Monthly Archives: August 2016

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Race to 200 Starts Now

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Race to 200 Starts Now
Historic venue again welcomes GT Le Mans championship contenders

Corvette Racing captured win No. 100 two weeks ago
Gavin, Milner with three class wins in 2016
Garcia, Magnussen now up to third in GTLM Driver’s Championship
Chevrolet out front in GT Le Mans Manufacturer points

DETROIT (Aug. 3, 2016) – Less than two weeks after adding another chapter to its already impressive record book, Corvette Racing rolls into familiar territory in pursuit of strengthening its GT Le Mans (GTLM) championship lead and resume as sports car racing’s premier GT team. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Race to 200 Starts Now →

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–Watkins Glen Preview

Richard Childress Racing at The Glen … In 65 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen International, RCR boasts two wins (Robby Gordon 2003 and Kevin Harvick 2006), eight top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. Dale Earnhardt won three poles (1990, ’92, ’96) at the high-speed, seven-turn, upstate New York facility.

RCR in the NSCS … In 2,691 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 472 top-five finishes and 1,022 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.0. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

The Collective RCR … RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 11th (Dillon), 12th (Newman) and 23rd (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.

Catch the Action … The Watkins Glen 355 is scheduled to be televised live on USA beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

John Force Racing

John Force Racing–Wrapping Up the Western Swing

Heading into the final race of the 2016 NHRA Western Swing, the 29th annual ProtectTheHarvest.com NHRA Northwest Nationals, John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, answered a few questions about his chances of sweeping the swing for a second time and also how his season has turned around. Photos courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography for media use only.

You have had peaks and valleys in your long career, but how satisfying is this two race stretch? Where does it rank in your career? Continue reading John Force Racing–Wrapping Up the Western Swing →

Roush Yates

CHRIS BUESCHER WINS 1ST NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACE!

CHRIS BUESCHER WINS 1ST NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACE!

LONG POND, PENN., August 2, 2016 – Rookie, Chris Buescher won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since starting full-time with Front Row Motorsports in 2016.

This was also Front Row Motorsports and team owner Bob Jenkins’ 2nd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win with Roush Yates Engines. “What an incredible win for Chris Buescher and Front Row Motorsports,“ Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, “Chris will never forget this moment.”

A heavy fog, with 28 laps left to go moved over Pocono Raceway impairing NASCAR officials and team spotter’s visibility of the “Tricky Triangle.” Shortly afterwards a red flag was waved and NASCAR made the decision to shorten the Pennsylvania 400 and race leader Buescher celebrated with his hardworking team in victory lane.

The Ford Fusions with Roush Yates Engines’ powered a 1-2 finish with No. 34 Chris Buescher of Front Row Motorsports and No. 2 Brad Keselowski of Team Penske. Ford Performance teams led a race total 72 laps out of 138 between; Buescher (12), Keselowski (8), Biffle (14) and Logano (38).

Since 2004
10 Championships • 273 Wins • 236 Poles

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi Drives to Top 10 While Learning New Conditions

Giovanni Scelzi Drives to Top 10 While Learning New Conditions

Inside Line Promotions – WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2016) – Giovanni Scelzi earned his seventh top 10 during his ninth career sprint car race last Friday at Ocean Speedway.

Scelzi piloted his family owned car during his debut at the bullring, where he was introduced to a new track condition.

“It was super hooked up,” he said. “That was probably the smallest place I’ve been to (in a sprint car) and it’s the most hooked up place I’ve been to. It was a new thing to learn.” Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Drives to Top 10 While Learning New Conditions →

Jegs Racing

After runner-up at last year’s Seattle race, Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to take final step

After runner-up at last year’s Seattle race, Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to take final step
SEATTLE (Aug. 1) — A highlight of Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s three-race debut with Elite Motorsports last season was the five-time Pro Stock champion’s runner-up finish at the NHRA stop in Seattle. At this year’s 29th annual ProtectTheHarvest.com NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, Coughlin is hoping to take his Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart one step farther and end the day in the winner’s circle.

“Our goal is to try and be a little more aggressive earlier in the weekend and give ourselves some real momentum going into Sunday, no matter where we end up qualified,” Coughlin said. “Quite honestly, we were never really quite there last weekend in Sonoma (Calif.), and in our postrace shakedown we have decided we are just going to try to prepare a little more aggressively and take our chances. Continue reading After runner-up at last year’s Seattle race, Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking to take final step →

World of Outlaws

Blaney Finishes 11th In Fog-Shortened Race At Pocono

Blaney Finishes 11th In Fog-Shortened Race At Pocono

August 1, 2016

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team came away from a crazy day at Pocono Raceway with an 11th-place finish that keeps them in the hunt for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which begins after five more regular-season races. He is now tied with Trevor Bayne for 17th place in the points standings.

Blaney started 18th in the race which was pushed to Monday because of bad weather. He quickly moved into the top 15 and was in 14th place when a competition caution flag flew at Lap 15. Continue reading Blaney Finishes 11th In Fog-Shortened Race At Pocono →

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–Pennsylvania 400

Austin Dillon Competes for the Win in Weather-Shortened Race at Pocono Raceway

“It’s frustrating. This was the first time in my NASCAR Sprint Cup career I could nearly taste Victory Lane. We had a super-fast American Ethanol Chevrolet. It was fun racing that (No.) 42 for the lead. He blocked me through the short shoot in three, and I got loose. I knew if I downshifted, it would’ve hurt my momentum more. It’s just frustrating. We have things we need to work on across all aspects, but we’re making good progress. The good thing is, we had a fast enough car to win today and I’m proud of that. It’s disappointing we didn’t have a better result. Either way, I’m proud of my guys for a fast car.”

– Austin Dillon

Paul Menard and the No. 27 Chevrolet Team Show Speed at Pocono Raceway

“This one stings a little. Danny (Stockman, crew chief) brought us a fast car right off the truck. On Friday, we spent practice in qualifying trim. That’s an area we know we need improvement on. Then we were able to go and get the third starting spot, our best of this year. So for today to end the way it did is definitely not what we wanted. Our Moen/Menards Chevy was fast in the opening laps. We had a transmission issue and had to go behind the wall for repairs. My guys worked really hard to get back out there. Once we got back on track, we were running lap times faster than the leader. I know we could’ve been there in the end.”

– Paul Menard

Fog-Shortened Race at Pocono Raceway Produces a 12th-Place Finish for Ryan Newman

“We definitely had a better car than where we finished. This Caterpillar Chevrolet ran strong the entire race. We had good track position most of the day but didn’t expect the fog to play such a factor in the outcome. We’re just trying to get a win and not worry about the points side of the Chase. We had a fast racecar all day long, and that’s a good start. We’re definitely seeing an upswing in this team’s overall performance.”

– Ryan Newman

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race Quotes

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
PENNSYLVANIA 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 1, 2016

REGAN SMITH LEADS TEAM CHEVY AT POCONO
Four Chevrolet SS Race Cars Finish in Top Six

LONG POND, PA – (August 1, 2016) – Regan Smith led the way for Team Chevy with a third place finish in his No. 7 APC Chevrolet SS at the conclusion of the weather-shortened Pennsylvania 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway. Smith and his Tommy Baldwin Racing team played the perfect pit strategy stretching fuel mileage and remaining on the race track while others came to pit road. The finish was the second top 10 in 11 races at Pocono for Smith. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race Quotes →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
PENNSYLVANIA 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
AUGUST 1, 2016

REGAN SMITH, NO. 7 APC CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 3RD
ON THE RACE:
“It’s been a strange weekend really weather wise. There were times yesterday I thought we were going to get to race and the track had like a pond underneath it apparently. I’m just proud of Tommy (Baldwin) and then the guys on the box for kind of realizing there was opportunity for a strategy play there. We have had a decent run today. We were a lot better than we were last time here. We have made a lot of gains with our race car and with our team. When you are a small team you’ve got to take those opportunities when you can. Fortunately, we were getting good enough fuel mileage to just keep trying to stretch it and have enough left for when the caution did come out. I don’t know that we could have predicted it would have been from fog. I think we were just trying to do what we could do to make sure we maintained as far up as we could and maybe lead a lap or something like that. That is what you’ve got to do sometimes.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Post Race →

KB Racing

GREG ANDERSON PUTS TEAM SUMMIT RACING BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN SONOMA

GREG ANDERSON PUTS TEAM SUMMIT RACING BACK
IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN SONOMA

Sonoma, CA (August 1, 2016) – Team Summit is back on top as Greg Anderson raced his way to the winner’s circle in front of a sold out crowd at the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. With this 85th career victory, Anderson is now tied with Bob Glidden as the second winningest Pro Stock racer in NHRA history.

GREG ANDERSON Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS
Greg Anderson qualified second with a 6.567 second, 210.14 MPH pass. Anderson automatically won Round One of eliminations as opponent Alan Prusiensky was pushed off the starting line. Anderson defeated Vincent Nobile in Round Two (6.571/210.64 to 6.616/210.57) and Shane Gray in the semi-finals. (6.620/210.01 to 6.651/210.24). Continue reading GREG ANDERSON PUTS TEAM SUMMIT RACING BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN SONOMA →

John Force Racing

JOHN FORCE WINS SONOMA, SECOND RACE OF WESTERN SWING

JOHN FORCE WINS SONOMA, SECOND RACE OF WESTERN SWING

SONOMA, CA — John Force is the only Funny Car driver who has won the historic NHRA Western Swing races of Denver, Sonoma and Seattle consecutively. Today with his 8th Funny Car win at the 29th annual Toyota Sonoma Nationals Force is in position to become the only driver to ever sweep the Western Swing twice. In a final round for the ages Force outran Funny Car point leader Ron Capps 3.948 to 3.960 to capture his 145th career Funny Car win and his 1,251st round win. Continue reading JOHN FORCE WINS SONOMA, SECOND RACE OF WESTERN SWING →

Mopar Racing

Capps Takes Dodge Charger to Sonoma Raceway Final Round

Capps Takes Dodge Charger to Sonoma Raceway Final Round

· Ron Capps drives his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Dodge Charger R/T to NHRA Sonoma Nationals final round
· Sonoma final is seventh of season for Capps and 97th of career as NHRA Funny Car driver
· Capps secures berth in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs
· Mopar Funny Cars continue to shine in NHRA competition, make 10th final of first 15 Mello Yello Series events of 2016
· DSR Mopar/Pennzoil® Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett leaves Sonoma holding down 10th place in championship standings
· Mopar Dodge Dart Pro Stock cars continue to battle for position in NHRA Countdown to the Championship

Sonoma, Calif. (July 31, 2016) – The 15th race of the 2016 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series also marked the second race of three in a row for the Mopar competitors, and while last weekend they brought home a trophy, this weekend they came up just one win light short. In the final round of the 29th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Ron Capps narrowly missed his fifth win of the season in a very close race with John Force as the two winningest drivers in the history of the class raced for the trophy. Continue reading Capps Takes Dodge Charger to Sonoma Raceway Final Round →

John Force Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Sonoma

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
TOYOTA NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS
SONOMA RACEWAY AT SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
POST RACE DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2016

FUNNY CAR WINNER JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

YOU BEAT ROBERT HIGHT IN THE SECOND ROUND, COURTNEY FORCE IN THE SEMIS AND RON CAPPS IN THE FINAL. THAT’S THREE TOUGH DRIVERS TO BEAT

“You are right, I took on the toughest out there. Taking out Robert … his car just stumbled a bit and I got him. He is a great driver. Then Courtney. Got her last week and she wasn’t going to give it up this week but she dropped a cylinder on the hit. Sometimes luck is a big part of it. But if you work hard and you feed off the energy of the fans like I did every time, you start getting tired and then I get out at that hospitality with PEAK and Monster Energy and that brings me to life. I thought it was going to wear me out, but its bringing me new life. So I am excited about it. Then we get Ron Capps in the final and the rest is history.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Sonoma →

Allen Johnson Racing

Tire Shake Ends Allen Johnson’s Day Early at Sonoma Nationals in Marathon Dodge Dart

Tire Shake Ends Allen Johnson’s Day Early at Sonoma Nationals in Marathon Dodge Dart

SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2016) – Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson went to the second round of eliminations before lane conditions sealed his fate and ended his day at the 29th annual Toyota Sonoma NHRA Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

Johnson began raceday in the top half of the field from the No. 6 spot. Johnson clocked in with a stout 6.587-second pass at 209.72 mph to take the win over Aaron Strong’s 6.633, 208.71.

Losing lane choice to Shane Gray by only .005-seconds second round, Johnson was put in the left lane – a decent but less preferred lane. Johnson launched and immediately went into severe tire shake and aborted the run. Johnson clocked in with a 13.925, 88.88 and Gray advanced to the semifinals with a 6.609, 210.44.

“It’s a bummer that it was a loss for us because of what lane we were in,” Johnson said. “Every year when the sun comes out, the left lane goes away; there was nothing there. McGaha shook right before me and Nobile shook right after me and barely got the track but it’s our fault. We lost lane choice by five-thousandths and we had more left in it in first round. But you know what? We’ll leave here in good point standings and head to Seattle and get better.”

The next event on the NHRA Mello Yello is at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington next weekend for the Protect the Harvest Northwest Nationals. Qualifying will begin on Friday, August 5th at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. (PT)

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Mid-Ohio–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY 200
MID OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
RACE RECAP
SUNDAY JULY 31, 2016

Simon Pagenaud Puts Chevy in Victory Lane at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Will Power finishes second to keep championship battle tight between teammates
· Victory is Pagenaud’s 4th of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Season and 8th of his career
· Pagenaud continues as points leader; holds 58-point lead over second-place and Team Penske Chevrolet teammate Will Power
· Will Power makes it Chevrolet 1-2 on podium for Sunday’s 90-lap/203.22-mile race on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio
· Five Chevrolet Aero Kit IndyCar with 2.2 liter V6 engine finished in top-10 with just four races remaining in season and double points looming at Sonoma season-finale
· Chevrolet drivers continue to hold top-six positions and seven of top-10 in point standings Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Mid-Ohio–Post Race →

Jegs Racing

A third Sonoma victory will have to wait for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

A third Sonoma victory will have to wait for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
SONOMA, Calif. (July 31) — Drag races at the professional level are routinely decided by fractions of a second, and depending which side of the equation you’re on, that can be a good or bad thing. For five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., it seems like ages since the racing gods have smiled on him and his Magneti Marelli offered by Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Dart.

Such was the case early Sunday afternoon when Coughlin’s opening-round pass of 6.603 seconds at 209.39 mph left him just a fraction behind Chris McGaha’s 6.593 at 209.88 mph — a pesky difference of one-hundredth of a second in elapsed times. Continue reading A third Sonoma victory will have to wait for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Honda Racing

Podium Finish for Munoz, Honda at Mid-Ohio

Podium Finish for Munoz, Honda at Mid-Ohio
• Climbs from 15th to third to lead Honda effort
• Honda drivers lead 55 of 90 laps
• Aleshin stars, leads 33 laps until delayed by pit lane incident, penalty
• Daly leads 22 laps before fuel gamble comes up short

Taking advantage of strong car and a well-timed caution flag, Carlos Munoz vaulted from 15th on the starting grid to finish third in Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Munoz was one of several Honda drivers to feature in the “home” race for Honda, which has more than 15,000 associates in facilities throughout central Ohio, with many in attendance throughout the Verizon IndyCar Series weekend. Continue reading Podium Finish for Munoz, Honda at Mid-Ohio →

Honda Racing

Acura’s Ryan Eversley Finishes Second, Fifth in Weekend Events at Mid-Ohio

Acura’s Ryan Eversley Finishes Second, Fifth in Weekend Events at Mid-Ohio
• RealTime Racing earns three top 10s and podium finish
• Ryan Eversley makes up six spots on Sunday to earn Best Start Award
• Teammate Spencer Pumpelly earns Move of the Race and fastest race lap on Sunday
• Results propel Eversley into top five in the championship

LEXINGTON, Ohio – (July 31, 2016) – The RealTime Racing Acura TLX GT squad knew it had a chance to inspire thousands of Honda associates this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and they did so in fine fashion, capping a pair of top-five finishes with a second-place run in Sunday’s Pirelli World Challenge GT race. Continue reading Acura’s Ryan Eversley Finishes Second, Fifth in Weekend Events at Mid-Ohio →