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2012 NHRA: Back To Work For Shane Gray And NTB Service Central Team Following Brainerd Event
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int'l Raceway brought much more pleasing conditions than the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series drivers and crew chiefs have seen lately – including cooler air and a far less scorching racing surface, but for Pro Stock driver Shane Gray and the NTB/Service Central team, the end result was not as pleasant as they had hoped.
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A haunting misfire issue within the engine plagued the weekend, yet Gray was able to qualify his Chevy Camaro in the No. 16 position for a first-round match with Erica Enders. Gray came to the starting line ready and launched with a respectable .035 reaction, but Enders cut a psychic light and paired it with a low e.t. of the meet pass to stop the NTB/Service Central car, 6.542 to 6.639.
"She made a very good run, and she was .001 on the tree," said Gray. "There wasn't much I could do, but we went into this round knowing we were going to have to be in best form and really do something. We gave it all we had to give; it just wasn't enough. That's racing."
The team will head home to the Gray Motorsports shop in Denver, N.C., with work to do before the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two weeks, when they will be aiming to look sharp and ready at what is one of the most prestigious and historic events on the Full Throttle Series tour. The event will also mark the end of the regular season and the final shot for drivers in all categories to secure a position in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
"We moved down a spot in the points, and we're getting to where every little point matters," said Gray, now 8th in the series standings. "Sure, we want to stay in that top 10 with the Countdown right around the corner, but right now, our main focus is on getting the NTB/Service Central Camaro to perform as we want it to. We want to go rounds. We want to win races. Once we can do that – then the championships will become realistic."
The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis are scheduled to take place Aug. 29-Sept. 3, 2012.
Shane Gray NTB/Service Central Chevy Camaro
Qualifying position: No. 16
Round one: Erica Enders (6.542-second at 210.83 mph) def. Shane Gray (6.639, 208.36)
FULL THROTTLE SERIES PRO STOCK STANDINGS
(Following event 16 of 23)
(Includes events through Brainerd, Minn.)
1. Allen Johnson 1432
2. Jason Line 1298
3. Greg Anderson 1270
4. Mike Edwards 1090
5. Erica Enders 1065
6. Vincent Nobile 1056
7. Ron Krisher 634
8. Shane Gray 623
9. V. Gaines 604
10. Jeg Coughlin 602
PaddockTalk Perspective
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Also in NHRA: - 2012 NHRA: Lucas Oil's Morgan Rides Power Of Good Breakfast To Semifinal Berth (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Capps, Tobler Put Napa In Winner's Circle For Third Time, Take NHRA Funny Car Points Lead To Indy For US Nationals (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA:Five Drivers Clinch Full Throttle Countdown To The Championship Berths (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Capps Defeats J Force, Takes Over Points Lead; Lucas, Enders And Krawiec Also Victorious At Brainerd (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Upset Loss At Brainerd In First Round Costs Massey, Prestone/FRAM Team Points Lead Before NHRA US Nationals (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: NTB Service Central Funny Car Driver Johnny Gray Stopped Short In Brainerd (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Capps Wins Third Title Of Season For Napa Auto Parts, Moves To No 1 In Funny Car Points For First Time In 75 Races (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: John Force Runner-Up At Brainerd (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Hagan, Delago Edge Closer To Getting Mopar (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Enders Scores Back-To-Back Wins For KLR Group At Brainerd (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Beckman Happy With Crew Chief Smith, Valvoline Nextgen Car (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Arana Jr. Falls Just Short Of Victory At Lucas Oil Nationals (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Brown, Matco Tools Team Overcome Challenges During Eliminations (08/20/12)
- 2012 NHRA: GEICO's Stoffer Clinches Countdown Spot In Brainerd (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Bernstein, MAVTV Dragster On Wrong End Of Tight Race In Brainerd (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Shane Gray And NTB Service Central Team Focusing On Bright Possibilities On Raceday In Brainerd (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Dom Lagana Closes The Door On Brainerd, Eager To Race Again (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Brown Matches Teammate's Time Again But Not Discouraged By Qualifying No 2 Heading To Eliminations At Brainerd (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Lucas Oil's Morgan Looking To Solve Mystery Before Brainerd Eliminations (08/19/12)
- 2012 NHRA: Rain Delay Shakes Up Field On Brainerd Saturday (08/19/12)
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