Jegs Racing

JEGS.com Top Dragster pro Mike Coughlin begins 2017 season with visit to victory lane

JEGS.com Top Dragster pro Mike Coughlin begins 2017 season with visit to victory lane
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) — A native of Ohio who has raced Division 3 for most of his drag racing career, Mike Coughlin has never started a season as early as this year. But after winning the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals Sunday, things may just change a bit moving forward.

“What a way to start the year,” an exuberant Coughlin said in the historic winner’s circle of Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. “To think we were in testing less than a week ago with a broken motor and little hope we’d even be able to race this weekend, to end up here in the winner’s circle is nothing short of remarkable.
Continue reading JEGS.com Top Dragster pro Mike Coughlin begins 2017 season with visit to victory lane →

John Force Racing

Courtney Force takes Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro to Winternationals final round

Courtney Force takes Advance Auto Parts
Chevrolet Camaro to Winternationals final round

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) – Courtney Force put her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS into the Funny Car final of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season-opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

But she fell just short in her bid to win the race for a second time.

After defeating Jim Campbell, J.R. Todd, and her father, John Force, in successive rounds, Courtney Force – the No. 3 qualifier – faced Matt Hagan in the finals. Despite a solid pass of 3.901 seconds at 326.95 mph, she couldn’t overcome Hagan’s run and settled for the runner-up spot. Continue reading Courtney Force takes Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro to Winternationals final round →

John Force Racing

Monster Energy driver Brittany Force looks ahead to next race after Pomona exit

Monster Energy driver Brittany Force looks ahead
to next race after Pomona exit

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) – Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver Brittany Force turns her attention to the next race on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule after racing to the second round of the Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Force did earn the first Winternationals round win over her career, as she had lost in the first round in her four previous season-opening races here. But she overpowered the famed Pomona track in the second round and dropped the race against Tony Schumacher. Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force looks ahead to next race after Pomona exit →

John Force Racing

John Force stands third in Funny Car points with PEAK Chevrolet after strong Winternationals run

John Force stands third in Funny Car points with PEAK Chevrolet after strong Winternationals run

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) – John Force landed two round victories in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season-opener, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway, and sits third in the points standings after reaching the semifinals.

Force, who qualified No. 2, won his first-round matchup against former JFR driver and teammate Phil Burkart, then a close battle against Tommy Johnson Jr. before falling to daughter Courtney Force in the semifinals. Continue reading John Force stands third in Funny Car points with PEAK Chevrolet after strong Winternationals run →

Mopar Racing

Hagan and Pritchett Dominate, Double Up for Mopar and Dodge at 57th NHRA Winternationals

Hagan and Pritchett Dominate, Double Up for Mopar and Dodge at 57th NHRA Winternationals

Matt Hagan wins 23rd Funny Car event of his career in Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T

Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T drivers take three of top five spots in Funny Car point standings to start season
Leah Pritchett wins second national event in Top Fuel, first at hometown track in Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Pennzoil Dragster Continue reading Hagan and Pritchett Dominate, Double Up for Mopar and Dodge at 57th NHRA Winternationals →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Pomona

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, CALIFORNIA
FEB. 12, 2017

Chevrolet off to quick start in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season

• KB Racing picks up where it left off in 2016 with win at Auto Club Raceway
• Reigning Pro Stock world champion Jason Line prevails in season opener
• Courtney Force advances to Funny Car final round for 19th time in career
• John Force, who records second-best speed in history, reaches semifinals

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2017) – In the previous 43 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock seasons, the winner of the opening event has gone on to claim the division championship 12 times. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Pomona →

John Force Racing

Auto Club Funny Car driver Robert Hight ready to bounce back after Pomona troubles

Auto Club Funny Car driver Robert Hight ready
to bounce back after Pomona troubles

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) – Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight is determined to bounce back from a difficult first race of 2017 after a first-round exit in the Circle K NHRA Winternationals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Continue reading Auto Club Funny Car driver Robert Hight ready to bounce back after Pomona troubles →

Erica Enders

Erica Enders fires plenty of warning shots during season-opening Winternationals

Erica Enders fires plenty of warning shots during season-opening Winternationals
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) — Back in the comfy confines of her Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, two-time world champion Erica Enders didn’t walk away with the trophy of this weekend’s 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, but she certainly reminded everyone of why she dominated the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

A year with a different manufacturer made the category’s most prolific female racer an afterthought to many, but as soon as she got back in her Chevy, she quickly re-established herself as a top contender. Continue reading Erica Enders fires plenty of warning shots during season-opening Winternationals →

Jeg Coughlin

Pro Stock veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. and rookie Top Fuel pilot Troy Coughlin Jr. both reach quarterfinals of season-opening Winternationals

Pro Stock veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. and rookie Top Fuel pilot Troy Coughlin Jr. both reach quarterfinals of season-opening Winternationals
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12) — Five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. lost a close second-round battle with four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, which put an end to Coughlin’s time at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals.

Anderson managed to get a slight edge at the starting line and was able to hold off Coughlin’s JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro at every timing cone, winning with a 6.567 at 210.93 mph to Coughlin’s 6.585 at 209.85 mph. At the time, Anderson’s run was the quickest of the session. Continue reading Pro Stock veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. and rookie Top Fuel pilot Troy Coughlin Jr. both reach quarterfinals of season-opening Winternationals →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–NHRA–Pomona

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, CALIFORNIA
POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
FEB. 12, 2017

An interview with Pro Stock winner JASON LINE, KB RACING, SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

Q: HOW DOES THIS FEEL TO WIN THE OPENER?

JASON LINE: “The Chevy Camaro is bad to the bone right now and I feel honored to be able to drive it and honored to have the No. 1 on it. Happy to be here and I thank all the California fans for coming out.”

Q: HOW DID YOU PULL OFF A .005 (OF A SECOND REACTION TIME)?

JASON LINE: “My foot slipped again. This win is for Melissa Davis. My friend and her husband Tommy passed away today and it was just a shock. My heart goes out to them. I know this doesn’t replace anything, but I just want her to know I’m thinking about her. Thanks to Summit, KB Racing, Chevy and everyone who contributed to this win.”
Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Pomona →

Allen Johnson Racing

Allen Johnson Looking to Phoenix for Rebound Performance

Allen Johnson Looking to Phoenix for Rebound Performance

POMONA, Calif. (February 12, 2017) – Marathon Petroleum’s Allen Johnson will be putting the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals in the rear-view mirror after a first round loss in eliminations. Although the early exit comes as a frustration, Johnson admits that there are things to be learned from this weekend at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Johnson began eliminations from the No. 13 seed and had a first round matchup against Shane Gray. Johnson staged his Marathon Petroleum/J&J racing Dodge Dart and matted the throttle. At the launch, Johnson’s red, white, and blue Pro Stocker made a hard left turn towards the centerline. Johnson dipped into his two decades worth of experience to try to recover and defeat Gray but when he car got out of shape a second time, Johnson knew it was time to push in the clutch. Johnson clocked in with an 8.845-second pass at 101.72 mph.

“It can only go up from here,” Johnson smirked. “We just went up there today really aggressive with our tune-up hoping something might happen and it just took a hard left. We’ve learned a lot this weekend on what doesn’t work and we’re looking to rebound in Phoenix.”

Honda Racing

Aleshin Leads the Way for Honda in Final Indy Car Pre-Season Practice

Aleshin Leads the Way for Honda in Final Indy Car Pre-Season Practice
• Mikhail Aleshin leads Honda contingent in “The Test in the West”
• 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series opens March 12 in St. Petersburg, Florida

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 11, 2017) – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Mikhail Aleshin led the Honda contingent at the two-day “Test in the West” at Phoenix International Raceway, posting the sixth fastest speed during the Saturday afternoon session as the Verizon IndyCar Series field completed preparations for the 2017 season. Continue reading Aleshin Leads the Way for Honda in Final Indy Car Pre-Season Practice →

Mopar Racing

Mopar and Dodge Drivers Hagan and Pritchett Start Season with Dual No. 1 Qualifying Efforts at NHRA Winternationals

Mopar and Dodge Drivers Hagan and Pritchett Start Season with Dual No. 1 Qualifying Efforts at NHRA Winternationals

Matt Hagan claims pole in Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, ties own time and national speed record
Papa John’s Pizza/Mopar Pennzoil driver and Southern California native Leah Pritchett takes second career pole at hometown track
Seven Dodge Charger R/T machines qualify for Funny Car eliminations
February 11, 2017 (Pomona, California) – The first qualifying rounds of the 2017 NHRA schedule are in the books, and Mopar is two-for-two in Nitro qualifying on the young season. Don Schumacher Racing’s Matt Hagan led the contingent of seven Mopar-powered Funny Cars in a field of 18 to win the pole during the 57th NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, tying two of his own records along the way. Mopar-powered Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett also collected her second career top qualifying spot to give Mopar the first two Nitro No. 1 qualifying positions of 2017. Continue reading Mopar and Dodge Drivers Hagan and Pritchett Start Season with Dual No. 1 Qualifying Efforts at NHRA Winternationals →

John Force Racing

PEAK’s John Force reels off second-fastest Funny Car speed, qualifies No. 2 for Winternationals at Pomona

PEAK’s John Force reels off second-fastest Funny Car speed, qualifies No. 2 for Winternationals at Pomona

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) – A day after securing a lifetime sponsorship with PEAK/Old World Industries, John Force’s career-best speed peaked during Funny Car qualifying.

And with that solid run during Saturday’s third-round qualifying session, Force grabbed the No. 2 starting spot for Sunday’s 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the opening round of the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Continue reading PEAK’s John Force reels off second-fastest Funny Car speed, qualifies No. 2 for Winternationals at Pomona →

John Force Racing

Courtney Force to start No. 3 with Advance Auto Parts Chevy for Winternationals at Pomona

Courtney Force to start No. 3 with Advance Auto Parts Chevy for Winternationals at Pomona

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) – Courtney Force will stand on her second-round qualifying time of 3.849 seconds and start No. 3 in the Funny Car class for Sunday’s Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway, the opening round of the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Force – driving the Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS – set the 3.849-second time Friday, with a speed of 330.23 mph. While she was second after Friday’s qualifications, her father and team owner, John Force, matched her time Saturday, and set a speed of 335.15, the second-fastest speed in Funny Car history. That dropped Force to No. 3. Continue reading Courtney Force to start No. 3 with Advance Auto Parts Chevy for Winternationals at Pomona →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–IndyCar–Phoenix Test

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
OPEN TEST
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (ARIZONA)
FEBRUARY 11, 2017

AVONDALE, (ARIZ) – Chevrolet drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) got down to business at an open test at Phoenix International Raceway. The April 29, 2017 race at the one-mile track just west of Phoenix, Arizona is the first oval race of the 2017 17-race season.

Making his debut as the full-time driver of the No. 21 Fuzzy’s Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, JR Hildebrand set an unofficial track record of 19.0401seconds/193.234 mph to sit atop the leaderboard following two days of testing that included two night sessions that gave teams and drivers the opportunity to work in near-race conditions. Continue reading Chevy Racing–IndyCar–Phoenix Test →

John Force Racing

Robert Hight takes Auto Club of Southern California Chevy to No. 5 spot in qualifying

Robert Hight takes Auto Club of Southern California Chevy to No. 5 spot in qualifying

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) – Robert Hight and his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team saved their best for last during qualifying for the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

And their best was good enough for the No. 5 qualifying spot in the season-opening race of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

“Great job by my team,” Hight said. “We had struggled the last two runs in testing (in Phoenix last weekend), and then the first three runs here, the same thing. But to see the teamwork – (John Force crew chief) Jimmy Prock coming over with (Hight crew chief) Mike Neff and going over things – that’s the kind of stuff you hope for. They all worked well together and tried to help each other. Continue reading Robert Hight takes Auto Club of Southern California Chevy to No. 5 spot in qualifying →

Allen Johnson Racing

Allen Johnson Drives Marathon Petroleum Corporation Dart to No. 13 at Winternationals

Allen Johnson Drives Marathon Petroleum Corporation Dart to No. 13 at Winternationals

POMONA, Calif. (February 11, 2017) – Allen Johnson drove his Marathon Petroleum Corporation/J&J Racing Dodge Dart to the No. 13 spot after qualifying action at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals.

In Friday’s first session, Johnson began the season with a solid 6.636-second pass at 207.94 mph. As rain clouds lingered overhead, the Greeneville, Tennessee-native returned for the Friday afternoon session and outran Mother Nature when he crossed the finish line with a 6.663, 207.66. Continue reading Allen Johnson Drives Marathon Petroleum Corporation Dart to No. 13 at Winternationals →

Jeg Coughlin

Quick start the key to Pomona success, says six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Quick start the key to Pomona success,
says six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr.
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) — Jeg Coughlin Jr. successfully qualified his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro in the No. 7 slot at this weekend’s season-opening 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals and he heads into race day knowing a quick start to Sunday’s eliminations will get the new year off on the right foot.

“I’m real pleased with the progression this week and through the first four runs of qualifying here at Pomona,” Coughlin said. “We came out and fired a pretty good shot in Q1 with a .57 and just kinda maintained that for a couple rounds where some of our teammates and others were picking up around us. Continue reading Quick start the key to Pomona success, says six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Erica Enders

History abounds, awaits world champion Erica Enders in Pomona

History abounds, awaits world
champion Erica Enders in Pomona
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 11) — The first Junior Dragster Erica Enders ever drove to the winner’s circle is housed just across the compound from Auto Club Raceway in Wally Parks’ Drag Racing Museum. She also started her Sportsman career here and collected one of her record 21 Pro Stock race trophies at Pomona. Additionally, she clinched the first of her two world titles at this track in 2014.

Now the spunky Texan is back, hoping to add a few more memories to her So-Cal resume when this weekend’s season-opening 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals turn to Sunday’s eliminations. Continue reading History abounds, awaits world champion Erica Enders in Pomona →

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