The Team of JFR is at the Top of the Ladder and the Girls Make History.

HISTORY AT KANSAS NATIONALS AS FORCE SISTERS QUALIFY No. 1

TOPEKA, KS – Brittany Force’s Castrol EDGE Dragster proved to be the dominant Top Fuel dragster at the NHRA Kansas Nationals as she ran a career best ET and top speed 3.746 seconds at 329.75 mph and claimed her first ever number one Top Fuel qualifying spot. She will share the top qualifying limelight with her sister Courtney Force who raced around her 16-time champion father John Force to grab the Funny Car No. 1 spot. This is the first time sisters have qualified No. 1 at the same Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. All three JFR Funny Cars hold down the top spots for the 11^th time and first time since Houston 2010. This is also naturally the first time John Force Racing has had No. 1s in Top Fuel and Funny Car.

“I’m just so excited. This really shows the Castrol EDGE team’s hard work is finally paying off. We struggled all of last year and then to come out here and go to number one is awesome. I really didn’t expect that as it’s a brand new car so to get it down the track and run like that makes us so excited. I’m so proud of my team,” said Brittany Force, the 2013 Rookie of the Year.

Force’s team had to swap out engines after the first qualifying session and due to a quick turn-around time they did not have time to warm the motor. For Brittany Force and her Castrol EDGE team, the quick turnaround didn’t rattle them one bit when she fired up her car on the starting line.

“It was pretty crazy before the run as we didn’t get to warm up the car and the turnaround was so quick. I was suiting up in the tow vehicle on the way up to the lanes. I thought my crew guys were just trying to rush me figuring there’d be a few cars ahead of us but when I got up there. I was shocked as when we pulled up we were literally the next pair of dragsters on the starting line. So I threw my stuff on and jumped in the car, got suited up and went right up there. I wasn’t expecting it to run a 3.74,” said Brittany Force.

With this being Brittany’s second season behind the wheel of the Castrol EDGE Dragster, she now has her first number one qualifying spot to her career. The 2013 NHRA Rookie of the Year has attainable goals for herself. She also knows she’s part of talented family of NHRA record holders yet, she doesn’t feel intimated by their accomplishments because she shares the same last name.

“I definitely have a list goals that I want to achieve just this year.  But I don’t ever try to compare my goals to my sisters. That’s just my personality and how I am. I’m proud of them for everything they’ve accomplished but I have my own list of goals and that’s what I’m going after,” said Force, a two time No. 1 qualifier in the Lucas Oil Series in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Brittany did achieve one of her goals today with a number one qualifier but she’s also going for her first Top Fuel win and to be the 100^th NHRA female pro driver to win a national event. To make this happen, Brittany has demonstrated to the racing community she has the skills and determination in reaching these goals.

After rain showers halted Friday’s second session, Brittany’s first qualifying run today was another strong and consistent pass despite having some issues down track. Her dragster lit up the scoreboard with a 3.811 second pass at 284.62 mph.

“On the first run today, the car left hard but I drove it a little bit out of the groove and once that happens, it sucks you right out. It happened right at the 800 foot mark. I also could feel the engine was having problems as the force threw me forward in the seat. Right then I knew the motor was hurt and I shut it down,” said Brittany Force.

Despite this, she still did a great job keeping the 10,000 horsepower Castrol EDGE Dragster on the track and not getting it crossed up by either driving over the centerline or worse, contacting the retaining wall. It just shows Brittany’s skill as a driver keeps improving run after run.

“Each run you always learn something, especially when the car wants to do strange things. Sometimes I’ll make a run and I’ve never felt it pull a certain way or do something weird. Hopefully next time I get out the run sooner when the car starts pulling this way,” said Force.

Force has competed at Heartland Park Topeka in both classes and has a comfort level when she fires up her Castrol EDGE Dragster. “I love Heartland Park Topeka. The fact I was able to set a new track record today is awesome. It’s a very comfortable track me,” said Brittany Force.

Brittany Force will face Luigi Novelli in the opening round on Sunday and despite everyone asking her about potentially being NHRA’s 100th pro female driver to win a race, it’s not playing on her mind. Brittany and the Castrol EDGE team know they just need to be focused on going rounds and a trip to the winner’s circle will eventually come. 

On the heels of Brittany Force racing to the top of the qualifying field in Top Fuel her sister Courtney Force ran around John Force to grab the No. 1 spot in Funny Car for the second time this season. The youngest Force was in the third to last pair of Funny Cars and she blasted down the Heartland Park Topeka track in 4.009 seconds, the second quickest elapsed time of her career, to jump to No. 1. She had to wait for Alexis DeJoria, Tim Wilkerson, John Force and Robert Hight to run to see if she would hold onto the No. 1 spot.

“This is huge. The one thing you are looking for as a team is consistency. We seemed to have lost that at the beginning of the season. It felt good to go out there last week and go all the way to the final. I was hoping we really found something. To come out here and have consistent runs throughout qualifying is big,” said Force.

“We (lost a) run yesterday because of the rain. It feels good to get the Traxxas Mustang down the track run after run. We were running 4.0s and then that last run to run four flat was exciting to hear my crew chief come on the radio that we went four flat and were No. 1. I was in the staging lanes listening on the radio to my sister go No. 1,” said Force.

“That was cool. I tried to not get my hopes up. I hopped out of the car and I was thinking dad and Robert are coming up so you never know what is going to happen. They seem to ruin my day a lot lately. This Traxxas Mustang has been consistent this weekend and we will see what we can do tomorrow.”

This was the fifth No. 1 of Courtney Force’s career. She will face Dale Creasy Jr. in the first round. This will be the second time Force has faced Creasy in her career and she defeated the journeyman Funny Car driver in their lone meeting last year at the NHRA Kansas Nationals.

While much of the attention at the end of qualifying was focused on Brittany and Courtney Force the hottest driver in the Mello Yello Series continued to stay under the radar as Robert Hight will go into Sunday as the No. 3 qualified Funny Car. The four time winner this season posted quick runs all weekend and will face two-time Funny Car champion in the first round. Hight is 19-11 versus Pedregon and is 2-0 against him at the Kansas Nationals.

“We were happy with that run in the last session. We weren’t trying to set a track record. We were racing like we always do; try and get the best run out there. Mike Neff has this Auto Club Ford Mustang going down the track and I need to just keep doing my job as a driver,” said Hight. “It is cool that Courtney and Brittany are No. 1 but I think it is just as important that all three John Force Racing Funny Cars are 1-2-3 in qualifying. Hopefully we will all go some rounds tomorrow. We have all been working together to get all the Funny Cars running consistently. I am ready for race day and I will be going after my fourth win in a row.”

Hight and his Auto Club Ford Mustang Funny Car has a commanding points lead but also has a streak of six straight final round appearances this season to go along with his active streak of three wins in a row. They were the picture of consistency this weekend posting runs of 4.091, 4.040 and 4.055 seconds and Hight had the only Funny Car other than Courtney Force to run in the 4.0s all three qualifying sessions. His average ET was 4.062 to Force’s 4.054 seconds.

John Force may have been knocked out of the number one qualifying spot by his daughter Courtney on the final session, but the fact that the 16-time NHRA World Champ and his Castrol High Mileage Mustang ran a stout 4.043 second pass at 317.72 mph during his last run of the day is very impressive. For the Castrol GTX High Mileage team, it appears they may have eradicated the mechanical gremlins that had been plaguing them the last few races. More important, the proud father got to see a milestone unfold in front of him at the NHRA Kansas Nationals.

“Even though I got knocked out, we were going for it. To see both my girls get No. 1 in Top Fuel and Funny Car; that will make the boys mad. It is good for our sport. There are other women out there fighting for it. They are all trying to get to the 100th. We ought to sign up for the lottery,” said John Force.

For the NHRA, this is an historical accomplishment that shows the diversity of the drivers that compete in the professional categories. For both Force sisters to qualify number one in the Nitro classes, this is history and John Force couldn’t be more proud.

“This is just one race and it is just something for the two of them to be No. 1 side by side. They stand for all the women that do this. I can see Shirley right now jumping up and down. To see them in these Mello Yello No. 1 qualifier hats is awesome,” said John Force.

The matriarch of the family, Laurie Force, is also delighted to see how hard her daughters have worked over the years in getting to this momentous occasion. It has also shown the racing community and the NHRA fans the Force girls are the real deal. 

“I think they are doing an awesome job. I get nervous when they go up and run but every run that they make I know they are getting a better handle on these cars. To see them both go out there and do such a good job is great,” said Laurie Force.

During John’s first run out of the box today, he had a disappointing 8.054 second run at only 77.20 mph after striking the massive Goodyear slicks in a billowing cloud of smoke at the 300 foot mark. Fortunately, Jimmy Prock and the crew went to work and the Castrol GTX High Mileage Mustang was back on track for the final session with a 4.04 second pass.

John Force will race from the number two position on Sunday and he’ll face fellow Ford Mustang driver Bob Tasca III in round one.

* * * *

THE DRIVERS

JOHN FORCE, 65, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang

Final Qualifying: 2^st at 4.021 seconds at 318.84 mph

Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (Quickest of Q1 and 2^nd quickest of Q4)

First round opponent (W-L): Bob Tasca III (8-9)

ROBERT HIGHT, 44, Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang

Final Qualifying: 3^rd at 4.040 seconds at 314.75 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +4 (Quickest of Q3 and 3^rd quickest of Q4)

First round opponent (W-L): Cruz Pedregon (19-11)

COURTNEY FORCE, 25, Traxxas Ford Mustang

Final Qualifying: 1^st at 4.009 seconds at 322.96 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: +5 (2^nd quickest of Q1 and quickest of Q4)

First round opponent (W-L): Dale Creasy Jr. (1-0)

BRITTANY FORCE, 27, Castrol EDGE Top Fuel Dragster

Final Qualifying: 1^st at 3.746 seconds at 329.75 mph

Bonus Qualifying Points: +3 (Quickest of Q4)

First round opponent (W-L): Luigi Novelli (0-0)

* * * *

Antron Brown - Atlanta Finals

NHRA Southern Nationals   MONDAY ELIMINATIONS: 10 a.m. ET Facebook.com/Shoeracing   TWITTER @Shoeracing    ShoeRacing.com  ON ESPN2 (times are EST): 8-11 p.m. ET, eliminations

Monday's semifinal loss doesn't deter from grit shown by Brown, Matco Tools team as Mello Yello Series heads to Topeka COMMERCE, Ga. (May 19, 2014) - The extended weekend at Atlanta Dragway will rank among the most memorable NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events for Antron Brown. And all things considered, losing in Monday's rain-delayed championship eliminations in the semifinals was disappointing but paled when compared to other events that occurred to the Matco Tools team during the NHRA Southern Nationals. On Friday night after one of several rain delays during the extended event, he was uninjured in an explosion that led to the destruction of the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster team's primary race car that had won three of the season's first six events. Falling to second in points heading this weekend's Mello Yello event at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas is something worth putting into perspective. And it was a testament to the caliber of team members with whom he shares the Matco Tools banner led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald along with team manager Brad Mason was able to outfit their back-up car in time to earn the No. 3 qualifying spot Saturday night and win two elimination rounds. "It was a great rebound from what happened Friday night and, the thing about it is, we wanted this race badly," said Antron, who has won five of the last 10 event titles and was the event's defending champion. "It would have been awesome to get this race. But we're not upset about it. We came back, we brought another car out and it performed just like we wanted it to." On Monday, the Matco Tools team produced the second quickest run in the first round with a time of 3.799 seconds at 319.14 mph and then followed that with a 3.744 (324.20) for the quickest of the day. But a mechanical problem led to his car losing traction in the semifinals against DSR teammate Spencer Massey, who advanced to the championship round. "Actually, something malfunctioned with our clutch controller," Antron said. "They'll figure it out. It had a leak or something. The second-round (run) was exactly what Brian and Mark and the Matco Tools boys wanted." Antron's team and the other six DSR units head directly to Topeka, Kan., to arrive Thursday to prepare for the start of the race on Friday. "We're going to Topeka and we've got our game faces on," Antron said. "Sometimes you take a step backward but we're all about going forward. We're going to go there with a full head of steam and be on point, be focused and ready. "We've got a lot of work cut out for us but we're looking forward to it and we're just going to make things even better." TOP FUEL Event winner: Spencer Massey (Don Schumacher Racing) No. 1 Qualifier: Doug Kalitta (Kalitta Motorsports) 3.732 sec., 328.86 mph (track records) ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster Qualified: No. 3 ELIMINATIONS FIRST ROUND: BROWN (3.799 sec., 319.14 mph) def. Ike Maier (8.466, 145.61); QUARTERFINALS: BROWN (3.744, 324.20) def. Pat Dakin (3.829, 313.58); SEMIFINALS: Spencer Massey (3.816, 322.65) def. BROWN (4.520, 188.80) QUALIFYING FRIDAY: 3.854 sec., 312.42 mph, (Session 1); 3.788, 318.69 (Session 2) SATURDAY: 3.833, 289.82, (Session 3); 3.764, (Session 4) NHRA MELLO YELLO TOP FUEL STANDINGS (unofficial through Atlanta) driver (wins), points 1. Doug Kalitta (1), 649 2. ANTRON BROWN (3), 642 3. Steve Torrence (0), 503 4. Shawn Langdon (0), 461 5. SPENCER MASSEY (1), 454 6. Khalid alBalooshi (1), 413 7. TONY SCHUMACHER (1), 407 8. Brittany Force (0), 336 9. Richie Crampton (0), 257 10. J.R. Todd (0), 257    About Matco Tools             Since 1979, the mission of Matco Tools has been to provide professional mechanics and auto enthusiasts with all of the premium tools, storage and equipment they need to get the job done, while also offering best-in-class service and customer support. The company's network of 1,500 premier independent mobile distributors is focused on developing and maintaining trust-based relationships with its customers and has increased its revenues by an average of 8% in each of the last three years. Ranked among the top 30 in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2014 Franchise 500®, the company continues to expand throughout the United States and Canada, adding several hundred mobile stores each year.  For more information, please visit www.MatcoTools.com.

C7 Road Test Takes on Carerra S

 

"Since its inception, the C7 Stingray has been designed, engineered, and built with the intention of taking on the world’s finest sports cars with utter disregard to their price or reputation. In TopGear’s recent torture test, the crew took Porsche’s latest 911 Carrera S along with a hot-off-the-press C7 Stingray to one of the UK’s most treacherous sections of highway, the Kirkstone Pass. Armed with nothing more than in-car GPS and iron nerves, these brave drivers set out in dangerous wet conditions to see which country, or car rather, would reign supreme.

With the 911’s overwhelmingly positive reputation for sophistication and razor sharp handling, the C7 has had to face strong adversity in its quest to break free from the straight line racer stereotype and move into the upper-echelon of confidence inspiring road cars. On the surface, both vehicles were praised for their drastically different, yet stunningly good looks that represent two very different ways of designing a modern sports car. Equipped with a 460 hp V8 and a price tag that is nearly $20,000 less than the 400 hp 911, the Stingray received acclaim for its brute power and auditory transcendence that begged to be heard. Earning an honorary mention was both vehicles ability to achieve remarkably good fuel economy considering their displacement and performance capabilities.  

The C7 Stingray takes on the Porsche Carrera S

While both cars received recognition for their cabin feel, fade free brakes and their ability to instill confidence in the driver, there can only be one winner in any head-to-head battle. In this case, the 911 ever so slightly edged out the Stingray in its refinement and ability to connect man and machine. Now, before bowtie enthusiasts decide to bombard the TopGear offices with hate-mail for their historically critical opinions of the American icon that is Corvette, TopGear did make one thing very clear: the Corvette has matured into a vehicle that deserves to be in the top tier of sports cars. No longer should enthusiasts see the Corvette as “good for the price”, but rather, a great all around machine for any type of driving."
Doug Fornish- Top Gear

JR Todd wants to take advantage of opportunity.

Thursday, May 22, 2014 Credit to National Dragster 

 

  

J.R. Todd isn’t interested in easing into the opportunity of driving an 8,000-horsepower Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports. The way he sees it, Todd is ready for immediate results.

It has been just more than a month since Todd took over the duties of driving the second Top Fuel dragster for Kalitta Motorsports, but the talented driver doesn’t want to hear anything about a grace period. Todd will race for the fifth time in 2014 as part of the Kalitta Motorsports team at this weekend’s 26th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, and he has his eyes set on continuing to improve and ultimately winning races.

“As soon as I came on board with the team I had the confidence that we were and are going to win races,” Todd said. “All four (Kalitta Motorsports) cars have been running really well and looking at how well Doug (Kalitta), (crew chief) Jim (Oberhofer) and those Mac Tools guys have done, it makes me feel there is no reason our Optima batteries team can't go out and perform just as well. I feel extremely honored to be driving for (team owner) Conrad (Kalitta) and I want to get him in the winner’s circle as soon as possible.”

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. For the first time since 2006, the race moves back to Memorial Day weekend, one of the most celebrated weekends for motorsports each year.
It’s been a whirlwind turn of events for Todd since he assumed the duties of full-time driver of the Optima Batteries dragster in early April. Todd raced in Top Fuel at Gainesville earlier this for Bob Vandergriff Racing, but getting the chance to drive full-time for the rest of the 2014 season was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Todd has posted three round wins in the Optima Batteries dragster, already showing an impressive comfort level with the car. Todd, who has six career wins and became the first African-American to win a Top Fuel race in 2006, credited the hard work of the team for making the transition an easy one.

“My comfort level is great,” said Todd, whose last win came in 2008. “I love hanging out with everybody from all four teams.  There are so many people within this group that I have known for a very long time and it's awesome to get the opportunity to work with them and call them teammates.”

The hectic schedule that started last weekend in Atlanta could also play in Todd’s favor. The Kansas Nationals marks the second of three straight race weekends and comes during a grueling stretch of 10 races in 12 weeks. The constant seat time could allow Todd to continue to gain confidence behind the wheel and he remains eager to see rapid improvements.
“I always want more runs,” Todd said. “I would run every day of the week if possible. I'm definitely getting more comfortable in the car and having a lot of fun working with the entire Kalitta group. There are still things I need to work on with my driving and I'm sure that will come over time.”

Todd doesn’t have to look far to find the winning combination. Kalitta, who won at Kansas in 2006, is the points leader in Top Fuel and has posted four final round appearances in 2014. Coupled with Alexis DeJoria’s two wins in Funny Car, it’s evident that things have been going well for Kalitta Motorsports.

Todd is ready to feed off that momentum, though a loaded Top Fuel field will make that difficult at Heartland Park Topeka. Antron Brown, who has two wins this season, is still searching for his first win in Topeka, while other class standouts include reigning world champion Langdon, who knocked off Tony Schumacher in the final round a year ago, Spencer Massey, who is the most recent winner in Atlanta, Steve Torrence and defending Auto Club of Southern California Road the Future Award winner Brittany Force.

“From what I remember about my past races at Topeka it has always been hot,” Todd said. “If it's warm this weekend it makes that Friday night qualifying run all the more important to establish your starting spot and then go to work on your race day set up during Saturday’s qualifying sessions.”

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 and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, May 23, with sessions at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 24, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRATIX.com or call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger are free.

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Cadillac ATS for 2015, a bit Lower, Lower and Wider

Pricing starts at $38,990, including destination charge

2014-05-15

DETROIT – For the 2015 ATS Coupe, Cadillac engineers and designers made a number of changes from the award-winning ATS Sedan to deliver the performance and styling traits luxury coupe buyers expect. When the ATS Coupe goes on sale at the end of this summer, it will start at $38,990, including a $995 destination charge.

To create a more personal expression of the brand’s compact luxury car, the 2015 ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan, but features its own bodywork, longer vehicle length, lower height and wider front/rear tracks.
The roof, doors, rear fenders and trunk lid are unique to the Coupe, along with a specific front fascia and front fenders to accommodate the wider track. 18-inch wheels are standard on the Coupe.

“All of the surface development unique to the ATS Coupe was done with aerodynamics in mind,” said David Masch, ATS chief engineer. “We are able to achieve lift and downforce requirements to insure, at top speed, we retain handling without having to add a rear spoiler.”

The Coupe has an aggressive stance, with wider front/rear tracks and a lower roofline than the sedan. At 60.3 inches front and 61.7 inches rear, the two-door has a 0.8-inch wider track. Overall vehicle height is 1.1 inches lower than the Sedan. The wider stance and lower roofline provide the proportions coupe customers want.

“The wider track also helps improve steering precision and direct response,” said Cadillac Executive Chief Engineer David Leone. “The lower roof contributes to a lower center of gravity height, which also reduces roll and improves steering response.”

The 2015 ATS Coupe is also 0.8 inches longer than the sedan; although it rides on an identical wheelbase. The extra overall length helps to further enhance the ATS Coupe’s dynamic appearance, resulting in a swept-back look to the front and rear end appearances.

The Cadillac ATS Coupe is intended to be a more personal addition to the award-winning ATS product line. Designed to be lighter, more agile and more engaging than its competitors, it extends Cadillac’s product-driven growth and the brand’s tradition of dynamic luxury Coupes. The 2015 ATS Coupe goes on sale this summer, offering drivers the choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the power from a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.6L six-cylinder.

News on Activites of Sportsman Results in NHRA Requested.

I do recognize that throughout NHRA, there are thousands of competitors that never seem to be recognized, not only in the varied team media, but within NHRA itself,

The two areas that are mentioned frequently are in the Pro Ranks. Reason for this is it is the only consistent "news" received. It is not to overlook any one and the only way it can be rectified is if those competitors and or fans would would submit "news" of their team activities.

This is a medium that anyone can post post. Especially Sportsman competitors. The only requirement is for "news" to be written with clarity. There is a link within this throughout content seperation in the comments  section. This could include photos and videos. It would enhance visibility with Sportsman Competitor input. 

Antron Brown, finally gets the Points Lead, again!

Inside this issue of "Shoe's News," the official newsletter for Don Schumacher Racing: 1.       #OneTeam. DSR's seven teams battle on the dragstrip but before and after they function like one team. That was evident when crew members from DSR rallied to help Jack Beckman's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T make major repairs in time for the championship round Sunday near Houston; 2.       Antron, Matco Tools team wins third title of the year and take over Top Fuel points lead; 3.       Tony treats Jr. Dragster driver from near Houston to a special day; 4.       DSR SPOTLIGHT: Supercharger/ignition specialist Chris Watson enjoying first year with Matco Tools Top Fuel team after spending the past eight seasons working on DSR Funny Cars; 5.       Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce's "Celebration of Champions" is May 2 at Bill Estes; 6.       DSR driver statistics, standings and Mello Yello standings; To read the full version of Shoe's News click here.