Jegs Racing

Two-time Bandimere winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to double-up in Denver

Two-time Bandimere winner
Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to double-up in Denver
DENVER (July 16) — With two Pro Stock wins on the season and a pair of Pro Stock victories in the past at Bandimere Speedway, it seems appropriate that this weekend’s 39th annual Dodge NHRA Mile-High Nationals will offer Jeg Coughlin Jr. two chances to earn a coveted Wally trophy.

Coughlin, a winner in Chicago and Bristol earlier this season and the Denver champ in 1998 and 1999, will be racing two cars on Thunder Mountain — his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro in Pro Stock and his JEGS.com Dodge Challenger DragPak in Stock. Continue reading Two-time Bandimere winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to double-up in Denver →

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Post Race Report – Kentucky 400

Early Vibration Hinders Austin Dillon and the No. 3 AAA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Team at Kentucky Speedway

“I hate that we had problems early. We had a vibration as soon as we started the race and we had no option but to pit for four tires on the AAA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. I actually started feeling it during the pace laps at the start of the race, but I thought it was just a cold set of tires. It must have been a bad set of tires. As soon as we pitted the vibration was gone and we were one of the fastest cars on the track. From there, it was a battle to earn the Lucky Dog, and then to keep up with changing track conditions with chassis adjustments during scheduled pit stops. Every position was hard-fought tonight. We have a lot of work to do.”

-Austin Dillon

Ryan Newman Generates 21st-Place Finish in the No. 31 Caterpillar Camaro ZL1 at Kentucky Speedway

“Track position was the name of the game tonight. We started off with a really bad vibration. Fortunately, it worked itself out after we bolted on new Goodyear tires. From there, we focused on improving our handling. My biggest issue all night was Turns 1 and 2. Everyone talks about Turn 3, but it was neutral for us. Overall, we definitely improved our Caterpillar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from when we tested here earlier this year, by leaps and bounds. We definitely improved our qualifying effort, but ultimately it comes down to where we finished and we still have some work to do. Our car wasn’t that bad, but getting track position after that first run and a pit road penalty were too tough to overcome. Thanks to Caterpillar for all their activation plans this weekend. I think some race fans are going home happy after our Cat INV2000 Portable Inverter Generator giveaways.”

-Ryan Newman

King of the West

Golobic conquers King of the West-NARC field at Petaluma

(7/14/18 Petaluma, CA – Jim Allen) … Shane Golobic picked off his third King of the West-NARC sprint car victory of the season with an impressive green-to-checkered run in Saturday’s 30-lap Fujitsu feature event at Petaluma Speedway Saturday night.

Golobic, aboard the potent Tachi Palace-sponsored Tarlton Motorsports KPC, survived six caution flags and the late race advances of Bud Kaeding in heavy traffic to secure the $3000 win.

Golobic caught a break on the initial start after Kyle Hirst took the initial lead, but the red came out for a massive six-car melee on the backstretch, calling for a complete restart. The cars of Marcus Dumesny and Colby Copeland got upside down and reeled in Dustin Golobic, Jarrett Soares, and Willie Croft before it was over. Surprisingly, nobody was hurt and after frantic work by several pit crews, only the car of Dumesny was unable to continue.

On the restart, Golobic changed his strategy and took no chances as he powered out to a big lead, chased by Hirst, Kaeding and Chase Johnson. Kaeding motored under Hirst in the third corner on the ninth lap to secure second and a hardcharging Tanner Thorson powered from ninth to third on the 12th circuit.

In the waning laps, Kaeding began to gain on the leader as the pair maneuvered in and out of slower cars in a high speed game of cat and mouse. Kaeding made a last ditch effort to take the point and managed to get his nose under Golobic in the fourth corner with the white flag waving, but was unable to make it stick.

“I wasn’t expecting Kaeding to be that close,” admitted Golobic after scoring his 10 KWS-NARC victory of his career by just two-car lengths. “I made a couple of mistakes in traffic and knew I needed to get going to win this thing. It wouldn’t have been possible without a great car prepared by Paul Baines and the entire Tarlton team.”

Kaeding, who set the standard for the field in qualifying, ended up scoring second in the Williams Motorsports Alviso Rock Maxim, Thorson filled out the podium driving Clyde Lamar’s Tri-C/Amsoil Spike chassis.

Series point leader Hirst locked down fourth place in the Roth Motorsports KPC, chased by the Safecraft Safety Equipment Maxim driven by Chase Johnson.

The second five to cross the checkered were Copeland, Jason Statler, Willie Croft, Sean Watts and Richard Brace Jr. Croft earned the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger award after starting 19th in the grid.

Wood Brothers

Playoff Picture Improves For Menard After 11th Place Finish In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky

Playoff Picture Improves For Menard After 11th Place Finish In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky

July 15, 2018

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Quaker State team turned in one of their most consistently good performances of the season in Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway and came away with an 11th place finish plus seven stage points.

The points earned allowed Menard and the No. 21 team to significantly improve their points situation in the Monster Energy Cup Series standings. Menard remains in 17th place, but he’s now just 23 points away from the 16th and final spot in the Playoff standings. He entered Saturday’s 400-miler 55 points out of a Playoff spot. Continue reading Playoff Picture Improves For Menard After 11th Place Finish In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky →

Mopar Racing

Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar Thunders into Denver, Marks Milestone 30th Year of FCA US Event Sponsorship

Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar Thunders into Denver, Marks Milestone 30th Year of FCA US Event Sponsorship

· Dodge//SRT brand celebrates first year as event title sponsor at long-running event at Bandimere Speedway
· Dodge//SRT and Mopar will reveal two new race vehicles at NHRA press conference near Denver on July 19
· New “Drag Strip Showdown” contest to kickoff in Denver, with fans competing head-to-head in Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators for trips to Bondurant Drag Racing School
· Matt Hagan and Leah Pritchett lead DSR drivers into Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar, will duel on the track in Dodge Challenger SRT Demon vehicles between qualifying rounds
· Mopar Big Block Party Presented by Pennzoil returns on July 19 for 17th year as “Official Starter” of Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar
· Military heroes Sammy Davis, Neil Duncan to serve as event Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter, respectively
· National Fox Network to broadcast live coverage of Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar elimination rounds on Sunday, July 22 Continue reading Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar Thunders into Denver, Marks Milestone 30th Year of FCA US Event Sponsorship →

Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP

Shawn Valenti powers to SOD MAHLE/Clevite BLC win at Crystal

ERIE, MI (July 15, 2018) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP took on the racy 3/8 mile Crystal Motor Speedway last night for the second time in 2018 for the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Race #3. Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti drove an impressive race to take the victory, his second SOD win of the year utilizing a Gressman Powersports engine. Continue reading Shawn Valenti powers to SOD MAHLE/Clevite BLC win at Crystal →

Honda Racing

Eversley Wins Again In Portland, Extends Points Lead

Eversley Wins Again In Portland, Extends Points Lead
• Ryan Eversley scores season’s third win for Honda Civic Type R
• Eversley widens World Challenge Touring Car R series points lead with victory
• Honda Civic Si driver Tom O’Gorman also extends his points lead with a double podium

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 15, 2018) – RealTime Racing driver Ryan Eversley fought back after a heartbreaking Saturday race in Portland to claim his third win of the season in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car R series in Sunday’s weekend finale at Portland International Raceway.

Eversley was joined by a former World Challenge GT class rival in the Honda Civic Type R this weekend as Michael Cooper took over the #44 RealTime machine, and giving that car its best weekend of the season with third- and fourth-place finishes. Continue reading Eversley Wins Again In Portland, Extends Points Lead →

Honda Racing

Dixon, Honda Win in Toronto

Dixon, Honda Win in Toronto
• Scott Dixon scores his third victory of 2018 at the Honda Indy Toronto, extends championship lead
• Hometown favorites Robert Wickens finishes third, James Hinchcliffe fourth
• Honda records seventh Indy car win of the season

TORONTO, Ont., Canada (July 15, 2018) – Continuing his mid-season charge towards a possible fifth championship, Scott Dixon took control of the Honda Indy Toronto on Lap 33 of the 85-lap contest, and went on to score his third victory of 2018 and take a 62-point lead in the fight for the title. Continue reading Dixon, Honda Win in Toronto →

Chevrolet Racing

Simon Pagenaud Puts Chevrolet on Podium in Toronto

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY TORONTO
STREETS OF EXHIBITION PLACE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE RECAP WITH TRANSCRIPT AND QUOTE PACKAGE
JULY 15, 2018

Simon Pagenaud Puts Chevrolet on Podium in Toronto

TORONTO – July 15, 2018 – Today was a good day for Simon Pagenaud. First the French National Team brought the FIFA World Cup home to his beloved home country – France. Then Pagenaud brought his No. 22 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet to the finish line in second place to put Chevrolet on the podium in Toronto. Continue reading Simon Pagenaud Puts Chevrolet on Podium in Toronto →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY TORONTO
STREETS OF EXHIBITION PLACE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE DRIVER QUOTES
JULY 15, 2018

SIMON PAGENAUD, NO. 22 DXC TECHNOLOGY TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – FINISHED 2ND
IT WAS A GOOD BATTLE WITH YOU AND ROBERT WICKENS AND HE GAVE YOU A LITTLE BUMP AT THE END. IT LOOKED LIKE JUST HARD RACING
“Yeah, hard racing and good racing. I had fun. It was really, really tough out there. The track was changing all the time. I don’t know if it’s the dust or the tires, but certainly re-starts, where I had wheel speed up to 50 on the front straightaway. It was a blast to drive. It was really difficult. But when you have a good result like this it feels very rewarding and a lot of fun. I’m really proud of the DXC team for a great effort this weekend. I think we showed that we’re back, so I’m excited.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Post Race

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400 PRESENTED BY WALMART
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER POST RACE NOTES & QUOTES
JULY 14, 2018

TOP TEAM CHEVY FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
9th KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1
13th CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
14th JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION CAMARO ZL1
17th JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 ARCTIC CAT CAMARO ZL1
20th WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1

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

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on Sunday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Post Qualifying

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY TORONTO
STREETS OF EXHIBITION PLACE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIYFING DRIVER QUOTES
JULY 14, 2018

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 1 HITACHI TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – POLE WINNER
IT WAS DRY, IT WAS WET; THERE WERE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE DURING QUALIFYING
“I thought I steered us in the wrong direction for a moment. We went out a little later, which to me, I thought if we could keep the minimum amount of laps on the tires, the better. The risk is if it starts raining heavier during the session, then that’s the wrong choice because you need to be out there early getting a lap. But, fortunately it started drying up toward the end. In the middle I thought I made the wrong decision because it was raining more intensely. And then those last two laps, it just got progressively better and I knew that last lap was going to be the one to nail it. And, the car has been incredible this weekend. The Hitachi car has been fast. We haven’t had to do too much. We started a little bit slow but then found our rhythm this morning. The guys did a great job. The team has been working well together. We got all three of us (Team Penske drivers) in the ‘fast six’, so that’s all you can ask for, I think, on a day like today. And so now we go to tomorrow and focus on the race.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Post Qualifying →

Honda Racing

Front-Row Start for Dixon, Honda at Toronto

Front-Row Start for Dixon, Honda at Toronto
• Scott Dixon qualifies second for Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto
• Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay also advance to final qualifying round
• Sporadic rain, changing track conditions challenge teams and drivers

TORONTO, Ont., Canada (July 14, 2018) – Sporadic light rain showers and the resulting ever-changing track conditions threw constant challenges at Verizon IndyCar Series teams and drivers today in qualifying for Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto. At the end of three rounds of frantic knockout qualifying, Scott Dixon qualified second fastest to lead the Honda field, and will start on the outside of the front row. Continue reading Front-Row Start for Dixon, Honda at Toronto →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Qualifying Notes

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY TORONTO
STREETS OF TORONTO, EXHIBITION PLACE
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTES
JULY 14, 2018

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 1 HITACHI TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – POLE WINNER
IT WAS DRY, IT WAS WET; THERE WERE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE DURING QUALIFYING
“I thought I steered us in the wrong direction for a moment. We went out a little later, which to me, I thought if we could keep the minimum amount of laps on the tires, the better. The risk is if it starts raining heavier during the session, then that’s the wrong choice because you need to be out there early getting a lap. But, fortunately it started drying up toward the end. In the middle I thought I made the wrong decision because it was raining more intensely. And then those last two laps, it just got progressively better and I knew that last lap was going to be the one to nail it. And, the car has been incredible this weekend. The Hitachi car has been fast. We haven’t had to do too much. We started a little bit slow but then found our rhythm this morning. The guys did a great job. The team has been working well together. We got all three of us (Team Penske drivers) in the ‘fast six’, so that’s all you can ask for, I think, on a day like today. And so now we go to tomorrow and focus on the race.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Toronto–Qualifying Notes →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Chad Knaus

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400 PRESENTED BY WALMART
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 13, 2018

CHAD KNAUS, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CAMARO ZL1 DISCUSSES HIS CONTRACT EXTENSION:

SO, YOU HAVE RESIGNED YOUR CONTRACT TO CONTINUE TO CREW CHIEF THE NO. 48. DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OF NOT EXTENDING?
“No, not really. Obviously, Jimmie (Johnson) and I have a, although going through a bit of a slump right now, we have a great time racing together. We have a long relationship and enjoyed everything 48. So, no not really it was pretty easy.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Chad Knaus →

Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP

Chad Blonde takes Friday the13th SOD King Engine Bearings KoM win at Hartford

ERIE, MI (July 14, 2018) –The King Engine Bearings King of Michigan Race #2 at Hartford Speedway on Friday the 13th was just what Litchfield, Michigan’s Chad Blonde needed. After being the bride’s maid several times this season, Blonde drove his Krieger Racing Engines powered Maxim to victory to the delight of the large, enthusiastic crowd that braved sweltering temperatures to see a great night of racing. Continue reading Chad Blonde takes Friday the13th SOD King Engine Bearings KoM win at Hartford →

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Post Race Report – Alsco 300

Matt Tifft Finishes 11th After Pit Road Miscue at Kentucky Speedway

“We had a fast No. 2 Surface Sunscreen Chevrolet Camaro right from the start this weekend. I was really happy with how it handled. I could hug the bottom really well in Turns 3 and 4 to get under people. Turns 1 and 2 needed more work, but we got better over there as the night progressed on Friday. It was great to be running up in the top 5 for Stage 1. We didn’t free up the car as much as I needed for Stage 2, so we got shuffled back a little bit, but we made it up in the final stage. We decided to pit for four fresh tires and one final adjustment when the caution came out with 38 laps to go. Unfortunately, we had to make a second trip down pit road for an unscheduled stop, so that cost us track position. I was able to work my way through the field and into the top 10 for a little bit after that. Our Camaro just snugged back up again a tick too much, and I got shuffled back a couple spots. We’ll continue to learn from races like this.”
-Matt Tifft

Handling Issues Hamper Ty Dillon’s Efforts in Red Kap/Alsco Chevrolet

“We started off really tight in the No. 3 Red Kap / Alsco Chevrolet. Our team made several adjustments during the first two pit stops to free up the car and it worked. It ran much better on exit after those stops, but unfortunately not good enough to land a top-10 finish. I’m not sure why we didn’t have speed on the straightaways. It wasn’t there all night. I also battled a vibration at the end of Stage 1 throughout most of the night. Not the finish we hoped for but it’s something we can learn from and improve on moving forward.”
-Ty Dillon

Daniel Hemric and the South Point Hotel & Casino Team Fight Back to Second-Place Finish at Kentucky Speedway

“We started tonight’s race a little farther off than we expected to, but Danny Stockman did a great job making wholesale changes to our South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet every time we came down pit road. He finally got me to where I could drive it and move through the field. It was fun to battle with Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier and Christopher Bell there. As long as we had clean air, we were in good shape. We were leading when the cautions came out and I chose the bottom on the restart, and if I could, I would have probably done something a little different there to keep cars off my right rear. It was just free taking off for a lap or two, but that is what helped our car maintain and make speed once we got it better. I will run this race over in my mind on the flight home, but as soon as we land tonight, it is on to New Hampshire next week.”

-Daniel Hemric

Wood Brothers

Menard To Start Sixth In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky

Menard To Start Sixth In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky

July 13, 2018

Winning the pole at Chicagoland Speedway two weeks ago appears to have raised the qualifying expectations for Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Quaker State team.

Menard qualified sixth fastest for Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, but in his post-qualifying comments he indicated he wanted more. Continue reading Menard To Start Sixth In Quaker State 400 At Kentucky →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Qualifying Notes

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400 PRESENTED BY WALMART
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
JULY 13, 2018

TOP TEAM CHEVY QUALIFIERS:
POS. DRIVER
10th RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CAMARO ZL1
13TH AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AAA CAMARO ZL1
15TH ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1
16TH CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
18TH KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1
20TH CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 GAIN CAMARO ZL1

TOP FIVE QUALIFIERS:
POS. DRIVER
1ST Martin Truex Jr. (Toyota)
2nd Erik Jones (Toyota)
3rd Kevin Harvick (Ford)
4th Brad Keselowski (Ford)
5TH Kyle Busch (Toyota)

The Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart is scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 14 at 7:30 pm, ET. Live coverage can be found on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kentucky–Qualifying Notes →

Honda Racing

Dixon, Sato Head Honda Attack in Practice at Toronto

Dixon, Sato Head Honda Attack in Practice at Toronto
• Scott Dixon dominates practice, leads both sessions for Honda
• Takuma Sato ends day second quickest
• Honda drivers, teams claim top five positions for the day

TORONTO, Ont., Canada (July 13, 2018) – Scott Dixon headed the time charts in both practice sessions today in preparation for Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto, as Honda drivers claimed the top five positions – and eight of the top 10 – for the day. Continue reading Dixon, Sato Head Honda Attack in Practice at Toronto →

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