Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team has rough outing at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (September 5, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team saw its recent run of success come to an end this past weekend at the NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in suburban Indianapolis. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team has rough outing at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis
Capps Drives Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to NHRA U.S. Nationals Runner-up Finish
Larry Gilley wins Stock Eliminator, Kevin Helms triumphs in Super Stock
Ron Capps puts Mopar HEMI®-powered Dodge Charger R/T in final round of 63rd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Larry Gilley wins all-Mopar Stock Eliminator final round in 1969 Dodge Dart, Kevin Helms drives 2010 Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to Super Stock victory
Mopar Dodge Funny Cars from Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) have appeared in 16 of 18 final rounds this season, winning 12 times
Two Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars from DSR appear in U.S. Nationals semifinals
Tony Schumacher and Leah Pritchett drive Mopar-powered Top Fuel cars from DSR into semis
Mopar occupies four of top five points positions in Funny Car, third and fourth in Top Fuel standings as Countdown to the Championship begins
Mopar Sportsman drivers collect 14 class wins
Gilley is Dodge Top Finisher in Stock, Helms wins award in Super Stock Continue reading Capps Drives Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to NHRA U.S. Nationals Runner-up Finish
Stage set for JEGS.com racer Troy Coughlin Sr.’s championship run after runner-up finish in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 4) – Two-time J&A Service Pro Mod Series world champion Troy Coughlin Sr., driver of the JEGS.com Chevrolet C7 Corvette Pro Mod, raced to the final round of eliminations Labor Day at the 63rd annual running of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway
at Indianapolis. Continue reading Stage set for JEGS.com racer Troy Coughlin Sr.’s championship run after runner-up finish in Indy
INDY DAY 4: JFR drivers look forward to
Countdown after tough day in U.S. Nationals
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 4) – The John Force Racing team was primed for a successful run in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Monday at Lucas Oil Raceway, but fate put a hole in those plans. Continue reading INDY DAY 4: JFR drivers look forward to Countdown after tough day in U.S. Nationals
Top Fuel — Steve Torrence, 3.757 seconds, 322.96 mph def. Kebin Kinsley, 10.820 seconds, 48.47 mph.
Funny Car — J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.923, 325.61 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.949, 325.53.
Pro Stock — Drew Skillman, Chevy Camaro, 6.676, 206.61 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.660, 208.01.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.858, 196.90 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.886, 195.48.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Josh Hart, 5.307, 274.33 def. Megan Meyer, 5.364, 275.79.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — John Lombardo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.485, 269.08 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 5.715, 262.64.
Pro Modified — Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 6.318, 203.68 def. Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 9.079, 122.76.
Competition Eliminator — Brad Plourd, Ford T Roadster, 14.529, 93.36 def. Mike Farrell, Chevy Roadster, Foul – Red Light.
Super Stock — Kevin Helms, Dodge Challenger, 9.122, 137.86 def. Marion Stephenson, Chevy Cobalt, 9.737, 129.98.
Stock Eliminator — Larry Gilley, Dodge Dart, 10.622, 123.07 def. Darrell Steiger, dodge Challenger, 10.619, 123.54.
Factory Stock Showdown — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 8.181, 164.53 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 8.214, 165.48.
Super Comp — Ray Connolly, Dragster, 8.931, 171.79 def. Edmond Richardson, Dragster, 8.937, 168.72.
Super Gas — Kevin Adams, Chevy Nova, 9.920, 154.10 def. Samantha Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 9.920, 164.57.
Erica Enders starts chase for
third championship after Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 4) – Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has been to the winner’s circle at the sport’s biggest race – the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals – in 2015, but she could not return to the hallowed ground at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis this year as the fan-favorite racer bowed out in the opening stanza of eliminations.
Enders, a Houston native and the most acclaimed female racer in the history of Pro Stock, qualified her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in the No. 11 position (6.604 seconds, 209.10 mph). In round one, Enders’ bright red racer had an untimely performance lapse and she was defeated by Chris McGaha, 6.703, 206.99 to 6.660, 206.42.
“We slowed way up,” Enders said. “Until we sort out our issue, we are on a hope and a prayer every time. It’s really an unfortunate situation to be in, especially at Indy.”
Before the 63rd running of the U.S. Nationals, the NHRA mandated a new Goodyear rear tire for Pro Stock competition. The change in how the race car maintains its valuable traction affected some of the factory hot rod teams more than others.
“It’s just more changes and it’s throwing us for a loop, and we have to work on it,” Enders said. “Pro Stock has a had a lot of significant changes in the last three years, but we just have to keep working at it and do our best to just roll with the changes. Rick and Ricky (Jones, crew chiefs) will get it figured out – They always do.”
Despite a disappointing showing in Indy, Enders locked in the No. 6 position in the NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship, which begins at the next event in Charlotte and continues through five more events concluding in Pomona, Calif. in November.
“After we get back from Indy, we are going testing again,” Enders said. “You know, at some point after all of this hard work and money spent we are bound to figure something out. Our Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports team is resilient and certainly knows how to win championships. We’ll get things straightened out. Continue reading Erica Enders starts chase for third championship after Indy
JEGS.com Pro Stock racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. looks beyond Indy for title run in the Countdown
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 4) – Five-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion and three-time Pro Stock victor at the sport’s biggest drag race, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Jeg Coughlin Jr. unexpectedly made an early exit in today’s eliminations of the 63rd annual running of “the Big Go”.
Coughlin’s JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet recorded a best run of 6.625 seconds at 207.88 mph in time trials to land in the No. 14 qualifying slot for Labor Day’s eliminations. He rolled to the starting line to face off against No. 3 qualifier and eventual event winner Drew Skillman in the opening round. Coughlin left the starting line first with an outstanding .019-second reaction time, but crossed the finish line in second place as Skillman was able to pass him for the win light, 6.713, 205.66 to 6.669, 206.20.
“Just being at Indy is fantastic. Our performance wasn’t where we would like it to be obviously starting the show in 14th and bowing out in the first round,” Coughlin said. “It was great to cheer on my wife Samantha in Super Gas and brother Troy in Pro Modified. They both went to the final round. They both got beat in the finals but man what a great weekend for them and a great weekend for Team JEGS. I’m happy about that.”
Despite today’s early departure, Coughlin secured the No. 7 position in the NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship, which begins at the next event in Charlotte and continues through five more events concluding in Pomona, Calif. in November.
Back to the Pro Stock side, this closes the season on the regular season,” Coughlin, a 58-time NHRA national event winner, said. “We’ve got quite a bit of time between now and the first race in Charlotte, ten days or so. The team obviously has their work cut out for them to come up with a set up that will allow the cars to accelerate and make it all the way down the race track in front of the competition next to us. We’re putting all of our faith in our championship team and looking to get on pace
with that.”
Coughlin will reach a milestone at the second event of the Countdown to the Championship in Reading, Penn. – He will race in his 400th Pro Stock event.
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
63rd CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS IN BROWNSBURG, INDIANA
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
MONDAY, SEPT. 4, 2017
An interview with Pro Stock winner DREW SKILLMAN, RAY SKILLMAN MOTORSPORTS, RAY SKILLMAN AUTO GROUP CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 3 qualifier; fourth victory of the season and fourth in the past six races; had been 0-2 versus Greg Anderson in prior finals; had lost on holeshot in 2015 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals to Erica Enders; Indianapolis native and resident): Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–U.S. Nationals
Marathon Petroleum Racing Recap: 63rd annual U.S. Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 4, 2017) – Allen Johnson went to the quarterfinal round of eliminations today at the 63rd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals after defeating Johnny Gray in the first round. Continue reading Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Recap: 63rd annual U.S. Nationals
Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time for Ninth Time and Contends for Victory at Keller Auto Speedway
Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi was in contention for another victory last Saturday at Keller Auto Speedway. Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time for Ninth Time and Contends for Victory at Keller Auto Speedway
The Lady In Black and Lady Luck Are Unkind To Blaney And The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team
September 4, 2017
The Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway turned out to be a long, frustrating experience for Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team as they finished 31st, 11 laps behind the leaders. Continue reading The Lady In Black and Lady Luck Are Unkind To Blaney And The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team
Austin Dillon Earns Best-Career Darlington Raceway Finish with Fourth-Place Showing in American Ethanol’s Throwback Chevrolet
“I’m just really proud of this team for bringing this Dale Earnhardt scheme out and making it run good like that. It means a lot to me, all the RCR guys and all of Dale’s fans. I’m proud to represent tonight. It was a good time, for sure. Our American Ethanol Chevy was really good on the long run, and that’s what we needed at the end. That last long run where we didn’t take tires… that was like water torture in the car. That’s a long run at Darlington with no tires. It’s been a fun year and hopefully we can take this into the playoffs and run really well. You want the momentum going into the playoffs and that’s what’s happening for our team. We have a great group of people at RCR. We’re a big family team that works hard.”
– Austin Dillon Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Southern 500
Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders remains bullish on her chances in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — Erica Enders has been to the top of the drag racing world twice, finishing as Pro Stock world champion in 2014 and 2015. She’s the most decorated female racer in class history and she even has a victory at the sport’s biggest race — the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals — in 2015.
Maybe that’s why she sounds so bullish on her chances of winning drag racing’s crown jewel for a second time Monday when eliminations begin at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indy. Continue reading Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders remains bullish on her chances in Indy
TOP TEAM CHEVY FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
4TH AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVY SS
7TH RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVY SS
10TH JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S CHEVY SS
11TH CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVY SS
12TH JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVY SS
13TH TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVY SS*** MATCHES CAREER BEST MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES FINISH
14TH KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CHEVY SS
TOP FIVE FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
1ST Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
2nd Kyle Busch (Toyota
3rd Kurt Busch (Ford)
4th Austin Dillon (Chevy)
5th Erik Jones (Toyota)
PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Chevy Driver’s Locked Into the 2017 Playoffs:
Jimmie Johnson – 3 Wins
Kyle Larson – 3 Wins
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
Austin Dillon – 1 Win
Kasey Kahne – 1 Win
Going into Richmond Chase Elliott is the highest driver in points without a win. There are currently still two positions open as there have been 14 different winners thus far in 2017. Elliott is seventh in the standings, two points ahead of Matt Kenseth (Toyota), who is the second highest driver in points without a win. Jamie McMurray ninth in the standings and only one point behind Kenseth. Elliott and McMurray will both have to finish ahead of Kenseth in order to claim the final two Playoff spots.
The next stop on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is at Richmond Raceway for the Federated Auto Parts 400 – the deciding race on which driver’s will compete for the 2017 championship title – on Saturday, Sept. 9th.
POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES:
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVROLET SS – Finished 4th
“I’m just really proud of this team for bringing out this Dale Earnhardt scheme out and making it run good like that… it means a lot to me and all the RCR guys. I’m proud to represent tonight. It was a good time, for sure. The American Ethanol Chevy was good. That long run was like torture; those guys were coming on (newer) tires so we had to be really smooth and it worked out for us.”
DESCRIBE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RACE DARLINGTON ON OLD TIRES:
“I can’t think of a description. It’s like not having enough milk in your cup when you have a Chips Ahoy cookie left. You want a little bit more milk in there to make the cookie good. We were out of milk!”
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE FIELD:
“I like these long races, it takes me awhile to get going on restarts. That’s something we’ve been working on really hard. Our American Ethanol Chevy was really good on the long run, and that’s what we needed at the end. That last long run where we didn’t take tires… that was like water torture in the car. That’s a long run at Darlington with no tires. It’s been a fun year and hopefully we can take this into the playoffs and run really well.”
HOW MUCH PROMISE DOES THE SPEED YOU’VE HAD THE LAST FEW WEEKS GIVE YOU GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS?
“It’s great. You want the momentum going into the playoffs. We have a great team at RCR… a big family team that works hard. This was such a cool weekend to bring this Dale Earnhardt scheme out. I’m glad we represented well tonight.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – Finished 7th
“We had a pretty good car and a couple of bad pit stops. We had one great pit stop, but just never got the track position that we needed for the short run to be able to show what we were capable of on the long run.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S CHEVROLET SS – Finished 10th
ON HIS RACE AT DARLINGTON:
“Well, we had a fan go out that cool the rear-end and so we had to come in and work on that. We went to the back, but we could still only get back to about like, I think we got up to sixth in the first stage and then ran somewhere between sixth and 10th or sixth and 12th and we finished 10th. So, probably didn’t really hurt our night. A lot of long green flag runs and we weren’t very good on the short run, but we were really good at the end of a run. So, that kind of worked out to our favor.”
LOOKING TOWARD RICHMOND:
“Well, I don’t really know. I know the No. 77 didn’t win tonight, which is the one that I think everyone…at least we’ve talked about, but one more night. I don’t know where I am versus the other guys.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS – Finished 11th
ON HIS RACE:
“Yeah, you know we just weren’t very good all day and really just as an organization really struggled, so we need to step up. This is the time of year to get it going and it was a hard-fought night. I thought we made the very most of what we had and somedays that’s all you can do.”
THOUGHTS ON RICHMOND?
“I just hope we can have a clean race and not have any issues next week.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – Finished 12th
ON THE RACE:
“Our car had respectable short-run speed and then it would just get so loose. With all the long runs that really didn’t work out well for us and I actually blew a tire with like 20 laps to go and fortunately was on my way into pit lane or almost to where I could turn into pit lane. So, fortunately I got lucky and I was able to get back out there on tires and drive back up to 12th, but blew a tire at the absolute right time if you are going to blow one and got to pit lane.”
TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS – Finished 13th
Matches His Career Best Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Finish
“It was a good day. My first Southern 500, I enjoy it. I love this race track. I just love when you come to a track and the tires get worn out and you’ve got to be patient. And you’ve got to treat that throttle pedal like an egg and you can really make a lot of difference on a long run. That was what we were able to do tonight with our GEICO Chevy. I’m just proud of the guys. We had a good piece in practice and it was nice just to have a really solid weekend through and through. When you add in the honor of representing a race car from years past that was driven by Johnny Rutherford and fielded by Smokey Yunick – it really adds to the great night for our GEICO team here at Darlington. Good momentum going back to Richmond another track that we ran really well at. Excited for the end of this year.”
CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 CHEERIOS CHEVROLET SS- Finished 17th
“Well, an eventful very long race at Darlington. Awesome to have Cheerios on board in our Patty Moise throwback. Overall, just a tough start. Kind of knew that the daylight was going to be difficult and then as the night fell I feel like we made some gains on it and got it a little better by the end and was able to move around. I think that is all you can ask for is to make steady improvements through the day. We got a decent finish out of it. I wanted a little bit more, but not bad.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS- Finished 22nd
“They pulled me over because I’ve got some loose lugnuts on the right-rear. Yeah, I mean when they saw they picked right up on it. I had a really bad vibration that last run and there was a bunch of them loose on the right-rear. They must have just kind of had a screw up. It wasn’t intentional they wouldn’t leave two loose like that when they are not even tight up on the wheel. So, something must have happened on the pit stop because those guys have been great all night. Just had a really bad vibration, came in and got tires, we had a flat at the very end. Something was going, the right-rear was going down for a very long time and finally it went flat. Came in changed that and went back out and it was so loose you couldn’t go so we had to abuse those tires too much at the end. Twelfth to 15th is where we all ran and I’m not too disappointed because we sat there and ran right with our teammates all night.”
With points leader out, things could be falling into place for two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — So far, the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals have been a dream race for two-time Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin.
Coughlin qualified his JEGS.com twin-turbo Corvette second on the grid of drag racing’s biggest race and won his first-round race Sunday night over Jim Whiteley. The win was great, but perhaps even more importantly, season-long points leader and top qualifier Mike Castellana was upset in the same round, paving the way for Coughlin to close the 82-point deficit he has to Castellana in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points standings. Continue reading With points leader out, things could be falling into place for two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin
Hagan Qualifies Mopar Dodge Funny Car No. 1 at NHRA U.S. Nationals, Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Shootout
Matt Hagan qualifies Mopar 80th/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car No. 1 for 63rd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Hagan’s pass of 3.799 seconds at 338.77 mph resets both ends of track record
No. 1 qualifying effort is Hagan’s second in a row at U.S. Nationals, fourth of season and 30th of career Continue reading Hagan Qualifies Mopar Dodge Funny Car No. 1 at NHRA U.S. Nationals, Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Shootout
Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for Y2K magic as Indy drag race turns to eliminations
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — Five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. made a little drag racing history in 2000 when he became the first driver to win an NHRA race from the No. 16 qualifying position. It just so happens he accomplished the feat at the sport’s biggest drag race — the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for Y2K magic as Indy drag race turns to eliminations
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
63rd CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS IN BROWNSBURG, INDIANA
QUALIFYING RESULTS AND DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3, 2017
Chevrolet Drivers Well-Positioned for Success in Biggest Race of Season
· Greg Anderson claims fifth No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier honor in the event
· Robert Hight leads John Force Racing 2, 3, 4 Funny Car qualifiers
· Hight’s Chevrolet Camaro SS is runner-up in Traxxas Funny Car Shootout
· Chevrolet COPO Camaros continue to win Sportsman rounds Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–U.S. Nationals Qualifying
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force chases
first U.S. Nationals title from No. 8 spot
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – A wide smile came to the face of Monster Energy driver Brittany Force’s face when she thought of the possibility of winning the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Force certainly has that chance, as she qualified No. 8 and had the third-quickest run in the final qualifying session Sunday. Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force chases first U.S. Nationals title from No. 8 spot
Despite Traxxas Shootout disappointment,
Auto Club’s Robert Hight ready for U.S. Nationals
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – Even though the Traxxas Shootout slipped through the fingers of Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight, the quickest and fastest Funny Car driver in NHRA history is confident heading into the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Hight reached the final round of the special, non-points Traxxas Shootout on Sunday for the fourth year in a row. But he smoked the tires just short of the 330-foot mark and came up short again. Continue reading Despite Traxxas Shootout disappointment, Auto Club’s Robert Hight ready for U.S. Nationals