Allen Johnson to Retire from Pro Stock Competition After 2017 Season
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 1, 2017) – Longtime Pro Stock fan-favorite and 2012 NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Allen Johnson announced his retirement from Pro Stock competition at the end of this season during a press conference on Friday at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Continue reading Allen Johnson to Retire from Pro Stock Competition After 2017 Season
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS met with members of the media at Darlington Raceway and discussed driving the No. 9 in 2018, his throwback paint scheme, his European vacation and many other topics. Full Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Chase Elliott
MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S THROWBACK CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media Friday at Darlington Raceway to discuss the weather outlook for the weekend, a special community initiative by Darlington, the nature of the track and the end of NASCAR’s summer stretch. Full transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington–Jimmie Johnson
Wolkwitz Qualifies No. 1 for Mopar HEMI® Challenge, McCandless Honored with President’s Award
Geoff Turk and Leah Pritchett Qualify in Top Five for Factory Stock Showdown
Gary Wolkwitz qualifies No. 1 for 17th annual Mopar HEMI® Challenge at U.S. Nationals with 8.443-second pass
Herb McCandless honored with Mopar President’s Award during Mopar Sportsman Appreciation Night
Geoff Turk and Leah Pritchett qualify No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, for Factory Stock Showdown driving Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Paks
August 31, 2017, Brownsburg, Ind. – Gary Wolkwitz grabbed the No. 1 qualifying position for the prestigious 17th annual Mopar HEMI® Challenge at this week’s U.S. Nationals, turning in a superb pass of 8.443 seconds in his sleek 1968 Dodge Dart at Lucas Oil Raceway. The much-anticipated event pits Super Stock Automatic HEMI (SS/AH) drivers competing in 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas head to head for a $15,000 top prize and a unique trophy. The vehicles are the original Mopar package cars and served as the precursor to today’s Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.
Wolkwitz is no stranger to very quick times, as he is also the current SS/AH national record holder. However, he said he has struggled to find power recently, making the No. 1 effort a pleasant surprise. Last year’s HEMI Challenge winner, Jimmy Daniels, qualified second in his ’68 Dart with an 8.501-second elapsed time on the famed quarter mile just outside Indianapolis.
The top 16 finishers in the Mopar HEMI Challenge each receive a cash payout, with all competitors receiving hats, decals and special limited-edition posters. The event has become one of the most anticipated programs for Sportsman racers each year.
Elimination rounds get underway at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning, with the final round scheduled to take place between the first Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying sessions later in the evening.
Herb McCandless Presented with President’s Award
The annual Mopar Sportsman Appreciation Night took place on Thursday evening at Lucas Oil Raceway, where longtime Mopar ambassador Herb McCandless was honored with the special Mopar President’s Award. Mopar Motorsports Marketing Manager, Dale Aldo, made the presentation.
Known as “Mr. 4-Speed” for his uncanny ability to drive manual transmission race cars, McCandless is a Mopar legend. His fledgling start in 426 HEMI-powered Dodge and Plymouth stock drag cars in the mid ’60s led to a successful career racing Super Stock and Pro Stock cars as a member of the U.S. Drag Racing Team for the likes of Sox & Martin and Dick Landy. He founded, owned and operated a successful Direct Connection and Mopar Performance parts business for 22 years, helping Chrysler Corporation develop its dominant small-block race program.
Even today, as a classic vehicle restorer, McCandless has remained loyal to the Mopar brand, Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth vehicles. His announcing of the Mopar HEMI Challenge at each U.S. Nationals has also become an anticipated part of the event. Recognized by his induction into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2008 and Mopar Collectors Guide Hall of Fame in 2012, McCandless has cemented his legacy in the sport of drag racing. The President’s Award recognizes his lifelong motorsports success and unwavering support of the Mopar brand.
In addition to the presentation of the President’s Award, the event honored loyal Mopar Sportsman racers with food and drinks, special guest speakers, demonstrations by SRT engineers, Mopar raffle giveaways, trivia and more.
Turk, Pritchett Qualify for Factory Stock Showdown
Qualifying has also concluded for the fourth of five Factory Stock Showdown events scheduled for 2017, with Mopar HEMI power claiming the No. 3 and No. 5 positions on the elimination ladder in the 16-car field spotlighting modern American muscle. Geoff Turk made an 8.151-second pass at 165.92 mph in his “Blackbird” Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to claim the third spot. Mopar Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett meanwhile is making her Factory Stock Showdown debut at this year’s “Big Go.” She turned in a best lap of 8.199 seconds at 164.09 mph, good enough for the fifth qualifying position in her Challenger Drag Pak entry.
A total of 22 cars made qualifying attempts. The first round of eliminations is slated for noon on Sunday, September 3.
About Mopar Motorsports
The Mopar brand’s commitment to professional motorsports competition was established in the 1950s when a partnership ignited with drag racing pioneer Don Garlits, resulting in the breaking of numerous speed and performance barriers in HEMI-powered vehicles over the next several decades. In 2016, thanks to Don Schumacher Racing driver Ron Capps, Mopar captured its fourth NHRA Funny Car World Championship in the last six years. As Mopar celebrates 80 years as a brand in 2017, it will focus its NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series efforts on NHRA Funny Car and, with rising star Leah Pritchett, NHRA Top Fuel Dragster. Mopar will also bolster its commitment to NHRA Sportsman racing with new contingency rewards, factory support and at-track technical advice and guidance.
Mopar-First Features
During the brand’s 80 years, Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
wiADVISOR: first to incorporate a tablet-based service lane tool
Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals on a smartphone app
F4 U.S. DRIVERS IN ACTION: CANADIAN DRIVER DONATES PRIZE MONEY TO HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY
Steve Bamford and JRi Shocks Give $1000 to Reunite Displaced Pets to Their Families
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 31, 2017)- Animal lover and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda pilot Steve Bamford of Toronto donated his JRi Shocks Hard Charger Award winnings from Virginia International Raceway to the Houston Humane Society. After seeing dozens of images of pets displaced from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on social media and the news, Bamford knew he had to help.
“I have friends and business partners who live in Houston and have been hit hard by the aftermath of Harvey. There are so many great organizations helping with victims, it was extremely hard to pick one, but being an animal lover, this can help save and reunite someone’s furry family member,” said Cape Motorsports pilot Bamford. “Many people have lost their homes and the thought of not having your pet rescued is just one more very emotional and difficult thing we would like to help people avoid.”
JRi Shocks was touched by Bamford’s generosity and decided to match the $500 contribution to increase the donation to $1000.
“When we found Steve Bamford was going to donate his contingency award to the Houston Humane Society, we were happy to match his donation,” stated Marty Flannery, JRi Shocks Sportscar & Open Wheel Market Manager.
Hundreds of animals were separated from their owners during the chaos of Hurricane Harvey. According to NBC News, local shelters that typically house no more than 30 dogs and 60 cats were over capacity, currently housing more than 200 cats and dogs by using a garage as overflow space.
“The number of pets displaced in a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey in need of shelter, food, necessary vaccinations and preventative care is immense,” said Jeff Ryan, JRi Shocks General Manager. “We are honored to help the Houston Humane Society and their selfless efforts as our pets are family members too.”
63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals notebook
Three generations of Grays to mark an NHRA first; recognition of Chevy Camaro, driver
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 31, 2017) – While keenly watching grandson Tanner make runs in the Chevrolet Camaro SS at Bradenton Motorsports Park in January, Johnny Gray was inspired.
The successful businessman, who retired from National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) competition in 2013 after two decades of multi-category racing, suggested that he get behind the wheel of a Gray Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro to join son Shane and Tanner as entries in the 63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
This weekend, they will be the first three generations of racers to compete in the same class in an NHRA national event.
Please use the following link to download a video about Gray Motorsports and Tanner Gray heading into this weekend’s event: https://tracksideracingnews.egnyte.com/dl/seCxa27H6u
This video can be used fully in media and social media applications.
“Being a part of the first three generations to race professionally together is neat, but I see it as racing the biggest race of the year with the closest people to you and may one of us get the win,” said Johnny Gray, 64, who tested this week at zMAX Dragway to prepare for the “Big Go.”
Tanner, 18, a leading rookie of the year candidate, leads all Pro Stock drivers with four victories and is second in the standings heading into the final event of the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season. Shane, who is supporting his son’s acclimation to straight-line racing in lieu of running a full-season schedule, won at Gainesville and will be competing in his ninth race of the season.
“Winning at Indy would be awesome,” Tanner said. “My dad has won here back in 2014 and I remember how big of a deal it was. Racing with my dad and grandpa this weekend would also add to the win.
“Hopefully, my dad or grandpa is lined up against me on the other side in the final.”
Special recognition for Chevrolet Camaro and driver
Ben Wenzel paid $3,463.50 for a new Z-28 Camaro at a Michigan dealership a few months after the September 1966 introduction of the model. On Labor Day weekend in ‘67 at the NHRA Nationals in
Indianapolis, he won the Stock class in the turquoise Camaro.
At the same event, Bill Jenkins drove a ’67 Camaro to the Super Stock win, which marked the first event victories for the iconic Chevy Camaro.
Wenzel continued to have success in the Sportsman ranks through the years with the Chevy Camaro, and he’s entered in the loaded Stock Eliminator class that includes several entries of 2017 Chevrolet COPO Camaros at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
In recognition of his 50-year racing career and the Camaro’s golden anniversary, Wenzel will participate in a special match race Saturday against Chevrolet Funny Car driver Courtney Force, who will drive a street-legal 2017 ZL-1 Camaro.
“There were only 602 of these cars made, but we didn’t buy it because it was unique,” said Wenzel, 75. “We bought it because it was made to race. It’s always been a race car. It’s an amazing car.”
Coughlin closing in on another career milestone
Jeg Coughlin Jr., who earlier this season joined nine other drivers in NHRA history with 600 elimination-round wins, will be competing in his 399th career Pro Stock event.
Coughlin, driving the JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS, has claimed a total of eight victories at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in Sportsman and professional classes since 1992, when he won the Division 3 Super Gas trophy.
“Indy has been a home race of sorts for my family for as long as we’ve all been drag racing,” said Coughlin, from Delaware, Ohio. “Dad won there, all my brothers have won there, my nephew Troy Jr. has won there, and I’ve been fortunate enough to win there a number of times in a variety of cars.
“It’s a place that means everything to drag racers and we’re thrilled to have put the Coughlin name on some of the history that’s been made there.”
Anderson seeking to add more ‘magic’ with seventh win
Four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS) will be seeking his seventh victory in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
The KB Racing driver reached his initial Pro Stock final round at Lucas Oil Raceway in 1999, falling to Warren Johnson.
“Indy has always been magic to me, ever since I was going there as a kid and working with Warren Johnson as a crew chief,” Anderson said. “It’s our biggest race of the year. It’s a different feeling when you walk through the gate. I look forward to it every year.”
Johnson is the all-time Pro Stock leader with 97 victories. Anderson is second with 88, and Bob Glidden is third with 85. Coughlin is fourth with 58. Anderson is second to John Force (148) in wins among active drivers across all pro classes.
Glidden, of Whiteland, Indiana, won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals nine times and advanced to the Pro Stock finals in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-89.
A family affair for reigning Pro Stock champion Line
Reigning Pro Stock champion Jason Line will be among the favorites to win the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS. The KB Racing driver also is competing in Stock Eliminator with his Buick GS.
“This will be the first time I’ve raced Stock Eliminator at a national event since Indy of last season, so to say I’m looking forward to it would be an understatement,” said Line, the 1993 1993 Stock Eliminator Lucas Oil Series champ. “I had a great time earlier this year racing at the division event at GALOT Motorsports Park with my family, and my son Jack has been a big part of the effort to prepare for this. It’s been a learning experience for him, and it’s been fun to work on this together in any spare time we have.
“We were lucky enough to make it to the final round at GALOT, and right before the final Jack said, ‘Daddy, this is the most fun I’ve ever had. We should do this every week.’ It reminded me of being a kid, because that’s where it all started for me, too. It was a family thing.”
Melling Performance extends successful
partnership with Erica Enders and Elite Motorsports
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 30) – Following a very successful five-race stint as title sponsor of two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders and her Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, Melling Performance announced a contract extension through the end of the 2017 season with the most acclaimed female driver in Pro Stock history. Continue reading Melling Performance extends successful partnership with Erica Enders and Elite Motorsports
Throwback Darlington Weekend Is A Special One For Kyle Petty, Ryan Blaney And The Wood Brothers
August 31, 2017
For people who appreciate the history and heritage of NASCAR, any trip to Darlington Raceway, the sport’s original superspeedway, is a memorable experience.
Since 2015, when NASCAR returned to Darlington to race on Labor Day weekend, the track’s traditional date, teams have celebrated the return with special throwback paint schemes, adding another nostalgic element to the Darlington experience. Continue reading Throwback Darlington Weekend Is A Special One For Kyle Petty, Ryan Blaney And The Wood Brothers
Chevrolet Carries Momentum to Watkins Glen for Milestone Race
· Team Chevy marks 100th Verizon IndyCar Series race since 2012
ᴏ Chevrolet has registered 66 race wins and 73 poles in that span
· INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen is penultimate race of the season
ᴏ Chevrolet swept the podium in 2016 race on 3.37-mile road course
· Four Chevrolet drivers among the top five in championship standings
ᴏ Josef Newgarden extended points lead with fourth win of season
· Chevrolet has won the past five races and nine overall this season
DETROIT (Aug. 30, 2017) – Since its return to the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2012, Chevrolet has racked up five consecutive Manufacturer Championships, four driver and team titles, and two Indianapolis 500 victories. Continue reading Chevrolet Carries Momentum to Watkins Glen for Milestone Race
Troy Coughlin Sr. eyes Indy victory as stepping stone to a third NHRA Pro Mod championship
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 30) – For dyed-in-the-wool drag racers and fans, Indy is more than a place; it’s the place. Every straight-line racer dreams of hoisting the Indy “Wally” trophy toward the sky as peers and fans now gaze upon them in a forever-different light, the brilliant light where the victor of the NHRA’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals inhales that rare air of the winner’s circle. Continue reading Troy Coughlin Sr. eyes Indy victory as stepping stone to a third NHRA Pro Mod championship
CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS
What:
63rd Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
When:
Friday, Sept. 1-Monday, Sept. 4
Where:
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Indiana
TV:
FS1: Eliminations live – 11 a.m. ET Monday; FOX eliminations and finals live, 1 p.m. ET Monday Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–U.S. Nationals
ERIE, MI (August 30, 2017) – The 4th annual Mike Olrich Memorial Race is this Saturday, September 2nd at Crystal Motor Speedway. 2017 is SOD’s 38th consecutive season at the speedway. Continue reading SOD at Crystal Motor Speedway Saturday for the 4th Annual Mike Olrich Memorial
Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Darlington Raceway … Richard Childress is tied for third in all-time car owner victories with Holman-Moody and the Wood Brothers at Darlington Raceway with eight wins each. Dale Earnhardt collected all of RCR’s victories at the South Carolina-based track. In 118 collective starts, RCR boasts 22 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval with five different drivers including Clint Bowyer, Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon. The Welcome, North Carolina-based organization holds an average starting position of 17th, an average finishing position of 18th, has completed 36,843 of the 40,765 contested laps (90.4 percent) and has collectively led 2,606 laps.
RCR in the MENCS … In 2,810 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,107 wins, 483 top-five finishes and 1,045 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.7 and an average finishing position of 16.1. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
Support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma … Sign up for the Childress Vineyards/RCR/ECR 5K presented by Performance Springs, Inc. benefiting the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma on Sept. 16 at 5 pm at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, N.C. The race includes a grape stomp and complimentary glass of wine afterward. You can Race and Stomp for $35 or Stomp and Support while relaxing in the pavilion at the winery for only $20.00. Register now and help Save Injured Kids at https://saveinjuredkids.org/5k/. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Southern 500 Advance
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
BOWTIE BULLETS
LOCKED IN:
With only two races remaining until the 2017 Playoffs begin, Chevrolet has five drivers (Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne) locked into the first round of the championship contest. Chevy drivers Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray are currently in points positions that could earn them a slot into the post season, but a race win at Darlington or Richmond would assure their participation as championship contenders. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Darlington Advance
NHRA® Team Report
NHRA U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis
Pre-Race Report
Cruz Pedregon is ready to show off what the Snap-on Toyota is capable of this weekend at “The Big Go.” “As a lifelong drag racing driver and fan, every race is important. But this race is as big as it gets, especially with the top 10 Playoffs spot right there for us to take,” Cruz says. “The team and I have been working long and hard for this, and with the point-and-a-half system at Indy, it’s definitely ‘go’ time for us.”
Crew Chief Aaron Brooks says, “The tuning is set; Cruz is pumped; and we want to show fans at our home track and viewers on FOX and NHRA All Access what this car is all about. It’s been one of the most competitive seasons I can remember seeing in Funny Car, and I’m excited to be a part of it this year.”
An Open House is planned at the Cruz Pedregon Racing shop at 462 Southpoint Cir # A, in Brownsburg, Thursday, August 31 from 5 until 8 p.m. The event is open to the public, and firing up the Funny Car is on the agenda.
On the side of Cruz’s car this week –
If you’ll check the side of Cruz’s car this week, you’ll see the name of Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Trey Reed. Previously a heavy equipment and airline mechanic, Trey has been a Snap-on franchisee for just over seven years and got his start after taking advice from his best friend, who is also a franchisee. His favorite part of the business is sharing his knowledge of tools with other tool lovers on his route. Trey’s also a big fan of the many programs and opportunities Snap-on offers its franchisees to help them reach their personal and career goals.
Allen Johnson Equipped to Suit Up for Successful U.S. Nationals
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (August 29, 2017) – The biggest race of the year is upon Allen Johnson and the Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Team. Johnson reached his first U.S. Nationals final round last year and is hoping to take it one step further this season and bring home the win to Greeneville, Tennessee. Continue reading Allen Johnson Equipped to Suit Up for Successful U.S. Nationals
Permatex/Follow A Dream TA/FC team continues strong recent run, reaches semifinals at Richmond
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts (August 29, 2017) – The Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car team continued its recent strong run, reaching the semifinals of this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Virginia Motorsports Park.
The race was rescheduled from a rained-out event in April.
In its three events prior to Virginia, the Follow A Dream team won races at New Jersey’s Atco Dragway and the team’s home track, New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire, and finished runner-up at Cecil County Raceway in Maryland.
Team owner Jay Blake was hoping for a third win at VMP, but their car suffered unexpected adversity in its first round of eliminations, prompting a change of transmissions.
“We put a complete new long-block in the car prior to Virginia so we’d have a very dependable running motor on the bench for Indianapolis (the upcoming U.S. Nationals this weekend) if we had any issues,” Blake said.
“We had one pass to test the track, set up the car, test the new motor we put in and that the fuel system would be what we hoped it would be.
“We ran a 5.66 second pass and it showed it had great potential. Plus, the track was in good shape. But in the first round of eliminations, we had a bye run. The car broke the rear end right as it left the starting line.
“The team thrashed and we serviced the whole car and swapped rear ends and set it up for the next run. We got put in the left lane, which was the less-desirable lane, and basically the car spun the tires.
“We hadn’t spun the tires for several races. We never had a real good run on the track at Richmond; there was a bunch of new stuff on it and it just wasn’t our day.”
With a new trans in place, the team went back on-track and advanced to the semifinals.
However, it could not go any further when the Permatex-sponsored 2016 Chevrolet Camaro spun its tires at the starting line in its semifinal run against eventual event winner Kris Hool.
“It wasn’t what we were planning on,” Blake said.
Now, the team travels for the biggest race every season on the National Hot Rod Association national event schedule: this weekend’s (Aug. 30-Sept. 4) Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis.
“We were fortunate in a way to get the bugs out of the way at Richmond before we get to Indy,” Blake said. “It looks like it was a parts failure. The rear end only had about 15 passes on it. But now it’s on to Indy. It’s back to business as usual. You’ve just got to go and race it.”
Blake will have two qualifying rounds on Friday and Saturday, while there are two rounds of eliminations on Sunday and the semifinal and final round of eliminations on Monday.
Even with the semifinal loss at VMP, Follow A Dream driver Phil Burkart Jr. remains seventh (402 points) in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ AA/FC national standings, one point out of sixth and 47 points out of fifth.
A strong run at Indianapolis could help Burkart come close to clinching the Lucas Oil East Region championship. He heads to Indy with a commanding 160-point lead over the next closest driver.
The U.S. Nationals have not been the most hospitable host to the FAD team over the years. In more than 15 starts there, the team has only reached the semifinals once.
Blake hopes to break that string of bad luck of early first round and quarterfinal exits this weekend, especially in light of its two recent wins and runner-up finish in its three races prior to VMP.
“Indy’s never been a great race for us, but like everything else, you have to put yesterday in the mirror and go forward,” Blake said. “We’ll go to Indy with what we’ve learned, hopefully the weather will be good and the track conditions will also be good, and we’ll get after it.”
Prior to the team’s race at VMP, Blake visited and gave an inspiring speech to injured military troops at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
“That was a great visit there,” Blake said.
It was the fifth time Blake has spoken at the nation’s preeminent facility for treating soldiers injured in the line of duty.
The Follow A Dream team has been a staunch supporter of our nation’s military for more than a decade.
To illustrate that, the rear of the FAD Chevrolet Camaro carries dozens of signatures of military members who’ve visited with the team over the years.
The car also carries this saying on its rear window: “Free to dream, thanks to our troops.”
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Will Return to Famed Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford Fusion in 2018 with New Driver Paul Menard
August 29, 2017
The iconic No. 21 Ford Fusion race car of Wood Brothers Racing will have a new face behind the wheel in 2018, but for 14 races it will have a very familiar look to race fans as Motorcraft and Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers return as major sponsors of the team for the 18th season. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Will Return to Famed Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford Fusion in 2018 with New Driver Paul Menard
DRIVERS IN ACTION: F4 U.S. DRIVERS DONATE RACE WINNINGS TO HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS
Dakota Dickerson and Jordan Sherratt Pledge $1000 to American Red Cross
ALTON, VIRGINIA (Aug. 28, 2017)- Dakota Dickerson of San Diego and Jordan Sherratt of Durban, South Africa, donated a portion of their Virginia International Raceway race-winnings to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda drivers, along with a donation-match from SCCA Pro Racing, contributed $1000 to support the American Red Cross efforts to provide clean water, safe shelter and hot meals to disaster victims when they need them most. The pair both have personal ties to the areas affected by the storms. Continue reading DRIVERS IN ACTION: F4 U.S. DRIVERS DONATE RACE WINNINGS TO HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS
Team JEGS Prerace Notes:
63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
Team JEGS Prerace Notes:
63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
(Indianapolis)
August 30-Sept. 4, 2017
The JEGS Mail Order team will be well represented at this week’s 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will lead the effort behind the wheel of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Camaro in Pro Stock, his brother Troy will be competing in the J&A Service Pro Mod Series and nephew Troy Jr. is racing in the Super Comp category.
Jeg Jr. will continue his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh overall) at this weekend’s event. Jeg Jr. will be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team.
Following the most recent event in Brainerd, Minn., Jeg. Jr. enters this week’s race as the seventh-ranked driver in the Pro Stock class. So far this year, Jeg Jr. has earned runner-up finishes in Houston and Topeka to go with four semifinal results.
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Last year, Jeg Jr. raced his first full season for the Elite team and recorded the 16th top-10 finish of his career. Jeg Jr. already has qualified for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, which means he will record a 17th top-10 finish this season.
Jeg Jr. is teammates with two-time world champ Erica Enders, Vincent Nobile and Alex Laughlin. Veteran crew chiefs Rick Jones, Mark Ingersoll and Brian “Lump” Self are the tuners of the Elite Pro Stock cars and regularly share data.
This season, Jeg Jr. has been Pro Stock’s No. 1 qualifier in Houston, Charlotte and Bristol, Tenn. He has been the low qualifier 23 times in his career.
Jeg Jr. has won races at 24 different facilities across the United States, including Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. The only stops on the on the current NHRA Mello Yello tour where he has not won are Norwalk, Ohio, and Epping, N.H.
Jeg Jr.’s best elapsed time in a Pro Stock car is 6.484 seconds and his best speed is 214.62 mph, both recorded in Gainesville in 2014. Earlier this season in Houston, he ran a best of 6.499 seconds, his best run in the fuel injection era.
Earlier this season, Jeg Jr. became just the 10th NHRA racer to win 600 elimination rounds when reached the semifinals in Topeka. He currently has 605 round wins. The other nine drivers with 600 wins are: John Force (1,280), Warren Johnson (874), Tony Schumacher (800), Greg Anderson (745), Kenny Bernstein (682), Larry Dixon (678), Antron Brown (666), Ron Capps (663) and Doug
Kalitta (610).
Jeg Jr. has three career Pro Stock victories at Lucas Oil Raceway, having won there in 2000, 2002 and 2009. Jeg Jr. defeated Ron Krisher in the 2000 final and stopped Jim Yates in 2002 and Greg Stanfield in 2009.
In 17 career appearances at Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis, Jeg Jr. has a round win record of 23-13 in Pro Stock competition, making it one of his most successful tracks.
As a sportsman driver, Jeg Jr. also claimed the Super Gas title in Indy in 1992, beating Sherman Adcock Jr. in the final round. Jeg Jr. also won the prestigious Mopar Hemi Challenge at Indy in 2004, driving Michael Ogburn’s West Coast Hemi’s Barracuda to a final round win over Rick Houser.
Jeg Jr. is a five-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion. He earned season titles in 2000, 2002, 2007-2008 and 2013. As a sportsman driver, Jeg Jr. claimed the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1992.
Jeg Jr. is the only driver to win national event titles in seven different categories. He has won in Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Top Dragster.
Jeg Jr. is the only professional racer in history to win a national event title from all 16 starting spots. During his Indy win in 2000, Jeg Jr. qualified No. 16.
With 58 Pro Stock wins in his career, Jeg Jr. ranks fourth all-time in the class. Only Warren Johnson (97), Greg Anderson (88) and Bob Glidden (85) and have more titles.
In 398 career Pro Stock races, Jeg Jr. has reached the final round 102 times, recording 58 wins. Including his 18 sportsman victories, Jeg Jr. has won a total of 76 times, good for ninth place on NHRA’s all-time list. During his career, Jeg Jr. has appeared in 126 final rounds, 102 as a professional and 24 as a sportsman racer.
During his Pro Stock career, Jeg Jr. has competed in 398 events and has a round-win record of 605-324. He has red-lighted just 22 times and failed to qualify just 16 times.
Troy Coughlin
The Indy race will mark the ninth event in the 12-race 2017 J&A Services Pro Mod Series. Two-time series champion Troy Coughlin will continue his quest for a third title behind the wheel of his turbocharged JEGS.com
C7 Corvette.
At the most recent event in Norwalk, Troy was a runner-up to Shane Molinari in a final round battle between two turbocharged entries. Troy has been to the final round of the last three Pro Mod events, recording a win in Bristol and runner-up finishes in Englishtown and Norwalk.
Troy is currently ranked No. 2 in the championship standings behind leader Mike Castellana. As a result of his recent surge, Troy is just 82 points out of first place with four events remaining.
The JEGS.com Pro Mod Corvette is tuned by noted turbocharger expert Steve Petty. With a top speed in excess of 260 mph, Troy is one of the fastest drivers in the Pro Mod class. He has also recorded a personal best elapsed time of 5.766 seconds.
Last year, Troy battled for the title until the final event of the season before finishing a close second to eventual champ Rickie Smith. He claimed three wins in Englishtown, St. Louis and the season-ending event in Las Vegas.
Last season, Troy was one of just four Pro Mod racers, along with Michael Biehle, Steven Whiteley, and Rickie Smith, who qualified for all 10 events. In 2015-16, Coughlin was the only driver to qualify for all 20 races.
Troy won his first NHRA national event title at the U.S. Nationals in 1991 when he drove his Pro Stock-style Olds to the win in Super Gas. Troy defeated Mary Ann Jackson in the final. Troy’s first Pro Mod victory came at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey in 2005 when as he drove his supercharged Mustang to a win over Zack Barkledge in the final round.
Troy is one of the few Pro Mod competitors who have raced all three current engine combinations; turbocharged, supercharged and nitrous oxide-assisted.
Before moving to the Pro Mod class, Troy enjoyed success in the NHRA Pro Stock class, recording two wins in 12 final-round appearances. He also won the $50,000 top prize at the 2000 Winston No Bull Showdown at Bristol Dragway, a special non-points event for Pro Stock competitors.
All told, Troy has 14 NHRA national event wins in 34 final-round appearances in Pro Mod, Pro Stock and Super Gas competition.
Troy is a former National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Pro Street champion. While racing his Pro Street car, he also won the $50,000 Big Dog event at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro, N.C.
Troy Coughlin Jr.
Troy Jr. is a five-time NHRA national event winner and the first third-generation Coughlin to win a major event. Troy Jr. won Super Comp titles at the 2009 Las Vegas race, the 2010 U.S. Nationals and the 2013 Gainesville event. He also won a pair of national events in 2014 at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals.
Troy Jr. was the 2013 NHRA North Central Division Super Gas champion.
During his career, Troy Jr. has appeared in nine Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional final rounds and has claimed three victories.
In addition to his success in NHRA events, Troy Jr. also is regarded as one of the sport’s best E.T. bracket racers. He has accumulated several major victories including a $25,000 payday at the Atco Dragway Superbucks event and a $10,000 win the Spring Buck Blast at South Georgia
Motorsports Park.
The Coughlin family, including John, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr. and Troy Jr. has combined for 115 NHRA national event victories since 1990. The Coughlin’s have won in nine different eliminators including Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Mod, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. Continue reading Team JEGS Prerace Notes: 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals