Another Race – Another Final
Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis has always been a favorite of Stotz Racing. Not only have we won many races but we’ve also set many records there. The Summer heat has always made the track tough to get down quickly. With track temps nearing 140 degrees this year, I was glad to have had so many successful seasons there. It did take us Friday’s test session and into Saturday’s qualifying to get a hold of the track, but Frankie qualified well with the #2 spot.
Continue reading Stotz Racing–6.19.18 Update
All posts by ARP Trish
RCR Event Preview – Sonoma Raceway
Richard Childress Racing in Wine Country … In 69 starts at the 10-turn stadium course, Richard Childress Racing owns two wins, with Dale Earnhardt in the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 and with Robby Gordon in the Save Mart 350 in 2003, one pole award (Earnhardt, 1995), 14 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina,-based team has led 140 laps at Sonoma, completed 7,224 of the 7,270 laps contested (99.4 percent) and recorded just one DNF (Did Not Finish) over that stretch (1989-2017). Continue reading RCR Event Preview – Sonoma Raceway
NHRA–Bristol Results
Top Fuel — Tony Schumacher, 3.946 seconds, 313.58 mph def. Mike Salinas, 5.251 seconds, 152.18 mph.
Funny Car — Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.234, 296.37 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.300, 286.98.
Pro Stock — Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.709, 205.10 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.741, 205.07.
Pro Modified — Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.924, 247.38 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.948, 242.10.
Top Fuel Harley — Tii Tharpe, Dixie, 6.491, 220.33 def. Doug Vancil, Weekend, Foul – Red Light.
Factory Stock Showdown — Joseph Welch, Dodge Dodge Challenger, 8.275, 164.67 def. Arthur Kohn, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Stock — Scott Stillings, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.854, 148.72 def. Ed Longhany Sr., Plymouth Duster, 10.690, 121.79.
Stock Eliminator — Eddie Longhany Jr, Chevy Camaro, 10.698, 118.70 def. Joe Santangelo, Camaro, 10.686, 113.69.
Super Comp — Tyler Caheely, Dragster, 8.928, 170.71 def. Jacob Elrod, Dragster, 8.930, 165.01.
Super Gas — Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.917, 160.81 def. Ray Miller III, Chevy Camaro, 9.927, 164.21.
Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Jeff Brooks, Henry J, 6.720, 206.29 def. Royce Freeman, Chevy Camaro, 6.933, 202.18.
Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Aaron Stanfield, Dragster, 6.320, 217.84 def. Joe Fisher, Dragster, 6.498, 197.54.
JEGS.com driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. takes Pro Stock title in Bristol to extend streak to three
JEGS.com driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. takes
Pro Stock title in Bristol to extend streak to three
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 17) – JEGS.com driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. has been on plenty of hot streaks during his legendary career, but not many like this one.
With a victory in the Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Sunday at Bristol Dragway, Coughlin has scored three wins in the last three weekends. He won in Pro Stock in Chicago, followed that up with a Super Comp win in Richmond and extended the streak to three with the Pro Stock victory here.
“That has a nice ring to it,” Coughlin said of winning three weekends in a row. “Without question, since we’ve made some transitions within the (Elite Motorsports) team, we’ve been really fast – Erica (Enders) and I both. It feels great. Getting a Super Comp win in Virginia was really rewarding as well, and I’m very proud of that because it’s some tough racing.
“To win here at Thunder Valley is fantastic.” Continue reading JEGS.com driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. takes Pro Stock title in Bristol to extend streak to three
Capps, Schumacher Score NHRA Bristol Wins, Double Up for Mopar Dodge//SRT
Capps, Schumacher Score NHRA Bristol Wins, Double Up for Mopar Dodge//SRT
· Ron Capps rumbles to second consecutive NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals win in his Mopar-powered NAPA Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
· Capps’ victory is fifth consecutive win for a Mopar Dodge Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Funny Car at Bristol Dragway
· Mopar-powered U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher scores record sixth career win at Bristol
· Victories by Capps and Schumacher are fifth of 2018 for Mopar Dodge//SRT in NHRA Nitro classes
· Randy Parker, Ed Longhaney claim back-to-back Dodge Top Finisher awards
· More info on Mopar in NHRA available at http://blog.mopar.com
· Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts launches, features highlights from NHRA season Continue reading Capps, Schumacher Score NHRA Bristol Wins, Double Up for Mopar Dodge//SRT
RCR Post Race Report – Iowa 250 presented by Enogen
Matt Tifft Records Seventh Top-10 Finish of the Season at Iowa Speedway in No. 2 Wastebits Chevrolet
“We were all over the field today. We had the challenge of starting from the rear of the field after NASCAR didn’t approve the look of our side skirts. I was able to get up to 15th before the end of Stage 1 with a pretty loose No. 2 Wastebits Camaro. After pitting for four fresh tires and air pressure adjustments, my new left front tire was killed from a lug nut that got stuck in it before we even got off pit road, which forced us to pit for a second time during the stage break for a replacement tire. That shuffled us back in the lineup for the start of Stage 2. From there I was able to battle back up and stay in the top 10 for the majority of the remaining laps. We had great long run speed but just needed a little more out of our car to fire off with. Overall, we were able to get a top-10 finish out of the day, so we’ll take it and learn from it during the off week.”
-Matt Tifft Continue reading RCR Post Race Report – Iowa 250 presented by Enogen
Josh Turner SOD Master in Butler WWIII
ERIE, MI (June 17, 2018) – Josh Turner drove to a spectacular Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt presented by ARP win at Butler Speedway’s WWIII, the second Hog Creek Showdown race Saturday night.
Top Shelf Turner utilized his Gressman Powersports engine and J&J Auto Racing chassis and the track’s top ridge, often slipping over it, blasting by Chad Blonde to the delight of the huge crowd for the win. Former multi-time Butler champion car owner Tom Dale, turned the wrenches to fine tune Turner’s machine.
Turner started on the pole for the feature with Shawn Valenti. Valenti took the early lead as Turner was down to third by the end of the first lap and eventually fell to fifth place. On lap seven, Chad Blonde blasted by Valenti who dropped to fourth by lap 13.
While there was plenty of action up front, all eyes were on Ryan Ruhl. Ruhl, forced to start twentieth due to a heat race issue, made an impressive charge to fifth by lap twelve before a cut right front tire ended his race early. It was deja vu with a flat tire taking Ruhl out of contention at the Butler SOD race on May 19.
Meanwhile, back up front, Turner was searching for a way to correct his backslide. In fifth place on lap nine, Turner moved to fourth on lap ten, third on lap 13, and second on lap 16. On lap twenty-two, Turner charged past Chad Blonde and withheld cautions and Blonde’s attempts to retake the lead, driving off to a three-car length win.
Chevrolet Claims Pro Stock Victory on Father’s Day at Bristol
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
FITZGERALD USA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL DRAGWAY IN BRISTOL, TENNESSEE
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018
Chevrolet Claims Pro Stock Victory on Father’s Day at Bristol
• Jeg Coughlin Jr. earns 60th Pro Stock victory of career, second of season
• No. 1 Funny Car qualifier Courtney Force retains class points lead
• Arthur Kohn is runner-up in Chevy COPO Camaro in SAM Tech Showdown
• Jeff Strickland advances to Stock Eliminator semis in Chevy COPO Camaro
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 17, 2018) – The Chevrolet-powered Pro Stock finalists in the Fitzgerald USA Thunder Valley Nationals have combined for 150 class victories, have faced off 93 times – including 20 times in the final round – and were the Nos. 1 and 2 qualifiers.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., the No. 2 qualifier in the JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS, prevailed over Greg Anderson on a 136-degree Bristol Dragway in the 11th round of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Continue reading Chevrolet Claims Pro Stock Victory on Father’s Day at Bristol
Chevy Racing–NHRA–Bristol
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
FITZGERALD USA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL DRAGWAY IN BRISTOL, TENNESSEE
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018
An interview with Pro Stock winner JEG COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 2 qualifier; 60th Pro Stock win and 79th national event win in seven classes; also beat Greg Anderson at Chicago two weeks earlier; cut an .023 light and ran 6.709 seconds at 205.10):
YOU’RE ON A ROLL
“It feels great and it’s a testament to our team. We showed our way right to the checkers in Chicago and then came back here in Bristol with another win. It felt fantastic from behind the wheel.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Bristol
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Halfway Report
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Halfway Report
Garcia/Magnussen/Rockenfeller fighting in top-five; No. 64 Corvette still going strong
LE MANS, France (June 17, 2018) – Corvette Racing’s No. 63 entry remained among the lead six cars in a hotly contested GTE Pro category as the 24 Hours of Le Mans entered its second half.
Antonio Garcia had just gotten back in the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R prior to the 12-hour mark as the team’s highest-running entry continued to press its attack on the Circuit de la Sarthe and the rest of the 17-car GTE Pro field.
Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller were on the cusp of the led lap into Hour 13 as Le Mans began to claim a handful of contenders in the dark of night. The Corvette was on the brink of the top-five and less than a minute for fourth place in what has been the toughest GTE Pro fight the team has faced. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Halfway Report
COURTNEY FORCE TALLIES HER SEVENTH NO. 1 QUALIFIER OF THE SEASON AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
COURTNEY FORCE TALLIES HER SEVENTH NO. 1 QUALIFIER OF THE SEASON AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 16, 2018) — Courtney Force powered her way to her 24th career No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Robert Hight will start race day from the No. 3 position, John Force will start form No. 6 and, in Top Fuel, Brittany Force is heading into eliminations in the No. 5 position at Bristol Dragway.
To say Courtney Force is dominating the Funny Car category is becoming an understatement. The driver of the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS has now tallied seven No. 1 qualifiers just 11 races into the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. With a 3.993-second pass at 325.92 mph from Friday night, Force continued her streak of qualifying inside the top four and picked up her second consecutive No. 1 qualifier. Continue reading COURTNEY FORCE TALLIES HER SEVENTH NO. 1 QUALIFIER OF THE SEASON AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
Chevrolet Claims Funny Car, Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Honors
CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
FITZGERALD USA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL DRAGWAY IN BRISTOL, TENNESSEE
POST-QUALIFYING RECAP
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
Chevrolet Claims Funny Car, Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Honors
• Courtney Force is Funny Car low qualifier for seventh time of season
• Reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight is the No. 3 qualifier
• Greg Anderson records seventh Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier, 100th of career
• David Barton is SAM Tech Showdown low qualifier in Chevy COPO Camaro
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 16, 2018) – Consistently fast and Courtney Force have been synonymous through 11 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races.
The driver of the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS recorded her fifth Funny Car No. 1 qualifier honor in the past six races and class-leading seventh overall at the Fitzgerald USA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Continue reading Chevrolet Claims Funny Car, Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Honors
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Six-Hour Report
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Six-Hour Report
No. 63 Corvette in thick of tough GTE Pro battle; No. 64 C7.R fighting back after early trouble
LE MANS, France (June 16, 2018) – Corvette Racing found itself in the expected fight among GTE Pro cars in the opening six hours of the 86th 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday. The action in the category – featuring 17 cars and six manufacturers – was fast and furious with one of the team’s Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs in the thick of things.
Antonio Garcia was back at the wheel of the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette one-quarter into the race and in eighth position. All three drivers – Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller – put in double-stints to open the race, which saw the Corvette run anywhere from fifth to 11th after starting from the ninth position. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Six-Hour Report
COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CURRENTLY NO. 1 AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CURRENTLY NO. 1 AT
BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL, Va. (June 15, 2018) — After day one of qualifying at the Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Courtney Force shows no signs of letting up on her domination of the Funny Car class. Force, along with her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team, raced to the top of the field Friday night at Bristol Dragway. Robert Hight currently holds the No. 3 spot with John Force at No. 6. Brittany Force, in Top Fuel, ended the day No. 5.
Courtney Force has yet to qualify, even preliminarily, outside of the top four in 2018 and, at the 11th race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season, it doesn’t look like the Funny Car points leader has any intention of ending that streak. Force, who ran a 4.277-second pass during the first qualifying session, good enough for fourth, came out under the lights with a cool track and blasted to a 3.933-second pass at 325.92 mph to take over the top spot. It was the only Funny Car three-second pass of the day and earned her three bonus points. Continue reading COURTNEY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CURRENTLY NO. 1 AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
N THEIR OWN WORDS: Corvette Racing At 20 Years, Part Two
N THEIR OWN WORDS: Corvette Racing At 20 Years, Part Two
Ahead of team’s 19th appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
DETROIT (June 15, 2018) – There has been plenty said about the impact of Corvette Racing’s 20th season of competition. Prominent figures inside Chevrolet and the program marveled about the team’s longevity, consistency and commitment to global GT endurance racing.
Those words of praise continue as Corvette Racing readies for its 19th consecutive appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans… ahead of what the program hopes is a ninth class victory. Continue reading N THEIR OWN WORDS: Corvette Racing At 20 Years, Part Two
Cruz Pedregon–Bristol Pre-Race
NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals – Bristol
Pre-Race Report
For Cruz Pedregon, racing on Father’s Day weekend has special meaning as the son of Drag Racing legend “Flaming Frank” Pedregon. “My brother Tony and I are still in the business our Dad introduced us to, and we love carrying on the legacy of the sport for him and all the great fans,” Cruz says. “I’m driving and Tony’s in the booth for FOX now, and we both love that our children have known this sport from the very start of their lives. We’re proud to continue the tradition and appreciate all the families and sponsors who are doing the same by coming out to the tracks each week and watching the broadcasts.” This week, you’ll see the Snap-on Toyota in the Frankenstein body after El Chignon sustained significant damage in an explosion last weekend in Virginia that left only a side window intact. Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Bristol Pre-Race
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Garcia Improves in Final Qualifying Session
CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Garcia Improves in Final Qualifying Session
No. 63 Corvette to start on fifth row, No. 64 C7.R on seventh row Saturday
LE MANS, France (June 14, 2018) – Corvette Racing will roll off from the fifth and seventh rows of an extremely deep and challenging GTE Pro field when the green flag flies for the start of the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday. Already with eight victories and 19 consecutive event starts to its credit, the team hopes it can add to its record come Sunday afternoon.
Two final qualifying sessions Thursday helped set the 60-car field, which features 17 production-based entries in the GTE Pro category. Antonio Garcia improved his time from Wednesday’s lone session by a half-second Thursday in the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Garcia Improves in Final Qualifying Session
MULTI-CAR F4 U.S. TEAM EXPANDS OPERATION INTO F3 AMERICAS
MULTI-CAR F4 U.S. TEAM EXPANDS OPERATION INTO F3 AMERICAS
Abel Motorsports commits to the inaugural season of the F3 Americas Championship
INDIANAPOLIS (June 14, 2018)- Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda sophomore team Abel Motorsports confirmed it will campaign for the 2018 F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda championship as a single car operation. Abel Motorsports is the second F4 U.S. team to commit to the new formula-spec ladder. Earlier this month, Global Racing Group announced its expansion.
“When we became aware of the development of the new Ligier F3, we knew that it was going to be a great car. With the 270-horsepower twin turbo Honda powerplant combined with the Ligier carbon fiber chassis, the car will be the next logical step for our drivers’ advancement,” said Abel Motorsports team principal Bill Abel. “The car not only has tremendous leading-edge safety technology built in, it also offers a higher level of sophistication in operation and data gathering which is exactly what drivers coming from F4 are expecting.”
Continue reading MULTI-CAR F4 U.S. TEAM EXPANDS OPERATION INTO F3 AMERICAS
ROBERT HIGHT READY TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THUNDER VALLEY
ROBERT HIGHT READY TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THUNDER VALLEY
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2018) — Just over halfway through the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season reigning Funny Car champion Robert Hight is ready to add another win to his career total at Bristol Dragway. This weekend’s Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals which starts Friday evening with two rounds of Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying will give the 42-time winner his chance.
“I love Bristol. The fans are great,” said Hight. “You can’t beat that facility. We have won there in the past and I would like to get another win at that track. There is a lot of history there.” Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT READY TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THUNDER VALLEY
TOP FUEL CHAMPION BRITTANY FORCE BRINGING POWER TO THUNDER VALLEY
TOP FUEL CHAMPION BRITTANY FORCE BRINGING POWER TO THUNDER VALLEY
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2018) — Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts Monster Energy Top Fuel team are rolling into Bristol Dragway with strong performance numbers and a lot of confidence. The team has bounced back from a tough season-opening race to put themselves right back into the championship mix with eight races left in the Mello Yello NHRA regular season. This weekend’s Fitzgerald USA NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals has Force’s complete attention and excitement. Continue reading TOP FUEL CHAMPION BRITTANY FORCE BRINGING POWER TO THUNDER VALLEY