63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals notebook
Three generations of Grays to mark an NHRA first; recognition of Chevy Camaro, driver
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 31, 2017) – While keenly watching grandson Tanner make runs in the Chevrolet Camaro SS at Bradenton Motorsports Park in January, Johnny Gray was inspired.
The successful businessman, who retired from National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) competition in 2013 after two decades of multi-category racing, suggested that he get behind the wheel of a Gray Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro to join son Shane and Tanner as entries in the 63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
This weekend, they will be the first three generations of racers to compete in the same class in an NHRA national event.
Please use the following link to download a video about Gray Motorsports and Tanner Gray heading into this weekend’s event: https://tracksideracingnews.egnyte.com/dl/seCxa27H6u
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“Being a part of the first three generations to race professionally together is neat, but I see it as racing the biggest race of the year with the closest people to you and may one of us get the win,” said Johnny Gray, 64, who tested this week at zMAX Dragway to prepare for the “Big Go.”
Tanner, 18, a leading rookie of the year candidate, leads all Pro Stock drivers with four victories and is second in the standings heading into the final event of the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season. Shane, who is supporting his son’s acclimation to straight-line racing in lieu of running a full-season schedule, won at Gainesville and will be competing in his ninth race of the season.
“Winning at Indy would be awesome,” Tanner said. “My dad has won here back in 2014 and I remember how big of a deal it was. Racing with my dad and grandpa this weekend would also add to the win.
“Hopefully, my dad or grandpa is lined up against me on the other side in the final.”
Special recognition for Chevrolet Camaro and driver
Ben Wenzel paid $3,463.50 for a new Z-28 Camaro at a Michigan dealership a few months after the September 1966 introduction of the model. On Labor Day weekend in ‘67 at the NHRA Nationals in
Indianapolis, he won the Stock class in the turquoise Camaro.
At the same event, Bill Jenkins drove a ’67 Camaro to the Super Stock win, which marked the first event victories for the iconic Chevy Camaro.
Wenzel continued to have success in the Sportsman ranks through the years with the Chevy Camaro, and he’s entered in the loaded Stock Eliminator class that includes several entries of 2017 Chevrolet COPO Camaros at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
In recognition of his 50-year racing career and the Camaro’s golden anniversary, Wenzel will participate in a special match race Saturday against Chevrolet Funny Car driver Courtney Force, who will drive a street-legal 2017 ZL-1 Camaro.
“There were only 602 of these cars made, but we didn’t buy it because it was unique,” said Wenzel, 75. “We bought it because it was made to race. It’s always been a race car. It’s an amazing car.”
Coughlin closing in on another career milestone
Jeg Coughlin Jr., who earlier this season joined nine other drivers in NHRA history with 600 elimination-round wins, will be competing in his 399th career Pro Stock event.
Coughlin, driving the JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS, has claimed a total of eight victories at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in Sportsman and professional classes since 1992, when he won the Division 3 Super Gas trophy.
“Indy has been a home race of sorts for my family for as long as we’ve all been drag racing,” said Coughlin, from Delaware, Ohio. “Dad won there, all my brothers have won there, my nephew Troy Jr. has won there, and I’ve been fortunate enough to win there a number of times in a variety of cars.
“It’s a place that means everything to drag racers and we’re thrilled to have put the Coughlin name on some of the history that’s been made there.”
Anderson seeking to add more ‘magic’ with seventh win
Four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) will be seeking his seventh victory in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
The KB Racing driver reached his initial Pro Stock final round at Lucas Oil Raceway in 1999, falling to Warren Johnson.
“Indy has always been magic to me, ever since I was going there as a kid and working with Warren Johnson as a crew chief,” Anderson said. “It’s our biggest race of the year. It’s a different feeling when you walk through the gate. I look forward to it every year.”
Johnson is the all-time Pro Stock leader with 97 victories. Anderson is second with 88, and Bob Glidden is third with 85. Coughlin is fourth with 58. Anderson is second to John Force (148) in wins among active drivers across all pro classes.
Glidden, of Whiteland, Indiana, won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals nine times and advanced to the Pro Stock finals in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-89.
A family affair for reigning Pro Stock champion Line
Reigning Pro Stock champion Jason Line will be among the favorites to win the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS. The KB Racing driver also is competing in Stock Eliminator with his Buick GS.
“This will be the first time I’ve raced Stock Eliminator at a national event since Indy of last season, so to say I’m looking forward to it would be an understatement,” said Line, the 1993 1993 Stock Eliminator Lucas Oil Series champ. “I had a great time earlier this year racing at the division event at GALOT Motorsports Park with my family, and my son Jack has been a big part of the effort to prepare for this. It’s been a learning experience for him, and it’s been fun to work on this together in any spare time we have.
“We were lucky enough to make it to the final round at GALOT, and right before the final Jack said, ‘Daddy, this is the most fun I’ve ever had. We should do this every week.’ It reminded me of being a kid, because that’s where it all started for me, too. It was a family thing.”