Fitness level has Pro Stock star Shane Gray on top of his game

EPPING, NH – As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads into the summer months, drivers will be tested physically behind the wheel as temperatures rise inside and out of their race cars, but chances are Valvoline/Nova Services driver Shane Gray won’t have any issues with the heat. That’s because Gray, who will race in this weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, is in as good a physical shape as any driver in the sport.

“It’s just something I love to do and it makes me feel good,” Gray said. “But as far as this type of racing, I don’t think it does anything. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not like we’re running the Baja 1000, where you need to be physically fit.

“Whether you’re running fuel, which is three seconds, or Pro Stock, which is six seconds, it’s not that hard of a job. We all make it hard.”

Gray can say that, of course, because of his excellent fitness level, one achieved by almost 20 years of dedicated work.

“When I was about 25, I started working out, and I’m 44 now,” Gray said. “I’ve been at it for quite a while.”

And he has been able to hone in on his fitness routine over the years, focusing on different parts of his physical condition.

“I change it up,” Gray said. “Every couple of years, I’ll lift a lot of weights, and then I’ll take a couple of years and go cardio. I’ve got it mixed it up now, where I do cardio and lift weights. As long as I’m doing something.”

Gray trains at least five days a week at a gym near his home in North Carolina.

“And if I don’t have anything going on Saturday morning, I usually get a workout in,” Gray said. “I usually don’t do much on Sunday, just rest.

“If I’m not in a hurry, it usually takes me about an hour and 15-20 minutes by the time I get cardio in and get a weightlifting regiment in. That’s about where I’m at.”

But Gray doesn’t work out at hotel gyms when he’s on the road with his Gray Motorsports team.

“I usually go to a gym somewhere,” Gray said. “I’m a member of about every chain of gyms in the country. I’ll usually find a gym and go get a good workout in. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few of the people who are at the places I go. I get to see them again a couple of days out of the year.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m. ET, Friday, and 1:30 and 4 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry live qualifying action from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations will air from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday.