CHEVROLET AT NORWALK
What: Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23
Where: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals at 6:30 p.m. ET June 23
Chevrolet seeks to add to victory total at Norwalk
Top Fuel and Funny Car completing four consecutive weeks of racing
DETROIT (June 20, 2019) – Chevrolet Pro Stock drivers return to National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) action this weekend in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
The event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park will be the seventh of 18 races for drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS, who have swept low qualifier honors and visited the winner’s circle each race. Bo Butner, the 2017 NHRA Pro Stock champion driving the Jim Butner Auto Camaro SS, has won four events and leads the championship standings by a comfortable margin.
KB Racing teammate and four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg
Anderson, who has registered three victories in five final-round appearances at the track, was the No. 1 qualifier in the last race June 2 at Route 66 Raceway.
“My Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was fast in Chicago, and we’re excited to get to Summit Motorsports Park this weekend,” said Anderson, who’s second all-time in NHRA Pro Stock victories with 91. “We’ve got some momentum and worked hard over the past two weeks to make our cars even better. I knew what I needed to work on, personally, leaving Chicago, and I’ve been doing that. I feel good going into this race, I feel like we’re prepared, and I feel like if Mother Nature plays nice, we have a good chance on Sunday.”
With his runner-up finish last week at Bristol, Tennessee, John Force moved to second behind teammate Robert Hight in the Funny Car standings. Hight, driving the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, has four wins to pace the field.
“I’ve got confidence, not just in my car – my car has always been good with (crew chiefs) Brian Corradi and Danny Hood, but I have confidence in me,” said Force, who claimed his third No. 1 qualifier honor of the season and NHRA record-extending 158th of his career.
In 2018, Force did not climb higher than seventh in points.
“I’ve had to make a lot of changes myself (and) I’ve found out a lot of stuff,” said the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, who will be driving the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Camaro SS. “I’ve said it before, I’m in the game. That (150th) win is coming.”
Brittany Force (Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster) and Austin Prock (Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster) are looking to go rounds this weekend in the Top Fuel class.
Stephen Bell, who drove a Chevrolet COPO Camaro to victory in the fourth round of the SAM Tech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown two weeks ago at Kansas, leads the field for this weekend’s event. Bell, of Shreveport, Louisiana, defeated Arthur Kohn in an all-COPO Camaro final with an event-best pass of 7.908 seconds at 174.12 mph.
Both are entered in the fifth of eight events. Also entered in their COPO Camaros are Randy Taylor of Artesia, New Mexico; Leonard Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; David Barton of Robesonia, Pennsylvania; L. Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; Doug Hamp of York, Pennsylvania; Waldemar Rodriguez of Cidra, Puerto Rico; David Janac of Caldwell, Texas; David Kramer of Sterling, Colorado; Robert Falcone of Pleasant Valley, New York; James Jeschke Jr. of Barden, Pennsylvania; Peter Gasko Jr. of Monroe Township, New Jersey; Kevin Lumsden of Caddo Mills, Texas; Ryan Priddy of Chino, California; and Terry Munroe of Beaver, Pennsylvania.
Because of recent significant rainfall, some pit areas of Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park are not fit for use this weekend, so Super Stock and Stock Eliminator among other classes will be rescheduled.
FS1 will telecast taped eliminations and finals at 6:30 p.m. ET June 23.
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): “We had an early day at Bristol and lost round one, so this Advance Auto Parts team made the decision to stay behind and test. We spent all day Monday testing and made four half-track passes to figure this car out and I feel like we’re in a better position going into Norwalk. David Grubnic and Mac Savage, they’re positive after that test session we had. All my guys are feeling good so that gives me confidence going forward. We’re all ready to get to Norwalk and see what this team can do. We’re hoping to get this thing in the top of the field and make some good passes at qualifying and on race day. We only have one win under our belt this year, so we’re ready to get back in that winners circle and I’m hoping it comes this weekend.”
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (Making 12th start; No. 3 qualifier at Kansas, a career best, and advanced to semifinals for first time): “Not the race day result we wanted in Bristol but overall it was still a good weekend. We made four consistent runs during qualifying where a lot of people struggled. Those four consecutive runs were good for us, it gives us something to keep building off of. That’s a positive and something we can take with us into this weekend. I’m excited to get out to Norwalk. I tested there in Funny Car last season and we always make a trip to their Night Under Fire later in the summer. With how this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster is running, it should be a good time. Hopefully we’ll put on a good show through to race day and go some rounds to get into that winner’s circle.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2017 class champion; class points leader; has won four races and has six No. 1 qualifier honors): “I’m really proud of this Auto Club team. We didn’t make it to the winner’s circle in Bristol but Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, they’re working hard to set us up for the rest of the season. We’ll keep going rounds and get the job done. We’ve had a really great season. We’re sitting in the points lead, have been all season, and I’m not worried. These guys know this car and we’ll get where we want to be. When the Countdown comes around is what really matters. We’re heading to Norwalk, it’s the last of the four in a row and I’m ready to get there. The best thing about these back-to-back races is not having too much time out of the driver’s seat, so I’m feeling good and hoping to go rounds on race day. We’ve never won this race, but we’ve finished runner-up before and we’ve qualified well, so I’m excited.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL/BLUEDEF CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; two-time No. 1 qualifier this season; six-time semifinalist; nine-time winner at track): “I’ve got confidence. Not just in my car – my car has always been good with (crew chiefs) Brian Corradi and Danny Hood, but I have confidence in me. I’ve had to make a lot of changes myself (and) I’ve found out a lot of stuff. I’ve been going to doctors, got special glasses (and been) working on eating habits (trying to) get off that sugar. I’ve said it before, I’m in the game. That (150th) win is coming.”
PRO STOCK:
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has won four of the six races and two-time No. 1 qualifier; 2017 series champion; won at Norwalk in 2017; first in points): “I’m ready to get back in these cars and have some fun.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three wins in five final rounds at Norwalk; No. 1 qualifier and semifinalist in most recent event; fifth in points): “My Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was fast in Chicago, and we’re excited to get to Summit Motorsports Park this weekend. We’ve got some momentum and worked hard over the past two weeks to make our cars even better. I knew what I needed to work on, personally, leaving Chicago, and I’ve been doing that. I feel good going into this race, I feel like we’re prepared, and I feel like if Mother Nature plays nice, we have a good chance on Sunday.”
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner at Norwalk; has been to 100 Pro Stock final rounds; fourth in points): “This is for sure one of our favorite races. The folks at Summit Racing Equipment always roll out the red carpet for us, and it’s an honor to race for them here at their event at Summit Motorsports Park. Our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros were good in Chicago, but we can be better. We spent a lot of time between races working on a few things, because there is no better way to thank the people who support us than by getting them a trophy on Sunday. We haven’t yet shown what we’re capable of this year, and I see this weekend as a perfect opportunity to do that.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Phoenix): “I think we’re all anxious for summer to finally get here and normally the conditions at the Norwalk race are more conducive to eating ice cream than anything else. It’s been very rainy and cooler this spring, even lately, which is unusual this far into June, so if the NHRA visiting our state can turn the tide, I’m all for it. We’re looking to qualify well and contend once again for the No. 1 starting spot. And we’re very anxious to see some win lights come Sunday so we can put ourselves in position to win again.”