This time, Butner survives yet another
big challenge from Jeg Coughlin Jr.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 18) — For the second race in a row, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. squared off against reigning titlist Bo Butner in the first round of eliminations. But unlike a few weeks ago when Coughlin used a holeshot to beat the higher-qualified Butner, on this occasion Coughlin’s better start wasn’t quite enough to advance the JEGS.com/Elite Performance
Chevrolet Camaro. Continue reading This time, Butner survives yet another big challenge from Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Acura Shows Speed at Sebring
Acura Shows Speed at Sebring
• Mechanical issues end strong Team Penske Acura prototype effort
• Michael Shank Racing leads Acura NSX GT3 performance
• HART recovers from late-race damage; CJ Wilson Racing makes NSX GT3 debut
SEBRING, Fla. (March 17, 2018) – Fielding a six-car effort in two separate IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes – the largest for any manufacturer in the 42-car starting field – Acura Motorsports contended for victory in both the headline Prototype and supporting GTD divisions during Saturday’s 66th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, second round of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Michael Shank Racing led the way for Acura Motorsports, with both of the team’s NSX GT3s contending for the GTD class victory and leading through the first nine hours of the endurance racing classic. Acura Team Penske gave the new ARX-05 prototype another strong outing, leading several times, but separate mechanical failures ended the run for both machines just past the halfway mark in the 12-hour contest. The Honda of America Racing Team also frequently ran in the top five of GTD and the CJ Wilson Racing team made its NSX GT3 debut at Sebring.
Acura Team Penske
Both Ricky Taylor, starting driver for the #7 Penske Acura ARX-05 prototype, and co-driver Helio Castroneves led during the early hours. Along with third driver Graham Rahal, the Acura remained in the top three until the car suddenly lost oil pressure just as the race reached its six-hour midpoint. Continue reading Acura Shows Speed at Sebring
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Valiant Effort in Chase for Four Straight
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Valiant Effort in Chase for Four Straight
Gavin, Milner, Fässler lead team with fifth-place GTLM finish at 12 Hours
SEBRING, Fla. (March 17, 2018) – Corvette Racing put forth another strong effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Saturday with Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler leading the team’s efforts at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts.
The trio in their No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R placed sixth in GT Le Mans (GTLM) after a trouble-free run that saw the Corvette go from ninth at the start to the lead of the race at the four-hour mark.
As was the case at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 4 Corvette team didn’t make any missteps, didn’t lose any time in the pitlane and kept the C7.R running all day and into the night. The pace from the rest of the front-running cars, however, proved to be more than a spotless race could overcome. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Valiant Effort in Chase for Four Straight
Beckman Powers Mopar and Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at NHRA Gatornationals
Beckman Powers Mopar and Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at NHRA Gatornationals
Jack Beckman captures third No. 1 spot in three events for a Mopar Dodge//SRT driver
Pole is the 24th of Beckman’s career and second at Gainesville Raceway
Five Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T drivers make Funny Car field at NHRA Gatornationals
Mopar-powered Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Leah Pritchett to start from No. 4 and No. 6 spots, respectively
Pritchett puts Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in second day of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations, keeps quest alive for two Wally trophies
March 17, 2018, Gainesville, Florida – Jack Beckman collected the third No. 1 spot in three events for a Mopar Dodge//SRT driver this season, claiming the pole in his Mopar-powered Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car before a sellout crowd at the 49th annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Continue reading Beckman Powers Mopar and Dodge//SRT to Funny Car Pole at NHRA Gatornationals
JOHN FORCE RACING USES FULL TEAM EFFORT TO GET READY FOR GATORNATIONALS RACE DAY
JOHN FORCE RACING USES FULL TEAM EFFORT TO GET READY FOR GATORNATIONALS RACE DAY
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The three Funny Car teams of John Force Racing used Saturday qualifying at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway as a test session in hopes of solving a problem that has plagued team namesake John Force for the first three races of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.
Force has blown the body off of his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro at each of the first three events. Planned early shutoffs were the theme for the Camaro Funny Cars as the brain trust of John Force Racing worked together to find the problem.
“I am banking on the experience of the people around me,” said John Force, the eight-time Gatornationals Funny Car winner. “I am the kind of guy that, when it is qualifying day, I run it to the edge. I run it even if I know it will hurt itself. I am rethinking all that. What I am looking is the long haul. To go out here and say I have to win this race or I have to qualify low after as much stuff as we have put on the ground in Pomona and Phoenix and then to come here and do it again is bad. Jimmy (Prock) was up all night and so was (Brian) Corradi. (Jon) Schaffer and (Jason) McCulloch were up all night too. We want to fix this problem and move on.” Continue reading JOHN FORCE RACING USES FULL TEAM EFFORT TO GET READY FOR GATORNATIONALS RACE DAY
Chevy Racing–NHRA–Gainesville Qualification Recap
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY AT GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
QUALIFICATIONS RECAP
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018
Chevrolet strikes green and gold on St. Patrick’s Day qualifications
• Greg Anderson records fifth Gatornationals pole, 94th of Pro Stock career
• Courtney Force follows up No. 1 spot at Phoenix with No. 2 in Funny Car
• Robert Hight posts top speed of qualifying in claiming No. 3 Funny Car spot
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2018) – Greg Anderson says he “felt bad not wearing anything green” in recognition of St. Patrick’s Day during qualifications for the 49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at sold-out Gainesville Raceway.
He rectified that later in the day by donning the green ballcap signifying the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Gainesville Qualification Recap
Jeg Coughlin Jr. to face reigning champ Butner in Round 1 of Gatornationals
Jeg Coughlin Jr. to face reigning champ Butner in Round 1 of Gatornationals
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17) — For the second national event in a row, Jeg Coughlin Jr. will face reigning Pro Stock champion Bo Butner in the opening round of sudden-death eliminations. Without question, he’ll be hoping for the same result as last time, when he upset Butner on a holeshot
in Phoenix.
The scene here in Florida is nearly the same. In Arizona, Coughlin was the No. 11 qualifier. This time Coughlin is the No. 12 qualifier. Once again, Coughlin could likely benefit from a great start as his best run of 6.581 at 209.75 mph is slightly behind Butner’s best run of 6.534 at 212.53 mph. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. to face reigning champ Butner in Round 1 of Gatornationals
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Halfway Report
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Halfway Report
Team going for 12th class victory since 1999 at 12 Hours
SEBRING, Fla. (March 17, 2018) – Corvette Racing entered the second half of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts well positioned for a shot at its fourth consecutive class victory in America’s oldest sports car race.
The No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler took the GT Le Mans (GTLM) lead right at the four-hour mark after starting ninth in the category, and the 2016 Sebring class winners remained among the front-runners past the halfway mark.
Corvette Racing has 11 victories at Sebring in 19 attempts with this year’s running the 20th start for the program at the 12 Hours. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Halfway Report
Menard Qualifies 14th At Fontana
Menard Qualifies 14th At Fontana
March 16, 2018
Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/FVP team had a strong run going in Friday’s Monster Energy Cup Series qualifying session at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
He was fourth fastest in the first of three rounds of knockout qualifying, but hit a little bump – literally – in Round Two, which puts him starting 14th . Continue reading Menard Qualifies 14th At Fontana
Chevy Racing–NHRA–Gainesville Friday
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY AT GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018
Chevrolet Drivers, Teams Start Strong in 49th Gatornationals
• Greg Anderson is provisional No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock
• Courtney Force is No. 2, teammate Robert Hight is No. 3 in Funny Car
• David Barton is provisional Showdown No. 1 qualifier in COPO Camaro
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Chevrolet drivers and teams are looking strong through two of the four rounds of qualifications for the 49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Greg Anderson, a four-time Gatornationals winner, is the provisional No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier in the third race of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Two rounds of qualifying are scheduled to be contested Saturday. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Gainesville Friday
C. FORCE CONTINUES SUCCESS SITTING SECOND AFTER FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT THE GATORNATIONALS
C. FORCE CONTINUES SUCCESS SITTING SECOND AFTER FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT THE GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Currently in the No. 2 spot, Courtney Force leads John Force Racing with teammate and reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight in the No. 3 position. Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force is 10th and 16-time champion John Force is 14th at the 49th annual running of the famed NHRA Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals in Gainesville.
Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS laid down a 3.914-second pass at 327.66 mph in the second session of qualifying to land her in the second position. Coming off a win and a No. 1 qualifier at the most recent NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, the NHRA Arizona Nationals, Force is competing for her first No. 1 and win at legendary Gainesville Raceway. Continue reading C. FORCE CONTINUES SUCCESS SITTING SECOND AFTER FRIDAY QUALIFYING AT THE GATORNATIONALS
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway Qualifying
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
MARCH 16, 2018
TOP TEAM CHEVY QUALIFIERS:
POS. DRIVER
3RD KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 DC SOLAR CAMARO ZL1
5TH AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW COATINGS CAMARO ZL1
9TH RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES CAMARO ZL1
12TH CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 HEALTHY CHOICE POWER BOWLS CAMARO ZL1
TOP FIVE QUALIFIERS:
POS. DRIVER
1ST Martin Truex, Jr. (Toyota)
2nd Kyle Busch (Toyota)
3rd Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)
4th Erik Jones (Toyota)
5TH Austin Dillon (Chevrolet)
The Auto Club 400 is scheduled to begin on Sunday March 18th at 3:30 pm, EDT. Live coverage can be found on FOX, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway Qualifying
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kasey Kahne
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 95 WRL GENERAL CONTRACTORS CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed the Lefty’s Kids Club, the season thus far with Leavine Family Racing, his start as a kid in racing, how he is looking forward to racing at Martinsville soon, and more. Full Transcript:
AS OUR NEW AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY KIDS CLUB PRESIDENT, TALK ABOUT BEING HERE AND YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE KIDS
“It’s good to be here in California and get to race at this race track. It’s always a track that I’ve really enjoyed over the years. The first practice (today) didn’t go very well for us, but we have a lot of time to hopefully get better as the weekend goes here. I’ve seen Lefty before, but I met him a little bit two weeks ago when I was out here and we did a deal close to the track with some kids and actually got to learn how to play the guitar, which was really cool. Lefty was there. It was a great band and they’re coming as well. To be part of this and see the kids here and the 135,000 people it touches this year is really neat and unbelievable. It’s great to see that and to see kids being into racing and also into education in general. To be part of that feels good.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kasey Kahne
Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring
Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring
• Ricky Taylor runs third in qualifying for Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
• Juan Pablo Montoya takes his Team Penske Acura ARX-05 to sixth on the grid
• Tom Dyer, HART lead Acura NSX GT3 effort, qualifying eighth in GTD
SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Ricky Taylor led the way for Acura in qualifying Friday at Sebring International Raceway, and will start his Acura Team Penske ARX-05 prototype from third in tomorrow’s 66th annual running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Driving the Honda of America Racing Team Acura NSX GT3, Tom Dyer will start eighth in the highly competitive GTD class.
Acura Team Penske
Despite a spin early in the 15-minute qualifying session, Taylor rebounded for a quick time of 1:47.773 around the 3.74-mile Sebring road course to place the #7 Acura ARX-05 third, just three tenths of a second off the record pole time set by Tristan Vautier. As at Daytona, Taylor will share driving duties with Helio Castroneves and Graham Rahal.
Driving the #6 Acura ARX-05 prototype he will share with Dane Cameron and Simon Pagenaud, Juan Pablo Montoya qualified sixth with a time of 1:48.177 for Acura Team Penske. Continue reading Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Jimmie Johnson
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed the announced end of the No. 48 team’s Lowe’s sponsorship next year and plans moving forward, his desire to continue racing, the challenges thus far this season, and more. Full Transcript:
YOU HAVE HAD SIX VICTORIES AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RACE ON SUNDAY?
‘I feel good about it. This is such a fun track. We’ve all seen this place evolve in the multiple lanes of racing. The character of the track has the bumps, the tire wear, and puts on a great show. So, I’m excited to be back at my home track, as well, the place of my very first win and not a better place to get my 84th. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Jimmie Johnson
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row
CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row
Defending GTLM championship team has won three years in a row at 12 Hours
SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Corvette Racing will go for its fourth consecutive class victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday with its two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs line astern for the start of Saturday’s second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Friday’s GT Le Mans (GTLM) qualifying session at Sebring International Raceway saw defending race winner Antonio Garcia set the pace for Corvette Racing with a 156.588 (115.484 mph) in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R that he shares with Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller – his partners in last year’s triumph. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kyle Larson
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018
KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 DC SOLAR CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at Auto Club Speedway and discussed his win at Auto Club Speedway in 2017, his thoughts on competing at the grassroots level and many other topics. Full Transcript:
WHAT ARE YOUR KEYS TO SUCCESS HERE AT THIS TRACK?
“Having a fast racecar is probably the most important key to any race, but we were lucky enough to have a really fast car last year at a lot of tracks, but especially here. I felt like when we got to this race, throughout practice, I felt like I had the car to win. It felt like that was the best Cup car I had ever had to that point. Was able to capitalize on it and get the win. I really enjoy this racetrack. It’s got a lot of different lanes to choose from. You have a lot of tire fall off. It’s just kind of a track that suits my driving style quite a bit. I think that is why we have had a little bit of success here with a couple of Xfinity wins and the Cup win last year. We are just running the Cup car this weekend, but we should be good.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kyle Larson
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Bubba Wallace
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018
DARRELL ‘BUBBA’ WALLACE, JR., NO. 43 FARMER JOHN CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at Auto Club Speedway and discussed his thoughts on the start of his rookie season, the alliance between his team and Richard Childress Racing, reduced practice time and many other topics. Full Transcript:
TELL US HOW YOU ARE FEELING ABOUT YOUR FIRST CUP SERIES START AT AUTO CLUB:
“Yeah in our Chevrolet it will be good. I’m excited I was watching the race last night. We are starting off in Q-trim (qualifying trim), so that is always great. Freshly woken up just trying to go as fast as we can here in practice. We have had a lot of success here, a lot of good runs here in the Xfinity stuff. Just trying to utilize some of that and take that into today and learn throughout this weekend. This place is so wide, so many grooves and the biggest thing is tire fall off. Once that happens, start moving up to the fence. Just got to manage it the best we can and take care of it all day. It’s good to have Farmer John on our Chevrolet. So, once we get that rolling we will see how we shake out.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Bubba Wallace
Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals
Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals
Follow A Dream – Gainesville divisional race wrapup – Thursday, March 15, 2018
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (March 13, 2018) – It was not the season debut that the Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car hoped for in this past weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division event in Gainesville, Florida.
However, the team has high hopes for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event, the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, also at Gainesville Raceway. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals
COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS
COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL (March 14, 2018) – Courtney Force makes history every time she steps into the winner’s circle as the winningest female Funny Car driver in NHRA history. At the most recent NHRA Arizona Nationals the nine-time winner added to her legacy by racing to victory after watching her legendary father John Force crash and get transported to a local hospital. That kind of determination and focus has the youngest Force daughter ready to get to the 49th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
“That win in Phoenix was definitely a great way to start off our season for our Advance Auto Parts team,” said Courtney Force. “It feels good knowing that we have a pretty good race car. (Crew chiefs) Dan Hood and Brian Corradi have been doing a great job. I am excited to get to Florida. This is a track where I have qualified well but have yet to get a win at the Gatornationals. All of my teammates have won at this track so I am really hoping we can get it done this weekend.” Continue reading COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS