Rahal Heads Honda Opening-Day Effort for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Rahal Heads Honda Opening-Day Effort for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis
• Rahal runs third in afternoon session, fourth overall
• Schmidt Peterson Motorsports duo of Hinchcliffe, Aleshin post top-eight times
• Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis runs Saturday

Graham Rahal continued to pace the Honda effort in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, running third in second of two practice sessions on the day and fourth overall in preparation or Saturday’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports duo of Mikhail Aleshin and James Hinchcliffe finished the day sixth and eighth, respectively, despite Hinchcliffe missing the morning practice session due to a fuel system failure. Ryan Hunter-Reay rounded out the top-10 for Honda and Andretti Autosport, with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Spencer Pigot leading the five rookies in the field, 12th overall.

Activities at the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, precursor to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, continue tomorrow, with final practice and qualifying. Saturday’s 82-lap race starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with live network television coverage on ABC.

Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda): “I think we are okay in terms of performance. We took a big swing there and made a big change for the second session. It was one of those things that would either go our way or not, and I think it hurt us a bit so we will go back on that change for tomorrow. Spencer [Pigot, teammate] had some good finds so we will work with that. Overall we are competitive but I have been fighting a pretty bad cold so it beat me up a little today. We ran a lot of laps this afternoon, so I definitely got a workout and I will sleep well tonight, that’s for sure. I think we learned some stuff there. We’re going to get this Steak ‘n Shake machine back up front.”

FORD GT: THE RETURN CHAPTER 3: “LET’S RACE”

FORD GT: THE RETURN
CHAPTER 3: “LET’S RACE”

Mooresville, NC, May 12, 2016 – The Return: Chapter 3 “Let’s Race” is the third video release of a five-part Ford GT documentary from Ford Motor Company. They have previously released two chapters; “The Decision” and “The Cutting Edge”. The five-part series is your opportunity to take a look behind-the-scenes at the story of the all-new Ford GT and the rich history leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT’s first win at Le Mans.

Episode 3: “Let’s Race” tells the story of the Ford GT’s racing debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Enjoy the complete series on YouTube http://bit.ly/1ZISKpc.

Roush Yates Engines and Ford Performance engineering teams have partnered together to develop the optimal race engine package for the twin turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 engine that powers the Ford GT, by leveraging the fuel economy and performance technologies of the production twin turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 engine. This engine coupled with the Ford GT aerodynamics package contributes to the overall vehicle dynamics and performance.

We are proud to be partnering with Ford in their historic return to Le Man on June 18th.

TWO-TIME PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP JASON LINE ENJOYING THE MOMENT AHEAD OF SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS

TWO-TIME PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP JASON LINE ENJOYING THE MOMENT AHEAD OF SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS

COMMERCE, Ga. — As Jason Line has progressed throughout his standout Pro Stock career, the two-time world champion admits he has become a more mature and calm racer in almost every aspect.

That development has also allowed Line to enjoy a start to the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season that nobody could have predicted. Line and his longtime Summit Racing Equipment teammate Greg Anderson have dominated the first quarter of the season, combining for all six wins in the new-look Pro Stock class. Continue reading TWO-TIME PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP JASON LINE ENJOYING THE MOMENT AHEAD OF SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS

Eddie Wood Recalls A Dover Race Lost Because Of A Lug Nut

Eddie Wood Recalls A Dover Race Lost Because Of A Lug Nut

May 11, 2016

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, with rookie driver Ryan Blaney now at the wheel, will be back on the track at Dover International Speedway this weekend for the first time since 2008, when the team cut back to a partial Sprint Cup schedule.

For the Wood Brothers, it’s a return to one of the tracks where they had great success in years past. Continue reading Eddie Wood Recalls A Dover Race Lost Because Of A Lug Nut

Chevrolet IndyCar Teams Aim to Carry Momentum into May

Chevrolet IndyCar Teams Aim to Carry Momentum into May

· Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis up next on road course
ᴏ Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud and Will Power are previous winners
· Bowtie Brand has dominated first four races of Verizon IndyCar Series season
ᴏ Pagenaud, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Scott Dixon earn victories
· Chevrolet drivers hold top five positions in the championship standings
ᴏ Pagenaud, with two wins and two runner-up finishes, is leader
· Chevrolet driver roster for GPI expands with JR Hildebrand and Matthew Brabham Continue reading Chevrolet IndyCar Teams Aim to Carry Momentum into May

John Force Racing Looks Toward Atlanta

AFTER A YEAR WITH MONSTER ENERGY BRITTANY FORCE RISING TO OCCASION

ATLANTA, GA (May 11, 2016) — One year ago Brittany Force announced her new sponsor Monster Energy at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Since that announcement Force has been on a meteoric rise through the Top Fuel ranks and comes into this weekend’s race as the Top Fuel points leader and the category’s only two time winner in 2016. Continue reading John Force Racing Looks Toward Atlanta

SUMMIT RACING TEAM GOES FOR LUCKY #7 AT SPONSOR’S RACE

SUMMIT RACING TEAM GOES FOR LUCKY #7 AT SPONSOR’S RACE
Line and Wilkerson Return as Defending Event Champions

Mooresville, NC (May 11, 2016)—Team Summit Racing looks for win number seven at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 13-15 at Atlanta Dragway.

This track has been good to Pro Stock drivers Greg Anderson and Jason Line. Anderson has won this event four times, and Line twice. Continue reading SUMMIT RACING TEAM GOES FOR LUCKY #7 AT SPONSOR’S RACE

Richard Childress Racing to Celebrate Organization’s First Premier Series Win during Darlington Throwback Race Weekend

Richard Childress Racing to Celebrate Organization’s First Premier Series Win during Darlington Throwback Race Weekend
Nos. 3 & 31 paint schemes to resemble Ricky Rudd’s 1983 victory at Riverside International Raceway

WELCOME, N.C. (May 11, 2016) – In celebration of Darlington Raceway’s “The Tradition Continues” throwback race weekend, Richard Childress Racing unveiled paint schemes today for its Nos. 3 and 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, to be raced in the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Sunday, September 4.

Both paint schemes will pay tribute to RCR’s first win as an organization, which came on June 5, 1983 at Riverside International Raceway. The cars will feature designs and stylized numbers resembling the No. 3 Piedmont Airlines Chevrolet that Ricky Rudd drove to Victory Lane at the now-defunct race track. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing to Celebrate Organization’s First Premier Series Win during Darlington Throwback Race Weekend

Honda Commemorates Its IndyCar Racing Heritage and Success

Honda Commemorates Its IndyCar Racing Heritage and Success as it Gears up for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500

• Honda is the most successful carmaker in Indy 500 wins, starts, and laps completed
• Honda also leads with 12 IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championships

TORRANCE, Calif., May 11, 2016 – As Honda Racing heads into a historic month of May and the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, the automaker is commemorating its history and success in both the Indy 500 and in the Verizon IndyCar Series.
Honda is the most successful carmaker of all-time at the Indy 500, winning more races, having more starts and completing more laps than any other carmaker in the 99 previous editions of the event. Since 1994, Honda has taken part in 15 Indianapolis 500 races, powering 10 race winners at The Brickyard. Continue reading Honda Commemorates Its IndyCar Racing Heritage and Success

Team JEGS Pre-race Notes: NHRA Southern Nationals

Team JEGS Pre-race Notes:
NHRA Southern Nationals
Team JEGS Pre-race Notes
NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. (May 13-15)
Six-time NHRA world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has returned to the Pro Stock class on a full-time basis in 2016. He is racing a new Rick Jones Race Cars-built Dodge Dart as a member of the Elite Motorsports team.
Last season, Coughlin took a breather from the Pro Stock class but returned at midseason for a brief stint with Elite Motorsports. In three events, he raced to a runner-up and a semifinal.
Coughlin is racing as a teammate to two-time world champ Erica Enders. The Elite team also includes the Pro Stock entries of Drew Skillman and Vincent Nobile. Rickie Jones is the crew chief for Coughlin’s HEMI-powered Dodge, and his father, Rick, is the crew chief for Enders. Veteran crew chiefs Mark Ingersoll and Brian “Lump” Self round out the Elite roster as the crew chiefs for Skillman and Nobile, respectively. All four Elite teams and their crew chiefs regularly share data and tuning advice. Continue reading Team JEGS Pre-race Notes: NHRA Southern Nationals

Allen Johnson Racing–Atlanta Preview

ALLEN JOHNSON
MARATHON PETROLEUM/J&J RACING DODGE DART
EVENT PREVIEW: 36TH ANNUAL SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
ATLANTA DRAGWAY
MAY 13-15

Allen Johnson Anticipating an Even Better Outing at NHRA Southern Nationals

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (May 10, 2016) – Marathon Petroleum Co./J&J Racing Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson went to his second semifinal appearance at the NHRA SpringNationals and anticipates an even better outing when he hits the track this weekend at the 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Continue reading Allen Johnson Racing–Atlanta Preview

Troy Coughlin, JEGS.com Pro Mod team trending up heading to Atlanta

Troy Coughlin, JEGS.com Pro Mod team trending up heading to Atlanta
ATLANTA (May 10) — Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin Sr. is excited about continuing an early-season surge when he races the JEGS.com Corvette at this weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

While the season opener in Gainesville, Fla., didn’t go as expected for Coughlin and the JEGS.com team, he bounced back with a No. 2 qualifying effort and a spot in the semifinals in Houston.

Now, the runner-up from the 2015 Atlanta race is ready to win one more round here.

“Atlanta will be interesting,” Coughlin said. “We’ll have to try and read the weather as we get closer to the race, but the JEGS.com car is on a mission. We’re jumping in with both feet, like we did in Houston. It’s a fast hot rod, and we’re excited to get to Atlanta and put it back in line. It’s running really good.”

A test before the Houston race did wonders for the JEGS.com team. With crewmember Mike Rees driving, crew chief Steve Petty was able to tune the Corvette to some quick elapsed times. When Coughlin, who couldn’t attend the test, got behind the wheel in Houston, that upward trend continued.

“Steve and the guys (including crewmember Kyle Pettis) are doing an excellent job with this thing,” Coughlin said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a little bit more power when we get there because we’re constantly working on that with the rules changes that were made over the winter. It has put us in a mode where we say, ‘Hey, let’s keep kicking this thing and make as much power as we can and make this thing a beast on every run.’ ”

When Coughlin knows he has a fast race car, he’s able to do a better job on the Christmas Tree. He won one round in Houston on a holeshot and is one of the better leavers in the Pro Mod class.

“It gives you a ton of confidence,” Coughlin said. “Steve, Mike, and Kyle have given me a great race car, so all I need to focus on is my driving. It’s a big help, for sure.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. relying on 26 years of experience to weather early-season storm

Jeg Coughlin Jr. relying on 26 years of experience to weather early-season storm
ATLANTA (May 10) — As the NHRA tour heads to Atlanta Dragway for the seventh race of the 2016 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. remains bullish on the potential of his Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart and the entire Elite Motorsports team, which he joined in the offseason.

While admitting his ninth-place ranking is below the team’s standards, Coughlin says his 26 years of experience have taught him how to weather the peaks and valleys of long and grueling race seasons. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. relying on 26 years of experience to weather early-season storm

World of Outlaws–At A Glance: Hoosier Havoc Weekend

At A Glance: Hoosier Havoc Weekend
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series will battle at Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway on Friday, May 13 and Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. on Saturday, May 14

CONCORD, N.C. – May 10, 2016 – This weekend the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series will enter the Hoosier State for the first time in 2016 as the series makes its inaugural trip to Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway on Friday, May 13 and returns to Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. for the 13th consecutive year and 27th year overall on Saturday, May 14. Continue reading World of Outlaws–At A Glance: Hoosier Havoc Weekend

Power Service Diesel Update

This year the Power Service Diesel race team has switched its gears to a new platform & once again ARP is playing a big role in the creation of this torque monster. The team has switched from an altered chassis over to a brand new custom built 290” Spitzer rail that has been beefed up in the critical areas. The car has been & out about the racer secne for the past 2 months & is already seeing major improvements on the track with a new best of a 6.44 at 219 in the ¼ mile. They will be competing in the NHRA Mile High Nationals in Denver, the NHRA Midwest nationals,

DCIM102MEDIADJI_0022.JPG
DCIM102MEDIADJI_0022.JPG
the NHRA Fall nationals. Along with several appearances in the NHRDA this season …Stop by & see all the cool fasteners on this car that have helped to make it what it is….” A true work of art “

Champ Erica Enders lauds Elite Motorsports Dodge crew as Atlanta race nears

Champ Erica Enders lauds Elite Motorsports Dodge crew as Atlanta race nears
ATLANTA (May 9) — Reigning back-to-back world champion Erica Enders beams with pride whenever she talks about her Elite Motorsports/Mopar Pro Stock race team, and with the 36th annual NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway just days away, the 21-time national event winner says her next trophy celebration is coming soon. Continue reading Champ Erica Enders lauds Elite Motorsports Dodge crew as Atlanta race nears

Blaney Finishes A Season-Best Fifth At Kansas

Blaney Finishes A Season-Best Fifth At Kansas

May 8, 2017

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team put together their strongest effort of the season on Saturday night in the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Blaney started seventh, and from the drop of the green flag until the checkered flag, he was rarely out of the top-10, and inside the top five for much of the race before finishing a season-best fifth.

His pit crew, led by crew chief Jeremy Bullins, was virtually flawless throughout the race, with Blaney gaining one position on nearly every pit stop. Continue reading Blaney Finishes A Season-Best Fifth At Kansas

Kerry Madsen Sweeps #LetsRaceTwo Weekend at Eldora

Kerry Madsen Sweeps #LetsRaceTwo Weekend at Eldora
For the second night in a row, Chad Kemenah finds himself in second

ROSSBURG, Ohio – May 7, 2016 – It was déjà vu at Eldora Speedway Saturday night, as Friday’s battle between Kerry Madsen and Chad Kemenah seemed to play out again in front of a large crowd at the #LetsRaceTwo finale.

After a pitched battle through the middle and late portions of the feature between the former Outlaw regular Madsen and All Star Circuit of Champions driver Kemenah, Madsen claimed his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season and the weekend sweep. Continue reading Kerry Madsen Sweeps #LetsRaceTwo Weekend at Eldora

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