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Author: Briar Starr

  • Exclusive: First Seasons with Jimmy Vasser

    Exclusive: First Seasons with Jimmy Vasser

    In this edition of First Seasons where Speedway Media takes a look back on a driver’s rookie years in racing, we caught up with former CART racer turned IMSA co-owner, Jimmy Vasser. Vasser discusses how he got into open-wheel racing with Hayhoe Cole Racing and his decision not to go to Europe and race in the states. He also talked about his memories of making his first start at Queensland, earning a ride with Chip Ganassi in 1996, and winning the championship that year among many other moments throughout his career.

    SM: In 1992, you made your debut racing in the now-defunct CART Series for Hayhoe Cole Racing at the age of 26. Can you discuss what it was like making your debut during that time period and why you chose the CART Series? Did you feel as though you had a late start in racing at that age?

    JV: “I didn’t feel like it was a super late start, really,” Vasser said about making his debut. “I had been racing since I was six years old with quarter midgets and worked my way up. At that time, it was young, but nowadays, that’s a lot older. I had a choice to go to Europe, which at the time was Formula 3000, and have a chance to do the Indy 500, being a young American.

    “I just didn’t think I was going to get a fair shot at it (racing) and my dream was to be in the Indy 500, not Formula 1 like it is today.”

    SM: Discuss how you got connected with Hayhoe Cole Racing for your first opportunity in open-wheel racing.

    JV: “I was racing in Formula Atlantic and I had met Jim Hayhoe through Rick Gallas who was the team owner at the time in IndyCar and won the championship with Al Unser Jr. at the time,” he said. “There was a whole group of guys that kind of came together and helped fund me in Formula Atlantics’ and Hayhoe/Cole decided to start a team and take me to IndyCars.”

    SM: In the ‘92 season, you attempted the full season with the exception of not qualifying at Nazareth. Despite not qualifying, you competed in 15 of 16 races. As a rookie in the series during that time, what kind of expectations did you have? Obviously, winning races and championships are on your mind, but realistically, how did you manage those expectations being a rookie driver, and did those ever change throughout the season?

    JV: “We never intended to do a full-season,” Vasser said. “The Nazareth deal was a start and park situation. I mainly practiced and then parked the car for Derrick Walker who was trying to maintain the franchise. It (being at Nazareth) was probably the most frightening thing I ever did. I practiced but never got to race because that was good enough for Walker as he got his franchise money so to speak.

    “I broke my leg during the Indy 500 that year (1992 Indy 500). “I was the fastest rookie and broke my leg about halfway in the race, which took me out for a couple of races. Three to four weeks later, I raced with a rod in my leg and raced at Portland, my first race after the Indy 500.”

    SM: Your first race that season came in Queensland where you qualified 17th but finished 15th due to an electrical problem. Before we talk about the race itself, what were the weeks like leading up to your debut in CART? Were you anxious and nervous or were you ready to go as the event approached?

    JV: “(I) was super ready to go,” the 10 time CART winner said when getting ready to make his debut. “We took a team meeting or team vote whether or not to go to the race and the team voted ‘No, we weren’t ready.’ It’s funny, Mike Cole who was our team manager at the time, Bill Papis was my engineer and everyone took a vote not to go to the race. There were three of us that voted to go, Jim Hayhoe, myself, and one other and I guess our votes outweighed the others.”

    SM: Then in the race itself, you were relegated to 17th with the electrical problem. Is there anything you think you could have done differently to have a higher finish in your first race and were you still in awe that you had just competed in your first CART race at the end of the day?

    JV: “It was a little bit of both really,” Vasser said about his first race. “We should’ve finished better. We came out of the pits on fresh slicks on a previous stop and by the time I came down to the two chicanes, it was an absolute monsoon downpour. I just slid straight off the track and our day was done. I don’t think there’s anything I could’ve done differently, but maybe stop a lap later and we would’ve had rain tires on.”

    SM: At Long Beach, you had your career-best finish of seventh. However, you made your first Indy 500 start that year where you finished 21st due to a crash. With the exception of the crash, what do you remember about your first 500 experience, making the practice laps for the first time, being in the garage area, prerace ceremonies, and the race itself? Was it a surreal moment for you to be in the 500 for the first time?

    JV: “Everything was surreal to me,” the 1996 CART champion said. “As for Long Beach, I was following Rick Mears and I was just in awe of racing with Mears. Other than the crash and breaking my leg during the 500, it was a full month of Indy. I was bumped out of the field and I sat for a whole week on the bubble. Finally, they bumped me out and I re-qualified back into the race with my backup car and was the fastest rookie. That was an experience like no other.”

    SM: In your first season, you would only go on to finish in four races that year with your best finish of seventh occurring at Long Beach as we previously mentioned. As you continue to reflect on your career, was there a learning curve in driving the car? I’m sure it had to be frustrating wanting to learn but not finishing races. Was it the car itself?

    JV: “It was a bit of the healing, but back then in that era, you were just happy to be learning,” Vasser said. “I was lucky to have a year old car with an engine that was out of date and probably 50 horsepower down. Nowadays, everyone has the same equipment and the same car to compete with. Back then, you took what you were able to get, whether it was a two-year-old car. As a driver, if you were able to perform well with equipment that shouldn’t, then you would catch the eye of another team owner.”

    SM: By the time the end of the season came, you finished 22nd in the standings. While it wasn’t the finish you wanted, were you satisfied with what you were able to accomplish that year, or were you ready for the season to be over with the amount of trouble you had?

    JV: As a driver, you can always do more, but I was satisfied with my rookie year,” he said. “I thought I did well at Indy aside from the crash, but in general, I think I showed well with the equipment I had.”

    SM: As the ‘93 season came along, you opened up the season with a 24th place finish at Queensland, but obtained your only podium of the year by finishing third at Phoenix. How special was it for you to get your first podium especially after the year you had in ‘92?

    JV: “It was one of the most special moments of my career actually,” Vasser said. “That race stands out a lot as it was my first podium finish, but also Mario Andretti’s last win of his career. I was on the podium with Mario and Paul Newman was up there as well. I was like ‘Wow, I’m up here with these guys sharing the podium.’”

    SM: After the ‘94 season and spending three years with Hayhoe Racing, you got an offer to compete with Chip Ganassi Racing from 1995 through 2000. It would be some of your best years spent in the sport winning the CART championship in 1996 and winning some of your first races. How did you get the opportunity to race with Chip Ganassi and was racing with him a fresh start for you?

    JV: “Jim Hayhoe was shutting down his team due to the lack of funding,” he said. “Jim had some assets of the team and some sponsorship and he put a deal together with Chip and that was the beginning. Jim Hayhoe was actually the one that put the team together.”

    SM: Eventually, you scored your first ever career win in your championship season by winning at Homestead in ‘96. You qualified third and led 32 laps en route to victory. What does that first victory still mean to you to this day and have you ever had a chance to rewatch that race?

    JV: “I haven’t watched that race back (Homestead ’96). I’m not the one who goes back and watches races,” Vasser said. “The win was a sweet victory for me because going into the end of 1995, I finished second in Portland and post-race inspection had disqualified Al Unser Jr., so I originally was the race winner. However, Penske Racing took the decision to CART in court in the winter and the finish was reversed and my win was taken away.”

    SM: In the ‘96 season, you went on to win at Queensland and Long Beach before having solid finishes along the way. At what point, did you and the team feel you were championship contenders?

    JV: “We were contenders the whole season,” he said. “We were the quickest in preseason testing, we had a great combination of the Firestone tires and we won four out of the six races. So, we were contenders the whole season and we were really hanging onto the championship.

    “My teammate, Alex Zanardi, was learning the IndyCar and he got competitive in the middle of the season, so the championship got very competitive.”

    SM: At the end of the ‘96 season, you won the CART title over Michael Andretti by 22 points. What was it like being able to achieve the championship for Ganassi and especially winning over Michael Andretti? Did the championship do wonders for your career?

    JV: “It was everything for my career,” the California native said. “You strive for race wins, championships, and the Indy 500. At that point in time, winning the championship was just magical.”

    SM: I’m sure there are many races where you wish you had another chance. Are there any races that come to mind, and if so, which race sticks out the most, and why?

    JV: “The one race that’s obvious is when I finished second at Long Beach in 2002,” Vasser said. “We were leading when a caution came out and in that time of CART, there was a strange race format where if you pitted, you couldn’t take fuel every 29 laps and everyone had just pitted.”

    “However, Michael Andretti and Max Papis had just pitted and were running in the back at the time. When the yellow came out, they told me to save fuel and slow down. For Michael and Max, they were still able to pit and I slowed down and they came out in front of me. That’s how I lost the lead in that race. I was able to get back by Max but never could with Michael.”

    SM: Out of your 10 victories, which trophy means the most to you in your collection?

    JV: “I would say the 1996 championship means the most to me,” he said. “As far as race victories, I would say the 1998 Fontana California race on a last-lap pass of Greg Moore. Got second in the championship that year, which was another good chunk of money. Winning that race was like winning the Indy 500 for me.”

    SM: Some drivers keep a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your rookie years?

    JV: “I keep all of my gear as I’m not much of a merchandise collector,” Vasser said. “I have my very first helmet that I drove from my rookie year.”

    SM: Wrapping this interview up, it’s hard to believe your debut came 30 years ago. However, if time travel was available, what would a 56-year-old Jimmy Vasser tell a 26-year-old Jimmy Vasser? Is there anything you would do differently?

    JV: “I don’t think there’s anything I would do definitely, as I’m really happy currently,” the ‘96 champion said. “I would probably say, ‘Stay on the right track and you’re doing just fine.’”

    Throughout Vasser’s career, the California native has made 232 CART Series starts earning 10 career victories with 33 podium finishes and winning the 1996 championship with Chip Ganassi. In addition, Vasser had made six NTT IndyCar Series starts, eight IROC starts, and two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2003. Vasser now co-owns the Vasser-Sullivan Lexus Motorsports IMSA team in GTD Pro competition.

    Fans of Jimmy can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

  • Exclusive: First Seasons with Eli Tomac

    Exclusive: First Seasons with Eli Tomac

    In this edition of First Seasons where Speedway Media takes a look back at a driver’s rookie year in racing, we catch up with Monster Energy Supercross rider, Eli Tomac. During the interview, the four-time 450 champion discusses how he got his start with the sport, racing in the 250 class, managing expectations as a rookie rider, and his first start at Anaheim.

    He also shared his thoughts on whether there was anything he could’ve done differently to win the championship that year and his memories about his first win in San Diego, California.

    SM: You began competing in Monster Energy Supercross in 2011 with your first race coming at Anaheim racing in the Supercross Lites class at the age of 19. What was it like getting to make your debut during that era of Supercross and getting connected with the GEICO Powersports Honda team to give you the opportunity? Was it a dream come true for you? 

    ET: “Thinking back now, your first race in a stadium is the dream come true because you always think back to when you’re a kid and watch the races on TV, and watching all the guys like Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, those are all the guys I watched,” Tomac said. “When you’re there in person and under the lights, it’s like holy moly, I’m here in person doing it. It’s an unbelievable moment, there’s a lot of nerves that day and a lot of energy too, but at the same time, it’s what you live for and it’s a crazy feeling.”

    SM: Prior to making your debut in the Supercross Lites class, you were racing outdoors in the 250s. Did you feel as though it was the right age for you to make your first start in Supercross? Also, do you think the experience you had prior to your debut helped you, or was Supercross a whole different animal to you? 

    ET: “Having raced outdoors the year before, it helped knowing the riders I was going up against, but still, the stadium is a whole other level,” he said. “Having the people there and the feeling at night was a whole different feeling. I would say it basically felt like day one but you had the same guys (I raced with outdoors) at the same gate.” 

    SM: In your debut year, you competed in eight races which included the Lites Shootout at Las Vegas in April. As you entered the year and geared up to make your debut, what kind of expectations did you have as a rookie rider and did those ever change during the season? 

    ET:  “Our expectation was to win one race and then get on the podium as much as we could,” Tomac said. “That was my goal. I mean, I felt like that was a pretty lofty goal, but at the same time, I wanted to shoot high for my goal, try to get as many podiums as you could and get one win.”

    SM: Your first race came at the season-opener in Anaheim. It probably wasn’t the result you wanted as you finished in the 10th position after finishing third in the heat race. Despite the result, what do you remember about the weeks leading up to the Anaheim debut? Were you anxious or nervous or did the fact that you had some previous riding experience relieve some of those nerves? 

    ET: “Leading up to the race, it’s always easy at the practice track,” Tomac said. “That is always so hard because those days are easy, but when race day comes, the environment is so much different and that’s the way it was for me. You’re full of butterflies, nerves, and that’s what happens. You can be as relaxed as you can, ride as many laps as you can at the practice track, but nothing replicates the race environment. It’s hard to say now exactly what I was thinking on that day, but leading up to the race you don’t really know what’s going to happen at the night show.” 

    SM: As you took to the track in your first ever heat race in Supercross, you finished third. What was that feeling like for you at the time and is there anything you could have changed to have a higher finishing position in your first race? 

    ET: “In the heat race, that would’ve been a good finish of third and that puts you in a decent position in the main event,” he said. “If I remember right, I probably didn’t get the best of start in the main, finishing 10th. Third would’ve been great and it probably was at the time.”

    SM: As the season progressed, you gained momentum and finished lower than fifth after Phoenix. In fact, you finished second in a few heat races at Anaheim, Oakland, and San Diego before getting your first win there. Before we get to your first win, did you ever think you would learn the bike so quickly in your first season, or was it just based on your experience from the year before? Was there ever a learning curve? 

    ET: “When you’re that young, you rely heavily on the team to make the direction of the motorcycle, to make the calls and the setup,” he said. “When you’re a rookie, you don’t really have an idea of what you like and what works, what doesn’t. I was just focused on getting my technique down and learning the ways of the whoop section, being able to jump correctly. You just have to let the team do their thing when you’re that young starting out.”

    SM: Your first career victory came right away at San Diego in the seventh race of the season. What does that first victory still mean to you and have you ever had a chance to rewatch that race? 

    ET: “I’ve rewatched that race, but haven’t done so in years,” Tomac said. “I think the race was a little bit of a mud race if I remember correctly. I remember crossing the finish line and couldn’t believe that I won a race and to get this far and win, it was the best feeling ever during that point of my career.”

    SM: After winning at San Diego, you finished second at Seattle before winning the final race of the season at Salt Lake City. Was winning at Salt Lake City more satisfying to you or did that not even occur to you at the time? 

    ET: “It’s hard to compare the two, but nothing beats the first win,” he said. “Your first win is something special and the goal you have set out when you start racing in this sport. The first win is always the best for a single race win. The second victory is ‘alright, I can do this now more than once.’”

    SM: You came into championship contention after having solid runner-up finishes before eventually finishing second in the standings, just six points behind Broc Tickle. As you continue to reflect on your career, at what point in the season did you think you were championship contenders? Was it disappointing that specific season that you weren’t able to win the championship knowing you were only six points short?

    ET: “It would’ve been the first Anaheim race, which was that 10th place,” Tomac said about what race stood out the most. “At the same time, how do you expect that much out of your first race. I remember being super close in the points and having a chance at the championship in that last round. It was a wild position to be in, just because you were so young. I didn’t expect to be in that position, but I was.”

    SM: Overall, despite the runner-up in the championship, were you satisfied with your rookie season in the 250 class and collecting two wins and three podium finishes? Is there anything you think you could’ve done differently to get that championship? 

    ET: “Yes, absolutely, I was satisfied,” the Colorado native said about his rookie season. “Winning one race is hard enough for guys that turn pro. It’s better that I didn’t win the (250) championship because it allowed me to be in the class for another year and I really needed that. I would’ve been way too young moving up (to the 450 class, Supercross’s highest class) out of the 250 class. So, it was definitely better for me not to win that championship for the long haul.”

    SM: In 2012, you would go on to win your first ever Supercross championship in the same class. How special was that for you to win the championship and what was the difference from the previous year?

    ET: “At that point in time, it’s like you’ve finally figured some things out,” Tomac said about winning the 250 championship. “You know, you were applying all the things you learned from the practice track and you’re making it work at the racetrack. I was more dominant that year having more wins and never had the big mistakes. I knew I won the year before, so I was like ‘alright, now this is my time to really get going.”

    SM: During your career, I’m sure there are many races where you wish you had another opportunity to have a higher finish or perhaps get the victory. Are there any races in your mind that you wish you had another opportunity at, and if so, which race comes to mind and why?

    ET: “In 2017, the race in New York, I crashed in the turn and that was when I was battling with Ryan Dungey for the championship. That race is where I really messed up with the crash. That’s one race I would love to have back.” 

    SM: With that in mind, you’ve had many career victories that include 12 Supercross 250 victories and 37 in the 450cc class. Aside from the 250 and the 450 championships in your collection, which trophy means the most to you and why? 

    ET: “I’ll have to go with my first 450 win (Phoenix 2015),” he said. “Winning that race was the next step on the ladder for my goal was to win a 450 race. (Racing and winning in the 450 class) is the top of our sport, so that win meant so much.”

    SM: Some drivers keep a memorabilia collection and some don’t, are you a driver that collects your own memorabilia and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your rookie years in the sport? 

    ET: “I keep a lot of my helmets as I keep a helmet from each year,” the 250 and 450 champion said. “I also collect a lot of gear such as jerseys and trophies. I really love keeping my helmets.”

    SM: Wrapping this interview up, It’s hard to believe your debut came 11 years ago. However, if time travel was available, what would a 29-year-old Eli Tomac tell a 19-year-old Eli Tomac? Is there anything you would do differently? 

    ET: “Really, just enjoy the run and enjoy the races you compete in. I mean, I’m not done racing yet, but time goes by really fast, and enjoying it while it lasts would be the biggest thing.” 

    Throughout Tomac’s career, the Colorado native has earned 12 AMA 250cc Supercross victories, 37 AMA 450cc victories, the 2012 250cc Monster Energy Supercross championship and he also won the 450cc Monster Energy Supercross in 2020. Fans of Eli Tomac can follow him on Twitter and Instagram. You can also like him on Facebook and visit his website here.

    Special thanks to Sean Brennen of Feld Entertainment for making this interview happen and special thanks to Eli Tomac for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do the interview.

  • Exclusive: First Seasons with James Hinchcliffe

    Exclusive: First Seasons with James Hinchcliffe

    In this edition of ‘First Seasons,’ Speedway Media catches up with James Hinchcliffe who recently competed for Andretti Autosport and will be calling races for NBC Sports in 2022. We will take a look back at his first year in racing and his early years of being in the sport.

    During the interview, Hinchcliffe discusses what it was like getting a late start entering the sport, his first race at Birmingham, winning his first race at St. Petersburg, returning to Indy the year after his crash and many other facets of his career.

    SM: Following your two years in the Indy Lights racing series from 2009 through 2010, you made the move to the IndyCar Series at the age of 24 competing in 16 of the 17 races. How did you make the move to the IndyCar Series after competing with Sam Schmidt and Mark Moore in Indy Lights and racing for Newman-Haas? Did you feel it was the right age to make your first Indy start?

    JH: “It’s a very interesting question, certainly a bit later than what these kids are doing nowadays,” Hinchcliffe said about making his debut. “In a lot of ways, I was told by a lot of the engineers at Newman-Haas that my maturity served me quite well, despite having few IndyCar starts. I think I came with a lot of experience and maturity that they (Newman-Haas) haven’t seen from other rookies.

    “Moving to IndyCar with them was such an incredible opportunity, especially a team of that pedigree as a rookie. For me, it was a dream scenario. The only thing I wish we would’ve been able to do was keep going after 2011. The team obviously shut down at the end of the year. I was proud to deliver them their last title, which was winning Rookie of the Year.”

    Do you remember when you had your first conversation with Newman-Haas that led to getting a ride in 2011?

    JH: “The conversation came after my 2010 Indy Lights season,” he said. “We got a phone call from Newman-Haas to go test with them. They said, myself, J.K. Vernay (former Indy driver) but they wanted a rookie to be Oriol Servia’s teammate. So, they organized a two-day test at Sebring and by the end of the test, I was a tenth of a second quicker than Oriol. That eventually led to my first offer.”

    SM: What was it like going down to Sebring for the first time and being in an IndyCar? Was that surreal for you?

    JH: “It really was,” Hinchcliffe said about making his first laps in an IndyCar. “My dad and I flew down and it had been him and I since we were nine years old. It was kind of a cool moment. However, there was a tremendous amount of pressure. For the past 15 years everything, just kind of built up to that moment and you had to deliver. This was a great opportunity at the time. To go execute on the day, that was a great moment between my dad and I.”

    SM: As you were entering your first season, how did you manage expectations as a rookie driver? Was winning races or championships on your mind, or were you thinking more like ‘Let’s take this race by race and see where we end up at the halfway point, and then look ahead to the rest of the season?’

    JH: “It’s kind of funny actually,” the Toronto native said about managing expectations as a rookie. “The kids who come into today’s sport say they are going to win races and such, but for me, I was not that driver. I thought to myself, ‘Look man. You go into every junior category year as one of the two to three drivers who have a realistic shot at the championship.’ When you get to the top and you think you’re going to beat Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, that was an outrageous thought for me. I still couldn’t believe I was on the same grid with these guys.

    “Honestly, what was so cool about that was it made me a lot calmer, and I took a lot of pressure off myself. I’m a rookie and it’s okay to learn, it’s okay to make mistakes. I didn’t drive with that pressure on me. In my first race, I qualified next to Dario Franchitti and I thought this was okay. In our second race, we finished fourth at Long Beach. So, we had some good results very early.”

    SM: Obviously, you had experience at some of the tracks the year before, but driving an IndyCar is an entirely different animal. What do you remember about the weeks leading up to Birmingham? Were you anxious, nervous, or was it more a feeling of, ‘Let’s get this going?’

    JH: “I felt all of those things (nervous, anxious, pressure), but the pressure was off a little bit,” Hinchcliffe said about making his debut. “Making my debut was a huge amount of relief. We missed the first race at St. Pete because we didn’t have sponsorship yet. During the St. Pete weekend, I was down there with the team and helping Oriol. We got a phone call Saturday night from a company we had been talking to and they wanted to be with us starting next week.

    “It was a roller coaster of emotions leading up to that first start. I remember during the first two years, I was walking up to the grid and I had a hard card and I would just be there to be seen. I’ll never forget at Birmingham, they (IndyCar officials) called all non-essential personnel off the grid. Then I said, ‘Oh no dummy. You stay here, you get to do this.’ It was definitely a roller coaster.”

    SM: In your first outing, you had a decent qualifying position of eighth but unfortunately your day ended early due to a crash on Lap 40 and you finished 24th. Discuss what you recall about the event and is there anything you think you could have done differently to avoid a crash with E.J. Viso and Simona de Silvestro?

    JH: “No, unfortunately, it was one of those deals where E.J. got into an incident with somebody and he spun around, and I was forced to go around the outside of him. When he did that, E.J. left his foot off the brake and I ran into the back of him,” he said. “Unfortunately, that was just disappointing to not finish in your first race after all that potential, but it goes with the sport.”

    SM: Despite the disappointing finish, were you still on a high after completing your first IndyCar race?

    JH: “No, the end of that race was super depressing,” Hinchcliffe said. “You really want to finish your first one, I don’t like ruining equipment. I felt bad for the crew guys. I was standing around the car when I got back to the trailer and I just felt bad for breaking the car. Crash damage is your responsibility as a driver, but thankfully the accident wasn’t of our doing.”

    SM: At the following race in Long Beach, you scored a fourth-place finish and would also finish fourth at Loudon and Kentucky. Along the way, you had finishes of 20th and 19th at Texas, 14th st Toronto and finished 20th at Mid-Ohio. Was there a learning curve for you throughout the season or was there a point when you ever got comfortable?

    JH: “I think learning the flow of a race weekend was a big thing, learning the car was definitely a big thing too,” he said. “I really can’t speak of the transition of the new Indy Lights car to the new IndyCar, but I did think the old Lights car was a very good training tool and stepping stone for the old IndyCar. There are a lot of things to get used to. Understanding red tires versus black tires, qualifying format, long races, saving fuel, etc. I really just tried to learn in every practice session and be a little better.”

    SM: Your first Indianapolis experience came in 2009 with Sam Schmidt, but your first Indy 500 start came in your rookie season in 2011. You qualified 13th and finished 29th due to a crash. With the exception of the crash how surreal was it to make your first Indy 500 start in the IndyCar Series? How were your emotions making your first practice run, your qualifying attempt and the pre-race ceremonies?

    JH: “It was amazing,” the six time IndyCar winner said. “I had watched the Indy 500 for years as a kid growing up. I attended my first Indy 500 in 2008 as a fan and I thought, TV doesn’t do this thing justice. In 2009 and 2010, when you were a part of the show, I thought okay, now I get it a little bit. In 2011, it really hit me now that I was actually a part of the race.

    “The race is so unique. The first practice runs are nerve wracking. Qualifying at Indy is always the scariest thing you do all year. We were very proud of our qualifying effort of 13th. The disappointing finish that day sat heavier than any other race, because so much goes into that race. The emotions around the race are so drastic. Overall, my first Month of May was incredible.”

    SM: As for your rookie year, you finished 12th in the standings and had an average finish of 13.9. In 2012, you obtained your first podium finish at Long Beach for Andretti Autosport. How special was it to get your first podium finish or did it not really register to you at the time?

    JH: “It was huge,” Hinchcliffe said. “I always loved the Long Beach track and stepping into the Andretti car; it was a new car that year. The race prior to that at St. Pete, we finished fourth and I could just taste it (the podium). We came close a few times in my rookie year to get a podium finish and I wanted it so badly. Long Beach is a place where it just suited me well.”

    SM: The year after in 2013, you had a stellar season with three wins. You would win your first-ever career IndyCar race at the season opener at St. Petersburg. You qualified fourth and led 26 of the 110 laps. As you continue to reflect on your career, what does that first victory still mean to you and have you ever had a chance to rewatch that race?

    JH: “Not lately, I probably haven’t watched that win back in the last decade, I maybe watched it that year,” he said. “To this day, it’s the most memorable win for me and my career. (Winning) was validation for everything I put into that sport. To have both my parents there that day was special. There was a unique tie-in with the car I was driving, a Dan Wheldon tribute. That was his (Wheldon’s) hometown.”

    SM: You then had a dominating win at Iowa, nearly leading all the laps and had a victory at Sao Paulo. Which victory was more satisfying to you that year? Winning the season opener or the dominating victory at Iowa leading all but 24 laps?

    JH: “If you had to pick between the two, Sao Paulo was the more satisfying win,” the Toronto, Canada native said. “The way that race played out and the tricks Takuma Sato had been playing, I was pretty fired up about it. When we won on the last lap, that was really cool.

    “The Iowa win, it was sort of a Sunday drive. Not that winning is ever easy, but we just kind of controlled it. I remember saying in the press conference, ‘This is what Scott Dixon must feel like on mile and a half tracks.’ But, you know, it’s rare to have a day like that in IndyCar and I certainly appreciated that moment. The Sao Palou stuck a little better.”

    SM: Obviously, a few short seasons after your first win, you suffered a near-death crash at Indy in 2015 during practice. However, a year later when you returned to the track, you qualified on the pole, led 27 laps out front, and brought home a seventh-place finish for a team you started with in Indy Lights? How special of a moment was that for you knowing that a year earlier you nearly died, but a year later, you almost won?

    JH: “I showed up to Indy that May and I was so far past the accident,” the 35-year-old said. “I was already back in the car and I already crashed on an oval again. All anyone could ever talk about was my crash the year before and me coming back there. I remember saying to my team on unloading day, ‘My biggest goal for May was to leave with a different story to tell.’ We nailed it on that part.

    “Qualifying was such an accomplishment for the team. To be on the pole for the 100th running of the Indy 500, it was such a 360 full-circle moment. It was cool to share it with that group because it was nearly all the same guys with my car the year before when we did it. The race was great and had a few things fallen a little differently, we probably could’ve had a legitimate shot at winning.”

    SM: Throughout your 11-year career in IndyCar, I’m sure there are many races where you wish you had another opportunity to redo them. In your mind, are there any races that stand out the most and, if so, which race and why? Would you say the 2016 500?

    JH: “It’s tough, there’s so many variables in the Indy 500,” Hinchcliffe said. It was a different fuel game that ended up winning that race. A race that sticks in my mind is Texas of that year in 2016, where Graham Rahal beat me by a little bit after dominating that race. There’s nothing I could have done differently. Early in my career, I had some bad races in Toronto and that really sucked, but we had some podium finishes later on.”

    SM: You have six IndyCar victories in your career and three in the Indy Lights Series. Which trophy means the most to you in your collection and why?

    JH: “Actually, the trophy that means the most to me is the Greg Moore legacy award,” he said. “Greg being my hero as a driver and one of the reasons to be an IndyCar driver. To win an award as a young driver, definitely was a great moment.”

    SM: Some drivers keep a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your rookie years in the sport?

    JH: “My mom used to collect a lot of merchandise of mine and I’m pretty sure there is a box or two that ended up in my basement when they moved,“ Hinchcliffe said. “You know, I don’t really look too much at that kind of stuff. My one thing I really value is helmets. For me, helmets tell stories. I got one helmet from every year of my career and that’s all the way back to go-karting. I treasure my helmet collection.”

    SM: Wrapping this interview up, it’s hard to believe your debut came 10 years ago, 12 years in Indy Lights. However, if time travel was available, what would a 35-year-old James Hinchcliffe tell a 22-year-old James Hinchcliffe? Is there anything you would do differently?

    JH: “Don’t give up, just keep going,” the now turned NBC analyst said. “There are going to be times in the sport where you wonder if you’re doing the right thing. It can be a brutal, cruel environment. I think a little word of encouragement to my younger me, knowing it was going to work out, probably helped those few sleepless nights.”

    Throughout Hinchcliffe’s career, the Canada native has earned six NTT IndyCar wins with 18 podium finishes and has led 781 laps. In addition, he’s won three Indy Lights races and finished runner-up in the championship in 2010 before making the move to IndyCar in 2011.

    Fans of James can follow him on Twitter and Instagram and like him on Facebook, as well as visit his website here.

  • Kyle Kirkwood ready for Indy challenge

    Kyle Kirkwood ready for Indy challenge

    After a successful campaign, the 2021 Indy Lights Series champion, Kyle Kirkwood, is gearing up for his first IndyCar season, which will come in the full-time No. 14 A.J. Foyt entry.

    Kirkwood is coming off an Indy Light season where the Jupiter, Florida native scored 10 wins (half of the race schedule), had 14 podium finishes, and scored six pole positions to his credit. In doing so, Kirkwood is one of the hottest rookies entering the IndyCar schedule but knows the series will be a challenge through the first few races that begin on the Streets of St. Peterburg.

    “Of course, it’s going to be a tougher crowd racing in INDYCAR,” Kirkwood said about the 2022 season. “I fully expect that. That’s what I’ve known coming up through all the ranks. Most of the drivers in Road to Indy are rookies. I’m coming into INDYCAR as a rookie where there are veteran drivers that have been here for 15 years I think some of them have been. It’s all new to me. Of course, I have to take a step back, know I need to learn some things. Most of the time, most of the categories, I came into it knowing I probably had the most knowledge. Now I’ve got probably the least.”

    Before Kirkwood landed the ride with A.J. Foyt Racing, he was in talks with Andretti Autosport to replace one of the two drivers leaving the team and had there not been an open IndyCar ride, Kirkwood potentially could have ended up in Formula E instead where he participated in the rookie test at Marrakesh in February of 2020. However, the Andretti Autosport deal did not come to fruition. Fortunately for Kirkwood, he was able to land a ride with A.J. Foyt.

    “I have to jog my memory how much I can talk about it,” the Florida native said about racing for Foyt. “I know Michael did come out at a press conference speaking about the F1 deal, and whatnot. Just bounced off of him. They did have the option for a period of time. Once they found out they couldn’t fill me into a seat, they opened up that option. We made some calls. A.J. Foyt Racing was the best fit for us.”

    Kirkwood has won three Road to Indy championships (IndyCar’s version of a developmental system) and has given the system credit knowing that he might not be where he is today without winning three of the championships.

    Kirkwood then spoke about the process of climbing his way up the ladder.

    “It’s made it so much easier for me because as everyone knows finding sponsorships, funding, junior categories, is nearly impossible. The return on investment for sponsors is pretty much non-existent because there’s none of this broadcasting, being able to put things out. A lot of sponsorships aren’t visible.

    “Having those scholarships from the Road to Indy has been absolutely crucial for my career. That all started from 2012. My first scholarship was with AJ Allmendinger, then a couple of years later, a Team USA scholarship. After I would be the (recipient of) the P4 scholarship, Honda had a scholarship to go to F3. Without All the Road to Indys, leading up now to what is INDYCAR, a 1.25 million dollars scholarship into INDYCAR. I don’t think I would have made it here this quick. I think there’s a possibility I would have still made it to INDYCAR without the scholarships, but this has obviously made it a much easier transition.”

  • Exclusive: First Seasons with Greg Biffle

    Exclusive: First Seasons with Greg Biffle

    In this edition of “First Seasons,” Speedway Media catches up with former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. During the interview, Biffle discusses how he entered the sport, getting to race for Jack Roush and meeting Roush for the first time. We also spoke about his first race win at Memphis along with many other memories throughout his career.

    SM: You made your debut racing in the NASCAR Truck Series at the age of 28 driving for Jack Roush. Can you talk about what it was like making your debut during that age, which at the time was considered fairly late, and why the Truck Series?

    GB: “Growing up in the Northwest racing out there, people always questioned me how did I get into NASCAR from Washington,” Biffle said. “It took a while because that’s not where a lot of drivers come from with a racing background. I started late too, as I didn’t start racing Street Stocks at the age of 16. I just didn’t have the opportunity to race quarter midget, go-karts, or bandoleros. My progression in a late model touring car series, I was 22 or 23-years-old up to that point. I was looking for the opportunity to get to the next level.”

    “There were these races in the wintertime in Tucson, Arizona for the Winter Heat Series. At that time, I got to know Benny Parsons who at the time was a commentator for ESPN. He was actually the one who got me hooked up with Jack Roush. The Truck Series was just starting in that era. The opportunity kind of presented itself, I asked Benny how do I get an opportunity in the Winston West Series or in a Truck? He said, ‘I’ll pass your name and see what I can do.’

    “Afterward, Geoff Smith called me (President of Roush Racing) out of the blue. He asked me if I wanted to race trucks for Jack Roush. I didn’t hesitate at all. It was like winning the lottery.”

    SM: I know it’s been several years ago, but can you remember the first conservation you had with Jack about making your NASCAR debut? When was your first interaction with Jack?

    GB: “So the first time I met Jack was when I went back to meet the sponsor (Grainger),” he said. “I flew to Michigan and flew on his small plane. It was me, Geoff Smith and a few PR people. That was the first time I met Jack.”

    SM: Following up on that question, you spent three years racing in the Truck Series before moving up to the Busch Series in 2001 and 2002 and then going to Cup full-time in 2003. Was that always the plan between you and Jack to eventually go Cup racing someday and did you ever think it would happen so quickly?

    GB: “It was obviously my plan, but really the plan was performanced-based I would say,” Biffle said about moving up the ladder. “If you’re successful, it’s like any other sport. If you win races, championships, you’re going to move to the next level. You’re going to get that opportunity at some point. That’s how it worked for me. We were successful in the Truck Series and moved to the Busch Series in ‘01, and then went to Cup.”

    SM: Eventually, your first Truck race came at Disney where you started 20th and finished fifth. What do you remember about the weeks leading up to your debut? Were you anxious or nervous or were you more excited to get out there and race?

    GB: “I was super nervous,” he said. “I remember going there my first time because I didn’t know what to expect. We had done some testing to that point. I didn’t have a lot of experience, but it was a big deal.”

    SM: In your first outing at Disney, you started 20th and finished fifth. Were you satisfied with your first result in the Truck Series?

    GB: “Oh absolutely,’’ the former Roush Racing driver said. “When you’re young, I was super excited about fifth. There again though, you want to win. Sometimes, when you’re in the moment, you don’t appreciate it until years later. I do remember this and thinking when I raced the first few races after my debut, there’s no way I’m going to beat these guys and compete with them because you’re getting all you can out of your truck.”

    “I knew they were so much faster and I knew there was just no way I’m going to compete with these guys. When I moved to the Busch Series, I was like ‘okay, I won 17 races and a Truck title, I’m going to come in here and do well. It’s the same thing as the Truck Series. There were like 10 cars that were winning every week. The progression each time was more time when I moved up the ladder. I just didn’t think when I came in, I was going to win that series. Definitely, a humbling experience a few races later.”

    SM: Following Disney, you sat on the pole at Portland and then won the pole three consecutive times from Memphis through Martinsville. However, along the way, you had some disappointing finishes at Phoenix with a crash, transmission problems at Watkins Glen, two more crashes at Texas and Nazareth. Even though you were competitive but had some of those issues, did you ever still feel there was some sort of learning curve throughout your rookie season, or did you start to get comfortable learning the truck?

    GB: “I felt there was always a learning curve, I really did,” Biffle said. “Up to that point, I had a lot of chassis experience and I built cars for a long time. I was more hands-on in the Truck Series and we tested on many short tracks. We developed a front suspension package in the ‘98 season and got the truck more drivable and got the truck more competitive. I don’t think what we had in ‘98 was the best to win races. We should have won a couple, but it didn’t go that way.”

    “We ended up doing two tires instead of four on a pit stop and our tires were worn out. It was just a mistake on our part. My crew chief (Randy Goss) didn’t have a lot of experience either since it was his first time. At the same time, the Truck Series didn’t do live pit stops like they do nowadays. Everything was new to Goss. I remember Andy Houston winning that specific race, but he had a Cup crew chief and they put four tires on and beat us on the last lap. We eventually got it figured out for the ‘99 season.”

    SM: While you didn’t win in your rookie season, you would set the world on fire in ‘99 by winning nine races that year. In regard to your nine wins, I want to talk about your first win that came at Memphis. You qualified on the pole and finished first after leading 74 of 200 laps. What does that victory still mean to you to this day and have you ever had a chance to rewatch that race?

    GB: “You know, I haven’t watched that race back as of late, but I should,” he said about winning Memphis. “(Winning that race) meant the world to me. We had been so close so many times. To finally win one, it changes your confidence dramatically. After we won three more, I looked at winning and we had so much confidence. When I’m looking at the next races, I think how can we not win here? We nearly won everywhere in ‘99.”

    SM: You came close to winning the title in 1999, but ended up just short of that title before winning it in 2000 by defeating Kurt Busch. What kept you from winning the title in ‘99?

    GB: “I think it goes a bit under the radar of what happened that season,” Biffle said about not winning the championship in ‘99. Our first race at Disney World Speedway, we brought an intake manifold. I remember the NASCAR official comes over and looks at the manifold and does all of his checking and this was a mile and a half manifold. The manifold made an additional four more horsepower. He approved the intake manifold and we ran it at that race.”

    “We win at Las Vegas with three races to go and it’s our ninth win of the season. Obviously, we’re under the radar for being so successful that year. We win and celebrate and we’re getting ready to load our stuff up and they’re having this big meeting in the NASCAR trailer and the manifold is in question all of a sudden because it doesn’t match the gasket. They said it had to match the shape of the gasket, so it was a technicality of the rules.

    “(NASCAR) ended up disqualifying us for the manifold, which they had done tech on throughout the season. I happened to be standing in the truck when the official came and looked at it. When they asked that guy in Las Vegas if he had approved this manifold and he wasn’t sure if he had seen that specific part before. I’m telling you what, Jack Roush had never won any NASCAR titles ever and he wanted every crew member, NASCAR official to take a lie detector test because we were getting the short hand of the deal. As a result, they took 120 points away from us and I lost the championship by eight points three races later.”

    SM: While you didn’t win the championship in ‘99, you finally won the championship in 2000 after winning five races that year. What was it like winning your first championship and was it sort of a relief to win the title before moving to the Busch Series in ‘01? Did winning the title help your move to the Busch Series?

    GB: “Yes, (winning the title) was definitely a relief,” the two-time champion said. “That year was so fulfilling, especially after the controversy in ‘99. Kurt had some of the exact same setups as we did, so we split up some of the wins in 2000. It was so nice to win that title because that was Jack’s first title in any series. I knew I was going Busch racing at the start of that season, so that was sort of my only opportunity to win the Truck title that year.”

    SM: When you look back on your early NASCAR days, what are some of your fondest memories of entering the sport?

    GB: “Obviously, first wins are fun memories,” Biffle said. “The first win in a truck at Memphis was a fun moment for me. The first win in the Busch Series and the first one at Daytona, that was neat to win there. I had the most wins in 2005 in the Cup Series and finished second in points. That was a heartburn moment, but at the same time very disappointing to finish so close to the championship.”

    SM: Favorite trophy out of your collection?

    GB: “There was a win in Dover and the Monster trophy is really neat,” he said. “I will tell you, I met a soldier at this hospital nearby. He was at the race on race day and we spent a little time together. The soldier was very inspiring to me. In that race, we were running fifth or sixth and I was like, we’re not going to win today, I have to make a change on this thing.”

    “I asked for a big change and we started driving up through the field. We almost wrecked at one point, I don’t know how I saved it. I wheeled that thing to the front and I took chances because I felt inspired by him. The car was really loose, but we ended up winning. I celebrated in victory lane with him and I gave him the trophy so he could take it home. It was just a good story.”

    SM: Some drivers keep a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your rookie years?

    GB: “I’ve got a decent collection, but I will admit the collection is not very organized,” Biffle said. “I got a lot of diecasts, (a replica toy car) because I bought every car that was ever made. Later years, I bought 12 of every paint scheme or diecast made, so that way I can give a few out. I have everything like Truck Series diecasts and hero cards.”

    SM: Wrapping it up, it’s hard to believe your debut came 23 years ago. However, if time travel was available, what would a 52-year-old Greg Biffle tell a 28-year-old Greg Biffle? Is there anything you would do differently?

    GB: “You know, not really,” the 19 time Cup Series winner said. “It’s like any other sport, you have to be passionate about what you do. You have to give it 110% every day, that’s the key. You can’t halfway something, you have to put your mind to it and be the best you can be. Be a student of the sport as well, you know, study the racetrack, study the tire, study the competitors, etc. The thing I did the most along the way is you learn from other people’s mistakes, so you don’t have to make the mistake yourself. Unfortunately in life, we learn from our mistakes, but we can also learn from others too.”

    Throughout Biffle’s career, the Vancouver, Washington native made 510 Cup Series starts and earned 19 wins with 92 top fives and 175 Top 10 finishes. In the Xfinity Series, he has 244 starts and 20 wins along with winning the 2002 series championship. Biffle also earned 17 Truck Series wins and won the 2000 series championship.

    Fans of Greg Biffle can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

  • The cream rises to the top at Pomona as Capps, S.Torrence, Anderson, M. Smith take championship titles

    The cream rises to the top at Pomona as Capps, S.Torrence, Anderson, M. Smith take championship titles

    There were many possible scenarios to be played out Sunday at Auto Club Dragway in Pomona, California as championship titles were on the line for the NHRA Camping Drag Racing Series.

    But when all was said and done, the cream rose to the top. Ron Capps, Steve Torrence, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith each prevailed to win the championships in their respective classes.

    Funny Car

    Entering with a 58-point lead over his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan, Ron Capps knew he only had one job to do – go all the rounds, gain the bonus in qualifying and defeat his teammate, Hagan, to win championship No. 2. For the most part, Capps did just that. He gained bonus points throughout each of the three qualifying sessions and ended up qualifying second for a first-round match with Terry Haddock. In order to collect the championship, Capps would have to win the first round with Hagan losing in his respective matchup. If Hagan and Capps both won their first-round matchups, then Hagan needed to win the event in order to become a four-time champ.

    Well, the latter almost happened as Capps secured his first-round win over Haddock after powering to a time of 3.908 seconds and 325.06 mph. Then, Hagan also got the first-round victory over Tony Jurado. This meant that Hagan and Capps would square off against each other in the quarterfinal. Capps lose to Hagan’s time of 3.948 seconds and 322.34 mph to Capps 3.995 seconds and 319.45 mph. Now, all Capps could do was sit and watch and hope that Hagan would not win the event.

    Bristol winner Alexis DeJoria would determine Capps fate, as she had victories over Bobby Bode in Round 1 and Tim Wilkerson in the second round. With the second-round victory, she met Matt Hagan in the semi-finals. When Hagan and DeJoria left the finish line, the two were in a dead heat drag race before DeJoria pulled away and ultimately gave Ron Capps his second Funny Car championship and his first since 2016.

    “I can’t even believe that just happened,” said an emotional Capps after watching the Hagan/DeJoria semifinal round as a spectator from the starting line. “That entire Hagan team with (crew chief) Dickie Venables is incredible. I expected them to go win the race. I don’t know what to say. I’m just shaking right now. It was a close race between us in round two, but then I had to stand behind his car during the semis and wait to see how it played out. I remember being in the Pomona Raceway grandstand as a kid and watching guys like Joe Amato and Gary Ormsby line up in the final round years ago here, and to be doing this myself and to now have a second championship, I can’t say enough.

    “This championship is for everyone at Don Schumacher Racing and all of the people from my NAPA AutoCare team. From the front office staff and the hospitality crew who host our NAPA guests, and the fab shop guys who build our chassis, a huge thank you,” said Capps, the second-winningest Funny Car driver of all time with 68 national event triumphs, and now, a two-time world champion (2016, 2021). “This championship is for NAPA AUTO PARTS and the NAPA AutoCare folks, everyone at GearWrench and Pennzoil and Dodge that support us. Thank you to our NHRA fans who cheer us on. I love the passion of our sport.”

    56th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Photo Courtesy of Auto Imagery

    Race winner, DeJoria, met Bob Tasca III in the finals after Tasca III won over John Force to secure his spot. Tasca III ended a small race winless streak and won for the first time since Atlanta earlier this year and picked up his third victory of the 2021 season.

    “I’ve been chasing a Pomona Wally for a long time,” Tasca said. “I remember being out here as a kid with my dad and I’ve always wanted to win here. It’s just a special day for my family, for sure. I just knew we were going to have a great weekend and we’ve got a great team. Everyone’s coming back next year and it was a fun way to end the year.”

    Funny Car Results

    1. Bob Tasca III
    2. Alexis DeJoria
    3. Matt Hagan
    4. John Force
    5. Ron Capps
    6. Tim Wilkerson
    7. Jim Campbell
    8. Paul Lee
    9. Tony Jurado
    10. Chad Green
    11. J.R. Todd
    12. Terry Haddock
    13. Cruz Pedregon
    14. Bobby Bode
    15. Robert Hight
    16. Jeff Diehl

    Funny Car Championship Final Standings

    1. Ron Capps, 2,676 points
    2. Matt Hagan, -37
    3. Bob Tasca III, -90
    4. Cruz Pedregon, -121
    5. John Force, -133
    6. Alexis DeJoria, -150
    7. J.R. Todd, -178
    8. Robert Hight, -198
    9. Tim Wilkerson, -315
    10. Jim Campbell, -438

    Top Fuel

    Brittany Force was a longshot coming into the Top Fuel championship, but she knew that she still had a chance to put a hamper on Steve Torrence’s title reign, despite a 105 margin. However, in order for Force to win the title, she needed Torrence to lose in the first round and she needed to win the entire event.

    Torrence qualified second with a time of 3.698 seconds and 317.05 mph and Force was 13th on the board with her time of 3.784 seconds and 328.30 mph. When race day came, Torrence had one job to do. He had to win the first round in order to become a four-time Top Fuel champion and eliminate Force’s hopes of earning her second title. During Torrence’s first-round match, he faced the No. 15 qualifier, Brandon Welch. Once the Christmas tree went green, Torrence powered to a victory over Welch and secured his fourth career Top Fuel championship and eliminating Force’s chances at the title.

    However, Torrence didn’t stop there, as he went on to win the race with victories over Doug Kalitta in the quarterfinals, Cameron Ferre in the semis and Don Schumacher’s Antron Brown in the final to gain career win No. 51 and a dominating 11th win of the 2021 season.

    “These Capco boys are amazing,” Torrence said of a crew led by Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. “It wasn’t always pretty today, but we just kept grinding and somehow we managed to find a way to win. Thanks to all the Capco employees who
    stand up, stand tall and stand with us every day. To be out here with my mom, my dad, my wife Natalie and my little girl, I am
    truly blessed to be able to do what I do. This is a great sport, a family sport and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”

    By winning his fourth championship, Torrence has joined an exclusive club with Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel, John Force, Don Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein to win four straight championships. In addition, the Kilgore, Texas native also joined Pro Stocks Bob Glidden and Lee Shepherd.

    Photo Courtesy of Mark Rebilas

    For the runner-up, it was a bittersweet day for Antron Brown as after this race, he will hang his driver helmet and become a team owner in 2022 for the newly Antron Brown Racing team. Brown was victorious over Justin Ashley, Billy Torrence, and Tripp Tatum in the semis. He came up short in the finals hoping to give Don Schumacher another Top Fuel victory. Brown leaves with 58 runner-up finishes of his career.

    “We had a great day here at Pomona. We wanted to end the season out with a win for all of our Matco Tools distributors and our partners who support us like Toyota and SiriusXM and Hangsterfers. At the end of the day, we’ll lick our wounds from this season and get right for ’22. When you drop a hole around 300-feet, it’s hard to stay in front of that Capco car. They won another race and a fourth championship. That’s a great accomplishment and hats off to those Capco boys. It’s time for us to get to work and come out strong in February of ’22.”

    Top Fuel Results

    1. Steve Torrence
    2. Antron Brown
    3. Cameron Ferre
    4. Tripp Tatum
    5. Billy Torrence
    6. Doug Kalitta
    7. Clay Millican
    8. Mike Salinas
    9. Justin Ashley
    10. Alex Laughlin
    11. Brandon Welch
    12. Steve Chrisman
    13. Josh Hart
    14. Shawn Langdon
    15. Leah Pruett
    16. Brittany Force

    Top Fuel Championship Final Standings

    1. Steve Torrence, 2,873 points
    2. Brittany Force, -236
    3. Mike Salinas, -254
    4. Justin Ashley, -317
    5. Billy Torrence, -375
    6. Antron Brown, -446
    7. Leah Pruett, -472
    8. Clay Millican, -489
    9. Shawn Langdon, -563
    10. Doug Kalitta, -583

    Pro Stock

    One week after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship back in Phoenix, Arizona, NASCAR Team Owner, Rick Hendrick hoped to bring home another title, but this time in the Pro Stock category. Greg Anderson was seeking his fifth championship, while Erica Enders was looking for her fifth championship as well.

    Anderson started the weekend off well by earning the No. 1 qualifier Saturday night and a first-round match with No. 16, John Callahan. Enders was fifth in the charts and faced No. 12, Steve Graham, in the first round.

    Anderson and Enders won their respective first-round matchups and went to the quarterfinals where Anderson would face Deric Kramer and Enders would go up against Matt Hartford. If both Anderson and Enders won their quarterfinals matches, they would face each other in the semis. The championship scenario was simple. If Anderson won over Enders, Anderson would become champ, if Enders won over Anderson, she was champion.

    Unfortunately for Enders, her Elite Motorsports car went sideways in the right lane after the two left the starting line. All Enders could do was watch Anderson’s car get smaller and smaller and as she ultimately lost to Anderson which gave him his fifth career Pro Stock championship.

    However, while Anderson was happy with his fifth career title, he had another task to do and that was to win the race. Anderson met No. 2 qualifier Kyle Koretsky in the finals after Koretsky had victories over Troy Coughlin Jr, Aaron Stanfield, and Dallas Glenn.

    Both Pro Stock cars rocketed off the line, but when the two got down the track, the victory went to Anderson who picked up his 99th career victory and the fifth of the season.

    Photo Courtesy of KB Racing

    “This HendrickCars.com Chevrolet is the meanest racecar I’ve ever had in all the years I’ve raced,” said Anderson, who won his first national event in 2001 and earned four previous championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010. “Right off the trailer, it was fantastic, and it never skipped a beat. I’m very proud of everybody on the KB Racing team and so grateful to our team owners, Ken and Judy Black. We definitely came prepared to race, and it paid off in the best possible way.

    “I’m at 99 now – that is pretty doggone incredible,” he marveled. “It’s been a special year, getting to that number and passing my old-time mentor, Warren Johnson. We got 98, then we got 99, now 100 is the goal – and I don’t want to stop there.”

    Pro Stock Results

    1. Greg Anderson
    2. Kyle Koretsky
    3. Erica Enders
    4. Dallas Glenn
    5. Mason McGaha
    6. Aaron Stanfield
    7. Deric Kramer
    8. Matt Hartford
    9. Troy Coughlin Jr
    10. Kenny Delco
    11. Alan Prusiensky
    12. John Callahan
    13. Cristian Cuadra
    14. Steve Graham
    15. Chris McGaha
    16. Bo Butner

    Pro Stock Championship Final Standings

    1. Greg Anderson, 2,752 points
    2. Erica Enders, -107
    3. Dallas Glenn, -177
    4. Kyle Koretsky, -220
    5. Aaron Stanfield, -336
    6. Troy Coughlin Jr, -359
    7. Mason McGaha, -363
    8. Chris McGaha, -391
    9. Matt Hartford, -399
    10. Deric Kramer, -441

    Pro Stock Motorcycle

    Matt Smith came to Pomona second in the championship standings, just a few points behind Steve Johnson, going into the final race. However, there was also one other competitor seeking her fourth Pro Stock Motorcycle championship and that was Louisiana’s own, Angelle Sampey, who was third in the standings.

    Following qualifying, Smith was second, Johnson was fourth and Sampey was fifth on the speed charts. Smith faced Ryan Oehler in the first round and Johnson would meet Fred Camarena. The Vance and Hines driver, Sampey would face Angie Smith. All three drivers won their races and advanced to the quarterfinals, keeping their title chances alive. By winning her matchup against Angie Smith, Sampey, would face off against Matt Smith in the second round.

    As the second round came, Johnson, unfortunately, lost on a holeshot to Eddie Krawiec, ultimately ending his championship chase. In the battle between Matt Smith and Angelle Sampey, Matt Smith was victorious. He became a five-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion on a holeshot win after Smith’s reaction time was .040 compared to Sampey’s .094.

    The King, North Carolina native went on to win the race after getting a semi-final victory over Krawiec and eliminating Karen Stoffer in the finals to earn his 32nd career victory and the sixth win of the season.

    “The goal was to at least get three round wins today,” Smith said. “When we beat Angelle and Steve (Johnson) lost right in front of us, I knew we were champs. Everything worked out for the best. I knew we were going to have a tough race with Karen, but I hit the Tree as hard as I could and had the best light of the weekend for me. We just made it work and performed well on the starting line.”

    For Sampey, she registered her third runner-up of the season and 34th of her career.

    Pro Stock Motorcycle Results

    1. Matt Smith
    2. Karen Stoffer
    3. Eddie Krawiec
    4. Angelle Sampey
    5. Steve Johnson
    6. Scotty Pollacheck
    7. Chris Bostick
    8. Angie Smith
    9. Freddie Camarena
    10. Andrew Hines
    11. Ryan Oehler
    12. Kelly Clontz

    Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Final Standings

    1. Matt Smith, 2,721 points
    2. Angelle Sampey, -131
    3. Steve Johnson, -135
    4. Eddie Krawiec, -210
    5. Karen Stoffer, -222
    6. Scotty Pollacheck, -314
    7. Angie Smith, -394
    8. Joey Gladstone, -454
    9. Andrew Hines, -462
    10. Ryan Oehler, -491

    Up Next: As the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series comes to a close, the teams and drivers will look forward to opening a brand new season next year at the Lucas Oil Winternationals February 17-20 in Pomona, California.

  • Funny Car Championship down to the wire at Pomona

    Funny Car Championship down to the wire at Pomona

    In what has been a year of interesting battles, the NHRA Funny Car class championship comes down to the wire this weekend at Pomona. The action begins Friday afternoon with the first round of qualifying.

    Currently, there are five drivers that have a mathematical chance to win or steal the championship but all will have to go their way to win the 2021 title amid numerous scenarios that could play out. Realistically, however, there are three drivers that have a better shot at winning. But let’s start off with the basics. The five drivers that are hunting for the championship are John Force who is fifth in points, J.R. Todd in fourth, Cruz Pedregon who is currently third in points, last-year’s champion Matt Hagan in second and the point leader, Ron Capps.

    Items of note – There are 187 maximum points available for Pomona II. Fifteen points are awarded for a qualifying attempt and 22 maximum points are available to earn in qualifying. A round win will be worth 30 points instead of the traditional 20. Four points are awarded for the low ET of each session as well.

    John Force (Fifth in points, -155, seeking 17th Funny Car Championship)

    The 2021 Funny Car season has been interesting for the all-time great John Force. He’s picked up three wins that have occurred at the Four-wide Charlotte Nationals, Epping, and his last win that came in August in Topeka. With the win in Topeka, Force was able to grab the points lead and it appeared as though he was starting his run toward a 17th Funny Car championship based on his summer success.

    Unfortunately, since Topeka, he’s been hot and cold. Force lost the points lead following Topeka where he fell to fourth in Brainerd after a first-round loss to Ron Capps. The California native retook the points lead with a runner-up finish to Tommy Johnson Jr. (subbing in for Matt Hagan) at Reading. But after Reading, Force has been struggling and losing momentum, falling to fifth in the standings following the most recent race at Las Vegas. He’s had a quarterfinal loss to Tim Wilkerson at Charlotte 2, a semi-final loss at St. Louis to Bob Tasca, and a quarterfinals loss to Cruz Pedregon at Dallas and J.R. Todd at Bristol while falling to Chris Morel at Vegas.

    However, despite losing momentum, Force is going to a track where he leads the Funny Car class with the most at-track victories with seven and he knows the championship can come down to the wire should things go his way.

    “I’m still in it,” Force said. “It could still happen. I know it’s a slight chance, but it’s still a chance and we’re going to do everything we can to try to make it happen. Winning championships, it comes down to the wire, things can get wild. I would know. It’s going to be a fight, but I know this PEAK Chevy team, they’re up for it. Danny Hood, Tim Fabrisi, Joe Barlam and all my guys, they want it just as much as I do.”

    J.R. Todd (Fourth in the standings, -138, seeking second Funny Car Championship since 2018)

    J.R. Todd has been in this position before, after all, he won the 2018 Funny Car title. When Todd began the 2021 season, he opened with a win at the famous Gatornationals and had the points lead right away. Since that victory, he’s earned four runner-up finishes at Charlotte I, Pomona I, Topeka, and Bristol. Those runner-up finishes along with more consistent finishes throughout the year kept Todd in the upper half of the championship point standings, despite a couple of slip-ups along the way.

    Todd has fallen as low as sixth after losing to Robert Hight in a quarterfinal finish at Sonoma and the runner-up finish at the first Pomona race to current points leader Ron Capps. Todd began climbing up the ladder once more at Brainerd going to second in the standings falling to Cruz Pedregon. Following Brainerd, Todd fell back to fifth in the standings after losing to Matt Hagan in the quarterfinals at St. Louis and the semi-final finish at Dallas once more to Hagan. After the Las Vegas II race, Todd sits fourth in the standings due to the first-round loss at Vegas to Paul Lee.

    “We hurt ourselves in Las Vegas, but we can still finish strong in Pomona,” said Todd. “This championship has been a battle between four or five drivers all season it seems. No one has really dominated. I am proud of everyone on this DHL Toyota Funny Car team because we fought hard all season and it is coming down to the last race.”

    In addition, Todd knows he can’t suffer another first-round loss this weekend or his championship chances are over.

    “Everyone knows you have to avoid first-round losses in the Countdown, and we have avoided them almost the whole season,” said Todd. “This DHL Toyota has been one of the most consistent and quick race cars all season. I have to thank Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer plus all these Yella Fellas for giving me a great race car every event. We are going to leave it all on the table in Pomona this weekend.”

    Cruz Pedregon (Third in the standings, -83, looking for third Funny Car Championship and first since 2008)

    Pedregon, the California native, has enjoyed one of his best Funny Car seasons in quite some time.

    The 2021 Funny Car season has been quite the bounce back for Cruz Pedregon and his Snap-On machine. Pedregon earned two wins at Norwalk and the most recent race at Las Vegas II by defeating Ron Capps to put him back in championship contention. Throughout the year, the California native has garnered six semi-final appearances and two runner-up finishes at Charlotte II and at Brainerd to Matt Hagan.

    Despite those consistent finishes, Pedregon spent most of the summer in the bottom of the standings. Even though he lost in the quarterfinals to J.R. Todd at Reading, Pedregon began climbing up the standings to fifth after Charlotte II, fourth following St. Louis and the up to third at Dallas after a loss to Capps in the semis. He lost again to Capps at Bristol, which knocked Pedregon back down to fourth but gained another spot and some big momentum by winning against Capps a few weeks ago at Vegas.

    “The good people, the good team, have kept us alive this season…J.C. (John Collins), Rip (Reynolds) and the guys, they mean a lot to me. We made a big investment to bring them on board and it has been a game-changer,” Cruz says. “Things have really come together for us this year. We had an advantage going into Vegas with consistent runs the last half of the season. And a .004 reaction time helped us get to the finals, win, and head into this weekend in a solid third place in the standings.”

    Matt Hagan (Second in the standings, -58, poised for fourth Funny Car Championship)

    Matt Hagan is looking to defend his 2020 Funny Car championship this weekend in Pomona, California. The last couple of months has been newsworthy for Hagan, as he will be switching to Tony Stewart Racing in 2022.

    Hagan opened up the year with a first-round loss to Bob Tasca at Gainesville, but since then picked up momentum in the summer. He’s claimed victories at Denver, St. Louis, and Brainerd along with earning three runner-up finishes and three No. 1 qualifiers. With those wins, Hagan was second in the standings following a runner-up finish at Sonoma to Robert Hight. Unfortunately, after the runner-up finish at Sonoma, Hagan suffered first-round losses to John Force at Pomona I, and a quarterfinal loss to Blake Alexander at Topeka. This saw the Don Schumacher Racing driver fall to fifth in the standings but he got back to first with the win at Brainerd.

    But, Hagan had to sit out at two races at Indianapolis and Reading, due to testing positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, former DSR driver Tommy Johnson Jr. filled in for him at those two races and helped earn him points. Johnson even got the win at Reading, which gave points to Hagan to keep him in title contention.

    Since then, Hagan won at St. Louis by defeating Bob Tasca in the finals and earned a runner-up finish to Capps at Dallas. Around this time, Hagan and Capps were tied in the standings. But, with the most recent losses at Bristol to J.R. Todd and Vegas II to Chad Green, Hagan now finds himself 58 points behind his teammate, Capps.

    “We’re heading into Pomona fighting for a championship and I’ve been on both sides of this battle,” says Hagan, who has raced for the Funny Car crown as either leader or challenger heading into the season finale on seven occasions and won three (2011, 2014 and 2020). “My first championship, I just had to show up and go two rounds to be crowned a champion, similar to what Ron has to do. Last year, we were going into the last race two rounds ahead and this year, we’re going in two rounds behind, so, it’s nothing new for us, but I think we have to be super aggressive rolling into qualifying and get some valuable points. The game plan is just really run hard, run smart and be aggressive. We’ve got nothing to lose. This is Ron’s to lose honestly, and ours to win.”

    With that in mind, Hagan knows those two first-round losses have hurt his points going into the final race of the year.

    “We’ve had two bad races in a row in the Countdown and that’s been a big hit,” says Hagan, who is on track to score his 11th Top 10 finish. “It’s unfortunate but we’ve just got to bounce back. I’m very aggressive about it. Dickie is going to be aggressive. I’m going in there full steam ahead. I’m pumped up. I’m ready to go and fired up about it. I want to go race and that’s what we’re going to do.”

    Ron Capps (First in the standings, +58 ahead of teammate Hagan, seeking first championship since 2016)

    Last, but not least, Ron Capps is looking to capitalize on a solid season after earning two wins at Pomona I and Dallas and having three runner-up finishes and six semi-final appearances. The NAPA Auto Parts/Gearwrench driver has also gained four No. 1 qualifiers to his credit.

    Capps has notably been the most consistent driver ever since winning the Pomona race earlier this year. He’s remained first or second in the standings all season long, only falling to fifth at Brainerd due to a quarterfinal loss to Pedregon. However, Capps has traded the points lead back and forth after Charlotte II with a semi-final loss to Tim Wilkerson and a quarterfinal loss to Force at St. Louis. Things began to look upward and forward for the 2016 Funny Car champion with a win at Dallas by eliminating Matt Hagan.

    “It’s been so fun getting to know this new NAPA AUTO PARTS team. We were teamed up over the off-season and it’s been such a great year,” said Capps, referring to the decision to pair him with the longtime DSR co-crew chief tandem of Antonelli and Medlen and their crew after former NAPA crew chief Rahn Tobler announced his retirement in late January.”

    “We’ve qualified well throughout the year, and have been consistently strong all season and now here we are, running for a championship. ‘Guido’ and Medlen, and our NAPA AutoCare team, we came together quickly like a duck to water at the beginning of the season, and it just felt like a natural fit. They’ve gotten to know me, and our last race in Vegas was a perfect example of how well we all work together, because, as much pressure as there was on race day, especially with all of the other top Countdown cars going out early, they really knew how to loosen me up and keep me in the right frame of mind. They’ve certainly helped me and my driving throughout the year. The big key for us this weekend is just to continue what we’ve been doing.”

    The action begins Friday afternoon with the first round of qualifying at 3 p.m. PT live on NHRA TV (with a subscription). The final two rounds are scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT to set the field. Final round eliminations began at 10 a.m. PT. Fox Sports 1 will showcase the finals beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

  • Chandler Smith wins race, Rhodes captures Truck Series title at Phoenix

    Chandler Smith wins race, Rhodes captures Truck Series title at Phoenix

    Phoenix Raceway was the site of the Championship 4 race for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the second straight year. John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, Matt Crafton, and Ben Rhodes each had a shot at the title. Three of them were looking for their first Truck Series title.

    Out of those four, Ben Rhodes was able to capture the Truck Series championship for the first time in his career in only 141 starts. The Kentucky native made the winning move by passing Zane Smith with eight laps to go and never looked back to claim the 2021 Truck Series championship.

    “I wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for Duke and Rhonda (Thorson, ThorSport team owners),” Rhodes said. “They gave me my opportunity in this sport. They were my very first full-time national team that I raced for and I’ve been with them ever since. They’re so amazing and I can’t even begin to thank them enough. This has just been a ride of a lifetime. I hope it’s not over. I want to keep going now. This is amazing.”

    While there was a Championship 4 race out on the track, there was also a race winner to be decided as well. Chandler Smith qualified on the pole with qualifying back for the first time this year. Stages of 45/45/60 laps made up the 150 lap event.

    One of the Championship 4 contenders, Nemechek, got in the wall early on Lap 1. As a result of the contact with the wall, his left-front tire went down and he lost two laps in the process after bringing the truck to pit road. The first yellow flew shortly thereafter on Lap 11 for the No. 45 of Lawless Alan who crashed on the frontstretch. The caution allowed Nemechek to gain one of his laps back.

    Despite Smith starting on the pole, the Georgia native lost the lead to the No. 2 of Sheldon Creed but was able to grab the lead back with 10 laps left in the stage and collect the first stage win. Rhodes finished fifth, Crafton seventh, Zane Smith ninth and Nemechek was 30th, 1 lap down.

    During Stage 2, there were no cautions and it was a relatively calm stage. There was one newsworthy item though as Sheldon Creed clinched the most laps led of the season on Lap 80 and won the $50,000 bonus from Marcus Lemonis of Camping World. Even though Creed dominated the stage, the California native was passed again for the stage win, this time on the last lap of the stage when Smith made the move on the start/finish line. Rhodes was third, Zane Smith sixth, Crafton eighth and Nemechek finished 27th, still one lap down.

    The final stage began with 51 laps to go but didn’t stay green for long. The fourth and final yellow flag flew on Lap 102 for the No. 12 of Tate Fogleman who stalled on the track. The caution allowed Nemechek to regain his lap and get back in contention for the title.

    Following the restart with 45 to go, Zane Smith passed Rhodes for third and became the highest-ranked Championship 4 driver. As for Nemechek, the North Carolina native continued his rally up toward the front and got as high as ninth with 10 laps to go. Nemechek’s run stalled out to seventh and Zane Smith looked comfortable in fourth. Unfortunately for Smith, he was passed by Rhodes with eight to go and fell to runner-up in the Championship 4. Rhodes, however, ended the season with the championship title after opening the season up with two victories at Daytona.

    Chandler Smith passed Creed for the lead and the eventual race win with 17 laps to go for his second win of the 2021 season. The Georgia native also won the Rookie of the Year title as well.

    Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com

    “Overall, we unloaded today and got out on the track really good,” Chandler Smith said about the win. “Our Safelite Toyota Tundra topped off P2 right off the bat and was really comfortable, but was here in 2019, kind of thought the same thing and had a little experience under my belt and good news to base off of.”

    “We didn’t get a mock run in and I told my crew chief Danny Stockman how many numbers freer we needed to be from the end of practice to qualifying. We were solid in qualifying and that gave us a good adjustment to where we needed to be tonight.”

    Zane Smith finished fifth and fell short once again for the second consecutive year.

    “It’s been a wild of a year,” Zane Smith said. “I don’t know which one hurt more, last year or this one. We fired off good, honestly too good, and just got way too tight. We tried everything from inside the truck and all the tools I had and didn’t really help. Couldn’t hold them off.”

    There were four cautions for 25 laps and 12 lead changes among three different leaders. Smith led six times for 39 laps en route to victory.

    Championship 4 Results:

    (3rd) Ben Rhodes, 2021 Truck Series Champion
    (5th) Zane Smith
    (7th) John Hunter Nemechek
    (12th) Matt Crafton

    Stage 1: Chandler Smith, Creed, Gilliland, Friesen, Rhodes, Hocevar, Crafton, Eckes, Zane Smith, Kraus

    Stage 2: C. Smith, Creed, Rhodes, Friesen, Gilliland, Z. Smith, Hocevar, Crafton, Enfinger, Eckes

    Official Race Results of the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway:

    1. Chandler Smith, won both stages, led 39 laps
    2. Stewart Friesen, led five laps
    3. Ben Rhodes
    4. Sheldon Creed, led 106 laps
    5. Zane Smith
    6. Christian Eckes
    7. John Hunter Nemechek
    8. Todd Gilliland
    9. Carson Hocevar
    10. Austin Hill
    11. Johnny Sauter
    12. Matt Crafton
    13. Grant Enfinger
    14. Tyler Ankrum
    15. Derek Kraus
    16. Chase Purdy
    17. Hailie Deegan
    18. Drew Dollar
    19. Ryan Truex
    20. Jack Wood
    21. Dean Thompson, 1 lap down
    22. Will Rodgers, 1 lap down
    23. Jordan Anderson, 1 lap down
    24. Willie Allen, 1 lap down
    25. Ty Dillon, 1 lap down
    26. Austin Wayne Self, 3 laps down
    27. Chris Hacker, 3 laps down
    28. Danny Bohn, 3 laps down
    29. Taylor Gray, 4 laps down
    30. Cory Roper, 4 laps down
    31. Spencer Boyd, 4 laps down
    32. Kris Wright, 7 laps down
    33. Tyler Hill, OUT, Alternator
    34. Tate Fogleman, OUT, Electrical
    35. Tanner Gray, OUT, Rear Gear
    36. Lawless Alan, OUT, Crash

    Up Next: With the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season now complete, teams will start prepping for the 2022 season that begins February 18, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway. It will air live on Fox Sports 1 and MRN Radio at 7:30 p.m.

  • Steve Torrence, Pedregon, Glenn and S. Johnson claim victories at Vegas Nationals

    Steve Torrence, Pedregon, Glenn and S. Johnson claim victories at Vegas Nationals

    Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the 1,000th NHRA race in series history Sunday afternoon. Entering Vegas, the points situation was heating up with just two races left in the Countdown to the Championship.

    There was also history made as well. Steve Torrence captured his 50th career Top Fuel victory, while Cruz Pedregon eliminated Funny Car points leader Ron Capps in the final. Dallas Glenn won in Pro Stock after eliminating Erica Enders and Steve Johnson fought his way back with a victory in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

    Funny Car

    Don Schumacher Racing driver Ron Capps entered the Las Vegas Nationals with a one-point lead over his teammate Matt Hagan. Capps was looking to extend his lead and was well on his way in doing so before being halted by fourth-place contender Cruz Pedregon. Pedregon defeated the NAPA Auto Parts driver after Capps engine exploded in the right lane, giving Pedregon his second win of the season.

    “I dropped a couple of races due to holeshots and I feel like we had a better race car than what we’ve shown,” Pedregon said. “I drove well today and we were able to answer the bell today. The car was so steady today. We have a good car and this team has been plugging away. The car runs right with everyone and it’s an honor to win the 1,000th NHRA race. I’m just glad to be a part of it. After winning today, we’re back in (the championship hunt). We just had to keep our nose to the grindstone and things worked out for us.”

    Pedregon qualified in the seventh position following the three rounds and set the California native up with a first-round match with Tony Jurado. Pedregon was successful in his first-round win going 3.950 seconds and 329.58 mph to a quarterfinal round with Chris Morel. Morel advanced to the second round with an upset victory over John Force. The Snap-On driver won again with a 3.903 second and 324.20 mph pass to face Bob Tasca in the semis.

    Meanwhile, Capps, who qualified in the eighth position, had a picture-perfect day and kept the points lead with a Round 1 victory over Tim Wilkerson. He set the pace with a time of 3.915 seconds and 323.74 mph to advance. His closest competitor Matt Hagan was eliminated in the first round after being defeated by Chris Morel.

    From there, Capps scored victories over the No. 1 qualifier, Alexis DeJoria, in the quarterfinals and defeated John Force Racing’s Robert Hight in the semis to set up the final round match with Cruz Pedregon.

    When the two cars rocketed off the line, Capps kept up with Cruz, but his engine unfortunately exploded and he fell short of a victory. The runner-up finish was Capps’ third of the season and the 63rd of his career.

    “Being the Dodge//SRT Nationals Presented by Pennzoil, we were motivated to put this Pennzoil Dodge SRT Hellcat into the final round and winner’s circle,” Capps said. “You look at qualifying and look around and we didn’t qualify as well as we’d liked. It was one of our worst positions all season and we still had lane choice. That tells you how good this NAPA team has been all season. Then you have Tim Wilkerson first round. And we’re the last pair of Funny Cars, the 16th pair of nitro cars and we’re sitting there waiting and listening to so many of the other contenders fighting for a championship, (Matt) Hagan, J.R. (Todd), (John) Force, go out.

    “It’s Halloween, but you think ‘how strange of a day.’ And we had to wait and wait for our first-round match-up with Tim. He beat us in the final at Indy and that’s such a tough car and team. We got by a close one there in that first round and that was huge. Then we had Alexis (DeJoria), the No. 1 qualifier, then Robert Hight, a three-time world champion, and Cruz Pedregon, another champion. That’s a ‘murderer’s row’ on race day. We had to fight every round and this Pennzoil/NAPA car was just so fun to drive. We had a lot of friends and folks from NAPA headquarters in Atlanta and from GearWrench and family members here all weekend, and that was huge to go rounds in front of all of them.”

    “We’ll take any amount of points and Pomona is such an outlier with the points-and-a-half deal. There’s so many points up for grabs. I’m not even thinking about winning this thing. We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing and it was unfortunate in the final round, but it was two Dodges battling it out and that makes our friends in Auburn Hills, Mich. proud and I can’t wait for Pomona. Two weeks cannot come soon enough.”

    Funny Car Results

    1. Cruz Pedregon
    2. Ron Capps
    3. Robert Hight
    4. Bob Tasca III
    5. Chad Green
    6. Alexis DeJoria
    7. Chris Morel
    8. Paul Lee
    9. Tim Wilkerson
    10. Tony Jurado
    11. Steven Densham
    12. Bobby Bode
    13. Matt Hagan
    14. Jeff Diehl
    15. J.R. Todd
    16. John Force

    Funny Car Championship Points Standings

    1. Ron Capps, 2,585 points
    2. Matt Hagan, -58
    3. Cruz Pedregon, -83
    4. J.R. Todd, -138
    5. John Force, -155
    6. Bob Tasca III, -168
    7. Robert Hight, -173
    8. Alexis DeJoria, -205
    9. Tim Wilkerson, -303
    10. Blake Alexander, -461

    Top Fuel

    Steve Torrence and the CAPCO boys just keep on rolling. Torrence gained his 50th career Top Fuel victory by defeating Team Scrappers Mike Salinas in the finals. Torrence qualified in the No. 2 position and extended his points lead over second-place Brittany Force by 105 heading into the final race of the season at Pomona.

    “We’re not gonna do anything different,” he said of his approach,” Torrence said. “We’re just gonna go out there and try to win the race.

    “This is just awesome,” he said of Sunday’s success, which earned him a unique
    version of the NHRA Wally trophy celebrating the organization’s 1,000th race. “All the glory goes to God and to my momma (Capco Racing boss ‘Momma Kay’ Torrence). To win the 1,000th NHRA race with these Capco boys is just unbelievable for a kid that had a dream to drive a Top Fuel car just one time.”

    Torrence had a first-round match with Jim Maroney and won with a time of 3.751 seconds and 325.61 mph to face Tripp Tatum. Tatum had a major victory over Josh Hart in the first round. Meanwhile, Brittany Force faced Leah Pruett in the second and both drivers fouled on the tree but the win was given to Force as Pruett fouled first.

    In the second round, the Kilgore, Texas native Torrence won over Tatum going 3.736 seconds and 328.62 mph to face No. 3 qualifier, Justin Ashley. Ashley had victories over Cameron Ferre and Alex Laughlin to set him up with Torrence in the semis. Torrence eliminated Ashley after laying down a time of 3.688 seconds and 329.58 mph to advance to the finals.

    From there, Torrence was scheduled to face Mike Salinas, who was the previous Top Fuel winner back at Bristol a couple of weeks ago and it was at Bristol where both Torrence and Salinas faced each other as well. However, this time around, the victory went to the CAPCO driver for the 10th time in 2021.

    Photo Courtesy of Mark Rebilas

    The runner-up for Salinas was his third of the season and sixth of his Top Fuel career.

    Top Fuel Results

    1. Steve Torrence
    2. Mike Salinas
    3. Brittany Force
    4. Justin Ashley
    5. Billy Torrence
    6. Alex laughlin
    7. Tripp Tatum
    8. Leah Pruett
    9. Doug Kalitta
    10. Shawn Langdon
    11. Josh Hart
    12. Clay Millican
    13. Troy Buff
    14. Jim Maroney
    15. Antron Brown
    16. Cameron Ferre

    Top Fuel Championship Points Standings

    1. Steve Torrence, 2,694
    2. Brittany Force, -105
    3. Mike Salinas, -172
    4. Justin Ashley, -188
    5. Billy Torrence, -283
    6. Leah Pruett, -351
    7. Clay Millican, -392
    8. Antron Brown, -409
    9. Shawn Langdon, -434
    10. Doug Kalitta, -483

    Pro Stock

    Pro Stock returned to the races this weekend for a wild day of action. Dallas Glenn faced Erica Enders, who was second in points coming into Las Vegas. Glenn had a near-perfect reaction time of .001 compared to Enders’ .005 in the final round to claim the third win of his career, but the victory wasn’t easy.

    First off, current Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson kept the ball rolling by picking up the No. 1 qualifier in qualifying Saturday afternoon. The all-time winningest Pro Stock driver was paired in a first-round with Troy Coughlin Jr. Unfortunately for Anderson, his day was done early as Coughlin Jr. won by .001 to advance to the quarterfinals.

    Glenn and Enders, eliminated Aaron Stanfield and Bo Butner, respectively, in the first round. In the second round, Glenn got a victory over Kenny Delco after Delco fouled which sent Glenn to face Mason McGaha in the semis. On Enders side of the coin, she got a victory over Matt Hartford and squared off with her teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the semis. Enders defeated Coughlin Jr. with a time of 6.680 seconds and a 203.61 mph pass.

    “When I got by Aaron, I just relaxed and started clicking them off,” said Glenn, who posted a perfect .000 reaction time in a final round earlier this year. “I missed it a little in the semis against Mason and in the final, I was just trying to do everything I can. I had all the faith in this team and I knew the car was going to be good as long I did my job. I knew I was good on the tree, I hit all my shifts and I was just hoping the win light came on. It feels really good to go up there with a plan and then execute it.”

    Pro Stock Results

    1. Dallas Glenn
    2. Erica Enders
    3. Mason McGaha
    4. Troy Coughlin Jr
    5. Deric Kramer
    6. Matt Hartford
    7. Kenny Delco
    8. Cristian Cuadra
    9. Greg Anderson
    10. Aaron Stanfield
    11. Marty Robertson
    12. Bo Butner
    13. Alan Pruseinsky
    14. Richie Stevens
    15. Chris McGaha
    16. Kyle Koretsky

    Pro Stock Championship Standings

    1. Greg Anderson, 2,565 points
    2. Erica Enders, -32
    3. Dallas Glenn, -109
    4. Kyle Koretsky, -186
    5. Troy Coughlin Jr, -220
    6. Aaron Stanfield, -230
    7. Chris McGaha, -253
    8. Mason McGaha, -268
    9. Matt Hartford, -296
    10. Deric Kramer, -334

    Pro Stock Motorcycle

    After a disappointing first-round loss in Bristol to Ron Tornow, Johnson looked poised to bounce back at Vegas this weekend. He qualified in the second position with a time of 6.848 seconds and 196.24 mph for a first-round with No. 15 qualifier Charles Poskey.

    Johnson won after going 6.874 seconds and 194.44 mph to claim his 251st Round 1 win. With the victory, he went on to face Angie Smith in the second round. Smith advanced by eliminating Scotty Pollacheck. In the semis, Johnson ended up facing Bristol winner Angelle Sampey and was once again a winner after laying down an ET of 6.877 seconds and 194.88 mph which saw him face Karen Stoffer in the finals.

    During the final round match, Stoffer was able to leave first over Johnson but Stoffer went -.012 early and was eliminated in the finals, giving Johnson his third win of the year.

    “It is very, very special to win this event, but it’s really about the championship,” Johnson said. “It took us 17 years to win our first national event and I’m a sucker for this sport. I really want to bring home a championship. I’d love to be a part of that championship fraternity and to be able to try to do it in our hometown is going to be really, really special.”

    Stoffer had victories over Kelly Clontz, Jerry Savoie and the No. 1 qualifier Matt Smith.

    The second-place finish was Stoffer’s 16th of her career and the second this year.

    Pro Stock Motorcycle Results

    1. Steve Johnson
    2. Karen Stoffer
    3. Matt Smith
    4. Angelle Sampey
    5. Jerry Savoie
    6. Angie Smith
    7. Chris Bostick
    8. Eddie Krawiec
    9. Joey Gladstone
    10. Scotty Pollacheck
    11. Andrew Hines
    12. Kelly Clontz
    13. Ryan Oehler
    14. Freddie Camarena
    15. Charles Poskey
    16. Michael Phillips

    Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Standings

    1. Matt Smith, 2,536 points
    2. Steve Johnson, -20
    3. Angelle Sampey, -30
    4. Eddie Krawiec, -142
    5. Karen Stoffer, -189
    6. Scotty Pollacheck, -212
    7. Angie Smith, -259
    8. Joey Gladstone, -269
    9. Andrew Hines, -327
    10. Ryan Oehler, -355

    Up Next: The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will take one week off before heading to the final race of the 2021 season at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California November 11-14.

  • Zane Smith wins in Martinsville thriller, Championship 4 set for Phoenix

    Zane Smith wins in Martinsville thriller, Championship 4 set for Phoenix

    Martinsville Speedway was the host for the penultimate race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs in the Round of 6. Four drivers below the cut line were racing for a chance at the championship, but only one of those of four could advance with the win.

    As the checkered flag flew at the end of the United Rentals 200, Zane Smith was in the right place at the right time and captured the victory to advance to the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Prior to the race, he was below the cut line but on the white flag lap, race leaders Stewart Friesen, Todd Gilliland and Smith were side-by-side, fighting for the lead. All three made contact with Friesen turning then race leader Gilliland, which allowed Smith to drive right on by. When Smith assumed the lead, more contact occurred behind the leaders and the race ultimately ended under yellow giving the win to Smith.

    “It (those final laps) was definitely wild to say the least,” Smith said about the win. “I knew with me being third, I was in a really good spot. Speed-wise, I don’t think we had anything for the 38 (Gilliland), I think he had fresher tires than us. I was worried with it staying green. For the final restart, I had the 16 (Austin Hill) behind me and kind of got him upset at the start of the race and I got flipped off on Lap 2.”

    “I got shoved into the corner and luckily, I came out three wide (on the) bottom and pretty much just white-knuckled it in the end.”

    Coming into the Round of 6 at Martinsville, none of the drivers were locked into the Championship 4 but the top two drivers, John Hunter Nemechek and Ben Rhodes, had a more than 30 point lead over anyone else. Via the metric system, Nemechek was awarded the pole once again and started on the front row with Todd Gilliland beside him.

    There were some notable moments during the first two stages. The first caution came out on Lap 46 when Cory Roper spun in Turn 4 and there was a big pileup wreck on Lap 87 on the frontstretch. Second place starter Gilliland swept both stages by leading nearly every lap. Nemechek finished third in the first stage and second in the second stage. However, things began to worsen for Nemechek and some of the other playoff drivers during the final stage.

    With 70 laps to go, Nemechek was running in the back as other drivers used a different strategy and stayed out to assume the top spots. Those drivers included Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar and Stewart Friesen. Nemechek was looking to make his way back up toward the frontrunners. Unfortunately for the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports team, they found themselves in a losing battle with the No. 22 of Austin Wayne Self. Going into Turns 3 and 4, Nemechek attempted to make a pass on Wayne Self, but Self made contact with the No. 4 and sent Nemechek up into the wall and he was eventually out of the race with a 39th place finish.

    Now, all Nemechek could do was sit and watch and hope for some good luck for the rest of the way in order to have a chance to race for the championship. More and more yellows fell late in the going and Smith continued to maintain the lead. However, right around 27 to go, Gilliland inched his way back to the lead and tapped Smith out of the way. As a result, Smith moved back into second and was -41 below the cut line.

    Fortunately for Smith, he caught a break with a late-race caution due to the No. 51 of Corey Heim and the No. 41 of Dawson Cram who spun in Turn 4. Playoff driver, Matt Crafton, was caught up in the incident and Crafton spun around as well but made it through the melee with no contact to his No. 88 truck.

    The contact set up a late-race overtime restart. Gilliland chose the inside lane as did Smith. Friesen chose the outside lane and was the first driver to line up right beside Smith. During the final laps, there was numerous contact between the leaders. Gilliland was seeking his first win since Circuit of the Americus back in May and seemed poised to do so until he was turned by Friesen. Going into Turn 1, Friesen had one last shot to make a move on Smith but ended up spinning which allowed Smith to claim the checkered flag and a Championship 4 spot at Phoenix next weekend. Among the others fighting for a championship are Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, and Nemechek.

    There were 14 cautions for 89 laps and 10 lead changes among four different leaders.

    Smith led four times for 65 laps en route to the checkered flag.

    Championship 4:

    Zane Smith
    Matt Crafton
    Ben Rhodes
    John Hunter Nemechek

    Official Results following the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway:

    1. Zane Smith, led 65 laps
    2. Austin Hill
    3. Tanner Gray
    4. Chandler Smith
    5. Matt Crafton
    6. Parker Kligerman
    7. Ben Rhodes
    8. Taylor Gray
    9. Sheldon Creed
    10. Timmy Hill
    11. Corey Heim
    12. Carson Hocevar, led four laps
    13. Kris Wright
    14. Danny Bohn
    15. Spencer Boyd
    16. Chris Hacker
    17. Stewart Friesen
    18. Tate Fogleman
    19. Hailie Deegan
    20. Austin Wayne Self
    21. Grant Enfinger
    22. Bret Holmes
    23. Dawson Cram
    24. Derek Kraus
    25. Todd Gilliland, led 133 laps, won both stages, 1 lap down
    26. Tyler Ankrum, 1 lap down
    27. Jack Wood, 1 lap down
    28. Josh Berry, 1 lap down
    29. Spencer Davis, 2 laps down
    30. Jesse Iwuji, 2 laps down
    31. Johnny Sauter, 3 laps down
    32. Sage Karam, 4 laps down
    33. Ryan Truex, 6 laps down
    34. Josh Reaume, 6 laps down
    35. Roger Reuse, 11 laps down
    36. Jennifer Jo Cobb, 14 laps down
    37. Cory Roper, 16 laps down
    38. Colby Howard, 30 laps down
    39. John Hunter Nemechek, led two laps, OUT, Crash
    40. Chase Purdy, OUT, Rear Gear

    Up Next: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will head out west to Phoenix Raceway for the final race of the season on Friday, Nov. 6, live on Fox Sports 1 and MRN Radio at 8 p.m. ET.