CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS PRESENTED BY MONTIES
HEARTLAND MOTORSPORTS PARK IN TOPEKA, KANSAS
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018
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 back to back wins, 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.”
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.”
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.”