CHEVROLET AT SEATTLE
What: Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, Aug. 2-Sunday, Aug. 4
Where: Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington
TV: FOX will telecast eliminations and finals live at 4 p.m. ET August 4
Chevrolet drivers look to finish strong on Western Swing
Greg Anderson seeks to complete Pro Stock sweep; John Force aims for 150
DETROIT (July 31, 2019) – Four-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson waited a year until visiting the winner’s circle July 21 for the 92nd time in his career.
He backed up the victory in Denver with a win at sea level July 28 at Sonoma, California, and now the KB Racing driver of the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS is aiming to complete an uncommon sweep of the Western Swing.
That history marker could be engraved this weekend at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington, the site of the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Nationals. In 2004, Anderson became the first, and only, Pro Stock driver to accomplish the feat.
“I’m eager to race there and see if the cards fall the right way again,” said Anderson, who has three wins and a pair of runner-up finishes at the track. “I had a lot of luck in Sonoma, we didn’t make any big mistakes, and I found my way to the winner’s circle. Hopefully, we can do that again this week for the sweep.”
Drivers who have completed the Western Swing sweep of Denver, Sonoma and Seattle:
Joe Amato, 1991, Top Fuel
John Force, 1994, Funny Car
Cory McClenathan, 1997, Top Fuel
Larry Dixon, 2003, Top Fuel
Greg Anderson, 2004, Pro Stock
Tony Schumacher, 2008, Top Fuel
Antron Brown, 2009, Top Fuel
Funny Car points leader Robert Hight is also looking to keep momentum flowing through the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. At Sonoma, Hight became the 13th professional driver in NHRA history to win 50 times. Hight equaled his single-season highs for final rounds (7) and victories (5).
“It’s a milestone. I mean, if you look at the guys that have raced Funny Car there are a lot of big names, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, the guys that when I was a kid I watched on TV and they don’t have 50 wins in a Funny Car. That’s amazing,” Hight said. “It’s hard to believe.”
Teammate John Force will aim to reach the 150-win milestone in his decorated career this weekend. Force, who is third in Funny Car points in the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, is an eight-time semifinalist this season. He’s also an eight-time winner at the track.
Brittany Force, who reset the Sonoma Raceway Top Fuel track speed record and recorded the category’s fastest speed of the season (335.15 mph) in the Carquest Brakes Chevrolet dragster, and teammate Austin Prock, driving the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, will seek strong efforts as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series steams toward the close of the regular season at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals (Aug. 30-Sept. 2) and the Countdown to the Championship.
Jeff Lane of North Bend, Washington; Andrew Morris of Olympia, Washington; Tommy Gaynor of Vancouver, Washington; Daria Kramer of Sterling, Colorado; and Justin Lamb of Henderson, Nevada, will drive their Chevrolet COPO Camaros in Stock Eliminator competition.
Kirsten Ball of Anchorage, Alaska, and Kevin Seipel of Pleasanton, California, are entered in Super Stock in their COPO Camaros.
FOX will telecast eliminations and finals live at 4 p.m. ET August 4.
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, CARQUEST BRAKES CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (2017 class champion; four-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Houston; runner-up at Las Vegas and Atlanta; fourth in points): “This Carquest Brakes team made some consistent runs in Sonoma, so that gave us a confidence boost for this next one. We put up a career-best speed of 335 mph and I’m just really happy with this team. We got beat second round, but we really turned this car around in Denver and now Sonoma and looking to do the same this weekend in Seattle. My guys are working hard, and David Grubnic and Mac Savage really know what they’re doing to make this thing get down the racetrack. These back-to-back races are good too because it gets me back in the driver’s seat faster so I’m excited to see what we can make happen.”
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 3 qualifier at Kansas, a career best, and advanced to semifinals for first time): “We made some good, competitive runs in Sonoma last weekend and we got back in the top 10 points, so I’m happy with the progress we’ve made and are continuing to make. Mike Green and Ronnie Thompson and everyone on my team turned this car around and I’m looking forward to jumping right back in this weekend in Seattle and go some rounds. We want to get this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist hot rod in the winner’s circle, and I feel like it’s coming. I’m excited about Seattle. It’ll be my first time racing there and we have some good data from the runs we made in Sonoma. I think we’re going to start finding some consistency in this Top Fuel dragster and I’m hoping that shows this weekend.”
FUNNY CAR:
ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (2017 class champion; class points leader; has won five races and has eight No. 1 qualifier honors): “I went to the finals here in my rookie season; we always seem to do well in qualifying and I think I’ve only had a handful of early Sunday exits. Right now, with this Auto Club Chevy and the way this team is working hard, we are right where we want to be. The Countdown isn’t far away so now isn’t the time to let up, it’s the time to really get ourselves together to make a run for another championship. I’m excited to see how we close out this Western Swing.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has 149 class victories; two-time No. 1 qualifier this season; eight-time semifinalist; eight-time winner at track): “I have a great race car and a great team. 150 is going to happen. I just have to keep doing my job and going rounds.”
PRO STOCK:
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, JIM BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has four wins and two-time No. 1 qualifier; 2017 series champion; first in points): “I’ve been good in Seattle before, but Greg (Anderson, KB Racing teammate) is two out of the last two. He’s on a little bit of a roll even though he hasn’t had the best car. Things are going his way, which is good for our KB Racing team, and I’m really happy with my Jim Butner Auto Group Chevy Camaro. We’re one and two in points, and if we can get Jason (Line) up there to third, we’ll have a good head start going into the Countdown.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has won past two races; three-time winner at track; second in points): “Winning the last two weeks in a row proves to me that I can still do this. It’s so much fun, and I’ve been reminded these last two weeks why I do it. It’s just fantastic, and I’m going to Seattle with a smile on my face. I’m eager to race there and see if the cards fall the right way again. I had a lot of luck in Sonoma, we didn’t make any big mistakes, and I found my way to the winner’s circle. Hopefully, we can do that again this week for the sweep.”
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has been to 100 Pro Stock final rounds; three-time winner at track): “I had a couple of good runs in Sonoma, and my silver Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is really good. I was excited for Sunday last weekend, and things didn’t go as I’d hoped for my car, but Team Summit got the win, and that’s a good feeling. Seattle has been good for me. I’m looking forward to heading north.”