GAINESVILLE, Fla. —There is a significant amount of excitement regarding Shane Gray and his Gray Motorsports Pro Stock team heading into this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at historic Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville.
Gray will debut a brand new KYMCO USA Chevy Camaro at the Gatornationals, which is the third of 24 races in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, while his brother, Jonathan Gray, will make his NHRA Pro Stock debut, joining Gray and Dave Connolly to give Gray Motorsports a three-car team at one of the most tradition-rich races of the NHRA season.
The way Shane Gray sees things, the only way it could get any better would be to pick up his first career Gatornationals victory.
“I’m really excited about this new car and I’m looking forward to running the KYMCO colors in Gainesville,” Shane Gray said. “It’s a big race for the team, but we aren’t treating it any different than we do the rest. All of us will be out there doing the best we can, and we plan on winning.”
A year ago, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will once again be televised on ESPN2, a significant note considering Johnny Gray, who retired from full-time racing at the end of last season, is also Shane and Jonathan Gray’s father. Shane Gray remembers the weekend well and would like nothing more than to keep the family in the winner’s circle in 2014.
“It was really cool seeing him win last year,” Shane Gray said. “He certainly paid his dues, so anytime he won it was real important to me. Last year was special and it all kind of started at this race for his team. Hopefully this year we’ll go to Gainesville and make him proud.”
Currently sixth in points, Gray, who has three career wins including last fall in Las Vegas, advanced to the semifinals at the season-opening event in Pomona before falling to Vincent Nobile in the second round at Phoenix.
After testing the new Camaro heading into Gainesville, Gray feels confident about how it will perform in its official debut this weekend. The next step is performing up to his ability on the starting line against a loaded class that includes reigning Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin. His Mopar teammate Allen Johnson was the most recent event winner in the class, while fellow Dodge driver V Gaines currently holds the series points lead.
Winternationals winner and four-time Gatornationals winner Jason Line and his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro are seeking another early season win, and Erica Enders-Stevens and Nobile always provide tough competition in the parity-filled 200-mph factory hot rod category.
“To be honest with you, I feel like I need to do a little bit better job on the starting line,” Gray said. “I had an .030 (reaction time) against Vincent and that wasn’t good enough. I need to do a little better job there but I’ve got a great team behind me and great support. It should be a really good weekend in Gainesville.”
Gray also spoke highly of his talented teammate Connolly, who is currently fifth in points and has 23 career Pro Stock wins. Together, Gray believes the team is capable of competing with anyone in the class and didn’t shy away from revealing the high expectations he has for the Gray Motorsports team in 2014.
“I really feel like this team has the potential to be as good as any two-car team,” Gray said. “I think it’s going to be real good, especially when we get a little bit of momentum coming our way. We’re still learning everybody’s personalities, learning what the cars want and learning what the engines want. Once we get there, and as long as the Gray Motorsports drivers do their part, then we’re going to be dangerous.
“The more this new and improved Gray Motorsports team runs together, the better this whole deal is going to get. We know we’re not performing up to our potential just yet, but we’re getting closer.”
In Top Fuel, a deep and talented field includes Shawn Langdon, who raced to his first world championship in 2013, and Doug Kalitta, who is the points leader in his Mac Tools dragster after posting back-to-back No. 1 qualifying positions to start the season. Langdon’s Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi won the 2014 season-opening event in Pomona while other top challengers in the class include Spencer Massey, four-time Gators winner Tony Schumacher, Brown, 2013 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett, Amalie Motor Oil fan-favorite Terry McMillen and 2014 rookie contender Richie Crampton.
John Force wrote another chapter in his legendary Funny Car career by claiming the 2013 title – his 16th Funny Car championship – and he is the early-season points leader in 2014 after winning in Pomona. Force is a seven-time Gatornationals winner, but Ron Capps and a host of others, including Force’s daughter Courtney, Alexis DeJoria, who won in Phoenix to claim her first career victory, Matt Hagan and Robert Hight are other capable winners at the ultra-fast facility.
The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals marks the first of 16 events for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Matt Smith enters the season as the defending champ, earning his second world title after winning four times in eight final round appearances. Others to watch in the two-wheel category include three-time Gainesville winner Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines, Michael Ray, defending event champ Arana Jr., who will be joined by his father Hector Sr. and brother Adam, and newcomer Chaz Kennedy.
The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is also making its 2014 season debut, will thrill the crowds as well during the weekend with intense competition on the track.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction on the planet. While visiting the pits, interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway, fans will also want to check out NHRA’s popular Hot Rod Junction presented by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum that offers a spectacular display of many nostalgic dragsters, race cars and hot rods on display, including vintage machines that were driven by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, K.S. Pittman, “Big John” Mazmanian, Bruce Larson, among others. There will also be several NHRA Legends of Drag Racing autograph sessions, allowing fans the rare opportunity to meet drag racing stars of the past.
Mello Yello Series qualifying begins on Friday, March 14, with sessions at noon and 2:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, March 15, also at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 16.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Middle school, high school and college students can purchase tickets at 50% off with a special student discount ticket, which is available at the gate. General admission tickets for children 12 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket. For more information about NHRA, log on to www.NHRA.com.
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AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 45th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, Gainesville, Fla. The track is located on 11211 North County Road 225 in Gainesville.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, March 13-16
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, March 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8:30 a.m.
FRIDAY, March 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 1:45 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, March 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.
PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, March 16 – PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations begin at 9:30 a.m.
Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will re-air 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 7:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 16, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of eliminations coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, March 14, 5 – 5:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C
Saturday, March 15, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C
Sunday, March 16, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 22C
(4140 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2013 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Johnny Gray, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock, Hector Arana Jr., Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: Warren Johnson, 9, PS; John Force, 7, FC; Don Prudhomme, 5, FC; Joe Amato, 4, TF; Kenny Bernstein, 4, FC/TF; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Don Garlits, 4, TF; Jason Line, 4, PS; Ed McCulloch, 4, FC; Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; Dave Schultz, 4, PSM; Terry Vance, 4, PSM.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.749 seconds by Morgan Lucas, March ’12; 326.87 mph by Lucas, March ’12.
Funny Car – 4.026 seconds by Cruz Pedregon, March ’12; 317.12 mph by Robert Hight, March ’12.
Pro Stock – 6.473 seconds by Mike Edwards, March ’12; 214.31 mph by Edwards, March ’13.
PS Motorcycle – 6.750 seconds by Eddie Krawiec, March ’12; 199.26 mph by Krawiec, March ’11.
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car – 3.965 sec. by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.; 324.12 mph by J. Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ‘13, Charlotte, N.C.; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRATIX.com.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the second of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 191; 2. Khalid alBalooshi, 165; 3. Antron Brown, 156; 4. Steve Torrence, 155; 5. (tie) Brittany Force, 127; Spencer Massey, 127; 7. Shawn Langdon, 124; 8. Tony Schumacher, 92; 9. (tie) Richie Crampton, 84; David Grubnic, 84.
Funny Car: 1. John Force, 225; 2. Robert Hight, 159; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 156; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 136; 5. Del Worsham, 132; 6. Matt Hagan, 129; 7. Bob Tasca III, 124; 8. Jack Beckman, 92; 9. Ron Capps, 88; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 84.
Pro Stock: 1. V. Gaines, 191; 2. Jason Line, 180; 3. (tie) Allen Johnson, 161; Vincent Nobile, 161; 5. Dave Connolly, 128; 6. Shane Gray, 127; 7. Erica Enders-Stevens, 120; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 88; 9. (tie) Larry Morgan, 82; Shane Tucker, 82.
