CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
SONOMA RACEWAY IN SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
POST-QUALIFYING RECAP, NOTES AND QUOTES
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018
Chevrolet Harvests Funny Car, Pro Stock Low Qualifier Honors in Wine Country
• Courtney Force claims 10th Funny Car No. 1 qualifier of season
• Greg Anderson ties Bob Glidden for third on all-time low qualifier list
• Brittany Force checks in at No. 5 in Top Fuel qualifications
• John Force marks 750th Funny Car race – 174 with Chevrolet
SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2018) – Courtney Force continued her march to the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car single-season No. 1 qualifier record, while Greg Anderson ascended to being listed with the career record-holders during qualifications for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Force recorded her 10th low qualifier honor in 15 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, including four of the past five, with a pass of 3.910 seconds at 326.16 mph in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS. The class record is 13 set by her father, John Force, in 19 races in 1996.
“The credit is owed to my entire Advance Auto Parts Chevy, every single crew guy who has been working on that car doing such an incredible and consistent job, especially (co-crew chiefs) Brian Corradi and Dan Hood,” said Force, the Funny Car points leader who will seek her class-leading fifth victory of the season July 29 at Sonoma Raceway. “It’s been a lot of fun for me to drive. They have that thing dialed in. We’re looking to come back this weekend and hopefully end up in the winner’s circle.”
Anderson, driving the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS, registered his ninth Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier of the season and 102nd of his 20-year career to tie Bob Glidden for third on the NHRA all-time list of Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock competitors. John Force leads the way with 155 and Warren Johnson is second with 138.
“(Glidden is) obviously an idol, a hero of mine. It’s a heck of an honor. He was a great racer and I don’t even want to consider myself to the level of that guy,” said Anderson, who led a KB Racing sweep of the top four spots with a pass of 6.515 seconds at 211.16 mph. “If it ends up at the end of my racing career that I beat some of those records would be great but right now I’m not thinking about that. I’m just in the moment and looking forward to Sunday.”
Anderson, who picked up his 91st career win last week, will aim for his sixth win at Sonoma Raceway. Jason Line (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS), who was runner-up to Anderson at Bandimere Speedway in the first leg of the three-race Western Swing, was the No. 2 qualifier. Deric Kramer (American Ethanol Chevrolet Camaro SS) was third and reigning Pro Stock champion Bo Butner (Jim Butner Auto Group) was fourth.
Brittany Force, the reigning Top Fuel champion, qualified fifth in the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster with a best run of 3.752 seconds (328.78 mph).
Reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight (Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS), who set the Funny Car national speed record of 339.87 mph at the track last year, was the No. 11 qualifier. John Force (PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS) qualified ninth.
FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals live at 4 p.m. ET July 29.
John Force: 750 races and going strong
The fire, according to John Force, has been rekindled.
The 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion earned the 149th victory of his distinguished career — the first in 16 months — July 22 at Bandimere Speedway in suburban Denver.
“I told the guys, ‘You get me to the starting line and I’ll do the rest. I did my job and things went right,” said Force, who this weekend is competing in his 750th career NHRA Funny Car race. “I found some motivation on that hill.”
Force, driving the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, has competed in 174 races with Chevrolet and 160 with GM brands Pontiac and Oldsmobile. Sixty-nine of his victories, including his first on June 28, 1987, at Montreal, and six of his championships have been attained with the Bowtie brand, Pontiac and Oldsmobile.
“Chevrolet is proud of John Force for his 750th career start during his iconic NHRA Funny Car driving career,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Our company has forged a successful relationship with John since his first elimination round in 1978 and 14 seasons overall. He is an incredible ambassador for the sport and for Chevy. We simply love John’s passion for racing, for the fans and for winning. He is as driven today as he was at the beginning of his career.”
In his NHRA-record 1,881 elimination rounds, which includes 1,303 wins, Force has beaten 137 different drivers. He’s scored 21 round wins at the expense of daughters Ashley and Courtney, and another 22 against John Force Racing teammate/president Robert Hight. Force has won at least one Funny Car race for the past 31 years.
He owns additional records, which attest to his resiliency and resolve over four decades of motorsports competition, but the flattering numbers have never been – and never will be — a personal goal. At 69 years, 3 months old – the oldest winner in NHRA history — he wants to continue contributing to the sport both on and off the track.
“I want to be in the game until it’s time to get out, and Denver proved to me it isn’t time,” he said. “I still love driving these cars. Nobody wants to win more than me. When I get in that car, I find this thing in my gut and I’m alive.”
Season winding down for Justin Lamb in Chevy COPO Camaro
Reigning NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Stock Eliminator champion Justin Lamb, driving a 2018 Chevrolet COPO Camaro, said he plans to compete in four more national events this season.
He fell in the third round of eliminations at Sonoma Raceway. Lamb, 30, who was also the 2017 Super Stock champion in his 2010 Chevy Cobalt, is a business analyst for the City of Henderson (Nevada), which offers a four-day work week that allows him to travel to NHRA division and national events.
Lane Goldstein of Woodland Hills, California, was the No. 5 qualifier of 48 Stock Eliminator entries and recorded the top speed at 161.05 mph in qualifications in his ’17 Chevy COPO Camaro. Hell fell in the first round of eliminations. Brian Brossart of Williston, North Dakota, was the No. 16 qualifier of 34 Super Stock entries. He lost in the second round.
An interview with Funny Car No. 1 qualifier COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (10th low qualifier of the season, which is three off the NHRA Funny Car single-season record; has four wins this season; class points leader):
THIS WAS YOUR TENTH NO. 1 QUALIFIER OF THE SEASON. TALK ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM
“It’s been huge. The credit is owed to my entire Advance Auto Parts team, every single crew guy who has been working on that race car doing such an incredible and consistent job on it, especially (co-crew chiefs) Brian Corradi and Dan Hood. It’s been a lot of fun for me to drive. They have that thing dialed in. We had a great number in Q2 yesterday that took us to that top spot. We were looking to improve today or at least have a little more consistency but struggled a little bit. The tire was slipping in Q3 and dropped a hole simultaneously that tried to shoot me over to the wall. I was able to keep it off and looking have a better run in Q4. We didn’t get it but were still able to take that top spot, which feels pretty good especially for our 10th this season, which is pretty incredible. This is exactly how we would like to go into the second race of the (Western) Swing.”
IT’S FUN WHEN YOU’RE ON A ROLL LIKE THAT
“Of course it is. When we feel like we’ve got the car figured out and have everything together I think we were looking for a little more consistency in qualifying. I think it’s there. Our numbers are there looking at the early times of our car down the track. We just have to figure out a little ways down. I know my guys have a handle on things. I have a lot of faith in them that we’ll be OK on race day tomorrow. We have a tough first-round matchup with Del Worsham. They have a good car over there. We’re going to have to bring it to the table and get this thing figured out. We had it running good in the cool conditions. Tomorrow, we’ll have to figure it out in the heat. We’ll be ready for it, we’re excited and just happy for my team.”
HAS YOUR MENTALITY SHIFTED SINCE YOU CLINCHED A SPOT IN THE COUNTDOWN?
“No, mentality doesn’t change whether we’re locked into the Countdown to the Championship or not. We still have the same goal each and every time we come out here. We’re looking for those bonus points throughout the qualifying runs and we only got a few this week. We were hoping to do a little bit better but the most important things is going into race day. It’s how we finish the weekend and we’re hoping to finish it strong. We had a pretty good outing over in Denver until my dad took us out. He did a great job with his team. He was on fire all day and I was happy to see him get that win at the end of the day. We’re looking to come back this weekend and hopefully end up in the winner’s circle here. I’ve won this race before with my team and it would be really awesome. I’ve told Brittany (Force) this is the one we would really love to double up at because of our love of wine country.”
An interview with Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (ninth low qualifier of season and 102nd of career, tying Bob Glidden for third on the all-time NHRA list; has 91 career Pro Stock wins, including five at Sonoma Raceway; class points leader):
YOU’VE TIED BOB GLIDDEN FOR THIRD ALL TIME WITH 102 NO. 1 QUALIFIERS. YOUR THOUGHTS?
“I didn’t know that. That’s wild. He’s obviously an idol, a hero of mine. He was a great racer and I don’t even want to consider myself to the level of that guy. I’ve looked up to him all my life. I think everyone in Pro Stock looked up to that guy and learned a lot from him. We wouldn’t have this great class if it wasn’t for him. It’s a heck of an honor. If it ends up at the end of my racing career that I beat some of those records would be great but right now I’m not thinking about that. I’m just in the moment. You just don’t know when you’ll get another No. 1 qualifier and aren’t guaranteed another win. I don’t take it for granted. You never know if your last win is your last win. But I’m going to try.”
DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO GO BACK IN TIME AND RACE BOB GLIDDEN?
“I’m sure I would have got my butt whipped. He was a made dog; he was the man. We all learned from him. If I was trying to race with him, he definitely would have dominated just like he did. He taught us all how to race. The guy was not only a great racer, he had that killer instinct. He just flat knew many ways how to get it done. It’s realizing what you have to do to get to the top. You can’t take that away from him and why I respect him. He probably didn’t get to the top by being the smartest but by hard work. I don’t consider myself to be the smartest person out here but just try to work as hard as I can and race as hard as I can.”
WAS HE THAT FAR AHEAD OF HIS TIME?
“He was ahead in the way he raced and the things he did and thought. We all learned from him. He set the framework and he showed everybody how to get it done, and now we’re trying to take it to different levels.”
DOES BEING THE NO. 1 QUALIFIER GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE?
“Getting the low qualifier award on Saturday doesn’t make you the favorite on Sunday. We have so much parity in this class being the No. 1 qualifier means you have a few thousandths over the next guy. A couple of years ago when the new rules package was announced everything tightened up. It was designed to create more parity and it has absolutely has done that. There is just not a lot of room to work on the engine package anymore. I guarantee that the top 12 cars in this class are within five horsepower. With that, you’ve got to find a better way to tune your car because there is zero room for error. This class is the ultimate challenge in racing and that’s why we do it.”
A KB RACING SWEEP OF THE TOP FOUR IN QUALIFYING SEEMS TO HAVE BROUGHT OUT MORE SMILES
“A win always seems to feed more into better performance down the road. It makes the guys want to work harder and feel better about it. Attitude means everything in this game because all these cars are so close. You have to have a positive attitude and right now we have it, so let’s see how far we can ride it.”
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 5 qualifier): “We had one good run yesterday, a solid pass at 3.75 that got us up to No. 5. Killer run for us in optimum conditions. Today was a little bit different. Conditions are closer to what Sunday, race day, will look like. We struggled to get down there but we’re going in with a good attitude. Tomorrow is a whole new race day with PEAK Auto and we’re looking to get them in the winners’ circle.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 11 qualifier): “Nowhere near the zip code we want to be in. First run today we tried some things that didn’t work. Second run, dropped a cylinder. (Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) believes the power is there. We’ve just got to get the clutch right. We have a tough opponent first round and we better get it right. End of story.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 9 qualifier): “I’ve got a good race car. We found the problem today. Our choke was stuck. We changed the blower on it. And, boy, it ran an .02 like nothing. She’ll run in the threes. We’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
PRO STOCK:
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 2 qualifier): “It’s hard to get the performance of the driver and performance of the car lined up. The car is definitely getting better and we’re happy. We’re 1-2-3-4, so that’s not bad. It gives everyone confidence.”
DERIC KRAMER, KRAMER RACING, AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 3 qualifier): “We’re running really well. We’re trying to make the best runs we can every week. We’re on the better side of that recently. Typically, I struggle the week after we get done with Denver because everything there is so much slower and my timing is off. This year, I didn’t test so I feel really confident, especially since we’ve made so many runs at the rest of the tracks this year. I’m getting a good feel for what it’s like to be a full-time racer.”
BO BUTNER, BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO GROUP CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 4 qualifier): “The car has been good and this (qualifying effort) has been better than the last 12. We made the first three really consistent, fast runs. That last one we played it safe and we can’t do that tomorrow. My confidence is way up. For whatever reason, we seem to do well out West, even in my Sportsman cars. I can’t really tell you why, but it’s awesome. I’ve been to the final round in Sonoma the last two years, and I’d be happy for a win. You always want to close the deal – especially if you’ve raced for as long as I have, you want to win at every track you go to.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 5 qualifier): “The Pro Stock car is running really well. We were low for the session in Q4 and that always gets us fired up going into race day. It’s all about execution now for four rounds. You have to win the first one to get to the second. I’m looking forward to the day. We have a great game plan and a new motor under the hood that we’re just fine-tuning. We’re looking to put out Chevy Camaro in the winner’s circle.”
TANNER GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 6 qualifier): “I think we’re a lot faster than we showed on the (chart). We’ve struggled a bit in qualifying but I’d rather have a fast car on race day. I think we’ll be good tomorrow. The car is doing what we want it to and we all feel really good about it. Everyone on this team works together great and we’re more than capable of winning a championship. But it’s going to come down to who’s going to be the most consistent. There’s 8-9 other guys who are capable of winning the championship, so it’s going to come down to who’s got the most consistent car and driver combination.”
ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE/ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 7 qualifier): “We have a consistent, decent race car. It’s not the fastest on the property. Sunday is a different day for everyone. Conditions will be a lot like (Saturday afternoon qualifying). My money is always on us. I have a great team around me and I have a fast hot rod. If I can do the job behind the wheel there’s no reason we can’t drive to the winner’s circle.”
DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO GROUP CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 8 qualifier): “I haven’t been driving very well for a while now and it bothers me. I’ve been chasing my tail. My shift points haven’t been sharp and my lights haven’t been great either. It’s bad because we’ve made a ton of runs so you’d think I’d be sharp but I’m just in a slump right now.”
CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACING, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 9 qualifier): “Nine must be our favorite number. We haven’t run as good as we’ve wanted. We’ve tried a bunch of different engines to see which one is the best and they seem to run all the same. We’re working at it.”