CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDYCAR CLASSIC
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
VIDEO OVERVIEW OF 2019 CHEVROLET POWERED INDYCAR
MARCH 19, 2019
DETROIT (March 19, 2019) – Race number two of the NTT IndyCar Series (NICS) season heads to a new track for the series – the Circuit of The Americas just outside of Austin, Texas. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Circuit of the Americas
Martinsville Speedway Is A Special Place For The Wood Brothers
March 19, 2019
Martinsville Speedway, the smallest track on NASCAR’s Cup circuit, holds a big place in the hearts of the Wood Brothers, whose home base is just 30 miles away in Stuart, Va.
For seven decades, the Woods have been competing in races at Martinsville, where the team’s current driver Paul Menard and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew will be competing in the STP 500 on Sunday.
The team’s founder, the late Glenn Wood, made his first start in the series now known as Monster Energy Cup on the half-mile at Martinsville in 1953, in a Lincoln numbered 21. Continue reading Martinsville Speedway Is A Special Place For The Wood Brothers
Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws for Fourth Straight Season
Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (March 18, 2019) – Dominic Scelzi scored his first top-five finish of the season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series last Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway.
The fifth-place run during the Silver Dollar Shootout presented by Reibes NAPA Auto Parts at the bullring in Chico, Calif., gives Scelzi at least one top-five result with ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’ for four consecutive seasons. Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws for Fourth Straight Season
ECR Cadillac Engines Wins Second-Consecutive IMSA Race of 2019 Season
Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DP1-V.R. Wins 12 Hours of Sebring
WELCOME, N.C. (March 18, 2019) – ECR Engines secured its second-consecutive win in the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar series with a win by Action Express Racing’s Whelen Engineering Cadillac at the 12 Hours of Sebring this past Saturday. ECR previously scored a 1-2 finish in the Rolex 24 Hour earlier this year.
Action Express Racing’s No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac was piloted by Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, and Eric Curran. Together, the three drivers led 249 of the 348 laps at Sebring International Raceway after battling rain and poor visibility at the start of the event. The team also had to defend their lead for a final eight-minute sprint to the finish after the fifth caution period of the day came out late in the race.
“This has been a great start to the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season for ECR Engines,” said Richie Gilmore, president of ECR Engines. “To follow up our 1-2 finish in the Rolex 24 Hour with another win at the 12 Hours of Sebring is a testament to all the work and effort our team has put in during the off-season. Whelen Engineering has been so close to victory at Sebring in the past, so it’s nice to see them finally get it done.”
The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac has previously finished second at Sebring in 2016 and 2018, and third in 2017. The team also finished second in the 2019 Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona International Speedway.
CALIFORNIA KID, COLE CUSTER WINS AT FONTANA
FONTANA, CA, March 18, 2019 – The California Kid, Cole Custer returned home to win his third career NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his first win at his home track in Fontana, CA. Custer led the last 19 laps of the Performance Alliance Group 300, to edge out the competition, taking the checkered flag and marking the 60th overall win for Stewart-Haas Racing.
“Congratulations Cole, Tony, and Gene,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Cole showed great determination and patience throughout the race and we are proud to be part of SHR’s {Stewart-Haas Racing} milestone 60th win.”
“This means a ton,” Custer commented in Victory Lane. “To win here, at home in Southern California – I grew up racing in San Bernardino and Irwindale. It means a ton. I am pretty pumped up.”
The No. 00 grabbed the lead from Christopher Bell on Lap 132 of 150 and gradually pulled away to beat Kyle Busch to the finish line by 1.927 seconds. Custer led four times for a total of 29 laps out of the 150-lap race.
Ford Performance teammates Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric finished P5 and P6 respectively.
On Sunday, five Fords finished in the top-10 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400. Joey Logano finished P2, Brad Keselowski P3, Kevin Harvick P4, Ryan Blaney P5 and Aric Almirola finished P9.
In Sebring, FL, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing road race teams secured two podium finishes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 12 Hours of Sebring and FIA World Endurance Championship 1000 Miles of Sebring.
The No. 67 Ford GT, driven by Richard Westbrook, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon, led the majority of the IMSA 12 Hour of Sebring race, on Saturday. After a late race incident, in the last five minutes of the race, dropped the No. 67 out of contention for the win to finish P6.
In turn, the No. 66 Ford GT with drivers Joey Hand, Dirk Müller and Sébastien Bourdais, continued pushing, working their way up to a second-place finish.
The FIA WEC No. 67 Ford GT scored a third-place finish in the 1000 Miles of Sebring Friday night at the historic track, with drivers Andy Priaulx, Harry Tincknell and Jonathan Bomarito.
NASCAR heads to the first short track of the season for the MENCS this weekend in Martinsville, VA. In addition, IMSA will head to Long Beach, CA in April. Reference the full 2019 schedule on www.roushyates.com.
23 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 357 WINS – 325 POLES!
Top Fuel — Richie Crampton, 3.769 seconds, 323.89 mph def. Clay Millican, 3.756 seconds, 324.67 mph. Both ARP Cars
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.867, 331.61 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 11.165, 92.63. Both ARP Cars
Pro Stock — Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.505, 212.29 ARP Car def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, Broke.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.752, 199.17 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.762, 198.90.
Pro Modified — Todd Tutterow, Chevy Camaro, 5.662, 251.86 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.643, 253.95.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Megan Meyer, 5.201, 285.35 ARP car def. Mike Bucher, 7.301, 122.56.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.352, 273.27 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 5.469, 266.21.
Top Fuel Harley — Beau Layne, Weekend, 6.473, 217.42 def. Bob Malloy, Buell, 7.247, 187.96.
Factory Stock Showdown — Drew Skillman, Ford Mustang, 7.736, 176.70 def. Stephen Bell, Chevy Camaro, 7.887, 176.33.
Competition Eliminator — Craig Bourgeois, Dragster, 6.820, 184.77 def. Randy Daniels, Sunfire, 8.297, 161.65.
Super Stock — Kevin Riner, Chevy Camaro, 10.278, 124.96 def. Mark Alvey, Camaro, 10.055, 126.10.
Stock Eliminator — Randi Lyn Shipp, Pontiac Firebird, 10.517, 118.96 def. Eddie Longhany Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.223, 128.21.
Super Comp — Holden Laris, Dragster, 8.941, 181.18 def. Nichole Stephenson, Dragster, 8.926, 179.49.
Super Gas — Ed Richardson, Chevy Cutlass, 9.898, 166.83 def. Carl Watts, Chevy Cavalier, 9.871, 164.87.
Super Street — Doug Ramsey, Chevy Camaro, 10.905, 145.75 def. Colby Fuller, Camaro, 10.927, 135.56.
Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 10.972, 81.76 def. Steve Furr, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Sandy Wilkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.655, 193.71 def. Bruce Thrift, Pontiac GTO, 6.620, 207.59.
After Disappointing Finish at Fontana, The No. 21 Team Heads Home To Pay Tribute To Team Founder Glenn Wood
March 18, 2019
A late-race pit strategy didn’t work out for Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team, and as a result, the team ended Sunday’s Auto Club 400 in 20th place.
Menard, who started the race from 25th place, had worked his way up to just outside the top 10 just after the end of the second 60-lap Stage. Continue reading After Disappointing Finish at Fontana, The No. 21 Team Heads Home To Pay Tribute To Team Founder Glenn Wood
ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CLAIM HISTORIC VICTORY AT
50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2019) — Robert Hight defeated a slew of veteran drag racers on his way to winning the Amalie Motor Oil 50th NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway on Sunday evening. The two-time world champion and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team put together a series of four 3.8 passes to pick up his 47th career victory, fourth at the Gatornationals and second this season. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB CLAIM HISTORIC VICTORY AT 50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS
CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
POST-RACE RECAP AND WINNER TRANSCRIPTS
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019
Chevrolet claims Funny Car, Pro Stock wins in 50th Gatornationals
• Robert Hight earns second Funny Car victory in three races
• Bo Butner also records second win of the season in Pro Stock
• Stephen Bell is runner-up in COPO Camaro in Factory Stock Showdown
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2019) – Chevrolet drivers Robert Hight and Bo Butner celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by hoisting gold Wallys claimed in the 50th anniversary Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Continue reading CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE
Beckman Races Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car to Semis at NHRA Gatornationals
· Defending NHRA Gatornationals champion Jack Beckman races Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to semifinals
· Five Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars reach second round of Gatornationals
· Three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers rank in top-five of point standings
· Leah Pritchett drives DSR Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster to second round, ranks second in championship standings
· Dwayne Scheitlin, Stephen Comella take Dodge Top Finisher Awards in NHRA Sportsman classes in Gainesville
· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com Continue reading Beckman Races Dodge//SRT Mopar Funny Car to Semis at NHRA Gatornationals
Austin Dillon and the Dow Chevrolet Team Earn Solid, Top-10 Finish at Auto Club Speedway
“We had a really fast Dow Chevrolet this weekend and we have shown speed all year. We earned the pole award and ran well within the top-five until the end of Stage 1. I could feel the right-rear tire going down and brushed the outside wall. The No. 3 team did a great job keeping me on the lead lap during multiple pit stops for repairs. The Dow Chevrolet remained fast. It was just an uphill battle to reclaim track position. Through hard work, we were able to finish 10th. I’m so proud of this team.”
-Austin Dillon
Contact with the Outside Wall Hurts Daniel Hemric’s Top-10 Efforts in Fontana
“I hate it for everyone on this No. 8 Liberty National Life Insurance Chevrolet team. We had a strong run going and had worked from the 17th spot to racing inside the top 10 by the end of Stage 1. I was racing in heavy traffic once we went back green, and the air just sucked me up the track and I made contact with the outside wall exiting Turn 4. That damage cut the right rear tire and we had to pit under green to repair the damage. Unfortunately, we had another flat right rear, which caused even more damage. Nobody on this team gave up and I am proud of them for doing all they could to repair the damage. The car still had speed, but without the help of many cautions, we never really had the chance to get those laps back and then we had a flat left front in the closing laps, which hurt us even more.”
-Daniel Hemric
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
AUTO CLUB 400
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MARCH 17, 2019
TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
6th KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1
10th AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW COATINGS CAMARO ZL1
11th CHASE ELLIOTT, NO 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
12th KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1
15th WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1
TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Kyle Busch (Toyota)
2nd Joey Logano (Ford)
3rd Brad Keselowski (Ford)
4rd Kevin Harvick (Ford)
5rd Ryan Blaney (Ford)
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues next weekend at Martinsville Speedway with the STP 500 on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
TEAM CHEVY NOTES AND QUOTES:
KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 6th
“We had a good day. I was just hoping to get a top 5 and came home just a bit short. But the growth rate of us at Ganassi and the adjustments we’re making, I couldn’t be happier. I’m smiling as I’m driving the car. It’s so much fun to toss it down in there with all this downforce and the horsepower, you just pitch it sideways and see if it’s going to stick. But, we know we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s awesome to run up front. I’m smiling. But, we know at our growth rate, we’re not on a plateau yet. I’ve got to keep going.”
TALK ABOUT KYLE BUSCH, YOUR BROTHER’S ACHIEVEMENT OF 200 NASCAR WINS TODAY?
HE GOT A SPEEDING PENALTY BUT CAME BACK AND WON HIS 200TH. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
“Yeah, I thought he was done. Denny (Hamlin) got back up to 7th. Those guys, man, when they’re dialed in, they’re hard to catch. And, at the growth rate we’re growing at Ganassi with the No. 1 car, we’ve got to keep going because these guys are a couple steps ahead of us, maybe even more than that, but we’ve done well as a team to find the speed we need to and to come away with good consistent finishes. But, this is a big day. For my little brother to have 200 wins, they’re all added up through his hard work and his dedication to perfection. Not bat for two kids with an attitude from Vegas.”
IT’S A BUSCH FAMILY TRADITION, ISN’T IT?
“As far as attitudes and winning? I’ve got to hold up my end of the bargain. I’ve gotten too nice and I’m not winning enough; but I’m having fun. I love the Ganassi guys. Matt McCall (crew chief) wants more. I know he does. I want more. I was hoping for a top 5 today but we’ll take it. All in all, we’re running where we need to be running.”
ARE YOU PROUD TO BE LEADING THE CHEVY CONTINGENT? THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR THAT YOU’VE BEEN THE TOP BOWTIE
“I want to see more Bowties up there all around me. It’s those teams that are there right now with Penske, SHR, Gibbs, that’s what’s towing the boat and towing the whole sequence. For us at Ganassi, we’ve got to cross over that threshold and get to that next level. Whether Chevy is going to help us or we’re taking them, we’re just going to continue to work hard as a team no matter what it is.”
AT VEGAS, YOU HAD YOUR STRONG RUN THAT WAS HELPED BY MATT’S PIT DECISION, BUT TODAY IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CAR COULD DO. HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CAR AND YOU GUYS HAVE IMPROVED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T NEED A PIT CALL TO GET POSITION?
“The biggest thing is we’re not getting stage points. At the end of the day, I think we might only get 30 points today. It’s fun to finish well and to have that accolade, but the way you run this series is you’ve got to have stage points. So, we’ve got to qualify better. Right now the RCR guys are doing that. As a Chevy group, Hendrick was good at Phoenix last week. We’ve got to cover more bases quicker. We’re going a good job of getting entrenched with each other, but we also need to start pinpointing where we can gain that time.”
WAS IT A CHOICE OF PICKING YOUR SET-UP FOR QUALIFYING OR YOUR CHOICE OF PICKING YOUR SET-UP FOR RACE DAY WITH THE SHORT TIME YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE NOW?
“I didn’t like the way our car was handling and I didn’t want to jump out in that draft. I didn’t think I was going to be able to even add throttle being in the draft. And so, I just went rogue and qualified on my own. We ended up 21st. It wasn’t the right thing to do, but we know we need more help and we have to do more work on Fridays.”
WHEN YOU SAID DURING THE RACE YOUR CAR WAS ALMOST TOO GOOD, WHAT DID YOU MEAN? WAS EVERYTHING JUST GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THAT POINT?
“Well, when I say too good it means it’s not doing anything severely wrong and yet our lap times were two tenths too slow. Then when we loosened it back up, I’m driving with elbows out as hard as I can, and we got our lap time back, but then we’ll cook our tires off at the end of the run. And that’s what happened where we didn’t quite bring hope the top 5.”
TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 27th
“We had a really great GEICO Camaro ZL1 at the start of this race. It was handling the best it had all weekend. My guys had found something that was going to work and keep our good finishes going, but the flat tire under green at the end of Stage 1 really hurt us. We had strategy plans to get our laps back if we could ever catch the cautions that we needed, but those just didn’t happen. It’s unfortunate that a tire ruined our day, but that’s not going to get this team down. We are going to keep grinding and working hard to be ready for Martinsville next weekend.”
Fourth-Place Finish for Acura at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
• #7 Team Penske Acura ARX-05 recovers from two-lap deficit to finish fourth
• Both Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo’s contend for GTD victory, but are hampered by late-race issues
• GTD pole qualifier Trent Hindman stars in wet weather run
SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2019) – Early-race difficulties for Acura Team Penske and late-race issues for Meyer Shank Racing led to a disappointing day for the two Acura teams at Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Continue reading Fourth-Place Finish for Acura at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING:
Valiant Effort Lands No. 3 Corvette on Podium
SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2019) – Corvette Racing closed its marathon weekend of racing Saturday on the class podium at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, bringing one of the team’s most demanding events to an end.
Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller placed third in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It was a remarkable effort for the trio of the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R as they competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s eight-hour race at Sebring International Raceway on Friday. Continue reading Valiant Effort Lands No. 3 Corvette on Podium
Johnson Drives Dodge//SRT and Mopar to No. 3 Position in Funny Car Qualifying at NHRA Gatornationals
Tommy Johnson, Jr. qualifies Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car third at Gainesville (Florida) Raceway
Six Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat drivers make Funny Car field at NHRA Gatornationals
Mopar-powered Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett to start from No. 4 spot
Pritchett puts Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in top half of Factory Stock Showdown field, comes up short in opening round
Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts, features highlights from NHRA competition
March 16, 2019, Gainesville, Florida – Tommy Johnson, Jr. is the fastest of six Mopar-powered Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers qualified for Sunday’s elimination rounds at the 50th Annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Florida) Raceway.
Johnson, who made his first professional run at Gainesville in 1984, earned the provisional No. 1 qualifying position Saturday afternoon with his lap of 3.896 seconds at 324.75 mph in the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Make-A-Wish machine, earning three bonus points. In the final qualifying session, Johnson was hoping to back up his earlier run and regain the No. 1 position, but an explosion halfway through his run resulted in the body flying off and the racecar slowing to a run of 4.385/182.92.
Johnson walked away from the scene and his DSR team will go to work to rebuild his Funny Car in order to chase history Sunday from the third starting spot. He’ll be joined in Sunday’s field by fellow DSR and Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car drivers Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman and Ron Capps as well as fellow Mopar-powered competitors Cruz Pedregon and Jim Campbell.
Hagan, winner of the NHRA Arizona Nationals three weeks ago, posted his best lap of 3.900/325.85 aboard the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car in his final pass to grab the fifth position. Beckman, the defending Gatornationals champion, registered the same ET (3.900) driving the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in Q4, but his speed of 323.74 dropped him to sixth. Pedregon also used Q4 to make his best run of the weekend (3.910/325.30) in the Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to grab seventh just ahead of Capps in the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, who closed qualifying with a run of 3.933/318.77.
In Top Fuel, Leah Pritchett made an impressive pass to open both qualifying days aboard her Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster earning a pair of qualifying points with her Q1 run of 3.818 seconds at 321.88 mph and two more following her run of 3.724/325.22 in Saturday’s Q3 session. Pritchett begins her fifth run for a Gatornationals Wally from the fourth position Sunday facing Pat Dakin in the opening round.
Dodge//SRT Mopar NHRA Sportsman Spotlight
Pritchett opened defense of her 2018 Factory Stock Showdown championship at Gainesville Raceway by qualifying her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak sixth with a best run of 7.852/173.87 coming in the final session on Saturday afternoon, following a pair of runs Friday with results of 8.007/171.55 in Q1 and 8.018/172.10 in Q2.
In the opening round of eliminations, she lined up her 354-cubic-inch HEMI®-engine-powered Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak against Kevin Skinner. Pritchett left first with a .024 reaction time and posted a lap of 7.891/172.59, but couldn’t hold off the Mustang driver’s winning pass of 7.799/172.59.
Pro Stock World Champion and longtime Mopar Dodge driver Allen Johnson and former Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk will look to rebound at the next Factory Stock event after failing to qualify for the 16-car ladder. Johnson’s best run was a 8.069/169.69 that placed him on the outside of the competitive Factory Stock field, while Pawuk was also unable to crack the top 16 with his pass of 8.077/170.26..
Pritchett and her fellow Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series will resume action in late April at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, the second of eight 2019 FSS events.
Mopar Dodge//SRT Notes & Quotes
(best elapsed time in bold)
Leah Pritchett, Mopar Dodge Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified No. 4, will face No. 13 Pat Dakin
Friday: (3.818 seconds at 321.88 mph – Q1); (6.919/100.84 – Q2)
Saturday: (3.724/325.22 – Q3); (6.434/105.36 – Q4)
“We like to be in the position we’re in where we’re capable of pushing. That’s where you learn, where you grow. No. 4 is a good qualifying spot. Both lanes are great. They’re nice and smooth. I feel good about our chances tomorrow, especially if we get back to where we can throw down those really big numbers. That’s what we get excited about. We learned a lot in Q4 even though the numbers didn’t show it and I think that’s going to set us up for a lot of momentum come race day. Conditions look like they’ll be favorable. We’re here to break records, break hearts and be a part of history. No better time than the 50th anniversary to bring some gold home.”
Tommy Johnson Jr., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 3, will face No. 14 John Smith.
Friday: (5.002 seconds at 152.24.35 mph – Q1); (3.985/322.85 – Q2)
Saturday: (3.896/324.75 – Q3); (8.695/80.93 – Q4)
“That (Q4 explosion) was probably the biggest boomer I’ve ever had. There was no warning whatsoever. The car was running really good and just before the finish line, kaboom! Unexpected for sure. I hate it for the crew guys, all the extra work it’s going to cause. They went through that enough already in Phoenix. I don’t think any of (these explosions) are related, and that’s what’s unfortunate. I don’t think it’s a problem we have, it’s just maybe a run of bad luck. We’ll get it fixed, the car is running really well. We’ll come out here tomorrow, see if we can’t lay down some good runs and keep the body on it.”
Matt Hagan, Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 5, will face No. 12 Jonnie Lindberg
Friday: (4.779 seconds at 167.68 mph – Q1); (4.007/317.05 – Q2)
Saturday: (3.946/325.37– Q3); (3.900/325.85– Q4)
“Man, we’ve got a good hot rod. (Crew chief) Dickie Venables is continuing to get more and more comfortable with this race car and the combination we have right now. I’m excited about tomorrow. I’ve never won the Gatornationals. I finished as the runner-up last year and have a great opportunity and a great race car to get it done tomorrow. We won for Sandvik in Phoenix, now we need to win for Mopar.”
Jack Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 6, will face No. 11 J.R. Todd
Friday: (5.075 seconds at 147.46 mph – Q1); (7.996/89.17– Q2)
Saturday: (14.702/44.17 – Q3); (3.900/323.74 – Q4)
“I picked up 180 miles an hour for the first time here at Gainesville in that final run and it felt good. We struggled. I screwed up the first run. We were too aggressive on one run. We were too soft on one run. We are the defending event champions. You don’t want to go in with a whimper. We went in with some authority.”
Ron Capps, NAPA Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Qualified No. 8, will face No. 9 Bob Tasca III
Friday: (4.017 seconds at 313.00 mph – Q1); (3.965/89.83 – Q2)
Saturday: (7.082/84.76– Q3); (3.933/318.77 – Q4)
“We used Q3 for a little test and those are the conditions you want to do it in. We sacrificed making a run, but we learned a bunch. I’m so proud of this NAPA team. This is sacred territory here with it being the 50th Annual Gatornationals and it’d be pretty cool to get another trophy.”
Tune-in Info
FOX Sports 1 will broadcast three and a half of eliminations coverage of the 50th Annual NHRA Gatornationals starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 17.
About Dodge
Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is America’s mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the brand in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2019, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is possessed by the Demon. Its 797-horsepower supercharged HEMI® high-output engine makes it the most powerful, quickest and fastest muscle car reaching 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds and the fastest GT production car with a ¼-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph. It also reaches a new top speed of 203 mph. Joining the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with its more powerful 717-horsepower engine, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, which features fender flares from the SRT Hellcat Widebody and adds 3.5 inches of width to Scat Pack’s footprint, as well as and the new Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320. Infused with exclusive drag strip technology from the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is a drag-oriented, street-legal muscle car and a blank canvas for the serious grassroots drag racer. The 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV with a best-in-class tow rating of 8,700 lbs. fills out the brands’ performance lineup. These visceral performance models join a 2019 brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger — a showroom that offers performance at every price point.
Tyler Reddick Overcomes Mid-Race Flat Tire to Collect Third Top-Five Finish This Year
“We had another really solid No. 2 Hurdl Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. My team worked so hard on this Camaro, from putting in the work back at the shop to fixing it up after I scraped the wall in practice. I’m really proud of us for completing the weekend sweep for RCR with pole awards in both series. That was a nice ‘thank you’ that I could give them for the effort they’ve put in these past couple of weeks. We had to fight for our third top-five finish of the year today. I started off a little too loose but built tight eventually as the race went on. We had a flat right rear tire midway through the final stage after I brushed the wall, causing us to pit off sequence and go a lap down. We got lucky when a caution came out soon after, which allowed us to take the wave around and get our lap back. We had a great car and were able to get back into the top five, but I hate that we weren’t able to really get back up to the front and fight for the win. This one should have been ours. We were so close. I’m looking forward to Texas and getting back at it still as the points leader.”
-Tyler Reddick
ROBERT HIGHT AND BRITTANY FORCE ADD TO HISTORY BOOKS SATURDAY AT 50TH NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2019) — Both Robert Hight and Brittany Force made history Saturday night when they secured their No. 1 qualifying positions at the Amalie Motor Oil 50th NHRA Gatornationals. Hight became the first racer to collect three consecutive No. 1 qualifiers in the first three races of the season since Kenny Bernstein in 1987. Force set the Gainesville Raceway track elapsed time record and became the first woman since Shirley Muldowney, 40 years ago, to qualify No. 1 at the Gatornationals. Their teammates John Force and Austin Prock, are starting race day from the No. 4 and No. 10 positions, respectively.
Hight started the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season with the same fire he finished 2018 after falling short of a second consecutive championship in the last race day of the year. Coming into the season opening Winternationals, Hight nabbed the No. 1 qualifier and was unstoppable on race day where he collected his 46th career victory. In Phoenix it seemed he would repeat his performance with a No. 1 qualifier but finished the weekend in the semifinals.
“It goes back, for my team, to the last day of the season last year where we had the chance to win a championship. We didn’t get it done and that didn’t set well with my team over the winter. They worked really hard in getting this thing prepared and figuring out what our weaknesses were. So far, we’ve been quick everywhere we’ve been. At testing, in Pomona and Phoenix, and now at Gainesville. It’s pretty impressive but it’s not by a lot though.”
After a two-week break, too long according to the two-time champion, nothing has changed. Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car team are continuing to dominate. They kept it consistent and came into the day in the No. 1 spot. Hight and team had an impressive 3.899-second pass at 330.88 mph enough for the third spot, putting him behind team owner John Force in the third session.
With their final run of qualifying, anyone who knew Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham could predict they’d be running for the No. 1 spot and they did not disappoint. It was 3.868-second pass that landed them at the top of the class once again and in a match-up with Terry Haddock to begin race day.
“It’s pretty impressive but we aren’t up there by a lot though. Tim Wilkerson was close but I think the first two races I had a little bit on the field and they’re starting to catch up to us so that’s what happens when you start running really well. You make the others press hard,” said Hight. “The trick is for us not to let up and keep pressing hard ourselves, and try to stay on top but qualifying’s over and we got a race to win. It’s a big race, the 50th anniversary Gatornationals. That would be one cool trophy that we’d want to put on our mantel.”
Brittany Force and her Advance Auto Parts team seem as if they have overcome the learning curve that was prescribed for them at the beginning of the 2019 NHRA season. Force was faced with making more than just a change to the color of her hot rod to match with new sponsor Advance Auto Parts during the off season. New crew chiefs David Grubnic and Mac Savage came on board at the opening of 2019 and were tasked with making the conversion from Alan Johnson Racing parts to John Force Racing parts.
“We all saw what Grubnic did last season and he’s incredible. I’m proud to be teamed up with him. He’s incredible to work with. I’ve never worked with a crew chief like him. He’s driven one of these things so it’s a whole different world being able to talk to a crew chief who has been behind the wheel. It makes us connect on a different level,” said Force. “Being able to talk to him is key. Again, because he’s been in one of these things, he knows what the pressure is like. He knows what it’s like when you’re up there and staring down the track. He’s been there and done it all so being able to have conversations with him and to get advice from him, I’m really lucky.”
The transition seemed rocky but there were glimpses of what could be, a 3.700-second pass at preseason testing, a 3.696 pass in qualifying at the Winternationals and a 3.768 pass in the first round of eliminations at the Arizona Nationals. Now at the third race of the 2019 campaign, Force made four consecutively improving passes that started with a 3.904-second pass and 3.800-second pass Friday, to a 3.718 run at 328.86 on Saturday afternoon and ended with a beautiful 3.680 pass at 326.32 mph as the last pair down the track on Saturday evening. With the effort, Force has claimed her first No. 1 qualifier of the season, 11th of her career and first at Gainesville Raceway.
“We’ve been struggling the last two races and the plan coming here was to start out playing it safe. Once we picked up that run and got information, we could build on that and that’s what we did. We’ve improved every single run and ran a .90, .80 and .71, and then this last run,” said Force. “I’m very proud of the entire Advance Auto Parts team and my crew chiefs David Grubnic and Mac Savage. They told me they’d give me a race car and that it was going to do that on the last run, and Grubnic pulled me aside and told me that it was going to be fast and to hold on.
“We’re sitting No. 1 and this is the best position possible. We’ve had four solid runs down the race track and learned from every single one of them so we really have the best shot out there. Again, I have to give it up to my entire team,” continued Force. “This place is a special one for me. I had my first win here back in 2016 and I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, so I love this race track and I’d love to do it again.”
Force will begin her battle for the Wally against veteran Chris Karamasines.
John Force and the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil team put on a strong performance through the final two qualifying rounds. Force opened the day with a 3.897-second pass at 331.94 mph that put him momentarily in the No. 1 position. He entered the final session in the No. 2 position but would move down two spots to No. 4 after spinning the tires and crossing the center-line resulting in no time for the final qualifying run of the weekend.
Heading into Sunday’s race, the winningest driver in NHRA history is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Gainesville Raceway. He’s had eight victories at the historic track, the most by any driver in the nitro classes, and will be chasing his 150th Funny Car victory when he lines up tomorrow against Jim Campbell.
“We had a good weekend of qualifying. Brittany and Advance are the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel and so is Robert with Auto Club in Funny Car. The Prock kid did a good job and is No. 10 with the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster. I had some pretty good runs too and am the No. 4 qualifier with PEAK. It was a weekend of qualifying we were looking for and going into tomorrow we’re looking to get some round wins,” said Force. “It’s the 50th anniversary of the Gatornationals and would be a big one for any of us. And you know, I’m chasing 150 so that would be a big one for me too.”
Austin Prock continued to make progress during the final two qualifying sessions of the Gatornationals. A solid 3.758-second run at 330.15 mph in his Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster put the rookie of the year candidate in eighth heading into the fourth qualifying session, two spots up from Friday night.
The son of championship tuner Jimmy Prock, who crew chiefs Robert Hight’s Chevy, didn’t improve in the final qualifying session but stayed consistent running 3.769-seconds at 327.11 mph. With three quality passes under his belt at Gainesville Raceway, Austin is feeling confident heading into eliminations in the 10th position where he’ll line up with Clay Millican in round one.
“We had another good weekend of qualifying. In Q3 we ran another big mile per hour for this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster with that 330,” said Prock. “In the last run we slowed down a bit. It wasn’t what we were looking for but we had another good run down the race track to grab data from. We don’t have very many runs under our belt in this thing so we’re learning every time. We can go A to B and tomorrow we should be able to get some round wins.”
Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for second straight win after quickest and fastest pass of ’19
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16) — Fresh off a thrilling victory at the last NHRA tour stop in Phoenix, Jeg Coughlin Jr. is bullish on his chances to repeat the feat with his brand-new RJ Racecars-built Camaro at this weekend’s 50th anniversary Amalie Oil Gatornationals. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for second straight win after quickest and fastest pass of ’19
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Solid Effort in FIA WEC Round
Garcia, Magnussen, Rockenfeller finish eighth in class with No. 63 Corvette C7.R
SEBRING, Fla. (March 15, 2019) – Corvette Racing gave a solid effort during the 1,000 Miles of Sebring on Friday as Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller finished eighth in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s GTE Pro category. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Solid Effort in FIA WEC Round
Menard Qualifies 25th For Auto Club 400
March 15, 2019
After an eventful qualifying session at Auto Club Speedway on Friday, Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Moen Mustang are set to start Sunday’s Auto Club 400 from 25th place.
Menard was on the track in Round One of qualifying when the caution flag flew for a spin by Chase Elliott, interrupting that qualifying attempt. Continue reading Menard Qualifies 25th For Auto Club 400