World of Outlaws

World of Outlaws–Saldana Holds Off Schatz to Win NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway

Saldana Holds Off Schatz to Win NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway
Saldana’s World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars win is his fourth of the season
GREENWOOD, Neb. — May 31, 2014 — From the front row, Joey Saldana jumped out to an early lead and held off challenges from Donny Schatz and Paul McMahan to win the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars’ NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway.

Despite the fact that the Outlaws have not raced at I-80 in more than a decade, Saldana, who led all 30 laps of the race, said the track drove much like he expected it to.

“I’ve watched races on YouTube,” Saldana said. “It didn’t race any different top, bottom – if you got a run on the bottom you had to hit your marks – just a great track. This is a perfect track for 410 sprint cars… I’m glad everyone supported it… hopefully this is a testament of things to come.”

Early on in the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Saldana faced a strong challenge from McMahan. As the race progressed and Schatz got around McMahan, it was Schatz who looked to reel Saldana in.

“I don’t know if I had the best car but I definitely had track position,” Saldana said. “I could move around and I think that one lapped car helped me block the 51 or the 15.”

Saldana said this was a really special win for him personally because the last time the Outlaws raced at the track in 2003 was one of the last times his grandfather watched Saldana race before his grandfather died. It is also close to home for his parents and sisters.

This was Saldana’s fourth win of the season. He is third in total wins behind Schatz and Daryn Pittman. Saldana also remains in third in the race for the championship, moving to within 29 points of the lead.

Saldana and Schatz led the field to the green flag with Kerry Madsen and McMahan on the second row and Sammy Swindell and Terry McCarl in the third.

As the green flag flew on the 30-lap A main, Saldana, driving his Motter Equipment car, jumped out challenging Schatz for the lead. A quick caution fell before lap one could be completed and the field was reset.

Following the restart, it was once again Saldana battling Schatz. Saldana caught Schatz going down the backstretch and rode the high side through turns three and four. Before the cars could return to the start/finish line, Saldana fought past Schatz and eventually led the first official lap of the race.

It was McMahan who next set his sights on Saldana and the lead. After fighting his CJB Motorsports car past Schatz, McMahan tried different lines to advance forward. He got looks for the lead on laps three and five but wasn’t able to clear Saldana.

By lap nine, Schatz had caught McMahan and found his way around for second. The two would again trade positions on laps 15 and 20.

On lap 24, Schatz, now firmly in second, began to reel in Saldana. As the 71M utilized the low line in one and two, and three and four, Schatz followed trying to make something work.

When the white flag flew, Schatz took one last run at Saldana down the backstretch and low through three and four. With momentum on to the frontstretch, Schatz, on Saldana’s rear bumper bar, tried to make his pass. It was too late as Saldana took the checkered flag and the win.

“[Joey] could keep his speed getting off the corners there,” said Schatz, a five-time Outlaws champion. “I tried everything I could… But it wasn’t enough. Maybe later tonight I’ll figure out something and replay the race.”

“It’s been a longtime since we’ve been here and I don’t remember how it raced back then but times change. You have to move around the race track. I’d just kind of go wherever they didn’t. I couldn’t really make the top work in one and two all that well. Everybody was on the top of three and four so I had to try something and that’s just the nature of the beast.”

Schatz commended his STP/Armor All team for the effort they put into his race car and the run on Friday night. He increased his championship points lead on second place Pittman to 19.

“I had an awesome race car. Second was the best we could do tonight.”

McMahan congratulated his good friend Saldana on the win tonight. He said Saldana was tough to get around.

“I had a good car tonight,” McMahan said. “I showed Joey the bottom there and wasn’t able to clear him and he moved down, just being the smart racer he is. Then Donny got rolling through the middle and got by us and we got back by him.

“I’ll tell you what, it was a lot of fun racing. I hate running third but it was a lot of fun.”

McMahan echoed sentiments from both Schatz and Saldana, thanking the large crowd at I-80 and wishing good things for the years to come.

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–Pocono–Kurt Busch

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
POCONO 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 6, 2014
 
 
CHEVROLET’S KURT BUSCH NARROWLY MISSES POLE AT POCONO
Six Chevrolet SS Race Cars to Start in Top 12
 
POCONO, Pa. – June 6, 2014 – Kurt Busch placed his No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS on the outside front row, missing the pole for Sunday’s Pocono 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race by just two thousandths of a second with a speed of 181.408 mph (49.612 seconds).
 
He joined pole sitter Denny Hamlin (Toyota) and third-place qualifier Brad Keselowski (Ford) in setting new track records that eclipsed the previous fast time set by Chevrolet’s Jimmie Johnson in August of 2013.  Busch was the first of six fast Chevrolet SS race cars to earn spots in the Top 12 positions in the final round of multi-car qualifying at the ‘Tricky Triangle’.
 
This marks the first time in 2014 Busch has started in the top-five.  He is joined there by his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick.  The two-time winner in 2014 will start in the fourth position in his No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS.
 
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will both start in the top-10 as they prepare to compete in 400-miles at the 2.5-mile track.  Four-time Pocono winner, Gordon placed his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS in the fifth starting spot, while Earnhardt, Jr. will take the green flag in his No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS from the eighth position.
 
Austin Dillon was the fastest Rookie of the Year contender (179.326 mph) by qualifying 11th in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS.  Tony Stewart, a two-time Pocono winner rounded out the Chevrolet power starting in the top-12 taking the final 12th position.
 
The Pocono 400 is scheduled for 1p.m. Sunday, June 8th and will be aired live on TNT.
 
 
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND
POST QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:
 
YOU GUYS WERE FAST OUT THERE. IT SEEMED LIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY BROKE THE TRACK RECORD. TALK ABOUT YOUR RUN AND JUST HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO THE POLE TODAY
“We came here with a new approach and to try to get out front ends to settle into the race track a little better. And this track can lead into finding some comfort with how smooth it is from the repave. I was really surprised that we had the speed for the pole today on just our first attempt at trying something a little different. So, it’s great to cash in. To be in position and advance through knockout qualifying is something that we’ve don’t this year, but we haven’t positioned ourselves for a pole run in that final grouping of 12. Those final 12, you’ve got to be spot-on. And after I made my lap, I felt like I left a little change on the track in Turn 1, a little pocket change. So, to come this close to the pole shows our car’s got some speed in it and hopefully that will translate into race day.”
 
DID THIS FEEL LIKE A MINI VICTORY BY HAVING SUCH A GOOD QUALIFYING RUN. YOU WON HERE IN AUGUST 2007. IT’S A DIFFERENT AND TEAM, BUT THIS IS STILL YOU. IS A WIN WELL WITHIN YOUR GRASP?
“The outside pole is great and it’s good for all day long on your starting position, your race sequence and your pit box selection. Our crew chief will get a nice pit box selection and that will help us with ease and congestion on pit road. And then as the race progresses, we just have to make the right changes to the car. I’m glad we were able to apply something new to the car this weekend and to see a good result right away. It’s not a big victory or a small victory. It’s just nice to confirm a change on the car and see it go the right direction.”
 
DOES HAVING A GOOD QUALIFYING RUN LIKE THIS GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE GOING INTO THE RACE ON SUNDAY?
“Yeah, it always helps. If you don’t get the pole, it’s bitter sweet. But at the same time, the sweet side of it is that the car has speed in it. We’re going to be up against that No. 11 (Denny Hamlin, pole winner) and the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski) and it looks like the No. 24 (Jeff Gordon) is quick and our teammate (Kevin) Harvick and (Tony) Stewart, those guys made the final grouping. Speed and qualifying usually translates to race day and we hope to hang onto that. It’s our job to manage it on the No. 41 Haas-Automation Chevy now.”
 
YOU’RE ABOUT 13 RACES INTO THE NEW SEASON WITH A NEW CREW CHIEF, A ROOKIE CREW CHIEF AT THAT. WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN WITH DANIEL KNOST SO FAR THIS SEASON
“It’s been great with Daniel to watch his growth and to see him come up through the different challenges that come to a crew chief. I’ll never know all the things that his been through but I can see the progress that he’s made and just his overall confidence and how he’s able to direct orders to the team and how he is able to absorb my feedback and to then take the next step where I think he can be better is delegating more work. Daniel likes to do everything himself. And in this game, there is so much work that has to be done with templates and car set-up and shocks and springs and sway bars. He has to rely on the talent of the guys around him and that he’s positioned himself with.  So, that’s our next step is being able to allow the crew members to know that we’re going to grab another gear during these summer months and advance as a team together. It hasn’t been the results that we’ve wanted so far, so we all know we can work better and harder and we’re going to make this No. 41 car faster.”
 

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–IndyCar–Texas–Qualifying

CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
FIRESTONE 600
QUALIFYING
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
 
Will Power puts Chevrolet on the Pole at Texas
 
FT. WORTH (JUNE 6, 2014) – For the fifth time this season, a Chevrolet IndyCar V6 powered driver will lead the Verizon IndyCar Series field to the green flag. Will Power put his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet on the pole for Saturday’s Firestone 600 with a time of 47.8584 seconds/218.896 m.p.h. It is his second consecutive and overall pole at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) and 34th career IndyCar Series pole for Power, who won at the 1.5-mile oval in  2011.
 
It was a solid qualifying day for Team Chevy at TMS with Chevrolet IndyCar V6 drivers capturing with five of the top-seven spots in the final post-qualifying tally. Tony Kanaan turned in the third quickest time with Juan Pablo Montoya putting up the fourth fastest time. Ed Carpenter was fifth fastest, and Scott Dixon was seventh quickest in the order.
 
Josef Newgarden (Honda) completes the top-five qualifiers for the 248-lap/372-mile race.
 
The Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 2014. Live television coverage of the 248-lap/372-mile race on NBC Sports Network will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT (8:00 p.m. ET). Live radio coverage will be on XM Radio Channel 209, and IMS Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 213. In addition, IndyCar live timing and scoring with the radio broadcast can be found at

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–Pocono–Kurt Busch

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
POCONO 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
JUNE 6, 2014
 
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND
YOU MISSED THE POLE BY TWO ONE THOUSANDTHS OF A SECOND:
“It didn’t feel that close in the car.  Turn 1 we ended up on the tight side on the exit of the corner.  I said to myself a lot of these laps aren’t perfect anymore.  Go get what you can in other spots of the track.  That is what it’s all about is the team work side of it.  I just have to thank Daniel (Knost, crew chief) for putting us in position to have a shot at the pole.  We haven’t been all that good this year with the Haas Automation Chevy.  Just have to thank Haas Automation, State Water Heaters, Monster Energy and everybody who has been pushing us and keeping track of us.  We haven’t done our job at the best of our ability and this is a good turn for the better.”
 
LOCKED INTO THE CHASE BUT THE IMPORTANT STRETCH TRYING TO BUILD MOMENTUM INTO THE SECOND PART OF THE SUMMER HERE:
“Yeah if we win one more race then we are definitely locked in, but it’s a matter now of developing the No. 41 team into a championship contender, not just a Chase contender.”
 
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO UNLOAD FAST HERE AND BACK IT UP WITH SPEED?
“I was just thanking all the crew guys for putting us in position to go for the pole.  To advance through knock-out qualifying we have gotten to the second round a lot this year.  We haven’t gotten into the final round much and this was a final round type car.  We put ourselves in position for the pole and came away just two thousandths shy, which is cool.  The car didn’t feel that good, but that is the compromise that you have to make in this knock-out qualifying. You have to do three qualifying runs.  In the 15 years I’ve been doing this you only had to do one lap and make it perfect.  Now you have to get three that are pretty good.”
 
WHICH ONE OF THESE THREE DISTINCT CORNERS AT THIS RACE TRACK DO YOU HAVE TO ATTACK? AND WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY TIPTOE YOUR WAY THROUGH?
“Each corner is different on each day and how far back you are in traffic.  For a qualifying lap most of your speed I think here is carried down the long front straightaway right here in front of the fans.  Turn 3 is important because what Turn 4?”
 
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 5TH
ON HIS QUALIFYING RUN:
“I feel really good about it.  We have certainly made some great improvements from practice when we first rolled off to make our first qualifying run.  Great job to Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and all the guys on this Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet.  We went faster each time out and qualified fifth.  You always want to be faster and some guys put up some really good laps.  Looking at just a few little areas where we could have gone faster.  All in all I’m pretty happy.”
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 20TH
WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE FIRST SESSION TO SECOND SESSION FOR YOU TODAY?
“The driver blew Turn 2.  I just got too greedy down in two and lost the nose in corner exit. I knew it killed the lap.  Sure enough when I came back around it was only good enough for 20th.  I feel bad for my guys, but this one is one me.”
 
HOW WERE YOU IN RACE TRIM FOR SUNDAY?
“I couldn’t tell you we hadn’t been there yet that is tomorrow.”
 
JUSTIN ALLGAIER, NO. 51 BRANDT PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURE CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 24TH
HOW WAS YOUR QUALIFYING RUN?
“Qualifying was okay. Our Brandt Chevy we had to make a second run there in first round and second round just missed it a little bit unfortunately.  All in all really proud of all these guys at HScott Motorsports and the direction we have gone over the course of the season.  We have a lot of work that we can try a lot of different things tomorrow in practice and see how that goes and hopefully on Sunday we can have a really good race.”
 
CASEY MEARS, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 25TH
IT LOOKED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS WATCHING THE SKY IN THAT LAST ROUND YOU TOO?
“Well I mean it wasn’t as bad as it was in practice where the clouds were really in and out.  We were all hoping that a cloud would come in and we could run a little bit quicker there at the end.  Really we were just focused more on balance and then watching what everybody else was doing to try to get out there and make a last ditch effort to have a little better run.  It was close we got a little bit tight in (Turns) 1 and 2 and the tunnel turn and Turn 3 felt pretty good, but lost some time getting down into Turn 1.”
 
HOW MUCH MORE NERVE RACKING AND STRATEGIC IS THIS KNOCK-OUT QUALIFYING THAN WHAT WE USED TO HAVE?
“It’s definitely more nerve racking when you are on the bubble.  When you are well inside it you have the opportunity to start thinking about next round.  We have been working really hard.  We have been close it seems like we are right at this transfer spot when it’s three rounds of qualifying.  We have to figure out how to get just a little bit better, not much and we can get well in that top 24 to make that second round.”
 
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 27TH 
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST HINDRANCE ON YOUR SECOND ATTEMPT?
“We just didn’t have quite the speed.  I don’t know we were actually pretty slow.  We will work on it tomorrow get our Great Clips Chevrolet a little better for the race on Sunday, hopefully a lot better.  We will just have a little further on our ways to go on Sunday.  Pit stalls are all good here so hopefully we can move up through there.  Tomorrow will be key getting a couple of good practices in and trying to figure out where we are missing some speed.”
 
NOT MOVING ON TO ROUND TWO WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE OUT THERE TODAY IN QUALIFYING?
“We just didn’t have quite the speed we needed to go on to round two.  We were a little touch quicker there than we were in practice, but not near fast enough.  We just have to look at things for tomorrow.  We have two practices so hopefully we will be much better for Sunday.” 
 

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–Pocono–Kasey Kahne

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
POCONO 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 6, 2014
 
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed the challenges of trying to obtain his first race of the season, his hopes to become the fourth Hendrick Motorsports team to make the Chase, the challenges of road course racing and the upcoming Sonoma event, and more. Full Transcript:
 
POCONO RACEWAY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TOWARD GETTING YOUR FIRST WIN THIS YEAR?  JIMMIE JOHNSON SAID EVERYBODY WANTS ALL FOUR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CARS IN THE CHASE
“At Hendrick Motorsports, we all want to be in the Chase. What Jimmie is talking about is making sure the No. 5 is in. He’s not going to give anything to me, but he’s definitely going to be happy if we pulled it off and won a race. Last time we were here we won. So, I feel good about racing at Pocono. We were really quick the first race and had an issue. The track is very similar. It’s a little different in the tunnel without the curbing but you still go through there in a very similar way; you just don’t have the curbing to avoid. So, I feel like we should be able to have a good car by the time tomorrow is over. We were off in practice. We didn’t hit on it right off the bat. It took a little while but we went to the opposite. We were real tight and got to the loose side when we made one qualifying run at the end. So now we’ll try to hit the middle of that and then tomorrow we have some practice where hopefully we can get it right. This is a track where I’ve run well in the past and with Hendrick race cars and engines it makes it a lot easier.”
 
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE CLOSER TO GETTING THINGS TURNED AROUND AND GETTING THAT FIRST WIN THIS YEAR?
“I think there has been a touch of bad luck and then we just haven’t put together full races. We’ve had great practices over the last month, maybe a little more than that. We’ve been really good in practice; great at times during the race, but we haven’t put together the full race. And when we have, it’s been one and then we forget how for the next three, and then come back for the fourth one and run pretty well. That side of it’s been tough and we’re all looking at that together to try to make it better. But I think as far as speed goes and getting the car right, we’ll be good on Sunday at points. We just need to put the whole 400 miles together. If we do that, we’ll have a shot to win.”
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON SAID HE THOUGHT THE UPS AND DOWNS HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE FRUSTRATING FOR YOU. IS THAT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION?
“It’s been a bit frustrating at times, but I think I’ve handled it all pretty well. In my opinion I feel like I have. Last Monday was probably the worst Monday I’ve had of the season after a bad result. We went from 17th to fifth and then just couldn’t hit on it from there. But we had a really fast car. We had a great test in New Hampshire Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m excited to be here this weekend and trying to get some things rolling.
 
“At Charlotte we were really good in the All-Star race, the best car there, and so Jimmie and Chad (Knaus) saw that started there the next week and then built that set-up from there. And they ran with it. They won and dominated the race and did a really good job. We weren’t on the lead lap the whole night so it was hard to race. We were a lap down from the 50th mile on. So that made for a tough Charlotte. But I think we’re really close. We just need to put races together. I get down a little, but I’ve actually handled it all pretty well and I’m excited to be here and I want to win.”
 
WE ARE HEADED TO SONOMA IN A FEW WEEKS; CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU THINK THE RACING IS LIKE AT A ROAD COURSE IN GENERAL? IS COMPETING AT A ROAD COURSE CLOSER TO A SHORT-TRACK RACING?  IS IT BETTER RACING?  ALSO, TALK ABOUT THE STRATEGY IN KNOCKOUT QUALIFYING AT A ROAD COURSE:
“The Sonoma road course is so much different than say The Glen (Watkins Glen).  It’s definitely more with the slower corners and the pace falls off so much at Sonoma.  I feel like at times you are at somewhat of a Martinsville type short-track.  Really everybody gets close together and you are getting beat by wheel spin or not.  I enjoy Sonoma.  I think it’s a great place to race and great country out there.  I look forward to that.  The qualifying will be different.  It will be the first time we have had this qualifying knock-out deal at a road course.  But I think with the tire wear that we have at Sonoma that it will be you will really want to hit it on your first lap.  That will be your money lap.  Some of these other tracks haven’t been quite that way.  Maybe Sonoma won’t be like that, but I would say if anything it will fall off after each run a little bit if you nail the first one it would be hard to go quicker I would think.”
 
HOW DO YOU AND KENNY FRANCIS EACH HANDLE THE FRUSTRATION BETWEEN EACH OTHER?
“We haven’t had too much between each other.  I feel like it’s kind of like, Kenny has a couple of engineers up there with him that they all need to work together.  My communication and feedback to what the car is doing throughout the race can always be better.  As a group we just look at that and try to make that better each week. Over the last few years I would say our inconsistency in those areas has been pretty bad at times and other times been really good.  It’s just about doing that stuff right.  Sometimes not talking like neither of us gets too upset at each other any of that I don’t know I see that kind of hurting you at times.  Maybe you need to get it out there and talk about it.  We have our Tuesday’s we spend a couple of hours, we had lunch yesterday for a couple of hours.  We are trying.  We are working at it.  We just need to hit on it; once we do hopefully we can run with it for a while.”
 
HAS THE NEW CHASE FORMAT EASED THE PAIN FOR YOU WITH YOUR UP AND DOWN YEAR?  WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN MORE FRUSTRATED WITH THE OLD FORMAT?  ARE YOU AND KENNY LOOKING AT THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON AND TARGETING SPECIFIC RACES OR ARE YOU STILL TAKING IT WEEK BY WEEK TRYING TO SCORE AS MANY POINTS AS POSSIBLE?
“I look at it as we need to score as many points as we can each week.  Our stretch of tracks that we run really well at started about three weeks ago.  It goes for another month, so hopefully we can hit on something over this little span that we have.  We haven’t yet, but we are in a good group of tracks for myself and Kenny and our team.  We just have to do the best we can and hopefully as a group we figure it out and can start putting full races together.  If we can do that we will be in a good spot in a hurry because of the points system and the way that it is now.  Definitely not out until Richmond I guess that is when you would be out.  You have a much better shot this way to make the Chase even if you are not running very well throughout the first half of the year.”
 
HOW MUCH COMMUNICATION DO YOU HAVE WITH THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS TEAM? DO YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THEM ALL THE TIME?
“Yeah I do.  Those teams I put a lot into it and those guys put a ton into it.  They are non-stop working at it.  I’m always trying to come up with ways and things for them to hopefully improve their programs.  Give them more opportunities, more tools to work with. Whatever I can do there I talk to them a lot.  We are always trying to get that deal better.  We have won – I think as a company we have won 11 so far this year.  We are not doing bad, but we are not doing good enough either so we just keep working at it.”
 
YOU TALKED IN THE OFF SEASON ABOUT HOW YOU ARE TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH THIS YEAR WORKING ON ATTITUDE AND WORKING ON COMMUNICATION WITH KENNY.&nbs
p; AS YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS HAS THAT PROVED HELPFUL?
“I don’t think it has changed performance at all.  It hasn’t changed any of that in my opinion yet.  Maybe eventually it will, but to this point I have handled everything a lot better than what I would have in the past.  My weeks aren’t near as down as some people maybe would think they should be after the way we have performed at times.  I mean you just have to move on after a race and figure out how you can make it better and then do that at the next track.  I’ve actually handled things pretty well and feel good about where I’m at and the things I’ve learned about myself over the last six months.  As far as our performance goes we are still working on that.”
 
DID YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE TEST?  HOW MUCH CAN THAT HELP MOVING FORWARD? 
“I was hoping some of that you could apply here, but we had a pretty good deal going here last year that we have kind of started with this year and looked at to make the balance of the car similar.  I guess in ways that you can with the new car this year.  I just think anytime you can go and test for a couple of day and we went 8 to 8 for two days.  That is a ton of laps and a lot of things that each team is trying.  Jimmie (Johnson) was really good at times.  Dale (Earnhardt, Jr.) got good at the end.  I felt like we got pretty good at the end and Jeff (Gordon) was probably the best car the first day.  We were all over the place between the guys and which run it was, but we all learned a lot.  I think we can put together a really good package for Hendrick Motorsports for when we go back in July and then also at the start of the Chase.  I think that is a really good track to be good at.  Last year we were an average 10th.  That is about where I ran if I didn’t hit the wall.  We need to make improvements and we went up there and hopefully we did.  I felt good about it and so did the other guys.”
 
 
 

Tim Allison Racing

Tim Allison Checks In

This past weekend we were at Limaland Motorsports Park on Friday night and the weather was gorgeous again.  We got our spare motor in and were ready to go for another great night. 
We drew dead last in the heat race and began passing cars but after 2 laps we ended up getting upside down and  had a dnf for the heat race.

We had to put on new wings, new rear arms, new torque tube and just made the call for the feature.  We would be again starting dead last in the feature. Tthe race  went 25 laps of non stop racing and we came from dead last to finish 7th in the feature, not bad for everything that we went through to get the car ready for the feature!  The spare motor runs good but nothing like the new motor that we had a week ago. 

This week we will have 2 nights of racing and we will be back at Limaland Motorsports Park  Friday night and then off to Montpelier speedway for our first visit in about 15 years since they  last raced sprint cars at that track.

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–Pocono–Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
POCONO 400
POCONO RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 6, 2014
 
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed various aspects and challenges of racing at Pocono, upcoming Father’s Day, key safety issues of NSCS race cars, and more. Full Transcript:
 
YOU ARE COMING OFF TWO WINS, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS WEEK TO KEEP YOUR STREAK ALIVE?
“Just get on the track and try to figure out what we need around here. Last year we had some great speed in our race cars and I really think we had an opportunity for the sweep and unfortunately blew a tire off Turn 1 after having a dominant day, and taking ourselves out of that opportunity for a win. But I still think we came back for an awesome finish with a torn-up race car. It’s a new year and a new rules package, so we have to work on that today and hopefully have what we need here.
 
“The thing that brings a lot of optimism to our team is this is (crew chief) Chad’s (Knaus’) favorite race track. He loves the challenge here of trying to figure out how to get the car to go down those long straightaways and then through three different corners. We’re excited and are looking forward to it.”
 
ANY SURGERIES YOU WANT TO REPORT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? (Laughter)
“No, I’m thinking about going to the dentist. Should I let everybody know? (laughs)
 
YOU HAD TO ASSUME YOU’D BE IN THE CHASE EVEN BEFORE YOU WON THESE TWO RACES. BUT HOW HAS WINNING TWICE CHANGED THE PREPARATION THERE AS FAR AS TESTING OR THAT SORT OF THING. CAN YOU LOOK MORE AHEAD NOW THAN BEFORE?
“Yeah, looking ahead it does start to change things for a test plan. There’s an old testing procedure and we can select tracks just for the No. 48 to test at, it would definitely impact that. But as a group, we want all four cars in the Chase, and we need to get Kasey (Kahne) a win. That part is still kind of out there. We’re three-quarters of the way there to having a full testing plan and focus solely on the Chase. So, hopefully we can get the No. 5 car a win soon and let that go the rest of the way.
 
“But really it changes your strategy at some race tracks. This would be one of them. Fuel mileage is a big part of the finish of this race. Tire strategy also comes into play and we can swing for the fences here which makes that a lot of fun. And hopefully I can save gas, which I really don’t do a good job of.”
 
JOEY LOGANO WAS AT DETROIT LIONS MINICAMP AND MADE A COMMENT THAT HE FELT LIKE NASCAR IS A SAFER SPORT THAN THE NFL. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
“I agree with that. I think that’s the case. I feel like what took place around 2000 and on and the changes that we’ve made, there are a lot of stats to show that. And then I also think from just casual injuries, I don’t even know what to really call them, but knee injuries and broken bones and things like that, we’re protected by a steel race car and it certainly helps that. Concussions are certainly an aspect of our sport that exists and something we’re all very sensitive to, but the amount of time we hit our heads versus how they hit heads every snap is different and plays into that as well.”
 
YOU’VE SEEN THE CAR CHANGE OVER THE LAST DECADE IN TERMS OF SAFETY IN THE COCKPIT. WHAT’S MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR YOU?
“I’d say the seat; and the seat also would include that head surround that saves us from the basal skull fracture which is what took five guys from us in that 2000 timeframe. But the seat contains the driver. It keeps your legs in line and keeps the load going through your shoulders and not through your ribs. Broken ribs were a very popular injury years back. And it didn’t take much of an impact to pop a rib or two. So, I think the seat is a big portion of it. But there’s really three, especially with the ultimate concern that we have. Seat, SAFER barrier, and Hans device. That for the big one; but for the casual injuries, I think the seat has a lot to do with that and probably the SAFER barrier.”
 
POCONO WAS REPAVED LAST YEAR AND NOW YOU COME BACK WITH A NEWER CAR AND A NEW QUALIFYING FORMAT. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ALL THAT?
“I’m really just worried about a clean lap at this point. I think it will be easy to get on track and find a hole. But when someone is coming in after they’ve completed their lap, you’ve got a long distance to get around here and not a lot of room on the apron to get out of the way. So, that’s probably my biggest concern going into it. I think the new asphalt will allow us to repeat lap times and we’ll be able to have a second shot at it in the first session and potentially in the second. I think in the third outing, there’s not enough time on the clock. It’s going to be a race off pit road just to get out there and get your lap in within that five minutes.”
 
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING YOUR DAUGHTER IN A CAR?
“Yeah, I’m definitely entertaining quarter midgets and go karts. Genevieve has a four-wheeler. Lydia is a couple of years away from all that yet. But, in our race shop a lot of our crewmen have their kids in kid karts and driving at various places. So, I’ve considered it. I’ve been serving it up to Chani, and she’s semi-okay with it. And Genevieve is all about it. So, hopefully this summer I’ll get a chance to put her in a kart and just see how she goes. She’s been very responsible on her four-wheeler. So, now if I can find a pink go kart, I think she’s in.”
 
YOU TOUCHED ON HOW DOMINANT YOUR CAR WAS LAST YEAR EVEN BEFORE THE FLAT TIRE.  HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH CHAD (KNAUS) YET ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM THE CAR THIS WEEK? DO YOU THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAVE THIS WEEK IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR?
“It’s just too early to tell.  We have tools that tell us where the aero platform is, what the mechanical grip will be like, but that stuff is helpful and they are tools, but it’s not the real thing.  We are coming in with what we feel is the optimized race car and will have a ton of speed and put us where we were before.  But until you get out there and make some laps you just don’t know.”
 
DO YOU SENSE SOME FRUSTRATION WITH KASEY KAHNE DUE TO HIS SEASON BEING SO UP AND DOWN?  SINCE HE WAS SO GOOD HERE LAST AUGUST DO YOU FEEL THIS IS A GOOD PLACE FOR HIM TO GET BACK ON TRACK?
“Yeah, I do.  I guess there is frustration there and I kind of put disappointment too because he has had a lot of solid runs going and whack things happen.  We decided to start looking at the No. 5 set-up and morphing our car in that direction for the (Coca-Cola) 600.  It turned out great for us.  I know after debriefing with him he had an awesome car in Charlotte.  We kind of together had a similar set-up going to Dover.  I know he had another great car in Dover and circumstances kept him from having the day he wanted to.  I give them credit for helping us get going at Charlotte and Dover.  I know their cars are fast so it’s kind of a frustration slash disappointment they haven’t been able to capitalize.  We are all working very hard together and very close with Kasey (Kahne). We were just at a test session in New Hampshire and talked in great detail about our cars and what is going on.  We even considered swapping rides.  Things got a little hectic in the afternoon because of some weather where it didn’t work out, but we are doing everything we can to really elevate Hendrick and then also help those guys get their win.”
 
THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME YOU HAVE GONE FOR THREE IN A ROW SINCE YOU WON FOUR IN A ROW IN 2007.  HOW HAS THAT CHALLENGE EVOLVED, CHANGED THE DIFFICULTLY?  WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ARE THERE ANY OF THOSE TIMES THAT YOU THINK YOU COULD HAVE HAD THAT THIRD IN A ROW?
“Man, I had no clue we were in position that many times.  I don’t pay attention to much I guess (laughs).  I know that we have
had some great runs and usually when we are hot it carries from track to track.  Certainly hope we can keep it rolling.  This is a great place for us and I guess one of the, no maybe it wasn’t.  Was it one of them in the Chase against (Jeff) Gordon? Something in there reminds me of ’08, ’09.”
 
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE NBA BASKETBALL GAME LAST NIGHT HOW IT WAS RIDICULOUSLY WARM.  CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HOTTEST TIME YOU HAVE HAD IN THE CAR?  WHAT RACE THAT WAS?  WHAT HAPPENED, WHY IT WAS THAT WAY, AND HOW YOU GOT THROUGH THAT RACE?
“Yeah there have been plenty of moments in a Cup car with summer months.  There was a race at Indy, maybe three or four years ago, something like that, and it was just brutally hot.  Homestead seems to shock everybody when we get down there.  I guess we have had some fall events and then you get reminded that it’s still summer down in Florida.  That one usually gets you.  My worst experience by far was in a GRAND-AM car.  I can’t remember the year exactly, but I did the six-hour event in July with Beau Riley, and Marc Goossens was my teammate. We were in the No. 91 car.  I think I qualified the car; we had practice, qualified, then Cup practice and a whole bunch going on, then a six-hour race.  I got behind on hydration and didn’t keep up while I was in the car.  I had an electrical problem that took out the drink system in the car.  I had to pit maybe 10 minutes before it was time because I couldn’t push the brake pedal hard enough to get it stopped.  I missed the chicane on the backstretch.  I came to pit road.  I got out of the car.  Of course tried to get cooled down and have some fluids.
 
“But about an hour later I started cramping and I actually went into a full body cramp and was stranded inside my motorhome lying on the floor.  I wish I had a picture of what I looked like.  I mean I’m telling you every muscle in my body locked up.  I could barely get to my phone, which was on the table.  I knocked it off and then I don’t know if you have ever had a cramp, but try dialing a phone with everything like it is.  (Jeff) Gordon was next door in his motorhome and I called him and he didn’t answer.  When he didn’t answer I didn’t know what I was going to do.  Then shortly thereafter he called back.  I just started yelling at him to get over here.  As he came in my bus it took him about two or three minutes to stop laughing at me.  Then he got me to the Care Center, and three IV bags later I felt like myself again. That was a very tough experience for me.  I didn’t cramp in the car itself; but after, it got me bad.  That was a tough one.  That was Daytona, July.”
 
WITH FATHER’S DAY COMING UP NEXT WEEK DOES IT HAVE ANY MORE SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU NOW BEING A SON AND A PARENT?
“For sure. I’m so thankful for everything my Dad has done and the man he raised me to be.  The work ethic he poured in me, and the sacrifices he made for me growing up.  He worked in construction most of the time when I was young.  So if it was a rainy day I knew he would be home from work and I could expect him picking me up at lunch hour with our dirt bikes in the back of the truck and we were going riding.  Just a lot of fun memories and then to have it flip and experience it and have your children look at you.  Genevieve is at an age now where she gets it.  She knows it’s a special day.  We just went through Mother’s Day and had a total blast watching her get ready for Mom and make her a poster.  She is really big into art and stuff.  So she will make I’m sure a lot of posters or something on Sunday.  I’m just thoroughly enjoying it.”
 
DID YOU EVER SPEAK TO DONOVAN MCNABB AFTER HE MADE THE REMARK THAT YOU WERE NOT AN ATHLETE?
“We talked on the phone shortly after and then he came out to the Auto Club Speedway race earlier this year.”
 
WHAT DID HE SAY?  WAS HE CONVINCED THAT YOU GUYS ARE ATHLETES?
“On the phone he said that he didn’t single me out.  And I said ‘well actually you did’.  You said that I wasn’t an athlete.  He said well okay and kind of got lost in the small talk after that one.  Then when he was at Auto Club (Speedway) he still was very strong in his stance and believes that race car drivers are not athletes.”

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 Teams Ready for Second Oval Track Race of 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Season

Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 Teams Ready for Second Oval Track Race of 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Season
 
(June 4, 2014) – This weekend the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 contingent of teams and drivers head to Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) for the 248-lap/372-mile Firestone 600, the second oval track race of the 2014 season.
 
Six of the first seven races of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season have been contested on either a road or street course.  Team Chevy driver Will Power scored the first victory in 2014, bringing the Chevrolet 2.2 liter twin turbocharged powered No. 12 Verizon Team Penske to Victory Lane at the Streets of St. Petersburg.  His second victory of the year that propelled him to the lead in the point standings was race one of the Chevrolet Dual at Detroit last Saturday.
 
The first oval race was the Indianapolis 500 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Last year’s Texas Motor Speedway winner, Helio Castroneves, came within just six one-hundredths of a second from claiming his fourth Indy 500 victory.
 
However, Castroneves took the momentum to Detroit and scored a top-five finish in race one in the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit, and a dominating victory in Sunday’s race two of Chevrolet sponsored weekend.  He is second in the standings behind his Team Penske Chevrolet teammate, Power.
 
“Texas Motor Speedway presents some unique challenges for the drivers and engineers given the combined vertical and lateral loading the car and driver must sustain due to the speeds achieved on this banked oval,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager for the Verizon IndyCar Series.  “In the last month, the Verizon IndyCar Series drivers have competed on a new permanent road course, the iconic superspeedway at Indianapolis, a street course double header on Belle Isle and now the high banks of Texas Motor Speedway.  It is evidence of the diversity in talent required to compete in, and is unique to this Series.  Chevrolet and our technical partners are proud to provide the power and support to Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Ed Carpenter Racing and KV Racing Technology.”
 
Five current Team Chevy drivers have TMS victories on their resumes.  Castroneves has hoisted the trophy at TMS four-times (2004, 2006, 2009 & 2013). Will Power wore the Texas-sized cowboy hat in 2011. Ryan Briscoe was the winner in 2010. Scott Dixon went to Victory Lane in 2008 and Tony Kanaan won the Texas race in 2004.  In addition, Sebastien Bourdais won the IROC race at TMS in 2005.

Chevrolet Racing

Chevy Racing–CAMARO Z/28.R AT KANSAS

CAMARO Z/28.R AT KANSAS: Looking to Extend GS Podium Streak
Second ‘roval’ race for first-year Chevrolet GS challenger in Continental Tire series
 
·         Kansas Speedway sees quartet of Camaro Z.28/R race cars
·         Bell, Lally coming off third-place podium in Stevenson entry at Lime Rock
·         Chevrolet holds firm to second in GS manufacturer championship
 
DETROIT (June 4, 2014) – The Camaro brand goes for its second straight Kansas Speedway victory as four Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R race cars head to the Midwest for the fifth round of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. On the strength of three consecutive podium finishes for the Camaro Z/28.R, Chevrolet stands second in the series’ Grand Sport (GS) manufacturer’s championship.
 
The 2.37-mile, eight turn circuit speedway is the second of two speedway-road courses on the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge schedule. The first race of the season – and the debut of the Camaro Z/28.R – took place in late January at Daytona International Speedway. Since that time, the Camaro platform has greatly benefitted from development and track time.
 
Stevenson Motorsports – which won with the Camaro GS.R last year – scored a victory at Sebring in the Z/28.R’s second race with Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell driving the No. 6 entry. Eric Curran and Lawson Aschenbach in the No. 00 CKS Autosport Camaro came home second at Laguna Seca in the next round. Stevenson’s Andy Lally and Matt Bell were third at Lime Rock Park in a hard-fought battle in the No. 9 Camaro.
 
Lally and Bell moved up to sixth in the GS driver’s standings following Lime Rock. Chevrolet picked up two points on BMW and moved to within five points of the championship lead.
 
The driver pairings from Lime Rock will be the same at Kansas. And although a Camaro won last year’s race, the Z/28.R differs greatly from its predecessor in that it’s much closer to its production counterpart.
 
The 7.0-liter V8 motor matches the road-going Camaro Z/28, as do many of the aerodynamic elements including the splitter, rear spoiler, hood extract vent, rockers and belly pan. Those features provide the closest link between production Camaro and racing version Chevrolet has produced.
 
“Three straight podium finishes and a second-place standing in the GS championship is a great start for the Camaro Z/28.R,” said Lisa Talarico, Chevrolet’s Program Manager for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. “Kansas will be another tough fight due to a number of factors, the additional weight we carry being one. That does not change our goals, however. Our aim is to have multiple Camaro Z/28 cars on the podium at the end of the race and gain more ground in the championship.”

Kasey Kahne Racing

Kasey Kahne Racing 5/28-6/4

Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap
May 28 through June 4
 
Summer push is starting; teams head out on the road for a 3-month stretch

The KKR teams head back on the road for the most grueling road trip in all of sports: the World of Outlaws summer schedule. The three KKR teams wont return to the Mooresville, NC shop until early September as the series stops at tracks across the country.

Uncategorized

Valerie Thompson Racing–Valerie Thompson returns to Ohio Mile with hopes of setting new 200 mph ECTA land speed record and joining 200 MPH Club

Valerie Thompson returns to Ohio Mile with hopes of setting new 200 mph ECTA land speed record and joining 200 MPH Club

(Scottsdale, AZ) – June 4, 2014 – Five-time land speed record holder and one of the world’s fastest BMW motorcycle racers, Valerie Thompson, will return to the Buckeye state for the East Coast Timing Association’s Ohio Mile land speed racing competition June 7-8 with hopes of setting new speed records with her BMW S 1000 RR.

The ECTA hosts four different speed trial events at the Airborne Park facility in Wilmington Ohio each year.  The upcoming Ohio Mile competition offers car and motorcycle racers more than 4,400 classes in which to compete. Prior to moving to the Airborne Park location in 2012, the ECTA held the competition in Maxton North Carolina from 1995 through 2011 and was named the Maxton Mile.

“I really look forward to racing at the Ohio Mile. The ECTA knows how to put on a first class speed competition and it’s the home state of one of our sponsors, CTEK Battery Chargers. It’s a wonderful track surface and we have run well here in the past. We have set 3 speed records here over the last 2 years and one is still standing in the Production Class,” said Thompson. “This year we hope to surpass the 200 mph mark and become one of the newest members of the prestigious Ohio Mile 200 MPH Club,” added Thompson.

Maxx2Racing

Maxx2Racing–The Royal Purple ‘Bad Bird’ LSR Race Car takes First In Class at the Northern Nevada Street Fever Car Show for the second year in a row!

The Royal Purple ‘Bad Bird’ LSR Race Car takes First In Class at the Northern Nevada Street Fever Car Show for the second year in a row!

The Maxx2Racing Team does it again.
Why can this car beat the competition ‘hands down’ in a judged show, and yes, it is a “full bore race car”, not a trailer queen. With double the entries for the show over last year, this was a ‘must attend’ two (2) day event. This one was an ‘Entry Judged’ event, with the voting only by other entrants.
Many ‘Exhibitors’ spent quite a bit of time at the car, wanting to discuss the records the car set over the years, the car show awards won, the SEMA Show experiences with both cars, and look over the car before voting.
A group of entrants showed up Saturday around 1:00 in the afternoon, and a couple of them looked under the car. “Hey, you guys (Yes there were gals there also), look at this. The underneath looks as great as the car itself.” That sealed the deal for most of those who voted for the car over our main competition, a Hugger Orange ’78 Camaro drag race car. It was pretty, but the details weren’t as they should be.
A special ‘thank you’ to Jack Arries, a longtime friend and race car driver/owner for being at the show to spend countless hours talking to those fellow entrants and race/car show builders.

Maxx2Racing

Maxx2Racing–The Royal Purple ‘Bad Bird’ LSR Race Car takes First In Class at the Northern Nevada Street Fever Car Show for the second year in a row!

The Royal Purple ‘Bad Bird’ LSR Race Car takes First In Class at the Northern Nevada Street Fever Car Show for the second year in a row!

The Maxx2Racing Team does it again.
Why can this car beat the competition ‘hands down’ in a judged show, and yes, it is a “full bore race car”, not a trailer queen. With double the entries for the show over last year, this was a ‘must attend’ two (2) day event. This one was an ‘Entry Judged’ event, with the voting only by other entrants.
Many ‘Exhibitors’ spent quite a bit of time at the car, wanting to discuss the records the car set over the years, the car show awards won, the SEMA Show experiences with both cars, and look over the car before voting.
A group of entrants showed up Saturday around 1:00 in the afternoon, and a couple of them looked under the car. “Hey, you guys (Yes there were gals there also), look at this. The underneath looks as great as the car itself.” That sealed the deal for most of those who voted for the car over our main competition, a Hugger Orange ’78 Camaro drag race car. It was pretty, but the details weren’t as they should be.
A special ‘thank you’ to Jack Arries, a longtime friend and race car driver/owner for being at the show to spend countless hours talking to those fellow entrants and race/car show builders.

Honda Racing

Honda Racing–Hinchcliffe Runs Fifth in Dual 2 at Detroit

• Last-lap move for a podium finish comes up short
• Honda drivers lock out front row in qualifying

In a race that in many ways resembled Saturday’s “Dual 1” opening race of the Detroit Grand Prix Verizon IndyCar Series doubleheader, poorly-timed caution flags and varying pit strategies left many Honda-powered contenders unable to challenge for victory in Sunday’s second race, despite an all-Honda front row in qualifying and a late-lap charge from James Hinchcliffe.

As in yesterday’s race, early yellows from on-track incidents sent many in the field to the pits as early as Lap 3, once again leading to a continuously shifting race order throughout the 70-lap contest.  At the end of the day, those on a “three-stop strategy” and pitting for the first time on Lap 11 had the advantage, led by Helio Castroneves, as the Team Penske driver scored his first win of 2014. 

Of the Honda-powered contingent, pole qualifier Takuma Sato’s A.J. Foyt team chose the right strategy, but Sato’s chances for victory evaporated when he was hit and spun on Lap 35 by Ryan Briscoe; and further contact from Marco Andretti in the closing laps resulted in an unrepresentative 18th-place finish.

For the second day in a row, Hinchcliffe started on the outside of the front row, second, but his team’s “two stop” strategy was nullified by the timing of the race’s four cautions.  On the final lap, an attempt to pass Charlie Kimball for the third and final step on the podium came up short, and Hinchcliffe slipped to fifth behind Scott Dixon.

On a similar pit stop strategy, Honda-powered Schmidt Peterson Motorsport teammates Simon Pagenaud took the checkers in sixth, while his rookie teammate, Mikhail Aleshin, finished seventh.  

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing–FedEx 400

 CupPostRace
 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Post Race Report
Dover International Speedway
June 1, 2014
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates Paul Menard, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman finished 10th, 21st and 31st, respectively,
Newman ranks 11th in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings, trailing current leader Matt Kenseth by 89 points, while Menard ranks 14th and Dillon ranks 15th.
Jimmie Johnson earned his second victory of the 2014 season and was followed to the finish line by Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin.
The next Sprint Cup Series race is the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 8, which is scheduled to be televised live on TNT beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and is scheduled to be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
 
Austin Dillon Earns 21st-Place Finish in No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet at Dover International Speedway
 
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon earned a 21st-place finish in No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on Sunday afternoon. The Welcome, N.C., driver started the 400-lap race from the 23rd spot and advanced into the top 20 before the first round of pit stops on lap 67. Dillon maintained his position within the top 20 until pitting for right-side tires under caution on lap 159, helping him advance into the top 10. The red flag was displayed shortly after the caution so that NASCAR and track officials could make repairs to the racing surface, which developed a pot hole in turn two. Following a 25-minute red flag for repairs, green flag racing resumed on lap 164 with Dillon in the eighth position. Dillon was running in the 14th spot with approximately 70 laps remaining when he ran out of fuel under green-flag conditions. He immediately brought the No. 3 Chevrolet down pit road but could not read his gauges while coasting and was issued a penalty for speeding down pit road. Once pitted, his car stalled in the pit box, causing further problems for the team. Dillon fell back to the 24th spot, two laps down to the race leader, following the pit stop. He battled his way to the 21st position for the race’s finish and is now 15th in the point standings.
 
Start – 23rd      Finish – 21st    Laps Led – 0    Points – 15th  
                                                  
 
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“I’m proud of all of the guys for working so hard today and this weekend. This is a hard one to take. We had our best car all year today and I really think we were on our way to a top-10 finish in the American Ethanol Chevrolet. We ran out of fuel. What can you do about it? On to the next one. We’re All In!”
 
 
  2011 CC Team Icon 27 NSCS Menards
 
Paul Menard Earns Second-Straight Top-10 Finish at Dover in No. 27 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet
 
Paul Menard drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 27 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet SS to a 10th-place finish in Sunday’s 400-mile event at Dover International Speedway. The Eau Claire, Wisc., driver started 15th and was fast from the start, scored as the fastest car on track several laps in a row. Menard quickly found his way to the top 10 and raced in the top five by lap 132. On lap 159, Menard radioed the team concerned about a chunk of concrete missing in the track. After a 25-minute red flag to patch the track, the green flag flew and Menard restarted in the seventh position. The Slugger Labbe-lead team raced in the top five, passing the halfway mark in the fifth position. Menard lost handling of the car after a pit stop for two tires. On the final caution, the No. 27 team opted to stay out and was able to bring the Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet home tenth. Today’s top-10 is the team’s seventh of 2014 and moves the No. 27 to 14th place in the championship standings. Up next for the No. 27 team is next Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.
 
Start – 15th             Finish – 10th             Laps Led – 0                Points – 14th
 
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
“We definitely had our best Dover car yet. The Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet took 10 to 15 laps to come to me but we could really race after that point. We struggled on restarts because of the time it took for the air pressures to settle in but we could really move forwards once they did. The guys gave me great stops on pit road which helped keep us in the top five early in the race. It was a great race for us and another top 10 finish doesn’t hurt.”
 
 

 
Mechanical Issue Costs the No. 31 Caterpillar Team Top-10 Finish
At Dover International Speedway
 
Ryan Newman drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS to a 31st-place finish at Sunday’s 400-lap event at Dover International Speedway. The South Bend, Ind., driver started 14th and in the early stages, battled an extremely loose-handling condition to race in the top 25. By halfway, the No. 31 competed in the top 20 but still needed more adjustments for a chance to contend with the top-10 competitors. The team’s hard work paid off as Newman moved into the top 10 on lap 291. Unfortunately a mechanical issue occurred when the No. 31 visited pit road for what was to be the team’s final service of the day. The problem slowed Newman and he was forced to the garage for quick repairs. He returned to the track 14 laps down to the leader to finish in 31st position. The result places Newman in 11th place, just three markers out of the top 10 in the driver championship point standings. Up next for the No. 31 team is next Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.
 
Start – 14th           Finish – 31st                   Laps Led – 0                Points – 11th
 
 
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTE: 
“When the race started, we had our work cut out for us. We were so loose it cost us quite a bit of track position. The CAT crew worked extremely hard to get our Chevrolet competitive and Luke (Lambert – crew chief) made all the right calls. We made our way into the top 10 with about 100 laps to go. I’m so proud of what we were able to accomplish. Through adversity, we were capable of turning things around to produce a top-10 car. It’s a shame we had a mechanical problem that cost us the decent finish.”
 
 

NHRA

NHRA– 6/1/14

Top Fuel — Richie Crampton, 3.819 seconds, 320.51 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.848 seconds, 317.34 mph.

Funny Car — Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 4.126, 301.33 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.189, 296.70.

Pro Stock — Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.510, 213.94 def. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 10.314, 88.65. Both ARP Cars
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.828, 196.56 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.837, 196.30.

Pro Modified — Von Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.966, 241.58 def. Jason Hamstra, Ford Mustang, 9.861, 91.12.

Competition Eliminator — Scotty Richardson, Chevy Cavalier, 8.069, 152.00 def. Calvin Hill, Pontiac Grand Am, 8.163, 147.41.

Super Stock — James Fontana, Chevy Chevelle, 11.444, 114.88 def. Marty Rinehart, Chevy Camaro, 9.708, 134.81.

Stock Eliminator — Katie Sepanek, Chevy Chevelle, 11.410, 112.15 def. Russell Linke, Chevy Camaro, 10.541, 124.65.

Super Comp — Stephen Logan, Dragster, 8.929, 161.54 def. Doug Doll Jr., Dragster, 8.942, 159.19.

Super Gas — John Olson, Chevy Chevelle, 9.931, 139.07 def. Ken Bowers, Chevy Corvette, 9.940, 164.29.

Top Dragster — Val DiGenova, Dragster, 6.835, 195.05 def. Kara Stricker, Dragster, 6.533, 206.54.

Mopar Racing

Mopar Racing–Coughlin Takes Victory at NHRA Summernationals For Third Consecutive Mopar Win

Coughlin Takes Victory at NHRA Summernationals For Third Consecutive Mopar Win

·         Coughlin earns his second national title win of the season at the 45th annual NHRA Summernationals to earn his 58th career Pro Stock victory
·         Third consecutive win for the Dodge Dart and third Pro Stock final round appearance for Coughlin in a row
·         Fifth win for Mopar this season
·         Mopar teammates Coughlin and Johnson tied for second in Pro Stock points standings
·         Don Schumacher Racing’s Jack Beckman takes his Dodge Charger R/T to semi-finals at Englishtown

Englishtown, New Jersey (Monday, June 2) –Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove the JEGS.com Mopar Dodge Dart to victory at the 45th annual National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, to earn his 58th career Pro Stock national title after reaching the final round of eliminations for a third consecutive event. The defending NHRA factory hot rod world champion has been on a tear, jumping from ninth place in the points standings to second with his two wins and a runner-up finish, combining with his teammate, Allen Johnson, to put the new Dodge Dart in the winner’s circle at each of the last three events.
 
“These last three weekends have been a helluva hat trick for J&J Racing, winning all three races,” said Coughlin who earned both his wins this season against Greg Anderson in the final round, this time with an elapsed time run of 6.510 seconds (213.94 mph). “I got Atlanta and Englishtown and A.J. won in Topeka, so we’re on a great run.”
 
“Congratulations to Jeg Coughlin Jr. on his drive to the winner’s circle at the Summernationals to continue this fantastic streak of wins for the Dodge Dart and his second of the year.” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “A third consecutive win for the Dodge Dart definitely helps validate all the hard work that the Mopar teams have put in with the new vehicle. We look forward to seeing what more Jeg and Allen can do with HEMI and new Dodge Dart combination in such a competitive Pro Stock field.”
 
The win was hard fought after only five of the 16 Pro Stock qualifiers completed runs under full power in the opening round. Track conditions even claimed Mopar teammate and No.1 qualifier Johnson as a victim in his first round match-up against Chris McGaha, after previously resetting the track record two days in a row in qualifying with the Magneti Marelli Dodge Dart at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Fellow HEMI-powered driver V.Gaines also succumbed in the first round against Shane Gray. Coughlin also wasn’t able to make a clean run but persevered to beat his first round opponent Kenny Delco to the stripe.
 
“That was a scare,” Coughlin said. “Kenny’s a hometown hero and I know they wanted to win. The track just wasn’t there and neither of us managed to launch correctly. It was some violent shake and I had to let the car settle before I was able to get back on the gas and get down the track. Those moments seem to last forever.
 
“The guys worked on it, softened the launch sequence a touch, and we came back and ran a decent 6.586 against Shane Gray,” Coughlin added. “We worked on it some more and really had a pass against Dave Connolly in a great side-by-side race (6.524 to 6.535 second e.t.) and that got us to the final. We had the kind of conditions that Pro Stock cars love today with a great barometer and not a cloud in the sky but you had to work for it.”
 
Mopar teammates Coughlin and Johnson are currently tied for second (668) in the Pro Stock points race and have combined for five national titles for Mopar this season to date.
 
In Funny Car competition, after leading the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) contingent of Dodge Charger R/T entries with a fifth place spot on the eliminations ladder, Jack Beckman advanced to the semifinals round with consistent runs all weekend long. He beat Chad Head with a 4.067 second e.t. in the first round of eliminations, then won a holeshot against Mopar teammate Matt Hagan in the quarterfinals, before a mechanical issue ended his run in the semifinals against No. 1 qualifier and event winner Cruz Pedregon.
 
Tommy Johnson Jr. defeated DSR teammate Ron Capps in the first round before falling to eventual winner Pedregon
 
Hagan took the Mopar Express Lane Dodge through a first round battle against John Force before falling just six-thousandths of a second short to Beckman at the line. Beckman (4.133 second e.t) beat him ( 4.121 sec e.t) with .073 to 0.91 seconds reaction time.
 
“We just need some things to fall our way and they haven’t yet. We’ll take a week off, regroup and get ready for four in a row. It’ll be a challenge but I know this team will be ready for it.”
 

Summit Racing

Summit Racing–Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown

Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 1, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson’s friendship with Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown was renewed this weekend at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and for the seventh time in his career, Anderson wheeled his way to the final round at the esteemed event. Qualifying in the top half of the field and collecting round wins on raceday inched Anderson even closer to a much-desired position in NHRA’s Pro Stock top 10.
 
Starting from the No. No. 8 position, Anderson piloted one of just five cars to make it down the racetrack with a respectable time on a very tricky racing surface. While pedalfests abounded in round one, Anderson got loose early but regained control to clock a 6.554 at 213.43 mph and advance on rookie competitor Jonathan Gray. In the second round, the 74-time national event winner came to the starting line for a meeting with Chris McGaha, the No. 16 qualifier who had just pulled off an upset over low qualifier Allen Johnson.
 
What was to ensue in their head-to-head match was a real thriller as both Anderson and McGaha left the starting line and quickly lost traction. Each driver worked the throttle, pedaling as they tried to get the tires to stick back to the racetrack, and ultimately it was Anderson who was able to get to the finish line first. His 7.906 topped McGaha’s 8.272 for the win.
 
The semifinals started on a strange note as Rodger Brogdon’s car failed to maintain power as he attempted to pull to the starting line. Anderson, who had already pulled forward to the waterbox and was preparing to make his burnout, was alerted to the situation and so pulled back to wait for his opponent. When NHRA officials signaled Anderson to move forward, he did so and completed the burnout, and Brogdon quickly found power and made a short burnout of his own.
 
Although he came to the round without lane choice, Anderson wheeled his Summit Racing Camaro off the starting line ahead of Brogdon and turned on the win light with a 6.535 at 214.25 mph that easily surpassed his opponent’s troubled 15.406. The victory sent Anderson ahead to his second final round of the season and the 115th of his career at a racetrack where he had already claimed five wins, including the historic 100th win for KB Racing and the first of the new generation Pro Stock Camaros in 2012.
 
In this year’s final, Anderson launched with an incredible .010-second reaction time to nab a .006 edge on Jeg Coughlin. He was charging towards the coveted victory in those early moments of the run, but he very quickly was slowed by the same issue that most other drivers had experienced at some point throughout the day as the tires of his Camaro broke loose and the engine shut off.
 
“It was a weird day, with a lot of pedaling for the Pro Stock cars,” said Anderson. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a day like this. The power level went up, the air was great, and the starting line got warm and everyone had a hard time managing it. Thankfully, the Summit Racing team had a lot of luck and good fortune, and we made the proper adjustments before the semifinal round but went over the top again in the finals. It was a complete tuners battle today.
 
“We are hitting ourselves for not backing it down a little bit more for the final, but the good news is that we made it to the final at all. I’m a little disappointed because you always want that win, and I really want it because it’s been a long time for me – over two years now. We had a good day, just not a great day.”
 
According to NHRA and National Dragster stats keeper Brad Littlefield, Anderson is now just two round-wins shy of tying Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden’s remarkable 597. Pro Stock legend – and Anderson’s former boss Warren Johnson holds the all-time record at 873.
 
“It’s great to see that type of thing, and that’s a real neat deal – but the truth is that we are more focused right now on the performance of our cars and getting them where we want them to be. Until we get that, we won’t be satisfied, but by achieving the results we are so focused on, we are also going to be able to achieve milestones. I can promise you that we are all looking forward to that.”

Summit Racing

Summit Racing–Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown

Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 1, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson’s friendship with Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown was renewed this weekend at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and for the seventh time in his career, Anderson wheeled his way to the final round at the esteemed event. Qualifying in the top half of the field and collecting round wins on raceday inched Anderson even closer to a much-desired position in NHRA’s Pro Stock top 10.
 
Starting from the No. No. 8 position, Anderson piloted one of just five cars to make it down the racetrack with a respectable time on a very tricky racing surface. While pedalfests abounded in round one, Anderson got loose early but regained control to clock a 6.554 at 213.43 mph and advance on rookie competitor Jonathan Gray. In the second round, the 74-time national event winner came to the starting line for a meeting with Chris McGaha, the No. 16 qualifier who had just pulled off an upset over low qualifier Allen Johnson.
 
What was to ensue in their head-to-head match was a real thriller as both Anderson and McGaha left the starting line and quickly lost traction. Each driver worked the throttle, pedaling as they tried to get the tires to stick back to the racetrack, and ultimately it was Anderson who was able to get to the finish line first. His 7.906 topped McGaha’s 8.272 for the win.
 
The semifinals started on a strange note as Rodger Brogdon’s car failed to maintain power as he attempted to pull to the starting line. Anderson, who had already pulled forward to the waterbox and was preparing to make his burnout, was alerted to the situation and so pulled back to wait for his opponent. When NHRA officials signaled Anderson to move forward, he did so and completed the burnout, and Brogdon quickly found power and made a short burnout of his own.
 
Although he came to the round without lane choice, Anderson wheeled his Summit Racing Camaro off the starting line ahead of Brogdon and turned on the win light with a 6.535 at 214.25 mph that easily surpassed his opponent’s troubled 15.406. The victory sent Anderson ahead to his second final round of the season and the 115th of his career at a racetrack where he had already claimed five wins, including the historic 100th win for KB Racing and the first of the new generation Pro Stock Camaros in 2012.
 
In this year’s final, Anderson launched with an incredible .010-second reaction time to nab a .006 edge on Jeg Coughlin. He was charging towards the coveted victory in those early moments of the run, but he very quickly was slowed by the same issue that most other drivers had experienced at some point throughout the day as the tires of his Camaro broke loose and the engine shut off.
 
“It was a weird day, with a lot of pedaling for the Pro Stock cars,” said Anderson. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a day like this. The power level went up, the air was great, and the starting line got warm and everyone had a hard time managing it. Thankfully, the Summit Racing team had a lot of luck and good fortune, and we made the proper adjustments before the semifinal round but went over the top again in the finals. It was a complete tuners battle today.
 
“We are hitting ourselves for not backing it down a little bit more for the final, but the good news is that we made it to the final at all. I’m a little disappointed because you always want that win, and I really want it because it’s been a long time for me – over two years now. We had a good day, just not a great day.”
 
According to NHRA and National Dragster stats keeper Brad Littlefield, Anderson is now just two round-wins shy of tying Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden’s remarkable 597. Pro Stock legend – and Anderson’s former boss Warren Johnson holds the all-time record at 873.
 
“It’s great to see that type of thing, and that’s a real neat deal – but the truth is that we are more focused right now on the performance of our cars and getting them where we want them to be. Until we get that, we won’t be satisfied, but by achieving the results we are so focused on, we are also going to be able to achieve milestones. I can promise you that we are all looking forward to that.”

Summit Racing

Summit Racing– Line and Team Summit have powerful showing in Englishtown

Line and Team Summit have powerful showing in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (Jun 1, 2014) – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line had three wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park entering this weekend’s 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and although he was unable to add a fourth Etown Wally trophy to his collection, the 32-time national event victor did appreciate the smaller victories over the course of the weekend that he is confident will bring the KB Racing crew back to the winner’s circle in the near future.
 
Line started the weekend by resetting the track record for speed in his fast Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro on Friday evening. His 213.40 mph blast was the fastest run that the racing surface at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park had ever hosted for a Pro Stock car to that point, and although the record was eclipsed on Saturday, Line still proved he had a car that could contend for the title as he raced to a qualifying best time of 6.488-second at 214.52 mph. Notably, in the second qualifying round Line reset his personal best record for speed to 214.83.
 
Starting from the No. 4 position, Line drew John Gaydosh as a first-round opponent. Gaydosh had a slight advantage as the two left the starting line, but soon enough the Summit Racing Camaro surged ahead for a decisive 6.500, 214.45 mph win. Line’s official numbers were the second quickest and fastest of all the Pro Stock cars in the round, and his speed was one of just seven that exceed 214 mph during eliminations; teammate Greg Anderson also enjoyed a 214 mph run in the semifinals.
 
The second round was where Line’s quest for the title came to an end as he was out of the gate first but got loose on the racetrack and slowed to a 6.599 at 213.60 mph while Rodger Brogdon edged ahead for a 6.558, 214.04 win.
 
“It’s extremely disappointing for the Summit Racing team to leave without a trophy today, but we are very pleased that my teammate over there got to the final round,” said Line, referencing Anderson’s second final round of the season in just his fourth race of the year.
 
“Every loss hurts, and some more than others, but the good news is that Greg made up points and is on his way to the top 10. That’s a big goal for us right now, and the way to get him there is to make sure he’s going rounds. Of course, I wanted to win today. But that wasn’t in the cards. We’ve got some time before the next race, and I can assure you that the Summit Racing team will be looking for a change by the time we get to Bristol.”
 

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