All posts by ARP Trish

Mopar Racing

Pritchett Takes No. 1 Qualifying Spot, Track Record for Mopar in Top Fuel at NHRA Sonoma

Pritchett Takes No. 1 Qualifying Spot, Track Record for Mopar in Top Fuel
at NHRA Sonoma

Mopar-powered Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett sets track record with pass of 3.669 seconds at 304.80 mph during qualifying for NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway
Top Fuel dragsters featuring HEMI® power from Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) have qualified No. 1 on eight occasions in 2017
Mopar Nitro teams from DSR have set low E.T. 12 times overall this year
Pritchett’s No. 1 qualifying effort is second in a row, fifth of season and sixth of career
Jack Beckman leads Mopar Funny Car drivers by qualifying in No. 3 position
Five Mopar Dodge Funny Cars qualify for 16-car field
July 29, 2017, Sonoma, Calif. – For the second week in a row, Leah Pritchett and her Mopar HEMI®-powered Top Fuel dragster will begin Sunday’s elimination rounds from the No. 1 position. Continue reading Pritchett Takes No. 1 Qualifying Spot, Track Record for Mopar in Top Fuel at NHRA Sonoma →

Allen Johnson Racing

Allen Johnson Plans to Put Top Half Qualifying Spot to Good Use on Raceday at Sonoma Nationals

Allen Johnson Plans to Put Top Half Qualifying Spot to Good Use on Raceday at Sonoma Nationals

SONOMA, Calif. (July 29, 2017) – At most racetracks on the circuit, having lane choice during eliminations is of utmost importance for raceday success and Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing’s Allen Johnson will start his raceday from the top half at the 30th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

On Friday, Johnson began qualifying at Sonoma Raceway with a solid 6.593-second pass at 210.05 mph. As the temperatures dropped for the evening session, Johnson and crew chief Adam Hornberger capitalized on cooler conditions and bettered their performance with a 6.581, 210.64.

Saturday, the first session of the day proved to be difficult for teams to get any power to hold on the racetrack but Johnson proved why he has had so much success in the Pro Stock class when he was one of the only cars to get down the track with a stout 6.584, 211.03. Johnson closed out qualifying with his quickest of the weekend so far – 6.578, 210.41.

“Our Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing team is trying some new things for our long-term performance right now,” Johnson said. “I think we have a chance at it tomorrow if we can execute and get a few lucky breaks our way. In the last session today, we were only a little over one hundredth of a second behind them and that’s the closest we’ve been all year.”

No. 8 Johnson will have lane choice over No. 9 Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the first round.

“When you have a matchup against Jeg first round, it’s going to be a tuner and driver combination that will win,” he added. “He can be tough on the tree and usually runs well. I will go up there and plan to be 20 or better on the tree. The stuff we are trying is paying dividends so I think we can do well tomorrow.”

Chevrolet Racing

CHEVROLET AT SONOMA Final Round Qualifying Driver Quotes – NHRA Sonoma Nationals

CHEVROLET AT SONOMA

Final Round Qualifying Driver Quotes – NHRA Sonoma Nationals

SONOMA, Calif. (July 29, 2017) – Drivers Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) led the way for Team Chevy in qualifying at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday. Hight and Skillman earn No. 1 starting spots in their respective categories while Force is second in hers. Continue reading CHEVROLET AT SONOMA Final Round Qualifying Driver Quotes – NHRA Sonoma Nationals →

Erica Enders

Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping for better results on race day in Sonoma

Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping
for better results on race day in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) — The first two days of the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals have been a bit of a struggle for two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, but that hasn’t dampened the spirits of the always popular pro from Houston.

“We definitely have an issue that we are working to fix,” Enders said after qualifying a season-low 15th on the grid with a 6.949 at 211.89 mph. “Everybody is doing all they can to figure out what the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro wants and, so far, it’s just not translating to
the scoreboard. Continue reading Crowd favorite Erica Enders hoping for better results on race day in Sonoma →

Jegs Racing

Mid-pack start for five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. in Sonoma

Mid-pack start for five-time Pro Stock
champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. will line his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro up in the No. 9 starting spot when Sunday’s eliminations for the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals begin at Sonoma Raceway. The five-time Pro Stock champion and 59-time national event winner posted a best pass of 6.598 seconds at 210.90 mph, earning his mid-pack perch. Continue reading Mid-pack start for five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. in Sonoma →

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–US Cellular 250

Top-10 Run Spoiled by Cut Tire for the RTP / Rheem Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway

“This RTP / Rheem Camaro was really, really good on long runs all weekend. We fired off from our 13th-place qualifying effort and made our way into the top-10 by the end of that first stage. Randall (Burnett, crew chief) and the pit crew adjusted on this Chevy and we were able to race into the top-five at the halfway point. Unfortunately, I made a mistake on pit road and was pinned in the pit stall, which caused us to lose quite a few spots. To make matters worse, we cut right front tire with 50 to go and ended up crossing the finish line in 23rd. I hate our result didn’t reflect how good this Chevy was here at Iowa.” Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–US Cellular 250 →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Dale Earnhardt Jr.

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
OVERTON’S 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPTS
JULY 29, 2017

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Pocono Raceway and discussed his relationship with the track over the years, his thoughts on the first practice session and many other topics. Full Transcript:

Prior to starting his formal media availability at Pocono Raceway Nick Igdalsky (CEO at Pocono Raceway) announced that in honor of Dale’s retirement as a full-time Cup Series driver, the track is donating $8,888 to both the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Foundation and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital for a grand total of $17,776.
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Dale Earnhardt Jr. →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Mid-Ohio

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY 200 AT MID-OHIO
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUALIFYING – POLE WINNER’S QUOTE
JULY 29, 2017

WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, won the pole for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. It is his third pole at the track, and the 49th of his Verizon IndyCar Series career:

“It is definitely a good position to start around here because it is so hard to pass. Obviously we took a bit of a hit in the points there at Toronto so very stoked for this pole. It’s been a tough weekend to get the car right; get the balance right. This is good.

“It is so tight in this series. You can’t make a mistake. That is what I had in my mind is that I just had to get through each round and then get to the Fast Six and see what happens. That is what we did, just try to be mistake free.

“We’ve been working on a win here at Mid-Ohio for a long time, and by getting pole, we definitely put ourselves in a good position.”

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Mid-Ohio–Will Power Pole

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
HONDA INDY 200 AT MID-OHIO
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUALIFYING – POLE WINNER’S QUOTE
JULY 29, 2017

WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, won the pole for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. It is his third pole at the track, and the 49th of his Verizon IndyCar Series career:

“It is definitely a good position to start around here because it is so hard to pass. Obviously we took a bit of a hit in the points there at Toronto so very stoked for this pole. It’s been a tough weekend to get the car right; get the balance right. This is good.

“It is so tight in this series. You can’t make a mistake. That is what I had in my mind is that I just had to get through each round and then get to the Fast Six and see what happens. That is what we did, just try to be mistake free.

“We’ve been working on a win here at Mid-Ohio for a long time, and by getting pole, we definitely put ourselves in a good position.”

Chevrolet Racing

First Pirelli World Challenge Victory for Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R

First Pirelli World Challenge Victory for Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R

LEXINGTON, Ohio (July 29, 2017) – The Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R won its first Pirelli World Challenge race Saturday as Lawson Aschenbach won the opening GTS race of the weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Aschenbach took the victory by 2.047 seconds in the Blackdog Speed Shop No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R.

The result extends Chevrolet’s lead in the GTS Manufacturer’s Championship. Aschenbach also leads in Driver’s points with 10 podium finishes in 11 races. Continue reading First Pirelli World Challenge Victory for Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Kasey Kahne

ONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
OVERTON’S 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPTS
JULY 29, 2017

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS/SHARK WEEK CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Pocono Raceway and discussed his win at Indy last weekend, his thoughts on the two practice sessions today at Pocono and many other topics. Full Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Pocono–Kasey Kahne →

Honda Racing

Hunter-Reay, Honda Lead Friday Practice at Mid-Ohio

Hunter-Reay, Honda Lead Friday Practice at Mid-Ohio
• Ryan Hunter-Reay runs quickest in opening-day practice
• Five-time Mid-Ohio winner Scott Dixon posts third-fastest lap
• Six Honda drivers in top 10

LEXINGTON, Ohio (July 28, 2017) – Ryan Hunter-Reay and Scott Dixon led the way for Honda Friday in Verizon IndyCar Series practice for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, finishing the day first and third on the time charts after a pair of 45-minute sessions.

A previous Mid-Ohio pole winner, Andretti Autosport’s Hunter-Reay paced the second, slightly faster practice session in a highly competitive day that saw no fewer than eight drivers all run within a half-second of Hunter-Reay’s 1:04.2961 benchmark. Dixon, the unofficial “Master of Mid-Ohio” with five career wins here, posted the third-fastest time with his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Continue reading Hunter-Reay, Honda Lead Friday Practice at Mid-Ohio →

Honda Racing

An interview with: STEPHEN ERIKSEN PETER CUNNINGHAM MIKE SHANK

An interview with:

STEPHEN ERIKSEN
PETER CUNNINGHAM
MIKE SHANK

T.E. McHALE: Thank you for joining us at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio. Actually, this morning, we’re going to talk about the Acura sports car program. Yesterday it was announced globally that the Acura NSX GT3, which is in its first year of competition in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the Pirelli World Challenge Series, will be available for customer purchase in 2018. We’re here today to discuss that.
My guests to my immediate right, Steve Eriksen, chief operating officer of Honda Performance Development. To Steve’s right, Peter Cunningham, owner of RealTime Racing, which campaigns the NSX GT3 in the Pirelli World Challenge Series. To my left, Michael Shank, Michael Shank Racing.
Steve, we’ll start with you. From a process standpoint, what is going to change the way HPD does business when the NSX GT3 moves from a factory supported program to a customer program next year? Continue reading An interview with: STEPHEN ERIKSEN PETER CUNNINGHAM MIKE SHANK →

Wood Brothers

Blaney Going For Not-So-Rare Pocono Sweep

Blaney Going For Not-So-Rare Pocono Sweep

July 27, 2017

Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head back to Pocono Raceway this weekend hoping for a repeat of their performance there on June 11 when Blaney scored his first career Cup win and the Wood Brothers’ 99th.

A sweep of the season’s races at Pocono isn’t all that uncommon. Bobby Allison did it in 1982, Bill Elliott followed in 1985, the late Tim Richmond did it in 1986, as did Bobby Labonte in 1999, Jimmie Johnson in 2004, Denny Hamlin in 2006 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014. Continue reading Blaney Going For Not-So-Rare Pocono Sweep →

Erica Enders

Melling Performance pro Erica Enders vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway

Melling Performance pro Erica Enders
vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway
SONOMA, Calif. (July 26) – Two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has her sights set on some racing redemption in her bright red Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at scenic Sonoma Raceway, set in the heart of Northern California’s wine country.

“We love going to Sonoma,” Enders said. “It’s one of my favorite places to race, and let’s face it, a trip to the wine country is certainly fun and something my whole team looks forward to every year. This year I’m hoping to finally get a Wally (trophy) in Sonoma and get a little payback on the Christmas Tree after Denver.” Continue reading Melling Performance pro Erica Enders vying for vintage victory at Sonoma Raceway →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Scelzi Captures Sprint Invaders Win in Iowa for First Career Triumph Outside Home State

Scelzi Captures Sprint Invaders Win in Iowa for First Career Triumph Outside Home State

Inside Line Promotions – DUBUQUE, Iowa (July 26, 2017) – Dominic Scelzi recorded his first career feature victory outside of his home state of California on Tuesday evening when he made his debut at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway.

Scelzi and his family owned, Roth Motorsports backed team kicked off the Sprint Invaders event by charging from sixth to second place during a heat race. That earned a spot in the dash, in which Scelzi advanced from third to second place. The feature redraw lined him up on the outside of the second row for the 25-lap main event.
Continue reading Scelzi Captures Sprint Invaders Win in Iowa for First Career Triumph Outside Home State →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Sonoma Advance

CHEVROLET AT SONOMA

What:
30th Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals
When:
Friday, July 28-Sunday, July 30
Where:
Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California
TV:
FOX: Eliminations and finals live – 4 p.m. ET Sunday
FS1: Qualifications taped – 11 p.m. ET Friday and 10 p.m. ET Saturday

Chevrolet Seeks to Uncork More Victories in Sonoma Wine Country
Team Chevy drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock carry momentum into event Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Sonoma Advance →

Cruz Pedregon

Cruz Pedregon–Sonoma Advance

NHRA® Team Report

NHRA Nationals – Sonoma, CA

Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon is feeling momentum heading into Sonoma. “Our trip to the semi-finals last weekend demonstrates that things are coming together for the Snap-on Toyota. It’s really exciting for us to be in a Playoff spot, and we’re good with the plan we have for returning to sea level after Denver,” Cruz says. “I always look forward to being back in the state where I grew up and am excited about visiting the Oakland Raiders Team Camp Monday after this weekend’s race. We’d love it if some of those guys would come out to the track and watch the pros in our sport before heading out to the practice field. We have a lot of fun when the NHRA works with us to pay a visit to the Team Camp each year.” Cruz is such a dedicated Oakland fan, he plans to unveil a new Raiders helmet later this season in Indy.

Crew Chief Aaron Brooks says, “We had a little nose damage on the El Guapo body after hitting the sand, so fans will be seeing El Jefe in Sonoma. Everything is running well with the tune up, and we’re expecting great things for the fans at the track and those watching at home on FOX.”

On the side of Cruz’s car –

If you’ll check the side of Cruz’s car this week, you’ll see the name of Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Phil Agnew. Phil was in consumer finance before starting his Snap-on franchise, and he says the two businesses actually have more in common than you’d think. But, he says he likes running his own business, and that’s why Snap-on is a good fit for him. Phil and Cruz have done a “Grill & Chill” event together with his customers, and he says he’ll have some of them here with him at the race this weekend. When he’s not at the track or running his Snap-on franchise, Phil is spending time with his family or doing mountain, road or cyclocross cycling.

Jegs Racing

JEGS.com Summer Door Car Shootout raises $3K for JEGS Foundation

JEGS.com Summer Door Car Shootout
raises $3K for JEGS Foundation
DELAWARE, Ohio (July 26) — This year’s seventh annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout was the biggest to date with co-promoters Scott Bailey and Luke Bogacki reporting a total donation of $3,000 raised during the Dial for Dollars portion of the event earmarked for the JEGS Foundation: Racing for Cancer Research. Dial for Dollars has now raised more than $13,000 for the foundation in its five years of existence. Continue reading JEGS.com Summer Door Car Shootout raises $3K for JEGS Foundation →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Ready to Roll in the Heart of Ohio

Chevrolet Ready to Roll in the Heart of Ohio

· Chevy drivers take momentum to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
ᴏ Team Chevy coming off two consecutive poles, race victories
· Simon Pagenaud won the 90-lap Mid-Ohio race from pole in 2016
ᴏ Team Penske driver has finished on podium the past two years
· AJ Foyt Racing continues to develop Chevy package in testing
ᴏ Drivers Carlos Munoz, Conor Daly prep for three road course races
· Four Chevy drivers among the top five in points with five races left

DETROIT (July 26, 2017) – AJ Foyt Racing drivers Carlos Munoz and Conor Daly are confident that dedicated testing with the Chevrolet 2.2-liter V6 engine and Chevrolet Aero Kit last week at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will reap short- and long-term benefits. Continue reading Chevrolet Ready to Roll in the Heart of Ohio →