CHEVROLET AT NORWALK

What:
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
When:
Friday, June 23-Sunday, June 25
Where:
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park at Norwalk, Ohio
TV:
FS1: Eliminations and finals – 6 p.m. ET Sunday
FS1: Qualifications – 10:30 p.m. ET Friday

Chevrolet Drivers Seek Continued Success As Season Reaches Midpoint
Four Consecutive Weeks of Racing Culminates with Summit Racing Equipment Nationals

DETROIT (June 21, 2017) – The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event this weekend at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, is important to build momentum for the push to the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals also will complete a grueling four-week stretch of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series action and mark the halfway point of the 24-race season. For KB Racing teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson, there’s the added incentive of winning the Pro Stock class at their primary sponsor’s home race.

Summit Racing Equipment was founded in 1968 as a part-time parts business in Stow, Ohio.

“We’ve always enjoyed the Summit Racing events; they’re a lot of fun, and we look forward to spending time with all the folks from Summit,” said Line, who defeated Anderson in the final last June. “This is Summit Racing’s home race, and we have a good time here – but the bottom line is that we want to put a Summit Racing Chevy Camaro in the winner’s circle. That’s the best way to show them our gratitude, and you can bet we’ll be doing our best to make that happen.”

Line, the reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion, will compete in his 320th race. Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) has three victories at Norwalk, most recently in 2015. Bo Butner (Butner Auto Sales Chevrolet Camaro SS), the third KB Racing entry, is a two-time winner this season and sits atop the Pro Stock standings.

“We like the pressure to perform that we always have here; we thrive on that,” added Anderson. “There is a little extra pressure because you want to see those folks from Summit Racing smiling at the end of the weekend, and it does give you a little extra kick. We’ve got that home-field advantage, and the class is tough out here, but we know we can still beat these guys.”

All four John Force Racing drivers are in the top seven of the point standings. Courtney Force (Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS), who has been the No. 1 Funny Car qualifier five times, is a two-time runner-up. Teammate Robert Hight (Auto Club of California Chevrolet Camaro SS) has advanced to the semifinals in three of the past five events.

“Being in the final round the last two years definitely gives our team a boost of confidence knowing that we’ve been successful here before,” she said. “We hope to seal the deal.”

Brittany Force, driving the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, won at Epping, New Hampshire, to qualify for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. John Force (PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS) also qualified for the lucrative event during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals race weekend with Funny Car victory at Gainesville.

Chevrolet drivers have won every Pro Stock race this season and hold the 10 spots that qualify for the Countdown to the Championship even with Shane Gray (Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro SS) and Chris McGaha (Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevrolet Camaro SS) running a limited schedule. Both veterans have won this season – among the eight different Team Chevy drivers to record a victory – and McGaha returns to competition this weekend after a four-race break.

“I’m out on the road at least 24 weekends a year racing Pro Stock and it doesn’t allow a lot of time to go racing with my kids,” McGaha said of son Mason and daughter Berkley, both of whom race junior dragsters. “I made the decision to run a limited schedule this season to prepare for years to come racing with my family.”

FOX Sports 1 will telecast taped qualifications at 10:30 p.m. ET Friday along with eliminations and finals at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers David Barton and Peter Gasko Jr., winners of the first two rounds of the SAM Tech NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, are among the competitors entered this weekend in the third event of the five-race series.

Barton, of Robesonia, Pennsylvania, won the season opener at Gainesville, Florida, and three of the four races in 2016. Gasko, 19, a Cornell University student from Monroe Township, New Jersey, won the second event at Concord, North Carolina, in his 2017 COPO Camaro, defeating Barton in the final.

Also entered in Chevrolet COPO Camaros are two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, Waldemar Rodriguez, Stephen Bell, Arthur Kohn, Gary Wolkwitz, L. Scott Libersher, and Bruno Massel.

Bell of Shreveport, Louisiana, Kohn of Richmond, Texas, and Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois, are entered in Super Stock in their Chevrolet COPO Camaros.

Driving their Chevrolet COPO Camaros in Stock Eliminator will be Joey Wilkes of Zanesville, Ohio, Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama, Robin Lawrence of Rockfield, Kentucky, John Kunsak of Wexford, Pennsylvania, Jim Boburka of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, Philip Lankford of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Todd Patterson of Augusta, Kansas.

CHEVROLET RACING ENGINEERING PREVIEW
ROGER ALLEN, CHEVROLET RACING NHRA PROGRAM MANAGER: “As we enter the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, which is the halfway point of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Chevrolet teams and drivers have had great success in qualifications and on race day. Chevrolet has won all 11 Pro Stock races, featuring eight different winners, and every No. 1 qualifier position. Courtney Force has a career-high five Funny Car No. 1 qualifier honors already, and she and John Force Racing teammates Robert Hight and John Force are on the cusp of rolling into the winner’s circle. Brittany Force has a Top Fuel victory and has been consistently challenging for wins. We’re looking forward to another exciting and challenging weekend of racing.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER (winner at New Hampshire; runner-up at Phoenix; set career best for ET and speed at Topeka; semifinalist at Englishtown): “We did pretty well last year in Norwalk and went to the semifinals. But this year we’re coming back and want to take it all the way. It’s the ending stretch of our four in a row, and there’s no better place to bring home another win than Norwalk before we start the western swing. The season seems like it has flown by. I don’t know where it went. We’re getting closer to Brainerd and Indy, and then the Countdown begins. We’re all hungry for it, we’re ready for it, and we’d love to bring home a win in Norwalk.”

FUNNY CAR:
COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 or 2 qualifier in six of the past seven races; two-time runner-up this season; Norwalk runner-up in 2016 and ‘15): “Norwalk’s always been a pretty great track for us. Being in the final round the last two years definitely gives our team a boost of confidence knowing that we’ve been successful here before. We hope to seal the deal. Our Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro team, all my guys – Dan Hood, Ronnie Thompson – we’re going to fight hard to end this streak on a high note. We’re hoping for a good weekend. It’s probably going to be another hot track, and we’re looking forward to heading back to Norwalk.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 or 2 qualifier the past three races; semifinalist at in three of the past five races; fourth in standings): “We’re looking to rebound following Bristol. We’ve got to put that race behind us and look toward a strong race in Norwalk. This is a great facility, and we’re close to winning. Obviously, I’d like to really come out and end this stretch on a high note – not just for me but for my crew, which has given me a great car during this stretch.”

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Gainesville this season; has 1,275 career round victories): “I know it’s going to be hot there, so I’m coming out there with guns a blazing. We’re going through a lot of changes, but we’re going to get there. We need a win, but so does the Auto Club car and Advance car. We’ve got a fast hot rod. All of my cars are fast, and we’re going to get there. I know that track well, and so do the rest of my drivers, since we do match races there. The Bader family is among the top one or two promoters in the business. They’re great people, and we’re excited to go back to Norwalk and put on a good show.”

PRO STOCK:
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has won twice and been runner-up twice this season; three-time No. 1 qualifier; sits atop point standings): “We had a good weekend in Bristol, we just had some bad luck. Every race we go to, we go to win it, and it will be no different this weekend at Summit Motorsports Park. We want to qualify the KB Racing Camaros 1-2-3. That’s the goal to start out with. I’d like to win this deal. I’ve won a couple points meets there, been runner-up at the national event in Comp. But my fiancée, Randi Lyn Shipp, she’s got one of those ice cream scoops from her Stock win there in 2013. I’d like to get me one of those.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Englishtown for second victory of season and 88th of career; second in standings; has three victories at Norwalk): “We had a great weekend in Englishtown a couple of weeks ago, and we’ll be looking to get back on top again. That was great, but we want to do that here, too. There is certainly more on the line at this particular race because we have all of the folks from Summit Racing here, and we want nothing more than to be able to hand them the trophy when it’s all said and done. That’s what we aim to do at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals: get that trophy for Summit Racing.”

TANNER GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Las Vegas to become youngest winner in NHRA history; also won at Topeka and runner-up at New Hampshire; third in point standings): “This weekend’s race is always one I look forward to. We make it a family affair, and enjoy a lot of ice cream. Getting the opportunity to race the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals for the first time is pretty exciting. Our team has struggled that last two races in qualifying. We have been adjusting and testing new things to prepare for race day that has not proven successful. Luckily, in Bristol we were able to go some rounds to continue to contend for the championship. We are out to win the race and compete for the championship. This weekend we are looking at every opportunity to gain points, qualifying especially.”

JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time runner-up and three-time semifinalist this season; three-time No. 1 qualifier; celebrates 47th birthday Friday): “It’s going to be fun racing in the state of Ohio because it’s home. We have a lot of JEGS associates that make the trip up to Norwalk to cheer us on and check out the drag races. That makes it fun for us, without question, but also the fan base we’ve been able to build over the years at that facility. It’s always great to be able to perform in front of your home state crowd. I really enjoy the track and love the Bader family (track owners). They really cater to the racers and the fans as well to try and create a really nice experience.”

JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; won season opener at Pomona; two-time semifinalist; four-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Norwalk in 2016): “Our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros are certainly cars that can win, and we’ve shown that this year. I think we’re going in the right direction and that we’ve seen small improvements every weekend. We just have to stay on course and keep making those improvements as the season progresses. We know what this team is capable of.”

ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time Pro Stock champion; won at New Hampshire this season; semifinalist at Bristol; holds track ET and speed records, set in 2014; won 2014 race and is three-time No. 1 qualifier at track): “Norwalk is always a fun race for us; this year’s going to be awesome. The weather forecast looks great and hopefully it’s not going to be 9 million degrees like it normally is there. We’ll carry the performance gains we made in Bristol (previous event) to Norwalk, and I think we’ll be just fine. I didn’t execute properly in Bristol but going into Norwalk it’s go time. I’m ready to win again. We did get a team win in Bristol when Alex (Laughlin) got the victory so we’re firing on all cylinders.”

CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACING, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Charlotte this season; semifinalist at Gainesville; running limited schedule): “I’m beyond excited to be back racing in Norwalk. I took those few races off to focus on our engine program and also go racing with my kids to get them some seat time. My son Mason wants to race Pro Stock in a few years and I wanted to give him some seat time. Now that I went racing a few times with the kids, it’s time for me to get back behind the wheel. We’ve already won this year and I think we’ll be right where we left off in our Harlow Sammons Chevrolet Camaro.”

DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Phoenix; two-time semifinalist; competing in 58th career Pro Stock event): “With the heat and humidity and slick track at Bristol, we never really got the set-up right on the Chevy Camaro. We did collect data, though, which will help us down the road, and we’re looking forward to returning to Norwalk, where we qualified third last year.”

ALEX LAUGHLIN, LAUGHLIN RACING, GAS MONKEY ENERGY/360 WRAPS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Bristol as the No. 8 qualifier; competing in fourth race of the season; earned first Pro Stock national victory at St. Louis in 2016): ”It is extremely difficult as a part-time racer because as these races go on and on, the guys that go to all of them keep advancing and leaning the new technology, what works right, and their cars are dialed in perfectly. For us, when we show up for a race, it takes the first couple of qualifying rounds to even figure out the tune-up. We’re behind the eight ball when we show up. By the third or fourth round of qualifying or the first round of eliminations, we have it finally figured out but our confidence isn’t completely there. The guys at Elite, they go to all the races. It does help that they get to advance with this technology race to race and carry it on to our car. But it’s still not the same as if it would be when our car was there every week. We take a couple of races off and get behind the eight ball, and we show up and it’s the same all over again.”

VINCENT NOBILE, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Englishtown; semifinalist at Topeka; two-time winner at Norwalk): “I’ve had some success there and I’m looking forward to racing there.”

JOHN GAYDOSH JR., GAYDOSH PERFORMANCE, GAYDOSH PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (competing in his sixth Pro Stock race of the season and 77th of career; earned first round win of season at Englishtown)

KENNY DELCO, JCM RACING, JCM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (competing in sixth race of season and 156th of Pro Stock career; reached quarterfinals at Epping)