Gray Motorsports Father & Son Team End The NHRA Season On A High Note
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Denver, NC (November 8, 2017 )-This weekend in Pomona, California, the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals will be held at Auto Club Raceway of Pomona. The Gray Motorsports father and son duo of Shane and Tanner Gray will try to upset championship hopes for fellow NHRA pro stock competitors Greg Anderson, Bo Butner, and Jason Line.
This will mark the final event of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the final of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“Coming into Pomona sitting number four isn’t the place we wanted to be in order to win the championship," Tanner Gray said. "We have had an incredibly blessed season and one for the record books for sure. We are going to go out swinging this weekend and give it all we got!”
Shane Gray's last pro stock appearance was during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, where he made history by racing alongside son Tanner Gray, and father Johnny Gray, as the first time three generations raced in the same professional class.
“Racing in Pomona this weekend will give our Valvoline Chevy Camaro team more data heading into the off season, and allow us to prepare for next season," Shane said. "We are constantly looking at ways to find more power to win more races. “
At the beginning of the season, Shane had decided he was going to run a limited 2017 schedule.
“Our Gray Motorsports team has had a hell of a year," Shane said. "Our engine program has boomed and we have seen a ton of success with both Tanner (Gray) and Drew (Skillman). I knew heading into this season that I was going to take a supporting role to both Tanner and Drew and it’s been a blast watching these two young men win rounds and races.”
Tanner Gray is the leading contender for the Auto Club Road to the Future Award that will be given Monday night at the NHRA awards banquet in Hollywood, California. With five rookie season wins and titles such as youngest driver to win an NHRA national event, and having the most rookie pro stock wins in one season, he is destined to have a leg up on the competition.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.
The broadcast of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series can be found all weekend long on FS1. Friday, Nov. 10, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 6:30 p.m. (ET). Saturday, Nov. 11, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 6:00 p.m. (ET). And Sunday, Nov. 12, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
Statistic Junkie
Tanner Gray
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr. 1st rd. Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 23 5 1 7 6 4 4 0 43-18
Best Time, Speed: 6.501 seconds, (2017 NHRA New England Nationals); 213.37 mph (Gatornationals 2017) Last event (October 27 - October 29, Las Vegas): Qualified No. 7, Quarter Finals (Drew Skillman)
Shane Gray
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr. 1st rd. Poles DNQ W/L
2017 13th 9 1 0 1 5 2 0 0 11-8
Best Time, Speed: 6.484 seconds, (2014 Reading); 214.45 mph (2014 Englishtown)
Last event (September 1-4, Indy): Qualified No. 12, First Round (Alex Laughlin)