Jeg Coughlin Jr. still has eyes
set on ultimate Pro Stock prize
Nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. has goals of his own
DALLAS (Oct. 16) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. enters this weekend’s 34th annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals with a mindset of winning another cowboy hat, the traditional gift presented to each class champion. He knows if he can pull off that feat, he’ll be a few steps closer to his goal of challenging for what would be his sixth Pro Stock world title.

His nephew Troy Coughlin Jr., already the Top Alcohol Dragster champion of the East Region, has a similar vision of glory in the Lone Star State, which would secure a second-place finish in the national points. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. still has eyes set on ultimate Pro Stock prize →

Megan Meyer Wins NTK Nationals, Becomes First Female to Win Top Alcohol Dragster World Championship

Oct 16, 2019 | Featured, Megan Meyer, Race Results, Special Announcements
Megan Meyer Wins NTK Nationals, Becomes First Female to Win Top Alcohol Dragster World Championship

(Article from NHRA.com)

With a thrilling side-by-side win over points rival Troy Coughlin Jr., Megan Meyer officially clinched the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster national championship in the final round of the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals. Meyer drove to a 5.149, 281.48, her best run of the weekend, to squeak by Coughlin’s competitive 5.169, 280.80 to make the title official.

“This is for my dad, Randy, who does so much for us and for our whole team, and all the people who support us,” said Meyer. “I love this class. I don’t want to race Top Fuel. All I care about is Top Alcohol Dragster. How cool is it that it was me and T.J. [Coughlin]. We’re just a couple of bracket racers who came up the Sportsman ranks together and now we’re at the top. We’ve even shared the same Super Comp dragster before. This just means so much to us.”

Meyer, last year’s third-place finisher, has enjoyed a dominant season so far with seven wins in 12 final round appearances in the injected nitro dragster that is tuned by her father, Randy. Meyer’s scorecard includes four national event titles including the 50th annual Amalie Gatornationals and the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Meyer came into the Charlotte event with a slim 12-point lead over Shawn Cowie and a 64-point advantage over Coughlin. Meyer helped herself with a second round win over Cowie’s supercharged entry. Meyer, who counts her sister, Rachel, and Norway’s Julie Nataas as teammates, is the fourth woman to win an NHRA Lucas Oil Series sportsman championship, joining Amy Faulk (Super Stock, 1979), Jackie Alley (Super Stock 2011), and Mia Tedesco (Super Gas, 2016).

JOHN FORCE 17TH FUNNY CAR TITLE QUEST CONTINUES AT
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 16, 2019) — A win for John Force and the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil / BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro SS team at this year’s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex would not only further improve their pursuit for the championship, but it would put a storybook ending on a particularly traumatic life experience.

Hoisting the Wally trophy at the Motorplex has been one of Force’s bucket list items ever since he crashed twelve years ago while racing against Kenny Bernstein in a second-round match-up on Sept. 23, 2007. He was flown out of the Texas Motorplex by air ambulance and although he suffered injuries to his hands, legs and feet that required six hours of reconstructive surgery, confined him to a Dallas hospital for 30 days and required months of physical therapy, the sport’s biggest winner, who was initially told he would never walk on his own again let alone race, was back in competition the following February and back in the winners’ circle on June 1, 2008 at Topeka, Kan. Continue reading JOHN FORCE 17TH FUNNY CAR TITLE QUEST CONTINUES AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS →

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Fall Nationals – Dallas
Pre-Race Report

The Dallas race holds some of Cruz Pedregon’s most impressive victories, and the team is looking forward to finishing out the run for The Pink Fund® paint scheme with round wins this weekend. “It’s been an honor for El Incursor to showcase the breast cancer awareness outreach of our primary sponsor Snap-on. Our hope is that our great NHRA fans will learn more about the work of The Pink Fund in helping breast cancer patients with nonmedical expenses during treatment,” says Cruz. “And, we’re proud of several strong runs we’ve completed while sporting the pink ribbon paint scheme.”

According to Car Chief Glen Huszar, the team is happy with the way the Snap-on Dodge® is responding during qualifying and the parts look good after the runs. He adds, “We just need to get a good Race Day combination together.”

“Having a rain delay was a challenge for all of us last week, but we’re looking forward to better weather and good track temps in Big D,” says Cruz. “Watch for some Texas-size runs during the weekend ahead.”

BRITTANY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS ENTER
AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS WITH CONFIDENCE
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 16, 2019) — Brittany Force, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster, makes her way to Texas Motorplex this weekend for the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, eager for a breakthrough performance that will have her David Grubnic and Mac Savage tuned hot rod back in the winner’s circle.

From starting the season as a brand-new team, to breaking records and padding history books, Force and the Advance Auto Parts team are sitting third in the points standings as they head to the fourth of six events in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship with eyes set on the Top Fuel title. Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS ENTER AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS WITH CONFIDENCE →

AUSTIN PROCK AND MONTANA BRAND / ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST LOOKING TO IMPRESS AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 16, 2019) — Third-generation racer Austin Prock and his Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team are gearing up for the fourth of six playoff events in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship this weekend at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, eager to get into championship form.

Since making his NHRA drag racing debut at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., Prock has tallied one win at the Northwest Nationals, four semifinal appearances and has recorded a career best elapsed time of 3.697-seconds and top speed of 334.15 mph. He’s also been in the top 10 of the points standings in 16 events throughout the season. Continue reading AUSTIN PROCK AND MONTANA BRAND / ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST LOOKING TO IMPRESS AT AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS →

Menard Ready To Go Solo At Kansas

October 16, 2019

With Talladega and the possibility of landing on his lid behind him, Paul Menard is set to run the final five races of 2019 without having a relief driver on standby.

Not wanting to risk complicating the neck issues he’s been dealing with by racing at Talladega where there was a chance of flipping, Menard and the Wood Brothers team had Matt Crafton run the majority of the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega. Now that’s in the rear-view mirror as Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Atlas Roof Shingles team head to Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400.

“I’m good to go for the rest of the year,” said Menard, who has announced that he’s retiring from full-time Cup competition at season’s end. Continue reading Menard Ready To Go Solo At Kansas →

Crafton Steers Through Talladega Mayhem To Finish 16th

October 14, 2019

Matt Crafton, a 20-year veteran of the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, turned in a solid performance on Monday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway in a rare appearance in a Cup car.

Crafton, who has just one official career start in NASCAR’s elite series, took over the No. 21 Menards/Tarkett Flooring Ford Mustang from Paul Menard, who got out Sunday afternoon after the race’s first stage due to concerns about issues with his neck.

Crafton rejoined the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at the rear of the pack when racing resumed after a one-day delay due to rain. He ran in the back of the pack until a round of green-flag pit stops midway through the race’s second stage. Continue reading Crafton Steers Through Talladega Mayhem To Finish 16th →

Newly-crowned East Region champ Troy Coughlin Jr. races to 11th final of season
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 14) — The hits just keep coming for Troy Coughlin Jr. and his JEGS.com McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team as the group raced to its 11th final round of the season Sunday at the 12th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals. Just a week removed from securing the East Region championship, the team’s second regional title in a row, Coughlin wasn’t bettered until Round 4 when Megan Meyer squeezed out the win. Continue reading Newly-crowned East Region champ Troy Coughlin Jr. races to 11th final of season →

Jack Beckman Continues NHRA Countdown Momentum, Takes Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to Final of NHRA Carolina Nationals

· Jack Beckman drives Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to sixth final of 2019 and second of the Countdown at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte

· Matt Hagan qualifies Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car No. 3, reaches seventh semifinal of 2019

· Ron Capps powers NAPA Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to semifinals, ranks fourth in Countdown standings

· Leah Pritchett qualifies second, climbs to fourth in Countdown standings

· Steve Comella and Larry Hill earn Dodge Top Finisher honors in Sportsman classes

· Dodge Garage, 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 Jack Beckman Continues NHRA Countdown Momentum, Takes Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to Final of NHRA Carolina Nationals →

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol / RCR 50th Team Survive Wild Race to Finish Sixth at Talladega Superspeedway

“I’m so glad we were able to bring home a solid finish with our No. 3 American Ethanol / RCR 50th Chevrolet today. We needed that. We were able to avoid all the big wrecks today and managed to be in contention at the end. On that final run, I just needed the No. 17 (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.) to pick me up for us to really have a shot at the win. He had a heck of a run coming, so that would have been really nice and propelled us even more forward. We did everything we could with what we had and came close. It was a good weekend for us. The racing was close, and we were close to the front.”
-Austin Dillon

Damage to Liberty National/RCR 50th Chevrolet Results in 21st-Place Finish at Talladega Superspeedway for Daniel Hemric

“We had a strong No. 8 Liberty National / RCR 50th Chevrolet here at Talladega Superspeedway, and that showed when we were able to drive to the lead on Sunday before the rain hit. We came back today and remained a contender throughout the day in the pack. We took damage to the right rear quarter panel early in the race when I was hit from behind coming to pit road under green, but the guys did a good job of fixing that at the stage break. I felt like we were a serious contender for the win, but when that Big One happened into Turn 3, my left front tire hooked on the No. 4 car and we drove right into another car. That damaged the right side nose, hood and fender, and unfortunately we lost a lap on pit road making repairs. We should have had a better finish than 21st, but that’s Talladega Superspeedway for you.”

-Daniel Hemric

ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB WIN 500TH ROUND WHILE EARNING CAREER BEST SIXTH VICTORY OF THE SEASON AT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2019) — Robert Hight became just the 20th pro driver to win 500 racing rounds in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Monday and he did so in style, driving his Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to a Funny Car victory at the 12th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Hight is the seventh driver to reach 500 wins in the Funny Car class, joining teammate and mentor John Force whose 1,348 career round wins is 474 more than anyone else in the sport. Hight is the second driver to join the exclusive club this year along with PSM standout Andrew Hines. Continue reading ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB WIN 500TH ROUND WHILE EARNING CAREER BEST SIXTH VICTORY OF THE SEASON AT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS →

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWDAY
1000BULBS.COM 500
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 14, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL FINISHING RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER (* = Playoff Contender)
6th AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL/RCR 50TH CAMARO ZL1
8th *CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA NIGHT VISION CAMARO ZL1
10th TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CAMARO ZL1
18th RYAN PREECE, NO. 47 KROGER CAMARO ZL1
20th CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 LOUISIANA HOT SAUCE CAMARO ZL1 Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Talladega Post Race →

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NTK NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
ZMAX DRAGWAY IN CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
RACE RECAP AND DRIVER QUOTES

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Chevrolet drivers record two wins at Charlotte

Robert Hight earns 51st career Funny Car victory
Deric Kramer registers second Pro Stock win of season
Erica Enders moves to top of Pro Stock standings

CONCORD, N.C. (October 14, 2019) – Robert Hight had a firm grip on the Wally in the winner’s circle after prevailing in the Funny Car final of the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The John Force Racing driver also has a firm grip on the class championship points lead. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Charlotte–Post Race →

FORD MUSTANG WINS SEASON FINALE AT ROAD ATLANTA

BRASELTON, GA – October 14, 2019 – Austin Cindric and Seb Priaulx won the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season finale (GS class) at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. This dynamic duo, brought together by Multimatic Motorsports, drove the No. 15 Ford Mustang GT4 to victory lane with a stellar performance.

“Congratulations to Austin, Seb, and all the Ford Performance teams,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “It was great to see Austin and Seb win their first race for Ford to complete the 2019 season and see the Ford GTs run strong, to bring home the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup titles as this successful four-year program comes to an end. I’m so proud of these teams and the achievements they accomplished together including the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2017 & 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona to name a few. We have been blessed to provide the Ford EcoBoost and Ford 5.2L engines in partnership with Ford Performance for the 2016 – 2019 seasons for these elite program.” Continue reading FORD MUSTANG WINS SEASON FINALE AT ROAD ATLANTA →

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
NTK NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
ZMAX DRAGWAY IN CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
OCTOBER 13, 2019

Chevrolet drivers well-positioned for wins at Charlotte
Persistent rain postpones race day at zMAX Dragway to October 14

CONCORD, N.C. (October 13, 2019) – Inclement weather forced postponement of all elimination rounds of the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals until October 14 at zMAX Dragway.

On-track activity will resume at 10 a.m. ET, weather permitting. The weather forecast is for sun with a high of 80 degrees. Continue reading Chevrolet drivers well-positioned for wins at Charlotte →

Acura Completes Championship Season at Petit Le Mans
• Acura Claims Daytona Prototype International Manufacturers’ Championship
• Acura Team Penske’s Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya win DPi Drivers’ title
• Meyer Shank Racing’s Mario Farnbacher and Trent Hindman take GTD Drivers’ crown

BRASELTON, GA (Oct. 12, 2019) – Acura, its teams and drivers completed its championship-winning IMSA season in Saturday’s season-ending Petit Le Mans, putting the finishing touches on the Driver, Manufacturer and Team titles in the featured Daytona Prototype International division at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Meanwhile, in the GTD division, Meyer Shank Racing claimed the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships with the Acura NSX GT-3 Evo.

For a video link highlighting Acura’s 2019 championship-winning season in IMSA sports car competition, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4rGLh28BJM&feature=youtu.be
or download the video at: https://app.box.com/s/k3k0h8tooy2zmzcpdup6k7xynsssnkt7 Continue reading Acura Completes Championship Season at Petit Le Mans →

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Tough Fight to Close C7.R Era

BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 12, 2019) – Corvette Racing ended its run with the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R on Saturday with fourth- and seventh-place class finishes in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship’s Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller led Corvette Racing’s effort in the final race of the season. Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler took the finish shortly thereafter in the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette.

Petit Le Mans closed the Corvette Racing program’s 21st season of racing and the six-year campaign of the Corvette C7.R. In that span, it won 17 times around the world and helped Corvette Racing claim three Drivers’ Championships and two Manufacturer titles for Chevrolet. The new-for-2020 Corvette C8.R will make its competition debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Tough Fight to Close C7.R Era →

Menard Qualifies 14th At Talladega; Crafton On Standby

October 12, 2019

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Tarkett Flooring Ford Mustang secured the 14th starting spot for Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 50 at Talladega Superspeedway with a lap at 190.514 miles per hour during qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

It was the 15th time in 30 qualifying sessions this season that Menard has been 14th or better in the starting line-up.

The No. 21 Menards/Tarkett Mustang has been among the fastest cars in practice at Talladega. It was 11th fastest in Friday’s opening practice with a best lap at 202.795 mph and was third fastest in Happy Hour with a best lap at 200.814 mph.

Menard shared driving duties in practice with Matt Crafton, who will be standing by on Sunday for Menard, who has been battling soreness and pain in his neck.

“I’m getting old,” Menard said when asked about his neck issues. “It’s all part of what you sign up for when you’re born, I guess.

“My neck has some disc issues and things that if I were to get upside-down it would be pretty bad.

“Normal hits aren’t bad, it’s upside-down things that are bad.”

Menard said he plans to see how things are going in Sunday’s race before he decides if and when to turn the No. 21 Mustang over to Crafton.

“We’re going to kind of see how we feel,” he said. “We have a good back-up plan with Matt and tried to get him as much drafting as we could yesterday because more than likely, honestly, I’m probably going to get out.”

Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 is set to get the green flag on Sunday just after 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Eastern Time) with TV coverage on NBC.

BRITTANY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS JUMP SIX SPOTS IN
FINAL DAY OF QUALIFYING AT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2019) — Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster team propelled themselves up six spots to secure the No. 3 qualifying position Saturday at the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. In Funny Car, Robert Hight locked in the No. 2 qualifier with his Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS and John Force with the PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil / BlueDEF Chevy team will enter eliminations in fifth. Rookie teammate Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team improved their performance and will start race day from the No. 13 spot.

Beginning day two of qualifying in the No. 9 spot, Brittany Force and the Advance Auto Parts team made drastic improvement in the third qualifying round running a stellar 3.738-second pass at 328.14 mph. In addition to temporarily putting Force in the No. 2 spot, the pass was also quickest of the session and earned her three bonus points. Continue reading BRITTANY FORCE AND ADVANCE AUTO PARTS JUMP SIX SPOTS IN FINAL DAY OF QUALIFYING AT NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS →