Stewart Snags Inaugural NAPA Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway
Returns to World of Outlaws victory lane for first time since September 2015
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. March 6, 2016 Shane Stewart overtook Joey Saldana early in the inaugural 30-lap NAPA Desert Shootout feature on Sunday night at Arizona Speedway then dominated the remaining laps to score his first victory of the 2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series season. Continue reading World of Outlaws–Stewart Snags Inaugural NAPA Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway
Wood Brothers Racing–Young Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Has Strong Run at Vegas
Young Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Has Strong Run at Vegas
March 6, 2016
Three weeks into their first full-time Sprint Cup season since 2008, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team faced one of its toughest tests yet in Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The team, led by rookie driver Ryan Blaney and crew chief Jeremy Bullins, passed with flying colors as they wound up with a sixth-place finish, the team’s best performance this year.
The Vegas race – and the current season – is different than those in recent years. Decisions by Blaney on the track and by Bullins on the pit box now are made with the bigger picture in mind – the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the series championship. Continue reading Wood Brothers Racing–Young Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Has Strong Run at Vegas
Richard Childress Racing–Las Vegas
Austin Dillon Comes from Two Laps Down to Earn Top-Five Finish in Dow Energy and Water Intellifresh Chevrolet at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
“At the end of the race I was trying to save a little bit of fuel, so it helped that we had some caution laps since Ryan Blaney was really coming on strong. For our team to be able to come back to fifth, we are just blessed, because we had a fast Dow Intellifresh Chevrolet today but we didn’t have a fifth-place performance. The cautions fell right for us. We really have to pick it up as a group – me included – on pit road. It was disappointing to have issues on pit road today because we had such a fast racecar. At some points, we were faster than the race leader. But, we had a shot there at the end. As a group we are working together really well but we still have a little bit of work to do. I’m proud of everyone on this team today. We’ve worked hard to make our cars fast and we’re proving it right now. I believe we will get a win soon.”
– Austin Dillon
Paul Menard and the No. 27 Dutch Boy / Menards Chevy Team Finish 15th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
“15th is not the finish we were hoping for today. We learned a lot this weekend though, so we have that to go off of. Our car was fast, but handling was tight during the race so we had to make adjustments during pit stops. I’m proud of my team and how hard they worked this week.”
– Paul Menard
Ryan Newman Leaves Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 13th-place Finish
“I don’t know what happened there at the end. We got extremely tight. We were in the running again for a top-10 finish but we just didn’t quite have the handling when we needed it to have a real shot. I don’t know if we sustained damage to the front nose when we dodged the wreck. Regardless we’ll keep working on it and get better as a team.”
– Ryan Newman
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas Post Race
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
KOBALT 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES & QUOTES
MARCH 6, 2016
JIMMIE JOHNSON LEADS TEAM CHEVY WITH THIRD PLACE FINISH IN LAS VEGAS
Six Chevy SS Drivers in Top 10
LAS VEGAS – (Mar. 6, 2016) – Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, led a group of six Team Chevy drivers to the finish in his No. 48 Kobalt Chevrolet SS at the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the third round of the 2016 season. The start of the 400-mile race was delayed 26 minutes by a passing rain shower; and weather continued to be a challenge with gusty winds and sandstorms.
“It was gusty and problematic, but I expected it to be a lot worse,” said Johnson, who led 76 of the 267-lap event. “I guess when you are going 200 mph a 30 or 40 mph wind doesn’t bother it too much. It was exciting. The trash was probably the biggest problem, trying to keep the trash off the grille.”
Austin Dillon, pilot of the No. 3 Dow Energy & Water Intellifresh Chevy SS, rallied back from a speeding violation on pit road to take a solid fifth place finish, giving Team Chevy two of the top five in the final order.
Kevin Harvick was seventh in his No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevy SS, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., earned an eighth place finish in his No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS. Kurt Busch, who won the Kobalt 400 pole position and led 32 laps in front of his hometown Las Vegas crowd, brought home a ninth place finish in his No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevy SS. Kasey Kahne rounded out the Top-10 in his No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS.
Brad Keselowski (Ford) was the race winner, Joey Logano (Ford) was second, and Kyle Busch (Toyota) finished fourth.
The Series continues its West Coast Swing at Phoenix International Raceway next Sunday, March 13.
# # #
POST RACE NOTES & QUOTES:
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 KOBALT CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 3RD
WHAT DID YOU NEED DURING THAT LAST RUN TO MAYBE WIN THIS THING?
“Track position was pretty important. The series of events leading up to that last restart kind of had us deeper in track position than we needed to be for the win. We still got a third, which is good, but those top three or four cars were pretty equal. It was just real hard to get there and get inside of somebody. I was impressed the No. 2 was able to sit behind the No. 22 that long and finally get by and not wear his stuff out in the process. But, decent day for us all-in-all.”
WAS THE WIND MUCH OF A FACTOR?
“Yeah, it was less than I expected. It was gusty and problematic, but I expected it to be a lot worse. I guess when you are going 200 mph a 30 or 40 mph wind doesn’t bother it too much. It was exciting. The trash was probably the biggest problem, trying to keep the trash off the grille.”
WAS THE WIND THE BIGGEST GAME CHANGER?
“At least with my race car the wind, sure I felt it and I knew kind of what was going on and trying to play into it a little bit. But, it was far better driving than I expected it to be. I’m not sure if everybody else can say that, but my KOBALT race team gave me a fantastic race car, a fast race car and just a series of events there at the end, we lost a little track position and the top three or four cars were pretty equal on speed and I just couldn’t get there.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW – ENERGY & WATER/INTELLIFRESH CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 5TH
MAYBE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THEM:
“Yeah, I know there at the end I was trying to save a little fuel, but we were really coming on strong. We killed ourselves today. To comeback to a fifth, I’m blessed and the good Lord was looking out for us. The cautions fell right. We really have to pick it up as a group, me included, on pit road. It was disappointing because we had such a fast race car. At one point in time we were way faster than the leader. We just put ourselves behind. But, we had a shot there at the end and if we were good enough to win we would have done it. We have a little more work to do. I think a win is in the future though.”
HOW DID YOU FIGHT BACK TO FINISH FIFTH?
“Just never giving up. It takes a lot of effort and these guys built such a fast race car I did all I could there to get ourselves back into a position to get back on the lead lap. The caution fell perfect for us. We took a gusty call there to take the wave around and get back on the lead lap to see if the caution would come out. It did right in our window. Things fell our way there for sure. What a fast race car we were running some lap times faster than the leader at one point in the middle of the race when we were laps down that we were really proud of. I wish the wind wouldn’t have been so bad today. I think it would have been an even better day for us. Just proud of the Dow/Intellifresh team we have something to work with. I think you will see us in Victory Lane before the season is over.”
RODNEY CHILDERS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 4 JIMMY JOHN’S CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 7TH
“We had a good car overall. Everybody did a good job most of the day. We had a bad pit stop and got us behind and then kind of turned our whole day around from there. Everybody did a good job. We couldn’t come close to making it on fuel there at the end like the No. 2 and No. 22, so we didn’t have any option, but to come down and top it off again and put tires on it. Just got to get better. We have given them away the past two weeks and just have to do a better job.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 8TH
ON THE WINDSTORM AND THE SANDSTORM, HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?
“Yeah, I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. I think that affected all the cars and made the cars much harder to drive. We had a huge wind blowing across the race track up into the wall off of (Turn) 2 and that made it difficult getting down into the bottom of Turn 3. It was a challenge. And you could definitely tell when the gusts were picking up.”
WAS IT LIKE HARD OR DANGEROUS OR ANYTHING?
“No, no, no, not at all. Visibility, maybe, is the only thing you get a little nervous about when the sandstorm come through, but the winds wasn’t too windy. I thought it was before we got in the car, but I was just as intrigued as anybody to see how it would go and how the race would go with these kinds of winds. It’s definitely a factor that makes it another challenge. All the drivers want is more challenges; more hoops to jump through.”
ON THE NEW DOWNFORCE PACKAGE
“The one thing that I really like is I can drive up to guys with that little spoiler on the back, I’m not really stuck behind people like we used to be. I lot of the drivers are wanting to keep going in this direction and even further. I wasn’t really so sure about that but now I feel like that might be a good move to go even less downforce. I don’t know if the blade needs to get shorter, but these things are sealed off on the ground. There’s a lot we could do to the bodies and stuff to take some downforce out of them. I’m sure NASCAR is looking at that. We can’t just keep taking the blade off, but we could probably take a little of an inch off and not really tell the difference.”
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 MONSTER ENERGY/HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 9TH
“We fought hard. Driver made a couple of mistakes on a restart and speeding on pit road. We just had to battle, battle, battle and just never got into a good rhythm. We just felt like we were battling from behind.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 SMITH’S/KINGSFORD CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 14TH
“Hard fought day. I’ve been working on getting on pit road. I thought I got on really good and I will be interested to see the number, just sped a little bit. That got us behind, but we worked the strategy back to keep trying to get back on the lead lap. The pit crew was really good today. Randall (Burnett, crew chief) did a good job. I couldn’t figure out exactly, I knew I needed the front to turn better; we were just a little free in. From there just made small adjustments all day. We made it better each run. At the end there I thought we were decent, the best we had been all day, just nowhere to go. We took what could have been a really bad day and really put us way behind to start the year and salvaged a decent day out of it. Not totally happy, but I think we are making gains. The car has speed in it, just a little bit off. Randall and the guys give most of the credit to them because I … it’s just frustrating. I just got us behind. I didn’t want to get us behind early in the race. We weren’t great, but we had gotten the gap to kind of get in that safe zone where we could make our own day out of it and I put us behind. Randall kept me calm. Some of those runs weren’t very fun but he kept his head in and made me better.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS – Involved in a multi-car crash on lap 225
WHAT WAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THAT UNFOLDED?
“Just disappointed, what a fast race car, I appreciate everybody working hard. I feel like we made a lot of gains this weekend. Just a terrible job on my behalf. That is pitiful. We have run three races and finished one. Just a bad job on my end. I ought to know better to miss a wreck like that.”
WHAT COULD YOU HAVE DONE?
“Yeah, got off the brake and missed it.”
WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM YOUR VIEW?
“Matt (Kenseth) spin out and I just did a bad job missing him. Just locked up the brakes and ran right into the back of him.”
HOW TOUGH IS THAT WIND?
“I didn’t really notice it too bad today.”
Richard Childress Racing–Boyd Gaming 300
Austin Dillon Battles a Loose-Handling Chevrolet to Finish Fifth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
“We never really had the speed today that we wanted. We lacked a little bit on the car handling ability, but the No. 2 RTP/Rheem Chevrolet team worked hard at it all day. We had to save fuel there at the end to make it all the way to the checkered flag. Brandon Jones really started saving a lot, and we ended up getting by him coming to the flag. I had a lot of fun today. We have some things to work on to get better, but we’ll get there.”
– Austin Dillon
Ty Dillon Cruises to Top-10 Finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
“Our race strategy paid off today. We didn’t have the fastest race car, but we were able to compete inside the top-10. That’s a credit to Nick Harrison (crew chief). I’m happy to leave here with a solid finish, but we know we have a lot of work to do. I’ve noticed a lot of improvements even in the early parts of the season. It’s a long NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule, and we’re making sure we’re staying in the thick of the point’s battle.”
– Ty Dillon
Brandon Jones Logs Laps, Learns Lessons and Finishes Sixth in NASCAR XFINITY Series Debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
“We had a great qualifying effort and started the race fifth, but we were a little too loose on the initial start of the race and got shuffled back in the order. It was a long race, so I rode around as we made changes to the No. 33 Chevrolet. We zeroed in on some changes at the end, and I knew we were really close to a perfect chassis. I was saving fuel in the closing laps and got passed by our teammate, Austin Dillon, but I learned a lot today. I logged a lot of laps and am proud of what we accomplished today.”
– Brandon Jones
Brendan Gaughan Battles to 10th-Place Finish in Front of Hometown Crowd
“Today was definitely not what we wanted coming out of Las Vegas. We wanted to be a lot better than top-10. The South Point Chevy wasn’t quite as good as it was last year. It’s a bummer because this was the first race of the year that wasn’t as good as last year’s. We still brought home a top-10 finish, and that is half the battle. We will keep chipping off top-10’s, and that’s good for the stat line and points. We just wanted to do better for the hometown crowd. I love racing and I love what I do, I’m having fun.”
– Brendan Gaughan
World of Outlaws–Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
Inherits lead with ten laps left en route to capturing first win of the year
LAS VEGAS March 4, 2016 Donny Schatz fell out of the top five on the initial start of the FVP Outlaw Showdown presented by Dollar Loan Center on Friday night at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, but he battled his way back to the front and took the lead with four laps remaining to score his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season.
The seven-time and reigning series champion improved on his finish of seventh on the opening night of the double-header at Las Vegas.
This race team needs to be standing here taking the credit for this win, they are incredible, the Fargo, N.D.-native said. I know I am probably the hardest guy in the pit area to work for. They demand a lot out of me and I try to give them my best.
Thursday nights winner Joey Saldana wheeled his Roth Enterprises/HR Livestock No. 83 to the nights overall quick time after he was the first car to hit the track in qualifying and held on while the rest of the 36-car field took times. Continue reading World of Outlaws–Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas II
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
KOBALT 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2016
KURT BUSCH CLAIMS POLE FOR CHEVROLET AT LAS VEGAS
Team Chevy Takes Four of First Eight Starting Positions
LAS VEGAS – (Mar. 4, 2016) Kurt Busch captured the pole for Sunday’s Kobalt 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) by posting a new track record of 196.328 mph in his No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet SS. It was Busch’s second consecutive pole for 2016, the 21st of his career, and second at his hometown track.
“It was insanely fast,” said Busch following his performance in the knockout-style qualifying format. “It’s amazing all the detail that goes into qualifying with finding that perfect lap three times out there. My second outing we were way tight, and I didn’t know where it came from. (Tony) Gibson, (crew chief) and crew went to town. They just adjusted on it. We gambled and we made that last session, which was great. That was icing on the cake to be able to go out into the third round. Two poles in a row is a reason to celebrate.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas II
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
KOBALT 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2016
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 MONSTER ENERGY/HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – Pole Winner
WAS THAT FAST LAP A LUDICROUS SPEED LAP?
“It was insanely fast. It’s amazing all the detail that goes into qualifying with finding that perfect lap three times out there. My second outing we were way tight and I didn’t know where it came from. (Tony) Gibson, (crew chief) and crew went to town. They just adjusted on it. We gambled and we made that last session, which was great. That was icing on the cake to be able to go out into the third round. I was first or 12th it didn’t matter. Thanks to Haas Automation, Monster Energy, two poles in a row, this is great. This is how you work through an off season and show up to qualify, now we just need to find that speed on the long run. Really proud of everybody at SHR.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Las Vegas
Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Tony Stewart
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
KOBALT 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2016
TONY STEWART, NO. 14 MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET SS held a press conference with media at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Full Transcript:
THE MODERATOR: I think you all know this gentleman here, three-time champion, Tony Stewart.
We have an exciting initiative to talk to you about today, then we’ll answer some questions. We’ll try to knock out a couple of birds with one stone.
Mobil 1 has been a cornerstone partner with Stewart-Haas Racing since 2011. In addition to their activation with their consumers and employees, they’ve made a series of videos that are about as good as there are in racing between ‘Smokey The Bandit’ and the ‘Soda Cookie’ commercial. I think those are as good as any in racing. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Tony Stewart
Pro Stock ace Erica Enders to double down at several races with ORTEQ Super Gas roadster
Pro Stock ace Erica Enders to double down at several races with ORTEQ Super Gas roadster
WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (March 4) — Two-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders will return to her Sportsman racing roots this season driving the ORTEQ Energy Technologies Super Gas car for Buddy Wood and Cody Ortowski at select races.
Enders earned her first NHRA national event victory in the Super Gas class in 2004 before moving into the professional ranks. Continue reading Pro Stock ace Erica Enders to double down at several races with ORTEQ Super Gas roadster
World of Outlaws–Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
Inherits lead with ten laps left en route to capturing first win of the year
LAS VEGAS March 3, 2016 Brian Brown led the way early in Thursday night’s FVP Outlaw Showdown presented by Dollar Loan Center at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, but after some bad luck for Brown, Joey Saldana seized the lead and scored his first World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season. Continue reading World of Outlaws–Saldana Hits Jackpot on First Night of Las Vegas Double-Header
World of Outlaws–At A Glance: Big Momentum for Kasey Kahne Racing as the Series Heads to Vegas, Phoenix
At A Glance: Big Momentum for Kasey Kahne Racing as the Series Heads to Vegas, Phoenix
This week the Series takes on the FVP Outlaw Showdown presented by Dollar Loan Center at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas and the NAPA Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway
CONCORD, N.C. – March 2, 2016 – As the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series continues its march west this week to the FVP Outlaw Showdown presented by Dollar Loan Center at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas and the NAPA Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway near Phoenix, one team has staked its claim early as one to watch – Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb.
The two cars of Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet rolled through DIRTcar Nationals with precision and speed and carried the momentum to Cotton Bowl Speedway and Royal Purple Raceway Park last weekend. Continue reading World of Outlaws–At A Glance: Big Momentum for Kasey Kahne Racing as the Series Heads to Vegas, Phoenix
Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap
Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap
Sweet edges Pittman in another photo finish; Pittman wins following night
Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman continued their hot streaks as the World of Outlaws stopped in Texas for two races on their way to the west coast. On Friday night, Pittman held the lead at Cotton Bowl Speedway until the final turn, when Sweet was able to just beat him to the line to pick up the No. 49 team’s third win in the first four races in the season.
The following night at Royal Purple Raceway, Daryn and the Great Clips team dominated by leading the race from flag-to-flag and picking up their first win of the season.
Encouraging Atlanta Run Has Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Optimistic About Las Vegas
Encouraging Atlanta Run Has Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Optimistic About Las Vegas
March 1, 2016
Despite a disappointing crash on the final lap of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, rookie Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are off to a strong start to the team’s first full-time campaign since 2008.
The Wood Brothers team enters this weekend’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 23rd in the Sprint Cup car owner standings, two points out of the top 20 and 10 points out of the top 15. Continue reading Encouraging Atlanta Run Has Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Optimistic About Las Vegas
Scelzi Primed for Season on the Road Beginning This Week in Las Vegas
Scelzi Primed for Season on the Road Beginning This Week in Las Vegas
Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Feb. 29, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi is embarking upon the biggest season of his career in 2016.
Scelzi will tackle many of the marquee events across the country and he will spend a large chunk of his summer competing throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
But first, Scelzi and his Roth Motorsports backed family owned team are scheduled to defend the West Coast as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series invades beginning this Thursday and Friday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas. Continue reading Scelzi Primed for Season on the Road Beginning This Week in Las Vegas
JOHN FORCE, BRITTANY FORCE RUNNERS-UP IN PHOENIX
JOHN FORCE, BRITTANY FORCE RUNNERS-UP IN PHOENIX
PHOENIX —- The CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals concluded today with a pair of Forces narrowly missing their first ever double up win in Funny Car and Top Fuel. Funny Car legend John Force lost a close race to veteran Tim Wilkerson while Brittany Force came up a few thousandths of a second short against Leah Pritchett in Top Fuel. Teammates Robert Hight and Courtney Force bowed out in the semi-final round giving John Force Racing one of its strongest race days in over a year.
The collective success on race day moved John Force up to No. 2 in the Funny Car points in front of an advancing Robert Hight (3rd) and Courtney Force (6th). Brittany Force’s final round finish moved her from 10th to 3rd in the Top Fuel point standings. Continue reading JOHN FORCE, BRITTANY FORCE RUNNERS-UP IN PHOENIX
Wood Brothers Racing–Overtime Crash Spoils Top-15 Run For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team
Overtime Crash Spoils Top-15 Run For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team
February 28, 2016
Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion team came about a mile shy of completing a successful first run of the season under NASCAR’s new lower-downforce rules package.
In Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Blaney started 23rd, quickly raced his way into the top 15 and essentially stayed there throughout the race, that ran with just a single caution until there were just two laps remaining. Continue reading Wood Brothers Racing–Overtime Crash Spoils Top-15 Run For Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team
Optimism Reigns in Mopar Camp Despite Challenging Race Day at Phoenix
Optimism Reigns in Mopar Camp Despite Challenging Race Day at Phoenix
· Challenging day for Mopar teams in both Funny Car and Pro Stock categories without a semifinal appearance at the 32nd annual National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals near Phoenix
· No. 1 Qualifier Ron Capps remains Funny Car points leader despite quarterfinal loss at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
· This event marks only the second time a DSR Dodge Charger R/T hasn’t advanced to finals in 26 national events since new Mopar body made its debut at the 2015 Winternationals
· Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. optimistic about improvements to Mopar-powered Elite Motorsports Dodge Dart regardless of early exit in Pro Stock eliminations
Chandler, Arizona, (February 28, 2016) – It was an relatively unusual National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) race day occurrence not to see a HEMI®-powered Dodge vehicle advance to a final elimination round, but while Mopar drivers in both Funny Car and Pro Stock classes were disappointed by early exits at 32nd annual NHRA Nationals near Phoenix, there was a lot of optimism about the early season progress being made by their teams in their very competitive fields. Continue reading Optimism Reigns in Mopar Camp Despite Challenging Race Day at Phoenix
Chevy Racing–NHRA–Phoenix Post Race
CHEVROLET EARNS PRO STOCK VICTORY, REACHES FINALS IN ALL THREE CLASSES
Jason Line captures 38th victory in all-Chevrolet Pro Stock semifinals field
· Brittany Force advances to Top Fuel final, comes up short on holeshot
· John Force reaches Funny Car final to pace John Force Racing contingent
· Robert Hight sets Funny Car track records for elapsed time and speed
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 28, 2016) – For the second consecutive event of the young National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Chevrolet was the class of the Pro Stock category by sweeping into the semifinals and coming away with the victory at the 32nd CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.
Also, Chevrolet teams reached the final round in Top Fuel (Brittany Force) and Funny Car (John Force) at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Jason Line, the No. 2 qualifier in the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS, earned his 38th Pro Stock victory with a pass of 6.666 seconds/205.16 mph in the final against Chris McGaha (Harlow Sammons of Odessa Chevrolet Camaro SS). Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–Phoenix Post Race
Richard Childress Racing–Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500
Austin Dillon Earns Best-Career Atlanta Motor Speedway Finish with 11th-Place Showing in Dow Chevrolet
“It was a decent race for us again and I’m proud of the fast car that the Dow racing team provided. We were challenged with improving our performance as an organization over last year on downforce races and 1.5-mile tracks and I think we showed that we can perform. We still have work to do, but I earned my best Sprint Cup finish at Atlanta and that says a lot about the start to our season. I do think we can get better on pit road. We struggled a little bit on green-flag stops today. Overall, it was another good finish to start the year, though, so it was a solid day in the points.”
– Austin Dillon
Paul Menard Finishes 19th at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Valvoline/Menards Chevrolet SS
“I’ve been looking forward to today’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’s one of my favorite tracks that we go to. We just got a bad set of tires that we had to adjust for. It messed us up for a few runs but we were able to come back from it towards the end. I’m proud of my guys for pushing today and not giving up.”
– Paul Menard
Cut Tire Slows Ryan Newman to 24th-Place Finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway
“Hats off to this Cat team today. They gave me a fun car to drive. The guys on pit road did a great job. There are no complaints from me about today. We are moving in the right direction, that’s for sure. I thought we might have a tire going down there at the end and was riding it out and hoping for the best but it cut down. Despite what happened, we’re encouraged not discouraged.”
– Ryan Newman