Surging Shane Gray returns to memory-filled Bandimere Speedway with momentum

DENVER – The second half of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series started with a Pro Stock shocker when Shane Gray powered his Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro to the No. 1 qualifying position in Chicago, breaking a season-long stranglehold by KB Racing. Now the soft-spoken pro is hoping to crack another streak at this weekend’s Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals with the first victory by someone other than Jason Line or Greg Anderson.

“Hat’s off to those guys because they figured out the new EFI better than anyone and they’ve been running great,” Gray said. “It’s taken us some time but certainly it was encouraging to earn the pole at Route 66 Raceway and let those guys know we’re here. We couldn’t turn our qualifying performance into a victory, but we did get down to the final four and we definitely had a good chance.

“We will not let up this weekend. If enough of us can apply some decent pressure on those guys, maybe we can find a crack. I know we’ll be doing our part. There’s still lots of racing left, and it’s more exciting now than it’s been all year.”

Bandimere Speedway, the site of this weekend’s meet, is a special track for Gray. Growing up in Carlsbad, N.M., as the son of Funny Car and Pro Stock star Johnny Gray, Shane always considered Bandimere the family’s “home” track.

“Some of my earliest memories drag racing with Dad were at Bandimere,” Shane said. “We were about eight hours away, so even as a kid we could make the trip up here and get home in time for school Monday morning. It’s such a beautiful setting there in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and once you see the place it stays with you.

“Being at altitude makes it a challenging place to race. It was really tough when we ran carburetors because you couldn’t make up for the thin air. We have a little more leeway this time with EFI, but this is the first time for all of us, and although some testing was done on the mountain, for the most part we’re all starting from scratch. It may level the playing field.”

Gray will be leaning on the tuning experience of crew chief Dave Connolly, who joined the team after the Houston race. Under Connolly’s leadership, Gray has qualified in the top half of the field at every event and has risen from 12th to seventh in the championship points standings.

“We don’t do a lot of talking; we just like to stay within what we’re doing and let the results speak for us,” Gray said. “I think we’re all pleased with the direction the team has taken under Dave’s guidance, but we all know there is more work to be done.”

Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7:30 p.m., Friday, and 4 and 6:30 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations start at noon, Sunday. FOX Sports 1 will air qualifying action from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, and 9 to 10 p.m., Saturday. FOX will carry eliminations live from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. (All times listed in MDT).