Shane Gray puts Valvoline/Nova Services Camaro in No. 11 spot
POMONA, CA – Shane Gray will kick off the new era of NHRA Pro Stock from the No. 11 spot at the 2016 NHRA 
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opener, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
For this season, NHRA mandated new rules for the Pro Stock class, including fuel-injected engines limited to 10,500 rpms and shorter wheelie bars. Gray and his Gray Motorsports team spent the entire off-season building new engines for the retooled Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet, testing several times.
“The guys did a lot of work between now and the last time we were here,” Gray said. “We’re not where we want to be, of course, but only one guy is today. We’ve got some good speed in the car, and we’ll keep working on it to get some better e.t.s.”
Gray’s best pass of the weekend was 6.660 seconds at 208.68 mph, but his best speed was 208.81 mph in the third qualifying session that was the fifth fastest of the 16 cars on the property.
“We like the speed, for sure, because that shows we have some good horsepower,” Gray said. “That says a lot about all the guys who worked on these new fuel-injected engines, and I’m thankful for them. We just need to figure out a way to be a little more consistent and make some better runs through the entire quarter-mile. We’ll get there.”
Gray lines up against No. 6 qualifier Chris McGaha in the first round of eliminations Sunday. McGaha’s best run was 6.632 seconds at 209.52 mph.
“We’ll line up and do the best we can tomorrow,” Gray said. “I have a lot of faith in my guys, for sure.”
While Gray was clearly concentrating on his Pro Stock program, he had an eye on New Smyrna Beach Speedway in Florida. That’s where son Tanner, 16, was participating in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Tanner finished 19th in the Super Late Model race on Friday night, and he’ll be racing all weekend.
“Sure, I wish I was there to be with him,” Gray said. “But he’s in good hands, and we’ll talk about his races all weekend.”
NHRA race day eliminations will air live from 2-5 p.m. PT, on FOX Sports 1.
