Pro Stock ace Shane Gray on a hot streak headed to Summernationals
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – Shane Gray and his Valvoline/Nova Services Pro Stock team roll into Old Bridge Township 
Raceway Park looking for a victory in this weekend’s NHRA Summernationals.
Gray is coming off two semifinal appearances in a row, joining only three other Pro Stock drivers who can make that claim. He has inched closer to the top 10 in the points standings, too, continuing a midseason move to the top of the class.
“I’ve been real pleased with the performance the last couple of races,” Gray said. “We’ve known all along that we’ve had pretty good horsepower, and it showed up in these last couple of races. The guys in the team and the guys in the engine shop have been working really hard to make us better, and we’ve been right there the last couple of races.”
After sitting out the Phoenix race to work on the Gray Motorsports program, Gray was 15th in the points. Dave Connolly was hired as co-crew chief to work alongside Jim Yates before the Atlanta race, and Gray has qualified fourth, fourth, and eighth since and has gone to two semifinals.
“Both Jim and Dave bring a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience to the team,” Gray said. “It’s good to have two smart guys behind me making the calls. I know they both want to win as badly as I do, and they’re doing everything they can to make it happen.”
KB Racing has dominated the Pro Stock class this season since NHRA mandated a switch to fuel-injected engines limited to 10,500 rpm. But Gray Motorsports is among the teams that have made strides since the start of the season, getting closer to matching KB’s speed.
“It’s past time for someone else to win,” Gray said. “Do I want it to be me? Of course. But nothing in this class is handed to you. You have to work for it, you have to earn it. You have to have a great crew, a great car, great horsepower, great tune-up, and I have to do my job behind the wheel.
“Are we getting closer? You bet. I hope we can do it this weekend.”
Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. ET, Friday, and 1:45 and 4:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will carry qualifying action from 9 to 11 a.m., Sunday. Eliminations will air from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday.
