Wood Brothers

Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track

Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track

March 14, 2018

Paul Menard’s preferred form of racing pavement is old, gray, abrasive and bumpy.

Therefore it’s no surprise that the veteran driver of the No. 21 Menards/FVP Ford is looking forward to getting back on track at Auto Club Speedway in California, especially after a disappointing run at ISM Raceway, where hit the wall after a bead failure on a tire.

“I feel like our intermediate-track program is better than our short-track program,” Menard said, adding that the safety equipment in his Menards Ford kept him from feeling any soreness following Sunday’s crash at Phoenix. “I’m looking forward to getting to Fontana and seeing what we have there.” Continue reading Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track →

Honda Racing

Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring

Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring
• Acura Team Penske seeks to convert Daytona speed to Sebring prototype victory
• Michael Shank Racing looking to build on GTD points lead with Acura NSX GT3s
• CJ Wilson Racing joins Acura NSX GT3 effort; HART makes second GTD start

SEBRING, Fla. (March 14, 2018) – Acura’s largest effort since rejoining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017 will take to the track this weekend for the 66th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, as the manufacturer seeks both overall and GTD class victories on the historic central Florida airfield circuit.

Two Acura Team Penske ARX-05 prototypes and four GTD category Acura NSX GT3s – from Michael Shank Racing, the Honda of America Racing Team [HART] and CJ Wilson Racing – will make up the Acura attack for Saturday’s 12-hour endurance racing classic. Continue reading Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring →

Chevrolet Racing

CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

What:
49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
When:
Friday, March 16-Sunday, March 18
Where:
Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida
TV:
FS1: Qualifications (taped) – 8:30 p.m. ET Friday; 11 p.m. ET Saturday
FS1: Eliminations and finals (taped) – 7 p.m. ET Sunday

Chevrolet drivers seek to take bite out of Gatornationals prizes
Courtney Force enters 49th annual event with Funny Car momentum on her side

DETROIT (March 14, 2018) – Buoyed by a Funny Car victory at Phoenix, Courtney Force enters the 49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with mental and mechanical momentum. Continue reading CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE →

John Force Racing

DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS BACK TO GAINESVILLE

DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS
BACK TO GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) — Eight-time and defending NHRA Gatornationals winner John Force is heading to Gainesville, Fla. with hopes of getting a fresh start after what has been an, albeit eventful but, unexpectedly slow start to the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.

“I am ready to get back to the race track. We have had some struggles at the first two races but we are figuring it out. My team has been going over my PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car and we’ll be ready. The good news is Robert stayed and tested after the last race and Courtney won in Phoenix. We all share information. I am ready to get back to the fans. It was good to have some time off but now the season is really going to get started. Continue reading DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS BACK TO GAINESVILLE →

John Force Racing

BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION

BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) — In 2016 Brittany Force captured her first Top Fuel national event win at the historic NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. The Monster Energy Top Fuel driver secured the first John Force Racing double up win and shared the winner’s circle with teammate Robert Hight. This year Force is returning with Hight as the reigning Top Fuel and Funny Car world champions, respectively. It has been a whirlwind two years for the seven-time Top Fuel national event winner and Force is looking forward to getting back to the site of her first victory.

“Gainesville will always be a special track for me. My Monster Energy team had been chasing down our first win since my rookie season in 2013 and we made it happen at the Gatornationals in Gainesville,” said Force. “A first win is something a driver will never forget. That win was the first Top Fuel win for John Force Racing and the first double-up win with teammate Robert Hight. That track, that day is something I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to get back to the Gatornationals this weekend.”
Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION →

Mopar Racing

Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals

Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals

· Test sessions have Top Fueler Leah Pritchett ready to race her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in Factory Stock Showdown class at Gainesville Raceway
· NHRA Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson will also drive Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in Factory Stock Showdown
· Geoff Turk cracks seven-second barrier at NMCA event, will look to repeat the feat at NHRA Gatornationals
· NHRA Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan to lead Mopar Dodge//SRT Don Schumacher Racing squad into Gatornationals
· Mopar Dodge//SRT display to feature popular Challenger SRT Demon simulators, elevated fan VIP viewing area at Gainesville Raceway
· 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 Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals →

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

4 Teams Qualify as the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Kicks off 10th Anniversary Season

4 Teams Qualify as the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
Kicks off 10th Anniversary Season
Joliet, IL. -The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge’s 10th Anniversary Season kicked off at the 11th Annual Race & Performance Expo in Schaumburg, IL. February 24th & 25th. HROT and RP Expo have a long history together as RP Expo was home to the first ever HROT in 2008.

Team Meziere – from Fremd High School, Palatine, IL.Twenty-five teams competed at the RP Expo, and four will advance to the Dual National Championship held later this year at the SEMA and PRI Show.

To qualify for the Dual National Championship, a team must finish disassembling and reassembling a small-block Chevrolet engine in less than 33 minutes, including penalties.

Image may contain: 4 peopleIn fourth place came Team ARP from McHenry Community High School, McHenry, IL with a qualifying time of 32:02. Martin Molina the team instructor said: ”our teams performed well given the short amount of time we had to practice and that it was Mchenry’s first time ever at the competition.” Adding that “the students handled the pressure well.”

Coming in third place with a time of 30:27 was Team Fragola from Lockport High School in Lockport, IL In second place with a time of 20:45 was Team Canton from Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, MI.

Team Meziere from Fremd High School was the first place winning team, finishing with an amazing time of 20:18.

Visit HotRoddersOfTomorrow.com to see the complete results from this past weekend.

John Force Racing

HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION

HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) – For Auto Club Funny Car driver Robert Hight the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is always one of the season’s highlight races. Hight recognizes the importance of the event because of the on-track history as well as the pre-race events including the Hall of Fame inductions hosted by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

“You just get excited coming to the Gatornationals. There is so much history starting with Don Garlits’ Hall of Fame event and then at the races you see a lot of important racers from over the year,” said Hight. “We spent some time after Phoenix testing so I feel good coming into Gainesville.” Continue reading HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION →

Jegs Racing

East Coast opener excites five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

East Coast opener excites five-time
Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. has his sights set on a third visit to the winner’s circle of Gainesville Raceway during this weekend’s 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. And after a successful test session for the entire Elite Motorsports group, Coughlin thinks another trophy run is well within reach.

“We found a few things that appear to be giving us the consistency and efficiency we’ve been lacking at the first two races of the year,” Coughlin said. “The JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro has been a little lazy between 100 foot and 3-400 feet and we look for more favorable results this weekend.
Continue reading East Coast opener excites five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (March 13, 2018) – Dominic Scelzi maneuvered to a fourth-place finish last Friday at Thunderbowl Raceway to earn a top-five result with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series for the third consecutive year.

“That was huge,” he said. “In the past I’ve struggled racing there. We rolled into the Trophy Cup (last year) and I thought we were the fastest car every time we hit the track, but we didn’t end that weekend the way we wanted. To return to the track a couple of months later with the World of Outlaws and record a top five is a huge confidence boost.” Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fontana Advance

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
AUTO CLUB 400
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 18, 2018

BOWTIE BULLETS
NATIVE SON:
California native, seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and career-long Chevrolet driver, Jimmie Johnson, is the all-time wins’ leader at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway with six victories. The driver of the No. 48 Camaro ZL1 also has more top five (13) and more top 10 (16) finishes than any other driver at Auto Club Speedway.

CHEVY ON POLE:
Since the first race at Auto Club Speedway in 1997 (won by Chevy driver Jeff Gordon), Bowtie Brand drivers have earned half of all poles at the 2-mile, Fontana, California venue. Only twice has a driver won the Auto Club 400 from the pole. Both times – a Chevy driver – Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and last season (2017) Kyle Larson took his Chevy to victory lane after starting from the top spot. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fontana Advance →

Jegs Racing

JEGS Racing–Gainesville Advance

Team JEGS Prerace Notes
Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Team JEGS
Prerace Notes

Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla. (March 15-18)

The JEGS Mail Order team will be well represented at this weekend’s 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with Jeg Coughlin Jr. racing in Pro Stock, Mike Coughlin competing in Top Dragster, and third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr. making his debut in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Jeg Jr. will continue his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh championship overall) at this weekend’s event. Jeg Jr. will once again be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team. Continue reading JEGS Racing–Gainesville Advance →

Honda Racing

Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400

Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400
• Honda Off-Road Racing Team follows season-opening win with podium finish
• Second-place result at Mint 400 follows victory in February’s Parker 425
• Ridgeline Baja Race Truck takes on Baja 500 in June

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 12, 2018) – The Honda Off-Road Racing Team and its Ridgeline Baja Race Truck backed up their season-opening win at February’s Parker 425 with a second-place finish through the Nevada desert outside of Las Vegas Saturday at the Mint 400.

Starting from the pole in the 10-truck “7200” class for unlimited V6-powered race trucks, team owner/driver Jeff Proctor and navigator Evan Weller pulled away to an early class lead during the Best in the Desert Racing Association event. But while working their way through several slower-spec Trophy Truck entries, the Proctor/Weller Ridgeline struck a large rock that had been obscured by dust, resulting in a flat tire. Continue reading Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400 →

Cruz Pedregon

Cruz Pedregon Gainesville Preview

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Gatornationals – Gainesville, FL
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team have the Snap-on Toyota tuned and ready for Gainesville. “We’re planning on a good string of runs like we’ve had at the Gatornationals as number one qualifier four years in a row,” Cruz says. “It felt great to have a career best 333 mph in Phoenix. Hitting the top speed of the meet has gotten us fired up for the weekend ahead.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon Gainesville Preview →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Seeking to Conquer the Bumps Once Again Team going for 12th class victory since 1999 at 12 Hours

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Seeking to Conquer the Bumps Once Again
Team going for 12th class victory since 1999 at 12 Hours

Corvette Racing a winner at Sebring each of last three seasons
Garcia, Magnussen, Rockenfeller defending GTLM winners
Gavin, Milner, Fässler took class victory in 2016
200th event all-time for Corvette Racing
Chevrolet nearing 40 class victories in Sebring 12 Hours

DETROIT (March 13, 2018) – In its 19-plus years of competition, Corvette Racing has racked up more victories than any team in IMSA history. Those 98 victories have come on some of America’s classic road courses with 11 at the famed Sebring International Raceway. That’s where Corvette Racing returns for the 20th time in search of a fourth consecutive victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: Seeking to Conquer the Bumps Once Again Team going for 12th class victory since 1999 at 12 Hours →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time and Nets 11th-Place Result With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time and Nets 11th-Place Result With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (March 12, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi took a huge leap forward between his first weekend racing with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series to his second event with ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt.’

Scelzi established a new track record en route to setting quick time in his group during qualifying last Friday at Thunderbowl Raceway, where one driver in the second group narrowly timed in quicker to take the overall track record from the Paul Silva owned, Priority Aviation Services sponsored No. 57 sprint car. Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time and Nets 11th-Place Result With World of Outlaws in Tulare →

Jegs Racing

Mike Coughlin ready for another charge at Top Dragster national championship

Mike Coughlin ready for another charge
at Top Dragster national championship
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 12) — Two-time Division 3 champion Mike Coughlin is hoping for a carbon-copy start to his 2018 drag racing campaign when the 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begin this weekend at historic Gainesville Raceway. One year ago, Coughlin won the first national event he entered in Pomona, Calif., to springboard a concerted run at the Top Dragster national title. He’d love to repeat that feat in central Florida. Continue reading Mike Coughlin ready for another charge at Top Dragster national championship →

Roush Yates

KEVIN HARVICK & FORD PERFORMANCE WIN BACK-2-BACK-2-BACK

KEVIN HARVICK & FORD PERFORMANCE
WIN BACK-2-BACK-2-BACK

AVONDALE, AZ, March 12, 2018 – Kevin Harvick made Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history by winning three Cup races in a row. A feat only accomplished 23 times in the NASCAR Series. No. 4 Harvick, in his Ford Fusion powered by the Ford FR9 engine, recorded his 40th career MENCS win and fifth win with Ford Performance.

“Congratulations to Kevin, Tony, Gene and Ford Performance on the win,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “This win showcases all the dedication and effort that was put into the off-season building winning race cars and engines. We take great pride in partnering with Ford on the design and development of the Ford FR9 engines and this weekend we were blessed with two big wins. It’s an honor to work with the employees of Ford Motor Company, all of our Ford Performance Race Teams and our dedicated staff at Roush Yates Engines.” Continue reading KEVIN HARVICK & FORD PERFORMANCE WIN BACK-2-BACK-2-BACK →

Honda Racing

Bourdais Leads Honda Sweep of Indy Car Season Opener

Bourdais Leads Honda Sweep of Indy Car Season Opener
• Sebastien Bourdais wins in St. Petersburg as Honda sweeps top six positions
• Victory duel between Robert Wickens and Alexander Rossi ends with late-race contact
• Bourdais and Dale Coyne Racing score second consecutive St. Petersburg win for Honda

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 10, 2018) – A thrilling late-race battle for victory ended in disappointment for Robert Wickens, and a second consecutive Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg win for Sebastien Bourdais, as Honda drivers and teams swept the season-opening round of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series. Honda drivers claimed the top six finishing positions and eight of the top 10. Continue reading Bourdais Leads Honda Sweep of Indy Car Season Opener →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix Post Race

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TICKETGUARDIAN 500
ISM RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
MARCH 11, 2018

TOP TEAM CHEVY FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
3rd CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
11th RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 GRAINGER CAMARO ZL1
12th WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1
13th ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CAMARO ZL1
14th JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CAMARO ZL1

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

The next race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) will be at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California for the Auto Club 400 on Sunday, March 18th. Live coverage will begin at 3:30 ET and can be found on FOX, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix Post Race →

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