All posts by ARP Trish

Jegs Racing

Pomona winner Mike Coughlin ‘finally’ returning to work at D3 opener in Indy

Pomona winner Mike Coughlin ‘finally’
returning to work at D3 opener in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (April 26) — The 10-week gap between Mike Coughlin’s season-opening Top Dragster victory February 12 at the Winternationals in California, to this weekend’s Division 3 opener at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis isn’t quite as long as the traditional winter break, but it sure has felt like it for the two-time D3 champ out of the JEGS.com camp.

“It definitely has felt like a long time since I’ve been in the dragster,” Coughlin admitted. “Especially after winning Pomona because we all wanted to keep racing. Our schedule just didn’t allow for it so the best I’ve been able to do is hang around the shop, keep up with all the other races on the computer, and support my brothers and my nephew.

“I’m pretty much as anxious to race as I’ve ever been.” Continue reading Pomona winner Mike Coughlin ‘finally’ returning to work at D3 opener in Indy →

Uncategorized

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Richmond Preview

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
TOYOTA OWNER’S 400
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
APRIL 30, 2017

BOWTIE BULLETS
LEADER OF THE PACK:
Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers with 37 victories at the 0.75-mile, D-shaped, Richmond International Raceway.

CHEVY HISTORY MINUTE:
Did you know? Chevrolet’s Jeff Gordon set the track qualifying record of 130.599 mph in his Chevrolet SS on September 6, 2013.

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS:
Following the first eight races in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Chevrolet leads the manufacturer standings by eight markers over the competition. Chevrolet has 39 total MENCS Manufacturer championship titles and is looking for an unprecedented number 40 this season. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Richmond Preview →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Seeks to Kick Up Dust at Desert Grand Prix

Chevrolet Seeks to Kick Up Dust at Desert Grand Prix

· Team Chevy drivers gear up for first oval of Verizon IndyCar Series season
ᴏ 1.022-mile Phoenix International Raceway is stiff challenge
· Helio Castroneves is among the handful of drivers with history at racetrack
ᴏ Team Penske driver, who won at PIR in 2002, holds track qualifying speed record
· 2016 race marked Indy car return to the racetrack after 10-year absence
ᴏ Simon Pagenaud and Will Power scored top-three finishes behind winning Chevrolet
· JR Hildebrand returns to No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing

DETROIT (April 26, 2017) – Experience, which is a derivative of longevity, skill and teamwork have been complementary ingredients in Helio Castroneves’ successful career. History is an ally at Verizon IndyCar Series venues.

The veteran Team Penske driver will make his 331st Indy car start, which ranks third on the all-time list, Saturday night in the 250-lap Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix in the No. 3 REV Group Chevrolet. It is the fourth event – and first oval — of the Verizon IndyCar Series season. Continue reading Chevrolet Seeks to Kick Up Dust at Desert Grand Prix →

Wood Brothers

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Looking To Recapture The Magic At Richmond

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Looking To Recapture The Magic At Richmond

April 26, 2017

Over the years, the Wood Brothers race team has set records, many of which still stand, at NASCAR tracks across America.

Richmond International Raceway, where Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will race this weekend, is one of those tracks, although the team’s record at Richmond isn’t exactly a power house stat.

The team, and former driver Kyle Petty, hold the track’s record for the fewest laps led by a race winner – four laps on Feb. 23, 1986.

The finish of that Miller High Life 400 remains one of the more popular features on the highlight reels from Richmond. Continue reading Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Looking To Recapture The Magic At Richmond →

Kasey Kahne Racing

Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap

Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap

☔️ Mother Nature Wins Back-To-Back Races ☔️

Heavy rain cancelled both races that were scheduled last weekend – Friday in West Memphis, Ark. (rescheduled for May 3) and Saturday in Pevely, Mo. (cancelled).

The debut of the 2017 Ollie’s Bargain Outlet/Sage Fruit/ASE scheme on Brad Sweet’s No. 49 will have to wait until Friday at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind. Brad is the defending race winner of the event.

The upcoming World of Outlaws schedule is a favorite stretch for the KKR teams, Daryn Pittman cut his teeth as a young racer in Pennsylvania and has multiple wins at New Egypt Speedway the last four seasons.

Cruz Pedregon

Cruz Pedregon Charlotte Advance

NHRA® Team Report

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals – Charlotte

Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are headed to the Charlotte NHRA 4-Wide Nationals energized after the best weekend of the season for the team and a new career-best 3.897-second pass.

“It’s taking time for things to come together during the early part of the season, but our hard work is starting to pay off,” said Pedregon. “Charlotte will be race number six for this collective team, and we knew early on it would take five or six races to get things moving in our direction. We’re feeling really confident about the way things are going.”

Crew Chief Aaron Brooks says, “We’re ready to be in one of the top spots again this weekend, because it sure felt good in Houston. We think the 4-Wide is a race everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime, and we plan to be part of the good things happening for fans to see Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the track in Charlotte.”

“Charlotte’s been a winner for us before, and we ran a 3.9 there last year, so watch for big things to come from the Snap-on Toyota,” Cruz says.

On the Side of Cruz’s Car – Charlotte

Local Snap-on Franchisee Dwayne Shivers is this week’s Nitro Franchisee. Dwayne’s been working hard as a Snap-on franchisee for the past nine years, but on weekends, he’s driving something other than his Snap-on mobile store. Dwayne is a “die hard” racing fan who has been bracket racing in the point series at his nearby track for almost 25 years. He’ll be here with customers and friends and taking pictures with Cruz in the pits.

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Richmond International Raceway

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Richmond International Raceway … Richard Childress has nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories as a car owner at Richmond International Raceway – five with Dale Earnhardt, three with Kevin Harvick and one with Clint Bowyer. Additionally, in 160 starts at the Richmond, Va.-based track, RCR drivers have claimed 36 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed three of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,757 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards, 106 wins, 477 top-five finishes and 1,034 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.

Kalitta Racing

Pre-Race Report Event 06: NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

Pre-Race Report
Event 06: NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
zMax Dragway
Charlotte
April 28-30

Kalitta looks to claim first Charlotte Wally
Charlotte Highlights: Three finals (Fall 2016, Fall 2010, Spring 2010); One no. 1 qualifier (Fall 2016)

Last Event Recap (Houston): Qualified third; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Terry McMillen in the first round, lost to Leah Pritchett in the quarter-finals)

2016 4-Wides Recap: Qualified fourth; Third in final quad (Defeated Smax Smith and Scott Palmer in the first quad and Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher in the second quad, lost to Brittany Force in the final quad.) Continue reading Pre-Race Report Event 06: NHRA 4-Wide Nationals →

Erica Enders

Two-time champ Erica Enders says Four-Wide drag racing levels playing field

Two-time champ Erica Enders says Four-Wide drag racing levels playing field
CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) — Eight years into the return of Four-Wide competition at Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of Drag Strips,” two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders says the unique format and the style of racing it requires makes for some of the best drag racing on the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello schedule.

“Going four-wide totally levels the playing field,” Enders said. “Even now after many of us have had multiple races here, there are still a lot of drivers that tend to struggle. Pro Stock already is a really tight and competitive class so it will definitely be interesting to get there and see what happens this time through. Continue reading Two-time champ Erica Enders says Four-Wide drag racing levels playing field →

Chevrolet Racing

Four-Wide racing stirs memories of bygone days for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Four-Wide racing stirs memories of bygone
days for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) — When racing impresario Bruton Smith decided to make zMax Dragway a four-lane drag racing facility, only the old-timers knew what he was talking about. For most modern-day straight-liners, it seemed a crazy novelty, but one that was certainly intriguing, especially for the racers themselves.

Now, with the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals just a few days away, six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. took a few moments to reminisce on the unique format that pits four cars burning down the quarter-mile strip at one time.

“As a kid, before this track was built, I remember rummaging through my dad’s old racing scrapbooks that my mom put together through the years,” Coughlin said. “I came across some photos and stories about some four-wide racing they did up in northern Ohio at Dragway 42 and I had to ask him, ‘what the heck is that?’ Continue reading Four-Wide racing stirs memories of bygone days for Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Jegs Racing

Team JEGS Prerace Notes: NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Team JEGS / Prerace Notes

Team JEGS Prerace Notes:
NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Team JEGS / Prerace Notes
NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis (April 28-30, 2017)

Mike Coughlin will be racing the JEGS.com dragster in this weekend’s Ray Skillman Auto Group NHRA Spring Spectacle of Speed at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. The event is the first of six races in the 2017 North Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Mike will be racing the same Top Dragster he drove to a victory earlier this season in his 2017 debut at the Circle K Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. In that event, Mike ran as quick as 6.05 seconds and defeated Andy Spiegel in the final round.

Mike’s dragster is equipped with a ProCharger supercharger and is capable of running the quarter-mile in the five-second zone at more than 230-mph. Mike’s crew consists of Greg Cody, Tony Collier and Dave Raurk.

Last year, Mike returned to Top Dragster after a successful run in Top Sportsman that included a pair of Division 3 Championships.

Mike is a two-time winner of the Indy Lucas Oil event in Top Sportsman. In 2008, he defeated Tim Kirman in the final round and in 2011 he drove his JEGS.com entry to a final-round victory over
Billy Thoman.

In 2008, Mike and older brother John both found the winner’s circle at Lucas Oil Raceway when John claimed the Super Stock title and Mike won in Top Sportsman.

The Coughlin family also has won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway nine times. Jeg Jr.’s has four Pro Stock wins, brother Troy won Super Gas in 1991, Mike collected two wins in Pro Stock Truck in 1999 and 2001, and Troy Jr. won Super Comp in 2010 and Super Gas in 2014. In addition, John Coughlin won the U.S. Nationals as a car owner in 2005 when Brad Plourd drove his JEGS Mail Order dragster to the Super Comp title.

The Coughlins have won Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events in nine different classes, Top Fuel, Pro Comp, Super Eliminator, Comp, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster, and
Top Sportsman.

All told, the Coughlin family has won 54 Lucas Oil Series races in 82 final-round appearances. Collectively, the Coughlin family has nine wins in 11 final rounds at the Lucas Oil Series event in Indy.

Jeg Sr., Jeg Jr., and John Coughlin have each won four North Central Division season championships while Mike Coughlin has two and Troy Jr. has one for a total of 15.

The Coughlin’s have won Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events at 20 different tracks across North America, including races in six of NHRA’s seven geographic divisions. They have not won in Division 6, the Pacific Northwest.

Family patriarch Jeg Sr. won his first Lucas Oil Series event when he claimed the Super Eliminator title at Windsor Dragway in Windsor, Ontario in 1969

Allen Johnson Racing

Allen Johnson Hopeful About Performance Gains, Looking to Nab First Four-Wide Victory

Allen Johnson Hopeful About Performance Gains, Looking to Nab First Four-Wide Victory

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (April 25, 2017) – Performance gains couldn’t have come at a better time for Allen Johnson and the Marathon Petroleum Corporation/J&J Racing Dodge Dart team. In the second of three races in a row, Johnson is hoping to translate his performance momentum into round wins this weekend at the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

“We tested at zMAX Dragway two weeks ago,” Johnson said. “We should be able to use most of that data for this weekend and the track surface should be close to what it was when we were testing.” Continue reading Allen Johnson Hopeful About Performance Gains, Looking to Nab First Four-Wide Victory →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Dale Earnhardt Jr Retirement Announcement

DALE EARNHARDT, JR, NO. 88 CHEVROLET SS AND TEAM OWNER RICK HENDRICK, met with the media at Hendrick Motorsports to discuss Dale, Jr.’s announcement that he would be retiring at the end of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Season. Full Transcript:

DALE EARNHARDT JR.: Good afternoon. I want to thank everybody for being here today especially on such short notice. It’s good to see a lot of familiar faces. We’re here today to confirm the news you received this morning that I’ve decided to make this season my last as a NASCAR Cup driver. The response just in the last six hours from teammates, colleagues and friends and fans has been incredibly overwhelming.

So, before I go any further, I just want to thank everybody for making me feel pretty incredible today. You’re wondering why I reached this decision, it’s really simple. I just wanted the opportunity to go out on my own terms. I wanted to honor my commitment to Rick, to my sponsors, to my team, and to the fans. I’ll admit, that having influence over my exit only became meaningful when it started to seem most unlikely. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Dale Earnhardt Jr Retirement Announcement →

John Force Racing

Defending Four-Wide Nationals winner Brittany Force hopes to strike again in Charlotte

Defending Four-Wide Nationals winner Brittany Force
hopes to strike again in Charlotte

Photo Credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) – As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads into the second of three consecutive weekends of racing, defending Four-Wide Nationals winner Brittany Force looks for her first victory of the 2017 campaign.

Force, driving the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster, enters this weekend’s event at zMAX Dragway sixth in Top Fuel points. Force’s best result this season was a final-round appearance in the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix. Last weekend’s NHRA SpringNationals was only the second time in the last 13 races she failed to win at least one round in competition. Continue reading Defending Four-Wide Nationals winner Brittany Force hopes to strike again in Charlotte →

John Force Racing

Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads to Charlotte seeking first Four-Wide Nationals victory

Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads to Charlotte seeking first Four-Wide Nationals victory

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) – Courtney Force brings her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car to this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in search of her third consecutive No. 1 qualifying spot and first victory of the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

The quickest in qualifying at both the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., and last weekend’s SpringNationals in Baytown, Texas, Force and the Advance team made significant progress on Sunday by making it to the semifinals. The only driver to beat her on race day – teammate Robert Hight and his AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro SS. Continue reading Advance Auto Parts driver Courtney Force heads to Charlotte seeking first Four-Wide Nationals victory →

John Force Racing

Two-time Four-Wide Nationals winner Robert Hight looks to add a third to his resume

Two-time Four-Wide Nationals winner Robert Hight
looks to add a third to his resume

Photo credits: Ron Lewis Photography (above), Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery (below)

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) – The Four-Wide Nationals, scheduled for this weekend at zMAX Dragway, is as much a mental contest as it is about race cars. And that’s tailor-made for Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car driver Robert Hight.

Hight is a two-time winner of the unique race, which pits four drivers against each other during eliminations instead of the normal two. That changes the way drivers stage their race cars, as they now have to worry about what three other drivers are doing instead of just one. Continue reading Two-time Four-Wide Nationals winner Robert Hight looks to add a third to his resume →

John Force Racing

‘Greatest show on earth’: PEAK driver John Force excited about Four-Wide Nationals

‘Greatest show on earth’: PEAK driver John Force
excited about Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25) – There is no other drag race like the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, held this weekend at zMAX Dragway.

And there is no other drag racer like John Force, the 16-time Funny Car champion and winner of a record 148 NHRA races.

So it should come as no surprise that the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil driver is excited about the Four-Wide Nationals. Continue reading ‘Greatest show on earth’: PEAK driver John Force excited about Four-Wide Nationals →

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

Three Teams Qualify at the Summit Racing Motorama

Three Teams Qualify at the Summit Racing Motorama

Joliet, IL – Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge seventh event of the 2017 Season took place at the Summit Racing Motorama in Hampton, GA this past weekend. Twenty teams came out to the Summit Racing Motorama to either qualify for the Dual National Championship held at the SEMA and PRI Show later this year or to improve their playoff time.

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. Continue reading Three Teams Qualify at the Summit Racing Motorama →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Scelzi Charges From 20th to Ninth-Place Finish During Peter Murphy Classic

Scelzi Charges From 20th to Ninth-Place Finish During Peter Murphy Classic

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (April 24, 2017) – Dominic Scelzi captured his first top-10 finish of the season last Saturday during the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series portion of the Peter Murphy Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway.

“We’ve had fast cars all year long, but have fought to catch some luck,” he said. “I want to thank my guys and sponsors for their support and never-give-up attitude. It felt great to have a strong result to end the weekend.” Continue reading Scelzi Charges From 20th to Ninth-Place Finish During Peter Murphy Classic →

Wood Brothers

Power Steering Problems Plague Blaney At Bristol

Power Steering Problems Plague Blaney At Bristol

April 24, 2017

Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team had another fast Ford Fusion for Monday’s rain-delayed Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

After running in the top six for most of the race’s first 60 laps, Blaney reported to the team that he felt a problem with the car’s power-steering system.

The problems worsened, and Blaney began losing laps to the leaders. Soon, crew chief Jeremy Bullins called Blaney to the garage, where the team changed the power steering system and sent him back onto the track.

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion was fast again, with Blaney posting impressive lap times for the remainder of the race. The problem was he was 48 laps down and wound up with a disappointing 33rd-place finish, which dropped him from sixth to 10th in the championship standings.

Team co-owner Eddie Wood said there was little Blaney or the crew could do once the mechanical issue arose.

“It’s not like the old days, when you could cut the power steering belt and the car drove like it had manual steering. It’s almost impossible to drive one of these cars now without power steering.” Wood said, adding that it’s hard to be too disappointed when the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion was as quick as it was at Bristol.

“The car was fast, like it has been every week,” he said. “We’ll go on to Richmond, and sooner or later our luck will even out and everything will be OK.”

Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will return to Richmond International Raceway this weekend for Sunday’s 400-lap race on the three-quarter mile oval.