CHEVROLET AT JOLIET

What: Route 66 NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 2
Where: Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 5:30 p.m. ET June 2

Chevrolet teams, drivers enter four-in-a-row race stretch
Team Chevy seeks to continue momentum in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock

DETROIT (May 29, 2019) – A stretch of four consecutive National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event weekends, starting with the 22nd Route 66 NHRA Nationals, will push Chevrolet drivers to retain their winning ways.

Current Funny Car points leader Robert Hight won at the track for the first time in June 2018 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, while Jeg Coughlin prevailed in Pro Stock in his JEGS.com/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS.

The first leg of the rigorous calendar marks the ninth event for Chevrolet Top Fuel and Funny Car in their 24-race season. Chevrolet Pro Stock drivers will be competing in the sixth of 18 races in that class. Bo Butner, driving the Jim Butner Auto Sales Chevrolet Camaro SS, has four of the five races contested.
Hight entered race day at last year’s Route 66 NHRA Nationals as the No. 12 qualifier, but quickly dispatched challengers to drive his Camaro to the winner’s circle for their first time in the 2018 season. The event proved to be a turning point for the 2017 Funny Car champion as he won three more races and challenged for a title repeat until the final race.

“We didn’t get this thing in the winner’s circle at Virginia, but we left with even more of a points lead so I’m happy with that and with the work my Auto Club guys put in,” said Hight, who already has three wins this season. “The track was hot, and we haven’t really seen that since we were in Bristol last year, so going to the next race where we’ll have similar weather, we’ll have some data behind us. Chicago is the first of our four in a row and I’m looking forward to getting back in the driver’s seat.”

Hight and Funny Car teammate John Force (PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS) will face a crowded field of 19 entries for the 16 available spots in eliminations. Likewise, Brittany Force, who is second in Top Fuel points driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster, and Austin Prock (Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster) have 21 entries in their class.

The fuel dragster count is one of the largest in nearly five years, and it’s the first time since the final events of 2016 that the nitro car count has reached 40.
Pro Stock entries have reached 19 for the 16 spots. Five-time Pro Stock world champion Coughlin notched his sixth victory at Route 66 Raceway last June. He’ll look to extend that count and pick up his second win of 2019.

Stock Eliminator entries driving their Chevrolet COPO Camaros are 2017 class champion Justin Lamb of Henderson, Nevada; Jeff Taylor of Sellersburg, Indiana; Jeff Lopez of Fort Worth, Texas; Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama; James Reed of Lincoln, Illinois; Marion Stephenson of Williamsport, Indiana; Tony Fagnilli of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; L. Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; Jay Randall of Maple Grove, Minnesota; and Al Corda of Elk Mound, Wisconsin.

Entered in Super Stock competition in their Chevrolet COPO Camaros are Richard Rinke of Oxford, Michigan; Jeffrey Tietz of Spring Grove, Illinois; and Clarence Harding of Lowell, Indiana.

Fans can tour the Chevrolet Performance Display at the track, featuring new production vehicles – including the Blazer RS, Corvette Grand Sport and Silverado RST – and Chevrolet accessories. Fans can also meet John Force Racing drivers Robert Hight and Austin Prock at 2:30 p.m. June 1.
FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 5:30 p.m. ET June 2.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (2017 class champion; two-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Houston; runner-up at Las Vegas and Atlanta; second in points): “We made some good passes in Richmond and qualified No. 3 but we didn’t get it done on race day. That’s OK though because we learned a lot in the hot conditions we had and are confident going into the next race. It was good to have a weekend off and I’m ready to get to Chicago to start the four in a row. We never won the thing, but we’ve had some luck there in the past. I think that weekend in Richmond definitely helped get us prepared for these hot races, hot racetracks that we’re going into the next few races.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (Making ninth start): “This Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team had a great first weekend with my new crew chief Mike Green. We made great progress and Mike, the new crew guys, and Ronnie Thompson all put in work to get this thing down the track. It was hot out there and they all worked hard. I think we’re headed in the right direction. I’m confident we can go at it again in Chicago.”

FUNNY CAR:

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT 7 MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2017 class champion; class points leader; has won three races; won at track in 2018; holds track Funny Car elapsed time and speed records): “I’m excited to get back to Chicago. I got my first win at the facility there last year and I want to get back in that winner’s circle again this year. This team and Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham have put so much into this car, so winning this again and getting our fourth win of the season would be a great way to kick-off these back-to-back races.”

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT AND MOTOR OIL/HERCULINER CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; two-time No. 1 qualifier this season; three-time winner at track): “It’s always good to come back to Chicago. Lots of history here and lots of support from PEAK and all the people at Old World Industries. It’s a good racetrack and I’ve got a good race car. Bottom line, we keep putting ourselves in a position to win. I’m getting more confident every week. I’m using every trick I’ve got to run with these kids but it’s gonna happen.”

PRO STOCK:

BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has won four of the five races and two-time No. 1 qualifier; 2017 series champion): “We’re a few races into the regular season, and as it stands, we have a good enough car to win the championship – but to have a real shot at it at the end, you really have to be as good as we were in Richmond every day. Pro Stock is tough, and there are a lot of other racers who are going to win this year. But so far, we’re right there with them. It’s fun to go racing right now, and we’ll be busy in Chicago. I like our chances.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 805 round victories; runner-up in last race; holds track Pro Stock speed record): “After getting to the final in Richmond and walking away empty handed, I’m ready for a re-run. We did a good job as a team at the last race, especially on a hot and greasy racetrack, so I think that’s going to set us up for some very good racing these next few weeks. My Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was the best it’s been all year, and I feel like it just keeps getting better. We have to close the deal on race day, that’s all there is to it.”

JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier in last race; three-time winner at track): “Chicago is one of those places where weather can be an interesting variable, but it’s a great facility and we like racing there. It’s a special place for me, and if everything goes as we hope, we’ll have another Team Summit final round. This race is the start of four in a row and having a good race in Chicago would be a very good beginning to this stretch.”