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “We (tested this week) with the ‘A’ stuff. My whole team has really pulled together and is doing a great job. Bristol is one of my favorite tracks. It’s bumpy as hell and uphill, but I won some races there in Stock and Super Stock and I’m fond of the place.”

SHANE GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE/NOVA SERVICES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Aside from our home race at zMax Dragway, this is about as close to racing at home as we get. I love the track, I love the feeling of the place, and I’d really love to put one in the win column this weekend and end that KB Racing streak. A round of racing is worth 20 points, so obviously we’re all bunched up pretty close at the moment. As a competitor, you want to be on top, naturally, but we’re more concerned with finding consistency and maybe a touch more horsepower so we’re ready for the Countdown when it rolls around. The summer will show us so much, and it all starts right now.”
CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACIN, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “I’m really looking forward to going back to Bristol this year. We went to the finals last year and we almost took home the win. We did really good and it kind of helped us get our first win in Sonoma; we learned a lot. It’s also great being back in Bristol for Father’s Day. My dad works on my team with me and my family will all be there, too.”