Despite her best run of the weekend, Erica Enders edged in Sonoma’s opening round
SONOMA, Calif. (July 30) — A late night in the Elite Motorsports pit produced a massive turnaround for two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, who had struggled mightily through two days of qualifying for this weekend’s 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Unfortunately, despite posting her best run of the meet by far, Enders came up just short in her first-round race with three-time 2017 winner Bo Butner. Continue reading Despite her best run of the weekend, Erica Enders edged in Sonoma’s opening round
RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3 Earns Three Top-10s at Mid-Ohio
RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3 Earns Three Top-10s at Mid-Ohio
• Peter Kox led a double top-10 finish in front of home crowd in Sunday’s race
• Ryan Eversley scores pair of top-10 finishes on Ohio doubleheader weekend
• Eversley solidifies hold on top-10 berth in 2017 standings
LEXINGTON, Ohio (July 30, 2017) – The RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3s found progress hard to come by this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but the driving duo of Peter Kox and Ryan Eversley did a strong job of maximizing opportunities during Rounds 6-7 of the Pirelli World Challenge campaign. Continue reading RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3 Earns Three Top-10s at Mid-Ohio
CHEVY FAST FACTS OVERTON’S 400
CHEVY FAST FACTS
OVERTON’S 400
POCONO RACEWAY
July 30, 2017
A total of 16 Team Chevy drivers will start the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 160-lap/400-mile contest around the 2.5-mile venue is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., ET. Live coverage will be available on NBC Sports Network, MRN , Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.
CHEVROLET DRIVERS STARTING IN THE TOP-15:
Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS, will start third
Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Great Clips/Shark Week Chevrolet SS, will start 12th
Chase Elliott, No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet SS, will take the green flag from the 13th starting spot
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, will start 14th
TEAM CHEVY IN MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES (MENCS) COMPETITION:
· Chevrolet has won 39 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships
· Team Chevy drivers have scored 773 wins and 693 poles in MENCS competition
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—POCONO RACEWAY
· Chevrolet drivers have won 32 of 79 races at Pocono Raceway. Victories by current Team Chevy drivers are:
o Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS, has two wins at Pocono Raceway (’14 – TWICE)
o Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, has three victories at Pocono Raceway (’04 – TWICE & ‘13)
o Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Great Clips/Shark Week Chevrolet SS, has two wins at Pocono Raceway (’08 & ’13)
o Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS, has gone to Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway once (’03)
· A Chevrolet driver has won one of the last three races at Pocono Raceway
· A Chevrolet driver has sat on the pole at Pocono Raceway 33 times
· Team Chevy drivers have scored 163 top-five and 342 top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway
· A Chevrolet has led 6,570 laps (43.5% of possible 15,087 laps) at Pocono Raceway
Courtney Force, Advance Auto Parts team finding their rhythm in Sonoma
Courtney Force, Advance Auto Parts
team finding their rhythm in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – The consistency that Funny Car star Courtney Force and her Advance Auto Parts team have been searching for in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season appears to have been found at Sonoma Raceway.
And that has Force excited for final eliminations for the Sonoma Nationals on Sunday.
Force made three excellent runs in qualifying, topped by a best pass of 3.889 seconds at 327.03 mph that puts her in the No. 1 qualifying spot. Force made the quickest pass in Q3, 3.914 seconds at 329.91 mph, and was on another good run in the final session before getting off the throttle.
“We’ve found some consistency with our Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro,” Force said. “It definitely feels good going into race day. We’re in the No. 4 qualifying position. We pushed the car a little harder in Q4. It was on a good run, and I got out of it early because something felt a little strange to me. I got out of it to be safe, but it was on a great run. Continue reading Courtney Force, Advance Auto Parts team finding their rhythm in Sonoma
For first time in stellar career, John Force tops 337 mph, qualifies No. 2 in Sonoma
For first time in stellar career, John Force
tops 337 mph, qualifies No. 2 in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS driver John Force has accomplished plenty in his Hall of Fame career, from winning more championships (16) and races (148) than anyone in the long history of the NHRA.
But until Saturday, he’d never officially gone faster than 337 mph.
That’s exactly what happened in the fourth qualifying session for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, when Force jumped to the No. 2 qualifying spot in Funny Car with a scintillating pass of 3.848 seconds at 337.16 mph.
Continue reading For first time in stellar career, John Force tops 337 mph, qualifies No. 2 in Sonoma
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force earns No. 2 qualifying spot for Sunday’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force earns No. 2
qualifying spot for Sunday’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – Brittany Force earned the No. 2 qualifying position in the Top Fuel category for Sunday’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway, the second race of the Western Swing and 15th race on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Force’s best pass came in the second round Friday, when she ran 3.689 seconds at 330.63 mph midway through the session in the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster. While she celebrated the strong run Friday, the car struggled Saturday. Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force earns No. 2 qualifying spot for Sunday’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals
At Sonoma, record speed, career-best time gives Auto Club driver Robert Hight 52nd No. 1 of his career
At Sonoma, record speed, career-best time gives
Auto Club driver Robert Hight 52nd No. 1 of his career
Photo credit: Gary Nastase and Auto Imagery
SONOMA, Calif. (July 29) – Robert Hight’s stellar record-setting pass in Friday’s second qualifying session for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway was strong enough for his 52nd career No. 1 qualifier in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Hight’s pass of 3.807 seconds at 339.87 mph in the Auto Club of Southern California/California Highway Patrol Chevrolet Camaro SS was more than four hundredths quicker than the field over the four qualifying sessions, and his speed was the first to top 339 mph in any professional NHRA category. Continue reading At Sonoma, record speed, career-best time gives Auto Club driver Robert Hight 52nd No. 1 of his career
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 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 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
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
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–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
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.
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.”
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.”
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
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
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
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