DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDAY.COM CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Talladega Superspeedway and discussed the expectations coming into Talladega after a successful run in Daytona, the possibility of getting the Fan Vote for the All-Star race and other topics. Full Transcript:
FIRST PLATE RACE SINCE DAYTONA, DO EXPECTATIONS SPIKE ALL OVER AGAIN?
“I suppose based on Daytona and how fast this car is, which is the same car we ran at Daytona, and how the race went. I suppose it’s fair to say that there should be a little spike in expectation, but you also have to take into consideration on these big speedways that there is a whole lot of luck that comes into it. Everything has got to be clean. The stops have to be good. You have to stay in the pack no issues, not getting caught up in an accident. From what I remember last year even at Talladega it was more of a pack race than Daytona even. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Obviously, this is a wider track than Daytona so when we start getting four-wide that is when stuff starts to get a little exciting. We will just have to hope that we are in the right place at the right time.”
SHOULD YOU BE THERE AROUND THE LAST LAP, DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM THAT LAST LAP AT DAYTONA THAT WOULD HELP YOU SWIM WITH THE SHARKS ANY BETTER?
“I learned that if I just stay in line and keep my foot down and don’t try and come up with any kind of plan that you are kind of a sitting duck. I mean I talked to Tony (Stewart) after the race and I talked to Jimmie (Johnson) after the race too. I think Tony pointed it out most specifically is just that there was probably more to lose in third than there was to gain. By pulling out and trying something I could have just as easily ended up 15th or so back, again right place at the right time with the right opportunity ahead of you. I have a better idea of what it is going to take, but it’s also circumstantial. Jimmie told me after the race he said ‘look I didn’t have a plan. The two times I’ve won now I didn’t have any plan going into the last lap.’ That is where the luck comes in and right place at the right time.”
WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL ON THE SUPERSPEEDWAYS?
“I don’t know if the confidence level shifts a tremendous amount as much as the comfort level does. Just being comfortable on these big speedways and comfortable with this pack style racing that I was so used to in IndyCar on the ovals. Just having a feel for it, it is something that I probably caught on to quicker than anything in stock car racing. I guess I show up here and it’s just a little bit more comfortable.”
WHAT DO YOU HOPE DAYTONA DID FOR YOU IN TERMS OF PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE RUNNING WITH YOU AND AROUND YOU?
“Anytime you run at the front and you run with good drivers you hope that they just have good experiences and they think nice things and they feel more comfortable around me. They think less about me probably to be honest as far as just thinking about it other than worrying about me being fast. I mean that is the best kind of thinking you can have.”
IS THE NATIONWIDE RACE GOING TO HELP ON SATURDAY AND MIGHT YOU MAKE ANY MOVES THAT BE GEARED TOWARD SOME EXPERIMENTATION FOR SUNDAY?
“Yeah, the Nationwide race that is why we are doing it. We are doing it to try to win and we are doing it to get a little bit more practice in before the big day on Sunday. There is going to be more bump drafting in the Nationwide race, but I think that everything is happening really fast in the Nationwide race because you have such shifts in speed with bump drafting and drafting. I feel like it kind of just sharpens your instincts up and sharpens you up out on the track and gets you ready for and more prepared for the next day.”
HOW COMFORTABLE WERE YOU ON THE ICE IN CHICAGO?
“I was wearing heels when I arrived to the Blackhawks game (Hockey). At the last second I intelligently grabbed a pair of flats so I’m glad I did that because knowing that I had to go… I didn’t really understand what I was going to have to do out there. When I realized I was going to be like really trying to score and hit the puck into the goal I thought you know what I better give myself the best chance possible. I put those flats on and tried a couple of shots in the back just on concrete floor. They gave me some advice on how to hit it and luckily that very first one went in. I’m glad they didn’t show the rest of them because they didn’t look so pretty.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ALL-STAR RACE WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES ARE OF GETTING THE FAN VOTE?
“I don’t know. I think about it from a fans perspective and I think that you want the driver that you cheer for to be out there of course, but you want a good race. Hopefully, they think of me when they think of those two. We always have the opportunity to race in as well. We are going to be working really hard over the next month on our mile and a half car and we need to. Let’s hope it all comes together by the All-Star race.”
ON THE VIDEO FOR FAN VOTING FOR THE ALL-STAR RACE WITH RICKY STENHOUSE:
“We thought that was fun. Ricky (Stenhouse) and I shot that little video. I would love to be in the race and I think more than anything you want to entertain your fans of course. I hope I can be in the race to do that. Also, I want to perform well in the Coke 600 and racing in the All-Star race would definitely help that.”
HOW DID THE VIDEO COME ABOUT?
“I think it was between Go Daddy and Sprint and them all making that happen. In fact Joe (Crowley, PR) coming up with the script and thought it was a clever little script so we shot it in a matter of about 20 minutes and it aired. Obviously, we both want to be in the race and to try to create a little bit of buzz to get people to go vote and have some fun with it.”
WAS IT DIFFERENT DOING THE VIDEO AS A COUPLE?
“I suppose. We’ve done stuff on camera before. We shot stuff for Nationwide and some other things together. It wasn’t the first time, but I think it’s clever and cute for the both of us. I think I would vote for him, I like watching Ricky (Stenhouse) race.”
WHAT IS THE MENTAL APPROACH AT A TRACK LIKE TALLADEGA OR DAYTONA?
“You just have to hope and pray that you’re in the right place at the right time as I’ve said. You have to be smart enough to know when you’re putting yourself in a bad situation and when you need to force the issue. That’s the exciting part. As a fan, I’ve watched plenty of these speedway races in Cup and I want to watch to see how it plays out too and I think that’s part of the excitement of these tracks is that you’re not sure how it’s going to play out. There can be some new players up front and there can be some real shuffling of the field and that’s what makes it exciting to watch is you just have to watch it to see how it plays out.”
HOW HAS TONY STEWART BEEN DEALING WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS THIS SEASON?
“Tony (Stewart) is obviously an incredible driver. They’ve had tons of success as a team, Stewart Haas has and I think that when things aren’t going as you hope they would go, it’s frustrating and you just have to figure out what it’s going to take to turn that around. I know that he’s been around the shop more and trying to figure those things out because obviously he wants to run well as a team, but he wants to run well himself. I’m sure that all that will help and as I’ve said, we’ve got a lot of tests lined up for the next month. It’s just a matter of stumbling on to the right balance of setups so you can go to these mile-and-a-halves and unload close and then make it better instead of, at least in my situation, not sure exactly what platform you should be run
ning and what setup you should be running. We just need to get closer on that and arrive at the track with a closer setup.”
DO YOU HAVE CONCERN ABOUT HOW RAIN MAY IMPACT PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING?
“Well from what I’ve heard practice times are going to line-up the field for the Cup race, that is what we were inside talking about needing to get a draft and put a big number up on the board as possible. I said, ‘Okay, everybody is going to be trying to do that.’ You’re probably going to see a lot of cars on the track, obviously you want to get out there in case it rains and you want to give yourself opportunities to get that big draft run where you can put a big time up. It’s a little bit of a unique scenario on these speedways because you get so much faster when you catch up to a big pack. It will at least make practice interesting on these speedways, which can probably be pretty boring sometimes.”
ARE YOU ANY MORE COMFORTABLE AT DARLINGTON?
“Last year I ran there in the Cup race, it was one of the, well it was basically my first Cup race really. I ran Daytona, but Darlington was getting thrown into the deep end. That was the purpose of it was to get seat time so I’m not thinking or dreading going there next weekend and worrying about what that’s going to look like for me and how it’s going to feel. I have an idea now of how it is going to feel and what needs to be done.”
WHO WOULD YOU WANT YOUR THREE CAR FANTASY TEAM TO BE IN THE ALL-STAR RACE? “Three car fantasy team for the All-Star race, I think as far as going out to win the race I think Tony (Stewart) would be a good one. I feel like he always seems to do well in these one off races in particular. I think Tony, probably Jimmie (Johnson) of course and Kyle (Busch). I would say they would be pretty good picks.”
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
TEAM MOROSO JOINS THE 14 TEAMS ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR HOT RODDERS OF TOMORROW ENGINE CHALLENGE FINALS
FORT WORTH, Tx. April 23, 2013: Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is a nonprofit organization built upon a passion for motorsports and dedicated to instilling that passion in today’s youth. Its main purpose is to encourage youth to enter the automotive field and the main medium through which this is accomplished is their coveted Engine Challenge Program. In the Engine Challenges, contested across the country, high school teams compete against the clock in a total engine rebuild. At the end of the year, in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow hosts the Engine Challenge Finals. To qualify for this prestigious event, teams must complete a total engine rebuild in less than 35 minutes. Already in 2013, 14 teams have qualified for the Finals.
At the recent Painless Performance Open, held April 6th in Fort Worth, Tx. six teams competed for a coveted spot in the finals. Team Moroso of Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center came in at an incredible time of 20:11 to qualify for the Engine Challenge Finals as the fastest qualifying team of the season.
The winning team, led by instructor Jim LaFevers consisted of students Callie Hunter, Nic Brown, Connor Hixenbaugh, Ryan Jackson, Alex Versteeg and Connor Carrizales.
“This is a great opportunity for the students to get a jumpstart in their careers in the automotive field,” LaFevers said of the Engine Challenge. “They are all gearheads. They look for every avenue to get into the industry and Hot Rodders of Tomorrow has given them the opportunity they were looking for.”
LaFevers said the team utilized film, understudy training and a total-engine approach to prepare for the Challenge.
“We do intense training for three or four weeks,” he explained. “It’s all about teamwork and communication. While each student trains for their position, all of them understand the way the complete engine works, so that if anyone needed to jump into another position they are ready.
“The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is a great program for building enrollment and getting students excited about a career in the automotive industry. Already I have kids signing up for Automotive next year simply for the opportunity to compete in the Challenge.”
Rodney Bingham, who heads up the Hot Rodders Program is thankful for its success in investing in students and furthering the automotive industry. “We are excited to be able to change so many students’ lives,” he stated, “but could not do so without the help of our sponsors and volunteers who make this program possible”.
Follow all results from Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenges at www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com/.
Wood Brothers Racing–Talladega’s Annual Opener Has Been Good For The Wood Brothers
Talladega Superspeedway, site of this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 has long been one of the favorite Sprint Cup stops for the Wood Brothers and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew.
That’s especially true for the track’s first race of the year – the Winston 500 in the early years and the Aaron’s 499 today.
From the day Donnie Allison got the first of the Woods five Talladega wins in the 1971 Winston 500 to Trevor Bayne’s eighth-place finish in the 499 last May, the Wood Brothers team seems to regularly find their way to the front of the giant Talladega pack in the track’s first race each year.
David Pearson, who took the Woods to Victory Lane all over America, could work his magic at Talladega too.
From 1972-1974, he swept the spring races at Talladega. His win 40 years ago especially stands out for the events that took place that afternoon. Just a week after Pearson drove a Wood Brothers Mercury designed for superspeedway competition to a surprise home-track victory for the Woods at Martinsville Speedway, he qualified the No. 21 Mercury on the outside pole at Talladega. Buddy Baker, who later would drive for the Woods, was the top qualifier.
Behind the lead duo were 58 other drivers, comprising the largest starting field ever for a modern-day Sprint Cup race. (Other Talladega races in that era had 50 drivers in the starting field.)
Baker took the lead on the initial start, and Pearson, the sly Silver Fox, was content to ride in second-place in the early going.
On Lap 10, Ramo Stott’s Mercury blew an engine, triggering a major crash on the backstretch.
Eddie Wood, one of the co-owners of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion, was working in the pit area that day back in 1973.
“We didn’t have radios, and there was no TV, so you really didn’t know what was happening on the backstretch,” he said. “As the cars went down the backstretch, it got quiet.”
Wood and his fellow crewmembers could only look toward Turn Four and hope their No. 21 Mercury eventually would appear.
“I remember seeing Pearson come into sight, him and the 09 car,” Wood said. “They came back around, and then some of the others wrecked the second time around, there was such a mess on the backstretch.” All told, 21 drivers were involved in the crash with 19 cars too damaged
to continue.
Pearson pitted during the caution period brought about by the crash, turning the lead over to the No. 09 Ford driven by Charles Barrett of Cleveland, Ga. Barrett led from Lap 24-36. It was the first time that his car owner, the late George Elliott, ever saw one of his cars lead a Cup race.
Barrett’s career was cut short by a highway crash, and two years later Elliott, one of the most loyal supporters ever of the Blue Oval brand, put his youngest son behind the wheel.
Bill Elliott went on to deliver 40 Cup victories for Ford along with the 1988 championship, and in addition, he wound up driving the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion from 2007-2010.
Barrett’s lead was short-lived, as he ran over debris from the crash and cut a tire. His ensuing pit stop gave the lead to J.D. McDuffie. But the independents and journeyman drivers who avoided the crash and shared time in the spotlight soon found themselves chasing Pearson.
The Silver Fox dominated the remainder of the race, leading 111 of 188 laps and was a lap ahead of runner-up Donnie Allison at the finish. For Eddie Wood, the memories from decades ago are made more special by the fact that 40 years later his team’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion is still considered a legitimate contender for the win at Talladega.
In its most recent run at Talladega last fall, Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 winner, took the No. 21 Fusion to the lead for five laps, made up a lost lap and was running fourth with four laps to go before his fuel-pressure gauge began fluctuating, sending him to pit road and an eventual 21st-place finish.
This time around, crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew have prepared a new 2013 Ford Fusion, and Wood said it has all the signs of being another front-runner.
“It blew some good numbers in the wind tunnel, and we tested it two weeks ago at Daytona,” Wood said. “We’re really happy with it.”
2014 Corvette Stingray to Pace 97th Indianapolis 500
2014 Corvette Stingray to Pace 97th Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS – The all-new, seventh-generation 2014 Corvette Stingray will serve as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, leading the field to green at the start of the 97th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” on Sunday, May 26, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It marks a record 12th time the Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978.
“It is an honor to help inaugurate the all-new Corvette Stingray at the hallowed Brickyard and further the legacy between Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s performance was influenced by racing, making this prestigious assignment even more fitting.”
Along with Chevrolet’s return in 2012 as an engine supplier, the Corvette Stingray Pace Car extends a legacy at the Brickyard that dates to the racetrack’s early days.
“Chevrolet is a great partner of the Speedway,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “That connection is heightened this year with the next-generation Corvette in front of a very talented field of racers.”
Decked out in Laguna Blue Tintcoat with official Indianapolis 500 graphics on the doors, the Corvette Stingray Pace Car differs from production models with only track-mandated safety features and strobe lights. No powertrain upgrades are required to run in front of the IndyCar pack, thanks to its all-new 6.2L LT1 engine, which features advanced technologies including direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation). They help produce an estimated 450 horsepower more efficiently.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a convertible model – featuring a fully electronic top that can be operated remotely with the key fob – coming a few months later. Vehicle highlights include:
· An interior that offers genuine carbon fiber and aluminum trim, hand-wrapped leather materials, dual eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, and two new seat choices – each featuring a lightweight magnesium frame for exceptional support
· Advanced driver technologies, including a five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors 12 vehicle attributes to fit the driver’s environment and a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed for perfect shifts every time
· Lightweight materials, including a carbon fiber hood and removable carbon fiber roof panel on coupes; composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels; carbon-nano composite underbody panels and a new aluminum frame help shift weight rearward for an optimal 50/50 weight balance that supports a world-class power-to-weight ratio
· A sculpted exterior featuring advanced high-intensity discharge and light-emitting diode lighting and racing-proven aerodynamics that balance low drag for efficiency and performance elements for improved stability and track capability
· Track-oriented Z51 Performance Package, including an electronic limited-slip differential; dry-sump oiling system; integral brake, differential and transmission cooling; as well as a unique aero package that further improves high-speed stability.
The Corvette Pace Car features the track-capable Z51 package.
Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500
Chevrolet has a long shared history with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and the IZOD IndyCar Series. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and the Chevrolet brothers – company co-founder Louis, Arthur and Gaston – all competed in early Indy 500 races. Arthur Chevrolet competed in the 1911 race and Gaston Chevrolet won it in 1920.
Chevrolet competed in Indy-style competition as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V-8 engines, and returned in 2012 with the Chevrolet IndyCar twin-turbo V-6 engine with direct injection. In that time, Chevrolet won 118 IndyCar races, powered seven driver series champions and scored seven Indianapolis 500 victories.
2013 marks the 24th time a Chevrolet has served as the official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500, more than any other brand, dating to 1948 with a Chevrolet Fleetmaster. Camaro has served in the role seven times and, with this year’s running, Corvette has led the way a record 12 times.
Mopar Racing–NHRA SouthernNationals Preview
NHRA SouthernNationals Preview:
Mopar Salutes Don Schumacher, Looks to Defend Atlanta Title
· Mopar ready for the third event in three weeks, 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta
· Mopar salutes Don Schumacher for his induction to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
· Mopar is second in NHRA points standings in both Pro Stock and Funny Car categories
· Capps is defending Funny Car title holder at Atlanta Dragway
Auburn Hills, Mich. (Thursday, May 2) – For the last of three consecutive national events in as many weeks, Mopar heads to Atlanta Dragway this weekend to compete in the 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Prior to this weekend’s on track activities, Mopar executives will attend the induction ceremonies at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame gala on Thursday evening in support of Don Schumacher who is being recognized for his many contributions to the NHRA and motorsports.
Schumacher’s legacy began with the first of many trips to the winner’s circle behind the wheel of a Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car at the 1970 U.S. Nationals, and his loyalty and relationship with Mopar continues to present day. In addition to being part of the 11 NHRA World Championships and the milestone of more than 200 event title wins, Mopar is honored to be associated with Schumacher’s passion, principles and high standard of excellence, both on and off the track.
But while Schumacher’s accomplishments and contributions are a big part of why he was selected for induction into the prestigious International Motorsports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013, Mopar feels it is his qualities as a person that make his recognition so commendable.
“On behalf of everyone at Mopar, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Don Schumacher who is very deserving of this special induction honor,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Not only has Don, as both a team owner and driver, been a long-time loyal supporter and friend to the Mopar brand, but he represents everything that our brand strives for. There is no doubting his passion, work ethic, commitment and determination have made him a tremendous asset to world of drag racing but it is the combination of his trademark sportsmanship style and his personification of class that differentiates him as a true gentleman in the world of motorsports.”
Schumacher joins NHRA legends including Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, and Don Prudhomme as members of the Hall of Fame who have also have long relationships with Mopar. Schumacher will be inducted into the class of 2103 along with NASCAR legends Dale Inman, Rick Hendrick, and Rusty Wallace.
Heading to Atlanta’s Dragway, Mopar is hoping to get back on a winning track after its streak of 13 title victories in 11 events, dating back to the Nationals in Charlotte in September 2012, came to an end last weekend in Houston. After earning six title wins in the first five events of the 2013 season, the SpringNationals marked the first time this year a Mopar did not make the final elimination round in either Funny Car or Pro Stock.
Despite the difficult weekend, Pro Stock driver Johnson has two wins this year in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Avenger and remains second in the NHRA Mello Yello series points standing after six events. Mopar teammate Coughlin is right behind him in a third place with two runner-up finishes and a No.1 qualifier honors but hoping to cap off a good season start by putting the Jegs.com Mopar in the winner’s circle as soon as possible.
Matt Hagan, who is second in the Funny Car championship points standings after his own strong start and a win under his belt in the “Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar” Dodge Charger R/T, is ready to hit the track after a first round loss to his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps last week. Capps, for his part, is the defending Funny Car title winner at Atlanta, where he won the first of five event titles last year, and is currently fourth in the standings.
Summit Racing–Anderson Looks to Continue Success in Atlanta
Anderson Looks to Continue Success in Atlanta
Mooresville, N.C., May 1, 2013 – Many drivers in NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series have a preferred racetrack, a place where they just seem to understand the conditions a little bit better than the competition. For Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, that racetrack is Atlanta Dragway, and when the series returns this weekend for the 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Anderson plans to be in top form as he defends the title he earned there in 2012 at one of his sponsor’s title races.
“There is no question about it, you do have confidence coming to a racetrack where you’ve had so much success before,” said Anderson. “Confidence is a big part of any sport, and a very big part of drag racing. This Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro team has been fortunate to have that at several different tracks, but personally, I’ve had a lot of experience at Atlanta Dragway. It was a hometrack for me for a long time, and I’d like to think that the experience I gained during that time has helped KB Racing through the years.”
In the youth of Anderson’s career – a career that has included 74 national event wins and four world championship titles – the Minnesota native was based in the Atlanta area as he studied under legendary Pro Stock driver Warren Johnson. Anderson was a crew member and crew chief for Johnson for 12 years before setting down the path of becoming one of the most notable Pro Stock racers in the history of the category.
Anderson’s success in Atlanta began in 2001, when he recorded the first low-qualifier award of his career there en route to the final round. The Mooresville, N.C.-based driver has earned a start from the No. 1 position on six occasions at Atlanta Dragway and has four wins in eight final rounds. For the last two seasons, Anderson has squared off in the final round with Summit Racing teammate Jason Line, who won the event in 2011 but was on the other side of the coin last year. Anderson also scored over Line in the Atlanta final in 2005.
“This is certainly a favorite race for Team Summit,” said Anderson. “When Summit Racing’s name is on the billboard, there is a little bit of extra pressure and even more incentive to excel, and we like it when there is more on the line; we seem to be able to give a little bit extra and get the job done. We’ve put both Summit Racing cars in the final for two years in a row so we’d like to do that again – this is a big event for Team Summit. Atlanta can be hot and humid or cool and damp, but we’ve been able to succeed in both, and we have a lot of raceday data to go on, so there is a comfort level there. This is definitely a race that we look forward to every year, and this year is no exception.”
Summit Racing–Line Aiming for Second Win of Season in Atlanta
Line Aiming for Second Win of Season in Atlanta
Mooresville, N.C., May 1, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock Driver Jason Line scored his first victory of 2013 in NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series last weekend in Houston, and the Mooresville, N.C.-based competitor plans to continue the momentum as the tour heads to Atlanta Dragway for the 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. For Line and the Summit Racing team, the timing of the once-yearly stop in the Peach State is perfect as it has historically been one of their most favorable facilities.
In addition to Team Summit’s achievements at the venerable facility, they also show up each year with a sense of pride to represent long-time sponsor Summit Racing Equipment. This year, Line will arrive with his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro still hot from winning in Houston last week. It was the first victory of the season for the now 30-time Pro Stock winner, and he is eager to slide back in the driver’s seat in the hunt for more hardware.
“It felt good to get the first win of the year last week for the Summit Racing team, and our guys have been working hard in the KB Racing shop these past couple of days between races,” said Line. “We are continually making progress, and this weekend it would be great to get to celebrate another win – this time with all of the people from Summit Racing joining us in the winner’s circle. They’re so good to us, and the best way to thank them is by doing well at their race.
“Historically, KB Racing has done pretty well at the beginning and the end of the season, but this year surprised us because we started off a little slow. But I do feel good about where we are right now. We’ve figured out a few things, particularly on Greg’s Summit Racing Chevy Camaro, that had us a little perplexed before. I’m looking forward to getting to Atlanta and seeing what we can do.”
Between Line and his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson, they have five wins in Atlanta and three times at this race they have accomplished an important mission, particularly as it is their title-sponsor’s event, by setting the stage for an all-Summit Racing final round. Anderson won their first toe-to-to match in 2005, Line scored in 2011, and just last season Anderson got the better of his favorite final round opponent to take home the trophy.
The Team Summit cars have consistently shown that there is more to their collective Atlanta accomplishments than luck – Anderson currently holds the track record for e.t. (6.557) and has six times been the No. 1 qualifier, while Line returns this year with a low qualifier award earned last season fresh on his mind.
“I’m not sure what it is, exactly, about Atlanta Dragway, but we do well there, and I like it,” said Line. “It’s pretty cool to get to go there after last weekend and have a chance of winning two in a row. You can go from champ to chump real quick out here, but until that first round of qualifying this weekend, I’m the last guy to win one of these things. Time will tell if we’re in a position to do it again, but I’m optimistic that the Summit Racing team will be prepared for whatever comes our way.”
Casey Currie Takes Over LOORS Pro Lite Points Lead
Casey Currie Takes Over LOORS Pro Lite Points Lead Following Back-to-Back Runner-Up Finishes in Las Vegas
CORONA, Calif. (May 1, 2013) – This past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Casey Currie and the Monster Energy/General Tire team built on the solid foundation it established at the opening rounds of the 2013 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORS) season last month. Currie was the most consistent driver on the track all weekend long in Las Vegas, posting back-to-back runner-up finishes in the third and fourth rounds of the championship to take over the Pro Lite points lead.
On Friday afternoon, Currie spent the day dialing his Monster Energy/General Tire truck over the course of two sessions. Currie positioned himself with the seventh and sixth-fastest times within each session. The following morning in qualifying, Currie put his truck in 6th place on the grid for Round 3 on Saturday afternoon.
As the green flag waved on the first Pro Lite Main of the weekend, Currie quickly made moves towards the front, picking up two positions on the opening lap. He continued his forward progress throughout the remainder of the first half of the 12-lap race and sat in sixth at the time of the full-course caution at the halfway ma
rk. When racing resumed, Currie was on the charge yet again, grabbing two more spots and beginning a hotly contested battle for fourth. On the final lap, Currie refused to let up and grabbed two more spots before taking the checkered flag in second.
“We struggled all day Friday and it was because of a decision I made at the shop,” Currie commented. “My team worked really hard Saturday morning and fixed the issue. Starting in the back made it tough to get to the front, but with the truck working awesome we took our time and made it all the way to second.”
As Round 4 got underway with qualifying on Sunday morning, Currie’s momentum from his runner-up effort led to his quickest lap of the weekend, which lined him up in seventh on the grid.
At the drop of the green flag, Currie asserted himself just outside the top five and patiently waited for his opportunity to strike. On Lap 2 he made his move and jumped into fourth, where he would stay through the break at the halfway point. Currie battled hard over the final half of competition, jumping into second with one lap remaining to claim another runner-up performance.
“The track was hammered for our race on Sunday,” said Currie. “To finish this round shows how durable the truck is. On another note, I’m excited to see all three trucks that were built in my shop finish 1-2-3. Also, with two solid days of racing we took over the points lead.”
Currie was rewarded for being the driver to score the most points on the weekend by taking over the championship lead heading into the third weekend of competition next month. He currently holds a 3-point lead in the standings after posting 3-4-2-2 results through the first four rounds of action.
Chevy Racing–Chevrolet Takes Points Lead to the Challenging Course on the Streets of São Paulo
Chevrolet Takes Points Lead to the Challenging Course on the Streets of São Paulo Clint “The Milkman” Hairston in the Semi-Finals at Commerce…and then the Rains! Commerce, GA (April 2013) – HMR arrived at Atlanta Dragway for the Nitto NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals looking for a quick start to their 2013 season. Qualifying proved difficult for the team although the track and weather conditions were ideal on Friday and Saturday. With little testing time in the off season, the team’s new converter and transmission package gave us some unexpected trouble during Friday’s test session and Q1 on Saturday. Jake decided to put the clutch and 4 speed Lenco back in for Q2 but ran out of time missing the session. Q3 looked promising on the launch with a 1.01 sixty foot short time but too much power early caused excessive spin. Clint wisely shut off coasting through the lights putting us in the number nine qualifying spot. Clint was able to get by Josh Green in round one giving us a bye in the second round. As predicted the rains came in the afternoon washing out the race. The final cars left in Pro Street will race at Joliet in July to determine the winner. We’ll have Chris Rini in semifinals with the winner moving on to the final against Billy Glidden. Hairston Motorsports & Racing would like to give special thanks to Lucas Oil for being our title sponsor this year and Elite Motorsports for helping us with transportation to the races and our many other loyal sponsors; Pertronix Performance Brands, Duttweiler Performance, Precision Turbo, XS Power, Powermaster, Racepak, Hoosier Tire, K&N, Crower Clutches, Lenco, Comp Cams, Dart, T&D Machine, Scat crankshafts, Hogan Manifolds, Accufab, Jesel, Strange, Motive Gear, Inland Empire Driveline, SCE Gaskets, Starside Design, Specialty Fasteners, Russell, Brodix, Embee Performance Coatings and ARP for their continuing support and our great crew including Doug Stewart, Tom Esbri, Tracy Holmes, Dustin Lee and Bill Hickok.
Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle Set for Sunday, May 5
DETROIT (May 1, 2013) – With three races on the 19-event 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule in the record books, Chevrolet holds the lead in the Series’ Manufacturers’ Standings, and Team Chevy driver Helio Castroneves holds the lead in the overall driver point standings heading into this weekend’s 75-lap, 190.2-mile race on the Streets of São Paulo (Brazil).
After a perfectly choreographed journey of over 5,000 miles, the Chevrolet teams and drivers will face the 11-turn, 2.536-mile temporary street circuit that presents a set of circumstances virtually unlike any other. The engineers from Chevrolet and its technical partners have been working tirelessly with team engineers in preparation for a successful trip to South America.
“The Streets of São Paulo circuit is a conglomerate of challenges all wrapped into one venue on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager, IZOD IndyCar Series. “A number of unique circumstances coexist there that dare our Chevrolet engineers, team engineers and technical partners to reach optimum performance from the Chevrolet twin turbocharged V6 powered cars. The altitude, 2,368 feet above sea level, is higher than any other circuit visited by the IndyCar Series. This, along with weather patterns that can change unexpectedly, can bring engine cooling, aero setup and calibration to the top of the focus list. In addition, the circuit offers the longest straightaway (0.93 mile) followed by one of the slowest corners on the schedule which gives the brakes a workout and provides opportunities for passing. Combine all that with the road surface variability of a street circuit and you have a situation that rewards the team and driver that adapts quickest and best. With the enthusiasm the Brazilian fans have for the sport, the São Paulo Indy 300 is always brimming with intensity and excitement.”
Chevrolet drivers James Hinchcliffe, and defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay took Chevrolet V6 power to Victory Lane respectively in the first two races of the 2013 season to give the Bowtie Brand the lead in the IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ point standings.
Brazilian born Castroneves, whose consistency so far this season has landed him on the podium in two of the three races run to-date, and took him to the top of the standings, has been a fan favorite since the Series’ first race on the São Paulo circuit in 2010. In the 2012 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 debut in his native city, the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner rebounded from a qualifying effort that landed him deep in the field to finish in fourth position.
Will Power heads to Streets of São Paulo undefeated in IndyCar competition on the circuit. He is the only winner in the three-year history of the event, winning in both 2011 and 2012 from the pole.
Tony Kanaan, another fan favorite from the Chevrolet stable, will make his fourth start in IndyCar competition in his native Brazil. He calls Salvador, Brazil his home.
The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season continues with the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on Sunday, May 5 on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. The race will be televised live at 11 a.m. (ET) by the NBC Sports Network (Verizon FiOS 90/590, DirecTV 220, DISH 159 and AT&T UVerse 640) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including on Sirius and XM Channels 211 and
Clint “The Milkman” Hairston in the Semi-Finals at Commerce…and then the Rains!