Monthly Archives: May 2017

John Force Racing

John Force takes PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy to Four-Wide Nationals second round

John Force takes PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy
to Four-Wide Nationals second round

Photo credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) – Sixteen-time Funny Car champion John Force took the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro to the second round of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals before running into a buzzsaw quad that ended his day early.

Force, who qualified No. 3, sped into the second round with a pass of 3.937 seconds at 309.20 mph. He got to the finish line first in the quad against No. 6 qualifier Ron Capps, No. 11 qualifier Del Worsham and No. 14 qualifier Chad Head.
Continue reading John Force takes PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy to Four-Wide Nationals second round →

John Force Racing

Despite second-round exit in Four-Wide Nationals, Robert Hight knows Auto Club Chevy team ready to roll

Despite second-round exit in Four-Wide Nationals,
Robert Hight knows Auto Club Chevy team ready to roll

CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) – Robert Hight set the quickest elapsed time for Funny Cars in Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway but came up short in his bid for a third title in the unique race.

Hight – the No. 2 qualifier in the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS – was the quickest in the opening quad of cars, landing a spot in the second round with a time of 3.884 seconds at 327.66 mph. Hight and Jack Beckman advanced, while Tommy Johnson Jr. and Jim Campbell were sent home. Continue reading Despite second-round exit in Four-Wide Nationals, Robert Hight knows Auto Club Chevy team ready to roll →

John Force Racing

Brittany Force ready for changes to Monster Energy car after Charlotte defeat

Brittany Force ready for changes to
Monster Energy car after Charlotte defeat

Photo Credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) – The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has been a bit disjointed for Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver Brittany Force.

Force started well, reaching the final round of the second race, at Phoenix. But an issue with the race car caused it to be rebuilt, and NHRA made a rules change to the frame as well. That led to some struggles, capped by a first-round defeat in the Four-Wide Nationals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. Continue reading Brittany Force ready for changes to Monster Energy car after Charlotte defeat →

Chevrolet Racing

Courtney Force turns attention to Atlanta after early exit in Four-Wide Nationals

Courtney Force turns attention to Atlanta
after early exit in Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) – Courtney Force made an early exit in Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway after hitting the wall in the opening round of the Funny Car race.

Force, the No 1 qualifier for the third consecutive NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race in the Funny Car category, recorded a strong reaction time and looked to advance to the next round in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS. But the car drifted toward the right and hit the wall, disqualifying her run and damaging the right side of the car. Continue reading Courtney Force turns attention to Atlanta after early exit in Four-Wide Nationals →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Richmond Race Notes

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TOYOTA OWNERS 400
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 30, 2017

JAMIE MCMURRAY LEADS THE WAY FOR TEAM CHEVY AT RICHMOND
Chevrolet’s Kyle Larson continues to lead the point standings after nine races in 2017

RICHMOND, Va. (April 30, 2017) – Chip Ganassi Racing’s strong season continued this afternoon at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) as Jamie McMurray and the No. 1 GearWrench Chevrolet SS team led the way for Team Chevy in the ninth round of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) season with a sixth-place finish. The run marks the fifth top 10 finish for McMurray thus far this season, and he currently ranks seventh in the point standings. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Richmond Race Notes →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Z-Max Dragway–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
ZMAX DRAGWAY AT CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017

CHRIS MCGAHA, HARLOW SAMMONS RACING, HARLOW SAMMONS OF ODESSA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 4 qualifier, earned first Pro Stock win of season and fifth of career):

Q: HOW DOES THIS RANK AMONG YOUR VICTORIES?
CHRIS MCGAHA: “All of them are special in their own way. The first one at Sonoma was pretty sweet. Waited too long, and got another one right behind it. Each one has their own story. This one I always felt like it should have been my first. In ’14 we had a dominant car, won our quads nearly every time we went up there. Eventually shook and blew the motor up. That motor never really recovered until this week. That’s the same motor then as it is now.”
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Z-Max Dragway–Post Race →

Erica Enders

Erica Enders gets timed out in first round of NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

Erica Enders gets timed out in first
round of NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) — Erica Enders never got a chance to flex the horsepower of her Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Sunday at zMax Dragway because she was timed-out at the starting line after taking too long to stage. It’s one of the hazards of the annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and every year someone seems to get bit. Continue reading Erica Enders gets timed out in first round of NHRA Four-Wide Nationals →

Jegs Racing

Top qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. runs quickest pass of the race, but loses anyway

Top qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. runs
quickest pass of the race, but loses anyway
CONCORD, N.C. (April 30) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. posted the quickest pass of the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the opening round of Sunday’s eliminations but it was all for naught after a strange starting line miscue caused him to leave more than half a second after his three opponents. Continue reading Top qualifier Jeg Coughlin Jr. runs quickest pass of the race, but loses anyway →

Chevrolet Racing

Dixon, Kanaan Head Honda Effort in Phoenix

Dixon, Kanaan Head Honda Effort in Phoenix
• Scott Dixon finishes fifth, Tony Kanaan sixth in first short-oval race of 2017
• Opening lap crash eliminates five Honda drivers
• Separate incidents end the race for Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi and Takuma Sato

AVONDALE, Ariz. (April 29, 2017) – Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan led the way for Honda Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, in a Verizon IndyCar Series race that saw five Honda drivers eliminated in an opening-lap crash, and three more fall by the wayside prior to the checkers. Continue reading Dixon, Kanaan Head Honda Effort in Phoenix →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Phoenix–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY PHOENIX GRAND PRIX
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER POST RACE QUOTES
APRIL 29, 2017

SIMON PAGENAUD, NO. 1 MENARDS TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – RACE WINNER
DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD HEAR TH WORDS YOU’VE WON AT AN OVAL? WHERE DOES THIS ONE RANK ON THE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT LIST?
“Those were the longest 50 laps of my life. I have a button on the steering wheel to check the lap count, ever lap I was pressing the button. It was the most stressful end of the race I’ve ever lived, but the car was just phenomenal. It was an incredible day for the Menards car, Chevy, incredible job with the aero package for these kinds of tracks and on the engine as well. Since the beginning of the season we worked so closely it’s been fun, I have to say. Obviously, thanks to Verizon as well for all the support that they give us. I’ve got to tell you, this is just incredible. For me, this is my best win because it’s so strategic to win on an oval. You have to really study what the others are doing, how your car is responding adjust it during the race to be good at the end and today was just exactly a perfect day. I couldn’t be any happier.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Phoenix–Post Race →

Honda Racing

Rookies deJong and Eriksson Score Top-Five Results in Memphis

Rookies deJong and Eriksson Score Top-Five Results in Memphis
• Honda’s First American Rallycross Driver Finishes Fourth
• Oliver Eriksson Finishes Fifth, Securing a Double Top-Five Finish
• Sebastian Eriksson Collects Third Round Heat Victory

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 29, 2017) ¬– Mitchell deJong and his No. 24 Honda Red Bull OMSE Civic utilized an aggressive strategy early in Saturday’s Final to finish fourth in the season-opening round of the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship at Memphis International Raceway, with his rookie teammate, Oliver Eriksson, following closely behind in fifth.
Continue reading Rookies deJong and Eriksson Score Top-Five Results in Memphis →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Phoenix–Simon Pagenaud Winner

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY PHOENIX GRAND PRIX
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
RACE WINNER QUICK QUOTE
APRIL 29, 2017

SIMON PAGENAUD, NO. 1 MENARDS TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – RACE WINNER
DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD HEAR TH WORDS YOU’VE WON AT AN OVAL? WHERE DOES THIS ONE RANK ON THE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT LIST?
“Those were the longest 50 laps of my life. I have a button on the steering wheel to check the lap count, ever lap I was pressing the button. It was the most stressful end of the race I’ve ever lived, but the car was just phenomenal. It was an incredible day for the Menards car, Chevy, incredible job with the aero package for these kinds of tracks and on the engine as well. Since the beginning of the season we worked so closely it’s been fun, I have to say. Obviously, thanks to Verizon as well for all the support that they give us. I’ve got to tell you, this is just incredible. For me, this is my best win because it’s so strategic to win on an oval. You have to really study what the others are doing, how your car is responding adjust it during the race to be good at the end and today was just exactly a perfect day. I couldn’t be any happier.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Phoenix–Simon Pagenaud Winner →

Chevrolet Racing

Hagan Leads Mopar in Qualifying at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Turk Qualifies for Factory Stock Showdown

Hagan Leads Mopar in Qualifying at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Turk Qualifies for Factory Stock Showdown

Matt Hagan qualifies Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T fourth in Funny Car to lead Mopar-backed Nitro teams
Four Mopar-powered Don Schumacher Racing Funny Cars qualify in top 10
Six Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars qualify for 16-car field
Mopar Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Leah Pritchett will begin day from No. 6 and No. 9 spots, respectively
Pritchett pilots Dodge Challenger to win over Papa John’s founder and CEO, John Schnatter, in second Charity Challenge race of 2017
Geoff Turk qualifies 2015 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak for Factory Stock Showdown
Super Stock driver Jerry Hatch’s 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack wins Best Appearing Car
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators unveiled on Manufacturers Midway and covered by FS1
April 29, 2017 (Concord, N.C.) – Mopar HEMI® power claimed four of the top 10 spots in Funny Car qualifying for the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, while Mopar-powered Top Fuel machines will start sixth and ninth on the unique four-wide eliminations ladder. Only three rounds are required to crown the event champion in the classes that make up the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Continue reading Hagan Leads Mopar in Qualifying at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Turk Qualifies for Factory Stock Showdown →

John Force Racing

Brittany Force’s Monster Energy team bringing the heat at Four-Wide Nationals

Brittany Force’s Monster Energy team
bringing the heat at Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) – If there’s a team that can make it through the energy-sapping heat and humidity that the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series has faced at the Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at zMAX Dragway, it’s Brittany Force’s Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster team.

Temperatures were in the upper-80s and low-90s during qualifying in Charlotte, with humidity adding to the discomfort level. But Force and her John Force Racing team came through with a No. 7 qualifying effort – and a terrific pass in the heat of the day in the final qualifying session. Continue reading Brittany Force’s Monster Energy team bringing the heat at Four-Wide Nationals →

Allen Johnson Racing

Team Marathon Petroleum No. 12 at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

Team Marathon Petroleum No. 12 at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29, 2017) – Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson will head into raceday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the No. 12 position in his Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart.

On Friday, Johnson hit zMAX DRAGWAY with a tune-up to see what the track would hold. The Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart launched a little too aggressively and he shook a little after the 60-foot mark; he coasted to a 12.005-second pass at 94.79 mph. The Adam Hornberger-led team came back in the second session on Friday and greatly improved with a 6.657, 208.33. Continue reading Team Marathon Petroleum No. 12 at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals →

John Force Racing

PEAK driver John Force ready to make some noise in Four-Wide Nationals eliminations

PEAK driver John Force ready to make some noise
in Four-Wide Nationals eliminations

Photo credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) – PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car driver John Force has had a subtle weekend at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

But with a fast Camaro heading into eliminations, the 16-time champion could make a lot of noise on Sunday.

Force qualified No. 3 for the unique Four-Wide Nationals – behind John Force Racing teammates Courtney Force and Robert Hight. That’s the first time JFR swept the top three spots since Topeka 2014, when Courtney Force was No. 1, John Force was No. 2 and Robert Hight No. 3.

“We have won this race – I won the inaugural (in 2010),” Force said. “Robert has won it, and Brittany (Force) has won it. That only leaves (Courtney). So, we will see what happens tomorrow. Continue reading PEAK driver John Force ready to make some noise in Four-Wide Nationals eliminations →

Chevrolet Racing

Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin nails down fourth low qualifier award of his career

Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin nails
down fourth low qualifier award of his career
CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) — Perhaps no one was happier to suffer through the heat and humidity that settled on zMax Dragway Saturday than two-time Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin, whose Friday night pass of 5.770 at 254.95 mph remained unchallenged in the final two rounds of qualifying for the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

“I was sweating it out, literally,” Coughlin said with a laugh. “In reality, it got too hot today for anyone to really challenge that 5.77. The day kind of turned into a test-n-tune for tomorrow’s elimination action because all indications are that we’ll see very similar conditions. Either way we’ll be ready. Continue reading Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin nails down fourth low qualifier award of his career →

John Force Racing

Auto Club driver Robert Hight secures No. 2 qualifying spot as part of JFR 1-2-3 at Four-Wide Nationals

Auto Club driver Robert Hight secures No. 2 qualifying spot as part of JFR 1-2-3 at Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) – Robert Hight seeks a third Funny Car victory in Sunday’s unique Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, and will mount his charge for the mark from the No. 2 qualifying position.

Hight – driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS – established a best pass of 3.873 seconds at a track record 333.91 mph in Friday’s second qualifying session. That means he’ll line up against No. 7 Tommy Johnson Jr., No. 10 Jack Beckman and No. 15 Jim Campbell in the first round of eliminations. Continue reading Auto Club driver Robert Hight secures No. 2 qualifying spot as part of JFR 1-2-3 at Four-Wide Nationals →

John Force Racing

3-for-4: Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads into Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals with 3rd straight No. 1

3-for-4: Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads into Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals with 3rd straight No. 1

Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) – Good things tend to come in threes.

For Courtney Force and the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS team, they enter Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway with their third consecutive No. 1 Funny Car qualifying position.

Force led a JFR 1-2-3 – the team’s first in nearly three years – with teammate Robert Hight No. 2 and father and team owner John Force No. 3. Continue reading 3-for-4: Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads into Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals with 3rd straight No. 1 →

Jegs Racing

For second race in a row, five-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. tops Pro Stock field

For second race in a row, five-time champ
Jeg Coughlin Jr. tops Pro Stock field
CONCORD, N.C. (April 29) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. knew his Rick Jones-built JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro was a great racecar since the beginning of the season. It just took him a few races to let everyone else know.

For the second straight national event, the five-time Pro Stock champion has the quickest car in the factory hot rod class. This weekend, in qualifying for the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Coughlin used an impressive 6.578-second pass at 210.24 mph to get the job done.

Father and son, Jeg Coughlin Sr.
and Jeg Coughlin Jr.
“Obviously to get our second No. 1 qualifying effort in back-to-back weeks is very satisfying,” Coughlin said. “It shows we have regained a great tune-up and have some real confidence in our current set-up. I think our crew chief braintrust of Mark Ingersoll, Rick Jones and Brian Self here at the track are doing a really nice job with everything and I feel really confident behind the wheel. That’s a good combination.” Continue reading For second race in a row, five-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. tops Pro Stock field →