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Unsatisfied with the performance his Valvoline/Nova Services Chevrolet Camaro displayed at the season-opening Winternationals, Shane Gray has elected to skip this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.
“We’ve got some work to do on this car in order for us to run at our full potential, and I thought it was better to bite the bullet right now and straighten this thing out rather than allow ourselves to potentially slip further behind,” Gray said. “Skipping this race will allow us the time we need to contend for race victories beginning with the Gatornationals in mid-March. It’s a small setback but one we believe we need to take.”
We’ve got some work to do on this car in order for us to run at our full potential, and I thought it was better to bite the bullet right now and straighten this thing out rather than allow ourselves to potentially slip further behind.
The Pro Stock category made a major shift from carburetors to fuel injection this past offseason. Engines were also limited to 10,500 rpm and wheelie bars were shortened. However, Gray refuses to offer any excuses.
“We’re all faced with the same issues,” he said. “I don’t think anybody is running near their potential yet. Obviously, some teams did better than others in Pomona. We just were not happy, and knowing everyone else will likely get better as the season moves along only amplified the thought that we need to catch up right now.
“I enjoy drag racing but not enough to be out here just for the sake of making qualifying passes, waving to the crowd at driver intros, and then hoping for the best on race day. We’re out here to win. If we’re not in position to put our sponsors in the winner’s circle every time we pull through the gates, then we don’t need to be here.”
Gray is a proven winner with four national event trophies in 12 final-round appearances. In 141 career starts, he has failed to qualify on just three occasions.
The team, led by crew chief Justin Elkes, plans to test extensively before the Gatornationals, which takes place March 18-20 in Central Florida.
