GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 11) - For a small race team like Greg Stanfield's MAVTV/Lucas Oil Chevy Camaro Pro Stock operation, any time off, is good time off.
Once the NHRA Gatornationals get under way this weekend, Stanfield and his two-man crew will have put in two strong weeks developing new equipment and refreshing the parts he's already got.
"As little as we are, we take advantage of any shop time we can get," Stanfield said. "We've been pretty much leaving our proven stuff alone, so we can focus our attention on developing new stuff."
Stanfield said he's hoping Friday's qualifying sessions go well because it would open Saturday's qualifying up to experimentation.
"We're keeping our fingers cross all goes right in those first two rounds," Stanfield said. "We want to try and race smart. Unless something jumps out and shocks us on the dyno, we plan to stick with what has been working.
"We really want to put a good number on the board early Friday, so we can maybe try some of the new things we've been working up on Saturday."
Stanfield has started the season strong, qualifying ninth in both races and going to the semis in the season opener. He is ninth in the Pro Stock standings but is only 15 points out of sixth.
However, Stanfield knows this weekend could very well be his toughest test of the season to date because Gainesville consistently draws one of the strongest, deepest fields of the entire season.
"You can't screw up, that's for sure," Stanfield said. "There are going to be too many good cars down there. They'll take advantage of any mistakes you make."
Qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals gets under way at noon EDT Friday from Auto Plus Raceway and continues at that same time on Saturday. Eliminations start at 11 a.m. on Sunday. ESPN2 will air the qualifying show at 1:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday and the eliminations show at 7 p.m. Sunday evening.
From: Rob Geiger
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Once the NHRA Gatornationals get under way this weekend, Stanfield and his two-man crew will have put in two strong weeks developing new equipment and refreshing the parts he's already got.
"As little as we are, we take advantage of any shop time we can get," Stanfield said. "We've been pretty much leaving our proven stuff alone, so we can focus our attention on developing new stuff."
Stanfield said he's hoping Friday's qualifying sessions go well because it would open Saturday's qualifying up to experimentation.
"We're keeping our fingers cross all goes right in those first two rounds," Stanfield said. "We want to try and race smart. Unless something jumps out and shocks us on the dyno, we plan to stick with what has been working.
"We really want to put a good number on the board early Friday, so we can maybe try some of the new things we've been working up on Saturday."
Stanfield has started the season strong, qualifying ninth in both races and going to the semis in the season opener. He is ninth in the Pro Stock standings but is only 15 points out of sixth.
However, Stanfield knows this weekend could very well be his toughest test of the season to date because Gainesville consistently draws one of the strongest, deepest fields of the entire season.
"You can't screw up, that's for sure," Stanfield said. "There are going to be too many good cars down there. They'll take advantage of any mistakes you make."
Qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals gets under way at noon EDT Friday from Auto Plus Raceway and continues at that same time on Saturday. Eliminations start at 11 a.m. on Sunday. ESPN2 will air the qualifying show at 1:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday and the eliminations show at 7 p.m. Sunday evening.
From: Rob Geiger
More...
