Shane Gray recently announced that he will give the keys of his Pro Stock Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro to his teenage son, Tanner, next season.

Judging from Sunday’s NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Tanner will have a tough act to follow.

With a steady pass of 6.719 seconds at 204.76 mph, Gray defeated his Gray Motorsports teammate Drew Skillman to end a 52-race winless skid.

“I can’t believe it,” said Gray after his fifth career win. “I’ve been in 10 semis this year and haven’t won since the U.S. Nationals in 2014, so this is almost as good. I have one more race to run and then my son is getting in the car.

“I can’t think of a better time to win. I want to thank NHRA for everything through the years and Mello Yello and everybody who has stood beside us.”

The Mooresville, North Carolina, resident, who also builds engines for World of Outlaws sprint car drivers, plans to play a vital role in the career of his son.

Tanner Gray has been racing since age 12, competing in everything from Outlaw Karts and 360 Sprint Cars to Junior Dragsters.

“I can’t wait to get out here and watch him,” Shane Gray said.

Entering the Las Vegas event, Gray had climbed from seventh to fourth with his playoff surge.

Jason Line entered Sunday’s eliminations with a 19-point lead over his KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson. Line left Las Vegas with that same margin as both KB drivers lost in the semifinals. Anderson, the No. 1 qualifier, fell to Gray. Line lost control of his car shortly after the start and Skillman took advantage.

“We just have to make our own drama, I guess,” Anderson said. “The good news is that some of the pressure is off. We still had a good team day and it looks like KB Racing has a handle on the championship.

“We just don’t know who is going to win it yet. We still have work to do, and Jason is obviously in better position than me.  He can’t lose first place as long as he qualifies at Pomona.”

Line was not in a celebratory mood Sunday evening. He was more peeved at the lackluster performance of his Camaro in the semifinals.

 “It didn’t make it 10 feet,” Line said. “It just missed somehow. I stayed in it way too long because I had this crazy urge to win. It was frustrating. We’ve struggled lately and somehow we still come out of here with the (point) lead.

“Pomona is going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun because one of us is going to win the championship. It’s just crazy we’re dragging it out like this. Maybe it will come down to the final round again.”

That in-house championship tussle between KB teammates took a backseat to the emotional farewell tour of Gray, who said that he still plans to compete in a handful of selected events next season.

“Oh, yeah. I’m trying to win every time I come,” Gray said.  You know, I mean, it’s not like I’m not ever going to drive again. I’ll probably run two or three races next year. And shoot, I might run Indy and then why wouldn’t a guy run at home? So, that’ll be about it. “

Gray, who lives just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina in Mooresville, said he now has a better appreciation of the conflicting emotions his father Johnny felt during his final season as Shane was preparing to make his debut.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Gray said. “I never really could understand how he could tell me, “Oh, I’d rather see you win than me”, yeah right. I understand now 100 percent.

“I’m 45 years old now, almost 45, and I’m just glad to see dad where he’s at today.”