NHRA’s most recent winner, Shane Gray, looking to cap season with another Wally

POMONA, CA – With plans to turn his Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro over to his capable son Tanner in 2017, Pro Stock driver Shane Gray has exactly one race left to add to his personal collection of Wally trophies. That opportunity, which occurs this weekend with the 52nd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals, looks pretty promising with Gray coming off a huge victory Oct. 30 in Las Vegas.

“Smiles have come pretty easy this past week,” Gray admitted. “We’re a pretty happy group any way but it was extra fun to get one in the books for the crew guys and all of our friends and family that have been so supportive.

“We’ve had a great car for most of the season, really ever since Dave Connolly came on board as crew chief back in Atlanta. We’ve been racing to the semifinals with regularity, which has been awesome, but wins were elusive until last weekend. To finally get it done was a big relief, a lot of fun and a great way to lead us into the off season.”

Gray’s incredible run in Las Vegas placed him solidly in third place in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. While he’s mathematically still alive for the championship, trailing leader Jason Line by 94 points and second-place Greg Anderson by 75 points, Gray also needs to keep an eye on Vincent Nobile, who is 44 points back in fourth place. Should Gray finish third or better, it would mark a career-best finish.

“There’s no reason to change anything we’ve been doing,” he said. “I feel like if we take care of what we can control in our pit with our car then everything will finish as it should. I’m not spending any time thinking about it because until we get in the car and start racing, there’s nothing any of us can do.

“No matter where we finish I’m extremely proud of the team and what we’ve been able to accomplish this year. The atmosphere we have in our pit, the times we spend together, that’s what makes racing fun for me. I get to spend a bunch of time with Amber (wife) and our three boys. Having my mom and dad around (Johnny and Terry Gray) at a number of events was pretty special too. I’m a lucky guy.”

Without question, Gray and team will be top contenders in Pomona as the season draws to an end. He’ll certainly be a driver Anderson or Line won’t want to line up against early on race day.

“Those guys at KB Racing have been the class of the field this year but I think we really closed the gap on them.” Gray said. “It was a new era of Pro Stock with EFI and the other changes and they did the best at adapting to the new rules. We feel like we’re right there now as well, and we’ve been showing that lately, especially in Vegas.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions will run at 12 and 3 p.m., on both Friday and Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will broadcast qualifying action from 8:30-9:30 p.m., Friday. Eliminations will air live from 1-4 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in PT).