Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–St. Petersburg

CHEVROLET IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
STREETS OF ST. PETERSBURG.
POST RACE RECAP

ST. PETERSBURG (MARCH 11, 2018) – Defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden (No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet) led the 11-car Chevrolet 2.2 liter twin turbocharged direct injected V6 contingent in today’s opening race for the Verizon IndyCar Series with a seventh place finish.

It was a wild race that saw 11 caution flags for a total of 25 of the 110-lap Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit. On the first lap, Team Chevy contenders Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) and Tony Kanaan (No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet) were caught up in incidents that sent them to pit lane for repairs. The two veteran drivers fought hard and recovered to finish 10th and 11th respectively. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–St. Petersburg

Will Power puts Chevrolet on Front Row for Season Opening Verizon IndyCar Series Race

Will Power puts Chevrolet on Front Row for Season Opening Verizon IndyCar Series Race
Firestone Grand Prix on the Streets of St. Petersburg Kicks off the 17-Race Season

ST. PETERSBURG (MARCH 10, 2018) – Will Power will start the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet on the front row for the season opening race of the Verizon IndyCar Series on Sunday. Power, with a lap of one minute, 01.7346 seconds/104.965 mph, will make his eighth front row start on the on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street course in the heart of St. Petersburg, FLA. Continue reading Will Power puts Chevrolet on Front Row for Season Opening Verizon IndyCar Series Race

Wickens Claims Pole for Honda in IndyCar Series Debut

Wickens Claims Pole for Honda in IndyCar Series Debut
• Robert Wickens, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports score first pole of 2018 season
• Ryan Hunter-Reay, Takuma Sato also advance to final qualifying in damp conditions

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 10, 2018) – Robert Wickens, a veteran race winner in the highly competitive DTM Championship in Germany but a rookie in Verizon IndyCar Series competition, prevailed in tricky, damp conditions Saturday to claim the pole for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Continue reading Wickens Claims Pole for Honda in IndyCar Series Debut

Menard Qualifies 14th At Phoenix

Menard Qualifies 14th At Phoenix

March 9, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Fusion will line up 14th for Sunday’s Ticket Guardian 500K at ISM Raceway in Phoenix.

Menard and the No. 21 team started the day at the track formerly known as Phoenix International Raceway by posting the 18th best time in the opening practice session with a lap at 136.214 miles per hour. Continue reading Menard Qualifies 14th At Phoenix

An interview with: ART ST. CYR President, Honda Performance Development

An interview with:

ART ST. CYR
President, Honda Performance Development

T.E. McHALE: Welcome to this small but prestigious crowd for the first Honda media briefing of the 2018 IndyCar season. Thanks for joining us this morning.
Our guest by this time needs no introduction, Art St. Cyr, president of HPD. We’re all looking forward to a great event here in St. Pete this weekend and a terrific 2018 season.
Just to get the ball rolling, we’ll start with a few questions for Art. Talk about your personal outlook for 2018 as we head into the start of the season. Continue reading An interview with: ART ST. CYR President, Honda Performance Development

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Kyle Larson on Front Row

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TICKETGUARDIAN 500
ISM RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIFYING DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 9, 2018

KYLE LARSON PUTS CAMARO ZL1 ON FRONT ROW AT PHOENIX
THREE TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS QUALIFY IN TOP 5

AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 9, 2018) – Kyle Larson drove his No. 42 Credit One Bank Camaro ZL1 to a front row starting spot in today’s knockout-style qualifying session for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at ISM Raceway. Larson turned a lap of 136.643 mph, 26.346 seconds to capture his fifth top five start at the one-mile, tri-oval track. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Kyle Larson on Front Row

CAMARO ZL1’S SHOW SPEED EARLY AT PHOENIX

CAMARO ZL1’S SHOW SPEED EARLY AT PHOENIX

AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 9, 2018) – The opening practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is now complete at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. A contingent of Camaro ZL1 drivers topped the speed charts in advance of today’s qualifying session for the fourth race of the 2018 season, the TicketGuradian 500.

Kyle Larson topped the charts with a quick lap of 138.281 mph. He was followed by his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Jamie McMurray. A duo of Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Chase Elliott claimed the fourth and fifth quickest times. Continue reading CAMARO ZL1’S SHOW SPEED EARLY AT PHOENIX

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Alex Bowman

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TICKETGUARDIAN 500
ISM RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 9, 2018

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at ISM Raceway to discuss racing at his home track, an assessment of his season thus far, thoughts on his recent trip to Detroit and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO COME HOME AND RACE HERE AT PHOENIX:
“Yeah, it’s always fun to come home. Don’t really get to spend a lot of time out here. It’s definitely an enjoyable trip. I really enjoy this racetrack too. Pretty successful here, wish we could close races a little better here. We have run really well here in the Xfinity Series and in the Cup Series. Just never been able to close one off. Hopefully, that all changes this weekend.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Alex Bowman

Menard Optimistic As NASCAR’s Western Swing Moves To Phoenix

Menard Optimistic As NASCAR’s Western Swing Moves To Phoenix

March 7, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Fusion team head to ISM Raceway, formerly Phoenix Raceway, for the first race of the year on one of the shorter tracks on the Monster Energy Cup Series circuit.

The race on the one-mile, relatively flat oval outside Phoenix, follows races on the 2.5-mile superspeedway at Daytona and on the intermediate-length tracks at Atlanta and Las Vegas. Continue reading Menard Optimistic As NASCAR’s Western Swing Moves To Phoenix

Chevrolet Ready for Verizon IndyCar Series Season Opening Event

Chevrolet Ready for Verizon IndyCar Series Season Opening Event
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Plays Host to Race One of 17-Race Schedule

· Team Chevy is reigning Verizon IndyCar Series manufacturer, driver and owner champion
ᴏ Bowtie Brand aiming for seventh manufacturer title in a row
· Season opens with Chevy engine powering new universal aero kit
ᴏ Tested 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged direct injected V6 power plant is up to task
· Defending champ Josef Newgarden leads strong Team Chevy lineup
ᴏ Second-year Team Penske driver will carry No. 1 on his car
· Three rookies among 11 Team Chevy drivers in season opener Continue reading Chevrolet Ready for Verizon IndyCar Series Season Opening Event

Giovanni Scelzi Soaks Up Experience During World of Outlaws Debut in Las Vegas

Giovanni Scelzi Soaks Up Experience During World of Outlaws Debut in Las Vegas

Inside Line Promotions – LAS VEGAS (March 6, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi learned a lot during his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event.

Scelzi soaked up as much as he could during the FVP Outlaw Showdown last Wednesday and Thursday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, where he made his debut in the Paul Silva owned and Priority Aviation Services backed No. 57 sprint car.

“The first night it was about getting acclimated to everything,” he said. “The main thing was getting laps and getting used to the speed.” Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Soaks Up Experience During World of Outlaws Debut in Las Vegas

Honda Drivers, Teams Ready for 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series

Honda Drivers, Teams Ready for 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series
• Lineup features eight IndyCar Series race winners, including three series champions, four Indianapolis 500 winners
• 2018 universal aero kit debuts
• Season opens Sunday in St. Petersburg, Florida

TORRANCE, Calif. (March 5, 2018) – Eight race winners, four Indianapolis 500 champions and three former series title holders – with a combined nine series championships – make up the talented Honda-powered lineup for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series, opening this weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Five Honda teams will field 12 full-season entries at Sunday’s season opener on the Florida Gulf Coast, all utilizing the Honda HI18TT engine and new Dallara IR15 chassis, which features a universal aero kit for all competitors in 2018. Continue reading Honda Drivers, Teams Ready for 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix Advance

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
TICKETGUARDIAN 500
ISM RACEWAY
AVONDALE, ARIZONA
MARCH 11, 2018

BOWTIE BULLETS
LEADER OF THE PACK:
Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers with 23 victories at ISM Raceway. Chevrolet has taken six different name plates (Lumina, Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo SS, Impala SS, Impala and SS) to Winner’s Circle in the Arizona Desert. The Camaro ZL1 will take its first turn at finding victory at the 1-mile venue this weekend. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix Advance

Junior Hot Rodders Engine Challenge starts 2nd season at Race and Performance Expo

Junior Hot Rodders Engine Challenge starts 2nd season at Race and Performance Expo
Joliet, IL. – The love of racing and performance is something that for many is developed at an early age, in order to help fuel this passion we want to expose kids to a unique opportunity to showcase workmanship and the awareness of complex mechanisms. Continue reading Junior Hot Rodders Engine Challenge starts 2nd season at Race and Performance Expo

Dodge//SRT and Mopar Brands to Offer Complimentary Drag Race Experience for National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Competitors in 2018

Dodge//SRT and Mopar Brands to Offer Complimentary Drag Race Experience for National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Competitors in 2018

National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Dodge/Mopar HEMI® Shootout category to offer Mopar-powered competitors complimentary entry at all 2018 NMCA events
Racers in model year 2005 and newer FCA US LLC vehicles will receive complimentary entry to battle in Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout
NMCA season kicks off in Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida on March 8-11
Fields open to modern-day Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, including 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat, 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, Chrysler 300 and more FCA US nameplates
Awards and prizes up for grabs in nine different categories
Vehicle owners can register online for HEMI Shootout at www.NMCAdigital.com/hemi
New Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts, to feature Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout coverage

March 6, 2018, Auburn Hills, Michigan – The Dodge//SRT and Mopar brands are teaming up with the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) to offer complimentary customer drag racing experiences exclusively at NMCA race events for the 2018 season. Mopar-powered competitors in model year 2005 and newer FCA US LLC vehicles will receive complimentary entry to battle it out in the NMCA Dodge/Mopar HEMI® Shootout category, giving owners the opportunity to race their vehicles in a sanctioned and secure drag strip environment.

Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout fields are expected to draw a unique mix of modern-day FCA US vehicle nameplates, such as Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles in a variety of models, including the 485-horsepower Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Pack models, 707-horsepower Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models, the 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, as well as Chrysler 300, Ram truck and Jeep® vehicles.

The NMCA season kicks off with the 16th Annual NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida, March 8-11, 2018.

“The National Muscle Car Association series is an excellent venue for Dodge//SRT and Mopar to give owners of our modern-day FCA US LLC vehicles, including the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, the opportunity to drag race in a sanctioned, controlled environment,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge//SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. “We’re continuing our efforts to take racing off the street and put it where it belongs — the drag strip — by providing complimentary entry into the Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout category.”

“Together, the Mopar and Dodge brands share a long and respected legacy in the world of drag racing, and we’re proud to add another chapter to that tradition with this new initiative in the NMCA,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA. “Mopar is about providing owners with the tools they need to not only be fast on the strip, but also secure on the streets, and this new program helps us push forward to reaching those goals.”

Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout: The Facts

Vehicles entered in the Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout must be licensed, insured and street driven, on street-legal tires and must be model year 2005 or newer FCA US vehicles (Viper models permitted). While geared toward Gen III HEMI-engine-powered machines, vehicles with alternate Mopar engines will also be eligible for complimentary entry.

The Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout class is open to the first 75 vehicle owners to register for each NMCA event, with each complimentary entry — valued up to $175 — good for one car/driver participant credential. Vehicle owners can register online at www.NMCAdigital.com/hemi for the Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout, which will be featured at all six races on the 2018 NMCA national event schedule. NMCA membership not required to participate.

NMCA will offer Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout competitors an easy and fun experience, with personalized, step-by-step instruction available. The Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout will take place on Saturday at each NMCA event, but all participants are welcome to arrive on Thursday and/or Friday of race weekend for early registration, instruction and test-and-tune passes down the dragstrip. Competitors are encouraged to race at their own pace, depending on each participant’s comfort level.

Although competitors will stage side-by-side for runs down the quarter-mile, drivers will not race head-to-head. Participants will compete against the clock and will be measured in elapsed time (ET) down the track, taking reaction time off the starting line out of the equation.

Participants will be allowed three passes down the drag strip. NMCA staff will average the three passes by each competitor, with the quickest averages in seven different ET categories — from the nine to 15 second ET range — earning an award and $100 cash courtesy of NMCA. The overall ET runner-up will also receive $100 and an award, with the quickest overall ET winner taking home $250 and the NMCA Victor award.

Each Dodge/Mopar HEMI Shootout participant will also receive a free collectible license plate. As an added bonus, participants who would like to extend their racing experience will also receive complimentary entry into the Sunday Bracket 3/Street class at each NMCA event.

Dominic Scelzi Starts Season With Strong Qualifying Results in Las Vegas

Dominic Scelzi Starts Season With Strong Qualifying Results in Las Vegas

Inside Line Promotions – LAS VEGAS (March 5, 2018) – Dominic Scelzi qualified strong during his season-opening doubleheader last week.

Scelzi laid down top-10 qualifying laps both nights during the FVP Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, which hosted the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I was pretty happy with it,” he said. “To be able to qualify ninth our first night out was great. That was my best qualifying effort there. Then we improved on that the following night.” Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Starts Season With Strong Qualifying Results in Las Vegas

HARVICK DOUBLE DOWNS AT VEGAS 100th CAREER NASCAR WIN

HARVICK DOUBLE DOWNS AT VEGAS
100th CAREER NASCAR WIN

LAS VEGAS, NV, March 5, 2018 – Stewart-Haas Racing and Kevin Harvick double down to win their second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in a row, winning the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Recording his fourth MENCS race win with Ford Performance and fifth time winning back-to-back races in his career.

“Congratulations to Kevin on his 100th career NASCAR win,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Kevin, drove a great race and the Ford Fusions ran strong all day. Ford Performance teams have started strong this year and we are proud to power the Ford Fusions with the Ford FR9 engines.” Continue reading HARVICK DOUBLE DOWNS AT VEGAS 100th CAREER NASCAR WIN

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas–Post Race

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
PENNZOIL 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
MARCH 4, 2018

TOP TEAM CHEVY FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
3rd KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1
11th RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CAMARO ZL1
12th JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CAMARO ZL1
13th AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW SILASTIC SILICONE ELASTOMERS CAMARO ZL1
15th CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 NATURAL LIGHT CAMARO ZL1

TOP FIVE FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
1ST Kevin Harvick (Ford)
2nd Kyle Busch (Toyota)
3rd Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)
4th Martin Truex, Jr. (Toyota)
5TH Ryan Blaney (Ford)

The next race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) will be at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona for the TicketGuardian 500 at 3:30 pm EDT on Sunday March 11th. Live coverage can be found on FOX, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas–Post Race

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