CHEVROLET AT SEATTLE

What:
29th Protect The Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals
When:
Friday, Aug. 5-Sunday, Aug. 7
Where:
Pacific Raceways, Kent, Washington
TV:
FOX Sports 1: Qualifying – 10 p.m. ET Friday (taped highlights)
FOX Sports 1: Qualifying – Noon ET Sunday (taped highlights)
FOX: Eliminations and finals – 4 p.m. ET Sunday (live)

Chevrolet Seeking Additional Success to Close the Western Swing
John Force aims to complete sweep; Jason Line to compete in 300th Pro Stock race

DETROIT (Aug. 4, 2016) – There have been trials and missteps, but overall Chris McGaha sees the Harlow Sammons Racing team heading in the right direction.

McGaha took the reins as crew chief in June, and together with his father Lester has been making the tuning calls for the Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevrolet Camaro SS. On the racetrack, McGaha has advanced to the second round of Pro Stock eliminations each of the past three races following five consecutive first-round exits.

“I can’t say if the rough stretch is behind me or not but it’s getting better and our Harlow Sammons team is improving,” said McGaha, who reached the final round in Phoenix early in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) season. “We were going in the wrong direction with the tune-up at the beginning of the summer.”

The turning point, McGaha notes, was at Joilet, Illinois, after qualifying seventh.

“That was the first time I have ever won a round as a driver and crew chief. I told my team over the radio at the top end, ‘we did it’. I feel like Chicago was a bridge. We qualified on our own, we lost a few rounds on our own and now we’re starting to win rounds on our own. It’s just a matter of time before we win a race on our own.”

McGaha enters the Protect The Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways this weekend as the defending class champion. He also won a week earlier at Sonoma Raceway – his first career Wally.

McGaha is eighth in the Pro Stock standings with three events remaining before the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

“We beat ourselves a lot and that’s what we have to quit doing that and then we’ll be good. I think if we can keep going the way we’re going, we can get a better shot at it during the Countdown,” he said.

Chevrolet drivers occupy the top three spots and eight of the top 10 in the Pro Stock standings. Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) moved to the top of the standings with the victory July 31 at Sonoma Raceway. KB Racing teammate Jason Line is second and Bo Butner (Butner Auto Sales Chevrolet Camaro SS), a four-time runner-up this season, is third.

At Sonoma Raceway, Anderson claimed his 85th career Pro Stock win, which tied Bob Glidden for second all time. Warren Johnson is the leader with 97 victories.

Line will be competing in his 300th Pro Stock race. He has 44 career wins and a 505-254 elimination-round record, and has recorded seven victories and a 45-8 round record this season in the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Courtney Force (Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS) remains second in Funny Car points, followed by John Force Racing teammates John Force (PEAK Antifreeze Chevrolet Camaro SS) in fifth place and Robert Hight (Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS) in a tie for sixth. In 2012, Courtney Force earned her first Funny Car victory at Pacific Raceways.

John Force is seeking an unprecedented second sweep of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series three-race swing of Colorado, California and Washington. He is the only Funny Car driver to win all three races (1994). At Sonoma Raceway, Force claimed his record-extending 145th Funny Car victory. He defeated daughter Courtney in the final the previous week at Denver.

Brittany Force, driving the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, is a solid fourth in the Top Fuel standings. She is a two-time winner this season, and at Sonoma Raceway clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship. Force was the No. 4 qualifier at Pacific Raceways in 2015.

Ali Afshar of Los Angeles, who at Sonoma Raceway qualified 32nd of 47 in the Stock Eliminator category and advanced to the fourth round of eliminations in his Chevrolet Lucas Oil/Protect the Harvest COPO Camaro, will compete this weekend. Rodger Comstock of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who was the No. 4 qualifier in his Hoosier/Lucas Oil Chevrolet COPO Camaro of 35 entrants in Super Stock at Sonoma Raceway, also will compete this weekend.

FOX Sports 1 will telecast taped qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. ET Saturday and Noon ET Sunday. FOX will telecast three hours of live eliminations and finals starting at 4 p.m. ET Sunday.