2014 NHRA U.S. NATIONALS - PRO STOCK NOTEBOOK
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MONDAY - SHANE GRAY VICTORIOUS AT INDY
Just when it appeared Jason Line was taking control of NHRA Pro Stock class, Shane Gray spoiled the party.
Gray ended Line’s three consecutive national event wins with a stellar win at the prestigious U.S. Nationals for the first time in his career.
Gray clocked a 6.641-second time at 208.42 mph to easily defeat his teammate Dave Connolly, who slowed to 26.80 seconds.
“It takes me a day or two for things to kind of set in,” said Gray, who also was making his first final-round appearance at Indy. “I’m not for sure (how he will feel about winning Indy) because I’m not sure it has really soaked in yet.”
This was Gray’s fourth career Pro Stock win and his first since the fall race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2013. Gray made his Pro Stock debut in 2010 and has now been in 12 final rounds.
“It was a bummer that we didn’t get to run side-by-side, but nevertheless we got the win,” Gray said.
Gray’s victory parade Monday at Lucas Oil Raceway also consisted of wins over Shane Tucker, Allen Johnson, his brother Jonathan Gray.
“I think this proves we are getting close (with their in-house engine program),” said Shane, who also had a runner-up finish at the Four Wide Nationals April 13. “That Summit team is tough we are getting ourselves in that caliber.
Although Jonathan lost to Shane he did clinch the No. 10 spot in the Countdown to the Championship something that wasn’t lost on Shane.
“I think Jonathan making it into the Countdown,” Shane said when asked what was bigger his Indy win over Jonathan finishing 10th. “It’s his first year and it’s always good to make the Countdown. He has a good car and good power. I don’t like to take too much credit for myself.”
This was the second all-Gray Motorsports final of 2014. Connolly and Jonathan Gray met in the finals at Epping, N.H., in June 22 with Connolly getting the win.
Connolly said he had a great day despite losing in the final.
"We made some awesome runs on Monday, but track conditions were a complete 180-degree change there in the final," Connolly said. They sprayed the whole track and we weren’t set up for it. The car shook in the final round. We tried making a few adjustments, and it just didn’t pan out. Definitely going to have to go to the drawing board on that one and see what we can do in those conditions.
"It still was an incredible day though. Shane got his first win of the year - and wow, winning the U.S. Nationals. It’s extra special because Shane and I have become really close friends. It was all smiling faces at the top end after the final. That just shows you the character of people and he’s a great guy and I’m glad he got that win.I feel great about my racecar and getting Jonathan into the top 10. We couldn’t have drawn up a better weekend for Gray Motorsports."
Pro Stock -- Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.641, 208.42 def. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 26.800, 27.45.
SLAMMED DOWN COUNTDOWN DOOR – Any chance Jonathan Gray had of making the Countdown to the Championship had to start with a first-round win over four-time world champion Greg Anderson.
Gray, a rookie, entered Monday 33 points behind Anderson for the coveted No. 10 spot, and upset Anderson.
Gray clocked a 6.628-second lap to defeat Anderson’s 6.685-second effort.
“We still have a lot of work to do, but that’s step one and if we can get to step two we will be all right,” said Johnny about his son’s run. “It’s a good deal and he’s doing a real good job. It’s a tough deal because Greg’s a real good friend, but that’s my kid.”
By virtue of a driver picking up 20 points for each round win, Gray secured his spot in the Countdown to the Championship with a holeshot win over Vincent Nobile in second round.
Gray and Nobile had identical 6.639-second times, but the difference was at the starting line. Gray had a .004 reaction time compared to Nobile’s .033 reaction time.
“I knew I had to be on that one because they don’t get no better than Vincent Nobile,” said Gray, who missed races at Pomona, Phoenix and Las Vegas when he got a late start to the season. “I knew I had to be on the hammer there.”
Nobile is teammates to Anderson and Jason Line at Ken Black Racing. Prior to Indy, Nobile had a 3-0 record against Jonathan Gray this season, capturing first-round wins over him at Chicago, Denver and Brainerd.
Gray finished 10th in the final regular season point standings with 725 points. Anderson, a four-time world champ, was chasing points because he missed the first five races of the season because of offseason heart surgery.
ALL GRAY AREA – When Shane Gray pulled up in the semifinals, he was plenty familiar with his opponent – it was brother Jonathan. Shane was better in this match up as he clocked a 6.642-second time at 208.59 mph, while his brother slowed to 6.739 seconds.
RIVALRY RENEWED – There’s no secret about the rivalry between Dave Connolly and Erica Enders-Stevens.
The two met up again in round two at Indy and Connolly came up with the win. Connolly had a 6.613-second time at 207.82 mph to defeat Enders-Stevens 6.62-second lap.
Connolly made it to the finals before losing to Shane Gray. Connolly has three U.S. Nationals wins on resume in 2007, 2008 and 2012.
WIFE BESTS HUSBAND – In the first round, Erica Enders-Stevens and raced her husband in first round at Indy.
The wife, who came to the U.S. Nationals second in the points, recorded a 6.619-second time at 208.15 mph to edge her husband’s 6.643-second lap. Both are racing for Elite Motorsports.
“We’ve struggled all this weekend, but we’ve made three consistent runs in a row,” Enders-Stevens said.
Stevens is driving a 2014 Rick Jones-built Camaro and he races planned in Charlotte (Sept. 12-14), and Reading, Pa. (Oct. 2-5) and the fourth race will either be Dallas (Sept. 18-21) or St. Louis (Sept. 26-28).
“We’re getting a handle on the car as we make more runs and get more data, and we are getting better,” Stevens said after his loss to his wife. “I’m looking forward to Charlotte.”
YOUNG STANFIELD BEAMS WITH JOY – Before this weekend, Aaron Stanfield had never competed in an NHRA Pro Stock event.
Well, his first one is definitely memorable.
The 19-year-old Stanfield qualified No. 8 and then upset five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin in the first round when Coughlin recorded a redlight.
“This is unreal,” Stanfield said. “I can’t believe this happened. To be able to race Jeg Coughlin, I’ve been watching him race a long time and he definitely one of the best out here. It’s just an honor getting to race him.”
Greg Stanfield, Aaron’s father, has been competing in the Pro Stock class since 2002, winning three national events and finishing a career-best second in the point standings in 2010. The Stanfields reside in Shreveport, La.
“The kid has obviously watched us a lot of us out here racing and it has been awesome teaching him,” Stanfield said. “He’s doing a great job. We’re nervous as heck, but we’re excited.”
Unfortunately for Stanfield, his day ended in round two when he lost to two-time world champ Jason Line.
Stanfield had a solid 6.662-second time, but came up short against Line’s 6.615-second effort.
In addition to the U.S. Nationals, Aaron also is going to compete at Dallas (Sept. 18-21), St. Louis (Sept. 26-28), Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) and Pomona (Nov. 13-16).
PERFECT WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH – V. Gaines had a perfect .000 light against Connolly in the first round of Pro Stock, but it wasn’t good enough.
Connolly won in a photo finish, with a 6.614-second time compared to Gaines’ 6.653-second run. Connolly had a .037 light.
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SUNDAY - ANDERSON AND GRAY TO LOCK HORNS, LINE'S DOMINATION CONTINUES, ROY JOHNSON TAKING NOTES AND GAYDOSH COMES UP SHORT
COUNTDOWN DRAMA – When four-time world champion Greg Anderson arrived at the U.S. Nationals, he was 10th in the season point standings, 32 in front of Jonathan Gray.
The two are fighting to see what driver will qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship which begins Sept. 12-14 at the Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, N.C.
Anderson extended his lead to 33 points during qualifying at Indy, and he will have a chance to secure his spot in the Countdown because he meets Gray in round one Monday.
Anderson, who missed five races at the start of this year because of offseason heart surgery, qualified No. 7 at 6.611 seconds and Gray was No. 10 at 6.623 seconds.
“That’s cool,” said Anderson, a four-time world champion about meeting Gray in the first round. “You know what I think, if you would have asked Jonathan and I before this race how we would like to handle this I think he would say and I would say man-on-man. That’s the way it should be. You know what drag racing is man-on-man and may the best man win.”
A driver picks up 20 points for each round win, so Gray knows what’s ahead of him Monday.
“I have got to go rounds,” Gray said. “The ideal situation is I get to run Greg first round. Now, I will know if I’m either making it or I’m not. We’re in and we have a shot and we will just see what happens.”
LINE’S DOMINATION CONTINUES – Veteran Pro Stock driver Jason Line has been dominant all weekend at the U.S. Nationals and Sunday was no different.
The driver of the Summit Racing Chevy Camaro won the Lucas Oil Nationals over Jeg Coughlin Jr. to capture the title. The Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway event was postponed on Aug. 17 because of rain and it had to be completed at Indianapolis.
Line now has 35 career national event wins, but this was the first time he has had three wins in a row and this was his first career Brainerd victory.
If that win wasn’t enough, Line also captured the No. 1 qualifying spot at the U.S. Nationals with his stout 6.589-second time on Saturday.
“We’re looking forward to (Monday),” Line said. “I have to do the same thing I did (Sunday). You have to let your left foot out on time and have the fastest car. One part of that I think we have under control and the other part is definitely a little bit of a variable. We will do the best we can. We have a good car and I’m pretty excited about (Monday).”
Line faces Rodger Brogdon in the first round.
ROY JOHNSON KEEPS EYE ON LINE – Renowned engine builder Roy Johnson knows how hard it is to win an NHRA Pro Stock world championship.
Johnson’s son Allen was the 2012 champion and last year Jeg Coughlin, Johnson’s Mopar teammate, was the world champ.
Despite all of his team’s success, Johnson is well aware of what Line has been doing of late in his Camaro.
“If we were at the peak, we would be like Jason Line right now,” Roy said. “He’s worked very hard and he’s going to make me work overtime. I think we can get back in the thick, but we may have to struggle a little bit. You usually go backwards before you go forward. We have some things in the works. I feel like we might not make it this year, but maybe the first of next year we will be as strong as he is or stronger.”
Allen Johnson qualified No. 6 at Indy with a 6.610-second time and Coughlin was No. 9 at 6.623 seconds.
“We’re trying some stuff here we thought before here was good, and evidently we tricked ourselves and it may not be good like we thought,” Roy said. “We may have to back up just a little bit, but it is not the end of the world. Look how long he (Line) struggled trying to catch me. It takes a while to get messed up and it usually takes longer to get straightened back out. I’m not worried about it. It just takes a lot of hard work.”
Johnson and Coughlin arrived at Indy third and fourth in the point standings.
GAYDOSH’S INDY DREAM VANISHES – This weekend at the U.S. Nationals, Pro Stock racer John Gaydosh Jr. was plagued by problems. On his first run Friday, he clocked a 6.748-second run, but had a rear caliper hang up. Then Saturday on his third run, he had a small mechanical failure.
“We were rushing at the last minute to get up there,” Gaydosh said. “We had the transmission apart and we just missed something on it when we put everything back together. It was just one of those stupid things. We just not have enough time and we were out of the zone.”
Gaydosh did make a solid 6.728-second lap on Sunday afternoon, but that left him out of the 16-car field in the No. 18 spot. “I thought we would be able to get in,” Gaydosh said. “I would have loved it if I could got in the field. That would have been the highlight of my career.”
ALL ENDERS-STEVENS ALL THE TIME – Erica Enders-Stevens is in the midst of chasing a Pro Stock world championship. She arrived at the U.S. Nationals second in the season points just behind Jason Line.
If Enders-Stevens makes up ground on Line on Monday it will come at the expense of her husband Richie Stevens Jr.
Enders-Stevens qualified No. 5 at 6.607 seconds and her husband was the No. 12 qualifier at 6.627 seconds.
“It has been awesome,” said Enders-Stevens about having her husband out here racing again. “I’m really excited to have him back out here and I’m really proud of him because he’s worked hard to get here. It definitely helps to have a team car. (His car) is a pretty identical Rick Jones Chassis and we are running Elite Performance horsepower, and I’m really enjoying racing with my husband.”
Stevens is driving a 2014 Rick Jones-built Camaro in at least four races – Indy, Charlotte (Sept. 12-14), and Reading, Pa. (Oct. 2-5) and the fourth race will either be Dallas (Sept. 18-21) or St. Louis (Sept. 26-28).
MORGAN MISSES THE CUT – Pro Stock veteran Larry Morgan, who won the U.S. Nationals in 1989, will not get a chance to claim another victory Monday.
Morgan’s best qualifying run this weekend was 6.676 seconds which left him No. 17 in the 16-car field.
RIVER HAS TOUGH WEEKEND – David River came to the U.S. Nationals this weekend with two goals in mind – win the rain postponed Lucas Oil Nationals and qualify for the U.S. Nationals.
River lost in the semifinals to Jason Line and then failed to qualify for Indy, as he had the 21st best time (6.883) in the field.
Steve Schmidt and Kenny Delco also didn’t make the Pro Stock field.
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SATURDAY - LINE RAMBLES ON, STEVE SCHMIDT RETURNS
LINE CONTINUES TO SET PRO STOCK PACE – Jason Line didn’t slow down Saturday.
The driver of the Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro was dominant again, posting a 6.589-second time at 210.01 mph to stay atop the Pro Stock qualifying ladder.
“Both runs were really nice,” said Line, who also had a stellar 6.593-second pass on his first qualifying run Saturday. “The second run was about as close to making a perfect run as you can get. It felt really good. The Summit Camaro right now is on a rail. It’s definitely the best race car I’ve ever had. That’s a really good feeling. It has taken us a long time to get there, but that’s a great feeling especially in today’s Pro Stock. It’sough to have any kind of advantage and it appears like we have a little one. We have the best Pro Stock car here. It’s very fast right now. I wouldn’t trade it with anybody.”
Line’s last run Saturday was cause for double celebration as it allowed him to beat David River in the Lucas Oil Nationals semifinals which had to be completed at Indy because they were postponed because of rain in Brainerd, Minn., on Aug.
17.
Now in today’s final qualifying session, Line will meet reigning world champ Jeg Coughlin to decide the Brainerd winner.
“It’s strange,” said Line about how the Brainerd race is being completed over two days at Indy. “I’ve never done this before and it’s probably a good thing. It’s definitely unique for sure and I’m just happy to be in the final.”
NO PRO STOCK JOHNSONS AT INDY – In 1971, Warren Johnson made his Pro Stock debut at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He came back in 1975 and had been at Indy every year through 2013.
Kurt Johnson, Warren’s son, competed every year in Pro Stock from 1993-2013 at Indy.
This year, neither Warren or Kurt is competing at Indy, marking the first time since 1974 that neither one of them is racing at the U.S. Nationals.
For the record, Warren won the U.S. Nationals six times (1984, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95 and ’99) and Kurt took top honors in 1996 and ’97.
Warren has won 97 Pro Stock races the most in NHRA history and he won world championships in 1992, ’93, ’95, ’98, ’99 and 2001. Kurt has 40 Pro Stock wins and has finished second in the world standings four times in 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005.
TUCKER GETS ON THE JOB TRAINING – Shane Tucker made his first qualifying lap at the U.S. Nationals Friday and it was a learning experience for the Australian native’s team.
Tucker clocked a 6.694-second time at 207.21 mph which left him No. 13 on the qualifying ladder.
“The conditions changed dramatically from when we left the pit area to when we actually ran,” said Tucker, who came to the U.S. Nationals for the first time in 2008 as a fan. “We already had transmission ratios in it for a track that was worse than it was, and there was not much we could do when we were in the staging lanes.”
Tucker was hopeful to bounce back Saturday and he made quicker runs (6.655 seconds) and (6.649), which left him No. 14 on the ladder.
“We just went out and ran the race track,” Tucker said.
Although Indy is NHRA’s marquee event, Tucker is trying to keep things in perspective.
“You just have to control your emotions on how prestigious the event is and try and treat it like any other test session,” Tucker said.
This season, Tucker has competed in eight Pro Stock NHRA national events counting Indy. He has a 4-6 season round record, highlighted by him reaching the semifinals at Chicago June 29 before losing to Vincent Nobile.
“We set the bar on what we wanted to achieve this year and that was to win one race,” Tucker said. “That’s still our goal.”
Tucker acknowledged he doesn’t have any definite plans for 2015 yet.
“We will work out a plan for next year and see if we can get some partners onboard to help out, then I’m sure we will be back,” Tucker said.
Tucker did add a sponsor on Saturday.
Kicker Performance Audio, an industry leader in audio design technology, performance, and integration, has partnered with Tucker.
Tucker will serve as a global ambassador for the Kicker brand, and Kicker will also become the Official Audio Supplier for Shane Tucker and Rob Tucker Racing in both the United States and Tucker's home country of Australia.
"I am stoked to sign with Kicker and be a part of the Kicker team," Tucker said. "Their products are the very best in the industry, and they fit very well with my style and what I'm all about."
Tucker, with a history of success in the ANDRA Drag Racing Series in Australia, is racing a Chevrolet Camaro in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. He is using engines from powerhouse Elite Motorsports for the rest of the 2014 season.
AARON STANFIELD GETS NOTICED – Aaron Stanfield didn’t waste any time turning heads in his U.S. Nationals Pro Stock debut Friday.
The 19-year-old clocked a 6.674-second time at 207.24 mph which was No. 9 on the qualifying ladder.
“There were a lot of nerves,” Stanfield said. “I was all right until I cranked the car up and then all the nerves hit me right then. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I think I used my nerves and adrenaline as positive energy.”
Stanfield was solid again Saturday making runs of 6.655 seconds at 207.66 mph and 6.634 seconds at 207.94 seconds, leaving him No. 12 in the field.
“That was awesome,” Stanfield said about his quickest pass. “That felt good all the way down the track.”
As nervous as Aaron was Friday, it was nothing compared to his father Greg Stanfield. Greg is a veteran Pro Stock racer and is serving as his son’s crew chief.
“I was way more nervous than him, and that’s the most nervous I have ever been,” Greg said. “It was just little different for me from my perspective being outside the car. I’m not used to watching, but he did 
a really good job. The radios didn’t work so that was kind of a little meltdown, but he held his composure and did an awesome job. Running a Sportsman car is one thing, but these (Pro Stock) cars are pretty serious. They are hard to drive and he’s adapted really well and he’s faster than I thought he would. It’s exciting.”
Greg has been competing in the Pro Stock class since 2002, winning three national events and finishing a career-best second in the point standings in 2010. The Stanfields reside in Shreveport, La.
In addition to the U.S. Nationals, Aaron also is going to compete at Dallas (Sept. 18-21), St. Louis (Sept. 26-28), Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) and Pomona (Nov. 13-16).
“I can’t believe this has happened,” Aaron said. “This is amazing. About a month ago, I was just a kid with a dream of driving Pro Stock while I was bracket racing. I finally got the chance.”
Aaron is driving a 2012 Camaro, the same car his father competed in at three races this season at the Winternationals (Feb. 6-9), Phoenix (Feb. 21-23) and Houston (April 25-27).
Greg added that fellow Pro Stock driver Chris McGaha is supplying the engines for Aaron Stanfield’s car.
MCGAHA IMPROVES – Chris McGaha is having a career year in NHRA’s Pro Stock class. He came to the U.S. Nationals ninth in the point standings, thanks to two No. 1 qualifying positions and three semifinal efforts.
Nonetheless, McGaha is far from satisfied, and his first qualifying run Friday wasn’t what he wanted. He clocked a 6.683-second lap, which was No. 11.
“It missed out there in second and third,” said McGaha what happened to his Camaro Friday.
McGaha, who is from Odessa, Texas, did bounce back Saturday. He ran a 6.624-second elapsed time on his first run, which left him No. 8 on the ladder.
“We just need to take what we can get, and just get in,” McGaha said. “It’s going to be a stacked field, there’s no doubt about that.”
In the offseason, McGaha purchased Mike Edwards’ Pro Stock operation in its entirety. Edwards, the 2009 Pro Stock world champion, finished fourth in the points last season on the strength of six wins and an incredible 15 No. 1 qualifying positions.
“This season has been bittersweet at times,” McGaha said. “It is what it is. I’m just making the best of it. That’s what is bad about it, everybody says you have a proven combination, but I didn’t go buy a brand-new ZR1 with a factory warranty on it. This stuff has been raced. That’s what you were buying more than anything was the technology and idea. Now you have to keep it together.”
McGaha is hopeful his program will receive a boost from Aaron Stanfield, who is running one of his engines.
“Greg (Stanfield) has been wanting to team up off and on over the last couple of years,” McGaha said. “We were kind of struggling and we wanted to a stick a motor in somebody else’s car and all of a sudden he (Stanfield) called us up and started talking to us, and we thought this would be the opportunity to do that (put a motor in someone else’s car). We are more or less teammates with (Aaron Stanfield) right now. It is helping us because we are getting double information.”
GAYDOSH JR. GETS HELPING HAND – When John Gaydosh Jr. clocked a 6.748-second run Friday, that didn’t explain the full story. That was 18th best in the qualifying ladder.
“I had a rear caliper hang up and it drug it all the way down the track,” Gaydosh Jr. said. “We changed the pads and we changed brand new rotors before we came here (to Indy) because I had a problem stopping in Norwalk, and we locked the brakes up. When I replaced all the pads and rotors, one of the clips actually broke on the inside of the caliper. The Gray family (Gray Motorsports) brought us over a caliper to borrow for the weekend and it has been pretty good.”
Gaydosh is running an engine he purchased from Gray Motorsports, and he had a best run of 6.667 seconds, but that only put him in the No. 18 spot.
“We have really good power for this race, so we should be able to qualify without a problem,” Gaydosh said. “We are probably going to run the Gray Motorsports engines for the rest of the year. We’re going to run Charlotte, Reading, Pa., and we’re going to try and do St. Louis. We started using Gray Motorsports engines at Norwalk (Ohio, July 3-6). That’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never dealt with a group of people who are so nice and so considerate and making sure they take care of you. Shane (Gray), his whole family, the whole group over there is awesome.”
RIVER KEEPS SMILING – David River’s dream of winning his first NHRA national event ended Saturday night.
River lost to Jason Line in the semifinals in the Lucas Oil Nationals from Brainerd, Minn., which was competed at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.
River, who has been competing in NHRA’s Pro Stock class on a limited basis since 2009, had never won a round before Brainerd on Aug. 17.
“The track is a lot different than Brainerd,” said River, who slowed to 22.636 seconds in his first qualifying effort Friday.
On his first qualifying run Saturday, River had handling problems right as he left the starting line.
In the loss to Line, River clocked a 6.753-second lap at 204.94 mph, which put him No. 20 in the qualifying ladder.
“We just wanted to get down the track (Saturday),” said River, who lives in Maquoketa, Iowa. “There’s not a lot of pressure on us here. We have to get better, but we will be fine.”
Just prior to Brainerd, River bought a motor from Richard Freeman at Elite Motorsports.
“He ran much better,” Freeman said. “We want him to do well and he doesn’t run that much, so it’s awesome (to see him run like this). I’m proud of him.”
STEVE SCHMIDT BACK RACING – Steve Schmidt made his NHRA Pro Stock debut in 1986 and he’s been competing in the class off and on ever since. “I haven’t raced in two years,” said Schmidt prior to Saturday’s qualifying at the U.S. Nationals. “I have a fella who wants to buy my car and he wanted to see it run. This (race) also is so close to home (Schmidt lives in Indianapolis). I might also race at St. Louis.” After three qualifying runs, Schmidt’s best lap was 6.790 seconds, leaving him No. 21 on the qualifying ladder.
HARTFORD’S TEAM SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS – Matt Hartford has competed in eight Pro Stock races, but has yet to get out of the first round. Hartford is trying to change his fortunes at the U.S. Nationals.
Hartford clocked a 6.722-second pass Friday and then came back with a 6.666-second pass on his first run Saturday and he followed that up with a 6.657 second lap, which left him No. 15 on the ladder.
“Our plan is pretty basic,” said Hartford, who resides in Phoenix. “We need to do a better job on getting the car to 60 foot, and the transfer. I think we have decent horsepower in the car enough that we could be in the top half going into race day (Monday). But, I think it’s up to myself and my crew chiefs to do a better job on the car.”
According to Hartford, he’s been using Allen Johnson motors since the Mile-High Nationals (July 18-20) at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.
“We think we have enough power to be in the top half, but we have to let the scoreboard prove it,” Hartford said.
Hartford said following Indy, he also plans on racing at Dallas (Sept. 18-21), Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) and Pomona (Nov. 13-16).
COUGHLIN FAMILY REFLECTS ON INDY SUCCESS - This year, NHRA’s U.S. Nationals is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and one thing that has been a constant for the last six decades has been the familiar yellow and black colors of the JEGS Mail Order team.
Coughlin family racers have enjoyed countless highlights at NHRA's oldest and most prestigious drag race, and here, ranked chronologically, are a few of the team's most treasured moments.
The memories include the following:
Jeg Coughlin Sr. drives to runner-up finish in Pro Comp (1975); Troy Coughlin wins first NHRA national event title (1991); Indy win helps Jeg Coughlin Jr. clinch Super Gas title (1992); Mike Coughlin races to Pro Stock Truck title (1999); Jeg Coughlin Jr. wins second Indy title, first in Pro Stock (2000); Another Indy Pro Stock Truck title for Mike Coughlin (2001); Another Indy win, another championship for Jeg Coughlin Jr. (2002); Jeg Coughlin Jr. wins Mopar Hemi Challenge (2004); Jeg Coughlin Jr. dominates 2009 season, wins fourth Indy title (2009); T.J. Coughlin continues family tradition with Indy Super Comp title (2010).
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FRIDAY - ROOKIE IMPRESSES, NEW SPONSOR DEBUTED AND VETS OFF TO SLOW START
LINE GOES STRAIGHT TO NO. 1 – On July 6, Jason Line lost to Jonathan Gray in the first round at Norwalk, Ohio. The loss left Line in fifth place in the point standings.
That poor performance seems like a lifetime ago.
Since then, Line has been the class of the Pro Stock class vaulting himself into the No. 1 position in the point standings prior to the U.S. Nationals this weekend.
And, the two-time world champ isn’t slowing down.
Line drove his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to the provisional No. 1 spot with a 6.623-second lap at 208.78 mph.
“It feels really good to get a good run under our belt,” Line said. “Both of these two Summit cars ran pretty sporty. We were just trying to make a safe run and not so safe that it was slow. There’s definitely more left, but it was a nice run. It felt like we should go 62 and we did.”
Anderson, Line’s teammate at Ken Black Racing, qualified No. 3 at 6.643 seconds at 208.10 mph.
Anderson, who missed the first five races this season because of offseason heat surgery, is in the No. 10 spot in the points. The top 10 drivers in the Pro Stock class qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship.
“I don’t think it has changed our approach,” Line said. “We are just trying to run as fast as we can every run.”
Anderson has 686 points after Friday, while Jonathan Gray was No. 11 at 653 points.
Line meanwhile has a chance to win two trophies at Indy this weekend as he is in the semifinals against David River in the rain-delayed Lucas Oil Nationals from Brainerd, Minn., which will be completed Saturday and Sunday at the U.S. Nationals.
CONNOLLY NO STRANGER TO DRAGSTERS – Earlier this month, Competition Plus broke the news that Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly is planning to drive a Top Fuel Dragster for Bob Vandergriff Racing in 2015. If that plan does come to fruition, Connolly is no stranger to at least driving a dragster. Connolly has driven about every type of car in bracket racing.
“I drove a Super Comp dragster when I was 15 before I even set in the seat of a street car,” Connolly, 31, said Friday at the U.S. Nationals. “I still jump in there (in a Super Comp Dragster) every once in a while. I haven’t raced one in about the last two years because I got more highly involved with Pro Stock.”
Connolly also realizes there huge differences between a Super Comp Dragster and a Top Fuel Dragster.
“You are never going to feel comfortable behind something that makes 10,000 horsepower,” Connolly said. “But, as far as the cockpit area, and stuff like that, I’m hoping all those years driving a dragster may help out if everything goes to plan with this Top Fuel deal. Everything looks very promising (about the Top Fuel deal), I can go as far as to say that. Things are looking promising, and hopefully it all comes to a plan. I think it would be a very interesting and new and exciting part of my career.”
No matter what happens next season for Connolly, he still has some unfinished Pro Stock business this year, starting with the U.S. Nationals Friday night. Connolly qualified No. 2 at 6.637 seconds.
“We are still 100 percent committed and focused on trying to win this Pro Stock championship,” said Connolly, who is fifth in the point standings while competing as part of the Gray Motorsports team. “This (the season) has been great. Pro Stock is tougher than it has ever been and there are so many talented teams, but we’ve shined at moments, and I feel real comfortable going into the Countdown. I feel like this team is more than capable of winning a championship. It’s just going to be who does a better job on Sunday come the Countdown.”
The six race Countdown to the Championship begins Sept. 12-14 at the Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
Shane Gray arrived at Indy sixth in the points and his brother, Jonathan Gray is 11th. Shane Gray was No. 5 (6.562) Friday and Jonathan (6.685) was No. 12.
MORGAN KEEPS ON ROLLIN’ – Larry Morgan has been competing in NHRA’s Pro Stock class since 1987.
Since then he has seen his share of drivers come and go and countless changes be made in the class.
Nonetheless, Morgan keeps rolling along as he comes to the U.S. Nationals this weekend 12th in the points standings in his Lucas Oil Ford Mustang.
“To be honest with you we’re just going to go like we are going to qualify, that’s all we are going to do,” said Morgan when asked how the potential rain this weekend would impact his plans. “I’m just trying to survive, that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Morgan knows the economy hasn't made things easy for racers like himself.
“The biggest problem everybody has (is getting enough money to run),” Morgan said. “Because believe me, there’s only a handful that can do it.”
Morgan has 10 career national event wins, his last coming at Las Vegas in 2009 when he beat Rickie Jones. This season, Morgan only has one round win and that came against Allen Johnson in the first round of the season-opening Winternationals.
Morgan was No. 15 Friday at Indy with a 6.708-second run.
NOBILE HAS PLENTY ON HIS INDY PLATE – Competing at the U.S. Nationals is hectic at best.
Vincent Nobile, the driver of the Mountain View Tire Camaro, will have plenty to handle this weekend.
In addition to trying to qualify for Indy, Nobile has to finish the rain-delayed Lucas Oil Nationals at Indianapolis. Nobile faces Jeg Coughlin in a semifinal race Saturday at Lucas Oil Raceway.
“It is not really much of a busier weekend, but we have to focus on winning rounds in qualifying, rather than just qualify,” Nobile said. “On top of trying to make a good run for qualifying, I’m going to have to go up there and race and cut a light, where that doesn’t matter during qualifying. We were just as fast as Jeg (at Brainerd) and hopefully we can be a little faster than him here (at Indy).”
This season has been a new experience for Nobile as he is competing for Ken Black and is a teammate to multiple world champions Greg Anderson and Jason Line. Nobile comes to Indy seventh in the point standings on the strength of one win at Chicago.
“We really like working with the KB guys and Jason and Greg,” Nobile said. “They are a great bunch of people and we can’t thank them enough as well as Summit because everybody onboard has helped us out a bunch. It has been a little bit of learning curve, but I think we’re getting the hang of it. Right after this race starts the Countdown and I think we’re going to turn it up. I would rather us peak at the end of the year than the beginning of the year.”
Nobile knows there’s not much margin for error in the Countdown.
“Consistency is key, but now that all the teams are pretty consistent now we just have to be fast,” Nobile said. “We’ve have been working on a bunch of stuff and the KB guys have been working on the engines non-stop. I believe they have found a few things and I believe we’ve found a few things within the car. Hopefully, within the combination we will come out big.”
Nobile said he, Line and Anderson tested at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway on Aug. 21-22.
“I made 12 runs, and it was good,” Nobile, 22, said. “We had a bunch of stuff to test, and it all seemed like it went well. We definitely made some improvements and that’s the whole point of testing. Whether you’re trying something and it doesn’t work or if it does work, you learn something either way. What we tested there (at Rockingham) we’re going to move forward with it and hopefully it pans out this weekend.”
Nobile finished college in May at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., and he received a business management degree.
On Friday, Nobile had a solid 6.566-second run which was No. 7 on the qualifying ladder.
BROGDON GETS NEW SPONSOR – Veteran Rodger Brogdon announced a title sponsorship deal with industry leader Owens Corning Friday night at the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals by unveiling his brand-new Owens Corning 2014 Chevrolet Camaro at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
Brogdon, who owns RoofTec, one of the largest roofing companies in the U.S., will showcase Owens Corning and its full line of products through the end of the season. Owens Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of fiberglass and related products, has been in business since 1935. It has earned the distinction of being part of the Fortune 500 for 59 consecutive years.
"The excitement level is very high, both with my race team and with everyone at Owens Corning," Brogdon said in a press release. "We do a lot of business with them at RoofTec, and I can speak from firsthand experience to the quality and reliability of all of their products.
"It's an honor to bring a Fortune 500 company with the legacy of Owens Corning into the NHRA for the first time. NHRA fans are extremely loyal to the companies that support their sport, and we're confident that allegiance will carry over to their next purchase where an Owens Corning product could be used."
Brogdon's new Jerry Haas-built Pro Stock Camaro is sure to be an instant favorite among NHRA's huge fan base as it will be adorned with the longtime spokestoon character of the legendary Pink Panther. Owens Corning has been manufacturing its pink fiberglass insulation for years to set itself apart from the competition.
"We're going to give the Pink Panther the ride of his life every time we run down the quarter-mile," said Brogdon, who has career-best numbers of 6.495 seconds at 213.57 mph. "He should help us spread the great message about their products even more effectively.
"Most people come in contact with an Owens Corning product every day. From roofing shingles to composite materials used in vehicles and electronics, on through to the fiberglass-reinforced plastic in cars, boats, and even pipes, it's pretty much a part of everyday life."
Brogdon came to Indy 13th in the point standings. He has one career Pro Stock NHRA national event win at Bristol (Tenn.) 2013.
Brogdon was No. 14 on the qualifying ladder at 6.694 seconds at 207.05 mph.
ENDERS-STEVENS REGROUPS – After a tough first-round loss at Brainerd (Minn.) on Aug. 17, Erica Enders-Stevens is aiming to bounce back at the U.S. Nationals.
Enders-Stevens was strong Friday night at Indy, qualifying No. 4 at 6.651 seconds at 207.75 mph.
Enders-Stevens also trying to reclaim her spot atop the Pro Stock points at Indianapolis.
Enders-Stevens led the Pro Stock standings for 13 of the 17 races to date, but a parts failure during the first round in Brainerd, Minn., caused her to drop to second.
"It's how we finish the season that's going to be important," Enders-Stevens said. "Indy obviously is the most prestigious race of the year, the Super Bowl of drag racing, so I'm very hopeful to go out there and just have a really great weekend and get our No. 1 spot back from Jason Line to go into that No. 1 seed into the Countdown in Charlotte.
"I don't believe any woman in a professional category has ever gone into the playoffs in the No. 1 position so far. It's certainly at the top of our list of goals, but it's not detrimental if it doesn't happen. We'll just have to start out swinging in Charlotte as hard as we can and go from there and remain positive and continue to have fun as a team. I'm very optimistic of what we'll be able to accomplish."
Enders-Stevens has had a stellar season, winning four national events and the special K&N Horsepower Challenge. She has qualified No. 1 twice and third or better in 14 of her 15 races.
"My mindset is going to be the same as it has been all year," Enders-Stevens said. "I'm extremely blessed to be in the position I am in, with a great team at Elite Motorsports standing behind me. It's been a dream season up to this point, and we're hopeful to carry that momentum and that confidence through the end of the year. I'm very optimistic about what's to come."
While Enders-Stevens had a decent run Friday, the same couldn’t be said for her husband/teammate Richie Stevens. Stevens had a 6.711-second lap, which was 16th best.
REALITY FINALLY HITS RIVER – Rain may have prevented the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals from being finished, but Mother Nature didn’t wipe the smile off Dave River’s face.
For good reason.
River has been competing NHRA’s Pro Stock Class since 2009 and never won a round.
On Aug. 17, he ended his drought by winning first and second round at Brainerd International Raceway over Erica Enders-Stevens and Dave Connolly. River and the remaining Pro Stock competitors will complete the Lucas Oil Nationals this weekend in Indianapolis. River faces Jason Line in the semifinals.
“We are still on Cloud Nine,” River said. “The support we have received is overwhelming, and very, very nice. This kind of seems like a dream.”
Unfortunately for River Friday at the U.S. Nationals, things didn’t go well at all. River had problems right off the starting line, slowing to 22.636 seconds.
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT – Aaron Stanfield, the 19-year-old son of Greg Stanfield made his NHRA Pro Stock debut Friday at Indy, and his nerves didn’t show.
Aaron clocked a solid 6.674-second run at 207.24 mph, which left him No. 9 on the qualifying ladder.
Aaron will run a five race NHRA national event schedule this season.
After Indy, Aaron will compete at Dallas (Sept. 18-21), St. Louis (Sept. 26-28), Las Vegas (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) and Pomona (Nov. 13-16).
Fellow Pro Stock driver Chris McGaha is supplying the engines for Aaron Stanfield’s car.
Speaking of McGaha, he was No. 11 on the qualifying ladder at 6.683 seconds.
V. GAINES IN TOP 8 – Veteran Pro Stock driver V. Gaines had a decent start Friday, clocking a 6.672 seconds at 207.88 mph. That left the Lakewood, Colo., driver No. 8 in the qualifying ladder.
AJ, JEG HAVE SLOW STARTS – Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin know have to win races and Pro Stock championships. Unfortunately neither of the Mopar teammates flexed their muscles Friday.
Johnson qualified No. 6 (6.653 seconds) and Coughlin was No. 10 (6.681).
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN – Brogdon, Morgan, Richie Stevens, and David River weren’t the only drivers that had tough outings Friday.
Shane Tucker (No. 13), Matt Hartford (No. 17), John Gaydosh (No. 18) and Kenny Delco (No. 19) all were outside of the top 12 qualifiers.
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