All posts by ARP Trish

FRIDAY FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING STRONG FOR JFR AT LAS VEGAS

FRIDAY FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING STRONG FOR JFR AT LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – John Force Racing started the 15th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals with strong performances from all three of their Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Cars. Led by Courtney Force’s provisional No. 2 run, Robert Hight’s No. 3 and John Force’s No. 5 effort the trio of Funny Cars are poised to have their best qualifying effort of the season.

Courtney Force rocketed to the No. 2 position tonight in her Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She was awarded two bonus points for the 3.933 second pass at 325.77 mph which is a career-best for the 27-year-old driver.

“I had to shut it off really quick. I couldn’t get my parachutes out until I got the car straightened out and get the car over to the right a little bit. I’m really happy to get this Traxxas Camaro running a 3.93,” said Force, who hasn’t qualified No. 2 or better since she claimed the pole position 19 races ago at Charlotte for the Four-Wide Nationals.

“Thanks to everyone on the crew and all the brain trust. We’re really excited. There are still a lot of good cars out there, but we’re excited to get our Traxxas car down there and run a number like that. It was good.”

Courtney’s speed was a track record effort for the 2012 Automobile Club Road to the Future Award winner, as NHRA rookie of the year.

The most consistent JFR Funny Car was Hight’s Automobile Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car. After two sessions Hight will go into Saturday as the No. 3 Funny Car and the owner of two additional qualifying bonus points as the third quickest race car of each session today.

Hight started the day with a strong 3.982 second pass and he followed that up with a near career best 3.937 second run in the night session.

“That is the kind of consistency we are looking for. (Crew chief Mike) Neff told me he thought it would run good both sessions. This team has a lot of confidence running here at The Strip. You look at how well all three of the JFR Chevys ran and I am pretty excited. I am proud to be driving this Auto Club Camaro and we can keep getting bonus points and go some rounds on Sunday,” said Hight.

If these qualifying times hold up through Saturday with Courtney Force qualified No. 2, Robert Hight No. 3 and John Force No. 5 this would be the best collective start for JFR in 2015. Previous best this season was Epping’s New England Nationals when John Force raced to victory from the No. 3 qualifying position and he was followed in qualifying by Courtney Force No. 4 and Robert Hight No. 5.

In the last session John Force driving for new one race sponsor EiKO Lighting blew the tires off his Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car just past the starting line. With conditions improving rapidly Force knew his team was going after a monster number.

“Robert Hight stepped up with Mike Neff and that Auto Club Chevrolet. It motored right on down through there. Robert said he stepped off early because he thought it dropped a cylinder. Courtney ran that 3.93 early with the help of the brain trust. I am in with a 3.98. I blew the tires off this EiKO Lighting Camaro. Mine was really aggressive. This was the night to go for it. We’ll go after it again tomorrow,” said a focused Force.

Force will carry his 3.980 second run from the opening session into Saturday along with the two qualifying bonus points for having the second quickest run to start qualifying. The winner of the spring race will be looking to double up at The Strip for the second time. Previously Force won both NHRA National events here in 2010 on the way to his 15th Mello Yello Funny Car championship.

The Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster and driver Brittany Force had tough first day in Las Vegas. In the first session Force launched and was powering to a solid when her Goodyear slicks shook loose and she slowed to a 4.72 4 second run at 155.45 mph. In the night session Force suffered a mechanical issue at the hit of the throttle and her Monster dragster immediately lost traction. Force will not carry a time over to Saturday as the thirteenth quickest dragster but will have two more opportunities to race her way into the field.

Summit Racing–Anderson is out of the gate strong on day one at NHRA Las Vegas Nationals

Anderson is out of the gate strong on day one at NHRA Las Vegas Nationals

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Oct. 30, 2015 – The first day of qualifying at the 15th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway set the stage for excellent racing, and Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing Pro Stock team were eager to send their proven Chevrolet Camaros down the quarter-mile dragstrip to reach their full potential. The racetrack was even better than anticipated, and that gave the team a great starting point and room to improve when qualifying continues on Saturday in Las Vegas. Continue reading Summit Racing–Anderson is out of the gate strong on day one at NHRA Las Vegas Nationals →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville- Post Qualifying

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
GOODY’S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIFYING PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 30, 2015

MARTIN TRUEX JR. PUTS CHEVY ON THE FRONT ROW AT MARTINSVILLE
Chevrolet SS takes four of top-5 starting spots in first race of Eliminator Round

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 30, 2015) – Martin Truex Jr. put the No. 78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet SS on the front row and thus, put himself in good position for Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The lap of 19.227 seconds/98.548 mph gives Truex, Jr. a front row start in the first race of the Eliminator Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It bests the Chase contender’s third place qualifying effort at the 0.526-mile short track in the spring, and marks his career best starting spot at the paper-clipped shaped venue.

“A good pit stall is really important here, obviously,” said Truex. “We qualified third here in the spring. Honestly I didn’t know we had a car that was that fast today. We stuck with it. The guys did a good job making adjustments there, and we got quicker each round. That’s what you’ve got to do. It’s a good starting spot for tomorrow and we’ll see what we can do with it. We’re looking forward to it.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville- Post Qualifying →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Qualifying

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
GOODY’S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUALIFYING NOTES & QUOTES
OCTOBER 30, 2015

MARTIN TRUEX JR., NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/VISSER PRECISION CHEVROLET SS – Qualified 2nd:
“A good pit stall is really important here, obviously. We qualified third here in the spring. Honestly I didn’t know we had a car that was that fast today. We stuck with it. The guys did a good job making adjustments there, and we got quicker each round. That’s what you’ve got to do. It’s a good starting spot for tomorrow and we’ll see what we can do with it. We’re looking forward to it.”
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Qualifying →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Jeff Gordon

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
GOODY’S HEADACHE RELIEF SHOT 500
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 30, 2015

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed his success at Martinsville, his past issues on pit road, the new SAFER Barriers, giving away a 2003 Monte Carlo SS who lost hers in a fire, his long relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and his sponsor, DuPont (now Axalta), and more. Full Transcript:
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Martinsville–Jeff Gordon →

John Force Racing–FORCE STILL IN CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT LOOKING FOR LUCK IN LAS VEGAS

FORCE STILL IN CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT LOOKING FOR LUCK IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (OCTOBER 29, 2015) —- John Force is looking for a repeat performance at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend during the Toyota NHRA Nationals. In the spring at this track Force outran teammate Robert Hight in the final to get his first win of the 2015 season. It was a big win for the 16-time champion since he was racing for a new manufacturer, Chevrolet, and a handful of new sponsors, Peak Antifreeze and Coolant and Lucas Oil, along with Auto Club, Traxxas, and Mac Tools. Continue reading John Force Racing–FORCE STILL IN CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT LOOKING FOR LUCK IN LAS VEGAS →

PERMATEX/FOLLOW A DREAM TEAM HITS VEGAS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2010

PERMATEX/FOLLOW A DREAM TEAM HITS VEGAS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2010

Marstons Mills, MA-October 29, 2015-Jay Blake’s Permatex/Follow A Dream team is headed to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the last leg of the best season in team history. Sixth in the Top Alcohol Funny Car national standings with two races to go – this weekend’s Toyota NHRA Nationals and the World Finals in Pomona, Calif. – driver Todd Veney is fresh off a career-best 5.51 in Dallas. Continue reading PERMATEX/FOLLOW A DREAM TEAM HITS VEGAS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2010 →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Eliminator Round Media Day

CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
ELIMINATOR ROUND MEDIA DAY
NASCAR HALL OF FAME
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPTS
OCTOBER 27, 2015

TEAM CHEVY CHASE CONTENDERS:
JEFF GORDON
KURT BUSCH
MARTIN TRUEX, JR.
KEVIN HARVICK

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES CHEVROLET SS
PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:

JEFF GORDON: I’m excited. I think a lot of people didn’t count on us to do this or expect it.
I think for us, we’re carrying just a lot of confidence and momentum and pride right now knowing that we’ve had to grind it out just to get ourselves in the Chase. That grind and that fight that we have in us is what we’ve been putting out there these last six weeks that have gotten us to this round.
Now we get to continue that fight and grind, but we get to go do it at some tracks that we legitimately have a shot at competing for wins.
I’m pretty excited that we’re where we’re at and that we’ve made it this far. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Eliminator Round Media Day →

Summit Racing–Line plans to move up with performance at NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas

Line plans to move up with performance at NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas

MOORESVILLE, N.C., October 27, 2015 – Jason Line and the Summit Racing Pro Stock team just seem to shine when they get to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and this weekend’s 15th annual NHRA Nationals at the prestigious facility should be no exception for the driver who has been a finalist there five times and has started from the pole on five separate occasions.

“The plan of attack for Las Vegas is simple,” said Line, who won the fall event in Las Vegas in 2008. “I just have to do better than I have in the last few races.” Continue reading Summit Racing–Line plans to move up with performance at NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas →

Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap 10.26.15

Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap

Sweet Notches KKR’s ninth and tenth wins on the season; Pittman surges in the point standings

After missing one race earlier in the season with a broken collar bone, Daryn Pittman and the No. 9 Great Clips/Sage Fruit/ASE team has made a late season surge moving from sixth to fourth in the season points.

Brad Sweet and the No. 49 team has found victory lane three times since the addition of crew chief Lee Stauffer, including this past Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway in a race that brought the crowd to their feet with a hard fought battle with Daryn, who finished in a close second.

The final weekend of the 2015 World of Outlaws Season is this weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World Finals.

ROUSH YATES ENGINES POWERS LOGANO TO CONTENDER ROUND SWEEP

ROUSH YATES ENGINES POWERS LOGANO TO CONTENDER ROUND SWEEP

Logano becomes first Ford Performance driver to win three-in-a-row since 1994

TALLADEGA, Ala., October 26, 2015 – Historic, memorable, and one for the record books. Any of these descriptions on its own would be an accurate way to describe Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway where Joey Logano wheeled his No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford to Victory Lane for the third race in a row. Powered by Roush Yates Engines, the victory makes Logano the first driver to ever sweep a Chase Round, and the first Ford Performance driver to win three consecutive races since Rusty Wallace did so in 1994. Continue reading ROUSH YATES ENGINES POWERS LOGANO TO CONTENDER ROUND SWEEP →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports–Scelzi Announces Opportunity to Compete at World of Outlaws World Finals

Scelzi Announces Opportunity to Compete at World of Outlaws World Finals

Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Oct. 26, 2015) – Dominic Scelzi has another unique opportunity right around the corner.

Scelzi will return to drive for George Lasoski thanks to a partnership with Phil Durst and Lincoln Auto Auction during the Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Nov. 5-7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. Continue reading Gary Scelzi Motorsports–Scelzi Announces Opportunity to Compete at World of Outlaws World Finals →

Wood Brothers Racing–Strong Run, Disappointing Finish At Talladega For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

Strong Run, Disappointing Finish At Talladega For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

October 25, 2015

Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team had the speed and strategy to compete for the win in Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Speedway.

What they were missing was some good racing luck. Continue reading Wood Brothers Racing–Strong Run, Disappointing Finish At Talladega For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports–Giovanni Scelzi Successfully Tests During Turkey Bowl at Delta Speedway

Giovanni Scelzi Successfully Tests During Turkey Bowl at Delta Speedway

Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2015) – Giovanni Scelzi used last weekend’s Turkey Bowl as a testing ground.

“We wanted to test for the Tulsa Shootout and we only went to Friday’s race,” he said. “On Saturday I went to Hanford to help Dominic with his sprint car.” Continue reading Gary Scelzi Motorsports–Giovanni Scelzi Successfully Tests During Turkey Bowl at Delta Speedway →

Richard Childress Racing–Campingworld.com 500

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
CampingWorld.com 500
Talladega Superspeedway
October 25, 2015

Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing drivers Paul Menard, Ryan Newman and Austin Dillon finished sixth, 12th and 14th, respectively, in the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Newman and Menard rank ninth and 15th in the Chase for the Sprint Cup while Dillon ranks 21st in the standings.
Joey Logano earned his sixth win of the 2015 season and was followed to the line by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards
The 33rd race of the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season is the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1, 2015, which is scheduled to be televised live on NBCSN beginning at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Campingworld.com 500 →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Post Race

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
CAMPINGWORLD.COM 500
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 25, 2015

FOUR CHEVROLET SS DRIVERS ADVANCE TO
THIRD ROUND OF THE CHASE
Dale Earnhardt Jr. second, Jeff Gordon third in CampingWorld.com 500

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 25, 2015) – Following a wild finish in the CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, four Team Chevy drivers have advanced to the Eliminator round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The 10-race playoff began with nine Chevy SS drivers vying for this season’s championship title. With only five races remaining in the season, four Chevrolet SS drivers are left standing to try to earn Team Chevy’s 31st driver championship. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Post Race →

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
CAMPINGWORLD.COM 500
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 25, 2015

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS
WALK US THROUGH THE FINAL RESTART AND YOUR TAKE ON IT:
“I couldn’t believe he (Joey Logano) gave me the bottom. I was like ‘man this is a gift.’ I was going to win the race for sure, but that caution came out. I’m fine with the new rule. Everybody is going to debate that we were thinking before the race that they made a good change on the green-white-checkered to go to one and I still feel that way. Per the rules we run second. I can live with that. The No. 22 (Joey Logano) did a great job. He had a hell of a round winning all three races. If he wins the championship he can look back on this round here as the one that set him up. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega–Dale Earnhardt Jr. →

World of Outlaws–Brad Sweet Scores a Port Royal Win for the Outlaws

Brad Sweet Scores a Port Royal Win for the Outlaws
Battles Lucas Wolfe and his Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Daryn Pittman
PORT ROYAL, Pa. – Oct. 24, 2015 – Brad Sweet had to battle the Pennsylvania Posse, his teammate Daryn Pittman and the weather Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway, but nothing could keep him down as he cruised to his fifth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season. Continue reading World of Outlaws–Brad Sweet Scores a Port Royal Win for the Outlaws →

Red Horse Racing–fred’s 250

RACE REPORT
fred’s 250
Talladega Superspeedway
October 24, 2015
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Red Horse Racing at Talladega Superspeedway

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams headed south to Talladega Superspeedway for the 19th race of the 2015 season. In the first of two practice sessions on Friday, Timothy Peters was third fastest and Ben Kennedy was fifth on the board. In the second practice, Peters was 11th, and Kennedy was 13th fastest. On Saturday morning, teams completed two rounds of knockout, single-truck qualifying, with both drivers transferring to the final round. Peters earned his first pole position of the season, while Kennedy would start the 98-lap event in fifth. Peters led 23 laps and picked up his first win of the season and the ninth of his career. Kennedy led for six laps but was caught in a late-race wreck and finished 25th.

Timothy Peters No. 17
No. 17 Red Horse Racing
Toyota Tundra

Timothy Peters Earns Ninth Career Victory at Talladega Superspeedway

Timothy Peters started from the pole at Talladega Superspeedway and led 23 of 98 laps of the fred’s 250 en route to his first victory of the season and ninth of his career. The No. 17 Red Horse Racing team unloaded a fast Toyota Tundra and Peters was third fastest in the first of two practice sessions on Friday. In the second practice, Peters only ran two laps and was 11th fastest overall. On Saturday morning, the Red Horse Racing driver earned the pole position in two rounds of knockout qualifying. It was his first of the season and seventh of his career. After leading the field to the green flag, Peters led for 13 laps until the first caution. Under the first yellow flag, crew chief Marcus Richmond brought the veteran driver to pit road for fuel only. Peters stayed in the top five for most of the race, only falling back as the field cycled through green-flag pit stops. The Danville, Virginia native would lead a total of five times for 23 laps. On lap 36, Peters visited pit road for two right-side tires and Sunoco fuel, then revisited pit road for fuel only with 17 laps remaining. Peters restarted the race in sixth, but quickly made his way to the front. As the race, originally scheduled for 94 laps, went into overtime with a green-white-checkered finish, Peters restarted in second place on the front row, and took the lead and never looked back. The victory was his ninth career win and his second at Talladega Superspeedway.

Start – 1
Finish – 1
Driver Points Position – 5
Laps Led – 23

Timothy Peters Quotes:
“This is for her (Ashlee Richmond, sister of crew chief Marcus Richmond). We know you’re watching. Ashlee Richmond, we love you. Thank you for riding with us today and being who you are. This is just an awesome feeling. Thanks to all these guys – Red Horse Racing back at the shop, Triad horsepower, Toyota Tundra was awesome today. Oh my goodness – just Tom DeLoach (team owner) for believing in us and this time. We got on a roll starting at Chicago [Chicagoland Speedway] and, man, it’s just been up from there.”

“A good team right here for sure. This team right here went to work when the deal happened at Daytona (International Speedway) earlier this year and built chassis 012. This is the one we won with last year and got it even better. It showed how hard that they work because we were able to sit on the pole. Just Chris Lambert (spotter) gave me system overload all day long telling me what the outside line was doing, who was behind me, what the gap was in front of me and just was able to put us in position with our Toyota Tundra at the end to go for the win and the good Lord was with us all day long. Thank you to the good Lord for keeping everybody safe. Had Ashlee Richmond riding with us this weekend as she continues her battle with cancer and this was for her for sure.”
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Ben Kennedy
No. 11 Local Motors
Toyota Tundra

Ben Kennedy Caught in Late-Race “Big One” at Talladega Superspeedway

After running inside the top 10 for almost the entire afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway and leading for six laps, Ben Kennedy was involved in the “Big One” on lap 92, relegating the Local Motors team to a 25th-place finish in the fred’s 250. In his second visit to the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Kennedy posted the fifth and 13th-fastest times in the series’ two practice sessions on Friday. The No. 11 team returned to the famed Alabama race track the following morning and advanced to the final session in single-truck qualifying, and earned the fifth starting position. Only three tenths of a second separated Kennedy from his Red Horse Racing teammate, Timothy Peters, who earned the pole award. The Daytona Beach, Florida native took the green flag and jumped into the third position on the first lap. He remained inside the top five until coming to pit road during the Lap-35 caution. Crew chief Scott Zipadelli called for fresh right-side Goodyear tires, air pressure and wedge adjustments, and fuel, and the black and white Toyota Tundra restarted in seventh. Kennedy battled inside the top 10 through green-flag pit stops and two more caution periods. Racing side-by-side in the closing laps, Kennedy was clipped in the right rear and collected in the infamous “Big One.” He was able to drive the Local Motors machine to pit road for repairs, and during the red flag the No. 11 team worked on their plan. They returned him to competition and he took the checkered flag in the 25th position.

Start – 5
Finish – 25
Driver Points Position – 9
Laps Led – 6

Ben Kennedy Quote:
“It is really disappointing to leave here [Talladega Superspeedway] with this finish after all of our hard work. We had a fast Local Motors Toyota Tundra and good track position all day, and we just got caught up in the mess at the end. Thank you to all of the guys. The No. 11 team did a great job all weekend, and on pit road, and the guys back at the shop built us a great truck. Congrats to Timothy (Peters) and the No. 17 team on the win. It’s good for all of us to get Red Horse Racing back in Victory Lane.”

Wood Brothers Racing–Blaney Qualifies Ninth For CampingWorld.com 500 At Talladega

Blaney Qualifies Ninth For CampingWorld.com 500 At Talladega

October 24, 2015

Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion team earned their fifth top-10 start in 14 tries this season by taking the ninth starting spot for Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The rookie Blaney and his rookie crew chief Jeremy Bullins have maintained the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team’s tradition of having fast Fords when the Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega and Daytona International Speedway, the two tracks where restrictor plates are used to keep speeds at a relative safe level. Continue reading Wood Brothers Racing–Blaney Qualifies Ninth For CampingWorld.com 500 At Talladega →