SALOON CAR RACING FROM ANOTHER PLANET
‘The Doorslammers’
Santa Pod Raceway
Fri.17 – Sun.19 May 2019
So what, exactly, is a ‘doorslammer’? Simple: in drag racing parlance, it’s any full-bodied car with a sprung chassis and functioning doors – in other words, a saloon car.
But the doorslammers coming to Santa Pod Raceway for two weekends in May are unlike any other saloon cars on earth. How does 0-260mph in 5.5 seconds sound? Continue reading SALOON CAR RACING FROM ANOTHER PLANET
CORVETTE RACING AT MID-OHIO: Looking to Ride Wave of Momentum
Team seeking to build on double-podium finish at Long Beach
• Garcia, Magnussen GTLM title push began a year ago
• Gavin, Milne most recent Corvette Racing winner at Mid-Ohio
• Program continues chase for 100th victory in IMSA competition
• Team’s final race before 24 Hours of Le Mans
DETROIT (April 30, 2019) – One year ago at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Corvette Racing began its push to a third consecutive GT Le Mans (GTLM) title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team is hoping for a repeat and momentum heading into the heart of its schedule. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT MID-OHIO: Looking to Ride Wave of Momentum Team seeking to build on double-podium finish at Long Beach
Team JEGS racers hungry for hometown
success at 17th annual Buckeye Nationals
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 30) — The thrill of competing in front of a hometown crowd filled with family, friends and fellow associates of JEGS High Performance awaits Team JEGS drag racers Mike Coughlin, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Paige Coughlin at this weekend’s 17th annual NHRA Buckeye Nationals.
The group will contest both the Top Dragster and Super Comp categories at the event, which is the first regional race of the year on the North Central Division schedule.
Mike Coughlin has 26 career
wins in a variety of classes
“I’m searching for a run of good luck and I can’t think of a better place to start that than National Trail,” said Mike, who will be racing his JEGS.com-branded Top Dragster. “This is actually our third race of the year and our car has been great. We just haven’t had any luck. That’s not for lack of effort or talent. Everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and the dragster is very fast and consistent.
“I made my first ever passes at National Trail and I’ve definitely been down that quarter-mile more than any other one in the world. We were just there a week ago for the track’s first race of the season and Jay Livingston (track owner) and his staff have done so much to improve the facility. My son Clay was racing his Junior Dragster and everything looked great. I’m excited to get started myself and look forward to racing with my niece and nephew.”
Mike is assisted by longtime Team JEGS crewmen Justin Beaver, Greg Cody, Tony Collier, Ryan Micke and Dave Rourke. Beaver and Collier also help Troy Jr. and Paige in their Super Comp dragsters.
Regional Top Alcohol Dragster champion Troy Jr. will step away from his regular ride — the JEGS.com McPhillips Racing TAD — to compete this weekend. Troy Jr. has earned six national and six divisional victories in his career, including the 2014 JEGS SPORTSnationals Super Gas title at National Trail Raceway.
“There’s no place like home and racing with some of my family members brings up tons of wonderful childhood memories for me, especially at National Trails,” Troy Jr. said. “I am really excited at what Jay and his staff have in the works for the facility. I know there are lots of great things coming.
“It’s an extra big weekend for me personally because my wife Brenna is graduating from nursing school Saturday so I’ll be really busy between the races and her ceremony. She’s worked so hard at getting her BSN. I’m very proud of her and looking forward to celebrating this accomplishment with her.”
Paige hasn’t driven her JEGS.com Super Comp dragster since starting her collegiate career at the University of Miami-Ohio last August, but says a recent test session at National Trail Raceway helped get her back into competition mode.
“I don’t feel too nervous yet but it’s only Monday,” Paige said. “I know the car is ready to go and it looks awesome. I’m pretty excited to be coming back because I haven’t competed in a race since last August.
“We had a great day of testing last Wednesday at NTR and Justin and Tony were super happy with everything. They changed some things on the car over the winter to make it more consistent and it ran really well so we’re all excited to get back to real racing. We have lots of plans for the summer race season and it all starts now.”
A double-major studying psychology and strategic communications, Paige is the third child of three-time Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin and his wife Julie, the younger sister of Troy Coughlin Jr. and the niece of Mike Coughlin.
Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
1:30 p.m. EDT May 5, 2019
NBC Sports Network
Radio Le Mans and IMSA.com
ACURA, HPD AT MID-OHIO
• Acura Motorsports and its performance arm, Honda Performance Development, have recorded seven victories at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, tied for fourth with Road America and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in the overall “success rate” for the manufacturer in North American sports car racing. Continue reading Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio
Six-time world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. returns to first love at K&N Spring Fling in Galot
BENSON, N.C. (April 29) — Long before he was winning world championships in NHRA competition, Jeg Coughlin Jr. was lining up against the toughest drag racers in the world at various high-dollar bracket races around the country. The six-time world champ returns to those roots this week at Kyle Seipel and Peter Biondo’s renowned K&N Spring Fling presented by Optima Batteries at Galot Motorsports Park.
Coughlin, who has 81 NHRA national event wins, will be racing a JEGS.com-branded dragster and his popular JEGS.com Chevy II wagon at the event. He’ll be joined by his talented wife Samantha Coughlin, who will race her own JEGS.com dragster.
“We’re eager and very excited to start racing,” Jeg Jr. said. “The last time I had the chance to bracket race was in 2016 so it’s been a little while. I’m thinking this has been the longest stretch of my driving career where I haven’t bracket raced somewhere so it’s a real thrill to be gearing up for this week.
“Peter and Kyle are longtime friends and they’ve done such a great job putting together all of these big ‘Fling’ races. I’ve spent a lot more time keeping up with them on the Internet then competing in them myself but this one I’m going to experience first-hand. If there’s a blessing to the NHRA trimming the Pro Stock schedule back a few races, being able to attend events like this definitely makes it worthwhile.”
Aside from his jaw-dropping NHRA resume, Coughlin has two dozen wins at specialty events like this one, including the 2015 Spring Fling, so he’s certainly no stranger to the extremely competitive racing that occurs at these high-profile events.
“Without question, all of the big hitters in our sport will be there,” Coughlin said. “I certainly picked a tough one to renew my vows, as it were, in the bracket racing world, but I’m going in with a big smile on my face.
“This style of event is the purest and most challenging form of drag racing you can get. I’ve been bracket racing since the ’80s when I first started driving and I compare success at events like this to be every bit as prestigious as a national event win. I’m proud to be a part of it all and for JEGS to be one of the sponsors. We’re all ready to get after it and have some fun.”
JEGS is supporting the $20K-to-win main event on “JEGS Thursday” and the live audio/video racecast for the entire event, which will be broadcast by MotorManiaTV.com.
“I’ve actually never been to Galot Motorsports Park before but I’ve seen pictures and heard a bunch of great things about the facility,” Coughlin said. “I am excited to hit the throttle!”
Top Fuel — Steve Torrence, 3.778 seconds, 323.19 mph def. Clay Millican, 4.035 seconds, 310.48 mph and Terry McMillen, 4.349 seconds, 219.08 mph and Leah Pritchett, 4.435 seconds, 246.30 mph;
Funny Car — Shawn Langdon, Toyota Camry, 4.125, 305.08 def. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.159, 242.89 and John Force, Camaro, 4.517, 200.59 and Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 5.252, 172.89;
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.831, 198.17 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.858, 197.68 and Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.908, 198.82 ARP bike and Ryan Oehler, Buell, 6.959, 196.27;
Top Alcohol Dragster — Julie Nataas, 5.268, 277.49 def. Duane Shields, 5.339, 277.20.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Tyler Scott, Chevy Camaro, 5.705, 252.28 def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 6.545, 227.00.
Competition Eliminator — Jim Kimbrough, Dragster, 6.781, 185.92 def. Randy Daniels, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.492, 159.32.
Super Stock — Monty Bogan, Chevy Camaro, 9.409, 121.28 def. Joe Santangelo, Pontiac Firebird, Foul – Red Light.
Stock Eliminator — Drew Skillman, Ford Mustang, 8.868, 148.38 def. Monty Bogan, Chevy Camaro, 10.832, 121.20.
Super Comp — Jonathan Anderson, Dragster, 8.904, 158.95 def. Ray Miller III, Dragster, 8.881, 169.72.
Super Gas — Joe Harper, Dodge Avenger, 9.913, 150.95 def. Shannon Brinkley, Chevy Corvette, 9.881, 158.39.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Jerry Albert, Chevy Camaro, 6.732, 205.19 def. Chuck Harris, Camaro, 7.707, 177.91.
Factory Stock Showdown — Bill Skillman, Ford Mustang, 7.940, 174.10 def. Bo Butner, Mustang, 7.953, 175.91.
Pro Modified — Mike Janis, Chevy Camaro, 5.799, 248.52 def. Rickie Smith, Ford Mustang, 5.817, 257.63 and Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.235, 211.49 and Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.460, 173.45;
Mountain Motor Pro Stock — Christopher Powers, Chevy Camaro, 6.417, 220.48 def. Todd Hoerner, Camaro, 6.373, 223.36 and Steven Boone, Chevy Cobalt, 6.643, 212.90 and Dwayne Rice, Camaro, broke;
Austin Dillon Captures Second Pole of Season and Collects Stage Points at Talladega Superspeedway
“I thought that Chevrolet did a really good job today. The racing was pretty good. We didn’t tear up too much stuff, and with all of the downforce this new package has, we could really move around the racetrack. If you did get hit, you could try to save it; so I thought that allowed for really good racing today. I chose the outside lane on the last run. Kyle Larson and I were committed to each other, but I don’t think the outside works as well with the spoilers we have on our cars right now. There’s just not enough grip until the end of a run. At the end of a run, it becomes stronger. I’m proud of everyone on this No. 3 Dow Chevrolet team from their efforts this weekend. We’re headed to Dover to try and earn a win for RCR and ECR.”
-Austin Dillon Continue reading Austin Dillon Captures Second Pole of Season and Collects Stage Points at Talladega Superspeedway
Menard Overcomes Early Setback To Finish 16th At Talladega
April 28, 2019
Paul Menard and his No. 21 Quick Lane team spent most of Sunday’s GEICO 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway battling back from damage to the nose of the No. 21 Mustang from a chain-reaction fender bender during a Lap 10 crash. The Quick Lane crew used numerous pit stops to repair the damage, and when the laps wound down, Menard found himself back up to speed and squarely in the middle of the race for the win.
With 30 of 188 laps remaining Menard made his strongest charge of the day, drafting his way to as high as second place on Lap 170.
He was sixth in line for a restart with four laps to go but wound up getting stuck behind Kyle Busch, who was slow getting up to speed on the restart.
With no room to get around Busch, Menard fell to the back of the lead pack but had worked his way back to 16th place when the caution flag flew for a multi-car crash on the backstretch, freezing the field at that point.
Eddie Wood said he was proud of the way that Menard, crew chief Greg Erwin and the over-the-wall crew responded to the early set-back.
“They made adjustments on the chassis to compensate for the damage to the nose of the car, but that wasn’t a long-term fix because it adversely affected the handling of the car,” Wood said. “Greg and the crew used nearly every pit stop after that to get the car fixed. Between the repairs and adjustments to the chassis, by the end of the race the car was good to go.”
Wood also expressed praise for Menard, who had to start from the rear each time the crew used extra time on pit road to work on the car but still drove his way back to the top 10, and did so under stressful conditions.
“Driving 200 miles per hour for 500 miles is commendable for Paul and for all the drivers out there,” Wood said. “We didn’t quite get the finish that Paul and the team deserved but I’m very happy with all their efforts.”
Menard and the No. 21 team will return to the track next week at Dover International Speedway.
CHASE ELLIOTT, CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 SCORE VICTORY AT TALLADEGA
Planning and execution by Chevrolet drivers result in season’s first victory
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 28, 2019) – Chase Elliott scored an extremely popular victory with the No. 9 Mountain Dew/Little Caesar’s Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on Sunday in winning the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Elliott led a sweep of the top-three for Team Chevy as the Camaro ZL1 won for the first time this season. Six Chevrolet drivers finished in the top-eight and won each of the three stages in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Chevrolet also was the pole-winner for the race. Continue reading CHASE ELLIOTT, CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 SCORE VICTORY AT TALLADEGA
Acura NSX GT3 Evo Teams Earn Pro/Am Wins In Virginia
• Kyle Marcelli, Martin Barkey score second Blancpain GT World Challenge win of the season
• Dane Cameron, Bret Curtis take RealTime Acura to Victory Lane in Pro/Am Debut
• Ryan Eversley, Till Bechtolsheimer earn pair of top-five results
ALTON, Va. (April 28, 2019) – Acura powered a pair of NSX GT3 Evo’s to Victory Lane at Virginia International Raceway this weekend, as Racer’s Edge Motorsports and RealTime Racing each earned Pro/Am class wins in Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge America. Continue reading Acura NSX GT3 Evo Teams Earn Pro/Am Wins In Virginia
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
GEICO 500
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 28, 2019
TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Chase Elliott, No. 9 Mountain Dew/Little Caesar’s Camaro ZL1
2nd Alex Bowman, No. 88 Nationwide Camaro ZL1
3rd Ryan Preece, No. 57 Kroger Camaro ZL1
5th Daniel Hemric, No. 8 Caterpillar Camaro ZL1
6th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1
TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Chase Elliott (Chevrolet)
2nd Alex Bowman (Chevrolet)
3rd Ryan Preece (Chevrolet)
4th Joey Logano (Ford)
5th Daniel Hemric (Chevrolet) Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Post Race
Chris Haldeman Leads Civic Si Results in VIR Touring Car America Races
• Haldeman scores his first podium result of 2019 in Sunday’s event
• Taylor Hagler battles to fourth-place run on sunny Sunday
• Haldeman also leads Honda’s Saturday effort with a fourth-place result
ALTON, Va. (April 28, 2019) – The 2019 SRO Touring Car America season headed to verdant Alton, Virginia this weekend as the Honda Civic Si quintet from X-Factor Racing visited the fast, challenging Virginia International Raceway road course. Continue reading Chris Haldeman Leads Civic Si Results in VIR Touring Car America Races
Hagan, Pritchett Take Dodge//SRT, Mopar to Semifinal Finishes at Charlotte
· Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett advance to final elimination quad in their respective categories at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
· Hagan races Pennzoil Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to semifinals finish at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte
· Hagan maintains hold on second spot in NHRA Funny Car standings
· Pennzoil Mopar Dodge Top Fuel driver Pritchett joins Don Schumacher Racing teammate Hagan as semifinalist at Charlotte
· Kelly Mack, Dave Thomas take Dodge Top Finisher honors at Charlotte
· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com
· Dodge Garage, a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts, features highlights from NHRA season Continue reading Hagan, Pritchett Take Dodge//SRT, Mopar to Semifinal Finishes at Charlotte
ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB RUNNER-UP AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
CONCORD, N.C. (April 28, 2019) – Robert Hight and the Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car team strengthened their NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points lead after a runner-up finish at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway on Sunday.
Number 1 qualifier Robert Hight finished second in the first quad on race day after hazing the tires and pedaling his Auto Club Chevy Camaro to make a 4.617-second pass at 267.22 mph. He was bettered by J.R. Todd’s 3.966 at 320.81 but beat Bob Tasca III and his 4.687 at 192.03. Their fourth opponent, Bob Gilbertson, did not make an appearance. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB RUNNER-UP AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NGK SPARK PLUGS NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
ZMAX DRAGWAY IN CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
POST-RACE RECAP AND WINNER TRANSCRIPTS
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019
Chevrolet Funny Car champions place second and third
Points leader Robert Hight, the No. 1 qualifier, is runner-up in final quad
No. 3 qualifier John Force places third, just misses recording 150th win
David Barton advances to Factory Stock Showdown semis in COPO Camaro
CONCORD, North Carolina (April 28, 2019) – Robert Hight has recorded four Funny Car low-qualifier honors and three victories in the first quarter of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
“Not too shabby,” said the driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS. Continue reading Chevrolet Funny Car champions place second and third
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
GEICO 500
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 28, 2019
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 MOUNTAIN DEW/LITTLE CAESAR’S CAMARO ZL1 – Race Winner
YOU HEARD IT ON THE RADIO HOW IMPORTANT THIS WIN WAS FOR THIS TEAM AND FOR CHEVROLET AND FOR YOU?
“Thank you. What a day. Just a huge thanks to all of our partners, my team, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet; there was obviously a lot of teamwork done today. Big thanks to Mountain Dew and Little Caesar’s and NAPA and all our partners that make this happen. But, you guys (fans) are really what makes it happen. Thank you.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Chase Elliott
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
GEICO 500
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 28, 2019
BUBBA WALLACE, JR., NO. 43 WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY CAMARO ZL1 – Sidelined in multi-car crash on Lap 10. Finished 39th
THE FRONT BUMPER OF YOUR CHEVROLET VERSUS THE REAR OF THE FORD, DID THAT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANCE OR JUST TOO MUCH BUMP?
“No, it wasn’t that. It was the amount of runs and the force of it. All I was trying to do was just some wreck avoidance. I didn’t want to wad up the No. 12 (Ryan Blaney). That’s the last car I want to wad up out there. Had such a big run on him. And the No. 22 (Joey Logano) pulled up and he checked up a little bit. I went to go to the bottom, where I was safe. I don’t know if I crossed his bumper or whatever. But it got him wiggled down and shoved me even farther down than I wanted to go. So, I went back up just to stay off the apron and it just unloaded. It’s just unfortunate, but I tried not to wreck my buddy, Ryan, and it cost our day and some others. I apologize. But, we should have been wrecked a couple of laps before that. The No. 11 (Denny Hamlin) had a big run on us and let me in throughout the middle, so I appreciate that. We were fast. I was just trying to ride and not wreck somebody and I wrecked myself.”
AUSTIN DILLON PUTS CAMARO ZL1 ON THE POLE AT TALLADEGA
Five Team Chevy Drivers Qualify in the Top 12
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 27, 2019) – Austin Dillon powered his No. 3 DOW Camaro ZL1 to the pole position for Sunday’s GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Talladega Superspeedway with a fast lap of 49.734 seconds, 192.544 mph. This marked Dillon’s fifth pole in 203 MENCS races, his first pole in 12 races at Talladega, and his second pole thus far in 2019.
The feat was also the 36th pole for Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway, the 704th pole in NASCAR’s premier division, and the fifth pole this season for the Camaro ZL1.
Dillon’s RCR teammate, Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 8 Caterpillar Camaro ZL1, was fifth quick and the fastest qualifying rookie. Alex Bowman qualified ninth in his No. 88 Nationwide Camaro ZL1, Kyle Larson was 10th in the No. 42 Clover Camaro ZL1, and Chase Elliott qualified 11th in his No. 9 Mountain Dew/Little Caesar’s Camaro ZL1 to give Chevrolet five qualifiers in the Top 12.
Aric Almirola (Ford) qualified third, Clint Bowyer (Ford) was third, and Brad Keselowski (Ford) qualified fourth to round out the Top 5.
FOX will telecast the 188-lap/500-mile GEICO 500 live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, April 28. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CAMARO ZL1 POST QUALIFYING TRANSCRIPT:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET THE FIRST POLE FOR THE 3 CAR AT TALLADEGA IN 25 YEARS?
“I’m a numbers kind of guy and you correlate all those numbers together – it’s the 50th anniversary for RCR, 50th for Talladega. Talladega is where RCR kind of started in 1969. I’m pumped to be here in the No. 3 car. Danny Stockman (crew chief) and the boys did a great job building a fast car and you want to go out there and make some noise and they did that. I give all the credit to those guys. Tomorrow it’s up to us to keep that car up front and hopefully make a real iconic win for RCR and everyone here at Talladega.”
HOW BIG IS IT TO HAVE DANNY STOCKMAN BACK?
“Stockman is my guy. He’s a grinder. He’s like me. We’re cut from the same cloth when it comes to just competitive nature. We hate to lose at anything and it’s nice to have that back just because he pushes me for every little bit he can get. We were second right there in that first round and he was talking to me about my line and where I can make up some speed. It’s pretty tough to cut feet out of this track because it’s so big. I did my best for him, I didn’t spin the tire leaving that time and I think that kind of jumped us up a little bit – enough to get the pole.”
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE LEAD TOMORROW IF IT’S TOO DANGEROUS TO BLOCK?
“I think having people behind you that you can trust is a big key to that. Getting those Bowties up front and working together, that will be a big part of it. Blocking is going to be tougher for the ducts in the front, but it’s a part of the game. We’ll just have to test it out early and see what it is. I definitely don’t want to give up that front position, but there are going to be guys – just the front guy seems to be a little bit of a sitting duck. There will be a lot of movement on the track tomorrow, hopefully it’s good movement and not cars going the other way.”
HOW MUCH DID IT BOTHER YOU AT DAYTONA THAT A CHEVY TEAM WORKED WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER?
“I think that’s in the past. I think it’s cool that we’ve learned from that and moved forward. I think it was cool today sitting in there with all of our guys in one group having a group discussion about what we need to do to accomplish our goals for tomorrow.”
WHAT WAS THE MEETING ABOUT TODAY WITH THE CHEVY TEAMS?
“I think we’re just unified as a group now and in a better position to work hard. We know we saw other teams doing a really good job of it here at Talladega last year. For us, that was just about working together to get a Chevrolet to victory lane the best we can. Put ourselves all in a better position and that’s just kind of what it was, working together was the message.”
IS THERE AN ORDER FROM CHEVROLET TO ONLY HELP CHEVROLETS OR MORE OF A SUGGESTION?
“I think it’s just looking at what the other teams have been successful in the last couple plate races, you look at those guys and they’re grouping up and they’re dictating the race. We don’t want to be in that position where we’re having to fight from behind the whole time and we have good numbers at Chevy and we need to use them. Honestly, it’s just looking at what the competition has done and trying to make it better. Do our job to be better at it.”
IS IT MORE OF AN EMPHASIS BECAUSE CHEVY HASN’T WON THIS SEASON?
“I don’t think it’s any more of an emphasis if we didn’t have this meeting, we would just still be behind. I think everybody with the other manufacturers have done a good job of doing this and instead of sitting back and playing it the old way of speedway racing, we’ve decided to take it as a group effort and I think you’ll see that tomorrow. I truly hope so. It’s our first time. These guys have been working at it for a couple races now and they’ve kind of done a good job perfecting how to get to the front and work together. We’re still working as a group. We have a young group of Chevy drivers there, a little less experience, but we as a group have done a good job over the weekend and last couple weeks. This is not just our first meeting about it. We’ve been talking about it a little bit behind the scenes and leading up to Talladega to do our best job as a group to work together.”
WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONFISCATED DECKLID IMPACTING YOUR PERFORMANCE TODAY OR ANY PENALTIES GOING FORWARD?
“I knew it wasn’t going to hurt our performance. It’s not from a speed and penalty-wise, it wasn’t something. We were just fixing a problem and it turned out we didn’t need to do that. I’m sure Stockman was spun out about it, but speed-wise, I knew it wasn’t going to hurt us and moving forward, I hope that NASCAR takes into effect the entire story of it and whatever is dealt our way, we’ll handle it and go on from there. I’m just happy that RCR has brought a lot of speed to the track this year, we’re running toward the front more where I feel like as a driver and as a team, we can compete with these guys and consistently if we are, Richmond was awesome for us. We really had a car capable of running in that top-three group and had a bad stop at the end. More of these type of races where we show speed and we’re constantly up there, we’re going to have a chance to win a race and lock ourselves into the Playoffs. That’s what I’m more concerned with. You fight for points all year long, but we need to have a shot to win the championship and that’s our ultimate goal.”
DO YOU FEEL MOMENTUM AT RCR?
“Truthfully, speed-wise, I feel like we’ve had momentum all year. You go back to Vegas, Fontana I sat on the pole. I’m really proud of us as a company with what we showed up to this year with the packages. The Xfinity team has been kicking butt all year. With Randall and Tyler Reddick, they’ve been impressive so that’s always good moral in the shop. Just the edge that brings running up front, it keeps the guys wanting to do more, wanting to go faster and that’s what you love seeing out of a group at RCR that’s been here for a long time. The fire is lit and when that fire is lit, we can be tough to beat.”
DO YOU FEEL THE RELATIONSHIP IS REKINDLED WITH DANNY STOCKMAN?
“That relationship has never really gone away. It has distanced itself, but now I feel like – I told him after one of the races, we had a practice at Phoenix and we started yelling back and forth at each other and we were fast in the practice. I told him we were going to do this and he was like, all right. We did it and the car didn’t respond to what I wanted and then he did what he wanted to do and it went fast again. After practice I told him that was the best practice we’ve had since we’ve been separated and that I loved him again. It was just me and him joking with each other, but it was a good race for us at Phoenix and it kind of got us back on the right path. He’s just constantly on me and that’s what I have to have, I have to have that guy and I’m a fiery personality and he hates to lose at anything when it’s both practice sessions, qualifying and the race – I love that. That’s the mentality you should have every weekend, as a company and as a race team. Everybody should want to win everything they do.”
Menard Qualifies 17th At Talladega
April 27, 2019
Paul Menard and the No. 21 Quick Lane Mustang are set to start Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway from 17th place.
Menard earned that spot in qualifying on Saturday with a best lap at 189.921 miles per hour.
With a new rules package in place for Sunday’s 100th Cup race at the giant Alabama track, Menard and his peers have spent Friday and Saturday fine-tuning their cars for a race that still has many unknowns when it comes to how the cars will react in the draft with every car on the track at the same time. Continue reading Menard Qualifies 17th At Talladega
ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB SECURE FOURTH NO. 1 OF SEASON AT
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
CONCORD, N.C. (April 27, 2019) — Robert Hight secured his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season Saturday evening at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte. John Force landed in the No. 3 qualifying spot and Brittany Force and Austin Prock were seventh and eighth respectively in Top Fuel. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB SECURE FOURTH NO. 1 OF SEASON AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS