All posts by ARP Trish

Richard Childress Racing–ALSCO 300

Austin Dillon Gambles on Green-White-Checker Restart to Capture Second-Place Finish in Richard Childress Racing’s Rheem Chevrolet

“I feel like we had a very competitive No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet tonight. We took right-side tires, then left-side tires, then right-side tires and we learned that we were very good on left-side tires, so good that we were posting the fastest laps of the race. I tried hard on that last restart. I just wish Turns 3 and 4 would have went differently for us at the end. I never lifted. I just came off the gas a little bit in Turns 3 and 4 and that’s what made all the difference. I’m proud of everyone on this team and we will get a few more wins before the end of this season.”

– Austin Dillon

Ty Dillon Starts From Rear, Battles Back for 10th Top-10 Finish of the Season

“We battled back from a mishap in qualifying after getting into the wall. It’s nothing that our team couldn’t handle. We started from the rear and raced our way into the top 10 before the first caution. The Alsco/Red Kap Chevrolet was fast, and we worked pit strategy in a way so that we were able to lead a few laps. Overall, it was a solid finish. Another great top-10, but I know our team can win here in the fall in the first round of the Chase.”

– Ty Dillon

Brandon Jones Fights Through Adversity To Finish 11th At Kentucky

“The guys on this AAA Car Care Centers Chevrolet team did a great job all day leading us to 11th in a back-up car. It was an older chassis that we had run before, so I was really impressed with how it ran with only a few practice laps on Thursday. The guys got it to where it could run in the top six, we just needed track position at the end to get back up there. The track was very line sensitive. If you missed it just a bit or got up into the marbles, you would get really tight and then it would snap loose. It was kind of tough to tell crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. how to adjust to the conditions we were facing, but I think they did a great job working on it and getting us to just outside the top 10.”

– Brandon Jones

Brendan Gaughan Perseveres After Going to a Back-Up South Point Chevrolet at Kentucky Speedway

“The groove was super narrow all weekend. In practice we hit debris which pushed us out of the groove and into the wall. Once we left the groove on this new surface, there was zero grip at Kentucky Speedway. The team worked hard to get the back-up ready to race. We had a loose South Point Chevy with little to no bite in the front end. Shane Wilson and the guys made big swings to fix our handling issues. I’m really proud of how hard the team worked this weekend, I just wish we had a better finish. We will regroup and come back stronger next week in New Hampshire.”

– Brendan Gaughan

BRITTANY FORCE NO. 1 FRIDAY AT ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

BRITTANY FORCE NO. 1 FRIDAY AT ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

JOLIET, IL – As one of the last race cars down the track at Route 66 Raceway Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel team gave the fans a treat racing to the provisional No. 1 spot with a track record elapsed time of 3.692 seconds. The fourth year pro came into the session in the No. 3 spot and was pushed back to No. 8 before re-writing the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals record books beside Steve Torrence. Force picked up three qualifying bonus points and also valuable confidence going into Saturday’s second day of qualifying. Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE NO. 1 FRIDAY AT ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

Blaney To Start 15th At Kentucky After Rain Washes Out Qualifying

Blaney To Start 15th At Kentucky After Rain Washes Out Qualifying

July 8, 2016

What a difference a year makes for Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team.

Last year, Blaney was 16th fastest in the pre-qualifying practice at Kentucky Speedway, but did not get to race after qualifying was rained out and his then-part-time team did not have a provisional starting position.

This year, rain again washed out Sprint Cup qualifying at Kentucky, but Blaney will race as there are only 40 teams entered for the 40 starting spots. He’ll start 15th, as the lineup is now set by owner’s points in the event qualifying is cancelled.

“The good news is we are in the show,” said team co-owner Eddie Wood. “With rain interrupting things here at Kentucky, we’ll probably have to go into the race knowing we will have to make adjustments to the car as the race goes on.” Continue reading Blaney To Start 15th At Kentucky After Rain Washes Out Qualifying

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Dale Earnhardt Jr

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 8, 2016

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS, met with media and discussed his visit to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the new track surface at Kentucky Speedway, the importance of a spotter, and more. Full Transcript:

ON HIS VISIT TO NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN COLUMBUS, OHIO YESTERDAY:
“I was really lucky to go up there and get a bit of a behind-the-scenes look and be brought in and introduced to several patients and get a bit of a tour of some of the facility. We’ve been up there for the last year or two to go through that and it’s a lot of fun. The patients are awesome to talk to and to get to know. And we donated a Victory Bell, much like we have at Hendrick Motorsports, yesterday; and two of the kids graduated today and rang it today. So, it’s awesome to know that thing is getting some use. But it’s a great treat for me to go there and I got to take Amy with me this week and she got to see a little bit of it. It’s a lot of fun. I look forward to going back.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Dale Earnhardt Jr

Red Horse Racing–Buckle Up in Your Trunk 225

RACE REPORT
Buckle Up In Your Truck 225
Kentucky Speedway
July 7, 2016

Red Horse Racing at Kentucky Speedway

This week, Red Horse Racing and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series traveled to the Bluegrass State for the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Three practice sessions were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, but only two were completed due to inclement weather. In the first session, Timothy Peters and Brett Moffitt, filling in for Matt Tifft, posted the 11th and sixth fastest times respectively. In the final session, Moffitt paced the field, while Peters was eighth fastest. On Thursday, teams prepared for knock out single-truck qualifying, where Moffitt transferred to the second round and secured the second-place starting spot and Peters earned the 14th position in the first round for the 150-lap event. Moffitt’s engine expired on lap 27, relegating him to a 31st-place finish, while Peters earned a top-10 and finished ninth.
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Brett Moffitt
No. 11 Surface Systems
Toyota Tundra

Engine Failure Relegates Brett Moffitt to 31st-Place Finish at Kentucky Speedway After Strong Debut

On Thursday, Brett Moffitt finished 31st at Kentucky Speedway after losing an engine, just 27 laps into the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225. Moffitt, in the No. 11 Surface Systems Sunscreen Toyota Tundra for Matt Tifft, had a strong weekend prior to the engine failure. Inclement weather on Wednesday resulted in only two of three scheduled practices, and Moffitt posted the sixth fastest time in the first and was fastest in final practice. On Thursday, Moffitt transferred into the final round of single-truck knockout qualifying to earn a second-place starting spot for the 150-lap event. Moffitt maintained position in the top five, but on lap 27, his engine expired, relegating him to a 31st-place finish.

Start – 2
Finish – 31
Owner Points Position – 14
Laps Led – 0

Brett Moffitt Quotes:
“About two laps before, I had a small vibration and it kind of went away, so I figured it was something in the transmission or the clutch that happens a lot. We had a really good Surface Sunscreen Toyota Tundra and this was just kind of a bummer.”

“Through turns 1 and 2 it stuck pretty good, by the time we got up to speed through turns 3 and 4 there was a little less grip out there. I didn’t push the issue too much early on, we were a little too tight to start that run. We needed to make some adjustments to the truck. Other than that, the Red Horse Racing group brought a great truck and I can’t thank them enough.”
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Timothy Peters No. 17
No. 17 Red Horse Racing
Toyota Tundra

Timothy Peters Bounces Back for Top-10 at Kentucky Speedway

Timothy Peters rebounded at Kentucky Speedway to record his seventh top-10 in 10 races in the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225. The No. 17 team unloaded the red and white Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra for two practices on Wednesday afternoon and recorded the 11th fastest speed in the first and the eighth fastest speed in the second practice. On Thursday afternoon, in knockout single truck qualifying, Peters secured the 14th-place starting spot in the first round. Prior to the first caution flag, Peters reported that his Tundra was tight in turn 2. Under the yellow, he visited pit road and crew chief Shane Huffman gave him two tires and fuel, as well as adjustments and he gained three positions to restart in the eighth position. Peters moved up to the sixth position by the yellow flag on lap 43. Under a caution on lap 46, Peters again visited pit road and this time took four Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel, restarting in the 17th position. Under the next yellow, as competitor pit stops cycled through, Peters stayed out and took the lead. He would lead a total of five laps, then drop to second, but during a two-tire stop under caution on lap 104, the fuel cell was not filled all the way, so Huffman called Peters back for two more tires and additional fuel before the restart. With 41 laps to go, Peters restarted 19th, and battled back to gain 10 spots and take the checkered flag in ninth.

Start – 14
Finish – 9
Driver Points Position – 4
Owner Points Position -4
Laps Led – 5

Timothy Peters Quote:
“We had a really good Toyota Tundra this weekend. It was really fast in race trim, and unfortunately our result didn’t show how good we were. Shane (Huffman, crew chief) and the guys worked really hard to bring a fast truck and they made good adjustments all night, so we’ll just go on to Eldora (Speedway) and see what we can do there.”

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Kevin Harvick

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING TRANSCRIPT
JULY 8, 2016

Qualifying for Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway Cancelled Due to Rain
Chevrolet’s Kevin Harvick to Lead the Field to Green

SPARTA KY. – July 8, 2016 – Qualifying for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

The starting grid has been set per the provisions in the NASCAR rulebook. NASCAR announced prior to the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway two weeks ago, that current year owner points would replace practice speeds for determining race eligibility and starting position in the event adverse conditions prevent qualifying from taking place. As a result of this change, Chevrolet SS driver Kevin Harvick will lead the field to green for the sixth annual Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway. This will be the first time the 2014 series champion has started from the top spot at the 1.5-mile track. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Kevin Harvick

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders partners with Melling Performance for remainder of 2016

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders partners with Melling Performance for remainder of 2016
CHICAGO (July 8) — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders will partner with Melling Performance for the 12 remaining races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule as a major associate sponsor.

Enders will drive the Elite Motorsports/Melling Dodge Dart during the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend at Route 66 Raceway to kick off the partnership.

“We’re excited to partner with Melling Performance,” Enders said. “They’re a very reputable name in all of motorsports, and we’re pleased to be able to introduce them to a whole new market.”

Enders is returning to the site of her first career victory, scored in 2012. Since then, she has become a superstar in the sport, winning six races and the Pro Stock championship in 2014 and nine races and the title last year. She recently was nominated for an ESPY Award in the Best Driver category for the second year in a row.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Melling Engine Parts in Jackson, Mich. Melling services the original-equipment, replacement, and high-performance automotive markets with best-in-class engine components. Melling has a long successful heritage in motorsports competing at the highest level for over 45 years.

“Everyone at Melling Performance is excited about our new association with Erica and Elite Motorsports,” Melling Performance CEO Mark Melling said. “The power and speed of NHRA is a perfect fit for our company. Melling has been launching a ton of new performance engine parts, and we are pumped to see Erica launch our logos down the strip.”

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Chase Elliott

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 8, 2016

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Kentucky Speedway and discussed his get back and give back paint scheme this weekend, his thoughts on his progress thus far this season, how the first practice session went for the No. 24 team yesterday and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TALK ABOUT THE RACING THIS SEASON AND YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR:
“Yeah, I think there have certainly been some close finishes. I wish had been a part of some of the close battles there that we have seen at Phoenix and Sonoma. Definitely some cool races I think from a fans perspective to watch. Hopefully, that has been exciting to see whether or not fans are at the race track or watching from home. I think that is encouraging and certainly hasn’t been lack of effort to try different packages and see what works, what doesn’t and try to get a direction for moving forward.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Chase Elliott

At a Glance: Shane Stewart Ready to Roll Into the ‘Month of Money’

At a Glance: Shane Stewart Ready to Roll Into the ‘Month of Money’
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series takes on the FVP Outlaws at Cedar Lake double-header beginning Friday, July 8

CONCORD, N.C. – July 7, 2016 – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series kicks off the ‘Month of Money’ on Friday at Cedar Lake Speedway for the FVP Outlaws at Cedar Lake. One driver who comes into the grueling month-long stretch of the biggest races of the season with experience and success is Shane Stewart.

Last season, Stewart, en route to a second place points finish and in his first full series season in a decade, cruised through the ‘Month of Money’ scoring some of the highest profile wins of the season. He swept both nights at Eldora Speedway and claimed his first Kings Royal win and then went on score the Ironman 55 title. Stewart also stood in victory lane on one of the preliminary nights at the Knoxville Nationals and finished fourth on Knoxville Saturday. Continue reading At a Glance: Shane Stewart Ready to Roll Into the ‘Month of Money’

Record $320,975 Posted For 33rd Annual Kings Royal Weekend At Eldora

Record $320,975 Posted For 33rd Annual Kings Royal Weekend At Eldora
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Return For Expanded Three-Day Event July 14-15-16

ROSSBURG, Ohio – July 7, 2016 – The 33rd running of Kings Royal Weekend, expanded this year to include a full World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series race on Thursday, July 14, already promises fans more racing and Eldora Speedway officials today announced more prize money for the racers.
Saturday’s tradition of $50,000-to-win and the pomp and circumstance that surrounds racing’s most unique victory remains untouched – but that is the only position that does not see a major increase for 2016. Over half of the 40-lap Kings Royal finishers will earn double the money posted in previous years. Highlights include: 2nd) $20,000; 5th) $10,000; 10th) $5,000; 24th) $3,000 and the first non-transfer from the B-Feature will receive $2,000. All B-Feature and C-Feature positions received healthy increases as well.

Thursday’s “Jokers Wild” will pay $10,000 to the winner while Friday night’s “The Knight Before” has been increased to $12,000-to-win.

Eight different drivers have won the Kings Royal over the past eight years. Shane Stewart is the defending winner of both the Kings Royal and The Knight Before.

Tickets and camping for all three nights of the 33rd Kings Royal Weekend, sprint car racing’s annual showcase featuring the stars of the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series versus Ohio’s best, including the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, are available now at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by phone at (937) 338-3815.

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Austin Dillon

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 7, 2016

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Kentucky Speedway and discussed the possibility of making the Chase, his past success at Kentucky, the new track surface and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TALK ABOUT HOW FUN IT’S BEEN TO RACE SO FAR THIS YEAR AND WHAT YOUR OUTLOOK IS FOR THIS WEEKEND:
“For us it’s an opportunity I think coming to a track that is freshly paved. The racing has been pretty solid this year. We look at this as an opportunity for us coming to a place that not anybody has a real true advantage. There are some guys that tested here, but as far as the banking and the layout of the track, I’ve been pretty fast here. I’m looking forward to this weekend’s race and the opportunities it brings. It was nice getting in the Xfinity car and kind of learning a little bit before we get in the Cup car. I think it will be interesting for sure come Saturday night.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Austin Dillon

JEGS.com racer Troy Coughlin Jr. enjoys a taste of Chicago before NHRA race

JEGS.com racer Troy Coughlin Jr. enjoys a taste of Chicago before NHRA race
CHICAGO (July 7) — JEGS.com driver Troy Coughlin Jr. experienced the city of Chicago this week before racing in the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend at Route 66 Raceway.

Coughlin will race in the Super Gas and Super Comp classes of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in Chicago, driving his JEGS.com roadster in Super Gas and his JEGS.com dragster in Super Comp. Continue reading JEGS.com racer Troy Coughlin Jr. enjoys a taste of Chicago before NHRA race

CORVETTE DPs IN CANADA: Riding Race-Winning Momentum

CORVETTE DPs IN CANADA: Riding Race-Winning Momentum
Two straight victories and Prototype Engine Manufacturer Championship lead

· Wayne Taylor Racing seeks to repeat 2015 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park win

· Action Express Racing coming off 1-2 finish at Watkins Glen

· Barbosa, Fittipaldi enter holding Driver’s Championship lead

DETROIT (July 7, 2016) – If momentum means anything in racing, then Chevrolet’s Corvette Daytona Prototype program has it in bucket loads at the moment. The four Corvette DP teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship head to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for this weekend’s Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix presented by Hawk Performance – the second of back-to-back race weekends to start the inward half of the 2016 season.
Continue reading CORVETTE DPs IN CANADA: Riding Race-Winning Momentum

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders returns to site of first pro victory

Pro Stock champ Erica Enders
returns to site of first pro victory
CHICAGO (July 6) — Two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders returns to where all of her professional success started, Route 66 Raceway, for the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend.

Four years ago, Enders was still fighting for her first victory, racing to six final rounds over her career but without sealing the deal. However, when Enders and her team got to Chicago, they felt really good about their chances.

“I remember that day like it was yesterday,” Enders said. “When we got to the track on Thursday — I don’t know why but it happens at a handful of racetracks — we had a good feeling when we walked through he gate. I was always hopeful that whatever track we were at would be the track where I got my first win, but that was definitely an awesome weekend. Continue reading Pro Stock champ Erica Enders returns to site of first pro victory

Teamwork is the key to JEGS Allstars title

Teamwork is the key to JEGS Allstars title
CHICAGO (July 6) — For racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, winning an individual title at the JEGS Allstars race is a tremendous achievement, but being a part of the winning overall team is an extra-special accomplishment.

Held in conjunction with the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals, an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, the JEGS Allstars race is a unique event that crowns individual champions in 10 separate eliminators, in addition to an overall team champion.

Now in its 32nd season, the JEGS Allstars event features a total purse of more than $120,000, plus an additional $50,000 in manufacturers’ contingency postings, making it one of the richest events of its kind. Continue reading Teamwork is the key to JEGS Allstars title

Mike Coughlin ready to show progress with JEGS.com Top Dragster

Mike Coughlin ready to show progress with JEGS.com Top Dragster
CHICAGO (July 6) — Mike Coughlin hopes to show off the progress made with his new JEGS.com Top Dragster during this weekend’s K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

Coughlin, one of four brothers who run JEGS High Performance, unveiled the new Dan Page-built dragster for the 2016 season. Crew chief Greg Cody and team members Dave Roark and Tony Collier continue to fine-tune the car, and Coughlin knows progress was made at the most recent race in Norwalk, Ohio, even if it didn’t show up on paper. Continue reading Mike Coughlin ready to show progress with JEGS.com Top Dragster

Prior success has Jeg Coughlin Jr. pumped about Chicago

Prior success has Jeg Coughlin Jr. pumped about Chicago
CHICAGO (July 6) — At the top of the professional win list for Route 66 Raceway, site of this weekend’s K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals, are two of the best in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history.

Pro Stock star Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher each have won five times in Chicago during their brilliant careers. Those 10 victories in Chicago mirror other combined stats: 13 championships, 138 victories.

Coughlin, for one, would love to add to those totals as he races the Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart this weekend. Continue reading Prior success has Jeg Coughlin Jr. pumped about Chicago

CHEVROLET AT JOLIET

CHEVROLET AT JOLIET

What:
19th K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals
When:
Friday, July 8-Sunday, June 10
Where:
Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois
TV:
FS1: Qualifying – 10 p.m. ET Saturday (taped highlights)
FS1: Eliminations and finals – 2 p.m. ET Sunday (live)

Chevrolet Drivers Seek to Add More Victories to Highly Successful Season
K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals near Chicago kicks off second half Continue reading CHEVROLET AT JOLIET

Chevrolet IndyCar Drivers Aim for More Oval Success

Chevrolet IndyCar Drivers Aim for More Oval Success

· Chevrolet drivers prepare for challenging Iowa Speedway short oval
ᴏ 300-lap race on .894-mile racetrack always full of action
· Chevrolet drivers have won eight of the nine completed races this season
o Will Power moves into title contention by winning past two races
o Conclusion of Firestone 600 has been delayed until August 27
· Josef Newgarden has been the runner-up at Iowa Speedway the past two years
· Pagenaud continues to lead standings; top six in points are Chevy drivers
· Chevrolet continues to lead manufacturers’ standings

DETROIT (July 6, 2016) – Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon has started from the pole position three times in nine races at Iowa Speedway and come away with seven top-10 finishes. The driver of the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet believes he’s due to top his third-place high in the Iowa Corn 300 this weekend. Continue reading Chevrolet IndyCar Drivers Aim for More Oval Success

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team In Unchartered Territory At Kentucky

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team In Unchartered Territory At Kentucky

July 6, 2016

The No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will write a new chapter in the team’s history as they compete at Kentucky Speedway for the first time ever.

The team’s rookie driver Ryan Blaney is no stranger to the Sparta, Ky., track. He’s won two Xfinity Series races there, in 2013 and last year, driving for Team Penske. In the Camping World Truck Series he has three top-five finishes and a pole position driving a Ford owned by Brad Keselowski. His third-place finishes were in 2014 and 2015. Despite these achievments, any advantage Blaney and his crew chief Jeremy Bullins might have from those earlier races has been lessened by a repave and reconfiguration of the 1.5-mile track. Turns one and two have seen the banking increased from 14 to 17 degrees, and those turns have been narrowed by a widening of the pit road exit. Turns three and four are basically the same as before, at 14 degrees of banking. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team In Unchartered Territory At Kentucky