Honda Racing

Baja 500 Victory Caps Near-Perfect Weekend for Honda Racing And Acura Motorsports Programs

Baja 500 Victory Caps Near-Perfect Weekend for Honda Racing
And Acura Motorsports Programs
• Team Honda Racing Ridgeline continues Baja success with “500” triumph
• Honda sweeps Detroit IndyCar Series doubleheader
• Acura Motorsports scores 1-2 GTD result, double-podium in prototypes

TORRANCE, Calif. (May 5, 2018) – Team Honda Racing Ridgeline’s class victory in this weekend’s 50th annual Baja 500 capped a near-perfect weekend of racing for both the Honda and Acura brands, scoring four of a possible five wins, and 10 of 11 possible podium results.

The string of trophy results included a Honda sweep of both races making up the Detroit IndyCar Series doubleheader weekend; a 1-2 finish for the Acura NSX GT3 in the companion IMSA sports car race in Detroit, second and third-place Prototype finishes for the Acura ARX-05s in the same event, and a Class 7 triumph for the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck in Mexico. Continue reading Baja 500 Victory Caps Near-Perfect Weekend for Honda Racing And Acura Motorsports Programs →

Wood Brothers

Menard Rebounds From Pit Penalty To Finish 11th At Pocono.

Menard Rebounds From Pit Penalty To Finish 11th At Pocono.

June 3, 2018

When the chips were down for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team late in Sunday’s Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway, driver Paul Menard and his spotter Stevie Reeves stepped up and salvaged the day.

Menard started 20thand ran among the top 15 and top 20 for most of Sunday’s 400-miler. But on a pit stop with 20 laps remaining, the team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire. Instead of restarting among the top 15, Menard was relegated to 27th place and was also positioned behind all the lapped drivers.

In the final 16 laps, Menard, with Reeves keeping him abreast of developments on the track, drove his way to an 11th-place finish.

Eddie Wood said Menard and Reeves deserve much credit for the late-race recovery. Continue reading Menard Rebounds From Pit Penalty To Finish 11th At Pocono. →

Jegs Racing

Jeg Coughlin Jr. breaks four-year drought with huge win at JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Jeg Coughlin Jr. breaks four-year drought with huge win at JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals
JOLIET, Ill. (June 3) — Six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. couldn’t have picked a better place to break a four-year winless drought than Sunday’s 21st annual JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals, the first pro event ever sponsored by the high-performance part company his father started 58 years ago.

Coughlin had a stellar day behind the wheel of his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro, posting an impressive string of super-quick reaction times in all four elimination rounds to help turn on the win lights he needed, and his team took care of the rest, giving him the quickest racecar of every pro session.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. scored his 59th
Pro Stock win Sunday in Chicago.
“Did we have a good time today? Yeah!” Coughlin said excitedly upon reaching the winner’s circle. “Wow, what a race. Every round felt like a final round. You look at the guys we beat today, including my teammates in the first two rounds, it’s just a fantastic accomplishment. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. breaks four-year drought with huge win at JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals →

NHRA

NHRA–Chicago Results

Top Fuel — Clay Millican, 3.894 seconds, 289.32 mph def. Leah Pritchett, 4.501 seconds, 192.08 mph.

Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.073, 310.63 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.310, 230.21.

Pro Stock — Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.574, 210.67 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Matt Smith, Victory, 6.816, 195.87 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.862, 193.24.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.249, 275.06 def. Dan Page, 5.347, 263.51.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.470, 271.73 def. Kris Hool, Camaro, 8.540, 110.82.

Competition Eliminator — Mike Mans, Chevy Lumina, 8.166, 165.99 def. Greg Kamplain, Dragster, 6.780, 181.15.

Super Stock — Justin Lamb, Chevy Cobalt, 8.542, 154.16 def. Dave Dupps Jr., Cobalt, 9.956, 130.40.

Stock Eliminator — Jeff Adkinson, Chevy Camaro, 10.055, 126.85 def. Justin Lamb, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Austin Williams, Dragster, 8.898, 163.49 def. Koy Collier, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Super Gas — Koy Collier, Chevy Camaro, 9.881, 158.71 def. Larry Bernshausen, Chevy Vega Wagon, 9.878, 147.88.

Super Street — Val Harmon, Chevy II, 10.912, 144.97 def. Cole Cummings, Nova, 10.914, 142.90.

Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Don O’Neal, Chevy Monte Carlo, 8.667, 105.72 def. Lester Johnson, Chevy Bel Air, Foul – Centerline.

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Kyle Seipel, Dragster, 6.728, 203.77 def. Aaron Stanfield, Dragster, 6.190, 219.40.

Mopar Racing

Pritchett, Capps Carry Mopar Dodge//SRT to Runner-up Outings at Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Pritchett, Capps Carry Mopar Dodge//SRT to Runner-up Outings at Route 66 NHRA Nationals

· Leah Pritchett drives Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster to second final in three events
· Final-round appearance at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet is Pritchett’s first at venue and tenth of her career
· Ron Capps takes Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to third straight final at Joliet
· Pritchett jumps to third in Top Fuel standings, Capps moves to sixth in Funny Car
· No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan advances to quarterfinals in Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T
· Mike Cotten captures Super Stock Dodge Top Finisher award, his fifth of season, at Joliet
· Ryan Mangus earns Stock class Dodge Top Finisher honors and JEGS Allstars win
· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com
· New Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts launches; will include highlights from NHRA season

June 3, 2018, Joliet, Illinois – Mopar Dodge//SRT Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) drivers Leah Pritchett and Ron Capps raced to runner-up appearances in the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, respectively, during elimination rounds on Sunday, June 3, at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. Continue reading Pritchett, Capps Carry Mopar Dodge//SRT to Runner-up Outings at Route 66 NHRA Nationals →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Bell Isle–Will Power

IndyCar Media Conference
Sunday June 3, 2018
Will Power
Press Conference Transcript

THE MODERATOR: We’ll get started with our Verizon IndyCar Series post-race press conference. Joined now by our second-place finishe, Will Power. Will Power, finishing second in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, started third in today’s race, and it is his fifth podium finish here on the Streets of Belle Isle. Will, you said yesterday that you felt like you worked really hard for a seventh-place finish. How do you feel about your performance today and ultimately the podium result?

WILL POWER: Yeah, I feel like this was about as good as we could get, give how fast Hunter-Reay was. There was just no way anyone was going to beat him. We just seemed to struggle a little bit on full tanks and cold tires, but very happy with the result. You know, I feel like with what we had, that’s the most that we could have got out of that race, so very happy. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Bell Isle–Will Power →

John Force Racing

ROBERT HIGHT TRIUMPHS IN CHICAGO FOR FIRST WIN OF 2018

ROBERT HIGHT TRIUMPHS IN CHICAGO FOR FIRST WIN OF 2018
Team Leader John Force Races into Top Ten
JOLIET, Ill. (June 3, 2018) — Robert Hight powered his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car to victory at the JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals Sunday at Route 66 Raceway. John Force took his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS to a semifinal finish, Courtney Force and the Advance Auto Parts team powered to a second-round finish and Brittany Force and her Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster were upset the first round.

Reigning and two-time Funny Car world champion Robert Hight earned his 42nd career win, first of the season and first at Route 66 Raceway today. Hight defeated 2016 Funny Car world champion Ron Capps in the finals with a 4.073-second pass at 310.63 mph. It is the 14th consecutive year that Hight has won at least one race making him the only professional racer to win an event every year of his career. It also marks the 21st different event where he has celebrated a victory. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT TRIUMPHS IN CHICAGO FOR FIRST WIN OF 2018 →

Chevrolet Racing

WILL POWER SCORES RUNNER-UP FINISH IN SECOND RACE FOR CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX
STREETS OF BELLE ISLE
TEAM CHEVY RACE TWO POST RACE RECAP WITH DRIVER QUOTES
JUNE 3, 2018

WILL POWER SCORES RUNNER-UP FINISH IN SECOND RACE FOR CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX
Four Team Chevy drivers in top-10 on streets of Belle Isle

DETROIT (June 3, 2018) – For the second straight day, Will Power led the contingent of Team Chevy drivers with a runner-up finish in the second of two Dual in Detroit races as part of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday.

The reigning Indianapolis 500 winner started third following a wet qualifying session in the morning and moved up one spot after a consistent run in his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. He appeared on his way to a third-place finish before leader Alexander Rossi went off-track with six laps to go. Continue reading WILL POWER SCORES RUNNER-UP FINISH IN SECOND RACE FOR CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Adds to Season Victory Total in Funny Car, Pro Stock

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
JEGS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018

Chevrolet Adds to Season Victory Total in Funny Car, Pro Stock

• Reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight earns first win of the season
• Jeg Coughlin Jr. picks up first Pro Stock victory since 2014 season
• No. 6 qualifier John Force back on track, reaches Funny Car semifinals
• Justin Lamb is Stock Eliminator runner-up in Chevrolet COPO Camaro

JOLIET, Ill. (June 3, 2018) – Chevrolet drivers Robert Hight and Jeg Coughlin Jr. brought the crowd at Route 66 Raceway to its feet with exciting wins in the finals of their respective National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series classes. Continue reading Chevrolet Adds to Season Victory Total in Funny Car, Pro Stock →

Honda Racing

Hunter-Reay Completes Honda’s Detroit Doubleheader Sweep

Hunter-Reay Completes Honda’s Detroit Doubleheader Sweep
• Ryan Hunter-Reay uses speed, three-pit stop strategy to win on Belle Isle
• Late-race brake issues cost Alexander Rossi shot at victory
• Honda drivers claim five of top six finishing positions

DETROIT, Mich. (June 3, 2018) – For the second consecutive year, Honda drivers swept both rounds of the Dual in Detroit doubleheader Verizon IndyCar Series weekend, as Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay prevailed for his first victory of 2018 on Sunday, after a thrilling late-lap duel with teammate Alexander Rossi.

In Saturday’s opening round, Scott Dixon led a Honda sweep of the top six finishing positions, with Hunter-Reay and Rossi completing the podium. Continue reading Hunter-Reay Completes Honda’s Detroit Doubleheader Sweep →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Robert Hight

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
JEGS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018

An interview with Funny Car winner ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 12 qualifier; 42nd career win and fourth final round of season; first victory since Dallas in 2017, where he beat Ron Capps):

IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE YOU’VE VISITED THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
“I was beginning to think Chicago had my number. I’ve been in the final a few times but the first win in Chicago is pretty special. I don’t even think I pulled the chutes in qualifying. We were having some problems, but when you have a team like this behind you you just know you’re going to get it turned around. We had a big lineup of heavy hitter drivers to go up against today. It’s pretty cool. Chicago is pretty close to Brownsburg, Indiana, so a lot of families from our machine shop and fab shop are here to celebrate this with us. It couldn’t be more special.”

LAST YEAR, YOUR FIRST WIN DIDN’T COME UNTIL DENVER SO YOU’RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
“Honestly, I believe we are ahead of where we were last year and we all know how that turned out. But we’re not going to count things too quick. There are a lot of good teams out here. It’s tougher than ever. The first at Chicago is pretty awesome.”

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–Pocono 400

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow Camaro ZL1 Team Maximize Tire Strategy to Earn 12th-Place Finish

“Considering the handling issues we fought throughout the weekend, leaving here with a 12th-place finish in the Dow Camaro ZL1 isn’t too bad. Turn 3 was a challenge for us during practice, and continued to be during the race. We decided to use pit strategy to make up track position, which I felt like we needed more than handling adjustments. We stayed out longer in Stage 2 than anyone else and took two tires when we finally came in for our stop. Our Camaro ZL1 handled the best when we took two tires at a time. For the rest of the race, we tried to use that to our advantage, which got us into the top 10 during the final couple of restarts. We just couldn’t hold that spot long enough to make it to the checkered flag. I wish we could have gotten a top-10 finish out of today, but we’ll take 12th and learn what we can before we come back here in July.”
-Austin Dillon Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Pocono 400 →

Chevrolet Racing

KYLE LARSON TAKES HIS CAMARO ZL1 TO RUNNER-UP FINISH AT POCONO

KYLE LARSON TAKES HIS CAMARO ZL1 TO RUNNER-UP FINISH AT POCONO
Three Camaro ZL1 Drivers Earn Top Ten Finishes at the ‘Tricky Triangle’

LONG POND, Pa. (June 3, 2018) – Kyle Larson used determination and hard racing to earn his third runner-up finish of the year in his DC Solar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Even though Larson came up just shy of scoring his first win of the season once again, he was happy with the team’s result.

“I am happy we finished second because we were probably a sixth or seventh place car today and to finish better than where you run is always a good thing,” said Larson. “I am happy about that. Our DC Solar Chevy was competitive, but needs to be a little bit better to compete with the 18, the 4, and the 78. They are definitely the class of the field. We are close and we are getting a little bit better, but so are they. So we just have to keep working hard.” Continue reading KYLE LARSON TAKES HIS CAMARO ZL1 TO RUNNER-UP FINISH AT POCONO →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
POCONO 400
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
JUNE 3, 2018

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 DC SOLAR CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 2nd
THAT RESTART, WITH LESS THAN 10 TO GO. GREAT MOVES BY THE 78 OF TRUEX BUT A GREAT COUNTER BY YOU
“Yeah, I actually liked that the 78 tried to pull down and block me a little bit because it messed his angle up to the corner. I knew he would have to slow down a little more on entry and I was hoping I could get close enough to him to get him loose. Which I did, but I also got kind of loose behind him. So I just had to tuck back in line on exit and then had to try and fight off the 18 and the 4 behind me. I was just trying to stay lower than them on exit to get them tight. I am happy we finished second because we were probably a sixth or seventh place car today and to finish better than where you run is always a good thing. I am happy about that. Our DC Solar Chevy was competitive, but needs to be a little bit better to compete with the 18, the 4, and the 78. They are definitely the class of the field. We are close and we are getting a little bit better, but so are they. So we just have to keep working hard.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Consistent Corvettes Complete Testing Program

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Consistent Corvettes Complete Testing Program
Gavin sets team’s pace in No. 64 Corvette C7.R w/ No. 63 entry not far off

LE MANS, France (June 3, 2018) – Corvette Racing ran through its scheduled testing items Sunday during eight hours of track time ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the team looks toward what it hopes is a ninth class victory in the annual French endurance race. At the end of testing, just 0.038 seconds separated both the bright yellow Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs around the 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.

Oliver Gavin was the quickest Corvette Racing driver during the annual Le Mans Test Day in the No. 64 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R with a lap of 3:54.179 (130.177 mph) lap. Driving with Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler, Gavin set his best lap in the final hour of the test, which was run in dry conditions, although weather did threaten throughout the final four hours. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Consistent Corvettes Complete Testing Program →

King of the West

HIRST RUNS AWAY WITH TOP HONORS AT TULARE’S FARIA MEMORIAL

(06/02/18 Tulare, CA – Jim Allen) … Championship points leader Kyle Hirst turned in a dominate sprint car performance and led all 30-laps of Saturday’s King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series Chris & Brian Faria Memorial at the Thunderbowl Raceway.

It was a team effort for Hirst, car owner Dennis Roth, and the rest of their Roth Enterprises H&R Livestock Transport crew. Immediately after earning their fourth ARP Fast Qualifier Award of the season, the team was forced to make a motor change, along with other components to address vibration issues in their number 83 KPC. Continue reading HIRST RUNS AWAY WITH TOP HONORS AT TULARE’S FARIA MEMORIAL →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fast Facts–Pocono

TEAM CHEVY FAST FACTS
POCONO 400
POCONO RACEWAY
JUNE 3, 2018

A total of 18 Team Chevy drivers will start the Pocono 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pa.). The 160-lap 400-mile contest around the 2.5-mile Tricky Triangle is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., ET on Sunday, June 3. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

CHEVROLET DRIVERS STARTING IN THE TOP-10:
Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Camaro ZL1 will start 3rd
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center Camaro ZL1 rolls off 8th
TEAM CHEVY IN MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES COMPETITION:

Chevrolet has won 39 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships
Team Chevy drivers have scored 776 wins and 696 poles in MENCS competition
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fast Facts–Pocono →

Mopar Racing

Hagan Powers Mopar Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Hagan Powers Mopar Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at Route 66 NHRA Nationals

· Matt Hagan leads Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Mopar Dodge//SRT sweep of top three qualifying spots at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois
· Hagan races Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to second No. 1 spot of season, 32nd of his career
· DSR Mopar Dodge drivers Ron Capps (second) and Jack Beckman (third) join Hagan at top of qualifying charts
· Total of seven Mopar Dodge Funny Cars to race for Route 66 NHRA Nationals win on Sunday
· Tony Schumacher leads Mopar HEMI-powered Top Fuel drivers with No. 3 qualifying position
· Pritchett to start tenth in Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Dodge Top Fuel dragster
· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com
· New Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts launches; will include highlights from NHRA season Continue reading Hagan Powers Mopar Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at Route 66 NHRA Nationals →

John Force Racing

JOHN FORCE NO. 6 AFTER EVENTFUL ENDING TO QUALIFYING AT JEGS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS

JOHN FORCE NO. 6 AFTER EVENTFUL ENDING TO QUALIFYING AT
JEGS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS
JOLIET, Ill. (June 2, 2018) — Despite an explosion and impact with the wall, team namesake John Force and his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS will start the JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals Race Day from the No. 6 position. Brittany Force piloting the Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster leads John Force Racing as the No. 2 qualifier, Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts team are in fourth and Robert Hight holds the No. 12 spot in the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS.

It was a wild ride for 16-time champion John Force during the final qualifying session. The winningest driver in NHRA history had a fiery run-in with the right guard wall while sharing the racetrack with daughter Courtney Force on Saturday evening at Route 66 Raceway. Force exited the vehicle under his own power and was fired up for Sunday’s eliminations. Continue reading JOHN FORCE NO. 6 AFTER EVENTFUL ENDING TO QUALIFYING AT JEGS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS →

Honda Racing

Dixon Leads Detroit Sweep for Honda

Dixon Leads Detroit Sweep for Honda
• Scott Dixon leads Honda sweep of top six positions in opening race of doubleheader
• Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi complete all-Honda podium
• Second race in doubleheader weekend runs Sunday

DETROIT, Mich. (June 2, 2018) – For the second consecutive year, Honda drivers dominated the opening round of the Dual in Detroit doubleheader Verizon IndyCar Series weekend, leading all 70 laps, with Scott Dixon spearheading a Honda sweep of the top six finishing positions.

Starting from the pole, Marco Andretti led until the first round of scheduled pit stops was completed. Ryan Hunter-Reay, running a three pit-stop, “out of sequence” strategy, assumed the lead. Then, taking control in the second half of the 70-lap contest, Dixon maintained a narrow, but consistent margin over his pursuers in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda for the remainder of the day. Continue reading Dixon Leads Detroit Sweep for Honda →

Racer News and Results