CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS
What: Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
When: Friday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 2
Where: Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations live at 11 a.m. ET, followed by FOX telecast at 1 p.m. September 2
Chevrolet drivers aim to ride momentum into Countdown
The ‘Big Go’ closes out regular season; Team Chevy has amassed 19 wins
DETROIT (August 28, 2019) – Prompting John Force to discuss the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals takes little effort. The 16-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car champion rides a breathless wave of the event’s history, his team’s victories and disappointments, and his relationship with longtime fans.
“That’s the granddaddy,” said the 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion who secured his NHRA record-extending 150th career Funny Car win this month at Seattle. “I’ve won it (four) times. Indy is always exciting, extra qualifying run, extra day to be in my Chevy Camaro hot rod.
“It’s the ‘Big Go,’ the world’s biggest drag race, and everyone wants to win it. It’s intense all the way to the end.”
The finale of the 18-race regular season carries a special 150% points payday as drivers in the four pro classes jockey for position – or attempt to qualify in the top 10 – for the six-race Countdown to the Championship. Team Chevy drivers in Funny Car, Top Fuel and Pro Stock have totaled 19 wins.
Force has been consistent all season (one win, one runner-up, eight semifinal appearances) to rank third in the championship standings, and he’ll debut a special livery at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis for the 65th annual event.
“Indy is special to me because we do a specialty car with Chevrolet Performance,” Force said. “It’s become a bit of a tradition. It would be exciting to win, get their specialty scheme in the winner’s circle, but I’d love to win it with any of my teams, Robert Hight, Brittany (Force) and Austin Prock. We’re all Chevy so no matter who wins, it’s a win for Chevy at the biggest race of the season.”
Hight enters the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals as the Funny Car points leader. He’s recorded a class-leading five wins and eight No. 1 qualifier honors in the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Brittany Force, driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster, is second in the Top Fuel standings as she seeks a second championship. Prock, a 24-year-old Top Fuel rookie, is eighth in the standings. Prock registered his first Top Fuel win at Seattle in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster.
Only one Pro Stock Countdown spot is in contention among Chevrolet drivers Kenny Delco, Fernando Cuadra and Val Smeland. Bo Butner, with four victories in the Jim Butner Auto Chevrolet Camaro SS, is the points leader.
The sixth of eight events in the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown will feature the Chevrolet COPO Camaro, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Entered in a COPO Camaro are 2017 series champion David Barton of Robesonia, Pennsylvania; Topeka winner Stephen Bell of Shreveport, Louisiana; Dustin Wheelock of Lafayette, Indiana; Kim Shirley of Springfield, Illinois; Clay Arnett of Hartsville, Indiana; Arthur Kohn of Richmond, Texas; Randy Taylor of Artesia, New Mexico; Leonard Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; L. Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; Doug Hamp of York, Pennsylvania; Jesse Alexandria of West Bend, Wisconsin; Bruno Massel Jr. of Elmhurst, Illinois; David Janac of Caldwell, Texas; David Kramer of Sterling, Colorado; Robert Falcone of Pleasant Valley, New York; Peter Gasko Jr. of Monroe Township, New Jersey; Kevin Lumsden of Caddo Mills, Texas; Ryan Priddy of Chino, California; Richard Bierie of Acworth, Georgia; and Terry Munroe of Beaver, Pennsylvania.
Entered in Super Stock competition in their COPO Camaros are Jeffery Myers of Decatur, Indiana; Vic Cagnazzi of New York City; Kevin Wildeman of Burton, Michigan; Richard Rinke of Oxford, Michigan; James Jeschke Jr. of Baden, Pennsylvania; James Reed of Lincoln, Illinois; L. Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois; Daniel Condon of Wilmington, Illinois; Michael Bryant of New Orleans; Brett Candies of Thibodaux, Louisiana; Phillip Giles of Flatonia, Texas; Tyler Cassil of Belton, Missouri; Todd Patterson of Augusta, Kansas; Jeff Bragg of Fort Myers, Florida; Jeff Strickland of Red Bay, Alabama; and Clarence Harding of Lowell, Indiana.
Driving their COPO Camaros in Stock Eliminator will be Jeff Taylor of Sellersburg, Indiana; Tim Lowe of Macy, Indiana; Jeff Lopez of Fort Worth, Texas; Robin Lawrence of Rockfield, Kentucky; Jim Boburka of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; Daniel Belles of Collegeville, Pennsylvania; Philip Lankford of Langhorne, Pennsylvania; Dan Fletcher of Churchville, New York; Marion Stephenson of Williamsport, Indiana; Tony Fagnilli of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; Bobby Brannon of Bossier City, Louisiana; Giles, Rinke, Cassil and Cagnazzi.
FS1 will telecast eliminations at 11 a.m. ET, followed by FOX telecast at 1 p.m. September 2.
Fans have the opportunity to tour the Chevrolet Performance display at the track, featuring 2020 production vehicles, engine displays, accessories and more. Plus, Chevrolet drivers will sign autographs. The lineup: 1 p.m. August 31 – John Force, Brittany Force, Robert Hight and Austin Prock. 3:15 p.m. August 31 and 3 p.m. September 1 – Warren Johnson.
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (2017 class champion; five-time No. 1 qualifier; won at Houston; runner-up at Las Vegas and Atlanta; second in points): “We had a good weekend at the last event in Brainerd. Got the green hat, a place in the Countdown and had some impressive runs. We were beat on reaction time in Round 2 so that was hard, but I just need to get my head in the game. We stayed and tested in Brainerd and after testing and learning a few things, the Advance Auto Parts team is looking forward to the biggest race of the season, the U.S. Nationals.”
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (won first Top Fuel race at Seattle; eighth in points): ““Coming off a win like we had in Seattle, we’ve just been really confident and we showed that in Brainerd. We had another good race weekend and went the semis, and we’ll keep pushing and going after it the rest of the season. My team stayed in Brainerd and got some testing in and the car ran really good. Mike Green and Ronnie Thompson were really happy with it and I’m ready to show what we learned. We’re ready to get this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist hot rod back in the winner’s circle. I’m itching to get back in the seat at the U.S. Nationals this weekend. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid and I can’t wait to get the weekend started.”
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’ve never gone into the Countdown No. 1. You know, it’s 30 points, and once the Countdown starts, every point is going to matter. I lost the championship in 2007 by 19 points, so to go into the Countdown No. 1, its ours to lose, I guess. If you don’t mess up, it’s yours. I’m proud of my guys for that. I’m proud of the first part of the season getting five wins and all the No. 1 qualifiers. Five wins is the most I’ve ever had in a season and I’m going to make a prediction right now that I’m going to need eight or nine to win the championship so that’s going to be a stellar year for the Auto Club Chevrolet.”
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (recorded 150th class win at Seattle; two-time No. 1 qualifier this season; eight-time semifinalist; four-time winner of event): “Indy is our racing headquarters. It’s where our shops are and our employees can come to the race and see what they’ve created. They get to come out and take some real pride in what they do for John Force Racing. That makes it even more special. Robert (Hight) has a huge lead and I don’t think anybody can catch him, but there’s points-and-a-half at Indy, so I’m not conceding anything. I’ve won it a few times. (Crew chiefs) Brian Corradi and Danny Hood and (car chief) Tim Fabrisi have given me a good hot rod so we’ll see if we can win it again.”
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): “This is our home track, and to get a win – or maybe even double up with the Showdown car and the Pro Stock Camaro – would just be awesome. It’s something you dream of, but it’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of luck. I’m confident, like always, but a win here would be very special for us.”
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (has two wins and runner-up in past four races; six-time winner and five-time No. 1 qualifier in event; second in points): “You’d like to be the No. 1 seed going into the Countdown to the Championship, and it’s certainly possible. We fell off the horse a little bit there in Brainerd with my red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, but Indy is very special for us. It’s been a very good race for me, and I love it there, I just love it. None of the magic of Indy is lost for me, so this is a big one. It’s one I look forward to all year, and to do well there and close out the regular season on a high note means everything.”
JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier and winner at Brainerd; two-time No. 1 qualifier in event; fourth in points): “You’d like to think that the momentum could carry on into the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, but the truth is that one little event can change everything. It’s a tough sport, and right now, everybody is so equal – there is no margin for error. You have to have a little bit of luck as well, and I had that in Brainerd. You just hope that carries on. But all of that is what makes it so special when you win. It’s a big deal going to Indy with at least one win for the season. We might not be able to get into the Countdown in the top spot, but you want to be near the top. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner of event): “Indy offers points and a half and I know these Elite guys are ready to capitalize. We’ve had some ups and downs since our win earlier this year in Phoenix but at this point the car is running very well, my driving has been good, and the crew is clicking. Any rung we can climb on the ladder before the playoffs start is to our advantage. The points reset after this race and we’ll all be bunched up again so the goal is to put your best foot forward from here on in and see if you can’t make something happen. We want to win this race. We want to be U.S. Nationals champions again. We have everything we need to get it done and we’re anxious to get started.”