Chevrolet Grabs Two Victories in Topeka Rain-Delayed Event

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MONTIES
HEARTLAND MOTORSPORTS PARK IN TOPEKA, KANSAS
MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

Chevrolet Grabs Two Victories in Topeka Rain-Delayed Event

• Courtney Force beats teammate Robert Hight in Funny Car final
• Force earns fifth No. 1 qualifier honor of season in Chevy Camaro SS
• Deric Kramer claims his first Pro Stock national event victory
• Marion Stephenson drives to Stock Eliminator runner-up finish in COPO Camaro

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 21, 2018) – Chevrolet drivers were quick down the racetrack during the conclusion of eliminations of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties that were postponed May 20 because of inclement weather.

Courtney Force secured her third victory of the season, second in a row, and 11th of her Funny Car career by outrunning John Force Racing teammate and reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight (Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the final at Heartland Motorsports Park.

Deric Kramer, the No. 1 qualifier in the American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro SS, earned his first Pro Stock national event victory by defeating Erica Enders (Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS). Kramer is the seventh different Pro Stock winner in a Chevrolet in the eight races.

Force, who registered a 3.928-second/329.83 mph pass in the final driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS, was the low qualifier for the fifth time this season and the third event in a row. Her father, John, holds the Funny Car record with 13 No. 1 qualifiers in a season.

“Being in the points lead, coming off of back to back wins, it’s just insane,” said Force, who stretched her Funny Car points lead through eight of 24 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races. “I got on my radio and told my guys that they are just unbelievable. It’s so much fun driving this race car and it’s been a handful out here this weekend. Coming to a track where the conditions have changed drastically every single day I have to give a lot of credit to my crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Dan Hood and every single guy on my team.”

Hight was runner-up for the third time this season. Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, the No. 11 qualifier in the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, lost in the first round of eliminations.

Reigning Top Fuel champion Brittany Force, driving the Monster Energy Chevrolet, fell in the second round as Steve Torrence reset Force’s track speed record at 334.24 mph.

Kramer, competing in his 73rd Pro Stock race and eighth in a KB Racing-prepared Camaro SS, was runner-up at the Las Vegas four-wide. His .009 light was a factor in turning on the win light with a 6.615-second run against Enders.

Enders’ .003 of a second reaction time proved to be the difference in her holeshot win over four-time Topeka winner Greg Anderson. Anderson recorded a pass of 6.581 seconds in the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS to Enders’ 6.603, but the two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion won by .004 of a second. Kramer defeated 2016 Topeka winner Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the other semifinal.

Tanner Gray (Gray Motorsports/Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro SS), Matt Hartford (Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro SS), and Drew Skillman (Ray Skillman Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro SS) were first-round winners.

Marion Stephenson of Williamsport, Indiana, drove a Chevrolet COPO Camaro to a runner-up finish in Stock Eliminator. COPO Camaro drivers have four Stock Eliminator national event wins and the second-place finish in eight races.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues June1- 3 with the JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, Illinois. FS1 will telecast qualifications live at 7 p.m. ET June 2. FS1 will telecast taped eliminations and finals at 5:30 p.m. ET.

An interview with Funny Car winner COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (third win of season; 11th win of career; surpassed 175 career round wins; stretches points lead):

TALK ABOUT THE TURNAROUND FROM NO WINS IN 2017 TO THREE IN 2018
“It’s been really insane. I’m proud to be part of this Advance Auto Parts team. To be completely honest, everyone’s talking about the fact that we had so many No. 1 qualifiers but didn’t seal the deal. To be honest, I had such a great team and pretty much the same team as I do this year. Ronnie Thompson and Dan Hood tuning my car and getting us all those No. 1 qualifiers last year, and we came close to a couple wins. This year, Brian Corradi coming on board joining with Danny and a couple guys who came on our Advance Auto Parts team and things kind of shifted and we were able to get these No. 1 qualifiers and seal it off with a win. It feels amazing. Being in the points lead, coming off of a back to back win, it’s just insane. I got on my radio and told my guys that they are just unbelievable. It’s so much fun driving this race car and it’s been a handful out here this weekend. Coming to a track where the conditions have changed drastically every single day I have to give a lot of credit to my crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Dan Hood and every single guy on my team. It was a Sunday morning race that turned into a Sunday 7 p.m. race, cooler track, we were able to get it done even with a lucky first-round win having to pedal it down there. Lost lane choice in the second round. Still were able to turn the win light on and get lane choice back and make it a little bit longer weekend. Having to run on a Monday makes for a long weekend, but it feels good to be in the winner’s circle with my team and celebrate for everyone at Chevy and all our partners.”

WHEN YOU’RE RACING A TEAMMATE IN THE FINAL, IS THERE A DIFFERENT MIND-SET?
“We were excited. We knew no matter what it was going to be an all-JFR final and him with his Auto Club car, Jimmy Prock and his guys had been solid all weekend. I honestly was a little bit shocked when we turned on that win light. They were right down there; I guess he spun the tires a little bit down track. I know that right lane is a little tricky, but it was a job well done by their team moving up in points and same by our team. You still have to go in there with that fight. He is one of the toughest drivers out here to compete against because he is so great on the line and you really have to be right there with him, otherwise you can lose the run for your team. So, I think we gave a pretty good side-by-side race at the launch and down track it ended up we were able to turn on that win light. They are a great team over there, so it feels good to be an all-Force final.

WHEN YOU ARE ON A ROLL LIKE YOU ARE NOW, YOU WANT TO RIDE IT AS LONG AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN RIGHT?
“Of course. This is a good spot to be in. Obviously, we need to find this consistency down at the end of the season too where it really matters. Once you lock into that Countdown that’s huge and you want to be in a top spot when you do lock in, but at the same time we have to find the same consistency that we have now down at the end of the season. It feels great right now, but we’re trying to stay confident and stay focused with the fact that we have to get this car running like this all season long if we want to end up with the championship trophy.”

DESCRIBE MORE ABOUT THAT FIRST ROUND WHEN YOU HAD TO PEDAL IT TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE
“It was nerve-racking. You go up there and obviously conditions are completely different. I could hear other cars smoking the tires and having to pedal, so you kind of have that mind-set knowing that you might have to do it and get after it and we did. I pedaled it, tried to keep it off the wall, straight down there and I had to pedal it about three times and the motor finally clicked off right as I was going through the finish line. Luckily, saw the win light come on and it felt pretty good.”

An interview with Pro Stock winner DERIC KRAMER, KRAMER RACING, AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first Pro Stock national event win; alliance with KB Racing):

TALK ABOUT YOUR FIRST CAREER VICTORY IN PRO STOCK
“It’s great. We’ve been working a long time for this and I have to thank all my sponsors that help us bring this all together. First win leaves me a little speechless. I’m looking for the next one.”

BEING ABLE TO BEAT ERICA ENDERS OFF THE TREE, HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
“It’s always good as a driver to know you’ve done your part. I’ve been doing that all weekend and that’s the best you can really ask for as a driver.”

DID IT SURPRISE YOU HOW WELL YOU RAN TO WREST THE POLE FROM ERICA?
“That seems to be our trend when we get that No. 1 on the second day. Surprising, and I think it always will be. There are five gears between me and the finish line. At the same time, I have a great team and great power from the KB guys. Putting this package together is really good.”

HOW WAS IT TO BE THE NO. 1 QUALIFIER FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SEASON?
“It was cool when I crossed the finish line and they radioed to me what I ran (in qualifications to claim his second low qualifier honor of the season), and I could hear everyone celebrating. I really have to thank all the American Ethanol and Poet people and all of our sponsors that help us get here. We pretty much made the decision that we were making good runs (in previous seasons) and we just didn’t have the power to compete, so we went out and found the power (from KB Racing).”

Additional quotes from Team Chevy NHRA drivers:

TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “I am proud of this team especially after this weekend. All the ups and downs and an eight-hour delay before first round. It is not easy to go up there. We made our best run of the weekend in first round. We really stepped up our game and thanks for Alan Johnson and Brian Husen. These Monster Energy guys were awesome and unfortunately in that second round the other guy got around us. Our day ended a lot earlier than we wanted. We will head home and be ready in two weeks for Chicago.”

FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Considering we qualified 14th and we got our act together on race day and got to the final I’m pleased with that. Really couldn’t lose when you have two Chevys in the final. Third runner-up of the year. We want to win. We’ll take the runner-up, but I also feel that we learned a lot and we’re going to be better from here out. I’m looking forward to four in a row, exciting about that and love racing every weekend. We’ll come to Chicago with the eye of the tiger and we’re going to win some races in the next four. We moved up to fourth (in points). We’re on the move.”

PRO STOCK:
VINCENT NOBILE, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “It was a very long day and I messed up (referring to red light). I feel bad for my teams and the fans who waited all day. It was a driver error, we no doubt have the car to beat, so we will bounce back and get after it in Chicago.”

TANNER GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “This wasn’t the weekend my team and I wanted to have. We were looking to turn on four win lights this race but we weren’t able to do that. My guys gave me a good car and my lights were good, they just weren’t enough to get the job done today. We’ll regroup and get things back on track for Chicago in a couple weeks.”

BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO GROUP CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “I’m just happy just to go a couple rounds right now, and that’s kind of how I looked at it last year. Go a few rounds, make it to some finals, and the points add up themselves. We’ve struggled this year for four or five races now, and I don’t know why, but we’ll get better. I’d like to win Topeka, it’s one I don’t have yet, but I’d like to get a win anywhere.”

DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO GROUP CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “We didn’t qualify well at No. 11 and the weather made it tough to get a handle on the track and car. We did have a close race with Greg Anderson in the second round and that gives us confidence heading into Chicago.”

JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “We haven’t been as good as we need to be, but we went in the right direction for sure with both of our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros. We brought the blue car back out this weekend, and we were just trying to figure out how to get it a little bit better. We still have a ways to go, but this was definitely a much better weekend in terms of performance for our cars. We’ll do some testing in the next couple of weeks before we start that next stretch of races, and I think we’ll be better yet.”