DiBenedetto Earns Eighth Starting Spot in Thursday’s Second Duel Qualifying Race

February 9, 2020

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew got off to a solid start in their first qualifying session as a team, posting the 16th fastest speed in pole qualifying for the 62nd annual Daytona 500.

Only the top-two starting spots are locked in for the 500, with the rest of the line-up determined by the twin Duel qualifying races on Thursday night. DiBenedetto will line up in eighth place in the second 150-mile qualifier. Continue reading DiBenedetto Earns Eighth Starting Spot in Thursday’s Second Duel Qualifying Race →

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
BUSCH CLASH AT DAYTONA
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES & QUOTES
FEBRUARY 9, 2020

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
2nd AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFFROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE
4th KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1 1LE
7th CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
11th JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
12th KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 1LE

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Erik Jones (Toyota)
2nd Austin Dillon (Chevrolet)
3rd Clint Bowyer (Ford)
4th Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)
5th Ryan Newman (Ford)
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Busch Clash–Post Race →

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
FEBRUARY 9, 2020

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1. RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER CAMARO ZL1 1LE
2. ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1 1LE
3. CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
4. JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
8. WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA ‘COLOR OF THE YEAR’ CAMARO ZL1 1LE

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Chevrolet)
2. Alex Bowman (Chevrolet)
3. Chase Elliott (Chevrolet)
4. Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
5. Denny Hamlin (Toyota)

FOX will telecast the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway live at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, February 16. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona 500 Qualifying →

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY NOTES & QUOTES
FEBRUARY 9, 2020

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER CAMARO ZL1 1LE – DAYTONA 500 POLE WINNER QUICK QUOTE:
CONGRATULATIONS ALL THE WAY AROUND. YOU CAN’T HIDE THAT SMILE. HOW GOOD DOES THIS FEEL IN YOUR DEBUT WITH JTG DAUGHERTY, TO PUT IT ON THE POLE FOR THE DAYTONA 500?
“It’s cool. Tad (Geschickter, team owner) and (wife) Jodi are back at the shop with everybody. So. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be here and to bring guys with me like Brian (Pattie, crew chief). They’ve been working really hard. They’re in my corner. They’ve been behind me throughout all my career. Ernie (Cope, competition director) runs a great organization and a great shop. The Hendrick horsepower was amazing. Obviously we’ve got quite a few Hendrick cars right there behind us lined-up. Our Camaro ZL1 1LE was really strong. And the winds started picking up there, down the back straightaway; a little headwind for the other guys, so I’m really proud to put our Kroger Chevy on the pole on Kroger pole day for the Daytona 500. That was our goal coming down here. Pattie was working really hard all off-season for that goal. And everybody chipped in, the whole shop. We cut bodies off. We put them back on. So this goes out to the whole shop and I’ve got to thank our other partners as well. I’m looking forward to hopefully continuing this momentum on Thursday.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, PERSONALLY, IN MAKING THE TRANSITION YOU ARE AND THEN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT YOU JUST DID?
“Yeah, it’s huge. Any time you can start the season off, your first race with an organization, and to see all the work that they’ve put in; guys at the shop that I didn’t even know were working Saturdays and late nights all for the benefit of me to come down here and jump in this car and run fast. Touring the Hendrick engine shop, they were pumped-up for me to switch over into their horsepower. So this goes to a lot of people that work hard behind the scenes for me to come out here and drive. It’s a cool way to start Speedweeks.”

NOSTALGIA NATIONALS TO LAUNCH ‘HISTORIC DRAG RACING’ SEASON

NSRA Nostalgia Nationals
Santa Pod Raceway
Fri.8 – Sun.10 May 2020

With a new season under way, our thoughts turn to the year’s first major nostalgia event.

Hosted in association with the National Street Rod Association, the Nostalgia Nationals promises to be three full days of RWYB track action, the focus, as always, being on pre-1973 Hot Rods and Street Machines, with a generous helping of period race cars adding to the mix. Continue reading NOSTALGIA NATIONALS TO LAUNCH ‘HISTORIC DRAG RACING’ SEASON →

Mopar Dodge//SRT Funny Cars Seeded 1-2 for First Race Day of 2020 NHRA Season

· Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) drivers Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman qualified their Mopar Dodge//SRT Funny Cars No.1 and No.2 for Sunday’s 60th annual NHRA Winternationals
· DSR teammates Tommy Johnson Jr. and Ron Capps secured qualifying positions in the top-half of the Funny Car eliminations ladder
· DSR driver Leah Pruett earns a third seed start for elimination rounds in qualifying with her Mopar Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster
· Larry Gilley and Mike Loge win Dodge Top Finisher honors in NHRA Sportsman competition

February 8, 2020, Pomona, Calif. – It was a strong and fast start for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) veteran pilots Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman as they drove their Mopar Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Cars to the No.1 and No.2 qualifier positions, respectively, in anticipation of Sunday’s first race day of the 2020 National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Drag Racing season at the 60th annual Winternationals. Continue reading Mopar Dodge//SRT Funny Cars Seeded 1-2 for First Race Day of 2020 NHRA Season →

BRITTANY FORCE AND MONSTER ENERGY TAKE NO. 1 SPOT SATURDAY AT THE NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 08, 2020) ­­– Brittany Force and the Monster Energy Top Fuel team launched their way to the No. 1 qualifier spot Saturday night at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Top Fuel teammate Austin Prock improved to secure the No. 2 spot with his Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team giving John Force Racing their first 1-2 race day start in Top Fuel. John Force also improved to land his BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro SS in the No. 5 spot with Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS crew starting race day from third. Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE AND MONSTER ENERGY TAKE NO. 1 SPOT SATURDAY AT THE NHRA WINTERNATIONALS →

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY IN POMONA, CALIFORNIA
QUALIFYING RECAP AND DRIVER QUOTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Chevrolet vaults to top in Top Fuel, Pro Stock at opener

Brittany Force records 19th career Top Fuel low qualifier
Jeg Coughlin Jr. earns Pro Stock top seed to start final season
Austin Prock registers career-best No. 2 spot in Top Fuel

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2020) – Chevrolet teams and drivers picked up where they concluded the 2019 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) season at Auto Club Raceway with superlative qualifying efforts in the opener at the track. Continue reading Chevrolet vaults to top in Top Fuel, Pro Stock at opener →

Top qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. hunting for second straight victory at Pomona
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 8) — A fast start to the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series has six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. dreaming of a second straight victory at Auto Club Dragway at Pomona.

Coughlin closed 2019 with a huge win at the birthplace of drag racing, and he did it from the No. 1 qualifying position. It may be three months later, but many things remain the same, with Coughlin once again holding down the top qualifying position with his JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. His final pass of 6.525 seconds at 210.64 mph from Saturday afternoon got the job done. Continue reading Top qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. hunting for second straight victory at Pomona →

2020 season will mark Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s last full-time Pro Stock campaign
DELAWARE, Ohio (Feb. 8) — Six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has announced 2020 as his last full-time season in professional drag racing. He’ll complete his efforts racing alongside teammate Erica Enders at Elite Motorsports, driving the JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro tuned by Rickie Jones. Coughlin’s final campaign will be dubbed the “Breaking Barriers Tour,” in reference to his many racing accomplishments.
Continue reading 2020 season will mark Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s last full-time Pro Stock campaign →

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
BUSCH CLASH AT DAYTONA
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2020

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE Media Breakout Session Highlights:

I’M LOOKING AT THE BUSCH CLASH AS KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR YOUR FULL-TIME RACING CAREER. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS GOING INTO THIS RACE?
“Coming down here, I obviously know this is my last full-time season. So, there were mixed emotions. But I’m excited to start my final year. To know that Ally is on board, Hendrick Motorsports getting the team where it is, I really feel like we have an opportunity to have a strong year on track and go out in style, with the goal of the ultimate prize. I’m really excited about that. Once I got in the car and on track, that stuff is all out the window and it’s really about working on the race car, and trying to make it go. I’m excited to be here. I know the year is going to evolve and change for me from start to finish and my emotions with what goes on. But I’m in a very good place right now; just ready to go.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Busch Clash–Jimmie Johnson →

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
BUSCH CLASH AT DAYTONA
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2020

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE Media Breakout Session Highlights:

I’M LOOKING AT THE BUSCH CLASH AS KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR YOUR FULL-TIME RACING CAREER. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS GOING INTO THIS RACE?
“Coming down here, I obviously know this is my last full-time season. So, there were mixed emotions. But I’m excited to start my final year. To know that Ally is on board, Hendrick Motorsports getting the team where it is, I really feel like we have an opportunity to have a strong year on track and go out in style, with the goal of the ultimate prize. I’m really excited about that. Once I got in the car and on track, that stuff is all out the window and it’s really about working on the race car, and trying to make it go. I’m excited to be here. I know the year is going to evolve and change for me from start to finish and my emotions with what goes on. But I’m in a very good place right now; just ready to go.”
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Busch Clash–Jimmie Johnson →

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
BUSCH CLASH AT DAYTONA
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, FL
FEBRUARY 9, 2020

BUSCH CLASH TO KICK-OFF DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS:
The 2020 NASCAR CUP Series gets underway on Sunday, February 9 with the annual Busch Clash at Daytona. The 75-lap/187.5-mile exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway features a limited field of 2019 Busch Pole Award winners, past Busch Clash champions who competed full-time in 2019, former Daytona 500 champions and former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2019, and 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Busch Clash →

BRITTANY FORCE AND MONSTER ENERGY LEAD JOHN FORCE RACING FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2020) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy dragster landed in the No. 2 spot after two qualifying rounds on Friday night at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Reigning world champion Robert Hight sits in the No. 3 spot with the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car while John Force and the BlueDEF Chevy Camaro SS sit in No. 11 and Austin Prock with Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team are No. 12.

Just a week after ending pre-season testing in Las Vegas, where the David Grubnic and Mac Savage led team made no full pulls, the Monster Energy dragster rocketed to a 3.706-second pass at 329.10 mph out running the rest of the Top Fuel pack for three bonus points. In her second go at the iconic raceway, Force’s dragster overpowered the track and smoked the tires for a 6.314-second run. Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE AND MONSTER ENERGY LEAD JOHN FORCE RACING FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT NHRA WINTERNATIONALS →

Fast Start for Mopar Dodge//SRT with Provisional No.1 Qualifier Position to Launch 2020 NHRA season

· Mopar Dodge//SRT entries compete this weekend at the 60th annual NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California
· Matt Hagan drives Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to the provisional No.1 qualifier position in first pass of the season
· Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) takes to the track with four Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats in Funny Car and one Mopar Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster
· Watch Dodge Garage Winternationals preview called “The Rundown” featuring DSR Top Fuel star Leah Pritchett at: www.dodgegarage.com/news/article/racing/2020/02/the-rundown-with-leah-pritchett-nhra-winternationals.html
· @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel features Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers in NHRA action

February 7, 2020, Pomona, Calif. – This weekend’s 60th annual Winternationals at the historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, kicks off the 2020 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 24-event season and Mopar Dodge//SRT wasted no time getting right back to work and to the top of the timesheets. Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver Matt Hagan drove his Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car straight to the provisional No.1 qualifier position with his official first run of the season. Continue reading Fast Start for Mopar Dodge//SRT with Provisional No.1 Qualifier Position to Launch 2020 NHRA season →

DiBenedetto Ready For First Ride In The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang

February 7, 2020

Matt DiBenedetto is set to take his first laps behind the wheel of the iconic Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. And the gravity of that moment isn’t lost on him.

“I’ve been overly eager,” he said. “It’s been a long wait. I’m anxious to get going, super excited.

“It’s the best opportunity of my life.”

Although he’s young, 28, and grew up in Grass Valley, Calif., a continent away from the Wood Brothers’ home in Stuart, Va., he has come to appreciate the team’s history. Continue reading DiBenedetto Ready For First Ride In The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang →

AUSTIN PROCK EXCITED TO KICK-OFF 2020 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON WITH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 05, 2020) — With an off season that included the addition of a new assistant crew-chief and a promising showing at preseason testing last week at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Top Fuel team are more than optimistic about getting the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Season underway.
Continue reading AUSTIN PROCK EXCITED TO KICK-OFF 2020 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON WITH NHRA WINTERNATIONALS →

CHEVROLET AT POMONA

What: Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarverst.com
When: Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 9
Where: Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations and finals live at 5 p.m. EST Feb. 9

Chevrolet teams/drivers ready for the next championship push

Bowtie brigade carries momentum to Pomona from 2019 success

DETROIT (Feb. 5, 2020) – Questions abound as the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) fires up this weekend for another exciting season.
The most pertinent for Chevrolet teams and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock is what will they do for an encore. Continue reading Chevrolet teams/drivers ready for the next championship push →

JOHN FORCE LAUNCHES NEW TITLE BID AT POMONA
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 05, 2020) — On his home track, one on which he has celebrated 16 victories in three different events, Hall of Fame owner/driver John Force begins another new chapter this week when he sends his BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro SS after the Funny Car title in the 60th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Continue reading JOHN FORCE LAUNCHES NEW TITLE BID AT POMONA →

Corvette Racing Adds FIA WEC Rounds to Continue Corvette C8.R Development
Magnussen, Rockenfeller to drive mid-engine Corvette at COTA, Sebring

DETROIT (February 5, 2020) – Corvette Racing is adding rounds in the FIA World Endurance Championship to its 2020 program. Races at Circuit of The Americas and Sebring International Raceway will allow Corvette Racing and Chevrolet additional opportunities to develop and test the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. Continue reading Corvette Racing Adds FIA WEC Rounds to Continue Corvette C8.R Development Magnussen, Rockenfeller to drive mid-engine Corvette at COTA, Sebring →