Monthly Archives: July 2018

John Force Racing

OHN FORCE CONFIDENT HEADING TO NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS WITH PEAK COOLANT AND MOTOR OIL TEAM

OHN FORCE CONFIDENT HEADING TO NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS WITH
PEAK COOLANT AND MOTOR OIL TEAM
EPPING, N.H. (July 5, 2018) — Solidly in the NHRA Mello Yello Top 10 points standings, 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force feels confident heading into the second half of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season starting at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

Force has raced his way into two final round appearances and three semifinals after opening up the season with a series of explosions. Force never gave up on his PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS and had all the faith in his team to get them back on the right track.

“The car’s starting to go rounds, this ol’ PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy is starting to go down the racetrack. That’s what we’ve been working for. We’ve moved up a little in points. It’s still tight, but we’re moving forward. (Crew chief) Jon Schafer, these young kids, Ronnie Thompson, they’re starting to prove themselves. We’ve come back and went to the finals at Richmond and the semifinals in Norwalk both times I get beat by my daughter.” Continue reading OHN FORCE CONFIDENT HEADING TO NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS WITH PEAK COOLANT AND MOTOR OIL TEAM →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona–Bubba Wallace

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
COKE ZERO SUGAR 400
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 5, 2018

DARREL ‘BUBBA’ WALLACE, JR., NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed returning to Daytona I July, the season thus far, his expectations for the last lap of the race on Saturday evening, and more. Full Transcript:

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO COME BACK HERE TO DAYTONA WHERE YOU HAD SOME SUCCESS EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR SEASON SO FAR?
“Its good to be back here in Daytona. You know when you are back in Daytona when you can’t breathe, and your sinuses are acting up. We’re back and it’s kind of the same way it started when I was here in February. But looking back on that race, it was pretty much a week and a half of great things that happened for us. The weeks you hope it to happen now and you don’t really get that. There are usually some bumps in the road that you hit. I just kind of remember going through all the emotions of trying to be cool and collected, not getting over-anxious about anything, and let things come to me. So, I think that is kind of the same game plan we have this weekend. Just let it all come to us and try and survive. I think we had three close instances during the 500 when we should have been on the hook wadded up, and it just didn’t happen. So, hopefully we can have that same kind of luck and good grace on our side to continue to press on and set ourselves up for a good finish at the end.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona–Bubba Wallace →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona–Austin Dillon

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
COKE ZERO SUGAR 400
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JULY 5, 2018
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL E15 CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed returning to Daytona in July after wining the 2018 Daytona 500, several fun interviews that have happened to him as a result of the win, the lack of more than six different winners thus far in MENCS competition, and more. Full Transcript:

WHAT’S IT LIKE COMING BACK TO DAYTONA FOR A SUMMER RACE AS THE DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION?
“It feels great. Any time you come through the tunnel you’ve been able to win a couple of races here and I’ve enjoyed this place from the beginning. I feel like I’ve been coming here since I was born. It’s like a second home to me. I know a lot of people here and I even come back for Easter most of the time. I always enjoy coming down here and have the opportunity to have a chance to win a race. You feel better when you get to the speedway because the plan feels level.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona–Austin Dillon →

Honda Racing

Acura Teams Head North To Canada

Acura Teams Head North To Canada
• Acura Team Penske builds momentum on first race win, string of podium finishes
• Meyer Shank Racing, Katherine Legge continue GTD title challenge
• IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins stretch drive at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

TORRANCE, Calif. (July 5, 2018) – Following another set of podium finishes in both Prototype and GTD competition last weekend, Acura teams and drivers head to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park outside of Toronto, Canada, for a return to the series’ typical two hour, 40-minute race format as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship enters the stretch drive of the 2018 season.

Much like Watkins Glen International Raceway, site of last weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, CTMP is a fast, flowing European-style road course, well suited to both the Acura ARX-05 prototypes and Acura NSX GT3s taking part in Sunday’s Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. Continue reading Acura Teams Head North To Canada →

John Force Racing

BRITTANY FORCE READY TO REPEAT WITH MONSTER ENERGY AT NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

BRITTANY FORCE READY TO REPEAT WITH MONSTER ENERGY AT
NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS
EPPING, N.H. (July 5, 2018) — Heading into the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, defending world champion Brittany Force and her Monster Energy team are teed up for a strong start to the second half of the season.

After 12 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Force has a win and a No. 1 qualifier under her belt. Entering the New England Nationals last season, Force was chasing her first win of the season. She found it in New Hampshire, nearly doubling up with sister Courtney Force.

“I’m excited to be heading back to Epping and to be getting back in my race car after a weekend off. We’ve had some success at New England Dragway over the years and won there last season. Our Monster Energy team is looking for another win this season and would love to repeat our success from last year.” Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE READY TO REPEAT WITH MONSTER ENERGY AT NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Seeks to Add to Substantial Victory Total NHRA New England Nationals kick off second half of the season

CHEVROLET AT EPPING

What: NHRA New England Nationals
When: Friday, July 6-Sunday, July 8
Where: New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire
TV: FS1 live qualifications, 1:30 p.m. ET July 7
FS1 live eliminations and finals, 1 p.m. ET July 8

Chevrolet Seeks to Add to Substantial Victory Total
NHRA New England Nationals kick off second half of the season

DETROIT (July 5, 2018) – Erica Enders’ steady progress on the racetrack this season is due in large part to a labor-intensive commitment by team personnel, which incorporates the driver of the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS.

The two-time Pro Stock champion has advanced to the final round in three of the past five National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races, including the most recent in Norwalk, Ohio. Points garnered during the stretch have allowed Enders to climb from seventh to third in the standings entering NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire. Continue reading Chevrolet Seeks to Add to Substantial Victory Total NHRA New England Nationals kick off second half of the season →

John Force Racing

COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS READY TO CONTINUE DOMINANCE AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY

COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS READY TO CONTINUE DOMINANCE AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY
EPPING, N.H. (July 5, 2018) — Courtney Force and the Advance Auto Parts team have shown no signs of slowing down. They have a 250-point lead in the NHRA Mello Yello points standings, have qualified No. 1 eight times and earned four wins in five final round appearances. Now they head to New England Dragway for the sixth annual NHRA New England Nationals, an event Force has continually had success at.

In the event’s five-year existence, Force has had two final round appearances including a win at the inaugural event in 2013 and a runner-up finish at the 2017 race. She has qualified inside the top eight all five years and was the No. 2 qualifier in 2017 after her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car had a highlight reel explosion during Friday qualifying. Despite the fireworks, Force was the preliminary leader at the end of the day and, come race day, was only second to teammate Robert Hight. She raced her way to the final round and nearly had a double-up win with sister Brittany Force. Continue reading COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS READY TO CONTINUE DOMINANCE AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY →

Richard Childress Racing

RCR Event Preview – Daytona International Speedway

Richard Childress Racing at Daytona International Speedway … Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected six points-paying victories at the most-storied race track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit. RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999). In addition, RCR has earned the Advance Auto Parts Clash a total of eight times, with drivers Harvick (2009, 2010, 2013) and Earnhardt (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95).

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,874 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 487 top-five finishes and 1,055 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR 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. Continue reading RCR Event Preview – Daytona International Speedway →

Roush Yates

MOMENTUM!

MOMENTUM!

MOORESVILLE, NC – July 5, 2018 – The 2018 race season has been loaded with Roush Yates Engines’ horsepower. With more than half the season in the rear-view mirror and the chase for multiple championships ahead; 21 wins and 19 poles have been recorded, while 4,772 laps have been led by 33 different drivers, representing 16 different Ford Performance teams. This dynamic partnership between Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines has been firing on all cylinders.

The Ford GTs, powered by the twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 race engines, kicked off the 2018 season in January at the IMSA season-opener, Rolex 24 At Daytona. It was a case of deja vu for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing with a first-place finish for the second consecutive year in the 24-hour endurance race.
Ford GT Goes Back-to-Back at Rolex 24 | Ford Performance Continue reading MOMENTUM! →

Brenda Grubbs Motorsports

Brenda Grubbs Racing Update

Race Results

The Atlanta National event was fun as numerous racers congratulated us on the recent Houston win. Unfortunately, the race results weren’t nearly as spectacular! Super Stock resulted in a first round loss and Stock, a second round loss.
The Topeka National event was another solid showing for the Super Stocker, making it to the quarter finals before losing to the event RU, Gary Stinnett. The Stocker didn’t make it to round one. During Class Eliminations, the motor came to a screeching halt a 7500 RPMs around the 1,000 foot mark. It was quickly determined the timing chain broke which is disappointing for a motor with limited runs.
The weather was typical Topeka. Friday was sunny and hot and Saturday and Sunday were rainy. The pros were able to get a few runs in over the weekend, however first round of Sportsman was held Monday morning. Thankfully, Brenda’s work schedule was flexible. Her flight to Minneapolis was rescheduled for the evening and meetings rescheduled for the next day. Bill, unfortunately, had to make the journey home alone, traveling late into the night to ensure he would make it to work later the next day. Sometimes, it’s hard to balance work and racing! Continue reading Brenda Grubbs Racing Update →

Wood Brothers

Menard Hopes To Build On Restrictor-Plate Success At Daytona

Menard Hopes To Build On Restrictor-Plate Success At Daytona

July 4, 2018

On the surface it would seem like all Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team need to do to be successful in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway is to pick up where they left off after the first two restrictor-plate races of the season.

Menard was in contention for the win up to the end of the season-opening Daytona 500 before finishing sixth. And he won a Stage, led eight laps and ran near the front for most of the April 29 race at Talladega Superspeedway before being collected in a crash not of his own doing.

But Menard, the veteran driver of the Wood Brothers’ iconic No. 21 Ford said it’s not that simple. Continue reading Menard Hopes To Build On Restrictor-Plate Success At Daytona →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK: By the Numbers

CORVETTE RACING AT CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK: By the Numbers

DETROIT (July 4, 2018) – Corvette Racing may be an American team, but it also feels at home at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Now in its 20th season of competition, the program has raced at the famed venue since 2000 and has recorded numerous successes there over the years. Ahead of this year’s Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, take a look back at some of Corvette Racing’s best facts and figures through the years at CTMP:
Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK: By the Numbers →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona Bowtie Bullets

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
COKE ZERO SUGAR 400
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
JULY 7, 2018

BOWTIE BULLETS
MOST SUCCESSFUL AT THE WORLD CENTER OF SPEED:
Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers in wins at Daytona International Speedway. The Bowtie Brand has taken home 46 victories from the World Center of Speed, 24 being at the Daytona 500 and the other 22 occurring in the annual July event.

DAYTONA DOMINATION:
After the retirement of career-long Chevrolet driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who previously held the record for most wins by an active driver at Daytona International Speedway, his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jimmie Johnson, now takes the top spot. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has three victories at Daytona to his credit, two Daytona 500 victories and one win in the July event. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Daytona Bowtie Bullets →

Cruz Pedregon

Cruz Pedregon–Epping Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA New England Nationals – Epping, NH
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are upbeat after spending time in their Brownsburg, Indiana shop before heading to New England. “We are really looking forward to Epping and aren’t letting the fact that we didn’t qualify last weekend get in the way of what we’ll make happen this weekend in the Snap-on Toyota,” says Cruz. “I honestly feel we have the best car in the pit and on the track, and we’re ready to show the fans what it can do.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Epping Advance →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Aims for Second Short-Track Victory of Season

Chevrolet Aims for Second Short-Track Victory of Season

· Josef Newgarden won at 1-mile ISM Raceway in April
ᴏ Reigning series champion won at Iowa Speedway in ‘16
· Team Chevy has claimed five wins at Iowa track since 2012
ᴏ Chevrolet drivers have also started from pole in every race
· New universal aero kit will add new dynamic on .894-mile tri-oval
ᴏ Increased straightaway speed forecast for 300-lap race
· Fans can interact with the drivers at Chevy Racing display

DETROIT (July 3, 2018) – Verizon IndyCar Series veteran Tony Kanaan characterizes Iowa Speedway as “a place that keeps you on your toes at all times.”

Racing side by side over 300 laps, with every green-flag circuit of the .894-mile tri-oval in the 18-second range, drivers rarely get a breather. A wrinkle July 8 for the 11th Verizon IndyCar Series race at the track in Newton, Iowa, will be the universal aerodynamic body kit introduced for the 2018 season.
Continue reading Chevrolet Aims for Second Short-Track Victory of Season →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi Learns Throughout World of Outlaws Event at Knoxville

Giovanni Scelzi Learns Throughout World of Outlaws Event at Knoxville

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 3, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi was consistent last weekend at Knoxville Raceway during the Brownells Big Guns Bash with the World of Outlaws.

Scelzi and car owner Bernie Stuebgen started the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series doubleheader on Friday by qualifying seventh quickest in their group before advancing from fourth to third place in a heat race to lock into the ninth starting position for the A Main, which only the top 24 of the 40 drivers on hand qualified for. Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Learns Throughout World of Outlaws Event at Knoxville →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Dominic Scelzi Ready for Return to Cedar Lake Speedway This Weekend

Dominic Scelzi Ready for Return to Cedar Lake Speedway This Weekend

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 3, 2018) – Dominic Scelzi has a couple of races in Wisconsin on tap this weekend.

Scelzi and his family owned, Roth Motorsports backed team will tackle the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Friday and Saturday at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond.

“I’m excited to get back to Cedar Lake,” he said. “We’ve raced there a few times and finished sixth there during a 360 show a couple of years ago.” Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Ready for Return to Cedar Lake Speedway This Weekend →

Follow A Dream Racing

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York

Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (July 3, 2018)

The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team went into a one-month break with momentum and confidence, finishing runner-up in this past weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Racing Drag Racing Series, Northeast Division, at Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, New York.

Driver Phil Burkart was the No. 1 qualifier for the event with a strong run of 5.589 seconds at 263.45 mph.

Burkart made it past the first two rounds of eliminations before smoking the tires in the final round, falling to Dan Pomponio. Continue reading Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team finishes runner-up in divisional race at Lebanon Valley, New York →

Jegs Racing

Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for career win No. 80 at one of the few tracks where he’s yet to win

Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for career win No. 80
at one of the few tracks where he’s yet to win
EPPING, N.H. (July 2) — The numbers are adding up nicely for six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his Elite Performance Pro Stock teammates at the halfway point of the 24-race NHRA drag racing season. To date, Elite-powered drivers have won half of the events on the schedule, including Coughlin’s own triumphs in Chicago and Bristol. Coughlin and teammates Erica Enders and Vincent Nobile all hold down top-10 rankings, with additional Elite drivers Alex Laughlin and Matt Hartford close behind in 11th and 12th place, respectively.

“We weathered a pretty long storm at Elite but the guys never gave up and they completely turned the tide beginning at this year’s Gainesville race,” Coughlin said. “We’ve absolutely been on a tear ever since. Check the stats and you’ll see there’s been an Elite car in nine straight finals and we’ve all combined to win six races so it’s definitely been a great stretch. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for career win No. 80 at one of the few tracks where he’s yet to win →