Gold Cup Returns to Glory with Split Prelims, New Format, More Money, Added Fun CHICO, CA – September 7, 2022 – The 68th Gold Cup Race of Champions presented by Riebes Auto Parts has finally arrived.Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA is set to host 60 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competitors this weekend as the most famous Sprint Car event on the West Coast returns for another year. Marking the first running for SLC Promotions, they’ve brought back the split-field preliminary shows, they’ve changed up the format, they’ve added more money to the purse, and they’ve brought back the pre/post-race fun.The four-day event officially begins on Wednesday with a Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 race and Tim Dugger concert, then The Greatest Show on Dirt headlines the slate from Thursday-Saturday. After the split-field races on Thursday and Friday, they’ll all come back on Saturday to battle for the famed Gold Cup and a $25,000 payday.BUY TICKETS HERELet’s look at what to watch for this weekend on DIRTVision.com:SPLIT-FIELD: For the first time since 2009, the Gold Cup Race of Champions returns to split-field tradition with half the field racing in Thursday’s preliminary and the other half in Friday’s preliminary. It’s a unique claim that only the Knoxville Nationals and Gold Cup can make on the current World of Outlaws schedule. Like Knoxville, Thursday & Friday victories will not count as official Series wins, but Saturday’s $25,000-to-win finale will count in the record books.Thursday’s list includes the likes of Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, Logan Schuchart, Sheldon Haudenschild, James McFadden, Corey Day, Ryan Timms, Justin Sanders, Mitchell Faccinto, Willie Croft, Tanner Carrick, Andy Forsberg, and more.Friday’s field features names such as Donny Schatz, David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Jacob Allen, Spencer Bayston, Dominic Scelzi, Tim Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Bud Kaeding, Kerry Madsen, Austin McCarl, DJ Netto, Colby Copeland, and more. TITLE DEFENSE: Last year, Logan Schuchart became the first Pennsylvania native to win the Gold Cup since “The Black Bandit” Stevie Smith did it in 1993. He’ll return to Silver Dollar Speedway this weekend trying to become the fifth driver in World of Outlaws history to win back-to-back Gold Cup titles – joining Kyle Larson (2011-12), Steve Kinser (2002-03), Jac Haudenschild (1998-99), and Andy Hillenburg (1994-95).A three-time World of Outlaws winner in 2022, Schuchart’s Shark Racing team has collected wins at Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway, Jackson (MN) Motorplex, and Skagit (WA) Speedway last week. If it can’t be the #1S, his #1A teammate could be a contender to follow him up as well. Jacob Allen is another three-time winner this year, enjoying a career-year and a career-best streak with nine consecutive top-10 finishes entering this week.KEEPING THE CUP: For a pair of California natives on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series trail, the Gold Cup Race of Champions offers a chance to win the biggest race in their home state. Both Brad Sweet, of Grass Valley, CA, and Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, CA, are multi-time winners at Silver Dollar Speedway, yet neither have claimed the prestigious Gold Cup finale to this point. Sweet, who currently leads the standings in pursuit of a fourth straight World of Outlaws title, will have no thoughts of point-racing this week. The Kasey Kahne Racing, NAPA Auto Parts #49 has topped two Gold Cup prelims and finished on the podium of Saturday’s finale multiple times, but still chases that elusive title in the event he now promotes.Macedo, who leads the Series with an impressive 11 victories, returns to the site of his first-career World of Outlaws win this week. He’s conquered Silver Dollar in the Tarlton Racing #21, Kyle Larson Racing #2, and now hopes to add the Jason Johnson Racing #41 to that list this week.They’re trying to become the seventh Californian in the World of Outlaws era to win Gold Cup, a list headlined by Johnny Anderson (1980), Darrell Hanestad (1989), Jason Meyers (2010, 2013), Kyle Larson (2011-12), Jonathan Allard (2014), and Rico Abreu (2016, 2018).LOCAL LOVE: As usual, when the World of Outlaws roll into California the home-state heroes are ready to step up and showcase their talents to the world. That will be no different this weekend as the race they all grew up idolizing begins the return to glory. The names to watch are plentiful.The top-seven in NARC 410 points will all be in action including Dominic Scelzi, Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding, Mitchell Faccinto, Max Mittry, Shane Golobic, and Justin Sanders. There’s also Tanner Carrick, who led half of last year’s Feature before his tail tank come loose. Don’t forget about Core Day either, the 16-year-old sensation topped a NARC show at Silver Dollar earlier this year and already owns two World of Outlaws runner-up finishes.There are several others to look for including Tim Kaeding, Andy Forsberg, Kaleb Montgomery, Sean Becker, DJ Netto, Joel Myers Jr., Ryan Bernal, Chase Johnson, Blake Carrick, and more. MEN OF MANY HATS: The 2022 edition of Gold Cup is the first to be operated by new Silver Dollar Speedway promoters SLC Promotions – Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson, Colby Copeland. The three California friends, who grew up in the golden era of Gold Cup, are committed to bringing the West Coast staple back to national fame. They’ve split the field, they’ve added more money, they’ve brought back the party atmosphere, and so much more as they begin to fulfill that dream this week.Along with their managerial duties, each of the three promoters will be swapping out their radio for a helmet at some point this week. Larson and Sweet will compete in Thursday’s preliminary with Copeland running in Friday’s preliminary before the big dance on Saturday.THE FORMAT: With roughly 60 cars entered for this weekend’s Gold Cup, fans can expect 30-ish cars to qualify on both Thursday and Friday before Saturday’s finale. The prelim format includes Qualifying, four Heat Races, a Last Chance Showdown, and Feature. Racers will be battling for points every time they hit the track with each session progressively weighing more to incentivize the competition. It starts with Qualifying at 100 down by one-point, then Heats at 100 down by two-points, and then Features at 200 down by three-points.A Heat Race inversion will also be used with the top-24 overall qualifiers flip-flopped into Heats, placing QuickTime sixth and needing a top-five transfer to make his preliminary Feature. After prelims, the top-two point-getters from both Thursday and Friday will lock-in for Saturday’s $25,000-to-win finale. The next 40 in points will go to Heat Races on Saturday with winners earning a ticket to the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash alongside the locked-in drivers.THIS WEEKEND AT A GLANCEWHEN AND WHERE Thursday-Saturday, September 8-10 at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CAON THE INTERNET World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Twitter – @WorldofOutlaws Instagram – @WoOSprint Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsSprintCarSeries YouTube – Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws DIRTVision – DIRTVision.com – Platinum annual FAST PASS for $299 or monthly FAST PASS for $39/monthCURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (59/75 Races): 1. 49-Brad Sweet (7,556 PTS); 2. 2-David Gravel (-72 PTS); 3. 41-Carson Macedo (-98 PTS); 4. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild (-206 PTS); 5. 15-Donny Schatz (-208 PTS); 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart (-310 PTS); 7. 83-James McFadden (-466 PTS); 8. 5-Spencer Bayston (-500 PTS); 9. 1A-Jacob Allen (-652 PTS); 10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss (-820 PTS)NOS ENERGY DRINK FEATURE WINNERS (15 Drivers): 11 wins – Carson Macedo, Jason Johnson Racing #41 9 wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Stenhouse Jr. / Marshall Racing #17 6 wins – David Gravel, Big Game Motorsports #2 5 wins – Brent Marks, Murray-Marks Motorsports #19 4 wins – Kyle Larson, Kevin Kozlowski/Paul Silva #57 4 wins – Brad Sweet, Kasey Kahne Racing #49 3 wins – Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 3 wins – Logan Schuchart, Shark Racing #1S 3 wins – Jacob Allen, Shark Racing #1A 2 wins – Spencer Bayston, CJB Motorsports #5 2 wins – Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing #18 1 win – Brock Zearfoss, Zearfoss Racing #3Z 1 win – Brian Brown, Brian Brown Racing #21 1 win – Buddy Kofoid, Crouch Motorsports #11 1 win – Lance Dewease, Don Kreitz Jr. Racing #69KFEATURE LAPS LED (30 Drivers): 272 laps – Brad Sweet 253 laps – Carson Macedo 189 laps – Sheldon Haudenschild 186 laps – David Gravel 119 laps – Kyle Larson 109 laps – Brent Marks 99 laps – Donny Schatz 94 laps – Jacob Allen 67 laps – Logan Schuchart 66 laps – Spencer Bayston 61 laps – Giovanni Scelzi 52 laps – Brian Brown 46 laps – Tyler Courtney 31 laps – Buddy Kofoid 30 laps – James McFadden 26 laps – Sam Hafertepe Jr. 23 laps – Kasey Kahne 22 laps – Brock Zearfoss 15 laps – Justin Peck 13 laps – Cory Eliason 12 laps – Rico Abreu 9 laps – Dominic Scelzi, Brady Bacon 8 laps – Anthony Macri, Riley Goodno 7 laps – Kerry Madsen 5 laps – Lance Dewease 1 lap – Corey Day, Aaron Reutzel, Austin McCarlQUICKTIME AWARDS (20 Drivers): 9 QuickTimes – Carson Macedo* 8 QuickTimes – Brad Sweet 6 QuickTimes – David Gravel 4 QuickTimes – Sheldon Haudenschild*, Jacob Allen 3 QuickTimes – Giovanni Scelzi* 2 QuickTimes – Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Rico Abreu, Justin Peck 1 QuickTime – Aaron Reutzel, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Buddy Kofoid, Brent Marks, Kerry Madsen, Daryn Pittman, Anthony Macri * Denotes New Track RecordHEAT RACE WINNERS (48 Drivers): 20 Heat Wins – David Gravel, Carson Macedo 17 Heat Wins – Jacob Allen 16 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet 15 Heat Wins – Logan Schuchart 12 Heat Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, James McFadden 6 Heat Wins – Giovanni Scelzi 5 Heat Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu, Kerry Madsen, Brian Brown 4 Heat Wins – Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser, Aaron Reutzel 3 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Tyler Courtney, Cory Eliason, Kyle Larson, Hunter Schuerenberg 2 Heat Wins – Austin McCarl, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, Marcus Dumesny, Matt Juhl 1 Heat Win – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Dominic Scelzi, Corey Day, Anthony Macri, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Parker Price-Miller, Buddy Kofoid, Mark Dobmeier, Mitchel Moles, Brooke Tatnell, Riley Goodno, Jack Croaker, Paige Polyak, Carson McCarl, Sye Lynch, Daryn Pittman, Danny Dietrich, Devon Borden, Larry Wight, Noah Gass, Tim Kaeding DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH APPEARANCES (55 Drivers): 33 Dashes – Brad Sweet, David Gravel 32 Dashes – Carson Macedo 24 Dashes – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen 22 Dashes – Donny Schatz, Spencer Bayston 20 Dashes – James McFadden 10 Dashes – Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi 8 Dashes – Brock Zearfoss, Kraig Kinser 7 Dashes – Kyle Larson 6 Dashes – Cory Eliason, Kasey Kahne 5 Dashes – Aaron Reutzel, Brent Marks, Brian Brown, Kerry Madsen 4 Dashes – Tyler Courtney, Anthony Macri 3 Dashes – Robbie Price, Danny Dietrich, Justin Peck, Corey Day 2 Dashes – Dominic Scelzi, Hunter Schuerenberg 1 Dash – Sam Hafertepe Jr, Colby Copeland, Tanner Carrick, DJ Netto, Brady Bacon, Matt Campbell, Justin Whittall, Ian Madsen, Cole Duncan, Parker Price-Miller, Austin McCarl, Matt Juhl, Buddy Kofoid, Scotty Thiel, Robbie Price, Zeb Wise, Ayrton Gennetten, Daryn Pittman, Jeff Halligan, Lance Dewease, Devon Borden, Larry Wight, Danny Varin, Marcus Dumesny, Mark Dobmeier, Ryan Timms, Joel Myers Jr, Mitchell FaccintoMICROLITE LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINS (34 Drivers): 4 LCS Wins – Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden 3 LCS Wins – Ayrton Gennetten, Spencer Bayston 2 LCS Wins – Brock Zearfoss, Noah Gass, Kerry Madsen, Rico Abreu, Anthony Macri, Jesse Schlotfeldt 1 LCS Win – Donny Schatz, Kraig Kinser, Mitchell Faccinto, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Brent Marks, DJ Foos, Christopher Bell, Austin Pierce, Jake Blackhurst, Robbie Price, Giovanni Scelzi, Scotty Thiel, Josh Schneiderman, Brian Brown, Lachlan McHugh, Justin Whittall, Chase Dietz, Brandon Rahmer, Jordan Thomas, Joe B. Miller, Hunter Schuerenberg, Brendan Mullen, Tanner HolmesKSE HARD CHARGER AWARDS (28 Drivers): 10 Hard Chargers – Sheldon Haudenschild 6 Hard Chargers – Logan Schuchart 4 Hard Chargers – Noah Gass 3 Hard Chargers – David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz 2 Hard Chargers – James McFadden, Brock Zearfoss, Anthony Macri 1 Hard Charger – Spencer Bayston, Kraig Kinser, Jason Sides, Rico Abreu, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Tanner Thorson, Alan Krimes, Devon Borden, Greg Wilson, Travis Philo, Kyle Larson, Russell Borland, Aaron Reutzel, Scotty Thiel, Freddie Rahmer, Larry Wight, Tim Kaeding, Ryan Timms, Kevin Ingle, Tyler Thompson, Kerry MadsenPODIUM FINISHES (31 Drivers): 22 Podiums – Carson Macedo 21 Podiums – Brad Sweet 18 Podiums – David Gravel 14 Podiums – Sheldon Haudenschild 12 Podiums – Donny Schatz 11 Podiums – Logan Schuchart 9 Podiums – Kyle Larson 8 Podiums – James McFadden, Jacob Allen 7 Podiums – Brent Marks 5 Podiums – Spencer Bayston, Brian Brown 3 Podiums – Giovanni Scelzi, Rico Abreu 2 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Corey Day, Buddy Kofoid, Anthony Macri, Danny Dietrich 1 Podium – Brock Zearfoss, Kraig Kinser, Kasey Kahne, Cory Eliason, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Justin Peck, Parker Price-Miller, Riley Goodno, Tyler Courtney, Lance Dewease, Paulie Colagiovanni, Ryan TimmsTOP 10 FINISHES (59 Drivers): 49 Top 10s – David Gravel 48 Top 10s – Brad Sweet 45 Top 10s – Donny Schatz 44 Top 10s – Carson Macedo 42 Top 10s – Sheldon Haudenschild 37 Top 10s – Logan Schuchart 32 Top 10s – James McFadden 31 Top 10s – Spencer Bayston 29 Top 10s – Jacob Allen 23 Top 10s – Giovanni Scelzi 16 Top 10s – Brock Zearfoss, Rico Abreu 14 Top 10s – Kyle Larson 11 Top 10s – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri 8 Top 10s – Cory Eliason, Brian Brown 7 Top 10s – Aaron Reutzel, Tyler Courtney, Kerry Madsen 6 Top 10s – Justin Peck 5 Top 10s – Kasey Kahne, 4 Top 10s – Hunter Schuerenberg, Danny Dietrich, Corey Day 3 Top 10s – Kraig Kinser, Buddy Kofoid, Scotty Thiel, Lance Dewease, Dominic Scelzi, Trey Starks 2 Top 10s – Noah Gass, Robbie Price, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Larry Wight, Danny Varin, Ryan Timms 1 Top 10 – Shane Golobic, DJ Netto, Carson Short, Tanner Thorson, Greg Wilson, Cole Duncan, Cale Thomas, Cole Macedo, Mark Dobmeier, Parker Price-Miller, Riley Goodno, Ayrton Gennetten, Zeb Wise, Jeff Halligan, Devon Borden, Freddie Rahmer, Paulie Colagiovanni, Lachlan McHugh, Marcus Dumesny, Daryn Pittman, Joel Myers Jr, Mitchell Faccinto2022 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE & WINNERS: No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins) 1. Thur, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Donny Schatz (1) 2. Fri, Feb. 11 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Sheldon Haudenschild (1) 3. Sat, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / David Gravel (1) 4. Fri, March 4 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Sheldon Haudenschild (2) 5. Sat, March 5 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, TX / Carson Macedo (1) 6. Fri, March 11 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (1) 7. Sat, March 12 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Kyle Larson (1) 8. Fri, March 18 / Merced Speedway / Merced, CA / Carson Macedo (2) 9. Fri, March 25 / Bakersfield Speedway / Bakersfield, CA / Giovanni Scelzi (2) 10. Sat, March 26 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / David Gravel (2) 11. Tues, March 29 / Vado Speedway Park / Vado, NM / Brad Sweet (1) 12. Sat, April 2 / Devil’s Bowl Speedway / Mesquite, TX / Brent Marks (1) 13. Sat, April 9 / Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon, MO / Jacob Allen (1) 14. Fri, April 15 / Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (3) 15. Sat, April 23 / Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt, IN / Carson Macedo (4) 16. Fri, April 29 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Logan Schuchart (1) 17. Sat, April 30 / Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN / Spencer Bayston (1) 18. Wed, May 11 / Lincoln Speedway / Abbottstown, PA / Jacob Allen (2) 19. Sat, May 14 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brent Marks (2) 20. Tues, May 17 / Bridgeport Motorsports Park / Swedesboro, NJ / Sheldon Haudenschild (3) 21. Fri, May 20 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (2) 22. Sat, May 28 / Atomic Speedway / Waverly, OH / Sheldon Haudenschild (4) 23. Mon, May 30 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN / Sheldon Haudenschild (5) 24. Fri, June 3 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Carson Macedo (5) 25. Fri, June 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brent Marks (3) 26. Sat, June 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Brian Brown (1) 27. Fri, June 17 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (6) 28. Sat, June 18 / Beaver Dam Raceway / Beaver Dam, WI / Sheldon Haudenschild (7) 29. Wed, June 22 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Spencer Bayston (2) 30. Thur, June 23 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Buddy Kofoid (1) 31. Fri, June 24 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Carson Macedo (6) 32. Sat, June 25 / Huset’s Speedway / Brandon, SD / Sheldon Haudenschild (8) 33. Fri, July 1 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Jacob Allen (3) 34. Sat, July 2 / Cedar Lake Speedway / New Richmond, WI / Brock Zearfoss (1) 35. Sat, July 9 / Wilmot Raceway / Wilmot, WI / Carson Macedo (7) 36. Tues, July 12 / Attica Raceway Park / Attica, OH / Kyle Larson (3) 37. Wed, July 13 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (3) 38. Thur, July 14 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (4) 39. Sat, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / David Gravel (4) 40. Sat, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Brent Marks (5) 41. Wed, July 20 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Kyle Larson (4) 42. Fri, July 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Lance Dewease (1) 43. Sat, July 23 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, PA / Brad Sweet (2) 44. Sat, July 30 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / David Gravel (5) 45. Sun, July 31 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, NY / Donny Schatz (2) 46. Fri, Aug. 5 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Carson Macedo (8) 47. Sat, Aug. 6 / I-55 Raceway / Pevely, MO / Brad Sweet (3) 48. Wed, Aug. 10 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Logan Schuchart (NP) 49. Thur, Aug. 11 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Jacob Allen (NP) 50. Fri, Aug. 12 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Rico Abreu (NP) 51. Sat, Aug. 13 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Donny Schatz (3) 52. Sat, Aug. 20 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Logan Schuchart (2) 53. Sat. Aug. 20 / Jackson Motorplex / Jackson, MN / Carson Macedo (9) 54. Fri, Aug. 26 / River Cities Speedway / Grand Forks, ND / Brad Sweet (4) 55. Sat, Aug. 27 / Red River Valley Speedway / West Fargo, ND / Carson Macedo (10) 56. Thur, Sept. 1 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Logan Schuchart (3) 57. Fri, Sept. 2 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / Sheldon Haudenschild (9) 58. Sat, Sept. 3 / Skagit Speedway / Alger, WA / David Gravel (6) 69. Mon, Sept. 5 / Grays Harbor Raceway / Elma, WA / Carson Macedo (11)

NASCAR CUP SERIES

KANSAS SPEEDWAY

HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1, met with the media via teleconference in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Kansas Speedway. Press Conference Transcript: 

BACK IN MAY AT KANSAS (SPEEDWAY), YOU HIT THE WALL A LOT AND STILL FINISHED SECOND. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO THE SAME; OR WITH YOUR PLAYOFF POSITION, DO YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT ANY MORE CONSERVATIVE?

“Well, I wasn’t trying to hit the wall back then (laughs), so yeah I would rather not hit the wall. 

I think in the playoffs, you have to be extra careful about everything, for sure in this first round. I think if you can get through each race somewhat safely, you should make it to the next round safely. I think being cautious and not super aggressive, unless you have to be, is the objective.

Like I said, I don’t ever plan on going to a track and running the wall and hitting the wall; but it happened more than a few times earlier this year. So just try and learn from the mistakes that I made to get me into the wall, and maybe the positions that I got put in that I overstepped the line and got into the wall. Just try to be more aware and not put our car in harm’s way.”

NASCAR SENT TO TEAMS SOME UPDATES TO TRY AND PREVENT FIRES AND PREVENT FIRES FROM SPREADING. HAS CLIFF (DANIELS, CREW CHIEF) SHARED THOSE AT ALL WITH YOU? WILL HE SHARE THOSE WITH YOU OR DO YOU NOT REALLY GET THAT DEEP INTO THE WEEDS?

“I flew out to California Monday morning. We had our debrief and stuff, talking about the race, but I haven’t talked to him (Cliff Daniels, crew chief) about the changes to the rule or just changes to the car. I don’t know what’s gone on. I’m sure he’ll fill me in later on this week. But I know even leading up to this, our team has been doing everything they can to be prepared if that situation does happen. Obviously nobody wants that to happen, so it’s good that NASCAR is being proactive in what they’re doing. Hopefully the problem gets resolved in the near future and teams don’t have to worry about freak fires and taking them out of the race, like what happened to (Kevin) Harvick and a few other guys this season.”

IN THE SPRING AT KANSAS, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT AERO AND WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE LEARNED. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED, SO FAR, SINCE THEN AND HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE CAR AND HOW FAR YOU CAN TAKE IT AT KANSAS IN PARTICULAR? 

“I don’t know.. There were a couple of times when Kurt (Busch) and I were racing that where he positioned his car had an effect on me. I had kind of known that up to that point, but it was very apparent that what I was feeling was a thing. Every single driver in the field has learned a lot about aero and the differences around cars compared to last season or other seasons in the past. I think each week that you go on; you put yourself in better spots because of it and not put yourself in bad situations that you have in the past. 

Going back to Kansas (Speedway) this week, all that stuff will be on my mind like it is every week, and hopefully me being better prepared will keep me away from making any mistakes like I did last time.”

WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT KEVIN HARVICK SAYS AS HE’S TALKING TO THE MEDIA; DO YOU EVALUATE WHAT HE SAYS AND REACT TO IT? DO YOU GUYS TALK WHEN HE’S TALKING ABOUT SAFETY IN YOUR PRIVATE MEETINGS; OR DOES EACH INDIVIDUAL DRIVER HAVE THEIR OWN VERSION OF WHAT THEY FEEL AND YOU KIND OF WORK INDEPENDENTLY? 

“I think all of the drivers are on the same page, and it’s honestly a topic every single week in our drivers chat that we have. They are in communication with NASCAR a lot. I would say most months, I think they have conversations with them. It’s just probably tough to make moves, decisions and changes as quickly as us drivers – who are in the cars and the ones that are at risk of getting injured – it’s hard for them to make changes quickly. But I think it’s an ongoing topic and discussion, and I think NASCAR is always working on figuring out ways to make the cars safer. With the Next Gen cars, make parts and pieces last longer, where they don’t cost teams as much money and take you out of races with freak accidents. 

Like I said, it’s an ongoing discussion. It just doesn’t happen as quickly as we would all love it to.”

DARLINGTON WAS A PRETTY FREAKY KIND OF RACE, WITH AN UNUSUAL WINNER AND THE POINTS CHANGING A LOT. DO YOU EXPECT KANSAS TO BE SOMEWHAT SANER OR MAYBE MORE OF THE SAME?

“I don’t know.. I feel like every week has been pretty wild and unpredictable. Darlington (Raceway) was maybe a little bit more than normal compared to other races this year, but I feel like every race this year, the majority of the field has had some sort of issue go on throughout the race. As much as I want to say Kansas (Speedway) will be different, I just don’t know. It could be even crazier. But I hope that we can have a smooth week; get some points and try and put ourselves into a better position as we go to Bristol (Motor Speedway).”

AT KANSAS IN THE SPRING, THE TOYOTA’S WERE REALLY STRONG. WHAT DID YOU SEE OUT OF THEM AND HOW MUCH DO THEY STILL HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE ON THOSE TYPES OF TRACKS?

“From what I remember, I feel like Kansas (Speedway) was one of the first races where they really stood out as being extremely good. And I would say nothing has changed since then, if not gotten even more in their direction on the intermediate-style tracks. They’ve been super good the majority of the season on that style of track and I don’t foresee this weekend being any different. I think all of the Toyota’s will be the ones to beat and it will be up to other teams to just execute as good as they can and win that way.

This year – after all the mess that I put myself in to almost win – we’ll just need to keep fighting all race long and we’ll have a shot to beat them. I’m sure they’ll get the pole, I’m sure they’ll be in the hunt all race long. It’ll be tough, but they can be beat, for sure.”

WHAT’S THEIR ADVANTAGE? IS THAT JUST THROUGH THE CORNERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. THEY’RE JUST GETTING THROUGH? AND IF SO, IS IT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CARRIED ON SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY 1.5-MILE TRACKS IN THE PLAYOFFS?

“I don’t know.. I’m not really sure. I think just their overall speed and grip. And as much as I feel like I hear them complain about dirty air being effected by that, I feel like they are twice as good as any of the other manufacturers in traffic. They are just able to put their cars in different situations that I feel like I can’t do as well. I don’t know where the advantage comes from, but me racing with them, I feel like it’s more of an aero advantage.”

WHEN I WAS WATCHING YOU COMING BACK SUNDAY NIGHT, IT LOOKED VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW THE NO. 48 DO TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THEY ALWAYS FOUGHT AGAINST ADVERSITY AND THE FACT THAT CLIFF (DANIELS) WAS AN UNDERSTUDY OF CHAD KNAUS; HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HE PICKED UP THE ‘NEVER GIVE UP’ ATTITUDE AND MAKING THAT HIS OWN PHILOSPHY WITH YOUR TEAM? 

“Cliff (Daniels) has had a very competitive upbringing through his childhood; through racing and sports. And then yes, I think him being with Chad Knaus on the leadership side of it and the crew chief role, I think all of those together has molded him into a great crew chief. I love having him on top of our pit box, especially for situations like we’ve been put in like this past Sunday, as well as what feels like many other times this year and even some races last year with how he keeps everyone calm. He’s very direct with the questions that he asks, the answers that he gives and the picture that he paints. 

I think it’s just the way he’s wired. He’s very good at keeping everyone calm and leading the team; to follow his lead to be focused and not too down or depressed and let your mind wander.”

HE REALLY SEEMS TO HAVE A WAY TO GET YOU BACK UP AND IN THE GAME. AS LONG AS I’VE KNOWN YOU, YOU’VE NEVER FALLEN OUT OF THE SEAT, BUT HE GIVES YOU THAT EXTRA 10 PERCENT YOU NEED TO GO OUT THERE AND KEEP FIGHTING. IS THAT ACCURATE?

“Yeah, definitely. I know sometimes, like when things aren’t going well for me, I might sound negative and mopey on the radio. But inside the helmet, inside the car; I’m just as driven as he is to get ourselves out of that situation. I never give up with or without words of encouragement from him. I don’t know if it gives me any more desire or that 10 percent; it just kind of refocuses me a little bit quicker and allows me to focus on trying to get the best finish that I can.”

WHERE IS YOUR FRUSTRATION LEVEL NOW WITH ANOTHER ENGINE FAILURE? DO YOU GUYS KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA IF IT’S THE SAME THING THAT KEEPS POPPING UP?

“Had I actually blown up, I would have been really frustrated with back-to-back weeks, but that wasn’t the case. We don’t honestly know exactly what happened or what the cause of it was, but it sounds like William (Byron) had a very similar issue that we had during the race. I think he just didn’t react as quickly as maybe I did and it kind of cured itself as he was on the track. 

I don’t know.. I’ve never had that happen to me ever in my career of racing anything, and I’ve probably raced more than anybody has in the field. I don’t know, it was weird, but I hope something like that doesn’t pop up ever again because it could have ended up really badly for us.”

I ASSUME THIS ISN’T SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT WITHIN THE TEAM. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS CAN’T KEEP HAPPENING, SO WHAT IS THE VIBE WITHIN THE TEAM AS YOU GUYS TRY TO GET THROUGH AND NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES?

“I think even when things are going great, you’re winning a lot of races and not blowing up engines; they’re always continuing to try and figure out how to make the engines faster and also even more reliable. That’s ongoing at the engine shop at HMS and they do an amazing job. They’re all working really hard and trying to figure out what’s been going on. I think it’s been different things each time for us. And each time out of it, they come up with something that better your odds of it not happening again.”

LAST TIME WE WERE AT KANSAS, YOU ENDED UP RACING KURT BUSCH FOR THE WIN. OBVIOUSLY IN MONTHS SINCE THEN, THINGS HAVE CHANGED WITH KURT. WITH THE MEMORY OF THAT IN MIND AND WITH WHAT’S GOING ON WITH KURT NOW, HOW MUCH DO YOU NOTICE KURT’S ABSENCE? 

“I haven’t seen Kurt (Busch) since before his accident at Pocono (Raceway). His accident, him himself and his wellbeing is on all of our minds every day. Any time I’m racing a stock car, he kind of pops into my mind with what could happen. I hope all the best for him and I hope that he can get healthy again soon and get back on the race track.  

But I hope all the best for him. He’s an extremely great competitor. I’ve been fortunate enough to be teammates with him for a couple of seasons, and he’s a great guy and a great person. Really more than anything, I think we all just want him feeling 100 percent, feeling better and be able to go about his day like normal.”

FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE SAY WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET INTO A SPRINT CAR? 

“Even before this year, injuries and safety is always on your mind no matter what car I’m in. I know every time I strap into anything, the risk of getting injured is up there, just because it is a dangerous sport. But when you’re in the car, you can’t really think about that. You just have to focus on going fast. When those situations start where you’re getting ready to crash, you’re just kind of praying that nothing happens and you can walk out of it. 

And then yeah, I think with these cars now with the hits feeling way bigger than ever before; I think when crashes do start to happen, you’re just even more nervous of something happening to you. I think your concern is even higher for your competitors, as well. We all don’t want to see anybody get hurt out there. Now it seems like this year and these cars and the hits being bigger, I feel like – at least in my mind – when I see somebody crash, I’m more concerned about them than I was before. Before you didn’t really see guys getting injured or complaining about their heads hurting and stuff like that. Hopefully they can come up with a fix.”

The Series will make its debut at Jacksonville Speedway, Sept. 9, and Spoon River Speedway, Sept. 10.

JACKSONVILLE, IL – Sept. 6, 2022 – The Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series presented by Low-E Insulation is back in action this weekend with back-to-back races in Illinois – Friday, Sept. 9, at Jacksonville Speedway and Saturday, Sept. 10, at Spoon River Speedway.

While the Series hasn’t seen action since the inaugural St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in late June, it has seen a list of five different winners in the first six races and presents drivers with a chance at a sixth or seventh different winner this weekend.

Among those five victors is current points leader Shane Cockrum, who prepares for the first Series races in his home state, maintaining a 47-point lead over Alex Bright. Matt Westfall sits third, 69 points out of first place, while Mario Clouser (-107) and Jake Swanson (-116) complete the top-five at the halfway point in the chase for the inaugural season championship.

Both races will be run in conjunction with the POWRi WAR Sprint Car League, bringing racers and championship chasers from both Series to both venues for an all-out Non-Wing Sprint Car brawl in the Land of Lincoln.

Tickets for this weekend’s races will be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream all the action live on DIRTVision.com or on the official DIRTVision app.

Here are the drivers to watch and the storylines to follow this weekend:

FIGHTING ILLINI – Current points leader Shane Cockrum, of Benton, IL, has been a wealth of consistency so far this season, posting top-10 finishes in all but one Series race – one of only two drivers with that accolade thus far.

Though he hasn’t seen Victory Lane on tour yet, he’ll have his best chance Friday at Jacksonville. Cockrum won a POWRi National Midget League race there in 2013 and charged from 15th-to-5th in a 2016 POWRi WAR Sprint Car League event.

His last two Xtreme Outlaw starts ended with finishes of fifth and sixth, boosting him into the Series points lead.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT – Alex Bright’s first Xtreme Outlaw victory of the season came at a perfect time. The Collegeville, PA-driver bagged a victory in the opening night of the STL Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in June, two Series races after suffering a DNF at Lake Ozark Speedway in April.

He and the Hummer Motorsports team now turn their attention to Illinois, where they aim for their first Non-Wing Sprint Car wins together at Jacksonville and Spoon River. They’re coming off a big weekend in Pennsylvania, scoring back-to-back Feature wins with the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars, and aim to keep that momentum rolling as they head for the Midwest.

SUPER MARIO – Currently sitting fourth in Series points, Mario Clouser is one of three drivers in the top-five without a win thus far. However, signs do point to a potential trip to Victory Lane this weekend.

Clouser, of Chatham, IL, won the most recent 410 Non-Wing Sprint Car event at Spoon River, taking the checkers in June of last year en route to his first WAR Sprint Car League championship. He also won a POWRi Midget event at Jacksonville in 2012, showing he knows his way around both tracks.

In recent Xtreme competition, Clouser was contending for his first win in both nights at I-55, leading laps in both Features and bagging a runner-up finish to Jake Swanson in the Saturday night finale.

WAR LORDS – Current POWRi WAR Sprint Car League points leader Kory Schudy, of Battlefield, MO, has ruled over the Missouri-heavy schedule in 2022, winning a league-high three Features in the first 14 races.

He leads the WAR charge into Illinois for the first time this season with a 490-point lead on second-place Steven Russell, a native Illinoisan, and a 500-point gap on Anthony Nicholson.

Nicholson, of Bartlett, TN, won a WAR event at Spoon River in June 2019.

SIZE MATTERS – Already having competed on a 1/2-mile and two 1/3-mile ovals, the Xtreme Outlaw field now takes on the 1/4-mile of Jacksonville and 3/8-mile of Spoon River.

Wesley Smith, of Nixa, MO, currently sits sixth in Series points and already owns a WAR Feature win at the 1/4-mile Double X Speedway and 3/8-mile Central Missouri Speedway this year.

The Series will make its debut at Jacksonville Speedway, Sept. 9, and Spoon River Speedway, Sept. 10.

JACKSONVILLE, IL – Sept. 6, 2022 – The Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series presented by Low-E Insulation is back in action this weekend with back-to-back races in Illinois – Friday, Sept. 9, at Jacksonville Speedway and Saturday, Sept. 10, at Spoon River Speedway.

While the Series hasn’t seen action since the inaugural St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in late June, it has seen a list of five different winners in the first six races and presents drivers with a chance at a sixth or seventh different winner this weekend.

Among those five victors is current points leader Shane Cockrum, who prepares for the first Series races in his home state, maintaining a 47-point lead over Alex Bright. Matt Westfall sits third, 69 points out of first place, while Mario Clouser (-107) and Jake Swanson (-116) complete the top-five at the halfway point in the chase for the inaugural season championship.

Both races will be run in conjunction with the POWRi WAR Sprint Car League, bringing racers and championship chasers from both Series to both venues for an all-out Non-Wing Sprint Car brawl in the Land of Lincoln.

Tickets for this weekend’s races will be available at the gate on race day. If you can’t be there in person, stream all the action live on DIRTVision.com or on the official DIRTVision app.

Here are the drivers to watch and the storylines to follow this weekend:

FIGHTING ILLINI – Current points leader Shane Cockrum, of Benton, IL, has been a wealth of consistency so far this season, posting top-10 finishes in all but one Series race – one of only two drivers with that accolade thus far.

Though he hasn’t seen Victory Lane on tour yet, he’ll have his best chance Friday at Jacksonville. Cockrum won a POWRi National Midget League race there in 2013 and charged from 15th-to-5th in a 2016 POWRi WAR Sprint Car League event.

His last two Xtreme Outlaw starts ended with finishes of fifth and sixth, boosting him into the Series points lead.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT – Alex Bright’s first Xtreme Outlaw victory of the season came at a perfect time. The Collegeville, PA-driver bagged a victory in the opening night of the STL Firecracker Faceoff at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in June, two Series races after suffering a DNF at Lake Ozark Speedway in April.

He and the Hummer Motorsports team now turn their attention to Illinois, where they aim for their first Non-Wing Sprint Car wins together at Jacksonville and Spoon River. They’re coming off a big weekend in Pennsylvania, scoring back-to-back Feature wins with the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars, and aim to keep that momentum rolling as they head for the Midwest.

SUPER MARIO – Currently sitting fourth in Series points, Mario Clouser is one of three drivers in the top-five without a win thus far. However, signs do point to a potential trip to Victory Lane this weekend.

Clouser, of Chatham, IL, won the most recent 410 Non-Wing Sprint Car event at Spoon River, taking the checkers in June of last year en route to his first WAR Sprint Car League championship. He also won a POWRi Midget event at Jacksonville in 2012, showing he knows his way around both tracks.

In recent Xtreme competition, Clouser was contending for his first win in both nights at I-55, leading laps in both Features and bagging a runner-up finish to Jake Swanson in the Saturday night finale.

WAR LORDS – Current POWRi WAR Sprint Car League points leader Kory Schudy, of Battlefield, MO, has ruled over the Missouri-heavy schedule in 2022, winning a league-high three Features in the first 14 races.

He leads the WAR charge into Illinois for the first time this season with a 490-point lead on second-place Steven Russell, a native Illinoisan, and a 500-point gap on Anthony Nicholson.

Nicholson, of Bartlett, TN, won a WAR event at Spoon River in June 2019.

SIZE MATTERS – Already having competed on a 1/2-mile and two 1/3-mile ovals, the Xtreme Outlaw field now takes on the 1/4-mile of Jacksonville and 3/8-mile of Spoon River.

Wesley Smith, of Nixa, MO, currently sits sixth in Series points and already owns a WAR Feature win at the 1/4-mile Double X Speedway and 3/8-mile Central Missouri Speedway this year.

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 05, 2022) – Brittany Force and the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster team had their second consecutive runner-up finish at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals while Robert Hight took the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS to its seventh final round at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. John Force and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy had a semifinal finish while Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team had a first-round exit. Entering the day as the No. 1 qualifiers, Brittany Force and the Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team opened eliminations with a 3.695-second 334.98 mph winning pass against Don Mercier who was up in smoke at the hit and coasted to 10.464. In the second round, matched with Josh Hart, Force would handle the Monster Energy machine to a 3.699 run at 335.48 mph to send Hart and his 3.719 at 327.66 pass home. In the semifinals, Force lined up with Doug Kalitta who was unable to make a clean pass going 6.518 at 137.60. The David Grubnic and Mac Savage tuned Monster Energy dragster laid down a 3.767 at 335.07 to advance to the finals for the second consecutive year. Racing against Antron Brown for her first U.S. Nationals win, Force and the Monster Energy team were side-by-side with the three-time champion but came up short at the finish line. Brown would go 3.706-seconds at 321.65 mph to defeat Force’s 3.714 at 333.00. “Overall, not a bad weekend for this Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team. We can’t complain. We qualified No. 1, ran for the Pep Boys Callout money, got beat in the final. Race day, Monday, had another final round appearance. So, it’s positive all around,” Force said. “Our biggest objective coming in was leaving with the points lead and we did just that. Everything resets in the Countdown but we’re in the position we want to be in, and we head to Reading, Pennsylvania next.” Robert Hight and the Auto Club team picked up right where they left off from qualifying in their first-round victory lighting up the score board with a 3.891-second pass at 329.18 mph bettering John Smith’s 4.388 at 221.82. The win would bring on a slew of monster matchups for the three-time championship Auto Club team. First up would be Matt Hagan. In one of the most exciting side-by-side races of the event, Hight would handle his Auto Club Chevy to a stout 3.861-second pass narrowly defeating Hagan’s 3.867 at 334.65. It would a pedalfest in the semifinals against long-time rival Bob Tasca III. Hight would have the better drive with 5.751-second pass at 250.92 mph to Tasca’s 7.473 at 120.68. Hight’s efforts would send the Auto Club team to their ninth final round of the season. In his seventh U.S. Nationals final, Hight would take on reigning world champion Ron Capps, who earlier in the weekend picked up the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Callout victory. Hight would run into trouble with tire smoke and wouldn’t be able to pedal his way to the win with only a 7.649-second pass at 85.73 mph while “Not a bad day for this Auto Club team, granted not the way we wanted this afternoon to go, but we’re not putting our heads down. The Auto Club guys have been working hard all weekend, it’s a marathon here at the U.S. Nationals. We made some really good passes, went some rounds and we’re going into the Countdown in that number one spot. Now the real work starts, only ahead 20 points with the standings resetting for the Countdown, just have to take it one weekend at a time, one run at a time. I’ve said it before, it’s going to take another two or three wins to get that championship, that’s what we’re looking for.” John Force and the PEAK Chevrolet kicked off race day with a victory over Paul Lee. The Camaro would go 3.931-seconds at 321.58 mph while Lee would go up in smoke at the hit for an 8.855 at 81.45. In the second round, Force would have a 3.937 pass at 331.12 that was no match for Blake Alexander’s 4.861 at 164.85 after his tires got loose and he had to click his Funny Car off. The semifinals wouldn’t prove to be so lucky for the PEAK team. It would be Force who hazed the tires early for only a 6.006 run at 77.18. “Well, we went some rounds, had some good runs in this PEAK Chevrolet. We were able to find some consistency. That’s good, especially heading into the Countdown in two weeks,” Force said. “We’re fifth in points, which means after the reset, only 50 points out of the lead. Things can change quickly but we’re in it, we have a chance and that’s what we’re going after. Huge thank you to all the fans out here. You’re who we do this for, you bring us motivation.” Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / RMT dragster had a clean pass of 3.774-seconds at 325.61 mph in the first round, but it wasn’t enough to get around four-time reigning world champion Steve Torrence and his 3.693 at 328.62. “Thought this Montana Brand / RMT dragster had a little more out there to get around the champ. When you go up and duke it out with Torrence there’s always some extra motivation and a little extra competition at the line. I left on him so I did my job but it’s a team sport, win as a team, lose as a team, it can go both ways,” Prock said. “We made a full pull which we struggled to do through qualifying so hopefully that’s something we can consistently do and gain some power heading into the Countdown. We get a charity spot but hopefully we can hurt some feelings during the last six races.” The NHRA Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs, kicks off with the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, September 16-18.

Fernando Cuadra Jr. And Erica Enders Power To Semifinal Finishes At The Big Go

Elite Motorsports Race Recap

FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by D-Wagon INDIANAPOLIS (September 5, 2022) – After struggling in qualifying, Pro Mod driver Lyle Barnett landed in the winners circle today at the world’s biggest drag race, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals. This is his first national event win of the 2022 FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by D-Wagon season. In what will forever be a milestone event in the skilled driver’s career, Barnett kept turning on win lights throughout the day, as everything came together in his favor after a string of recent challenges.  “The weekend started out as a carbon copy of how the majority of our year has been going,” said Barnett. “We couldn’t get down the racetrack. The car was acting a fool. In the final round of qualifying, I was on the bump spot, outside looking in, essentially. The car acted a fool again. I pedaled it to the finish line. We got in the show in the 15 spot. That night we found out what was wrong and fixed it.” Indeed they did fix it. Barnett’s Elite Motorsports Camaro came off the line with a powerful run of 5.785 seconds at 253.71 mph to defeat the No. 2 qualifier, Mike Castellana, in the first round of eliminations.  “We had what we thought would be a pretty good tuneup for the first round of eliminations,” Barnett continued. “I happened to let go on time to beat Castellana by two-thousandths (approximately 11 inches). Round One of eliminations is what won this race. I had JR in the quarterfinals. Something happened to their car, and we made a pretty good run. In the semis and the finals, both of them turned it red against me. I was pretty good on the tree today. I drove like I had some sense and we got it done. This is the Big Go; this is the biggest one there is. Next to winning a championship, everybody wants to win this one. Ron Capps won his first today and he’s been here for 30 years. This is my second year here and we’re taking home the cheese. It’s unbelievable. I’ve got a new son at home. He’s three months old. My wife’s been holding the fort down at home. My mom came in to give her a little assistance, and they got to watch me win it on TV today and that’s something pretty special.” This bump in points and confidence is coming at the right time for the Elite Motorsports Pro Mod team. There are only three races left in the season for the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by D-Wagon. Barnett will compete next at his home track, zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. for the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, September 23-25.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series The Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team had two semifinal finishes today at the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Fernando Cuadra Jr. and Erica Enders raced to the semifinals on opposite sides of the ladder thanks to solid performances round after round at the Big Go. In his third semifinal appearance of the season, Cuadra Jr. started race day from the No. 12 position on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock ladder, facing his Elite Motorsports teammate, Bo Butner, who was driving his new Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro. Cuadra Jr. defeated Butner on a holeshot with a pass of 6.623 seconds at 206.54 mph. In the next round, he knocked off Matt Hartford in his Corral Boots Ford Mustang before being bested by Greg Anderson in the semifinal. Anderson went on to win the event. “The whole weekend was amazing,” said Cuadra Jr. “It was like a roller coaster. In qualifying, we were struggling because we knew that the car could perform better than it did in qualifying. Then in the first round, it was like, ‘OK. It’s getting better.’ In two it got better again. Here, in round 3, something failed on the car but it that’s racing. Parts fail. “To go this many rounds at the U.S. Nationals was amazing because it got me into the Countdown – in the Top Ten. I may be number ten or nine. I don’t know. But it was really good. It helped a lot in the emotional part, to go rounds. It gave me a lot of confidence.” Enders powered her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports to defeat Mason McGaha with a run of 6.609 at 208.30. She then faced Pro Stock rookie Camrie Caruso. Caruso left a bit too early giving Enders the quarterfinal win. In the semifinal round, Enders faced the 2021 NHRA Rookie Of The Year Dallas Glenn who cut an impressive light to snag a holeshot win.  Troy Coughlin Jr. went two rounds in his JEGS.com/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro defeating Deric Kramer in Round One before losing to Anderson in the quarterfinal. Cristian Cuadra, Aaron Stanfield and Fernando Cuadra Sr. experienced first-round losses today but each of their Elite Motorsports Pro Stock machines performed consistently throughout the weekend. The team is ready for the Countdown To The Championship and plans to come out of the gate strong at the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C., September 23-25. ***

Photos

Lyle Barnett lays down a smokey burnout at the Big Go. Photo credit: Auto ImageryErica Enders drives past cheering fans at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. Photo credit: Auto Imagery

Fernando Cuadra Jr. powers down the track at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Photo credit: Auto Imagery Cristian Cuadra drives his Corral Boots Ford Mustang past the packed stands at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. Photo credit: Auto Imagery

Aaron Stanfield makes a picture-perfect launch in his Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy Chevrolet Camaro. Photo credit: Auto ImageryBo Butner in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro. Photo credit: Auto Imagery

Fernando Cuadra Sr. pops the parachutes on his Corral Boots Ford Mustang. Photo credit: Auto ImageryTroy Coughlin Jr. warms up the tires of his Pro Stock machine. Photo credit: Auto Imagery

Milner, Tandy, No. 64 C8.R aim to keep momentum from Monza class win DETROIT (Sept. 6, 2022) – The last time Corvette Racing visited a ‘new’ track, it resulted in its first victory as an entrant in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

It’s time again for the team to venture to a new venue as the WEC resumes with the Six Hours of Fuji at historic Fuji Speedway. It’s the fourth round of this year’s GTE Pro championship with Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy the most recent winners at Monza in the No. 64 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. The 16-turn 2.84-mile Fuji circuit has a good blend of technical and high-speed sections that will put a premium on engineering setup and strategy.  As is the case at the majority of circuits on the WEC calendar, Corvette Racing can lean on the knowledge of past experience of Tandy at Fuji, where he has made two career WEC starts albeit in prototype machinery.

CORVETTE RACING MEDIA INFORMATION Corvette Racing media information is updated and available ahead of this weekend’s Six Hours of Fuji in the FIA WEC. Materials include: · Fuji race advance and quotes· Corvette Racing Fast Facts· Corvette Racing history· Driver biographies

While Fuji will be new to Milner, he does have experience racing in Japan as part of the Asian Le Mans Series more than a decade ago. That doesn’t mean that he and Corvette Racing will go in blind as the engineering team has spent many days in Chevrolet’s Driver in the Loop simulator to explore and establish baseline setups with Milner assisting and getting to know the circuit.Fuji will be Corvette Racing’s 32nd venue during its nearly 25-year run of racetracks around the world with Bahrain still to go in the WEC’s season finale. The No. 64 Corvette opened the WEC season with a strong second-place showing at the rain-shortened 1,000 Miles of Sebring. Things were trending the right way for the Tandy/Milner pairing at the Six Hours of Spa before a red flag just past the one-hour mark wiped out the team’s first planned pit stop and effectively put the Corvette a lap down before finishing fourth. The 24 Hours of Le Mans was a cruel blow with the No. 64 C8.R eliminated while leading just shy of the 18-hour mark. Spirits lifted within the team following a thrilling class victory at Monza where the team won a fuel-mileage race for its first WEC win outside of Le Mans. The Six Hours of Fuji for the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for 11 a.m. JST Sunday /10 p.m. ET Saturday from Fuji Speedway in Japan. Qualifying is set for 2:40 p.m. JST/1:40 a.m. ET on Saturday. The race will air live on MotorTrend with live streaming coverage of the race and qualifying on the MotorTrend Plus app. Radio Le Mans will broadcast qualifying and the race.

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: : “I’ve done four days in the sim on Fuji. We’ve done quite a bit of work on it so far. It’s a super cool track. It’s really fast in a lot of places. It’s unique in some ways in that there are a lot of long-duration corners there. Car balance and tire life will be super important. There are things we can do on the setup side to help us put all of those things together. The sim also gives us a chance to take some really big swings at it and experiments so to speak with setup to find something with the car that we haven’t tried before. While it’s nice for me to be able to drive these tracks on the sim beforehand, I feel like it’s definitely a big help to go to these tracks and get in the car and get going right away. It’s for sure speeding up the learning process for me and but it’s also helping us quite a bit on car setup as well. I think we’re pretty happy with our simulator program and the benefits that it offers us.Continuing momentum from Monza: “Just because we won Monza doesn’t mean we are on a streak or a roll or whatever. We have to work as hard as we have to be as competitive as we possibly can to get the most out of the car. Focusing on yourself is always the best strategy to get the most out of package. While it’s nice to think we were owed something, we did a good job to get the car where we wanted it to be. The Corvette basically from the first practice was already really good; we were able to just tweak it a little bit throughout the weekend. We have to continue on that path – working really hard on the simulator and in engineering as they always do to figure out ways to get more out of it, which we’re doing. If we continue putting in the hard work, the results will continue.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Fuji is an F1-type of circuit where the surface is pretty smooth. It’s on quite a flat area. But it’s a track where it’s difficult to know the best way to go about setup philosophy. There’s this huge straight where you need obviously straight-line speed, but there are a couple other high-downforce corners. Turn Three there is a long right that is one of the fastest and most committed sections of racetrack anywhere in the world. Of course you want to trim your car out to be fast on the straight, but you can’t afford to give up downforce in these areas. It lends itself to good racing because there is a slipstream effect if you can stay close to the cars in front of you through the last sector and down the start/finish straight. There’s also the weather aspect. Fuji in September can see very changeable conditions and the rain can come in quickly. I’ve only been there twice but it’s the track where I have the least level of experience personally. It will be one of our toughest challenges as a team, I expect, being new to the circuit for the first time.”Motorsport culture in Japan: “Japan is a motorsport country and they have a huge following. There always is a massive turnout for the World Endurance Championship. They want to see the cars, and they want to see the racing. I’m sure having Corvette Racing for the first time in Japan will be a big thing for the Japanese who have never come to America or come to Le Mans to see the Corvettes. They’re always super excited about seeing the cars, and the people are super nice and respectful for everyone who comes over to race in front of them. I’m looking forward to being in the car and with the team to show them about Corvette Racing.”

Macedo’s 11th Win of Season Matches Career-Best with 14 Features Left

ELMA, WA – September 5, 2022 – After qualifying 13th at Grays Harbor Raceway, Carson Macedo rolled out to start fifth in his Heat Race and his Vegas odds quickly dropped. However, if there is anything that America loves on the opening weekend of College Football, it’s a good comeback; Carson Macedo offered just that in Monday’s Labor Day Spectacular.

Driving from fifth-to-first in seven laps during Heat One, Macedo passed the likes of Brad Sweet and James McFaddento put his Jason Johnson Racing, Albaugh #41 in a crucial redraw position. From there, he took care of business with a DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash win and then led wire-to-wire for his 11th World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series win of 2022.

His come-from-behind rally makes Macedo only the second driver this year to win a Feature after starting row three in the Heat Race. He went fifth-to-first to join Kyle Larson, who qualified 22nd and advanced from sixth-to-second in his Heat before ultimately winning at Tulare (CA) Thunderbowl in March. Those two, plus David Gravel at Volusia (FL) Speedway Park, are the only drivers this year to win after qualifying outside the top-10.

It was never a matter of being down and out, but a matter of how bad this team was willing to work their way out of a hole. They quickly proved they were up for the task and thought of that iconic quote from the team’s namesake, Jason Johnson – “S**T, I WANTED TO WIN.”

“I was pretty let down after qualifying because we executed really well for when we out, but we just got buried as the track fell off,” Macedo mentioned. “Starting fifth and winning your Heat is usually unheard of these days against this kind of field. The minute we got behind the eight-ball, these guys stepped up. I can’t say enough about this car and the work that Philip [Dietz], Clyde [Knipp], and Nate [Repetz] do.”

Leading from flag to flag in the 30-lap Feature, Macedo was forced to fend off early attacks from Brad Sweet, a middle-stage surge from Jacob Allen, and a late-race run from David Gravel. The 26-year-old welcomed every challenge and sent them all packing as he claimed his 28th career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt, placing him 23rd on the All-Time Win List.

“I was pretty nervous, honestly,” Macedo explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever run a race that patient before and actually won it. I thought I would try and detour from my plan because I felt unsure at times, but I’m glad I stayed down. I’ve been moving around recently while out front and it has got me in trouble. I wanted to make them drive around me if anything.”

Advancing from eighth to second and offering a last-minute bid for the win was David Gravel aboard the Big Game Motorsports, Huset’s Speedway, Billion Automotive #2. The current championship runner-up drove by Schatz, then Sweet, then Allen as he found himself hunting down Macedo over the closing circuits. Working a lane lower than the #41, Gravel made his way to the rear bumper but ultimately fell short of a seventh win by 0.557-seconds.

“I was staying lower down the straightaways and gaining a ton of grip that way,” Gravel noted. “We had a great car, I just didn’t get there in time. I was super comfortable on the bottom and knew I was making ground on him. That was a pretty good rebound considering how much we struggled in the Heat Race. We definitely got it right in the Feature.”

Rounding out the podium with another noteworthy performance was Jacob Allen in third aboard the Shark Racing, Pells Tire Service, Low-E Insulation #1A. The Hanover, PA native earned a career-best finish at Grays Harbor, extended his career-best streak of nine consecutive top-10 finishes, and padded his career-best numbers with an eighth podium finish of the season.

“I started to try the middle when I got stuck on the outside, but the track felt too dirty on the exit,” Allen added. “I tried to clean it off and maybe find some rubber, but it never worked out. I’m glad that I was trying stuff because I wouldn’t have passed him if I didn’t move around. It always feels good to be on the podium against the Outlaws.”

The only two World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champions in the field closed out the top five with Brad Sweet’s Kasey Kahne Racing #49 in fourth and Donny Schatz’s Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #15 in fifth.

Finishing out the top-10 at Grays Harbor was Australian James McFadden in sixth, the KSE Hard Charger Kerry Madsen in seventh-from-22nd, 16-year-old California sensation Corey Day in eighth, dominant Washington native Trey Starks in ninth, and Tarlton Racing’s Mitchell Faccinto in the tenth spot.

UP NEXT (Thur-Sat) – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series now heads south for the first of two weeks in California. It all begins on Thursday-Saturday, September 8-10 with the famed 68th Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA. Fans can BUY TICKETS HERE, or watch every lap LIVE on DIRTVision.

NOS Energy Drink Feature Results (30 Laps) – 1. 41-Carson Macedo [1][$10,000]; 2. 2-David Gravel [8][$6,000]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [4][$3,500]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [2][$2,800]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [11][$2,500]; 6. 83-James McFadden [7][$2,300]; 7. 83JR-Kerry Madsen [22][$2,200]; 8. 14-Corey Day [12][$2,100]; 9. 55-Trey Starks [17][$2,050]; 10. 21-Mitchell Faccinto [5][$2,000]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [24][$1,600]; 12. 17S-JJ Hickle [10][$1,400]; 13. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [20][$1,200]; 14. 21S-Jesse Schlotfeldt [21][$1,100]; 15. 20G-Noah Gass [15][$1,050]; 16. 7-Tyler Thompson [23][$1,000]; 17. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [9][$1,000]; 18. 5T-Ryan Timms [13][$1,000]; 19. 5-Spencer Bayston [14][$1,000]; 20. 18T-Tanner Holmes [19][$1,000]; 21. 7S-Robbie Price [18][$1,000]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3][$1,000]; 23. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [6][$1,000]; 24. 2L-Logan Forler [16][$1,000]. Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 83JR-Kerry Madsen[+15]

NEW Championship Standings (56/72 Races) – 1. Brad Sweet (7,556); 2. David Gravel (-72); 3. Carson Macedo (-98); 4. Sheldon Haudenschild (-206); 5. Donny Schatz (-208); 6. Logan Schuchart (-310); 7. James McFadden (-466); 8. Spencer Bayston (-500); 9. Jacob Allen (-652); 10. Brock Zearfoss (-820).

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 5, 2022) —- NHRA Rookie of the Year front-runner Camrie Caruso took her first U.S. Nationals experience in stride, extending her qualifying streak to thirteen races and advancing out of the first round for the seventh time. Caruso drove the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro that was also branded with NGK’s Shop Squad program to the quarterfinals at the 68th NHRA U.S. Nationals today at Indianapolis Raceway Park. For the first time Caruso got five qualifying sessions which her team parlayed into a No. 11 qualifying position on the strength of her final run, a solid 6.621 sec, 207.18 mph pass.

Camrie Caruso, Tequila Comisario Camaro, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

“This race felt a little different, but it wasn’t overwhelming,” said Caruso, a third generation drag racer whose father, Marc, made his Pro Mod debut at Indy in 2018. “I tried to get as much rest as possible every day because I knew it would be a long race. You could tell it was longer, but I liked getting all the runs and the atmosphere.”

For her qualifying effort Caruso lined up against Aaron Stanfield, the No. 6 qualifier, in a tough first round match-up. Stanfield had raced to six final rounds with two wins already this season. The 26-year-old who resides in Denver, North Carolina, knew her Titan Racing Engine powered Camaro would keep her competitive if she did her job on the starting line. Caruso jumped off the starting line with an excellent .011 reaction time and her Tequila Comisario Camaro held off a charging Stanfield for the win on a hole shot, 6.638 to 6.619 seconds. It was her second hole shot round win of the season.

“To get that first round win after we have struggled the past couple of races was big for our Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro team,” said Caruso. “It was a team effort. The guys did their job with the set up and I did my job on the starting line. The first round we meshed perfectly to get that win.”

In Pro Stock there are no easy rounds and Caruso’s quarterfinal race pitted her against three-time Pro Stock champion and 2022 points leader Erica Enders. The pair previously raced in the first all-female Pro Stock final round at the SpringNationals in Houston and Caruso was looking to even her record against the veteran driver. Unfortunately, in another attempt to grab a starting line advantage Caruso left early recording a red-light disqualification. The second round exit was frustrating but did not dampen the enthusiasm and excitement for her first foray into the NHRA Countdown over the next six races.

“I am excited about the Countdown,” said Caruso, who will start from eighth place in Pro Stock. “(Crew chief) Jim (Yates) suggested I adjust my goals when we started this season because they were extremely high, but we have six races to get some wins and race for the championship. Those are still my goals. I am going to go home and focus on me. I’ll be in the simulator as much as possible and I am also going to make sure I am in the best shape for these last few races.”

Entering the first Countdown race at Maple Grove Raceway in two weeks the points will be reset for all the Countdown eligible Pro Stock drivers. Caruso will trail the points leader by 65 points which equates to just over three rounds of points. The Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro will return to the track with the additional backing of GESI, Right Trailers, Powerbuilt Tools, Sand Haulers of America, NGK Spark Plugs and VP Racing Lubricants.

Qualifying Results

Q1: 6.633 sec, 207.59 mph; Qual. 12

Q2: 10.684 sec, 85.45 mph; Qual. 12

Q3: 6.643 sec, 207.46 mph; Qual. 12

Q4: 6.617 sec, 207.27 mph; Qual. 11

Q5: 6.621 sec, 207.18 mph; Qual. 11

Bonus Points:  0

Race Results

First Round

Camrie Caruso, Denver, NC, Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro, (.011) 6.638, 206.48 mph def. Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City, La., Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro, (.043) 6.619, 207.02 mph

Second Round

Erica Enders, Houston, Texas, Melling Chevrolet Camaro, 6.595, 208.26 mph def. Camrie Caruso, Denver, NC, Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro, DQ – red-light mph

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten – Pro Stock

1. Erica Enders                             1286

2. Aaron Stanfield                       1082

3. Greg Anderson                        962

4. Kyle Koretsky                           877

5. Dallas Glenn                            819

6. Troy Coughlin Jr                       775

7. Mason McGaha                       652

8. Camrie Caruso                         649

9. Matt Hartford                          644

10. Fernando Cuadra Jr               632

• Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) driver Matt Hagan took his No. 7 qualified Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to a quarterfinal appearance at the prestigious 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
• Hagan closes out the regular season with three wins, three runner-up finishes, five No. 1 qualifier awards, and sits third in the Funny Car standings behind Robert Hight and Ron Capps as the points reset for the upcoming NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” six-event playoff series
• TSR Top Fuel pilot Leah Pruett and her Dodge Power Brokers dragster kicked off race day at the “Big Go” from the tenth spot but saw her run cut short by a dropped cylinder in the opening round
• Pruett sits seventh in the Top Fuel points standings heading into the playoffs having earned her team’s first category win at the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals in Denver and a No. 1 qualifier award in Sonoma 
• Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon qualified ninth aboard his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat but was unable to advance past the first round after losing cylinders on his first lap and will start the playoffs seeded eighth

September 5, 2022, Indianapolis, Indiana – After finishing runner-up in an exciting National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) All-Star Callout specialty race final during qualifying at the 68th annual Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals, Tony Stewart Racing’s (TSR) Matt Hagan found himself in another tremendous battle in the quarterfinals of the world’s biggest and best known drag race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Hagan, whose quicker 3.900-second elapsed time run in Sunday’s Callout race-within-a race was just 0.004-seconds short of beating Ron Capps’ holeshot effort, had another tremendous drag race in the elimination rounds of the “Big Go” against points leader Robert Hight.

Prior to facing Hight, the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat set the tone by recording the top speed of the event (at that point) with Hagan’s 3.881-second winning run at 334.07 mph against No. 10 seed Alexis DeJoria in the opening round. Once staged for the quarterfinal showdown, Hagan hit the throttle just 0.004-seconds behind Hight as the two adversaries battled side-by-side the entire length of the legendary dragstrip. While Hagan took his HEMI-powered ride for his quickest run of the weekend at 3.867 sec./ 334.65 mph it was 0.006-seconds short of turning on the win lights ahead of Hight’s 3.861 sec./ 331.77 mph lap.

The quarterfinal finish brought Hagan’s regular season to a close and, with three wins, three runner-up finishes, and five No. 1 qualifier awards, puts the TSR driver third in Funny Car standings (behind Hight and Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals winner Ron Capps) as the points reset for the upcoming NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” six-event playoff series.

TSR pilot Leah Pruett qualified tenth on the Top Fuel eliminations ladder and staged her Dodge Power Brokers dragster in the right lane next to seventh-seed Billy Torrence for the opening round. Pruett had the quicker launch but lost a cylinder early in the run, ending her hopes of advancing further. Pruett, who earned the TSR team’s first Top Fuel Wally at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals in Denver in July, closes out the regular season in seventh place.

Three-time Funny Car winner at the “Big Go”, Cruz Pedregon qualified in the No. 9 spot aboard his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and had No. 8 seed J.R. Todd as his first round opponent. Both competitors had a good light, but when the Cruz Pedregon Racing machine began to drop cylinders, the driver/owner opted to abandon the run. Pedregon will head to the playoffs seeded eighth in the category.

The NHRA “Countdown to the Championship” begins with the first of six playoff events, the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania, Sept. 15-18. FS1 will air qualifying highlights on Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. ET and Sunday, Sept 18, at 11 a.m. ET, while FOX will have race day coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES: 

Leah Pruett, Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster  

(No. 10 Qualifier – 3.725 seconds at 332.51 mph)

Round 1: (0.068-second reaction time, 5.129-second elapsed time run at 146.56 mph) loss to No.7 Billy Torrence (0.081/3.740/324.20)

“Indy always brings the unexpected. We said that at the beginning of the week. Our team is not known for dropping cylinders at the hit. Roll the dice and about every 50 laps or so, it might give you one of those and that’s exactly what happened in the first round. As a sensitive driver, after our Q5 run, I felt something wasn’t right. I gave the car a pedal and you can’t out-recover a cylinder. It’s disappointing for sure because we had high hopes and high expectations and a high-performing Dodge Power Brokers dragster that showed glimpses of victory during qualifying. To go out early in the weekend is definitely below our standards. This is the end of the regular season, so it’s better to have it happen now. We have plans of potentially testing before the Countdown. We’re going to figure out as much as we can and then hit it from there to solve these little glitches. It’s not the most ideal weekend we’ve ever had, but we have the power of our Power Brokers behind us and that’s going to give us momentum into the Countdown.”

Matt Hagan, Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car  

(No. 7 Qualifier – 3.892 seconds at 333.41 mph)

Round 1: (0.067-second reaction time, 3.881 seconds at 334.07 mph) defeats No.10 Alexis DeJoria (-0.149/10.086/78.68)

Round 2: (0.060/3.867/334.65) loss to No. 2 Robert Hight (0.056/3.861/331.77)

“What a wild, crazy weekend but what a special weekend because it is the U.S. Nationals. You don’t know how many years you get to race here and be a part of the Big Go and to have the pinnacle of our season right here before the Countdown, it’s just awesome. Our team really came together and put a great race car underneath me. We just came up short in two really close drag races this weekend that were within thousandths-of-a-second apart. You’re talking about inches on the finish line. It’s tough to be on the backside of a good drag race but what’s positive about it is that our Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is running good and it’s responding to the changes that the crew chief is making.

We really rallied around each other and that really showed this weekend. We’re putting all those rounds together and (Crew Chief) Dickie (Venables) is really stepping up and throwing down against (Robert Hight’s crew chief Jimmy) Prock. I feel we’re moving in the right direction and we’re going into this Countdown really strong. (Ron) Capps is going to be tough. There’s a bunch of cars out here that are tough. We’ve just got to keep digging, working hard, and I’ve got to hit the practice tree more and as a team we have to come together and make that happen if we’re going to win championships.”

“I think we’re all chasing Robert (Hight) right now. He’s running good. He’s won six races. They have a very consistent car in the heat and in the cool, but we’ve got (Crew Chief) Dickie Venables who is one of the best out there and I wouldn’t trade him for anybody. Right now we’ve just got to get into throwdown mode and a Countdown mode. We’ve got to win two or three of those six (playoff) races to really run for a championship and win this thing. I know we can do that. 

We had a great start to the season winning three races and a bunch of No. 1 qualifiers, but then it kind of fell off a little bit. These things come in cycles and peaks and valleys, and I feel like it’s our time to get back into the cycle. We’ve got to go out there and just bring everything that we can to the table. I’ve got to dig deep on the tree and these guys got to dig deep as far as putting a good tune up in it. I think if we do that collectively, we’ll be really hard to beat.”

Cruz Pedregon, Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 9 Qualifier –   seconds at   mph)

Round 1: (0.043-second reaction time, 7.086 second elapsed time run at 101.45 mph) loss to No.8 J.R. Todd (0.036/3.856/330.88)

“I don’t think we ever had three dropped cylinders in a row at the step of the throttle, so there’s definitely something mechanical going on. We’re going to really take everything apart and probably try going to go test somewhere and get it figured out before Reading. Our Dodge Funny Car just ran so easy on Friday night with that 3.90 and it was right where we wanted and then we just struggled from that point on. 

We’re disappointed but at the same time we know we have a championship caliber car here and the team’s upbeat. We’re just going to figure it out and go to Reading prepared. The great part is that our second season starts now. Throughout my career, I have always finished strong, and I believe we are shaping up to have that happen again this year. My dad taught me this; ‘Things happen for a reason.’ Sometimes you learn more from tough weekends than ones when you are at the top of your game.”

NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS:

Following the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Robert Hight 1570 (6)

2.  Ron Capps: 1291 (3)

3.  Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 1244 (3)

4.  Bob Tasca III: 1164 (3) 

5.  John Force: 1149 (1)

6.  J.R. Todd: 871

7.  Alexis DeJoria: 824

8. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat): 801

9.  Tim Wilkerson: 730

10. Blake Alexander: 582

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1.  Brittany Force: 1356 (4)

2.  Mike Salinas: 1200 (4) 

3.  Justin Ashley: 1195 (2) 

4.  Steve Torrence: 1169 (1)

5.  Josh Hart: 882

6.  Antron Brown 839 (2)

7.  Leah Pruett (Dodge Power Brokers): 810 (1)

8.  Shawn Langdon: 809

9. Doug Kalitta: 801 

10. Tony Schumacher: 703 (1)

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

INDIANAPOLIS (September 5, 2022) – David Barton and his Saw Mill Auto Chevrolet COPO Camaro rallied to the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown victory Monday at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the sixth stop on the schedule.

Barton started the day facing Warren Walcher after defeating Jason Dietsch in the first round on Saturday. Barton would handle his COPO to a 7.784-second pass at 176.40 mph to defeat Walcher and his WW Speed and Customs Dodge Drag Pak’s 7.847 at 175.59. The win set Barton up to face Bill Skillman in the quarterfinals. 

David Barton (left) Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown champion with Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

Skillman, in his Ray Skillman Ford Cobra Jet, would be late on the tree at .104-seconds letting Barton’s 7.779-second pass at 176.07 mph with a .031 reaction time defeat his 7.740 at 183.54. With the win, Barton collected the $1,000 bounty that was on Skillman’s head as the previous race winner through the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Bounty Program. 

In the semifinals, Barton faced Mark Pawuk driving the DSR Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. Barton would once again win the round on the starting line with Pawuk leaving early by -.104-seconds. For the record, Barton would cross the finish line with a 7.790-second pass at 176.88 mph. More importantly, Barton took over the points lead with the semifinal win. 

In the finals, Barton would take on No. 1 qualifier Aaron Stanfield and his Stanfield Racing Engines COPO Camaro. Stanfield, who had a first-round exit in his Pro Stock Camaro, stayed side-by-side with Barton but Barton’s starting line advantage, a .020 to a .037, prevailed at the finish line. On a hole shot, Barton’s 7.786 at 176.77 defeated Stanfield’s 7.781 at 176.47 mph, a margin of victory of only .012-second. 

David Barton U.S. Nationals winner, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

“It was pretty cool to get this done today. There was some really tough competition out there. The icing on the cake was taking out Skillman, collecting that bounty and then going around him in the points with our semifinal win,” Barton said. “I have to thank my dad, my wife the whole Barton team, all the guys at the shop. I’m freaking out a little. It’s Indy.” 

On his way to the finals, Stanfield the two-time defending  Factory Stock Showdown champion defeated Lenny Lottig and Anthony Troyer before having a bye into the finals. 

The ongoing battle between Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Cobra Jets and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks will pick up at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, September 15-18. 

2022 Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Schedule/Results

Gainesville – Lenny Lottig, winner; Anthony Troyer, runner-up

Charlotte1 – Bill Skillman, winner, David Barton, runner-up

Richmond – Bill Skillman, winner, Dan Condon, runner-up

Bristol – David Barton, winner, Stephen Bell, runner-up

Norwalk – Bill Skillman, winner, David Barton, runner-up

Indianapolis – David Barton, winner, Aaron Stanfield, runner-up

Reading, Dodge Nationals, September 15-18

Dallas, Fall Nationals, October 13-16

Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Top Ten Points Standings:

1. David Barton                            574

2. Bill Skillman                             509

3. Aaron Stanfield                       376

4. Lenny Lottig                             352

5. Mark Pawuk                             331

6. David Davies III                        296

7. David Janac                              284

8. Dan Condon                            277

9. Anthony Troyer                       269

10. Stephen Bell                          237

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 5, 2022) — For the fourth national event in a row Justin Ashley drove the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster powered by Vita C Energy to a semifinal finish. The 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year moved up to third place in the Camping World Drag Racing Series as the sixteen race regular ended today at the 68th NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, formerly Lucas Oil Raceway. As the No. 2 qualifier Ashley started his day with wins over Shawn Langdon and Billy Torrence before dropping a close race to eventual winner Toyota teammate Antron Brown.

“I thought we had a great weekend,” said Ashley, a two-time 2022 national event winner. “This was my first U.S. Nationals in full force with the potential for five qualifying sessions and racing on Monday. It was a long weekend with a lot happening on and off the track, the most important moment this weekend was the announcement of our extension with Phillips Connect.” 

Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster powered by Vita C Energy, photo by Ron Lewis

On Friday in a mid-afternoon press conference Phillips Connect announced a multi-year extension with Justin Ashley Racing and Davis Motorsports. The marketing partnership began as a three-race program at the beginning of the season and was quickly extended to the full season after Ashley won the season opening NHRA Winternationals. The extension solidifies one of the hottest teams in the NHRA for the foreseeable future. Phillips Connect and Vita C Energy lead a dynamic group of marketing partners such as Bendix, Velociti, Sensata Insights, Lucas Oil, and KATO Fastening Systems. 

“I am so grateful we have an opportunity to keep working with Phillips Connect,” said Ashley. “The Phillips Connect Toyota Vita C Energy race car ran great and we just came up a little short in a really close drag race in the semifinals. I am proud of this team. Throughout the whole weekend they worked extraordinarily hard. (Crew chiefs) Mike Green and Tommy DeLago were awesome. Heading into the Countdown we have a really good race car.”

In the opening round Ashley faced one of the toughest drivers in the series, 2013 Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon. Each of these drivers are amongst the leaders in the category for reaction time advantage. Both dragsters launched together and it was Ashley taking the lead shortly after the cars eclipsed 100 miles per hour on their way to the finish line at over 330 miles per hour. Ashley made the quickest run of the first round, a 3.690 second pass at 331.85 mph to get the win and improve his first round win record to 8-1 over the last nine races.

“This is the U.S. Nationals. It doesn’t get any bigger and it doesn’t get any badder than this,” said Ashley. “Part of my obligation to this team is to leave the starting line as quickly as I can. That is super important. It isn’t an ego thing. It is about putting our team in the best position to win because the way the field is set up now these races are decided by such close margins. They give me a safe and fast race car. I have a responsibility to deliver on the starting line. I feel good about how I performed this weekend but there are still a lot of things I can learn from. I am going to continue to learn and improve.” 

In the quarterfinals Ashley met Billy Torrence, half of the Torrence Racing operation, which is also backed by Toyota and boasts four-time and reigning Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence. Ashley took a starting line advantage and never trailed in the drag race. Once again, his Phillips Connect Toyota dragster was quickest of the session and the victory set up a head-to-head battle with Toyota teammate and technical alliance partner Antron Brown.

Racing for his fifth final of the season Ashley was amped up on the starting line and took a reaction time advantage off the starting line. As his dragster crossed half-track it appeared to start mixing up cylinders robbing him of much needed power for the home stretch to the finish line. Brown drove around Ashley at the stripe with his quickest pass of the weekend. While the pass ended Ashley day the third year pro quickly shifted his attention to the Countdown and the potential for his first championship.

“I am excited about the Countdown. Last year was my first experience in a Countdown and I think that experience will bode well for our team moving forward,” said Ashley, who finished 2021 in fourth place in Top Fuel. “We wanted to go into the Countdown in first place like everyone else, but we also really wanted to be in a solid position to make a run at the championship if we weren’t No. 1. Coming into the playoffs in third place is a good spot but what I learned about the Countdown is the margin for error is so small. Every team out here is running well and we have to be on our A Game week in and week out. It is six races that is still a marathon not a sprint. We have to do our best on this back part of the year.”

The Countdown will begin at Maple Grove Raceway in two weeks with Ashley battling the toughest collection of Top Fuel drivers in recent memory for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world championship

Qualifying Results

Q1: 3.716 sec, 330.23 mph; Qual. 1

Q2: 3.721 sec; 323.74 mph; Qual. 2

Q3: 3.671 sec; 335.32 mph; Qual. 1

Q4: 5.764 sec; 111.02 mph; Qual. 2

Q5: session rain shortened

Bonus Points: +11 (Quickest of Q1 and Q3, second quickest of Q2)

Race Results

First Round

Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster powered by Vita C Energy, 3.690, 331.85 mph def. Shawn Langdon, Avon, Ind., DHL Toyota dragster, 3.788, 308.78 mph

Second Round

Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster powered by Vita C Energy, 3.697, 332.10 mph def. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco dragster, 3.751, 323.12 mph

Semifinals

Antron Brown, Brownsburg, Ind., Matco Toyota dragster, 3.698, 329.99 mph def. Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster powered by Vita C Energy, 3.714, 319.75 mph

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten – Top Fuel

1. Brittany Force                          1356

2. Mike Salinas                            1200

3. Justin Ashley                           1195

4. Steve Torrence                        1169

5. Josh Hart                                   882

6. Antron Brown                          839

7. Leah Pruett                              810

8. Shawn Langdon                       809

9. Doug Kalitta                             801

10. Tony Schumacher                  703

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 5, 2022) — The 68^th installment of the NHRA U. S.  Nationals featured the quickest Top Fuel field in history and closed out the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season. Over two dozen race cars were vying for one of the sixteen spots in the Top Fuel field. Josh Hart and the TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster worked their way through three days of qualifying to enter race day as the 8^th quickest Top Fuel dragster. Hart defeated Doug Foley in the opening round, locking his TechNet and R+L Carriers Top Fuel team into fifth place for the NHRA’s Countdown six-race play-off. In the quarterfinals Hart’s run for his third U.S. Nationals title, a Top Fuel Wally, to join his two Top Alcohol Dragster trophies ended in a close race.

Josh Hart, TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

“That was a tough loss,” said Hart. “In the first round I got out of my routine so in the second round I think I was a little hesitant. I rolled in and we had about the same light, but I want to do better than second round finishes. We just need to break through this second round rut and I think the Countdown will be a great place to do that.”

Hart’s consistency has been a key to his success this season as the highest positioned Top Fuel driver without a win yet this season. Two weeks ago he reset his career best elapsed time and speed records and this weekend in Indianapolis Hart’s TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster was in the mix with the best race cars in drag racing.  In three of the four qualifying sessions Hart was in the top four quickest race cars in the class. Racing at Lucas Oil Raceway holds a special place for Hart who is returning to the site of his first national event win.

“I was born in Indiana, so this track is kind of a sacred place for me because of the wins we have had here,” said Hart. “Winning back-to-back here in Top Alcohol Dragster but I keep the mindset that every track is really the same. We just want to go out there and do our best and get wins. There are guys in front of us that we want to not just keep up with but get in front of in the Countdown.”

In the first round Hart made the quickest pass of the session, an impressive 3.690 second blast that turned heads in the grandstands. Once again the TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster was one of the first two dragsters to hit the track and set the tone for the day. The victory gave Hart lane choice in the second round and kept a six race streak of first round wins alive.

Josh Hart, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

The quarterfinals was a tough match-up with the No. 1 qualifier that was one of the closest races of the second round. His run of 3.719 seconds was third quickest of the session; he was just paired against the driver who made the quickest run. At the top end Hart had his hands full as his dragster sashayed across the finish Hart credited the success of consistent runs to his crew and the leadership of Crew chief and business partner Ron Douglas.

“Nobody works harder than these TechNet and R+L Carriers crew guys,” said Hart. “We made the Countdown for the first time and this is just the beginning. I told all my guys in our team meeting this was only my 30^th race in my Top Fuel career. I am super blessed to be doing this and we want to keep getting better. I am building this team for the long-haul.” 

The 2022 NHRA Countdown will begin in two weeks at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Qualifying Results

Q1: 3.725 sec, 327.51 mph; Qual. 2

Q2: 3.753 sec, 315.78 mph; Qual. 3

Q3: 3.722 sec, 330.15 mph; Qual. 8

Q4: 3.787 sec, 317.12 mph; Qual. 8

Q5: session rain shortened

Bonus Points: +5 (3^rd quickest of Q1 and Q2 and 4^th quickest of Q4)

Race Results

First Round

Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet Brakes for Breasts dragster, 3.690, 328.70 mph def. Doug Foley, Mooresville, NC, 1-800-WATER-DAMAGE dragster, 10.670, 83.78 mph

Second Round

Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Monster Energy dragster 3.699, 335.48 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet Brakes for Breasts dragster, 3.719, 327.66 mph

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten – Top Fuel

1. Brittany Force                          1356

2. Mike Salinas                            1200

3. Justin Ashley                            1195

4. Steve Torrence                        1169

5. Josh Hart                                 882

6. Antron Brown                          839

7. Leah Pruett                              810

8. Shawn Langdon                       809

9. Doug Kalitta                             801

10. Tony Schumacher                  703

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION DODGE POWER BROKERS NHRA U.S. NATIONALS LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK IN BROWNSBURG, INDIANA SEPT. 5, 2022 Chevrolet drivers deliver epic U.S. Nationals performances• Five-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson reaches 100-win milestone• No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Brittany Force finishes as runner-up for second year in a row• Robert Hight advances to Funny Car final round for ninth time in 16 races• Team Chevy drivers sweep the top seeds for the Countdown to the Championship• David Barton prevails in all-COPO Camaro final of Factory Stock Showdown

BROWNSBURG, Ind.  (Sept. 5, 2022) – The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) U.S. Nationals always produces riveting storylines involving Chevrolet teams and drivers, and the 68th edition of the “Big Go” delivered another epic race day at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

* Greg Anderson became the second driver in NHRA professional categories to reach 100 career victories as the five-time Pro Stock champion drove the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS to his seventh U.S. Nationals win. “I kept asking myself what do I have to do to win? It just wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be in Indy,” said Anderson, who delivered the 360th win for Chevrolet in the class since 1970. “When you can win here at Indy and to get the 100th here, I couldn’t ask for anything better. It means everything to me.” Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, leads all drivers with 155 career wins. Sportsman racers Frank Manzo (105), Dan Fletcher (105), and David Rampy (100) — have also reached the century mark in victories.

Team ChevyNo. 1 seeds Top Fuel – Brittany Force (4 wins, 2 runner-up finishes; 7 top qualifiers) Funny Car – Robert Hight (6 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, 3 top qualifiers) Pro Stock – Erica Enders (6 wins, 2 runner-up finishes, 3 top qualifiers)

Said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president of Performance and Motorsports: “Congratulations to Greg and his Camaro SS team on this incredible milestone victory. The 100 wins are the result of Greg’s skill as a racer combined with a great team that has prepared his race car over the years. This is also a very special tribute to his mother, late father and family who have always supported his passion for drag racing and the NHRA. We are extremely proud of Greg’s 100 wins – all with Chevrolet/GM.”

* Team Chevy drivers Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) – past NHRA champions with Chevrolet – sewed up top seeds in their respective professional classes for the six-race Countdown to the Championship that begins Sept. 16-18 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. “We’re going into the Countdown and you’re seeing the competition really come alive, really pick up,” said Force, who was the No. 1 qualifier in the 2021 Countdown opener at Maple Grove Raceway. “That just makes it tough. It puts more pressure on our team, all of John Force Racing. But it’s going to be good, it’s going to be tight and it’s going to be close, and this Countdown is going to be fun.”* No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Brittany Force, who reset her own track elapsed time and speed records a day earlier in qualifying in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, finished runner-up for the second year in a row. She also finished second in the special Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Callout. Force, who has four wins, added to her point total with her second final-round appearance in 16 races this season. Force will look to 2023 to join her father John, a five-time winner, and sister Ashley, who’s won three times, as a U.S. Nationals champion. No Indy-winning parent has had two offspring also win the U.S. Nationals. * No. 2 Funny Car qualifier Hight, driving the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, advanced to his ninth final round in 16 races.Anderson also surpassed 900 career round wins – second only to John Force’s 1,412 in NHRA history. Anderson defeated Fernando Cuadra Jr. in one semifinal, while Glenn ended Enders’ U.S. Nationals round winning streak at 10. “The best win ever. I can’t thank the (team owners) Black family enough for this opportunity; 100 wins together. They’ve made me live me dream all these years. Rick Hendrick, you have another cool trophy coming to your collection.” John Force’s quest for his sixth U.S. Nationals Funny Car victory came to an end in the semifinals. Force, the No. 4 qualifier in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, has advanced to at least the semifinals in nine of the 16 regular-season races and will prepare to chase his 17th Funny Car world title in the Countdown. Austin Prock, the No. 14 qualifier in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, fell in the first round. In an all-COPO Camaro final of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown, David Barton of Reading, Pennsylvania, took the points lead through six of the eight events in the season-long series with a victory over No. 1 qualifier Aaron Stanfield of Bossier, Louisiana. “There’s really stiff competition out here, so you have to take it one round at a time,” Barton said. “We tried to stay focused and here we are in the winner’s circle. Two to go and we’re going to try to hold onto the points lead the best we can.”

An interview with Pro Stock winner GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: HOW MEANINGFUL IS THE MILESTONE?“It’s incredible. I kept asking myself what do I have to do to win? It just wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be in Indy. I’ve made no bones about telling everybody all my career how special Indy is to me. It’s an out-of-body experience when you can win here at Indy and to get the 100th here I couldn’t ask for anything better. It means everything to me.” YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY AS A DRIVER. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORK ETHIC?“I had a good, basic skill set when I came to Warren (Johnson). There’s no question that Warren opened my vision to a lot of different things and educated me on a lot of things. I learned that northern Minnesota work ethic that has followed me all my career. I tell people every day that I’ve never met anyone in my life that has failed by working hard. I’m not a brain surgeon. I’m not the smartest whip out there, but I work hard. That’s a valuable lesson.” YOUR THOUGHTS ON BEING IN THAT EXCLUSIVE CLUB?“It’s incredible. About three years ago when I was trying to chase down Warren with 97 (wins), I tried not to think about it. I was having too much fun racing, still thinking I could race forever. I don’t think I’m done by any means but I’m definitely closer to the end of my career. It’s hard to come out and compete with these kids so I know my days may be numbered but I’m not done. I think I’ll get a few more and I plan on doing this until I can’t win anymore. Sometimes, it’s good to have a few of us crusty old veterans out here. I used to win Indy fairly often. We won six times between 2001 and 2011 and I thought I’d have 10 of them at some point. I’m not going to get there but I think this is the most special one of all.” YOU WOULDN’T HAVE 100 WITHOUT WINNING INDY SEVEN TIMES.“It’s fantastic. I remember back in the day when we were winning quite often; it’s been since 2011 that I’ve won the U.S. Nationals. It’s been a long time, but from 2001 to 2011 we won six times. When you haven’t won here in so long, you can really appreciate it.” YOU GOT TO TELL RICK HENDRICK THAT YOU GOT THE BIG ONE AT THE U.S. NATIONALS.“Pretty incredible. He oozes cool. He loves to win. He doesn’t do this just for fun. He does it because he loves to win, he wants to win. When you call him or he calls you when you’ve won, he’s over the moon. It’s always a wonderful phone call.”  STARTING TO PEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE COUNTDOWN NEXT?“We just weren’t quite up to par, and we were getting outrun by (Elite Motorsports), basically. We have done a lot of work over the last three months, and it is starting to pay off. We are starting to climb that ladder back up with a car that can win again.” CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPITTOP FUELBRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “Overall, not a bad weekend for this Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team. We can’t complain. We qualified No. 1, ran for the Pep Boys Callout money, got beat in the final. Race day, Monday, had another final round appearance. So, it’s positive all around,. Our biggest objective coming in was leaving with the points lead and we did just that. Everything resets in the Countdown but we’re in the position we want to be in, and we head to Reading, Pennsylvania next.” AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “I thought this Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster had a little more out there to get around the champ. When you go up and duke it out with (Steve) Torrence there’s always some extra motivation and a little extra competition at the line. I left on him so I did my job but it’s a team sport, win as a team, lose as a team, it can go both ways. We made a full pull, which we struggled to do through qualifying, so hopefully that’s something we can consistently do and gain some power heading into the Countdown. We get a charity spot but hopefully we can hurt some feelings during the last six races.” FUNNY CARJOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Well, we went some rounds, had some good runs in this PEAK Chevrolet. We were able to find some consistency. That’s good, especially heading into the Countdown in two weeks. We’re fifth in points, which means after the reset, only 50 points out of the lead. Things can change quickly but we’re in it, we have a chance and that’s what we’re going after. Huge thank you to all the fans out here. You’re who we do this for, you bring us motivation.” ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Not a bad day for this Auto Club team. Granted, not the way we wanted this afternoon to go, but we’re not putting our heads down. The Auto Club guys have been working hard all weekend, it’s a marathon here at the U.S. Nationals. We made some really good passes, went some rounds and we’re going into the Countdown in that number one spot. Now the real work starts, only ahead 20 points with the standings resetting for the Countdown, just have to take it one weekend at a time, one run at a time. I’ve said it before, it’s going to take another two or three wins to get that championship, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Capps, Brown win first U.S. Nationals trophies as team owners

INDIANAPOLIS (September 5, 2022) – Antron Brown and Ron Capps scored their first U.S. Nationals wins as team owners in NHRA on Monday. Capps scored his elusive first U.S. Nationals Wally, while Brown earned his fourth.

Their wins helped secure a Toyota weekend sweep after Steve Torrence and Capps won the Top Fuel and Funny Car all-star Callouts earlier in the weekend. A Toyota driver has now gone to the winner’s circle in three consecutive NHRA events.

Toyota Post-Race Recap

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series

Indianapolis Raceway Park

Race 16 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Winner	W. 3.720 v. 3.737(Tatum) W. 3.736 v. 6.419(S. Torrence) W. 3.698 v. 3.714(Ashley) W. 3.706 v. 3.714(B. Force)
Justin Ashley	Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-Finals	W. 3.690 v. 3.788(Langdon) W. 3.697 v. 3.751(B. Torrence) L. 3.714 v. 3.698(Brown)
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Semi-Finals	W. 3.713 v. 3.727(Millican) W. 3.802 v. 3.989(Salinas) L. 6.518 v. 3.676(B. Force)
Steve Torrence	Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W. 3.693 v. 3.774(Prock) L. 6.419 v. 3.736(Brown)
Billy Torrence	Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	Second Round	W. 3.740 v. 5.129(Pruett) L. 3.751 v. 3.697(Ashley)
Shawn Langdon	DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	First Round	L. 3.788 v. 3.690(Ashley)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

Name	Car	Final Result	Round-by-Round
Ron Capps	NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Winner	W. 3.886 v. 3.982(Creasy Jr.) W. 3.883 v. 4.458(Todd) W. 3.887 v. 8.995(J. Force) W. 3.913 v. 7.649(Hight)
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	Second Round	W. 3.856 v. 7.086(Pedregon) L. 4.458 v. 3.883(Capps)
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	First Round	L. Foul – Red Light v. 3.881

TOYOTA QUOTES

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, AB Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

How surreal is this moment for you?

“It’s unbelievable. Thank the God above. All of the prayers, all of the hard work in this Matco Tools, Lucas Oil, Toyota, SiriusXM, Hangsterfer’s Dragster. We are making it happen. We have been working so hard for this. To be in Indy, hometown – I live eight miles from the track. I’m super proud of my team. They did an incredible job. Tough matchup against Brittany (Force), really tough one in the semifinals against Justin (Ashley) and the Phillips Connect team. We did it. We brought it home.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

What does this mean to you?

“There are so many neat things that have happened in my life this year. Look across our car, the littlest, smallest logo – people wanted to be a part of this team, part of what you are doing. NAPA Auto Parts, this week of NAPA Auto Care. Toyota, Paul Doleshal, Slugger (Labbe) – they took a chance on what I’m doing. I’m living a dream. I have my own small business and to have all of these people. We have been trying to win this. My wife (Shelly) has been through – I’ve tried to win this a long time with her here. She’s adamant about everyone sitting in the same seat, the same place. It’s going to be a large one tonight, but all of those NAPA Auto Care people across the country – this is who that is for. Kids don’t stop dreaming. Everything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports

Final Result: Semi-Finals

How was your race?

“I thought we had a great weekend. This was my first US Nationals in full force with five qualifying sessions and racing on Monday. It was a long weekend with a lot happening on and off the track, the most important moment this weekend was the announcement of our extension with Phillips Connect. I am so grateful we have an opportunity to keep working with them. The Phillips Connect Toyota Vita C Energy racecar ran great and we just came up a little short in a really close drag race in the semifinals. I am really proud of this team. Throughout the whole weekend they worked extraordinarily hard. Mike Green and Tommy DeLago were awesome. Heading into the Countdown we have a really good race car.”

September 5, 2022

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team came away from the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with a 21^st-place finish.

Burton, driving a Mustang that celebrated the 50^th year of Motorcraft and recognized long-time Ford employee Terri Barricello, started the Labor Day weekend classic from 28^th place. He had worked his way up to 24^th when the Competition Caution flag flew at Lap 35.

Back on the track after a pit stop, he moved into the top 20 for the first time but faded to one lap behind the leader, when the first 115-lap Stage came to a close.

Burton was running two laps behind the leaders as the laps in Stage Two began winding down. A caution flag late in the Stage gave the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team a chance to take the wave-around in an attempt to move to just one lap back.

Burton held on over the final laps of the second Stage to end that segment in 26^th place and just one lap behind. 

In the third segment of the race, the No. 21 Mustang twice was in position to claim the free pass and rejoin the lead lap, but the caution flags didn’t fly when the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team needed them. 

Still Burton was able to run in the top 20 before falling to 21^st in the closing laps as Erik Jones drove the famed No. 43 to its first victory at Darlington since 1967.
 
Eddie Wood said he was happy for his long-time rivals and friends on the 43 team, particularly Richard Petty and Dale Inman.
 
“Our family has been friends with the Pettys and Dale Inman all my life,” Wood said. “I talk on the phone to Dale almost every day, especially since the pandemic started and we didn’t get to see each other every week.

“My family knows what this win means to them, and we’re really happy for Richard and Dale and that whole organization.
 
“It was a good night for the whole sport.”
 
The No. 21 team now heads to Kansas Speedway for next Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

The ARP fixings in the students project cars have ensured total reliability at the notoriously hard, 2 day WRC Ypres Rally on Aug 19 – 20th. They left for Belgium with no expectations in the WRC Rally support event, which was a round of the Belgian National Rally Championship, but shared the stages with the WRC cars. These all went through first, with their deep corner-cutting leaving the lanes covered in dust and rubble. Their 1965 Riley 1.5 was seeded last – number 228 – being around 30 – 40 years older than the rest of the powerful, modern field, but this young team overcame all odds to finish 16th Overall/30. 5 days later, they were back in the UK, with their other Riley 1.5 and the recently completed Sebring Sprite project in the HRDC Jack Sears Trophy and Allstars races at the famous Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire. After a titanic but ultimately successful battle with a Lotus 26R, the OUMF Sebring took its second consecutive win in the GT Class and the OUMF Riley also won the Touring Greats Class in the Jack Sears Trophy.  A quite remarkable string of recent achievements, all underpinned by ARP! 

Driving Hoffman-built chassis, Nicely wins $5K and first event title

LEWISTOWN, IL – Sept. 4, 2022 – Tyler Nicely emerged from his Elite Chassis #25 in Spoon River Speedway Victory Lane to celebrate, checkered flag and Plowboy Nationals belt trophy in-hand. He cracked a smile to show his joy in winning one of Illinois’ biggest UMP Modified races, but couldn’t help from thinking about his longtime friend, competitor and car builder Nick Hoffman, recovering in the hospital from a serious traffic accident Friday morning.

“I really just wanted to get this one for Nick,” Nicely said, reflecting his thoughts after the race. “I know how bad he wants to be here, and I wish he could be here with us.”

Hoffman, Elite Chassis owner/founder and three-time DIRTcar national champion, was slated to compete in each of the three Illinois Labor Day Weekend events. One day after visiting him in the hospital, Nicely went out and bagged a solid third-place at Fairbury Speedway on Saturday, then backed that up with a win in the 32nd annual Plowboy Nationals on Sunday.

It’s Nicely’s 11th DIRTcar-sanctioned victory of the season and his first in the prestigious Plowboy Nationals event. He bagged the $5,000 grand prize and a big boost of confidence in a neck-and-neck UMP Modified world.

“It feels great,” Nicely said. “Any time you can win a big UMP Modified race right now, I feel like you’re doing something. There’s so many guys, and it’s just gotten so competitive and everybody’s so close.”

Nicely, of Owensboro, KY, took the green from inside Row 2 and ran securely in the top-three for the opening laps. He made the move past Trevor Neville for second on Lap 5 an began to run down leader Josh Allen before an incident shook up the field with the first caution on Lap 10.

A three-car spin erupted right in front of the leaders in Turn 1, which Allen got a piece of in the melee, damaging his car and sending him to the work area. By coming to the work area under yellow, Allen was forced to give up the lead, handing it to Nicely.

Now in control of the field, Nicely was able to set the pace of the race. With the lightning-fast and tacky track conditions after the rain delay, he took advantage of the hammer-down speeds and defended the lead with distance, never letting his competitors get close enough to make a pass.

“I usually like just going green flag, but tonight with how the racetrack was – it was dirty from the middle up – so it just made it a lot easier when the cautions fell,” Nicely said. “We never really go into lapped traffic.”

Nicely defended the lead through multiple restarts over the next 40 laps, holding off a hungry Mike McKinney, who pressured him for over half of the race.

“I felt like we were the same speed there, I just wasn’t any better than him,” McKinney said. “I’m pretty sure [Nicely] was on a harder tire, and at the end, my tire wasn’t sticking like it needed to.”

McKinney, the 29-year-old former DIRTcar national champion from Plainfield, IL, had a trying weekend up to this point, posting back-to-back finishes outside the top-10 on Friday and Saturday. After a 1st-to-3rd slip in his Heat Race Sunday, he and his father David went to work on the car and found a good combination, just in time to bag a runner-up finish.

“After that Heat Race, we were really dejected, so we’re just happy to bounce back,” McKinney said. “We tried a bunch of stuff all weekend, taking a big swing at these big shows and it didn’t really pay off. I’m just happy to end the weekend on a good note.”

Crossing the stripe in third was Longhorn Chassis UMP Modified house car pilot Ethan Dotson. The 23-year-old Californian surged through the top-10 from his eighth-place spot on the starting grid, using the high line momentum to make passes in his first big event at Spoon.

“I was just running the top, kinda buzzing it where they weren’t,” Dotson said. “It was kinda one-laned around the bottom. We’d get lucky every once in awhile and then sometimes it would bite us whenever somebody would break our run.”

32nd PLOWBOY NATIONALS FEATURE RESULTS [50 Laps]

1. 25-Tyler Nicely [3]; 2. 96M-Mike McKinney [9]; 3. 00-Ethan Dotson [8]; 4. 35R-Brandon Roberts [13]; 5. 12L-Lucas Lee [5]; 6. 777-Trevor Neville [1]; 7. 4L-Victor Lee [12]; 8. A9-AJ May [21]; 9. 1E-Jeffery Erickson [6]; 10. 3-Mike Brooks [10]; 11. 21s-Kenny Shaw [17]; 12. 05-Dave Wietholder [16]; 13. 242-Brandon Bollinger [22]; 14. 2-Mike Chasteen Jr. [18]; 15. 8C-Michael Claeys [24]; 16. 33-Dallas Miller [19]; 17. 99-James Carter [20]; 18. 9C-Russ Coultas [22]; 19. 66-Cole Falloway [11]; 20. 292-Josh Allen [2]; 21. K9-Will Krup [4]; 22. 68-Adam Stricker [15]; 23. 25W-Allen Weisser [7]; 24. 32-Chad Roush [14]; 25. 48-Casey Lappin [23]

CONCORD, NC – August 29, 2022 – The seventh annual World Short Track Championship goes green at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Oct. 27-29, now boasting a record 10 divisions of racing over three days.

In addition to the nine divisions that competed last year, the Mid-East Motorsports Thunder Bombers have joined the card, accompanying their Crate Modifieds that have traditionally helped form the Hoosier Racing Tire DIRTcar Pro Modified division. These Street Stock-like cars, typically found racing around the weekly tracks of the Southeast, are abundant in numbers and are expected to bring several new competitors to the event.

SRI Performance has also renewed its partnership with the event, joining as title sponsor to complete the formation of the SRI Performance Thunder Bomber division.

Competing Divisions
FOX Factory Pro/604 Late Models
Chevrolet Performance 602 Late Models
Summit Racing Equipment UMP Modifieds
Hoosier Racing Tire Pro/Crate Modifieds
COMP Cams Monster Mini-Stocks
DIRTVision Sport Compacts/Hornets
VP Racing Fuels Sportsman Modifieds
SRI Performance Thunder Bombers

Street Stocks
DIRTcar Pro Stocks

The revamped event format unveiled last year returns for 2022, featuring Championship Qualifier Features on Thursday night for the DIRTcar Pro Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Pro Stocks. Then, Heat Races, Last Chance Showdowns and the first round of Hornet Features completes Friday night’s program, while the remaining Last Chance races and Features for all divisions closes out the event on Saturday night.

The Driver Appreciation Pit Party also returns to the schedule on Friday night after racing concludes, featuring music and a bonfire to complete the evening.

Pre-registration is now open for all divisions through Tuesday, Oct. 25. Every driver who pre-registers, regardless of division, will receive one additional entry into the drawing for a brand-new Chevy Performance 604 Crate engine at Saturday’s drivers meeting.

DRIVER REGISTRATION

Rules and procedures for all divisions, purses, a complete event schedule, ticket/pit pass/camping prices, and other various event information is now available in the competitor guide, linked below.

COMPETITOR GUIDE

DIRTVision will broadcast all the action at The Dirt Track at Charlotte– one week before the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds take over the facility for the championship determining World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 2-5.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

DARLINGTON RACEWAY

COOK OUT SOUTHERN 500

TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT

AUGUST 29, 2022

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1, met with the media via teleconference in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Darlington Raceway, where Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 will start the 2022 NCS Playoffs. Press Conference Transcript: 

QUITE A CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR WHERE YOU CAME IN AS THE FAVORITE WITH ALL OF YOUR WINS AND PLAYOFF POINTS. WHAT’S IT LIKE JUST BEING IN A POSITION NOW WHERE YOU’RE BACK TO BEING THE ‘HUNTER’ AND TRYING TO DEFEND THIS CHAMPIONSHIP? 

“I don’t know.. I haven’t put much thought into that. Obviously when you look at the points; I think last year, we had 40-something, maybe closer to 50 playoff points, as we headed into the playoffs. This year, I think we only have 19. It already adds a little bit more pressure on each race knowing that you need to go get stage points, stages wins, race wins, all of that, to help out your post-regular season. 

This first round sets up really nice for us and our team. There are three really great tracks for us, so I think it’s a good opportunity for us to have a good few showings; get some playoff points and try to put ourselves in a better spot as we approach the next couple of rounds.”

LAST YEAR WAS REALLY THE FIRST YEAR THAT YOU HAD A DEEP PLAYOFF RUN, WHERE YOU WENT THROUGH EACH OF THE ROUNDS AND YOU GOT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME. HOW VALUABLE WAS THAT EXPERIENCE TO REALLY SEE IT FIRST-HAND ON HOW THE ROUNDS WORK; WHAT IT TAKES, THE VALUE OF PLAYOFF POINTS AND SO FORTH TO GET TO PHOENIX? 

“Yeah, I think only one other time maybe in my career that I made it to the Round of Eight. I believe anyways.. I might not have, but I think I did one other time. That experience would have probably taught me more and prepared me more for this year’s playoffs. Like last year, I feel like it’s not often that a driver has that many points – I know (Kevin) Harvick has done it in the past – but where you have a lot of points and you can rely on those points and not go into each race with some stress of crashing or having something bad happen. And if it does, you’re still not in terrible shape. I think the second round last year, we had a bad Talladega; we had an alternator issue at the ROVAL and I was stressed out. Where I would have been really stressed out if we had the bad race at Talladega with just that one itself. 

I don’t know.. just go out there, execute and try to run upfront all race long. That should hopefully put you in an OK spot.”

YOUR FIRST FULL-TIME CUP SEASON WAS 2014, SO THE ONLY ERA OF CUP RACING YOU’VE EVER KNOWN WAS THE ‘WIN AND YOUR IN’ FORMAT. IT’S NOT TRADITIONAL RACING, IT’S NOT POINTS RACING. DO YOU ENJOY GETTING TO SEPTEMBER AND THE INTENSITY OF THIS FORMAT? AS A RACER, DO YOU ENJOY THAT PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT? 

“Like you said, I don’t have experience the other way, so this is all I’ve known and it’s the only way of racing in the playoffs. I don’t know if the regular season was that way back then when I was running. The playoffs being like this is the only way I’ve known, so it just kind of is what it is to me. I think if I had raced another way, how it was before, maybe I would have a different opinion. But I don’t know anything different, so it’s just the way it’s always been. 

I think having an emphasis on winning is exciting for the fans. Having the elimination stuff is stressful and that makes things exciting to watch on TV and the storylines developing throughout each race. Hopefully we can win some races and just advance that way. That would make things nice.”

WE HEAR ALL OF THE TIME THAT WINNING IS PARAMOUNT. THERE’S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN THE CUP SERIES THAN WINNING. AND YET, WE GET TO THE PLAYOFFS IN SEPTEMBER, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE’RE COUNTING POINTS.. SO IT’S NOT LIKE WINNING IS STILL THE ONLY THING. WHAT IS THE BALANCE WITH YOUR TEAM, IN TERMS OF TRYING TO PUT YOURSELF IN POSITION TO WIN, BUT ALSO COLLECTING MAXIMUM POINTS IN EACH STAGE? 

“Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like in the road courses – and maybe superspeedways a little bit – but mostly the road courses where you have to sacrifice stages for the finishing position. We’ve only got one road course in the playoffs, so aside from that, I think you’re always going to go for the stage points and the race win hopefully comes along with that. Obviously, there are cautions that fall at a certain point at the end of a stage and you have to sacrifice the points for tires and fuel. Then I don’t know.. I think it all kind of depends on where you’re at in the points at that moment. 

But yes, I think everybody always wants to just straight-up go for stage points and the race win.”

WHAT IS IT ABOUT DARLINGTON RACEWAY THAT SETS UP WELL FOR YOU? DID YOU LIKE THE TRACK FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU DROVE IT OR DID YOU HAVE TO GET SOME LAPS IN BEFORE YOU REALLY FOUND YOUR GROOVE THERE? 

“I think most of the races I’ve been in at Darlington (Raceway) have been really good. Maybe if I had some bad results it’s because I got into the wall or something like that. But before getting into the wall, I always remember being competitive, having fun and running up front. I have yet to get a win there, but I feel like it’s in my top three or four for best tracks on the circuit, as far as average running position throughout the race and stuff like that. It just seems to fit my racing style. It’s really technical. You have to move your line around a little bit and be patient. 

It’s just fun. I really enjoy it. It gets slick and hot.. it’s just a very demanding race track. I think the more demanding, it sometimes seems to be better suited for me. Hopefully this weekend we can go there, have a really good run and finally crack out a win there.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR REGULAR SEASON WENT? DO YOU FEEL AS PREPARED AS YOU CAN BE FOR THIS PLAYOFF RUN? 

“Well I think our regular season didn’t go very well, to our standards, but I don’t really know if it did for anybody. Even for Chase (Elliott), like I don’t even know if his regular season was up to their standards. There was just a lot of inconsistency this year throughout the regular season. We had three blown engines now in the regular season, so DNF’s with that. But also mistakes on my part or bad pit stops. Yes, we got a couple wins, which was nice.. but we also probably gave away a couple, as well. 

I would say no, it wasn’t good. But I do still feel like we are prepared for the playoffs. I feel like here lately, our pit crew has been performing well. Our cars have been fast all year long. Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) and our guys have been making good calls on top of the box. I’m doing a little bit better job of taking what I can get out of the race car and not overstepping things. So I feel like we’re prepared. We just have to hope that everything comes together and this is the time of the year for that. 

I know we have a championship caliber team. We proved that last year and we just have to do it again.” 

YOU MENTIONED THE INCONSISTENCIES WE’VE SEEN THIS SEASON. IT’S KIND OF BIZARRE FOR YOU TO HAVE SIX DNF’S, AS YOU MENTIONED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE INCONSISTENCIES, HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE NEW CAR? IT’S REALLY CHANGED THE DYNAMIC IN A LOT OF THESE RACES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FIRST TIME GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO THE POST-SEASON.

“Yeah, it’s hard to say that it’s not a factor with the unique set of drivers in the playoffs. I don’t know what it is about it.. I think just the cars are more similar than they’ve ever been to one another. There are more things that can go wrong in a race that could take you out of it and put others in contention. 

I don’t know.. I think there is a long list of things that can factor into why it is what it is. But I think it’s cool for the race fans to see a different group of drivers up front all year long; a different group than we’re maybe used to seeing in the playoffs. I think it’s added some storylines for the commentators and for you guys, and I think those are all good things.”

COULD THERE BE SOME BIG UNKNOWN THAT NONE OF US ARE EXPECTING THAT POPS UP, SAY IN THE ROUND OF EIGHT EVEN? 

“I don’t know.. I don’t know. I think we just have to kind of wait and see how things play out because it is an unknown. I don’t even know what is an unknown because we don’t know what the unknown is. 

I don’t know. I can’t answer that for you, I’m not really sure.”

YOU DON’T REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE IS A CLEAR CUT FAVORITE RIGHT NOW GOING INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE? 

“I definitely think there are favorites, but there is a lot of craziness that has happened all year long. So even though I have favorites; I’m not confident in anything, just because of how wild and inconsistent the season has been for so many people. I think you can look at us as being one of the favorites. I think you can look at Chase (Elliott), obviously; and in my opinion, Ross Chastain. I would say us three probably, and definitely the Gibbs guys that are in the playoffs. There are a lot of tracks in the playoffs that I think suit their cars and setups very well. Honestly, I would probably look at them as probably being the ones that could go out there and win. I think there are other teams that can do a better job of executing, but the Gibbs guys probably have the fastest and best handling cars to go out there and really win to advance that way.”

WITH YOUR PLAYOFF HISTORY, THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER TIME WHERE YOU WERE ABLE TO GET INTO THE ROUND OF EIGHT BEFORE THE RUN YOU WENT ON LAST SEASON. WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE BIGGEST LESSONS ARE THAT YOU’VE LEARNED THROUGHOUT YOUR PLAYOFF HISTORY THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN CARRY INTO THIS YEAR? 

“If you win, that’s great.. but if you’re not going to win, you just need to maximize your day and make sure you’re finishing the races. I think finishing is the most important thing. If you can finish in the top-10 or 12 every week until you at least get to the Round of Eight, I feel like that should be enough to get you in.. as long as you’re getting stage points, too. Stage points are really important, as well. 

If you get one finish outside the top-20, then I feel like you’ve got reasons to stress. Just not taking yourself out of it has been the biggest thing that I’ve learned over my career of being in the playoffs. I think when you’re young; you think ‘OK, it’s the final 10 weeks and I need to go out there and win’ every week or win at least once a round. That’s not necessarily the case. I think as long as you can just be consistent and finish, let the other guys make those mistakes.”

HOMESTEAD IS ALSO BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR. IS THAT ONE THAT YOU HAVE CIRCLED ON YOUR CALENDAR, AS FAR AS BEING HOPEFUL TO GET BACK TO VICTORY LANE? 

“Yeah, I really like Homestead. It suits me well, being able to run the top and search for different lanes of grip. I do feel like though, with the Next Gen car, it seems to be a lot easier to run inches off the wall. So I’m a little bit worried that the whole field will be running up there and it will be really hard to pass, but we’ll see. It’s going to be great no matter what. Homestead is awesome all of the time. I’m just saying, I think compared to other Homestead races; maybe it won’t be as exciting and as good of racing, just because it could be harder to pass. Just have to wait and see until we get there. 

But I love Homestead and no matter what package that we’ve ran there, I’ve always seemed to love it and run well. I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t be able to go there and contend for a win.”

IS THERE ANY NERVOUSNESS GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES GIVEN THAT YOU GUYS DID HAVE THREE, UNCHARACTERISTIC ENGINE FAILURES DURING THE REGULAR SEASON? 

“I have not really thought about that until we blew up last weekend (at Daytona). Our other two engine failures were early on in the year, so I thought we had it all cured and stuff. Having another issue pop up this weekend – which I think was a totally different issue than I had in the other two – yes, it’s on your mind. But that’s not something you should worry about when you’re on the track. There’s nothing I can do from my position to limit things from happening under the hood. 

I’m confident in Hendrick Motorsports and the engine shop. They are the best in the business and they are going to continue to learn why stuff has happened and make it better for the future. My confidence in them has not gone down at all. I’m still confident that we’re going to have great power and great reliability. 

But yes, it’s more on my mind now than it was, just because it happened the week before the playoffs start.”

WHAT TRACK OR TRACKS PERSONALLY GIVE YOU THE MOST CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THE PLAYOFFS? 

“Obviously I think Talladega. I think the ROVAL is in that same round. So I think that’s the round, where us being a dominant team last year, it almost took us out. That’s the sketchiest round for me. 

As far as a track that I don’t do very well at, I would say Martinsville in that final round is a tricky one for me. But I think it’s also Las Vegas and Homestead, maybe, in that round. Those are two really good tracks for me, so hopefully if I do make it to the Round of Eight, we can have a great Vegas and Homestead and find ourselves in a little bit of a better spot once we get to Martinsville. I think still, to me, that second round is the sketchiest.” 

EARLIER, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL GUYS BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME. DOES IT WORRY YOU THAT SOME OF THESE GUYS – PARTICULARLY GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN PRONE TO CAUSE ISSUES IN THE REGULAR SEASON – DOES IT CONCERN YOU WITH SOME OF THESE GUYS BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT THEY MIGHT KIND OF DRIVER OVER THEIR HEADS A LITTLE BIT? 

“No, not really. I don’t think about that at all. You’re going to be racing with them anyways, whether they’re in the playoffs or not, and they’re still going to be hungry for wins no matter what. I don’t think it changes much. Maybe if they’re in a must-win situation to advance to the next round, that’s when you get a little bit more nervous. But your awareness is going to be high for anybody in a must-win situation. 

Honestly, to me, it doesn’t change my mindset at all. I’d be curious what other drivers would have to say. I don’t think it would change their opinions either. I don’t really think too much into it.”