MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
ISM RACEWAY
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
NOVEMBER 10, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER (* = Playoff Contender)
4th *Kyle Larson, No. 42 Clover Camaro ZL1
11th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1
14th Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1
16th Chris Buescher, No. 37 Maxwell House Camaro ZL1
17th William Byron, No. 24 Hertz Camaro ZL1
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Post Race →

Menard Qualifies 19th At ISM Raceway

November 9, 2019
Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Maytag Ford Mustang are set to start 19th in Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway near Phoenix.

Menard said his qualifying speed of 137.515 miles per hour was a sign of progress over the weekend.

“It was a pick up,” he said. “It didn’t drive great, but when we did our mock run yesterday it was a little bit hotter out and the track had a little bit more grip.

“We made some adjustments in the right direction. I wish it drove a little bit better, but we’ll see how it holds on.”

In Friday’s practice sessions, Menard was 10th in the opening round with a best lap at 135.333 mph.

Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500-kilometer race is set to start just after 12:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on NBC.

###

Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 myblu Team Advance to Championship 4 with Third-Place Finish at ISM Raceway

“We set out today with the goal to clinch our spot in the Championship 4, and we did just that. It ended up being all about racing smart today. Our No. 2 myblu Chevrolet Camaro was a rocket at ISM Raceway. It had a lot of speed and the handling was decent, just a little too tight as the long runs went on. We were able to get it dialed in a little better as the race went on, but just had to play it safe at the end to make sure we had enough fuel to get to the checkered flag. It’s definitely not the way we normally like to race, but we did what we had to do to get to Miami next week. That was the goal all season, and now we’re there. I’m proud to keep RCR’s streak of making the Championship 4 in the Xfinity Series alive for another year. We’ll be ready to race for the title next weekend, and I know my No. 2 team is up for the challenge.”

-Tyler Reddick

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
ISM RACEWAY
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
NOVEMBER 9, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
5th Kyle Larson, No. 42 Clover Camaro ZL1
6th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Autocare Center Camaro ZL1
8th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1
14th Alex Bowman, No. 88 Axalta Camaro ZL1
17th Chris Buescher, No. 37 Maxwell House Camaro ZL1 Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Qualifying →

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
ISM RACEWAY
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 8, 2019

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CLOVER CAMARO ZL1, Media Breakout Session Highlights:

HAVE YOU TALKED TO BUBBA WALLACE AT ALL AFTER THAT CAUTION? ARE YOU STILL MAD A WEEK LATER?
“No, I haven’t talked to Bubba (Wallace). It’s not an issue with him personally. It is what it is. Like I said, afterwards you can be mad, but I’m still 23 points down. It doesn’t matter, we have to go out here and have a good weekend. We’ll try to get a lot of points and try to win also. I just look forward to the challenge.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Kyle Larson →

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
ISM RACEWAY
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 8, 2019

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTOCARE CENTER CAMARO ZL1, met with media to discuss his mindset going into this race weekend, how he’s been able to overcome adversity throughout the Playoffs, what to expect from the traction compound throughout the weekend, and more. Full Transcript: Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Chase Elliott →

Erwin Working To Give Menard A Fast Car For Phoenix

November 7, 2019

As Paul Menard’s 13-year career as a full-time driver on the Monster Energy Cup Series nears its end, his crew chief Greg Erwin is working to prepare fast cars for his driver’ final runs in the No. 21 Menards/Maytag Ford Mustang. Continue reading Erwin Working To Give Menard A Fast Car For Phoenix →

Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.652 seconds, 334.73 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.719 seconds, 330.63 mph.

Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.876, 331.36 ARP car def. Jonnie Lindberg, Ford Mustang, 3.945, 321.12.

Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.617, 208.04 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.620, 201.70.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Matt Smith, EBR, 6.855, 195.90 ARP bike. def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.863, 194.04.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Duane Shields, 5.267, 273.83 def. Julie Nataas, Foul – Red Light.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.447, 269.78 def. Steve Gasparrelli, Camaro, 7.196, 134.63.

Competition Eliminator — Cody Lane, Chevy Cobalt, 8.136, 152.62 def. Tony Mandella, Chevy Camaro, 8.033, 173.70.

Super Stock — Jason DeForrest, Chevy Cavalier, 9.081, 145.81 def. Matt Alvey, Pontiac Sunfire, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Craig Maddox, Dodge Challenger, 9.527, 136.11 def. Chris Knudsen, Chevy Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Super Comp — Vernon Rowland, Dragster, 9.050, 159.46 def. Dan Fletcher, Dragster, 9.073, 152.07.

Super Gas — Ray Miller III, Chevy Camaro, 10.053, 163.18 def. Evan Kowalski, Chevy Corvette, 10.056, 159.51.

Pro Modified — Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.788, 247.84 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
BLUEGREEN VACATIONS 500
ISM RACEWAY
AVONDALE, ARIZONA
NOVEMBER 10, 2019

BOWTIE BULLETS:
CHECKING ON CHEVROLET CONTENDERS
Heading into the cutoff race for the final round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Chevrolet drivers Kyle Larson is tied for sixth and Chase Elliott is eighth. Next up is the 312-lap race on the one-mile ISM Raceway. “It’s just all eyes on Phoenix,” said Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Phoenix–Bowtie Bullets →

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series History at ISM Raceway … Team owner Richard Childress has six victories at ISM Raceway, ranking him third on the all-time car owner victories list at the Avondale, Ariz. facility. This includes wins with Ryan Newman in March 2017, along with Kevin Harvick in Nov. 2013, Nov. 2012 and March and Nov. 2006. Prior to that, Dale Earnhardt won the Checker 500 on Nov. 4, 1990. In 121 starts at ISM Raceway, the Welcome, North Carolina based organization boasts 19 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,990 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 52 pole awards, 108 wins, 489 top-five finishes and 1,075 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.3. 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 Truck Series titles and one ARCA Menards Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION

Chevrolet record-setting female drivers take aim at titles
Brittany Force, Erica Enders seek to add to championship totals
DETROIT (Nov. 5, 2019) – Big wins at Las Vegas set up higher stakes for Chevrolet record-setting drivers Brittany Force and Erica Enders at the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

“I want to go straight to Pomona,” said Force in reference to the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship finale Nov. 15-17 at Auto Club Raceway.

Force clinched the 2017 Top Fuel championship at the Southern California racetrack, and after a statement victory Nov. 3 in the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet dragster at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway she has the race car and mindset to match to place a companion trophy on the mantle.
Enders, driver of the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS, will seek to become a three-time Pro Stock champion. Enders’ second victory of the season and 25th of her career came at an opportune time as her closest pursuer in points fell in the first round of eliminations.

“I don’t think complacency is a word in our vocabulary. We work hard and we are going to go out to Pomona to win the race,” said Enders, who will take a 92-point lead over teammate and five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. into the finale.

Enders earned the distinction of winning the 150th race by a female in the NHRA professional categories and posting the 200th victory for the Camaro brand in Pro Stock competition. Seventeen women have won in a pro category in NHRA history.

Force won the 900th Top Fuel event in NHRA history and set the NHRA Top Fuel national speed record at 338.17 mph in the second round of qualifying. She set the national elapsed time record of 3.623 seconds at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the first race of the Countdown. Force also reset the track Top Fuel record of 3.652 seconds in the final round.

“We are all about milestones today,” said Enders, who recorded championships with Chevrolet in 2014 and ‘15. “I was able to get the 150th and I was able to share it with Brittany Force in the winner’s circle. Just a few years ago we were talking about the 100th win for females. I think it speaks volumes for the talent. That’s what I love so much about NHRA drag racing is that there are more women involved in the sport.”

Force and Erica Enders also won at the same event in Epping, New Hampshire, in 2017. The first time two women won at the same event was in Seattle 2012, when Courtney Force won in Funny Car and Enders won in Pro Stock.

Brittany Force and Enders are among four females who have garnered NHRA pro category season titles. Shirley Muldowney won Top Fuel championships in 1977, ’80 and ’82, while Angelle Sampey registered Pro Stock Motorcycle titles in 2000, ’01 and ’02.

“Erica Enders, what she’s done for this sport – two championships – and I’ve always looked up to her,” said Force, who is 16 points out of first place entering the finale. “She started in junior dragsters and I remember watching her movie when it came out on Disney. Courtney and I would watch that over and over just to get us pumped up before we’d go racing Super Comp. To share the winner’s circle with her this weekend is pretty awesome. She’s a great friend, she’s an incredible driver and pretty cool that we did 150 and 151.”

Dominic Scelzi Nets Top Five During KWS-NARC Season Finale to Finish Third in Championship Standings

Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2019) – Dominic Scelzi finished third in the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Series championship standings after recording a top-five run last Saturday during the season finale hosted by Stockton Dirt Track.

“We didn’t lose the championship on Saturday,” he said. “We lost it throughout the year. It’s unfortunate, but at the end of the day it’s the results that we earned. Continue reading Dominic Scelzi Nets Top Five During KWS-NARC Season Finale to Finish Third in Championship Standings →

Giovanni Scelzi Seeking Continued Success During Can-Am World Finals

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2019) – Giovanni Scelzi is heading to one of his most successful tracks this week as he and car owner Bernie Stuebgen venture to The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The duo has captured a win and three top fives in four starts during World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competition at the oval in Concord, N.C.

“The last couple of years of going to new tracks with tough competition you have to be comfortable right away,” Scelzi said. “We’ve consistently qualified good and had good runs. It’s always fun to go somewhere where you’ve had success. It brings the confidence level up.”

Scelzi posted a 15th-place outing during his debut at the track before he charged from 11th to fifth on the final night of the World Finals last year. He followed that performance by winning the opening night of the Patriot Nationals in May and overcoming a late caution by rallying from the back to fifth the following night.

“The last race it took rubber and everybody blew tires,” he said. “It was a unique race. I don’t think we’ll have to deal with rubber this weekend. I’m looking forward to a good race track at a good facility.”

Scelzi has already had a career-best year during limited World of Outlaws starts. In addition to the victory – the second of his career with the series – Scelzi has five top fives and a dozen top 10s. That’s the most he has recorded in both categories.

“Our performance has been good this year,” he said. “I’ve hopped in a few different rides and we’ve had a good year. All around I’m happy with how the year has gone. To end on a high note would be great. It brings you into the offseason and the next year a lot happier.”

HARVICK ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP 4

FORT WORTH, TX – November 4, 2019 – Kevin Harvick led the Ford Mustangs to a 1-2-3-4 finish at Texas Motor Speedway. Winning his third straight AAA Texas 500, Harvick advances to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami for the fifth time in the past six years.

“Congratulations to Kevin, Tony, Gene, and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “It was an incredible race, and everyone is pushing so hard to win these last couple of races. It was great to see these Ford Mustangs run so strong. We knew it was going to be a challenge with the changing track temperatures throughout the race, but Rodney and Kevin were well prepared. We {Roush Yates Engines} are proud to be part of the Ford family and look forward to Ford Performance racing for another championship.”

Harvick started the weekend off strong by taking the pole with a qualifying lap of 28.465 mph.

The Ford teams led a combined 247 laps out of the 334-lap race with a race high by Harvick of 119. In addition, Stewart-Haas teammate and Stage 2 winner Aric Almirola led 62 laps while Clint Bowyer had 36 laps and Daniel Suárez led 25 laps. Continue reading HARVICK ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP 4 →

Second straight runner-up finish lifts Jeg Coughlin Jr. to second place in title hunt
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 3) — A second consecutive runner-up finish for five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. lifted him from third to second place in the Countdown to the Championship rankings with just one race left on the NHRA schedule. Although great progress was made this weekend, the fact Coughlin’s teammate — current points leader — Erica Enders beat him in the final means he actually drifted back to 92 points off the lead, a difference of -27 points from where he stood before the race.

“It was almost a perfect day,” Coughlin said. “The guys gave me a great car and we were having fun. Everything was falling into place and round-by-round we were gaining more confidence. Quite honestly, I fell off a bit with my reaction times in the last two rounds (posting a .043 against Jason Line and a .062 opposite Enders) and ultimately that cost us the trophy.

“Erica made her best run of the day when it mattered most and I made my worse with an off-pace reaction-time but I don’t want to take anything away from her or that team. They did a helluva job all weekend, and really they have since the playoffs started. They deserve everything they’ve got.”

The race against Enders was a thriller with the two multi-time world champions zipping down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd. Proving she’s earned the points lead, Enders left first and tripped the final timer first in a close, but ultimately winning end-to-end victory march, her 6.617 at 208.04 mph enough to beat Coughlin’s 6.620 at 201.70 mph.

“I knew pretty early on in the run that the advantage she left with was going to be hard to make up,” Coughlin said. “That turned out to be true and ol’ red just pulled away and took the stripe first.”

Coughlin’s JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro was extremely consistent on the day, running a 6.622 at 205.91 mph in Round 1 to beat Fernando Cuadra (who went 6.656 at 206.64 mph), a 6.624 at 206.07 mph in a quarterfinal win over Aaron Stanfield (6.650 at 207.30 mph) and a 6.631 at 206.32 mph in a semifinal tilt with Line (6.641 at 207.18 mph).

“We have had such a great run in the five playoff races so far and even though the mountain we have to climb got considerably taller today with the final-round result, we are still alive,” Coughlin said. “There’s no quit in this group and if the opportunity presents itself in Pomona, we’ll fight like hell to make some magic happen.”

Now Coughlin has two weeks to figure out how to make up the deficit to Enders when they all race for the final time this year at the 55th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. Two things that may help Coughlin is the fact the season-ending event awards points and a half for each round win, and that he’s won at Auto Club Raceway six different times in the past, including three times at the
fall event.

Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Alsco Chevrolet Team Show Speed and Prowess at Texas Motor Speedway Before Late-Race Incident

“It felt good to earn my fourth pole award of 2019 and lead the field to the green flag in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Alsco Chevrolet. We had to relinquish our lead early in the race to remove debris from the grille of our car. If there was a piece of debris out on the track tonight, we definitely found it. It happened four separate times. Luckily, we were able to maintain temperatures and recover each time. In Stage 2 we were battling for the lead and I got a little greedy and ended up making contact with the outside wall. I was trying to find my limit and I think I found it there. There was no damage, but I know it gave my crew chief, Randall Burnett, a scare. Later in the race, I just got a little bit too aggressive and ended up ruining our night. I was trying to go for it and it didn’t work out. To have this fast of a car and not be able to win is a big miss on my part. Clearly we would like to have more of a buffer than 36 points going into Phoenix but we still have a solid shot at advancing to Homestead-Miami Speedway.”

-Tyler Reddick

JOHN FORCE AND PEAK LIGHTING IMPROVE THROUGH SATURDAY QUALIFYING AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2, 2019) — John Force and the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil / Lighting Chevrolet Camaro SS team improved from their Friday qualifying to sit No. 3 heading into race day at the Dodge NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts team ended qualifying in the No. 2 spot, Robert Hight and Auto Club of Southern California Chevy are eighth and Austin Prock with the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster are tenth. Continue reading JOHN FORCE AND PEAK LIGHTING IMPROVE THROUGH SATURDAY QUALIFYING AT THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY →

Pritchett, Beckman Sweep Top Fuel, Funny Car No. 1 Qualifying Positions for Dodge//SRT Mopar in Dodge NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil

· Leah Pritchett drives the HEMI®-fueled Dodge Top Fuel dragster of Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) to her first No. 1 qualifying position of 2019 for Sunday’s elimination rounds of the Dodge NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
· Jack Beckman captures No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Funny Car Hellcat
· Matt Hagan starts eliminations in seventh spot in his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car
· Tommy Johnson, Jr. qualifies second in Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car
· DodgeGarage.com, a digital content hub for muscle car and race enthusiasts, features highlights from NHRA season
· New @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel features Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers in NHRA action Continue reading Pritchett, Beckman Sweep Top Fuel, Funny Car No. 1 Qualifying Positions for Dodge//SRT Mopar in Dodge NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil →

Menards/Jack Links Team Focused On Sunday Speed At Texas

November 2, 2019

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Jack Links Ford Mustang are set to start Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway from 31st place, but he said he feels good about the set-up he and the team have prepared.

He said that set-up likely cost him some starting positions but he feels like the strategy will pay off in the race.

“We probably have a little more downforce than some guys, anticipating the race conditions,” Menard told reporters after qualifying. “I felt really good yesterday, even in the draft and being able to run through [Turns] One and Two better than a lot of guys.

“It came with the sacrifice of probably not qualifying very well today.”

Menard was the second driver on track for qualifying, the second time in two weeks that he’s been in the unenviable position of being among the first to go out. He toured the track at 185.344 miles per hour.

That was slower than his best lap in practice on Friday when he turned a lap at 186.981 mph in the final Happy Hour practice. That time was posted on his 26th of 33 laps run and put him 19th on the speed chart for that session.

In the opening practice, also on Friday, Menard’s best lap of 186.400 mph, which he posted on his 20th of 33 laps run, was 17th best in the session.

Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 is set to get the green flag just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern Time) with TV coverage on NBCSN.

The race will consist of two 85-lap Stages followed by a 164-lap run to the checkered flag.

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
AAA TEXAS 500
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES & QUOTES
NOVEMBER 2, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
4th KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1
5th ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 99 VALVOLINE CAMARO ZL1
13th KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 MCDONALD’S CAMARO ZL1
14th CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
16th DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 8 CAT DOZERS CAMARO ZL1

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Kevin Harvick (Ford)
2nd Erik Jones (Toyota)
3rd Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
4th Kurt Busch (Chevrolet)
5th Alex Bowman (Chevrolet) Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Texas–Qualifying →