CHEVROLET AT CHARLOTTE
What:
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
When:
Friday, April 28-Sunday, April 30
Where:
zMAX Dragway, Concord, North Carolina
TV:
FS1: Eliminations and finals – 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday
FS1: Qualifications – Midnight ET Saturday
FS1: Qualifications – 7 p.m. ET Friday (live)
Chevrolet Drivers Seek to Win Four Classes in the Four-Wide Nationals
Youngest winner in NHRA history Tanner Gray to make ‘home track’ debut in Pro Stock
DETROIT (April 26, 2017) – With a victory four races into his National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) rookie season, Tanner Gray’s immediate goal is simple but nonetheless challenging.
“Win another,” he said with a smile.
At 17 years old, Gray became the youngest winner in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history with the victory April 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and joined his grandfather, Johnny, and father, Shane, as race winners. They are the first three generation race winners in NHRA history.
Winning again would be especially gratifying in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway, which is a short drive from the family’s North Carolina residence and Gray Motorsports shop. In the unique event, qualifying sessions and elimination rounds will be conducted using four lanes. The first two drivers in each elimination round to cross the finish line advance to the second round and then the final.
Gray will make his home track Pro Stock debut in the Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Four-Wide Nationals. His father, who won at Gainesville, Florida, earlier this season in his Chevrolet Camaro SS, also is among the 17 entries. Reigning Pro Stock champion Jason Line won the event in 2016.
Ever the competitor, Gray celebrated his 18th birthday April 15 by competing in a dirt Midget race at a track near his home.
“I’m still smiling ear to ear,” he said after following up the Vegas victory with a semifinal appearance April 23 in Houston. “I’m excited to have all my family and friends at zMAX Dragway. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of calls for tickets. The Four-Wide will be interesting, and definitely tough, especially since it’s my first time doing it. It’s a mental challenge in addition to a driving challenge.”
Gray has met all the challenges inherent to the ultra-competitive Pro Stock division while on a steep learning curve, and has received technical support and coaching from his father and crew chief Dave Connolly, a former Pro Stock racer.
“Our Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro team has a very special bond,” said Gray, who was the No. 3 qualifier and reached the semifinals in his second event. “Since my crew is the same crew that my dad has and he’s been racing Pro Stock since 2010, my guys have watched me grow up and develop into the young man I am now. They support me, want the best for me, and would only give me the tools to succeed. Over the last five races, our team dynamic has grown closer. I have high expectations of myself and when I fall short, my crew is there to pick me right back up. The strength of the support of my crew is what has stood out the most thus far.
“The continued focus for myself as far as improvements is to continue on with the winning mentality and not to let the bad rounds, races, and performances get me down. I constantly strive to perform better on the starting line. I think it was really cool to go out and be the youngest winner in history, but the goal is to win and compete for the championship.”
Shane Tucker of Australia, who competed in four Pro Stock races in 2016 in the Auzmet Architectural Chevrolet Camaro SS, will make his season debut this weekend.
Brittany Force topped the Top Fuel category last year in her Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, and the John Force Racing driver is looking forward to claiming her first victory of 2017.
“Winning there last year is something I am very proud of, because pulling up to three other cars in the lanes is tough – it’s not easy at all. You have to adjust to that,” said Force, who has advanced to the semifinals three times in her four appearances in the event. “To win the thing is pretty awesome, and something we definitely want to do again this year. The fans in Charlotte are awesome; just the whole facility is beautiful. I’m excited to get back there. Hopefully, we’ll get another win there this year.”
Teammates Robert Hight, Courtney Force and John Force are aiming for the same result. Hight (AAA of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS) won the Four-Wide Nationals in 2012 and ’14, while John Force (PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS) won the inaugural event in 2010 and was runner-up to Hight in 2014. Courtney Force (Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS) is coming off consecutive No. 1 qualifier efforts at Las Vegas and Houston. She fell in the semifinals to Hight at Houston last week.
“What we’re taking away from (Houston) is that consistency we’ve been looking for,” Force said. “We may not have a Wally in hand, but we have things we can take away and use in the future. I’m looking forward to (Charlotte).”
FOX Sports 1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
Eleven competitors this weekend in the second of five SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown events will drive Chevrolet COPO Camaros. David Barton of Pennsylvania was the No. 1 qualifier and won the opener of the series at Gainesville, Florida, in his Gary Wolkwitz-owned Chevrolet COPO Camaro. Barton won three of the four Factory Stock events in 2016.
Also driving a Chevrolet COPO Camaro in the event are two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, FOX Sports NHRA commentator Bruno Massel, Stephen Bell, Todd Patterson, Gary Wolkwitz, Waldemar Rodrigues, Richard Bierie, Peter Gasko, Arthur Kohn, and Scott Libersher.
Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama, the 2016 Stock Eliminator champion, leads the Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers in Stock Eliminator category. Also among the 55 entries:
Adam Badgett of Mount Airy, North Carolina
Jim Boburka of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Dan Fletcher of Churchville, New York
Darren Poole-Adams of Shelby, North Carolina
AJ Currie of Godwin, North Carolina∙
Competing in Super Stock in their Chevrolet COPO Camaros:
Stephen Bell of Shreveport, Louisiana
Bob Bagley of Warsaw, Virginia
Chevrolet will welcome fans to its Chevrolet Performance Display during the weekend. It will include numerous award-winning Chevrolet production vehicles, examples of Chevrolet engines, and a selection of performance parts and accessories that are available for fans to purchase from their local Chevrolet dealer.
CHEVROLET RACING ENGINEERING PREVIEW
ROGER ALLEN, CHEVROLET RACING NHRA PROGRAM MANAGER: “The Four-Wide Nationals is always an exciting event, and Chevrolet teams and drivers look forward to the once-a-year format on the fast racetrack. Brittany Force in Top Fuel and Jason Line in Pro Stock provided Team Chevy with victories last year in the event, and we’re looking forward to multiple Chevy drivers in the winner’s circle this weekend. This past week at Houston, Bo Butner become the second consecutive first-time Pro Stock winner in a Chevrolet Camaro SS, while the John Force Racing Funny Car trio of Robert Hight, Courtney Force, and John Force continued to display speed in qualifying and go rounds.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER (won the Four-Wide Nationals in 2016; competing in her 102nd career Top Fuel event; has qualified in top half of field in all five races): “When you’re in Lanes 2 and 3, you’re looking all over the place. It’s all about keeping your focus. You have to look at the right Christmas Tree, stay in the game, not get caught off-guard. It’s hard not to get lost – a lot of drivers do it because we only do one race like this a year. Friday and Saturday, I’ll go up there before qualifying and look at the tree, and that’s the best way for me to get comfortable before I go out and race.”
FUNNY CAR:
COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier the past two races; advanced to semifinals at Houston last week; No. 1 qualifier at Four-Wide Nationals in 2015): “It’s very challenging to all the drivers, teams and crew chiefs. It’s a completely different format you are trying to get your head around. The fact that you only get one shot in each lane during qualifying is a little bit of a challenge for everybody because you have to figure out these lanes quickly. This is pretty much a crew chief race, really. These guys have to work hard to figure out these lanes quickly, and I know our team is capable of doing it. We’ve been there before; we just need to adjust when we get to the track, and we need to be ready to go.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Gainesville this season; won inaugural Four-Wide Nationals in 2010; third in Funny Car standings): “The fans love it. They can come there, and it’s a change: Four cars, 40,000 horsepower, side-by-side-by-side-by-side. Greatest show on earth. I love two-lane, but I love four-lane. I wish they’d build more of them. I don’t know if everybody would agree with me. Crew chiefs don’t have a lot of time to do a lot of thinking. It’s not like there’s eight pairs – there’s only four, and it goes so fast. It’s a three-round race. I like change, I like anything that’s different. No. 1, it packs the house.”
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (advanced to final last week at Houston; two-time winner and two-time No. 1 qualifier of the Four-Wide Nationals): “(The Four-Wide Nationals are) only three rounds of racing, too. If we had three rounds of racing in Houston, we’d have won it. But if we can do what we did in Houston in Charlotte, I like our chances. I’ve got confidence. I’m ready to go. Can’t wait.”
PRO STOCK:
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; No. 1 qualifier in four of the five events; 2016 winner of the Four-Wide Nationals); track elapsed time record-holder: “We have a lot of reasons to enjoy racing here at zMAX Dragway, and every time we come here I think about Jimmy Alund winning his first Pro Stock race – and only one so far – in NHRA. That was a cool thing to be part of, and those type of moments are a big part of the reason we do this. That’s something we’ll never forget, and I know it’s something he sure won’t forget either.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner of event; track speed record-holder; Pro Stock points leader): “We know zMAX Dragway well, we test there a lot and know the racetrack inside and out. I ran fast there in my Summit Racing Chevy Camaro when we tested two weeks ago, and I have no reason to believe I won’t be fast there this weekend and have a chance to win. You have to run great and drive great to win in this class, but that’s the way it should be. You feel good when you win because it’s a He-man challenge these days. It’s not easy, but that’s the way we like it. We certainly aren’t lacking for car quality in this class.”
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (earned first Pro Stock victory last week; finalist in two of the five races; second in Pro Stock standings): “I feel complete, finally, after winning last week. I hadn’t won anything since I started racing Pro Stock, and I was wondering if I’d ever win again. Now that I have, we can just go race. We’re gonna have our hands full the rest of the season, and it’s going to be tough. These are good racers. The competitiveness of it is like nothing else in the world, but I like our chances in Charlotte. With the four-wide racing, you have to stay focused and concentrate, but we definitely have one of the best cars in the country. I feel like we’re on a roll.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM ELITE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Houston; two-time semifinalists in first four races): “Four-wide is a fun format and I’d love to take the win this weekend. You talk about max overload when you’ve got four Top Fuel dragsters or Funny Cars taking off the line at the same time, and it’s still pretty cool with four Pro Stock cars doing it as well. It’s a sight. A lot of stuff is going on in a short amount of time. As a driver, everything feels like it’s happening quicker than ever before going down the track with three other cars to think about. Personally, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel. This JEGS.com Chevy is really running on mean right now and I feel great behind the wheel. We had just a minor miscue there in the Houston final in a couple of areas but we will look to rebound well here this weekend and take things all the way.”
ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, LUPE TORTILLA ELITE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time Pro Stock champion; also will compete in SAM Tech Factory Shootout in Chevrolet COPO Chevrolet): “Going Four-Wide totally levels the playing field. Even now after many of us have had multiple races here, there are still a lot of drivers that tend to struggle. Pro Stock already is a really tight and competitive class so it will definitely be interesting to get there and see what happens this time through. You drag race for years in the regular two-car format and then once a year you have to reprogram your brain and add in the fact there are two other cars running out there. On race day, you have to make darn sure you’re one of the two quickest cars each round in order to advance. There are so many things going on you have to pay really close attention. It sounds easy, but it’s not.”
SHANE GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Gainesville earlier this season; competing in limited scheduled in 2017): “After taking last weekend off in support of Tanner (Gray), and Drew (Skillman), my Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro team is ready to go. I always look forward to racing the Four-Wides for multiple reasons — I get to race in front of my hometown crowd, race it out with not 1, but 3 other competitors, and experience racing at one of the nicest tracks we see all year. I’ve never won this race, and think that it is either mine or my son’s year to park our Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro in the winner’s circle. This race is prestigious and to hold a Four-Wide title be a check off of my racing bucket list.”
DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Phoenix; No. 2 qualifier and advanced to semifinals of 2016 Four-Wide Nationals): “We had a good showing at the Four-Wide Nationals last year and this year we think we can go a round further. We debuted out 2017 Chevrolet Camaro last week at Houston, and after a few adjustments it will be fast. We’re looking forward to competing this weekend.”
ALEX LAUGHLIN, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (competing in second event of the season; earned initial Pro Stock victory at Dallas in 2016): “We had a good start to the season at Houston, and I’m looking forward to progressing with our program at the Four-Wide Nationals. It’s a mentally challenging event and you have to really focus on the tree and not be concerned about the other competitors. I’m looking forward to the race weekend.”
SHANE TUCKER, TUCKER RACING, AUZMET ARCHITECTURAL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (making season debut; competed in four races in 2016): “I’m really excited to get back to racing in the States and have our first race of the year be the NHRA Four-Wide. My dad is our engine builder and we’ve always run our own engine program back in Australia and it’s been a long time coming to run our own engine program in the United States. To run our own stuff is really rewarding and now that we can call all of our own shots, it’ll be interesting to see how this weekend plays out.”
VINCENT NOBILE, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has advanced to the quarterfinals in three of the five races; competing in 151st Pro Stock event)
CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACING, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (semifinalist at Gainesville; has qualified seventh or eighth in the five races; competing in his 103rd Pro Stock event)