Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–Kansas

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow Coating Materials Team Finish Sixth at Kansas Speedway as They Continue NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase Run

“We wanted a top-five finish today and we missed it by one position, so overall we have to be pleased by our performance in the Dow Coating Materials Chevrolet. We left Kansas Speedway tied for a cutoff position in the Round of Eight and with a chance of making it into the next round of The Chase. We were running that No. 18 car down pretty hard at the end of the race. I’m proud of my guys. They brought me a really good race car. Our plan is to go to Talladega Superspeedway next week, have a good run and we don’t have anything to worry about. We just have to have a good run there. It will be tight all the way down to the wire, but I’m just proud to have this position going into Talladega.”

– Austin Dillon

Paul Menard Battles in FVP / Menards Chevrolet at
Kansas Speedway to Top-20 Finish

“We struggled early on restarts. The pressure in the tires took too long to build on the FVP / Menards Chevrolet and we were on the splitter. Crew Chief Danny Stockman made the correct adjustments and got us firing off better on restarts. The car was good balance-wise on the long run and showed some speed. The guys worked hard on pit road to make the adjustments. However, we never had the track position to make the gains we needed. This just wasn’t the day we wanted here at Kansas Speedway. We will regroup and move on to Talladega Superspeedway.”

– Paul Menard

Ryan Newman Gains Ground In Closing Laps to Record 12th-Place Finish at Kansas Speedway

“We gave it everything we had and got all we could. We had an issue that we had to deal with throughout the race and we dealt with it the best we could. Good news is we think we know what it is. I’m not sure there is a lot we can do about it, but Luke (crew chief – Lambert) and the Caterpillar crew did a nice job for me today. The pit crew was on it and gained me spots on pit road so I cannot thank them enough. It’s good to see Austin up there in the top-10 and contending for a transfer spot in the Chase. Next week is Talladega and we all know, anything can happen there.”

– Ryan Newman

John Force Racing

HIGHT RACES TO SEMIFINALS AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS

HIGHT RACES TO SEMIFINALS AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS

ENNIS, TX — The AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team and driver Robert Hight qualified No. 1 and continued a dominant day at the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals racing to the semifinals before falling to eventual winner Matt Hagan. Hight made six consecutive 3.8 second runs including the quickest runs of the first two rounds of eliminations today. No driver has started a race with six consecutive elapsed times in the 3.8 range and his qualifying time was the third quickest Funny Car time in NHRA history.

In the opening session Hight rocketed past Brandon Welch with a stellar 3.866 second pass at an astounding 329.99 mph run. Welch went up in smoke on his pass of 5.451 seconds at 133.33 mph. It was the second time Hight had defeated Welch this season. Continue reading HIGHT RACES TO SEMIFINALS AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS →

Allen Johnson Racing

Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Race Report: AAA FallNationals

Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Race Report: AAA FallNationals

DALLAS, Tex. (October 16, 2016) – Allen Johnson drove his Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart to the second round of eliminations at the 31st annual AAA FallNationals this weekend at Texas Motorplex.

Starting from the No. 7 spot, Johnson had the opportunity to choose his lane against first round opponent Kenny Delco. Johnson took the Marathon Petroleum Dart to the finish line with a 6.648-second pass at 207.66 mph and turned on the win light over Delco’s 6.683, 207.08.

Second round, Johnson and Greg Anderson matched up head-to-head. As Johnson launched, his car hooked to the left. He tried to recover but when he got close to hitting the wall, he had no other choice other than aborting the run. Johnson clocked in with a 7.762, 124.46 and Anderson’s 6.623, 208.91 advanced to the next round.

“The car pulled hard to the left and I couldn’t get it back into the groove,” Johnson said. “She was about to crash so I lifted.”

“We just can’t seem to get the monkey off our backs,” he added. “We’ll spend the final two races testing for next year and trying to learn some stuff. Of course, we’ll go to the last two and plan on winning both but we’ve got a heck of a long ways to get there.”

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 5 OF 10
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPTS
OCTOBER 16, 2016

KEVIN HARVICK TAKES CHEVROLET TO VICTORY LANE AT KANSAS
Chevrolet Locks Second Driver into Round of 8 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup

KANSAS, CITY, Kan. (October 16, 2016) – Kevin Harvick led 74 laps in route to victory in the 267-lap Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. The win is Harvick’s fourth of the season, and second-career victory at Kansas.

By taking home the trophy from the 1.5-mile track, the 40-year old Bakersfield, California native secures his spot in the next bracket of Chase races advancing to the Round of 8. He joins fellow Team Chevy driver Jimmie Johnson as the only two competitors locked into a position in the next segment of the 10-race Chase playoff as the series heads for Talladega Superspeedway. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Texas–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX AT ENNIS, TEXAS
OCT. 16, 2016

Chevrolet Marches On in Pro Stock with Win in Countdown Round 4

• Drew Skillman rises from No. 9 qualifier to win in Chevrolet Camaro SS
• Pro Stock points race tightens between KB Racing teammates
• Chevrolet teams match 2015 victory total with two races remaining in the season
• No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight leads John Force Racing Funny Car trio to semifinals

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 16, 2016) – Drew Skillman might make a fashion statement as he’ll proudly wear the custom-fitted cowboy hat awarded to the winner of the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals all across Indiana. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Texas–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 5 OF 10
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 16, 2016

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 OUTBACK CHEVROLET SS – RACE WINNER
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE TEAM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THIS WHEN YOU BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL:
“Well the first thing I want to do is thank everybody on the No. 4 team. Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing, Busch, Mobil 1, ditech, Outback, Chevrolet, Morton Buildings, Bad Boy Buggies, everybody at the Hendrick engine and chassis shops for everything that they do. These races are so hard to win, and these guys are so good at the details. You put their backs against the wall and they get better. Really proud of them.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Texas–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX AT ENNIS, TEXAS
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
OCT. 16, 2016

An interview with Pro Stock winner Drew Skillman, Ray Skillman Racing, Ray Skillman Auto Chevrolet Camaro SS (No. 9 qualifier):

Q: HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO YOU?

DREW SKILLMAN: “This is huge for us. What a great day for our Ray Skillman Camaro. We’re just blessed. We were down in the points (eighth) and we rallied. We had a great race car this weekend and have a great team. Everyone at Ray Skillman pitched in to make this happen. It can’t thank enough people. It’s exciting.”

Q: YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT RUNNING DOWN LOW. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CHEVY CAMARO WAS ABLE TO RUN DOWN LOW TODAY?

DREW SKILLMAN: “It did struggle all day; we had one good 60-foot (start) all day. But our team fought and we ended up getting it done.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Texas–Post Race →

Jegs Racing

Second cowboy hat will have to wait for five-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Second cowboy hat will have to wait
for five-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
DALLAS (Oct. 16) — A second cowboy hat for five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will have to wait as the former Dallas winner fell in Sunday’s first round of the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals.

Each year, the professional class winners of this event are fitted with a custom cowboy hat, a gift that’s become quite coveted by the racers. Coughlin already has one hat in his collection, which he collected after his 2002 victory at Texas Motorplex.

“We gave it all we had,” Coughlin said. “Overnight the guys made some big changes with the motor and the set-up and it was definitely more lively that round. Unfortunately, we didn’t earn another cowboy hat but I did see those hat guys at driver intros and it brought back some great memories.

“Texas is a special state with great fans that appreciate what we do. We always have fun at the Dallas and Houston events. I just wish we could have performed a touch better, but we will not give up.”

On this day, Coughlin and his Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart race team fell to Granbury, Texas resident Alex Laughlin. It was a decent race but at the top end Coughlin’s 6.658 at 207.21 mph was bettered by Laughlin’s 6.620 at 209.61 mph.

“I missed the tree a touch,” Coughlin said, referencing his .048-second light. “A better reaction time would have made it closer. It felt like I hit it pretty good but numbers don’t lie. Alex was .076 so we had a chance there but he got us at the top end, looked like by about two or three feet.

“The car moved around a little too, which cost us some ET. We’ll just pick up the pieces, go over the data and get ready for Vegas and Pomona. We want to finish strong.”

The NHRA tour takes a weekend off before the penultimate race of the 2016, the Toyota NHRA Nationals, Oct. 28-30, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Erica Enders

No home state luck for Texan Erica Enders as two-time champ ousted early

No home state luck for Texan Erica
Enders as two-time champ ousted early
DALLAS (Oct. 16) — Two-time and reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders was hoping for a taste of home cooking Sunday at the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals but instead the Spring, Texas native was eliminated early by title contender Greg Anderson at the Texas Motorplex.

The No. 15 qualifier out of 16 cars, Enders was hoping for a big upset of Anderson, a fellow multi-time champion ranked second in the world at the moment. Instead, Enders’ fouled out by a scant -.001 seconds, while Anderson took care of business, running 6.607 at 209.46 mph to Enders’ 6.682 at 207.08 mph.

“I figured I’d do all I could at the start and hope he was a little late and we could steal one away from him,” Enders said. “I was a thousandths of a second from perfect but ended up being on the wrong side of that red bulb.

“He obviously had us covered anyway but I ran the pass out just to get the data. There’s always Vegas and Pomona and we have designs on finishing as strong as possible.”

Enders and her Elite Motorsports teammates will enjoy a weekend off before the second-to-last race of 2016, the Toyota NHRA Nationals, which take place Oct. 28-30, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“Even though the results weren’t what we wanted, I still had a great time being here in Texas. I love this state and miss it when I’m not here. Thank you so much to all the fans that stopped by and encouraged us. We’ve had a tough year but I promise big things are straight ahead and we’ll be back better than ever in 2017.”

John Force Racing

ROBERT HIGHT QUALIFIES No. 1 AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS

ROBERT HIGHT QUALIFIES No. 1 AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS

ENNIS, TX – Robert Hight and the AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team secured their 49th career No. 1 and 5th at AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals. This was the second No. 1 for Hight this season and also the second in the past three races. Hight’s quickest run of 3.839 seconds from Friday stood up throughout out the day. On Saturday Hight made two more runs in the 3.8s and will face Brandon Welch in the first round.

The team has been making strides since St. Louis and this weekend they once again picked up qualifying bonus points in three rounds and just missed having one of the quickest runs in the fourth and final round. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT QUALIFIES No. 1 AT AAA TEXAS FALLNATIONALS →

Allen Johnson Racing

Marathon Petroleum’s Allen Johnson No. 7 at AAA FallNationals

Marathon Petroleum’s Allen Johnson No. 7 at AAA FallNationals

DALLAS, Tex. (October 15, 2016) – Allen Johnson and the Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart team jumped to the No.7 spot after four rounds of competitive qualifying at the 31st annual AAA FallNationals.

On Friday, Johnson opened up qualifying with a stout 6.610-second pass at 209.49 mph. The red, white and blue Marathon Petroleum Dart showed that consistency is the name of the game with a 6.613, 208.88 in Friday’s second session.

Johnson and the Adam Hornberger-led team clocked in with a 6.637, 208.17 in the first session on Saturday. Johnson came to the final session and crossed the finish line with a 6.637, 207.94.

“We ran a new motor configuration today and made a couple good runs to prepare and do a little testing for next year,” Johnson said. “We will probably put the first motor back in tomorrow try to prove a point with this motor. Both motors we ran this weekend at Texas Motorplex are good, we’re just here to find a little more horsepower.”

No. 7 Allen Johnson will pick his lane over No. 10 Kenny Delco tomorrow morning.

“For one, I need to do my job as a driver tomorrow,” he added. “Second, our Marathon Petroleum Dart needs to keep consistent and that’s how we’ll win tomorrow.”

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Ennis TX

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX AT ENNIS, TEXAS
QUALIFYING RESULTS AND DRIVER QUOTES
SATURDAY, OCT. 15, 2016

Chevrolet Drivers Race to No. 1 qualifier spots in Funny Car, Pro Stock
· Robert Hight in Auto Club Chevy records 49th top qualifier honor of career
· John Force Racing driver resets racetrack elapsed time record
· Jason Line tops Pro Stock qualifiers for seventh time this season
· Chevrolet competitors take top six spots in Pro Stock qualifications

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 15, 2016) – With a lot on the line in the fourth round of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, two Chevrolet Racing drivers set the standard in Funny Car and Pro Stock qualifications.. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Ennis TX →

Richard Childress Racing

Despite a Trying Day at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon and RCR’s Ruud Chevrolet Team Rallies to 17th Place Finish

Despite a Trying Day at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon and RCR’s Ruud Chevrolet Team Rallies to 17th Place Finish

“Truthfully, that was not the day we were hoping for but I am still proud of everyone on this Ruud team. We stayed focused and never gave up. We never had the best handling car today but we stayed on it and kept making adjustments. Even though we ended up three laps down when we had to pit for a broken sway bar, we were able to finish in the top-20. We are still focused on winning the Owner’s Championship and winning races. We’ll go back to the shop and evaluate how we can improve.”

– Austin Dillon

Late Race Contact Costs Ty Dillon and the Bass Pro Shops Team a Top-Five Finish at Kansas Speedway

“We took the lead late in the race and I thought we might have been able to hold on and win if the race stayed green. The 42 and 20 car made contact and unfortunately we were caught up and had damage to the right-side of our Bass Pro Shops Chevy. The guys did a good job keeping us on the lead lap and we were able to come home with a 12th-place finish. Thanks to our team as always for giving us a fast car and giving us an opportunity to win a race. We’ll shift our focus to the last stretch of the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule.”

– Ty Dillon

Brandon Jones Overcomes Adversity to Earn 12th Top-10 Finish of Rookie Season

“This Eljer/Menards Chevrolet Camaro was one of the best mile-and-a-half cars we’ve had all season. We put ourselves in a position multiple times to get inside the top 10, but it certainly wasn’t easy. I hate I got into the back of the No. 7 (Justin Allgaier) going into Turn 1, but they all checked up ahead of me as we entered into the corner. It’s just part of racing. We had to fight hard all day long to keep ourselves in the top 10, and I’m proud we ended the day eighth. I’m looking to going to Texas Motor Speedway in a couple of weeks, because that has always been one of our better tracks.”

– Brandon Jones

Contender Brendan Gaughan Still Has Championship Hopes After Battling to 31st-Place Finish Following Late Race Incident

“It wasn’t the points day that we had hoped for at Kansas Speedway. We just didn’t have the South Point Chevrolet we needed today. We battled a tight car and track position throughout the race. My guys were excellent on pit road, especially with all the changes that my crew chief, Shane Wilson, called for today. I’m bummed we got spun off Turn 4 with less than 30 laps to go. Everyone started checking up and I got pinned by the No. 4 car (Ross Chastain). I drove it hard but once the air was off the car I couldn’t save it. We have to get better going forward. We had a good shot at coming out of here with a good day in the championship standings until that late race incident. Shane and I know how to make it work and keep moving forward. This won’t be any different. We also know how to win at Texas Motor Speedway. The task now is to bring some speed and get it done.”

– Brendan Gaughan

Erica Enders

Texas native Erica Enders will need perfection to defend Dallas title

Texas native Erica Enders will need perfection to defend Dallas title
DALLAS (Oct. 15) — Reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders will have to be perfect to defend the title of the annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals after an off-pace qualifying effort that left her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Dodge Dart in the 15th spot on the elimination ladder.

Enders powered to a convincing victory at this event one year ago that all but clinched her second straight world title. It was one of nine wins she recorded in a record-breaking year. The Spring, Texas native hasn’t been as fortunate this season, and she finds herself still searching for her first win of 2016. Continue reading Texas native Erica Enders will need perfection to defend Dallas title →

Jegs Racing

Five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to make some noise in Dallas

Five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin
Jr. looking to make some noise in Dallas
DALLAS (Oct. 15) — In two and a half decades of racing, Jeg Coughlin Jr. has accomplished a lot of remarkable things. He’s won six world championships (five in Pro Stock and one more in Super Gas), claimed 76 national event trophies, raced to the winner’s circle in a record seven different eliminator categories, and is the only driver ever to win from all 16 qualifying positions.

That final stat seems the most telling at the conclusion of qualifying for the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals as Coughlin and crew have struggled a bit this weekend with their Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart, slotting 14th on the 16-car elimination grid with an official clocking of 6.686 at 205.47 mph. Continue reading Five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to make some noise in Dallas →

John Force Racing

ROBERT HIGHT AAA TEXAS FUNNY CAR No. 1 AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX

ROBERT HIGHT AAA TEXAS FUNNY CAR No. 1 AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX

ENNIS, TX – Robert Hight is taking a page from the playbook of his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers and just continuing to grind it out. The 37-time winner has a tough road to his second championship but performances like today will put the 2009 NHRA Funny Car champion back into the championship conversation. Hight drove his AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car to the provisional No. 1 spot tonight at the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals with a career quickest elapsed time of 3.839 seconds at 332.02 mph. The elapsed time was a track record and the third quickest run in Funny Car history.

“That was pretty impressive. Going up for that run (crew chief) Mike Neff told me he thought it could run 3.84. To me you look at that and think, ‘We have never run 3.84 so how do you go about doing that?’ How are you so confident that it is going to go up there and run 3.84 and we have never done that,” joked Hight in the Motorplex press room. “To go up there and run a little quicker at 3.83 shows he has a really good handle on this AAA Texas Camaro and I am not going to question him. It was great. We went to St. Louis and made a bunch of changes to our car and ran really well. We didn’t get the win and we had crazy conditions in Reading. To come right back here and pick up where we left off in St. Louis and running this good shows my AAA Texas team is on the right track. All we can do is go out and try and win these last three races and see what happens.” Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AAA TEXAS FUNNY CAR No. 1 AT TEXAS MOTORPLEX →

Uncategorized

Troy Coughlin, Jr. joins Kalitta Motorsports in third Top Fuel machine

Troy Coughlin, Jr. joins Kalitta Motorsports in third Top Fuel machine

DALLAS (October 14, 2016) – Kalitta Motorsports is pleased to announce the expansion to a third Top Fuel dragster team driven by Troy Coughlin, Jr. beginning in the 2017 season. This announcement aligns two of the legendary names in the sport, Kalitta and Coughlin, for the first time.

“I am very excited to be competing in the Top Fuel class with Kalitta Motorsports,” said Coughlin, Jr. “Kalitta Motorsports has a lot of history and legacy in NHRA similar to my family. The first time I came to Team Kalitta I noticed the family-type atmosphere and the extreme desire to win and I knew this was the team I wanted to be involved with. I am studying hard and plan to hit the ground running and have a strong start to the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.” Continue reading Troy Coughlin, Jr. joins Kalitta Motorsports in third Top Fuel machine →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas Qualifying Notes

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 5 OF 10
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 14, 2016

ALEX BOWMAN LEADS CHEVROLET IN QUALIFYING AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY
Five Chevrolet SS Drivers Advance to Final Round of Knockout Style Qualifying

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (October 14, 2016) – Alex Bowman, subbing for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., powered the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS to a fifth-place starting position for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, the halfway point of the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup Series championship campaign. Bowman led a five-car Chevrolet SS contingent in third and final round of qualifying for the 267-lap/400.5-mile race.

Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS, and AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Dillons Chevrolet SS, qualified ninth and 10th respectively.

2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and current Chase contender Kevin Harvick put the No. 4 Outback Chevrolet SS in the 11th starting position. In his first appearance in the Chase, Austin Dillon will roll off from the 12th starting spot in the No. 3 DOW Coating Materials Chevrolet SS.

The remaining Team Chevrolet drivers in the Chase qualified as follows:

Chase Elliott qualified the No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet SS in the 13th position. Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, secured the 15th starting spot. Six-time NSCS champion and last week’s winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, will start from the 21st position on the 40 car grid.

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas– Qualifying

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 5 OF 10
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 14, 2016

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 5th
ON QUALIFYING:
“I’ve been really pleased with the car all day. The first round was a little bit nerve racking we were really loose kind of out of nowhere. We weren’t like that in qualifying trim in practice. Greg (Ives, crew chief) made great adjustments, we picked up a bunch of speed and just got a little too tight the final round, but those guys, I don’t know that we were two and a half tenths too tight or a tenth and a half too tight, whatever it was. That is a lot. But I think race trim the sun is going to come out and we will have something for them.”

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 OUTBACK CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 11th
ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT:
“The first two rounds went good we just got way tight the last round.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW COATING MATERIALS CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 12th
ON QUALIFYING:
“We are happy with that. I didn’t want to be 12th I wanted to beat somebody in that final round, but we were just too tight when I got to Turn 1. Big improvement overall today, practice went pretty bad and the guys did a good job getting us a car to qualify good, get a good pit stall and race come Sunday.”

THOUGHTS ON SUNDAY:
“This place is always fun during the day on Sunday. I’ve enjoyed it. The track will widen out and hopefully that top lane gets running good.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 SUNENERGY1 CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 13th
ON HIS QUALIFYING RUN:
“Our car was tight out there and we tried to get it freed up to go a little faster. We just missed it a little bit, unfortunately. But we will get after it tomorrow and try to get a little better.

“We just have to have our car driving good. A starting spot is one thing. We also have multiple laps on Sunday rather than just one to try and make your car drive good. It is good to have a good starting spot and it is important to have a good pit selection and what not…but if you can get your car driving good that will override it on Sunday.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 21st
ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT:
“From Round 1 to Round 2, the car was much tighter. We attempted to free it up, but I’m not sure some of those adjustments didn’t change the ride height of the car and affected the splitter orientation with the ground. So, maybe we were on the splitter a little bit. But a ton tighter than what we had in the opening round. But, other than that, our car was repeating very well earlier in the day so kind of leaning that way. I don’t know if it is good or bad, but I’m not accustomed to qualifying well all the time, I’m used to racing through traffic. I’m not worried about this; we’ll just get that Lowe’s Chevy up there.

“It (having a win to automatically transfer) certainly takes the pressure off, but I don’t want it to, and I don’t want to fall back on the fact we are locked in. We need to qualify toward the front. That is the only way you are going to create the best scenario for Homestead. We need to get qualifying under control. I need to get better at it. We are not taking it lightly that we qualified 21st, but I’m not too concerned about it. I am better at racing, than I am at running a single lap.”

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Doug Duchardt

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ROUND 5 OF 10
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 14, 2016

DOUG DUCHARDT, GENERAL MANAGER, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, met with members of the media at Kansas Speedway to clarify the relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing:

ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND STEWART-HAAS RACING:
“This morning Jimmie (Johnson) made a comment in the media center about Hendrick Motorsports relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing and how that worked in the past. I just want to clarify something that Jimmie said. That is simply that the relationship from a data standpoint was a two-way relationship. The received our information, we received their information. That is the way it had worked from the time I have been at Hendrick Motorsports. That is basically it. We received information from Stewart-Haas when we worked with them. Obviously, when they made their announcement to Ford that changed things. But the bottom line is that as partners we exchanged data between each other.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Doug Duchardt →

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