INDIANAPOLIS – Three days before the start of the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Greg Stanfield was making test runs at a track in Martin, Mich., seeking ways to improve the performance of the Nitro Fish/Coffman Tank Trucks GXP before going to the Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
That’s what the defending Pro Stock champion of the sport’s premiere race does when he’s preparing to stave off the challenges of 29 other drivers who want to experience the thrills and excitement of seeing the win light in the final round on Labor Day.
“We are doing the usual testing stuff, dialing in the clutch and tires,” explained Stanfield, who also spent most of the last week working on the car’s motors. “We want to see if we can go to the final round at Indy three years in a row. That’s the plan.”
This is the final race before the 10-car field is set for the six-race Countdown to 1 championship playoffs and he knows he can finish no lower than eighth, where he currently rests. However, only 34 points separate Stanfield from sixth and he’s 75 out of fifth.
“We have been working to improve out 60-foot times,” he said. “If we can do that, we should be running close to the leaders.”
Stanfield started last year’s playoffs in the No. 8 slot and opened with his U.S. Nationals win over Mike Edwards and reached the finals at the next race. His strong run pulled him into second place, his highest Pro Stock finish.
“I’d love to see Greg back in the winner’s circle at Indy,” said Nitro Fish owner Kenny Koretsky, who also celebrated his first overall Pro Stock win and U.S. Nationals title with Stanfield.
Koretsky was in New Jersey working to clean up the “light damage” his home suffered when hurricane Irene wreaked havoc last weekend. “We weathered the storm,” he said. “We were lucky . . . it could have been a lot worse. Now we hope Greg can weather the storm during Monday’s eliminations.”
That’s what the defending Pro Stock champion of the sport’s premiere race does when he’s preparing to stave off the challenges of 29 other drivers who want to experience the thrills and excitement of seeing the win light in the final round on Labor Day.
“We are doing the usual testing stuff, dialing in the clutch and tires,” explained Stanfield, who also spent most of the last week working on the car’s motors. “We want to see if we can go to the final round at Indy three years in a row. That’s the plan.”
This is the final race before the 10-car field is set for the six-race Countdown to 1 championship playoffs and he knows he can finish no lower than eighth, where he currently rests. However, only 34 points separate Stanfield from sixth and he’s 75 out of fifth.
“We have been working to improve out 60-foot times,” he said. “If we can do that, we should be running close to the leaders.”
Stanfield started last year’s playoffs in the No. 8 slot and opened with his U.S. Nationals win over Mike Edwards and reached the finals at the next race. His strong run pulled him into second place, his highest Pro Stock finish.
“I’d love to see Greg back in the winner’s circle at Indy,” said Nitro Fish owner Kenny Koretsky, who also celebrated his first overall Pro Stock win and U.S. Nationals title with Stanfield.
Koretsky was in New Jersey working to clean up the “light damage” his home suffered when hurricane Irene wreaked havoc last weekend. “We weathered the storm,” he said. “We were lucky . . . it could have been a lot worse. Now we hope Greg can weather the storm during Monday’s eliminations.”
