Can Epping winner Brittany Force go back-to-back in Englishtown with Monster Energy car?
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 6) – One of the fortunate by-products of the win by Brittany Force last weekend in Epping, N.H. is that she gets immediately gets to jump back in her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver five days later. Continue reading Can Epping winner Brittany Force go back-to-back in Englishtown with Monster Energy car?
Defending event Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin
hoping E-town is place for rebound
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 6) — By most drag racing standards, two-time world champion Troy Coughlin is having a solid 2017 campaign in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. He’s ranked a lofty fifth in the points heading into this weekend’s 48th annual NHRA Summernationals, and with seven of 12 races left in the season, there’s plenty of time to rally for a push up the rankings. Continue reading Defending event Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin hoping E-town is place for rebound
Auto Club driver Robert Hight hoping top times, speeds transfer to victory at NHRA Summernationals
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 6) – Robert Hight has been among the quickest and fastest drivers on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit for several seasons, and has proven so again this year.
Take this into consideration: Hight has set career-best elapsed times on three occasions this season – at Gainesville (3.828 seconds); Topeka (3.826); and Epping (3.822), which came during qualifications and netted him a monumental 50th No. 1. Continue reading Auto Club driver Robert Hight hoping top times, speeds transfer to victory at NHRA Summernationals
Allen Johnson Tapping into Past Englishtown Success for NHRA Summernationals
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (June 6, 2017) – Marathon Petroleum’s Allen Johnson is ready to put the early exit at the New England Nationals in the rear-view mirror and redirect his focus to this weekend at the 48th annual NHRA Summernationals.
Johnson has been in the final round three times at this event and won in 2011 over Vincent Nobile. He always went on to be the No. 1 qualifier in 2006 and 2014. Continue reading Allen Johnson Tapping into Past Englishtown Success for NHRA Summernationals
F4 U.S. DRIVERS IN ACTION: ABEL MOTORSPORTS EXTENDS ITS RACING FAMILY
Children from St. Joseph Children’s Home Visit F4 U.S. at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS (June 6, 2017)- The kids at St. Joseph Children’s Home in Louisville, Kentucky, have been working hard all school-year for the opportunity to attend the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda Open Wheel World Challenge event with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association.
For the last three seasons, Abel Motorsports has partnered with St. Joseph, inviting select kids from the home on a day trip to experience racing first hand.
“Our mission with the St. Joseph invitation is to transport these kids to a better place by letting them be a part of our racing family for the day. We want all of them to have a positive experience and leave with smiles on their faces,” said Abel Motorsports team principal Bill Abel. “As a 79-year-old, third-generation, family business, we know the value of being part of a family. The kids at St Joe’s are all from very diverse backgrounds, and each one is lacking the family support that we so value. Our family and company have been blessed, so we are always looking for ways to give back to our community; especially, to those in need.”
This year, a group of ten children ranging from six to 14-years-old, who maintained good grades, attendance and behavior all school year will join Abel Motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a day of racing, autographs and most importantly, fun.
“We are so fortunate to have a place like St. Joe’s in Louisville,” said F4 U.S. Abel Motorsports rookie Jacob Abel. “This is my first year to be able to escort them around the track. It is a happy event intended for the kids to just be kids. We want to have fun, which helps them, but it honestly helps me too.”
For nearly 170 years, St. Joseph Children’s Home has opened its doors to children, providing a safe and loving home to kids removed from their households due to neglect, abuse, domestic violence or substance abuse. St. Joseph has served more than 75,000 children since its start.
Scelzi’s Summer in the Midwest Begins This Weekend at Knoxville Raceway and 34 Raceway
Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (June 5, 2017) – Dominic Scelzi is embarking upon a three-month trip to race throughout the Midwest this summer.
The Roth Motorsports backed, family owned team will compete this Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and Sunday at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions. Continue reading Scelzi’s Summer in the Midwest Begins This Weekend at Knoxville Raceway and 34 Raceway
Giovanni Scelzi Charges to Third Win in the Last Month With KWS-NARC at Antioch
Inside Line Promotions – ANTIOCH, Calif. (June 5, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi earned his third feature victory in the last six races when he captured the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series event at Antioch Speedway last Saturday.
“It sounds cliché, but I can’t say enough about the people around me,” he said. “We have the best equipment, best engines and best people working on the car. The car is on every time we hit the track. I’m still learning so it makes it easier when my car is that good.” Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Charges to Third Win in the Last Month With KWS-NARC at Antioch
deJong, Honda Score Podium Finish in New England
• American deJong Claims Sixth Podium Finish For Manufacturer
• Thompson Doubleheader Begins Four Rounds in Two-Week Span
• Oliver Eriksson Wins Heat Race on Saturday
Saturday Broadcast Replay: http://stream.nbcsports.com/nbc/?pid=32843
THOMPSON, Ct. (June 4, 2017) – Mitchell deJong and his No. 24 Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Civic scored their first career Red Bull Global Rallycross Supercar podium result Saturday, after finishing third in a Final defined by a battle of attrition. The 19-year-old Temecula, Calif. native became the manufacturer’s first American rallycross driver to achieve a podium finish. Continue reading deJong, Honda Score Podium Finish in New England
Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.716 seconds, 328.62 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.728 seconds, 327.98 mph.
Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.897, 332.59 def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.927, 332.34.
Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.534, 213.16 def. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.550, 212.06.
Top Fuel Harley — Tii Tharpe, Dixie, 6.248, 227.96 def. Rickey House, Harley, 6.464, 212.90.
Super Stock — Byron Worner, Chevy Camaro, 9.736, 136.68 def. Bryan Worner, Camaro, 10.184, 129.34.
Stock Eliminator — David Ficacci, Chevy Camaro, 10.197, 113.72 def. Thomas Auger, Dodge, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Rich Dorr, Dragster, 8.892, 171.23 def. Raymond Fredricks, Dragster, 8.871, 174.62.
Super Gas — John Labbous Jr, Chevy Corvette, 9.922, 163.93 def. Chuck Rothermel, Pontiac Grand Am, 9.914, 163.10.
Super Street — Brian Sawyer, Chevy Camaro, 10.982, 140.28 def. Karri Khoury, Chevy Truck, 10.921, 142.03.
Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Deborah DiGenova, Dragster, 6.826, 194.60 def. Scott Hall, Dragster, 6.191, 219.65.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — John Benoit, Chevy Corvette, 6.444, 213.03 def. Matt Harper, Pontiac Grand Prix, 7.441, 178.73.
Pro Stock Snowmobile — Frank Berard Jr, Ski-Doo, 8.354, 152.85 def. Tiina Duncanson, Mach Z, 8.363, 155.90.
X275 — Dean Marinis, Ford Mustang, 4.462, 164.03 def. Robert Baptista, Chevy Camaro, 5.369, 125.67.
STRONG ENTRY LIST FOR F4 U.S. HEADING INTO INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Chris Gumprecht joins the fight for the Championship
INDIANAPOLIS (June 5, 2017)- The asphalt has barely cooled from the 101st Indianapolis 500 as the open-wheel stars of tomorrow compete in the second Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway June 10-11 during the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association Open Wheel World Challenge.
After its season debut race in April, the F4 U.S. field still holds strong with 30 cars slated to compete. Continue reading STRONG ENTRY LIST FOR F4 U.S. HEADING INTO INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
ERIE, MI (June 5, 2017) – Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP is gearing up for a big weekend, kicking off the King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at Hartford Speedway Friday, then the second race of the MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Saturday at Thunderbird Raceway.
Dain Naida, Adrian, Michigan, has the early SOD point lead over brother-in-law Steve Irwin from Fenton, Michigan. Sugar Land, Texas, transplant Thomas Schinderle, Berkley, Michigan, is third in points. Schinderle leads The Perfit Corporation SOD series rookie of the year points.
Friday’s race at Hartford Speedway will be the first of SOD’s four-race King Engine Bearings King of Michigan series at the speedway. The KoM includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion. SOD competitors can’t wait to get their first look at Hartford’s newly reconfigured 3/8 mile track.
Saturday’s race at Thunderbird Raceway will be the second race of the five-race 2017 MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge. Unlike the King of Michigan series, the Beyond Limits Challenge will be contested at five different speedways. Delta Ohio’s Shawn Valenti leads the BLC points over Joe Swanson, Etna Green, Indiana, and Landon Simon, Indianapolis, Indiana. The BLC also includes its own point fund with $1,000 going to the champion. The ¼ mile, nearly circular track, is a favorite of SOD competitors, producing excellent racing last season.
PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Funny Car driver
John Force stumbles in Epping first round
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) – For PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car driver John Force, the New England Nationals ran the gamut.
The 16-time Funny Car champion had to deal with a tough first-round loss after an uncharacteristically difficult weekend. Plus, he saw John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight fall in the first round after qualifying No. 1.
Then again, he saw daughter Courtney Force race to a runner-up finish – and then watch as daughter Brittany Force took the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster to the winner’s circle for the first time in 2017. Continue reading PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Funny Car driver John Force stumbles in Epping first round
Austin Dillon and the AAA Chevrolet Team Earn 12th-Place Finish In Wild Ending at Dover International Speedway
“I’m proud of our AAA Team. I wish we would have brought home the top-10 finish but we will take a 12th after the chaos on the backstretch. That was wild at the end there with everyone scattering through the field and different strategies coming into play when some teams did not pit and some pitted for four tires when the caution came out. We took four and I think that was the right decision but you never know if maybe a two-tire call could have been beneficial to pick up an extra spot. We were involved in that last incident that froze the field and ended the race. We worked as an organization to create a strategy that put us all in contention so I am proud of RCR as a whole.” Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–AAA 400 Drive for Autism
Dropped cylinder denies No. 1 qualifier
Robert Hight at New England Nationals
Photo credit: Ron Lewis Photography
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) – Soon, past NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Robert Hight knows he will be in the winner’s circle.
Hight’s AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car is running too well to be denied a victory, as noted by his No. 1 qualifier for the NHRA New England Nationals this weekend at New England Dragway.
Hight, though, could use some luck on race day. Witness his first-round race Sunday against No. 16 qualifier Mike Smith. Smith struggled to get to the finish line, making a pass of 4.324 seconds at 257.92 mph. Continue reading Dropped cylinder denies No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight at New England Nationals
Hagan Wins NHRA New England Nationals in Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
Matt Hagan wins fifth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway
Victory is 25th of Hagan’s career and third of 2017
Three Mopar HEMI®-powered Dodge Funny Cars from Don Schumacher Racing advance to semis
Leah Pritchett drives Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Top Fuel dragster to semifinal round
Mopar drivers Ron Capps and Hagan sit in first and second positions in Funny Car point standings, Pritchett remains No. 1 in Top Fuel
Thomas Auger goes to final in Stock Eliminator with 1963 Dodge 330
Auger and Mike Cotten win Dodge Top Finisher award in Stock Eliminator and Super Stock
June 4, 2017, Epping, N.H. – Mopar HEMI® power just keeps winning Funny Car races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in 2017. Matt Hagan put his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T in the winner’s circle for the third time this year at the New England Nationals on Sunday, besting Courtney Force in the Funny Car final round at New England Dragway. Continue reading Hagan Wins NHRA New England Nationals in Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force finishes just short of spectacular weekend in Epping
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) – The wave of emotions Courtney Force experienced during a 48-hour period at New England Dragway may have been endless.
Since Friday afternoon, Force bested an elapsed time track record, then watched her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS team put together a spare car after her primary car exploded following the first qualifying session.
She cheered on her husband Graham Rahal to an IndyCar Series doubleheader sweep at the Grand Prix of Detroit, and celebrated as sister Brittany Force won her first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race of the season in the Top Fuel class. Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force finishes just short of spectacular weekend in Epping
Rahal, Honda Dominate in Detroit
• Graham Rahal completes sweep of IndyCar Series double header race weekend
• Follows victory in Saturday’s opening race with second win in Sunday finale
• Scott Dixon combines second and sixth-place results to claim championship lead
DETROIT, Mich. (June 4, 2017) – Despite a late-race red flag, Graham Rahal and Honda completed a dominant performance Sunday in Detroit, as Rahal became the first driver to win both races of the Verizon IndyCar Series double header weekend on the Motor City’s Belle Isle Park temporary street circuit.
After leading a 1-2-3 victory podium sweep for Honda in Saturday’s opening 70-lap contest, Rahal scored his second win of the weekend today in an entirely different manner. Starting third in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, Rahal first had to get past fellow Honda driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, making an outside pass in Turn One to move into second. Continue reading Rahal, Honda Dominate in Detroit
CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX
STREETS OF BELLE ISLE
TEAM CHEVY DUAL NO. 2 RACE REPORT WITH DRIVER QUOTES
JUNE 4, 2017
Newgarden, Power Put Team Chevy on Detroit GP Podium
Top Team Penske Chevy-powered Indy Cars second and third on Belle Isle
DETROIT (June 4, 2017) – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Will Power put their Chevrolet-powered Indy Cars on the podium for the second Dual in Detroit race of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix for the Verizon IndyCar Series.
Newgarden in the No. 2 hum by Verizon Chevrolet Indy finished second after starting the 70-lap race in 13th place. Going for a three-stop strategy, Newgarden led the race twice for seven laps and set the race’s fastest lap. He finished 1.1772 seconds behind race-winner Graham Rahal.
Power, driving the No. 12 Verizon IndyCar, moved into contention early after starting seventh. He moved up to third after 10 laps and second after 23 laps running a two-stop strategy. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Belle Isle–Post Race
VICTORY! Brittany Force, Monster Energy team
claw to New England Nationals winner’s circle
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) – Brittany Force knew it was only a matter of time for her Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team.
At the NHRA New England Nationals Sunday at New England Dragway, Force and her John Force Racing team broke through. Force stormed to her fourth career victory, beating defending Top Fuel champion Antron Brown in a thrilling final round.
“We had really been struggling and we got lost for a while but we really seemed to figure it out at Topeka,” Force said. “I knew we had a good race car, we had our Monster car back, our team back, and I knew that first win was right around the corner.
“Our last final round was Phoenix, and that whole time in between was tough for the team. But Continue reading VICTORY! Brittany Force, Monster Energy team claw to New England Nationals winner’s circle