INDIANAPOLIS – Having claimed victories at 10 of the 12 NHRA Pro Stock events contested so far this season, the Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team is fired up and ready for the most intense and iconic race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Elite team knows that they are coming into Indy with a target on their collective back and they welcome the challenge.
Coming off of back-to-back Pro Stock wins in his JEGS Performance/Elite Motorsports Team Chevy Camaro, Troy Coughlin Jr. is no stranger to the winners circle at the U.S. Nationals. He’s won the event twice in the sportsman ranks (2010 super comp & 2014 super gas) and wants to add a professional triumph to his list of “Big Go” achievements.
“Indy is a race we dream about winning, and winning at Indy in Pro Stock would be an absolute honor,” said Coughlin. “The guys have been working hard at the shop and on the dyno. We’re going to stick to the process and be the best we can be.”
Pro Stock points leader and defending event winner Erica Enders Racing has her eye on winning a third consecutive, and fourth overall, U.S. Nationals Wally. The four-time Pro Stock world champion is experiencing the best season of her illustrious career. She’s parked her Melling Performance Parts/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in the winners circle six times this year so far.
“It’s hard to explain the meaning of Indy to someone on the outside,” said Enders. “But it is everything. It is the Super Bowl of drag racing. The U.S. Nationals is the last regular season race and it’s worth points and a half. Team Elite heads north in a great position. We are the current points leader by a hefty amount, we are the defending champions x2, with a chance to go to our fourth consecutive final and win our third U.S. Nationals in a row! We are locked and loaded and I’m more ready than ever. Game on!”
Aaron Stanfield has been busy in the shop building engines for sportsman customers as he mentally prepares for Indy. He has a long history with the U.S. Nationals and looks forward to going rounds in his Janac Brothers/JC3 Energy Service, LLC. Chevrolet Camaro.
Bo Butner Racing debuted a new car in Topeka, Kan. at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor earlier this month. The red Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Chevrolet Camaro shows great promise and is bound to be a major contender at the “Big Go.” To win in Pro Stock at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park would be monumental for the Indiana native.
The Cuadra Boys, Fernando Sr., Fernando Jr., and Cristian, are debuting a new look on their fleet of Ford Mustangs. The updated liveries include images of Corral Boots footwear above the company name on the hood of each car. Cuadra Boys Racing
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, FloRacing will be broadcasting live from the Elite Motorsports pit.
FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by D-Wagon
Elite Motorsports Pro Mod driver Lyle Barnett Racing makes no bones about his recent string of unfortunate mishaps but is positive that Indy is the place to turn it all around.
“Right now, if there’s a struggle bus, we are driving it,” said Barnett. “We had a minor crash in Topeka; and then we went two qualifying rounds in Brainerd without a Crew Chief on site due to flight cancellations and delays. Hopefully, the bad luck is behind us and we can get started on a strong back half of the season. There’s no reason anyone shouldn’t be excited for the BIG GO! It’s the Grand Poobah of them all, and we are eager to shake it up in Indy!” Elite Performance
Lucas oil Drag Racing Series Snapshot:
The Patterson-Elite team will be working with Jay Storey this weekend as he competes in both Stock and Super Stock. Aydan Patterson will be competing in Super Stock driving his brother A.J.’s 2001 S10 Pickup GT/TD. With a host of customers in attendance, the sportsman racing powerhouse expects to see Patterson-Elite power go a lot of rounds.
In Competition Eliminator, where more than 50 cars are entered, Mike DePalma is poised to give an excellent performance in his Elite-powered 2008 Pontiac. Royce Lee Freeman will also be competing for Team Elite in his 2010 Cobalt.