CHEVROLET AT DENVER

What:
38th Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
When:
Friday, July 21-Sunday, July 23
Where:
Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado
TV:
FOX: Eliminations and finals live – 3 p.m. ET Sunday
FS1: Qualifications taped – 8 p.m. ET Friday

Chevrolet Teams Seek to Reach New Heights in Mile-High Country
Three-Race Western Swing Starts at Challenging Bandimere Speedway

DETROIT (July 19, 2017) – There’s something about racing at 5,800 feet above sea level – whether it’s the changeable track conditions and grip levels, engine tuning vagaries, or ambient temperature variances – that agrees with 16-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car champion John Force.

Largely, all of the above pieces of the 14th of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule – along with success at the racetrack in Morrison, Colorado — Force finds “equal parts challenging and fun.” He’ll compete this weekend in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals for the 36th time.

Force, who will drive the PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, has advanced to the final round of eliminations the past three years and 12 times overall. He defeated daughter Courtney Force (Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS) in the final last year for his record seventh Funny Car victory at the track.

“Any time you can get to a final, it’s like winning the race – you just don’t get the trophy,” said Force, who owns a 66-27 elimination round record at the track. “But you got the exposure. We want to come back and repeat. Hope I can have two cars in the final again.”

The event kicks off the three consecutive weekends of racing that constitute the “western swing.” The stretch also includes Sonoma Raceway in northern California and Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington, and continues the push to the regular season-concluding Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Force swept the three races of the western swing in 1994 – the only Funny Car driver to accomplish the feat – and in won the first two rounds in 2012 and 2016.

Brittany Force also carries momentum to Bandimere Speedway. Force qualified No. 1 in Top Fuel in the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster in the last race, the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois, and has won first-round matchups in six consecutive races. She set the Top Fuel racetrack speed record in 2015 on the way to earning the No. 1 qualifier spot and advancing to the finals.

“I love the western swing,” said Force, who is sixth in Top Fuel points. “It’s the last big group of races leading up to the Countdown. We’re right there. We’re only a handful of races until the Countdown begins. The Monster team, we’ll bring our game, but we have to figure it out by the time we get there.”

Chevrolet has won all 13 Pro Stock events, already featuring nine different drivers visiting the winner’s circle. In the past five seasons, 10 different winners in Pro Stock is the high: 2016 (9), 2015 (8), 2014 (10), 2013 (10), 2012 (8).

“The way the competition is in Pro Stock these days, both the car and driver have to be perfect or you’re not going to win,” said four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, who has upped his career victory total to 88 with two wins in the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Added Drew Skillman, winner at Route 66 Raceway in the Ray Skillman Racing Chevrolet Camaro SS: “Pro Stock is so close right now. That’s how it used to be; that’s how it should be. We’re all in that group now.”

The 2016 western swing featured three different Pro Stock winners, while one driver won two of the three events the previous four years (Chris McGaha – Sonoma and Seattle – 2015; Jason Line – Sonoma and Seattle – 2014; Vincent Nobile – Sonoma and Seattle – 2013). In 2004, Anderson was the last Pro Stock driver to sweep the three races.

“It is very difficult to do, and so far this year, nobody has been able to reel off two in a row, let alone three,” said Anderson, a three-time winner at Bandimere Speedway. “It’s a bigger challenge this year than ever before, but that would make it even cooler yet if you could pull it off. You can’t sweep the swing if you don’t win the first one, though, so right now we’re focused on Denver. We have to figure out how to win that race, and that’s something we haven’t been able to do for a few years. It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.”

Anderson’s KB Racing teammate, Bo Butner, with his class-leading third victory of the season at Norwalk in the Butner Auto Sales Chevrolet Camaro SS, paces the Pro Stock field that includes nine Chevrolet drivers in the top 10 of the standings.

Pro Stock regular Deric Kramer of Sterling, Colorado, and Ross Gregory of Brighton, Colorado, will represent the host state in Stock Eliminator competition to lead Chevrolet COPO Camaro entrants. Also competing will be Tyler Cassil of Belton, Missouri, Dan Fletcher of Churchville, New York, and Ryan Montford of Wichita, Kansas.

Two weeks ago at Route 66 Raceway, Fletcher became the third driver in NHRA history to win 100 national events with his victory in the Super Street class in his son Timothy’s Chevrolet Nova. Twenty-three years after his first victory (at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio), Fletcher joined John Force (148) and Frank Manzo (105) in the 100-win fraternity. He’s appeared in 150 Sportsman finals, with wins in six different classes.

“When I started, I never thought one win was possible much less 100,” said Fletcher, who also will compete this weekend in Super Stock in his ’69 Chevrolet Camaro. “No way I’ll ever catch Force.”

Two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders also is entered in Super Stock in a 2017 Chevrolet COPO Camaro. Enders regularly competes in the SAM Tech Factory Showdown in a Chevy COPO Camaro.

FS1 will telecast taped qualifications at 8 p.m. ET Friday and FOX will telecast eliminations and finals live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

CHEVROLET RACING ENGINEERING PREVIEW
ROGER ALLEN, CHEVROLET RACING NHRA PROGRAM MANAGER: “After a successful weekend for Chevrolet drivers at Route 66 Raceway, which included a Chevrolet sweep of the No. 1 qualifier spots in Top Fuel by Brittany Force, Funny Car by Robert Hight and Pro Stock by Greg Anderson, the teams’ attention turns to Bandimere Speedway and the start of the ‘western swing.’ The three consecutive weekends of racing are challenging for drivers and crews, but the stretch also presents opportunities for Chevrolet teams to make further inroads on sewing up spots in the Countdown to the Championship and the Traxxas Nitro Shootout at the upcoming Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. We’re looking for more outstanding performances in the next three events from all the Chevrolet teams.”
CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER (winner at New Hampshire and runner-up at Phoenix; has qualified No. 1 and 2 the past two events, and no lower than No. 5 the past six events; entered in her 110th Top Fuel event; set track speed record in 2015 in earning No. 1 qualifier spot; event runner-up in 2015): “Denver is always a tough one for us. It’s tough going into the western swing and starting with Denver, because we’ve always struggled there. It’s a place where we’ve always battled, trying to figure things out. With (tuning consultant) Alan Johnson and (crew chief) Brian Husen and the entire Monster Energy team, together we have last year’s runs we made and we’re going off of. Hopefully, in qualifying we’ll get everything figured out and into the right shape for race day and go some rounds.”

FUNNY CAR:
COURTNEY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 or 2 qualifier in eight of the 13 races; two-time runner-up and two-time semifinalist; sixth in points; set track Funny Car elapsed time record in 2016 in earning No. 1 qualifier spot, fell in final to her father; also runner-up in 2012): “We’re going to try and perform just like we did last year, and if we do, we should be in good shape. I’m feeling confident going into it. We’re looking to go some rounds, and get some points, because we definitely need to start the western swing off on the right foot. Denver is a great track for our team, and I’m excited about going back. Obviously, this is a tricky track for a lot of teams out here because of the high altitude, being the Mile-High Nationals. Our car went all the way to the final round last year, only to be taken out by my dad. Looking for a great three-race streak, and excited to get to Denver.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time runner-up and three-time semifinalist; No. 1 or 2 qualifier in past five races; fourth in points; set track Funny Car speed record in 2016; won at track in 2014, 2010 and rookie season of ’05; owns 25-9 round record at track): “It’s the start of three in a row and my favorite time of the year. The western swing is my favorite time of the year. I’m from the West Coast, so a lot of friends and family will be at all three races. We’re going to go into Denver and hit it hard, move to Sonoma and then Seattle. We’re going to get some wins. It’s coming.”

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK COOLANT & MOTOR OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Gainesville and two-time semifinalist; seven-time winner at Bandimere Speedway, including the past two years; seventh in points; swept the western swing in 1994): “A race car is just like a person. The high altitude and lack of air means we have to tune with compression and other stuff. You have to pace yourself on the hill because of the altitude and depending on how the heat is.”

PRO STOCK:
BO BUTNER, JIM BUTNER AUTO, BUTNER AUTO SALES CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner and two-time runner-up; three-time No. 1 qualifier; has qualified no lower than No. 3 in past seven events; sits atop point standings with 30-10 elimination round record; competing in 55th Pro Stock event): “I consider Denver a race where anything can happen. Absolutely anybody can win that one, and it’s just a whole different atmosphere than anywhere else we race. Our goal is to go win with one of the KB Racing Chevy Camaros. I’ll be in a new car this weekend, and I’m looking forward to it. I drive different this year, and maybe that car will be even better than the one we’ve had out there this year. Three races in a row will be tough, but we’re going to make the most of it.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Englishtown for second victory of season and 88th of career; four-time runner-up; second in points; two-time winner at the track): “These three races are more of a marathon than anything. It’s so far from home that you better have depth when you leave, and you better hope you don’t hurt anything. You need to make it through these three with all of your equipment in good, working order. You better cross all your Ts and dot all your Is before you leave the shop. This is a real, real challenge, but we always want the biggest challenge they can give us. This is one we look forward to because you’re going to have three very different racetracks to figure out with no room for mistakes.”

TANNER GRAY, GRAY MOTORSPORTS, VALVOLINE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Las Vegas to become youngest winner in NHRA history; also won at Topeka and runner-up at New Hampshire; third in points; leading candidate for rookie of year): “My guys and I flew to Denver after Chicago to test in preparation for the Denver national event. The test was an overall success. My guys have a very good handle on my Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro and I feel confident going into the Mile-High Nationals. While testing in Denver, I didn’t learn anything new about the car or my driving abilities. I will go out and race as I have been the entire season in pursuit of round wins, trophies, and the championship. I don’t feel as if there is really any information that you can be given in preparation for racing at Bandimere Speedway. You just have to adapt to the car and deal with the circumstances.”

JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time runner-up and three-time semifinalist; three-time No. 1 qualifier; competing in 395th Pro Stock event): “We need to firm up our foundation and find a sweet spot with the car, the engine and the tune-up we can ride into the playoffs. You definitely start to look at these last few races before the Countdown as super important in our journey towards challenging for another Mello Yello championship. We’ve had a great first half. Our number of round wins and rankings in the points are much improved from last season. We’ve shifted through a lot of race day setups and engine combinations with this Chevy Camaro and overall, the Elite team has really shined. We just need to hone in on what will work best for us down the stretch.”

JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; won season opener at Pomona; four-time semifinalist; four-time No. 1 qualifier; closing in on 550 round wins; won two of the three events on western swing in 2014): “This is a race I should have won several times – including last year – but I messed it up. In any event, we have a lot of experience at that racetrack over the years. Sometimes that works for you, and sometimes it works against you; but hopefully it will work for us this year. Some cars went up there to test, and by Q4, everybody will be fast, so it should be interesting. This race is always a challenge, but that’s what makes it fun. That’s what makes it one you really want to win.”

ERICA ENDERS, MELLING PERFORMANCE/ ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time Pro Stock champion; won at New Hampshire; runner-up at Chicago and Atlanta; closing in on 250 round wins): “We’re running better but we still have work to do on all four team cars. We’ll try to sort them out in (midweek testing in) Tulsa. I’m excited for the time off and excited to get back after it in Denver to see if we can’t carry this momentum.”

VINCENT NOBILE, MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING, MOUNTAIN VIEW TIRE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Englishtown; semifinalist at Topeka; closing in on 200 round wins; won two of the three events on western swing in 2013): “I know I say this a lot, but I think we found the problem. My team has been working tirelessly to figure out what the problem is. I am confident a change is around the corner. The good thing about three races in a row, you get a good momentum going which leads to consistency. We are hoping to come home with a Wally or three.”

DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Chicago; runner-up at Phoenix; competing in 60th Pro Stock event): “This year we came out and I did horrible. I got in my own head, so that’s been our biggest holdback. I’ve had a better car than I’ve been a driver. We’re on the right path now. This is the little team that will. We have great people behind me with a lot of experience. There’s no reason why we haven’t won before this and we’re going to win after this.”

CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACING, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (won at Charlotte and semifinalist at Gainesville; won two of the three races on the western swing in 2015; competing in 10th event of season as he’s running limited schedule)

MATTHEW HARTFORD, HARTFORD RACING, TOTAL SEAL-CIP1-NITROFISH CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (competing in seventh race of season and first since Englishtown, New Jersey, in early June; qualified season-high No. 5 at Topeka; seeking first round victory)