All posts by ARP Trish

Honda Racing

Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring

Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring
• Ricky Taylor runs third in qualifying for Saturday’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
• Juan Pablo Montoya takes his Team Penske Acura ARX-05 to sixth on the grid
• Tom Dyer, HART lead Acura NSX GT3 effort, qualifying eighth in GTD

SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Ricky Taylor led the way for Acura in qualifying Friday at Sebring International Raceway, and will start his Acura Team Penske ARX-05 prototype from third in tomorrow’s 66th annual running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Driving the Honda of America Racing Team Acura NSX GT3, Tom Dyer will start eighth in the highly competitive GTD class.

Acura Team Penske
Despite a spin early in the 15-minute qualifying session, Taylor rebounded for a quick time of 1:47.773 around the 3.74-mile Sebring road course to place the #7 Acura ARX-05 third, just three tenths of a second off the record pole time set by Tristan Vautier. As at Daytona, Taylor will share driving duties with Helio Castroneves and Graham Rahal.

Driving the #6 Acura ARX-05 prototype he will share with Dane Cameron and Simon Pagenaud, Juan Pablo Montoya qualified sixth with a time of 1:48.177 for Acura Team Penske. Continue reading Taylor Leads Acura Qualifying Runs at Sebring →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Jimmie Johnson

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S FOR PROS CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed the announced end of the No. 48 team’s Lowe’s sponsorship next year and plans moving forward, his desire to continue racing, the challenges thus far this season, and more. Full Transcript:

YOU HAVE HAD SIX VICTORIES AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RACE ON SUNDAY?
‘I feel good about it. This is such a fun track. We’ve all seen this place evolve in the multiple lanes of racing. The character of the track has the bumps, the tire wear, and puts on a great show. So, I’m excited to be back at my home track, as well, the place of my very first win and not a better place to get my 84th. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Jimmie Johnson →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row

CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row
Defending GTLM championship team has won three years in a row at 12 Hours

SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Corvette Racing will go for its fourth consecutive class victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday with its two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs line astern for the start of Saturday’s second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Friday’s GT Le Mans (GTLM) qualifying session at Sebring International Raceway saw defending race winner Antonio Garcia set the pace for Corvette Racing with a 156.588 (115.484 mph) in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R that he shares with Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller – his partners in last year’s triumph. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: All Focus Ahead for Four in a Row →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kyle Larson

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 DC SOLAR CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at Auto Club Speedway and discussed his win at Auto Club Speedway in 2017, his thoughts on competing at the grassroots level and many other topics. Full Transcript:

WHAT ARE YOUR KEYS TO SUCCESS HERE AT THIS TRACK?
“Having a fast racecar is probably the most important key to any race, but we were lucky enough to have a really fast car last year at a lot of tracks, but especially here. I felt like when we got to this race, throughout practice, I felt like I had the car to win. It felt like that was the best Cup car I had ever had to that point. Was able to capitalize on it and get the win. I really enjoy this racetrack. It’s got a lot of different lanes to choose from. You have a lot of tire fall off. It’s just kind of a track that suits my driving style quite a bit. I think that is why we have had a little bit of success here with a couple of Xfinity wins and the Cup win last year. We are just running the Cup car this weekend, but we should be good.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Kyle Larson →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Bubba Wallace

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
AUTO CLUB 400
AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 16, 2018

DARRELL ‘BUBBA’ WALLACE, JR., NO. 43 FARMER JOHN CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at Auto Club Speedway and discussed his thoughts on the start of his rookie season, the alliance between his team and Richard Childress Racing, reduced practice time and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TELL US HOW YOU ARE FEELING ABOUT YOUR FIRST CUP SERIES START AT AUTO CLUB:
“Yeah in our Chevrolet it will be good. I’m excited I was watching the race last night. We are starting off in Q-trim (qualifying trim), so that is always great. Freshly woken up just trying to go as fast as we can here in practice. We have had a lot of success here, a lot of good runs here in the Xfinity stuff. Just trying to utilize some of that and take that into today and learn throughout this weekend. This place is so wide, so many grooves and the biggest thing is tire fall off. Once that happens, start moving up to the fence. Just got to manage it the best we can and take care of it all day. It’s good to have Farmer John on our Chevrolet. So, once we get that rolling we will see how we shake out.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Auto Club Speedway–Bubba Wallace →

Follow A Dream Racing

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals

Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals

Follow A Dream – Gainesville divisional race wrapup – Thursday, March 15, 2018

MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (March 13, 2018) – It was not the season debut that the Follow A Dream/Permatex Top Alcohol Funny Car hoped for in this past weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division event in Gainesville, Florida.

However, the team has high hopes for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event, the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, also at Gainesville Raceway. Continue reading Follow A Dream/Permatex TA/FC team struggles in season debut, but shows promise for Gatornationals →

John Force Racing

COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS

COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL (March 14, 2018) – Courtney Force makes history every time she steps into the winner’s circle as the winningest female Funny Car driver in NHRA history. At the most recent NHRA Arizona Nationals the nine-time winner added to her legacy by racing to victory after watching her legendary father John Force crash and get transported to a local hospital. That kind of determination and focus has the youngest Force daughter ready to get to the 49th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

“That win in Phoenix was definitely a great way to start off our season for our Advance Auto Parts team,” said Courtney Force. “It feels good knowing that we have a pretty good race car. (Crew chiefs) Dan Hood and Brian Corradi have been doing a great job. I am excited to get to Florida. This is a track where I have qualified well but have yet to get a win at the Gatornationals. All of my teammates have won at this track so I am really hoping we can get it done this weekend.” Continue reading COURTNEY FORCE LOOKING TO ADD TO FAMILY LEGACY AT GATORNATIONALS →

Wood Brothers

Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track

Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track

March 14, 2018

Paul Menard’s preferred form of racing pavement is old, gray, abrasive and bumpy.

Therefore it’s no surprise that the veteran driver of the No. 21 Menards/FVP Ford is looking forward to getting back on track at Auto Club Speedway in California, especially after a disappointing run at ISM Raceway, where hit the wall after a bead failure on a tire.

“I feel like our intermediate-track program is better than our short-track program,” Menard said, adding that the safety equipment in his Menards Ford kept him from feeling any soreness following Sunday’s crash at Phoenix. “I’m looking forward to getting to Fontana and seeing what we have there.” Continue reading Menard Ready For Some Slippin’ And Slidin’ On Fast Fontana Track →

Honda Racing

Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring

Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring
• Acura Team Penske seeks to convert Daytona speed to Sebring prototype victory
• Michael Shank Racing looking to build on GTD points lead with Acura NSX GT3s
• CJ Wilson Racing joins Acura NSX GT3 effort; HART makes second GTD start

SEBRING, Fla. (March 14, 2018) – Acura’s largest effort since rejoining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017 will take to the track this weekend for the 66th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, as the manufacturer seeks both overall and GTD class victories on the historic central Florida airfield circuit.

Two Acura Team Penske ARX-05 prototypes and four GTD category Acura NSX GT3s – from Michael Shank Racing, the Honda of America Racing Team [HART] and CJ Wilson Racing – will make up the Acura attack for Saturday’s 12-hour endurance racing classic. Continue reading Acura Team Penske, Acura NSX GT3 Teams Roll into Sebring →

Chevrolet Racing

CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE

What:
49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
When:
Friday, March 16-Sunday, March 18
Where:
Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida
TV:
FS1: Qualifications (taped) – 8:30 p.m. ET Friday; 11 p.m. ET Saturday
FS1: Eliminations and finals (taped) – 7 p.m. ET Sunday

Chevrolet drivers seek to take bite out of Gatornationals prizes
Courtney Force enters 49th annual event with Funny Car momentum on her side

DETROIT (March 14, 2018) – Buoyed by a Funny Car victory at Phoenix, Courtney Force enters the 49th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with mental and mechanical momentum. Continue reading CHEVROLET AT GAINESVILLE →

John Force Racing

DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS BACK TO GAINESVILLE

DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS
BACK TO GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) — Eight-time and defending NHRA Gatornationals winner John Force is heading to Gainesville, Fla. with hopes of getting a fresh start after what has been an, albeit eventful but, unexpectedly slow start to the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.

“I am ready to get back to the race track. We have had some struggles at the first two races but we are figuring it out. My team has been going over my PEAK Chevrolet Funny Car and we’ll be ready. The good news is Robert stayed and tested after the last race and Courtney won in Phoenix. We all share information. I am ready to get back to the fans. It was good to have some time off but now the season is really going to get started. Continue reading DEFENDING GATORNATIONALS WINNER JOHN FORCE HEADS BACK TO GAINESVILLE →

John Force Racing

BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION

BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) — In 2016 Brittany Force captured her first Top Fuel national event win at the historic NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. The Monster Energy Top Fuel driver secured the first John Force Racing double up win and shared the winner’s circle with teammate Robert Hight. This year Force is returning with Hight as the reigning Top Fuel and Funny Car world champions, respectively. It has been a whirlwind two years for the seven-time Top Fuel national event winner and Force is looking forward to getting back to the site of her first victory.

“Gainesville will always be a special track for me. My Monster Energy team had been chasing down our first win since my rookie season in 2013 and we made it happen at the Gatornationals in Gainesville,” said Force. “A first win is something a driver will never forget. That win was the first Top Fuel win for John Force Racing and the first double-up win with teammate Robert Hight. That track, that day is something I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to get back to the Gatornationals this weekend.”
Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE RETURNS TO GATORNATIONALS AS WORLD CHAMPION →

Mopar Racing

Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals

Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals

· Test sessions have Top Fueler Leah Pritchett ready to race her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in Factory Stock Showdown class at Gainesville Raceway
· NHRA Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson will also drive Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in Factory Stock Showdown
· Geoff Turk cracks seven-second barrier at NMCA event, will look to repeat the feat at NHRA Gatornationals
· NHRA Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan to lead Mopar Dodge//SRT Don Schumacher Racing squad into Gatornationals
· Mopar Dodge//SRT display to feature popular Challenger SRT Demon simulators, elevated fan VIP viewing area at Gainesville Raceway
· New Dodge Garage (http://www.dodgegarage.com/), a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts launches; will include highlights from NHRA season Continue reading Mopar Dodge//SRT Driver Pritchett Primed for Double Duty in Top Fuel, Factory Stock Showdown at NHRA Gatornationals →

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

4 Teams Qualify as the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Kicks off 10th Anniversary Season

4 Teams Qualify as the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow
Kicks off 10th Anniversary Season
Joliet, IL. -The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge’s 10th Anniversary Season kicked off at the 11th Annual Race & Performance Expo in Schaumburg, IL. February 24th & 25th. HROT and RP Expo have a long history together as RP Expo was home to the first ever HROT in 2008.

Team Meziere – from Fremd High School, Palatine, IL.Twenty-five teams competed at the RP Expo, and four will advance to the Dual National Championship held later this year at the SEMA and PRI Show.

To qualify for the Dual National Championship, a team must finish disassembling and reassembling a small-block Chevrolet engine in less than 33 minutes, including penalties.

Image may contain: 4 peopleIn fourth place came Team ARP from McHenry Community High School, McHenry, IL with a qualifying time of 32:02. Martin Molina the team instructor said: ”our teams performed well given the short amount of time we had to practice and that it was Mchenry’s first time ever at the competition.” Adding that “the students handled the pressure well.”

Coming in third place with a time of 30:27 was Team Fragola from Lockport High School in Lockport, IL In second place with a time of 20:45 was Team Canton from Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, MI.

Team Meziere from Fremd High School was the first place winning team, finishing with an amazing time of 20:18.

Visit HotRoddersOfTomorrow.com to see the complete results from this past weekend.

John Force Racing

HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION

HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14, 2018) – For Auto Club Funny Car driver Robert Hight the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is always one of the season’s highlight races. Hight recognizes the importance of the event because of the on-track history as well as the pre-race events including the Hall of Fame inductions hosted by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.

“You just get excited coming to the Gatornationals. There is so much history starting with Don Garlits’ Hall of Fame event and then at the races you see a lot of important racers from over the year,” said Hight. “We spent some time after Phoenix testing so I feel good coming into Gainesville.” Continue reading HISTORIC GATORNATIONALS HAS ROBERT HIGHT’S FULL ATTENTION →

Jegs Racing

East Coast opener excites five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

East Coast opener excites five-time
Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. has his sights set on a third visit to the winner’s circle of Gainesville Raceway during this weekend’s 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. And after a successful test session for the entire Elite Motorsports group, Coughlin thinks another trophy run is well within reach.

“We found a few things that appear to be giving us the consistency and efficiency we’ve been lacking at the first two races of the year,” Coughlin said. “The JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro has been a little lazy between 100 foot and 3-400 feet and we look for more favorable results this weekend.
Continue reading East Coast opener excites five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (March 13, 2018) – Dominic Scelzi maneuvered to a fourth-place finish last Friday at Thunderbowl Raceway to earn a top-five result with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series for the third consecutive year.

“That was huge,” he said. “In the past I’ve struggled racing there. We rolled into the Trophy Cup (last year) and I thought we were the fastest car every time we hit the track, but we didn’t end that weekend the way we wanted. To return to the track a couple of months later with the World of Outlaws and record a top five is a huge confidence boost.” Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Posts Top-Five Finish With World of Outlaws in Tulare →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fontana Advance

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
AUTO CLUB 400
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA
MARCH 18, 2018

BOWTIE BULLETS
NATIVE SON:
California native, seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and career-long Chevrolet driver, Jimmie Johnson, is the all-time wins’ leader at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway with six victories. The driver of the No. 48 Camaro ZL1 also has more top five (13) and more top 10 (16) finishes than any other driver at Auto Club Speedway.

CHEVY ON POLE:
Since the first race at Auto Club Speedway in 1997 (won by Chevy driver Jeff Gordon), Bowtie Brand drivers have earned half of all poles at the 2-mile, Fontana, California venue. Only twice has a driver won the Auto Club 400 from the pole. Both times – a Chevy driver – Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and last season (2017) Kyle Larson took his Chevy to victory lane after starting from the top spot. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Fontana Advance →

Jegs Racing

JEGS Racing–Gainesville Advance

Team JEGS Prerace Notes
Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Team JEGS
Prerace Notes

Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla. (March 15-18)

The JEGS Mail Order team will be well represented at this weekend’s 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with Jeg Coughlin Jr. racing in Pro Stock, Mike Coughlin competing in Top Dragster, and third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr. making his debut in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Jeg Jr. will continue his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh championship overall) at this weekend’s event. Jeg Jr. will once again be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team. Continue reading JEGS Racing–Gainesville Advance →

Honda Racing

Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400

Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400
• Honda Off-Road Racing Team follows season-opening win with podium finish
• Second-place result at Mint 400 follows victory in February’s Parker 425
• Ridgeline Baja Race Truck takes on Baja 500 in June

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 12, 2018) – The Honda Off-Road Racing Team and its Ridgeline Baja Race Truck backed up their season-opening win at February’s Parker 425 with a second-place finish through the Nevada desert outside of Las Vegas Saturday at the Mint 400.

Starting from the pole in the 10-truck “7200” class for unlimited V6-powered race trucks, team owner/driver Jeff Proctor and navigator Evan Weller pulled away to an early class lead during the Best in the Desert Racing Association event. But while working their way through several slower-spec Trophy Truck entries, the Proctor/Weller Ridgeline struck a large rock that had been obscured by dust, resulting in a flat tire. Continue reading Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Runs Second at Mint 400 →