Drew Skillman

[MHayes]

Drew was let go from Elite today and 15 minutes later he was the second driver for Gray motorsports!

Good luck Drew!

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/breaking-news-skillman-headed-to-gray

 

[DrRocket]

So, does this make Elite all Chrysler now?

 

[MHayes]

So, does this make Elite all Chrysler now?

I haven't heard of Vincent Nobile leaving, so I guess there is one last Camaro.

 

[Paul]

So, does this make Elite all Chrysler now?

Nobile is still GM.

 

[camaro]

Nobile is still there, although I'm wondering if he and his team owners are regretting splitting up with KB

 

[rollingthunder]

Makes sense. Let # 4 in the points go to your competition

 

[Dave]

Good luck to Drew! What a surprise shakeup in the ranks. You never know the reasoning behind it. This weekend will be interesting!

 

[Bill]

They'll do just fine. They bought a car a while back so you got to feel something was going on and all they had to do is go to plan A which was already in the works.

 

[turbo ken]

Nobile could go to Gray, Elite kind of bit off more than they can chew running both GM, and Dodge. It wouldn't surprise me if Elite does away with running GM so they can concentrate on Dodge.

 

[stitcherbob]

remember....Nobile was a successful Mopar not too long ago

 

[MHayes]

Nobile's success came with a JNJ engine and great reaction times. JNJ are definitely stepping up their game compared to KB, but Elite definitely doesn't have that success right now.

 

[vegasnitro]

Drew said in his press release that he was "let go" by Elite. That strikes me as odd since he was renting a ride. Hard to fire the guy paying the bills. I am sure he is paying to be part of Gray Motorsports as well, which was why he was able to catch on "within the hour".

 

[Butch]

As I said when the Elite/Chrysler "deal" was first announced. In the fuel and alcohol classes you can buy a tune up. However in pro stock in modern times very few people have been able to make a hemi competitive add to that the change at the beginning of the year to EFI and Elite bit off way more than they can chew. Best move for Elite would be to be all Chrysler and drop any GM it's got to be stretching them thin working on two combinations. If they continue neither will be competitive (win). Just my humble .02 on the subject.

 

[Ms Takin]

Drew said in his press release that he was "let go" by Elite. That strikes me as odd since he was renting a ride. Hard to fire the guy paying the bills. I am sure he is paying to be part of Gray Motorsports as well, which was why he was able to catch on "within the hour".

Richard Freeman just posted it was the Skillman family's choice to go; Drew was not released. I find this kind of ludicrous considering Drew's 4th in the standings (best of Elite's group) and Gray still hasn't figured out EFI terribly well... the changes to PS were announced about 10 months ago and put into play in February. These changes sure separated the have's from have-nots, and not necessarily with regard to funding.

 

[mick]

who (engine shop/builder) does gray's motors?
chris mcgahee: builds his own, does he lease to anyone else?
v. gaines: still with his madcap engine shop in CO?
who's does alex laughlin use?
john gaydosh & deric kramer?......wj doing motors for one of them?

good point chuck that few, other than alan johnson, have been able to make the mopar combination work.
funny that mopar didn't realize the years of money and work the johnson's had into representing their brand, not to mention their
championship.

 

[none]

I wonder what discussions are taking place regarding Allen and Roy Johnson + team merging with Elite? I'm just a regular drag racing fan with no insider knowledge but it seems as though that could be a great opportunity for all involved.

 

[MHayes]

.......and Gray still hasn't figured out EFI terribly well... the changes to PS were announced about 10 months ago and put into play in February. These changes sure separated the have's from have-nots, and not necessarily with regard to funding.

Actually, Gray has made huge strides over the past two races (Atlanta and Topeka) and is the only other team to narrow the performance gap that KB has right now. You can also throw Alex Laughlin in there based on the Topeka race......and I do believe that he is running Gray power.

 

[Reese]

who (engine shop/builder) does gray's motors? Gray build their own motors
chris mcgahee: builds his own, does he lease to anyone else? Builds his own, don't think he leases motor.
v. gaines: still with his madcap engine shop in CO? Yes
who's does alex laughlin use? Gray
john gaydosh & deric kramer?......wj doing motors for one of them? Deric Kramer running a Mopar. Matt Hartford maybe

 

[4g63rwd]

who (engine shop/builder) does gray's motors? Gray build their own motors
chris mcgahee: builds his own, does he lease to anyone else? Builds his own, don't think he leases motor.
v. gaines: still with his madcap engine shop in CO? Yes
who's does alex laughlin use? Gray
john gaydosh & deric kramer?......wj doing motors for one of them? Deric Kramer running a Mopar. Matt Hartford maybe

Gaydosh is Gray powered.

 

[Paul]

john gaydosh & deric kramer?......wj doing motors for one of them? Deric Kramer running a Mopar. Matt Hartford maybe

Chris Mcgaha does (or did them last year) Kramer's engines and Gaydosh used Gray engines last year at Maple Grove, so I am assuming he still is using them.