Shane Gray races Valvoline/Nova Services Chevy to seventh semifinal of 2016

ST. LOUIS – Shane Gray came up short a scant .002-second from reaching his first final round of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Sunday at the 5th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park just outside of St. Louis.

Gray, driver of the Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Pro Stock racer for Gray Motorsports, started today’s eliminations from the lofty No. 1 qualifying spot (6.604 seconds, 209.43 mph). It was his second time starting from the top spot this season. It also marked 14 consecutive events for Gray to qualify in the top half of the eliminations field.

In the first two rounds, Gray defeated Dave River and Drew Skillman, respectively.

In the semifinals, Gray raced Alex Laughlin for a chance to go to his first final of the season but was defeated on a very slight holeshot, 6.623 at 209.10 mph to 6.634 at 208.75. Laughlin’s reaction time (.017) was one of the best across the class for the weekend.

“It’s just one of those deals,” Gray said. “I don’t know where that came from (Laughlin’s reaction time), but he just busted my tail. I’m pretty ticked off at myself right now, but really that’s just racing, especially when the competition is so close anyway with these Pro Stock cars.

“I’m really proud of my guys on our Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet team, though. They gave me a great car all weekend. I can’t say enough about those guys.

“It’s all good. I just kinda have my bottom lip poked out about it at the moment. I’m mad at myself, but that’s just part of it.”

Gray and his Valvoline/Nova Services team moved up from seventh to fifth in championship points.

Gray will next compete in the third round of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs next weekend in Reading, Pa., the 32nd annual Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Sept. 29-Oct. 2.