Monster Tsuiso Experience and Drift Masters Rd4
What do you get when you combine Baggsy in his #LSXR35, Monster Energy teammate Luke Woodham and a huge Go Kart track deep in Slovenia? The Monster Tsuiso Experience. Three days filled with media interviews, ride alongs, Monster Girls, VR gaming and more. Continue reading Monster Tsuiso Experience and Drift Masters Rd4
Richard Childress Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway … In 67 previous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has posted two pole awards (Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Jeff Burton in 2006), three wins (Dale Earnhardt in 1995, Harvick in 2003 and Paul Menard in 2011), 12 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes. RCR Chevrolets have also been atop the leaderboard for a total of 268 laps and with the exception of one, each entry has been running at the finish of every event at the Brickyard, dating back to the inaugural race in 1994. Continue reading RCR Event Preview – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: By the Numbers
DETROIT (Sept. 5, 2018) – There are only three tracks at which Corvette Racing has competed in each of its 20 seasons. One of those is WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, site of this weekend’s America’s Tire 250 for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. During the last 19 years, the team has amassed an impressive record of victories and miles on the California coast, as you can see below…
1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 20 years: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette.
2: Double-podium finishes this season for Corvette Racing: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America.
3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Laguna Seca since 1999 – Corvette C5-R (1999-04) Corvette C6.R (2005-2013) and Corvette C7.R (2014-current).
3: Consecutive wins for Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca from 2012-14.
3: Pole positions and fastest race laps at Laguna Seca by Jan Magnussen in Corvette Racing entries.
4: Career victories at Laguna Seca for Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen. All four of Gavin’s have come with Corvette Racing.
6: Consecutive GTLM podium finishes for Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen in the No. 3 Corvette – Mid-Ohio (third), Watkins Glen (second), Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (second), Lime Rock Park (second), Road America (third) and VIR (second).
7: Number of Laguna Seca victories for Corvette Racing dating back to 2004.
8: As in Chevrolet’s small-block V8. More than 100 million units have been sold worldwide and is the most successful engine in American motorsports.
9: Laguna Seca victories for Corvette Racing from the current driving lineup – Oliver Gavin (four), Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia (two) and Tommy Milner (one).
11: Drivers who have competed for Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca. Of those, seven went on to win at Monterey.
11: Victories at Laguna Seca for Chevrolet in IMSA competition.
12: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001.
16: Number of GT Le Mans wins in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing since the start of 2014. That’s the most of any manufacturer and team in GTLM.
24: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen.
28: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999.
107: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 99 in North America and eight at Le Mans.
210: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999 following the most recent race at VIR.
11334.24: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 19 previous trips to Laguna Seca. That represents 5,147 laps or nearly 667 trips along historic 17-Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula.
279,324.46: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history – covered “just” 248,655 miles.
Giovanni Scelzi Earns First Career Win in Indy Race Parts Ride
Inside Line Promotions – ORRVILLE, Ohio (Sept. 4, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi highlighted a stout weekend by capturing his first career feature victory in the famed Indy Race Parts backed No. 71 sprint car last Friday. Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Earns First Career Win in Indy Race Parts Ride
ERIE, MI (September 4, 2018) – The four-race Butler Motor Speedway/Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP Hog Creek Showdown wrapped up with the Butler Bash on August 4th. Chad Blonde used four solid finishes, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and 2nd, to take the championship. Shawn Valenti took the HCS finale but it was too little, too late to catch Blonde.
2018 Hog Creek Showdown final points are:
1. 5B, Chad Blonde, 569
2. 7, Shawn Valenti, 545
3. 27B, Boston Mead, 482
4. 10s, Jay Steinebach, 472
4. 4, Josh Turner, 472
Blonde will collect $1,000 at the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Awards Banquet on October 27 at the Battle Creek Holiday Inn, Battle Creek, Michigan for his HCS championship. The top five in HCS points will be awarded a portion of the mini-series point fund.
For full HCS point standings and all other Sprints On Dirt points, go to the SOD website and click on the “2018 Points” tab.
The 2018 Hog Creek Showdown dates and top three were:
Saturday, May 19, Chase Ridenour, Boston Mead, Chad Blonde
Saturday, June 16 – WWIII, Josh Turner, Chad Blonde, Shawn Valenti
Friday, August 3 – Butler Bash 1, Chad Blonde, Ryan Ruhl, Boston Mead
Saturday, August 4 – Butler Bash 2, Shawn Valenti, Chad Blonde, Quentin Blonde
CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Championship Fight Heads West
Program in contention for third straight IMSA GTLM title with two races to go
Garcia, Magnussen arrive in California with Driver Championship lead
All four Corvette Racing drivers with multiple Laguna Seca victories
Chevrolet still in race for GTLM Manufacturer’s title
One of three tracks to play host to Corvette Racing in each of its previous 19 seasons Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT LAGUNA SECA: Championship Fight Heads West
Top Fuel — Terry McMillen, 4.037 seconds, 300.66 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 4.067 seconds, 303.57 mph.
Funny Car — J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 4.062, 311.70 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.141, 300.60.
Pro Stock — Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.641, 208.42 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.639, 206.80.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.864, 197.10 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.884, 197.02.
Pro Modified — Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 6.167, 168.51 def. Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 6.682, 189.26.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.821, 257.09 def. Chris Marshall, Camaro, 6.638, 154.02.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Josh Hart, 5.271, 274.89 def. Dan Page, 5.460, 261.62.
Competition Eliminator — David Rampy, Roadster, 7.386, 154.25 def. Greg Kamplain, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Super Stock — Dennis Steward, Plymouth Savoy, 10.411, 100.76 def. Dale Hulquist, Pontiac Grand Am, Foul – Red Light.
Stock Eliminator — T.C. Morris, Pontiac GTO, 10.971, 121.11 def. Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Joe Hessling, Dragster, 8.903, 189.90 def. Gary Stinnett, Dragster, 8.912, 179.18.
Super Gas — Devin Isenhower, Chevy Camaro, 9.907, 157.50 def. Steve Hoyt, Chevy Corvette, 10.271, 132.26.
Factory Stock Showdown — Leah Pritchett, Dodge Challenger, 8.108, 170.26 def. Mark Pawuk, Challenger, 8.191, 167.51.
Top Fuel Harley — Tii Tharpe, JTR, 6.442, 224.02 def. Doug Vancil, Weekend, 7.054, 155.45.
HEMI Challenge — James Daniels, Dodge Dart, 8.662, 156.15 def. Gary Wolkwitz, Dart, 10.110, 97.63.
FORD AND BRAD KESELOWSKI SWEEP DARLINGTON RACEWAY
DARLINGTON, SC – September 4, 2018 – Brad Keselowski, driving the No. 2 Team Penske Ford Fusion, won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this season, at the iconic Darlington Raceway on Sunday night in the Southern 500. In addition, on Saturday afternoon, Keselowski recorded his first career win at South Carolina’s historic speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Race Sport Clips Haircuts 200. Continue reading FORD AND BRAD KESELOWSKI SWEEP DARLINGTON RACEWAY
Hagan Runs Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to First Ever Final-round Appearance at Indy
Pritchett Takes First Win, Sets Class Records in Factory Stock Showdown
Matt Hagan becomes first driver to take new Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car body to final-round appearance at NHRA U.S. Nationals
Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver Hagan advances to sixth final round of 2018 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, 53rd of his career
Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett pulls double duty, earns first career Factory Stock Showdown win in Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak
Pritchett sets elapsed time and speed records in Factory Stock Showdown en route to earning pole
Pritchett defeats DSR teammate Mark Pawuk in second straight all-Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak final in the class Continue reading Hagan Runs Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to First Ever Final-round Appearance at Indy
Ryan Eversley Claims TCR Title with Two Wins at Watkins Glen
• Ryan Eversley sweeps doubleheader race weekend to secure TCR class championship
• Mason Filippi completes 1-2 Sunday race result for Honda, RealTime Racing
• Tom O’Gorman concludes Honda championship weekend with TCA class title
WATKINS GLEN, New York – (Sept. 2, 2018) – RealTime Racing driver Ryan Eversley took all of the drama out of the World Challenge Touring Car R (TCR) class championship at Watkins Glen International Raceway, claiming victory in both rounds of the doubleheader race weekend to secure his first-ever series crown. Continue reading Ryan Eversley Claims TCR Title with Two Wins at Watkins Glen
Runner-up finish for six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. at drag racing’s biggest event
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — Coming up just a few feet short of a sixth U.S. Nationals title didn’t dampen Pro Stock kingpin Jeg Coughlin Jr.’s weekend too much, especially after learning he’d advanced up one position in the Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoff that begins in two weeks.
Coughlin used expert driving skills to emerge from the No. 7 qualifying position and beat Alex Laughlin, four-time series winner Greg Anderson and reigning class champion Bo Butner to reach his fourth final of the year. The effort lifted the JEGS.com pro from fifth to fourth place in the final regular season rankings, which puts him 10 points closer to the No. 1 spot when the points are reset later today for the Countdown.
Continue reading Runner-up finish for six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. at drag racing’s biggest event
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
64th CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL RACEWAY IN INDIANAPOLIS
MONDAY, SEPT. 3, 2018
Chevrolet Driver Success at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Sets Stage for Countdown
• Tanner Gray wins first at Indy; secures Pro Stock No. 1 seed for Countdown
• Courtney Force is No. 1 seed, Robert Hight is No. 3 entering the playoffs
• Stephen Bell, Arthur Kohn drive COPO Camaros to SAM Tech Showdown semis
• Jeff Myers reaches semifinals of Super Stock in Chevrolet COPO Camaro Continue reading Chevrolet Driver Success at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Sets Stage for Countdown
JOHN FORCE RACING EXITS U.S. NATIONALS WITH
EYE ON CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3, 2018) — On the strength of their performances in Monday’s 64th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, 16-time Funny Car Champion John Force, reigning Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force and two-time reigning Funny Car world champion Robert Hight secured their starting positions in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
They will join Courtney Force, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS, who already had earned the No. 1 starting position in Funny Car for the six-race playoffs that begin in two weeks at Reading, Pa. Continue reading JOHN FORCE RACING EXITS U.S. NATIONALS WITH EYE ON CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN
ERIE, MICHIGAN (September 3, 2018) – Labor Day weekend traditionally brings the curtain down on the Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP points season and this year is no exception. There is one twist for 2018 though, the points finale, the Mike Olrich Memorial and MAHLE/Clevite Beyond Limits Challenge Championship fell victim to heavy rains and flooding at Crystal Motor Speedway Saturday. The Dual On Dirt Take II at I-96 Speedway on September 21 and the COMP Cams End-of-the-Year Shootout at Berlin Raceway on September 29 are non-points races. Continue reading Chad Blonde repeats as SOD King Engine Bearings King of Michigan
Menard Finishes 17th In Southern 500 at Darlington
September 3, 2018
Paul Menard and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team came away with a 17th-place finish after a long, hard night in the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Menard started the race from 14th place but fell back early due to contact related to some tight-quarters racing on the Track Too Tough To Tame. Continue reading Menard Finishes 17th In Southern 500 at Darlington
Farnbacher, Acura Prove Pace at Watkins Glen
• Mario Farnbacher, Acura star at Watkins Glen Pirelli World Challenge doubleheader
• Acura NSX GT3 starts second, sets fastest lap on Sunday
• Contact ends Sunday run; tire issue disrupts Saturday’s race
WATKINS GLEN, NY (Sept. 2, 2018) – The Acura NSX GT3 demonstrated its speed and potential in its return to Pirelli World Challenge competition this weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Continue reading Farnbacher, Acura Prove Pace at Watkins Glen
Austin Dillon and No. 3 American Ethanol Team Fight Their Way to 16th-Place Finish
“First, I’d just like to say it was a privilege to drive the ‘Silver Secret’ and honor Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR Throwback weekend at Darlington. The No. 3 American Ethanol e15 Camaro ZL1 showed solid speed today even though we finished 16th. At one point during the first stage, we were the fastest car on the track. Near the end of the stage, I battled to stay on the lead lap and managed to do so even with some contact before the stage break. I battled a loose car during Stage 2. And again, near the conclusion of the stage, I was touched by another car as I fought to stay on the lead lap. Even though I missed staying on the lead lap by a nose, I got the lucky dog to start the final stage. Our guys did a great job making repairs to the minor damage. The final stage proved to be a bit more difficult. Unfortunately, we were assessed a penalty for an uncontrolled tire during a pit stop halfway through the stage. Even though we went a couple laps down, we didn’t stop fighting and eventually found ourselves back on the lead lap with less than 25 laps to go. In the end, our finish didn’t represent the team’s effort. We had a better car than 16th and will look to get back on track next week at Indy.” Continue reading RCR Post Race Report – Bojangles’ Southern 500
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
3rd KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 DC SOLAR CAMARO ZL1
5TH CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA THROWBACK CAMARO ZL1
9TH JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S 50 YEARS OF BIG MAC CAMARO ZL1
13TH CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 BUSH’S BEST SINCE 1908 CAMARO ZL1
16TH AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL E15 CAMARO ZL1 Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Post Races
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S THROWBACK CAMARO ZL1 – Sidelined on Lap 227 with mechanical issue
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT HAS TAKEN YOU OUT?
“It was something about the oil pump, I believe. I’m not sure if it’s through the belt, of something else went on. But, the amount of time it takes to get the engine apart and the oil pump out to put a new one on, it just takes too long. Thankfully, the engine is okay, we think; but it just takes too long to get the oil pump out.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Race Notes
JOHN FORCE RACING TEAM HEADS INTO RACE DAY AT
U.S. NATIONALS LOCKED INTO THE NHRA PLAYOFFS
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 02, 2018) — All four John Force Racing teams will head into race day at the 64th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals with Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoff berths secured. In qualifying for Monday competition, both Brittany and John Force, who were uncertain of their fate until the end of five sessions and three days of qualifying, earned positions in the six race playoffs joining teammates Courtney Force, who locked in the No. 1 starting spot on Friday, and Robert Hight, who will be racing to clinch the No. 2 spot behind Courtney. Continue reading JOHN FORCE RACING TEAM HEADS INTO RACE DAY AT U.S. NATIONALS LOCKED INTO THE NHRA PLAYOFFS