Home Blog Page 2259

Funny Car Championship leader Capps Drives Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat into Eliminations as No. 2 Qualifier at NHRA Season Finale

●       Three championship contending Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars performed well in qualifying, collected bonus points, and find themselves in the top half of the eliminations ladder to set up a dramatic final showdown at Auto Club NHRA Finals to determine the winner of the Funny Car World Championship

●       Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) driver and category points leader Ron Capps drives his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat into Funny Car eliminations at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona as the No. 2 qualifier

●       The Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat of Matt Hagan is second in the Funny Car standings and seeded seventh heading into the final race day of the 2021 National Hot Rod Association Camping World Drag Racing series season

●       Should Capps and Hagan advanced past the opening round, that will set up a quarterfinal battle between the DSR teammates with championship implications

●       Third HEMI-powered contender for the Funny Car crown, Cruz Pedregon qualified his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat sixth on the eliminations ladder and remains in the championship mix

●       DSR pilot Leah Pruett earned the No. 3 spot on the Top Fuel eliminations ladder and five bonus points with her final qualifying runs of the season aboard her Direct Connection dragster

November 13, 2021, Pomona, California – With the last qualifying runs of the 2021 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series season completed at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the stage is now set for a dramatic final showdown between the three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars of points leader Ron Capps, reigning world champion Matt Hagan, and winner of last week’s Dodge//SRT Nationals at Las Vegas, Cruz Pedregon.

Capps heads into the Auto Club NHRA Finals as the No. 2 qualifier after securing his spot by driving his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to a 3.908-second/ 329.83 mph run, the second quickest of the first session. He collected three bonus points for that effort, then added another four by posting the quickest time in the second session to help extend his lead over his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate Hagan to 67 points heading into Sunday’s eliminations rounds where round wins are worth 30 points. 

Capps, who has taken home four Wally trophies from the Pomona Fairplex venue including the one earned this August, will begin his race day against No. 16 seed Terry Haddock and with the knowledge that he only needs to turn on two win lights on Sunday to secure his second Funny Car world championship title.

Three-time and defending series champion, Hagan is second in the Funny Car standings and heads to eliminations as the No. 7 seed after taking his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat for a 3.956-second drive at 319.75 mph in the second qualifying session to add two bonus points to his total. He’ll have No. 10 seed Tony Jurado as his first round opponent and should both Hagan and Capps advance past the opening round, the DSR teammates will battle each other in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Cruz Pedregon is still in the championship mix despite a 91 point deficit and eyeing his third Funny Car title after his victory at the Dodge//SRT Nationals in Las Vegas put him in contention. Pedregon qualified his Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat sixth on the eliminations ladder with consistent qualifying runs that put him fourth on the timing sheets in the first two sessions and provided and two extra points for his efforts. Pedregon will have No. 11 seed Tim Wilkerson in the lane next to him for the opening round match up.p.

While a plethora of scenarios are possible, one thing is certain: a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat will be crowned a Funny Car World Champion for the sixth time in 10 seasons. What makes the anticipation heading into the final showdown that much more thrilling is that any one of the three drivers could win it. Here is how that might happen: 

•        By winning the first two rounds, Ron Capps will clinch his second Funny Car World Championship title.

•        To defend his Funny Car crown, Hagan has to drive his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the final round or, in the event Capps advances past the first round, to the winner’s circle.

•        For Cruz Pedregon to win his third career NHRA championship, he will have to turn on four win lights and Capps will need to lose the opening round.

Having earned the Top Fuel Wally trophy at the rescheduled August Winternationals at Pomona, DSR pilot Leah Pruett’s mindset heading into this weekend has been on repeating that feat to end the season on a high note. She put herself in a good position to do that with steady improvement through qualifying, recording the third-quickest pass of the second session and second-quickest run in the final session, a 3.706 second lap at 327.59 mph. That qualifying effort was rewarded with five bonus points and put her Direct Connection dragster in the No. 3 position on the eliminations ladder. Pruett will begin her race day with lane choice over No. 14 seed Cameron Ferre.

Qualifying highlights will air on FS1 on Sunday, Nov. 14, from 2-4 p.m. ET followed by coverage of the elimination rounds from the Auto Club NHRA Finals, including live coverage of the final round, from 4-7 p.m. ET to close out the 2021 NHRA Camping World Series season.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES
 
FUNNY CAR:
Matt Hagan, DSR Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye
(No. 7 Qualifier – 3.956 seconds at 319.75 mph)
Qualifying 1: 4.483 seconds at 187.65 mph

Qualifying 2: 3.956 seconds at 319.75 mph (2 bonus points for third quickest time of Q2)
Qualifying 3: 4.045 seconds at 263.87 mph
 

“It’s about as simple as it gets. We have to win the race. If we want to win the championship, we have to win the race. If we do that, we’ve done what we set out to do here and all year long. I don’t know how it worked out that way, but the good lord above shined on us today and gave us a shot to make our own fate. It all falls on us. I know we have the car, team and people to do this and I’m excited to have a shot. Ron Capps and that team are great, but we’re going to try and ruin their day. That’s what we do out here when we race and let’s see how it plays out tomorrow.”

 
Ron Capps, DSR NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
(No. 2 Qualifier – 3.908 seconds at 329.83 mph)
Qualifying 1:  3.908 seconds at 329.83 mph (3 bonus points for second quickest run of Q1)
Qualifying 2:  3.935 seconds at 325.45 mph (4 bonus points for quickest run of Q2)
Qualifying 3: 5.124 seconds and 143.87 mph
 
“We always talk about these goals that we have with this NAPA AutoCare team and we saw how crazy qualifying was. Our first goal is always to qualify because you’re not guaranteed to race on Sunday in NHRA drag racing. There are no provisionals. We accomplished that right off the bat on Friday in Q1. Secondly, we wanted to gain some of those important small bonus points and put it over the 60-point threshold with (Matt) Hagan. It’s a nice cushion. That’s a hole nother round that they’d have to win to go around us. We want to wake up tomorrow morning with the though of winning the race and it will take care of itself. We saw what happened in (Las) Vegas and anything can happen in NHRA drag racing. The goal is to win the race. We have Terry Haddock first round and we’re focused on that and that alone. If things line up second round against Hagan, then we’ll focus on that. Waking up Sunday morning in November at Pomona with a chance to win a world championship is something I’ve done a lot. We did it in 2016, but I’ve been here a lot where we didn’t accomplish the goal. And that’s made me better in the seat as a driver. I’m just focused on the same thing and that’s drive this great NAPA Dodge that Guido (Dean Antonelli) and this AutoCare team has given me.”

  
Cruz Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
(No. 6 Qualifier – 3.939 seconds at 321.96 mph)
Qualifying 1: 3.939 seconds at 321.96 mph (1 bonus point for fourth quickest run of Q1)
Qualifying 2: 3.961 seconds at 316.52 mph (1 bonus point for fourth quickest run of Q2)

Qualifying 3: 3.979 seconds at 272.34 mph
 
“The Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was very consistent through qualifying and I’m very happy about that. We tried to push the limits in the last session to try to get up higher in the field and we were on pace to run second or third quickest in the session, but the car drifted out of the groove on me and I made the choice to shut it off. What’s going to help us win the race and championship is just to take care of our business on our side of the ladder.

We had a great car that was consistent in the heat, so we’ll take that information and apply it on race day. The exciting part about this is nobody knows what’s going to happen. I think we’re going to have a good race. I feel confident that we are ready for what comes and that we will have a good race.”

 
TOP FUEL:
Leah Pruett, DSR Direct Connection Mopar Dodge//SRT Dragster  
(No. 3 Qualifier – 3.706 seconds at 327.59 mph)
Qualifying 1: 4.954 seconds at 145.83 mph

Qualifying 2: 3.751 seconds at 324.83 mph (2 bonus points for third quickest run of Q2)
Qualifying 3: 3.706 seconds at 327.59 mph (3 bonus points for the second quickest run of Q3)

“We started out in Q1 on Friday with the barrel fully loaded and we just missed it. We knew we needed a solid run on Q2, and we did that with a beautiful 3.75 pass in the heat of the day and that gave this Direct Connection team all the confidence for Q3 to step up with that great 3.70 for the No. 3 spot. (Crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Neal (Strausbaugh) are tuning with a great amount of confidence and I’m looking forward to the final race of the season to be the culmination for this team. We want to shove this Dodge//SRT dragster into the winner’s circle tomorrow like we did here in July.”

NHRA Championship Points Standings:
Following qualifying at Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona
  
FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1. Ron Capps (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,646 (2)

2. Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,579 (3/1-Tommy Johnson Jr.)

3. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,555 (2)

4. J.R. Todd – 2,498 (1)

5. John Force – 2,483 (3)

6. Robert Hight – 2,478 (2)

7. Bob Tasca III – 2,466 (2)

8. Alexis DeJoria – 2,436 (1)

9. Tim Wilkerson– 2,331 (1)

10. Blake Alexander– 2,208

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1. Steve Torrance – 2753 (10)

2. Brittany Force – 2,637 (1)

3. Mike Salinas – 2,589 (1)

4. Justin Ashley – 2,556 (2)

5. Billy Torrence – 2,468 (2)

6. Leah Pruett (Mopar Dodge//SRT) – 2,401 (1)

7. Clay Millican – 2,354

8. Antron Brown – 2,337 (1)

9. Shawn Langdon – 2,310

10. Doug Kalitta – 2,260

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Mopar

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, the brand expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Mopar is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Mopar and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar

Twitter: @OfficialMOPAR

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market) — making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: @Dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

How To Become An Automotive Engineer – 10 Main Questions

Photo by Asyrafunk RKTW on Unsplash

The automotive sector relies heavily on automotive engineering. Engineers assist in the development of new vehicles and ensure that existing cars are safe and efficient. Studying to become an automotive engineer can be daunting because this part of engineering is research-intensive, and you could find yourself saying, ‘who will help me with my studies or who can rewrite my paper if I don’t write it right?’ – your content should be researched well, or you could get a bad grade. Taking care of grades during studies is one step of becoming a good automotive engineer and let’s figure out other steps! Today we’ll look at some of the most crucial questions and steps to take in the automotive engineering sector.

Who is an Automotive Engineer?

This is a specialist who creates the mechanisms and functions of automobiles. They ensure that these designs adhere to established quality and pricing standards. While designing and testing running models of vehicles and car parts, these engineers troubleshoot and fix prospective design flaws. You can pursue automotive service careers through programs, gaining skills and knowledge through hands-on learning and workplace safety.

They are to oversee the production of automobiles and all other related processes. An automotive engineer handles design assessments and sets manufacturing standards for vehicles. They also use design technologies to create better designs for vehicle chassis, engines, gearboxes, and other components.

What is The Job Description of an Automotive Engineer?

Automotive engineers are professionals who work on car design and development. Their responsibilities include:

  • Performing thorough research and assessments, understanding and bringing plans to life.
  • Developing mockups and structures.
  • Problem resolution.
  • Conducting various test methods to evaluate how the vehicle performs under different conditions and guarantee its quality meets preset regulations and standards.

They may also upgrade existing designs besides inventing new ones, which causes research into the market and user feedback and identifies the strong and weak points of current systems, and coordinates upgrades.

How To Become An Automotive Engineer?

According to Becomeopedia, you’ll need a mechanical engineering degree and at least three years of work experience to work as an automobile engineer. You have to be able to analyze and solve complex issues.

Their research also reported that 71.4% have a bachelor’s degree, and 12.6% hold master’s degrees. Despite the fact that the majority of automotive engineers have just a college degree, it is feasible to end up as one with just a high school diploma or GED.

Associate degrees and diploma degrees are also common on the credentials of automotive engineers.

How Much Does it Cost To Become an Automation Engineer?

A bachelor’s degree in electrical, automotive, or mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, is required for automotive engineers.

Some institutions also allow students to participate in internship programs during their college years.

Averagely, a Bachelor’s in Automotive Engineering costs roughly $30,000 per year, although tuition fees vary greatly based on some variables like; program, school, and most times, the location you choose. It can cost you anything from $24,000 to over $40,000 each year of college.

What Skills Do You Need As An Automotive Engineer?

You must demonstrate to potential recruiters that you possess the talents they need, and the only way to do so is to cultivate these skills while on your path to becoming an Automotive Engineer. Any Automotive Engineer should have these five skills. They include;

  • Innovation

Solving difficulties and inventing new solutions are important aspects of an engineer’s work. There will always be a desire to improve, speed up, or strengthen things, and you should recognize the importance of innovation in solving real-world challenges.

  • Communication

Working life is heavily reliant on communication. You don’t spend all of your time as an engineer sitting at a desk doing design work. You’ll find yourself in interactions with clients with whom you’ll need to establish relationships regularly. Because not everyone will comprehend the technical language you use, you’ll need to communicate your ideas clearly and concisely.

  • Resilience

You must be resilient because one problem you may face as an Automotive Engineer is being away from home and working for the whole day. Because it is a nomad profession, you must be able to maintain discipline. You’ll need to be capable of picking yourself up with a lot of tenacity after a fall.

  • An Eye for Detail

A profession in engineering necessitates efficiency and precision. Because mistakes can be costly, it’s critical to pay attention to the details to avoid wasting money and, more importantly, putting people’s lives in danger.

  • Teamwork

Given the nature of the task you’ll be doing, you’re unlikely to work in isolation. Teamwork is a crucial component of any job, and you should be able to thrive in a group setting and collaborate effectively with your coworkers. You may not meet your company’s goals if you do not work well with others.

What Is The Growth Rate of Automation Engineering?

According to a survey conducted by recruiter.com, the general job outlook for Automotive Engineers has been good since 2004. During that time, job openings for this profession have expanded by 35.45% nationwide, with an average annual growth rate of 2.22%. With 34,740 new jobs likely to be filled by 2029, Automotive Engineers are predicted to be in high demand. What this means is a 1.31% yearly increase over the coming years.

What Is The Average Salary for Automotive Engineers?

The estimated yearly pay for Entry Level Automotive Engineers in the US is $52,133 per year as of November 5, 2021.

The bulk of Early-career Automotive Engineer salaries now vary between $31,000 (25th percentile) and $65,500 (75th percentile), with highest earners (90th percentile) averaging $81,500 yearly in the US. The overall earnings for an Early-career Automotive Engineer range widely (up to $33,000), implying that there may be several prospects for promotion and higher income dependent on experience level, skill, and location.

How Long Does It Take To Become An Automotive Engineer?

A bachelor’s degree is required for automotive engineers, that could be completed in four years based on where you study.

If you would like to work in the automobile industry, you should begin your preparation as soon as high school by completing math and science subjects.

With entry-level positions, a bachelor’s degree is good enough, however, some roles may demand a master’s degree or a Ph.D.

A master’s degree can be earned in as little as two years, while a Ph.D. is then earned in three.

What Are Possible Career Options In Automotive Engineering?

Automotive engineering is involved in every aspect of automotive design and production. However, in this study, we’ll focus on three main areas. They are:

  • Design Engineer

These engineers are well-versed in the precise minute details of the electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems that make up a vehicle.

  • Development Engineer

The R&D Engineers are at the forefront of automotive engineering, ensuring that the futuristic features intended for future vehicles really operate.

  • Production Engineer

After an automobile’s design has been approved, these engineers work in the factories to ensure that the manufacturing process runs appropriately.

Professional Associations For Automotive Engineers

The professional bodies for Automotive Engineers include;

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • FISITA (the world body for automotive engineering)
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK)
  • United States Council for Automotive Research
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International)
  • Automotive Industry Action Group (North America)

Conclusion

Automotive Engineering is an up-and-coming field of study, and we will be more than happy to hear that you ventured into it based on what we’ve discussed here.

Bonus Video

https://youtu.be/UCPUcm7z_3E

Proper Car Maintenance: 6 Ways to Keep Your Car in Top Shape

Photo by Chad Kirchoff on Unsplash

Most people heavily depend on their cars. In fact, others find it overwhelming to own a vehicle due to the claims of special products that will keep them in good condition for near-eternity; however, that’s not the best way to keep them functioning efficiently. One good news is that it’s not challenging to maintain your car once you already know the basic rules of maintenance.

Below is a guide that will keep the car running longer than you thought. It’s tempting to try the latest products available, but you’re better off following the simplest cleaning and maintenance routine for your vehicles.

Keeping the Maintenance Schedule Simple

Maybe you own a car with a vast number of miles on it. Or, you know someone whose care broken down after a particular mile mark. Both vehicles don’t just differ in their model and make. It can be due to inconsistent maintenance schedules. Bear in mind that you’re in control of how frequently and well you maintain your vehicles. You can’t find an easy to maximize your car’s performance.

By following a routine maintenance schedule, you’ll become one of the owners whose vehicle seems to keep functioning efficiently, Lowering your repair bills. That will also allow you to take your cars on a long road trip.

Examining and Changing Your Brake Fluid

Your car’s engines and brakes are its most essential components. Both will help you avoid rear-end collisions, stopping you from crashing into other vehicles or properties. In short, they’ll take care of you, so you should prioritize maintaining them. In maintaining them, you’ll have to check the fluid regularly. If needed, change them. Brake fluid is susceptible to moisture, making your car more vulnerable to damage.

Moisture can result in different problems, including rust and corrosion. That can further lead to the brakes not working as expected. You might not avoid other kinds of accidents, but you can prevent those resulting from inefficient brakes. Make it a habit to examine and replace them if necessary. Doing that will keep you safe and prevent huge accidents while trying to control your car.

Applying Wax for Your Car’s Appearance

You should also keep your car looking good. Waxing them is a simple means of keeping them looking good. Most owners think it’s best to apply the wax once every six months to once every year. If you’re focused on your car’s appearance, you can wax them every three months. Waxing them regularly will keep the paint in good shape, protecting your vehicle from damage.

As stated on Cargister, waxing your car doesn’t only improve your car’s appearance, but it also protects your car from discoloration and fading caused by exposure to different weather conditions.

You should only use the highest quality wax to make the most out of your car.

Keeping Your Car Safe From the Weather

Extreme weather conditions will damage your car, so you should make sure you take the steps that will help you protect your vehicle. For example, extreme heat is the root cause of damaging the car’s interiors or exteriors. Hot weather can damage the exterior paint, interior seats and related items, and interior plastic.

You can also lower the dangers resulting from the sun’s UV rays. You can avoid that by parking your car under some kind of covering or in the shade. If you can’t find covered parking lots most of the time, you can use automotive window films or UV protectant spray to secure your car’s interior.

Cleaning Its Interior and Exterior Regularly

Most owners clean their cars regularly, but maintaining them isn’t just about making the exteriors shine or vacuuming the inside. Your vehicle will always face numerous kinds of weather conditions or elements, making them vulnerable to damage. From winter salt to daily grime, your car’s underside goes through a lot of wear and tear, so if you’re washing them, make it a habit to clean the bottom.

That will help get rid of potentially disturbing and dangerous substances from your car.

Changing Differential or Transmission Fluid

You don’t have to check your vehicle’s engine oil regularly; however, that doesn’t mean that you can ignore the differential and transmission fluid. You still have to change them regularly. One rule is to change your transmission fluid after the 30,000-mile mark, but you’ll still have to read the manual to know what’s the best schedule for your model and make. You won’t have to change the differential fluid of a front-wheel-drive vehicle.

Why? That’s because you can find the differential fluid in front and shares fluid with your transmission. On the other hand, rear-wheel-drive vehicles are different because the differential fluid is at the back. Four-wheel-drive vehicles have three differentials-one at the back, one at the center, and one in front. You’ll have to change the differential and transmission fluid at the same moment.

You can’t find an easy way to prolong your car’s lifespan, so protect them from extreme weather conditions, wax and clean them regularly, and change the fluid regularly. You’ll keep them in great shape by following a simple maintenance routine. More importantly, you’ll be confident that your car will take you to your destination.

Wright stuff at the Michelin Pilot Challenge

Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen are the 2021 Team and Driver Champions after winning the Michelin Pilot Challenge on Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

This was Wright Motorsports’ third championship this season in Friday’s Fox Factory 120 for their third consecutive victory in the No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport thanks to a strong team and great cars that got them the championship after a bad start to the season.

“This has been an incredible season for Wright Motorsport in the Michelin Pilot Challenge,” said Team Owner John Wright. “No matter what was thrown at us this year, we just stayed focused on consistency and execution.”

The No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport team missed the opening race at Daytona International Speedway due to an on-track incident during practice. The team finished in second place the following week at Sebring International Raceway, and drivers Hardwick and Heylen captured three additional podiums. This got the team back into contention for the championship amongst the leaders.

“This is the end result of that commitment by every member of Wright Motorsports, Ryan, Jan, Max, and everyone at Porsche.” said Team Owner John Wright.

“It’s truly like a storybook, childhood dream, right?” Hardwick said.

The No. 95 Turner teammates Auberlen and co-driver Dillon Machavern were the team to watch heading into the race in their BMW M4 GT4. They had a 30-point lead and were the team to bet on to win the championship, but the team finished 31st and 190 out of the championship.

Bill Auberlen and Eric Foss collided while racing for the lead into Turns 10A and 10B with 26 minutes remaining in the Fox Factory 120. The Wright Porsche assumed the lead and kept it to the finish of the race by 0.162 seconds over Scott Andrews. Wright Motorsports won the team championship and Porsche won the manufacturer championship.

“It is hard to put into words what I am feeling right now. To even have an opportunity to race for a championship is something that most people never have. To ultimately win it, at my hometown track, is hard to describe. It came down to our team yet again; Wright Motorsports.” said Hardwick.

“It has been an unbelievable season with this team in all series. Big thank you to Ryan Hardwick, to Porsche, to Wright Motorsports for putting this program together at the beginning of the season. It has been a super fun season, a few ups and downs but just really good hard racing and that is what we love doing. Definitely could not have done it without the team.” said Heylen.

Andrews and co-driver Anton Dias Perera finished second in the No. 21 Riley Motorsports Toyota Supra GT4.

If you are doing your own maintenance or repairs, you can find genuine automotive parts at https://sts-global.com/auto-parts and save yourself some time and money.

Top-10 finishers

POSST POSCAR NOCLASS POSDRIVERSTEAM/CAR/SPONSOR
13161Jan Heylen, Ryan HardwickWright MotorsportsPorsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
216212Scott Andrews, AntonDias PereraRiley MotorsportsToyota Supra GT4
34463Matt Plumb, Hugh PlumbTeamTGMChevrolet Camaro GT4.R
417134Kuno Wittmer, Orey FidaniAWAMcLaren 570S GT4
5885Andrew Davis, Michael McCannMcCann RacingAudi R8 GT4
6776Trent Hindman, Alan BrynjolfssonVOLT Racing with ArchangelAston Martin Vantage GT4
718187Trenton Estep, Mark KvammeMercedes-AMG GT GT4
85238Stevan McAleer, Patrick GallagherRS1Aston Martin Vantage GT4
91269Tom Long, Luke RumburgToyota Supra GT4
10146510Tim Probert, Brent MosingMurillo RacingMercedes-AMG GT GT4

How To Recover After A Truck Accident

Accident on the road involving black car and yellow truck in Phuket, Thailand

With an estimate of around USD $750 billion, the trucking industry is hailed as the most reliable goods transporters from manufacturers to consumers across America. This oversized freight usually weighs 25-30 times heavier than regular passenger vehicles, and a collision with one can be catastrophic and highly fatal.

Each year, roughly 470,000 road accidents involving trucks occur in the United States. Truck accidents usually happen due to several avoidable factors such as failure to wear seatbelts, overloading, brake failure, overspeeding, adverse weather conditions, and late-night delivery shifts. These accidents often leave victims with lifelong injuries, severe vehicle damage, and mental trauma.

Accidents happen instantly, and it’s difficult to assess what to do immediately in the aftermath. The immediate step you take after being in a collision is critical to protect yourself physically and legally. By contacting an attorney such as the Atlanta truck accident lawyer you will be able to fight for the justice and settlement that you deserve. It’s also to ensure that the person at-fault will be held responsible for the damages, medical treatment, and other financial losses.

To further address the situation, here are the steps you should follow:

Call The Authorities And Report The Crash

The first step you need to do after the collision is to call the authorities for help. The responders and the police will be immediately summoned to the scene after you call. When the police make an accident report, make sure to get a copy of it. It may not be used as evidence, but it may help authorities with the crucial information it contains. 

Here are the pieces of information you should see in a police report:

  • Statements from both parties involved 
  • Witness statement
  • Contact information of both parties involved
  • Police’s opinion about the accident
  • Sketch of the accident scene


Also, the insurance firm that holds the trucking company will do everything to put the pressure and the blame on you instead of the truck driver. If this happens, an experienced attorney will start building strong evidence to make the truck driver, the insurance firm, and the trucking company liable and compensate for your losses. If you’re looking for legal assistance, Luis Guerra accident attorney and others may be able to help.

Get Treated

Engaging in a truck collision may result in catastrophic injuries, so getting immediate medical help is vital. Not all injuries are fatal and extreme. Some injuries may not be easily seen such as internal or other serious injuries that may not immediately show symptoms. 

Furthermore, seeking immediate help may prevent your injuries from getting worse. You’ll also receive a proper diagnosis of your condition and a prognosis of its possible effects in the future. 

In addition, your medical report will state that your injuries are directly linked to the collision and didn’t happen in a different accident. And failure to get immediate treatment after the accident may stop you from receiving total compensation for your injuries.

Collect All Possible Evidence

Collecting possible evidence is crucial to prove what happened in an accident. By collecting pieces of evidence, you prevent the opposition from falsifying your claims and altering other information. You can take a picture of your injuries, the entire accident scene, the driver’s plate, or the damages done to your vehicle. 

If you’re not able to take evidence, have someone else get it for you. Gathering evidence can significantly affect your case’s outcome.

Exchange Information Between Parties

As the law states, you’re obliged to exchange valuable information such as your license number, insurance information and policy number, and personal contact details. Make sure to get all this information to speed up the process of receiving claims.

Furthermore, don’t forget to ask the driver if he’s driving a truck for work. If so, the trucking company should be liable for all the damages.

Check If There Are Witnesses And Get Their Contact Details

Look if there are people around the scene. They’re possible witnesses who could help you with your case. Don’t forget to ask for their contact details so your attorney can contact them later. Ask them if they could provide statements to the police. The information they provide is critical for the investigation since they’re unbiased and can give eyewitness reports. Their testimonies are powerful enough to receive truck accident claims. 

Seek Professional And Legal Assistance

If you’re not at fault, you should seek legal help from an experienced personal injury lawyer. With their expertise in the legal field, they’ll help you answer questions regarding the incident.

Moreover, if an insurance company asks you to sign something, don’t sign or do anything unless your lawyer tells you to. Make sure to ask your lawyer before making any unnecessary moves. Any mistake may backfire against you and may prevent you from taking total compensation.

Final Words

Truck collisions can be deadly, so be extra careful when driving. Before you plug in your keys, examine yourself if you’re in the right state of mind and free from the influence of alcohol. Trucks have a lot of blind spots; be sure to avoid them and make proper distancing a habit.

Also, always seek professional help when you need them. Even if you’re partly at fault, you could still receive up to 50% of the claims. Seek legal assistance to help you with your case and receive fair compensations.

Capps and Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Earn 2021 NHRA Funny Car World Championship

56th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
  • Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat driver Ron Capps and his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) team earned the 2021 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car World Championship, the second of his 27-year career, at the Auto Club Finals
  • Three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars entered the final race day of the season with a chance to win the world championship title
  • DSR driver Matt Hagan drove his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the semifinals at Auto Club Raceway and closed out the 2021 NHRA season as runner-up in the Funny Car championship to teammate Capps
  • Cruz Pedregon Racing and the Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat remained in the hunt for the Funny Car Crown throughout the “Countdown to the Championship,” finishing fourth in the standings, driver Cruz Pedregon’s best season performance since 2013
  • DSR Top Fuel pilot Leah Pruett closed out the season by qualifying the Direct Connection Mopar Dodge//SRT dragster No. 3 for eliminations and finishing in the Top 10 for a sixth consecutive season

November 14, 2021, Pomona, California – Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat driver Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing earned the 2021 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car World Championship in an exciting season finale at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California. It is the veteran driver’s second Funny Car title of his 27-year career, following his first championship win in 2016, and the seventh of the 19-year partnership between DSR and the Mopar and Dodge//SRT brands.

“On behalf of Dodge//SRT, congratulations to Ron Capps for his HEMI®-powered world championship performance,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “We’re thrilled to have Ron and the Don Schumacher Racing team demonstrate what Dodge//SRT performance looks like by earning their second NHRA Funny Car World Championship.”

“Congratulations to Ron Capps from all of us at Mopar on this hard-earned second career Funny Car world championship,” said Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care for FCA – North America. ”We appreciate the outstanding efforts during this championship season and thank them for proudly showcasing Mopar performance on the track.”

“What a crazy day and crazy season,” said Capps. “The fact that the Countdown came down to the Pomona Finals and was a real fight between the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats of Cruz Pedregon, Matt Hagan and I was really neat. And to see that as a manufacturer Dodge had the competition covered, all three of us were pretty proud of that.”

Capps claimed his second NHRA World Championship after powering his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to two event wins, three runner-up finishes and advancing to the semifinals or better on 11 occasions. Capps and his crew collected a category-best 36 round wins and four No. 1 qualifier awards while taking the points lead five different times over the course of the 20-event season.

“The Dodge Charger SRT body has been crazy fun to drive this year,” added Capps. “We came out with a new chassis and new body and this year this body has made me a whole new driver. It’s been fun to have more vision and to be able to see better and when you are going 330 mph that’s what you need.”

Three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars entered the final race day of the season with a chance to take home the championship Wally but once both No. 2 qualifier Capps and DSR teammate Hagan in the No. 7 position turned on win lights in the first round of eliminations, Pedregon was no longer in contention for the crown.

With a pending head-to-head showdown between Capps and Hagan in the quarterfinals, the 67-point difference, or the equivalent of a three rounds, between the two contenders added to drama. If Capps beat Hagan, he would immediately be crowned Funny Car Champion.

Instead, the two Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats put on a show with a side-by-side battle that saw Hagan emerge the winner following a 0.074-second reaction time and 3.948-second elapsed time run at 322.34 mph to edge Capps at the stripe despite a solid 0.043-second reaction time and 3.995-second drive at 319.45 mph.

“I knew it was going to come down to the wire but we really had to worry about Matt (Hagan),” said Capps, who watched from the sidelines as the possibility that Hagan could successfully defend his Funny Car crown hinged on him taking the Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the winner’s circle. “We qualified well but still ended up racing him in the second round. It was a close race but then I had to stand behind his car and wait to see how it played out. Really proud of the job (Crew Chiefs) ‘Guido’ (Dean Antonelli) and John Medlen and the whole team has done this year.”

Hagan needed to get his Mopar machine past Alexis DeJoria in the semifinals to have a shot at retaining his crown. The three-time NHRA champ was quicker on the start but by half-track his opponent slipped past for the round win, ending Hagan’s drive and reign as Funny Car champion.

“We’ve got a great team, a great car and at the end of the day there were three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats in the running for this championship, with (Ron) Capps, me and Cruz (Pedregon),” said Hagan. “Dodge is just doing an amazing job out there and I’m glad to be a part of it. Today didn’t go the way we wanted it to but to be in the championship hunt and be able to have a shot at it year after year is a testament to the performance equipment we have and the hard work this team has put in.”

With a category-best four wins this season, Hagan and his Mopar Dodge//SRT team’s runner-up finish in the championship was their 11th time closing out a season with a Top-10 result.

The third contender in the Funny Car title chase heading into the final race day was  Pedregon, who arrived at Auto Club Raceway fresh off his victory at the Dodge//SRT Nationals in Las Vegas and put his Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat No. 6 on the ladder with consistent qualifying runs. With a 91-point deficit prior to the opening round, any championship hopes for the Cruz Pedregon Racing team were contingent on Capps exiting in the first round.

While that didn’t happen, Pedregon lined up for the first round match against No. 11 seed Tim Wilkerson feeling positive about the consistency and progress his team made this season. Pedregon’s HEMI-powered machine had a good launch and was on the move when tire smoke early in the run brought to a close his team’s best season performance since 2013. The team finishes fourth in the points standings with two wins, a pair of runner-up finishes and a No. 1 qualifier award. Their Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat turned on win lights 30 times in eliminations this season, only the third time in 20 years that Pedregon has won 30 or more rounds.

In Top Fuel action, DSR pilot Leah Pruett’s solid qualifying performance put the Direct Connection Mopar Dodge//SRT dragster No. 3 on the eliminations ladder with a 3.706-second pass at 327.59 mph in the final session. That afforded the HEMI-powered machine lane choice over No. 14 seed Cameron Ferre for the opening round of the final national event of the season.

After a quick start, Pruett was chasing down her opponent when a loss of traction prior to half-track hampered her efforts and brought her race day to an early end. She closes out her season seventh in the Top Fuel standings, her sixth consecutive top-10 finish since joining Don Schumacher Racing in 2016, with an event title at the Pomona Winternationals and runner-up finish at Sonoma.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will return to the dragstrip in February with a 22-event season schedule that will again include five national events with Mopar Express Lane and Dodge//SRT title sponsorship.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES

FUNNY CAR:

Matt Hagan, DSR Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye

(No. 7 Qualifier – 3.956 seconds at 319.75 mph)

Round 1: (0.081-second reaction time, 3.935 seconds at 323.04 mph) defeats No. 10 Tony Jurado (0.091/3.973/322.34)

Round 2: (0.074/3.948/322.34) defeats No. 2 Ron Capps (0.043/3.995/319.45)

Round 3: (0.054/3.975/317.79) loss to No. 3 Alexis DeJoria (0.081/3.940/321.04)

“Congratulations to Ron Capps. He’s a true legend of the sport. He’s been out here probably more than twice as long as I’ve been racing. Those guys just outworked and outperformed us this year. At the end of the day, we get to come back out here and fight them again next year. At the end of the day and a long year, I just want to say I’m proud of (Crew Chief) Dickie Venables and my entire crew. We battled back after a couple of bad race days at Bristol and (Las) Vegas. I’m happy for Ron and sad for us. The sun will rise tomorrow and it’s time for us to work hard this off season and come back out here and do it again in a few months here at Pomona. Great job to Capps and the NAPA team.”

Ron Capps, DSR NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 2 Qualifier – 3.908 seconds at 329.83 mph)

Round 1: (0.093-second reaction time, 3.908 seconds at 325.06 mph) defeats No. 15 Terry Haddock (0.159/4.708/178.07)

Round 2: (0.043/3.995/319.45) loss to No. 7 Matt Hagan (0.074/3.948/322.34)

“I can’t even believe that just happened. You don’t want to go up there and wish someone bad luck. That entire Hagan team with (crew chief) Dickie Venables is incredible. I expected them to go win the race. I don’t know what to say. I’m just shaking right now. I stood and watched from that same Pomona Raceway grandstand as a kid and watched guys like (Joe) Amato and Gary (Ormsby) line up in the final round here years ago and to be doing this myself and to now have a second championship, I can’t say enough.”

Cruz Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 6 Qualifier – 3.939 seconds at 321.96 mph)

Round 1: (0.070-second reaction time, 4.808 seconds at 170.58 mph) loss to No. 11 seed Tim Wilkerson (0.053/3.922/325.30)

“I hate it for the team more than anything to end such a great year with tire smoke but Tim (Wilkerson) was a tough opponent. We had a lot at stake today but we accomplished a lot this year, we were in the championship conversation until the end with three Hellcat drivers. I respect and admire both those drivers. Really proud that we had 30 round wins. That’s a stat that shows how important consistency is. I’m excited about keeping that consistency through next year with this same group of people. We’ll look at what we can improve on but I look at this season as a huge success. I’m not a fan of the points-and-half format for the last race because that doesn’t reward what we have done over a stretch of time. Where we ended up is not indicative of the effort we put in and what our Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat accomplished this year. We were a solid third place car. It was a good season for us. We had good support and for three Mopar Dodge Hellcats to be there at the finish is indicative of how good these cars are.”

TOP FUEL:

Leah Pruett, DSR Direct Connection Mopar Dodge//SRT Dragster  

(No. 3 Qualifier – 3.706 seconds at 327.59 mph)

Round 1: (0.070-second reaction time, 5.053 seconds at 189.71 mph) loss to No. 14 Cameron Ferre (0.059/3.796/319.75)

“The level of confidence heading into the final race here at Pomona was extremely high – higher than it’s been in some time. The attitudes were positive. The takeaway from the first round loss is a straight mechanical malfunction. The clutch did not move. It wasn’t a tuning or personnel issue. Therefore, we had no power. It mixed up cylinders immediately. A couple pedal jobs and a weird sensation in the car when you’re not going anywhere, but also not smoking the tires. Sometimes it’s just necessary for a very hard reset. This entire team has a heart of gold. We represent the ‘never lift’ campaign for Dodge and we are a testament for that and sometimes when you never lift, a part does. We’re looking forward to next season. We couldn’t be more thankful to DSR, Dodge, Mopar, Pennzoil, all of our great partners at Don Schumacher Racing, and everyone at DSR for some amazing seasons.”

NHRA Championship Final Points Standings:
Following the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona
  
FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1. Ron Capps (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,676 (2)

2. Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,639 (3/1-Tommy Johnson Jr.)

3. Bob Tasca III – 2,586 (3)

4. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,555 (2)

5. John Force – 2,543 (3)

6. Alexis DeJoria – 2,526 (1)

7. J.R. Todd – 2,498 (1)

8. Robert Hight – 2,478 (2)

9. Tim Wilkerson – 2,361 (1)

10. Jim Campbell – 2,238

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1. Steve Torrance – 2,873 (11)

2. Brittany Force – 2,637 (1)

3. Mike Salinas – 2,614 (1)

4. Justin Ashley – 2,556 (2)

5. Billy Torrence – 2,498 (2)

6. Antron Brown – 2,427 (1)

7. Leah Pruett (Mopar Dodge//SRT) – 2,401 (1)

8. Clay Millican – 2,384

9. Shawn Langdon – 2,310

10. Doug Kalitta – 2,290

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Mopar

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, the brand expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Mopar is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Mopar and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar

Twitter: @OfficialMOPAR

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market) — making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: @Dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

What To Do At The Scene Of A Car Accident

Photo by Aaron Doucett on Unsplash

The sight of motorists at the side of the ride exchanging information after a collision has become all too frequent an occurrence. Practicing safe driving habits and observing due diligence on the road each time you get behind the wheel of a car may prevent you from being involved in an accident.

Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of car accidents to help you adjust the way you drive to avoid becoming involved in one. If, however, you find yourself in a crash, we’ve included some tips about what to do at the scene of an accident. Knowing what to do can preserve and protect your right to recover compensation from the party who was at fault.

Common causes of car accidents

Statistics support the fact that driver behavior causes accidents. The following common causes of car accidents point to the way you drive more than mechanical failures or weather conditions as increasing the risk of an accident:

·         Excessive speed.

·         Distracted driving.

·         Driver fatigue.

·         Impairment caused by drugs or alcohol.

·         Failure to yield the right of way.

·         Failure to remain in lane.

·         Careless or reckless operation.

·         Failure to obey traffic signals and signage.

Sometimes, a combination of driver behaviors may contribute to causing a crash. For example, driver fatigue may cause motorists to be unable to stay in the proper lane.

What should you do in case of an accident?

When the negligence of another motorist or other party causes you to be injured in a car accident, you may have a right to pursue a claim for compensation against the at-fault party. Doing or saying the wrong thing after a crash may impair the ability of a personal injury attorney to get you the compensation you deserve.

If you have an accident while driving a car, try to remain calm and remember the following recommended things to do at the scene:

·         Stop and remain at the scene: It is a crime in most states to leave the scene of a traffic accident, so put the car in park and turn off the engine. Stay calm and remain in your vehicle until you have performed the next step.

·         Check for injuries: Do a quick assessment to determine whether you have been injured in the collision. If you have been injured, try not to move around until paramedics arrive and examine you.

·         Check on the condition of passengers: If you feel up to it, check passengers in your car to determine if they were injured in the crash.

·         Report the accident: Call 911 to report an accident involving injuries. If you cannot make the call, ask a passerby or another person at the scene to make the call. Await arrival of police and paramedics before attempting to move anyone who was injured. To report an accident involving only property damage and no injuries, use a non-emergency number for the local police.

·         Watch for passing vehicles: Before exiting the car, look around to make certain that it is safe to do so.

·         Do not move your car: Unless the accident is a minor one without anyone being injured, leave your car where it came to a stop after the crash and wait for the police to tell you when to move it.

·         Be careful who you speak to and what you say: What you say at the scene of an accident can be used later by the insurance company or defense attorney for the party at fault to challenge your right to be compensated. Speak only to the police, and limit what you say only to what you know happened. Do not guess or speculate about the cause of the crash.

·         Document the accident scene: If your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, document the accident scene by using the camera on your phone to take photographs of the vehicles involved in the crash and the rest of the accident scene. Ask someone to take the pictures should your injuries prevent you from taking them.

·         Get the names of witnesses: Ask for the name and contact information of anyone who may have witnessed the accident and give the information to your lawyer.

If you suffered injuries in the crash, let paramedics examine you at the scene and take you to the hospital should they deem it to be advisable. Even if they do not recommend going to the hospital, arrange to be examined by a physician as soon as possible.

Accidents can be traumatic events

The chaos and anxiety following a car accident make it difficult to think and make decisions. Knowing in advance some of the things to do at a crash site makes it easier should you ever need them.

Chevrolet wins NHRA Manufacturers Cup for record-extending 26th time

Drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS, COPO Camaro contribute to success

DETROIT (Nov. 14, 2021) – Chevrolet is the top manufacturer on the drag strip for a record-extending 26th time.

Chevrolet Racing won the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series Manufacturers Cup for the fifth consecutive year and seventh time in the past 10 seasons. Chevrolet first earned the award in 1966, and no other manufacturer has won it more times. GM brands
Oldsmobile and Pontiac combined to win 24 titles between 1971 and 2006.

The Manufacturers Cup is awarded to the automobile manufacturer whose current-year models earn the most points for qualifying and category victories at NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national events and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional and divisional events.

Points are awarded to entries in Funny Car, Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock Eliminator classes, plus the Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series.

Points accumulated by Chevrolet Camaro SS and Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers in the professional and Sportsman classes were more than double the closest manufacturer.

“It’s an honor for Chevrolet to win the NHRA Manufacturers Cup for the 26th time. This award is a testament to the determination and perseverance of the Chevrolet owners, drivers and teams in the professional categories and the Sportsman classes who contributed valuable manufacturer points this year,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Motorsports and Performance.

Greg Anderson recorded his fifth NHRA Pro Stock world championship — and first since 2010 — by driving the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS to five victories and 12 No. 1 qualifiers in the 17 races. At Dallas in October, Anderson passed his mentor, Warren Johnson, to become Pro Stock’s career leader. With 99 wins, he is second to John Force’s 154 victories on the all-time NHRA list.

Four-time class champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Kyle Koretsky, Matt Hartford and first-year Pro Stock driver Dallas Glenn also visited the winner’s circle as competitors driving the Chevrolet Camaro SS won every race. Chevrolet has amassed 17 Pro Stock driver championships and 346 victories, including 228 with the Camaro nameplate. Glenn, with three victories, was voted the Rookie of the Year award winner.

Stanfield, driving the Janac Brothers Racing COPO Camaro, claimed the Constant Aviation NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series title for the second consecutive year. COPO Camaro drivers won seven of the eight races, including three by Stanfield.

Points contributions by 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force and three-time champion Robert Hight were also crucial to the Team Chevy effort. Force earned three victories and three No. 1 qualifier honors in his Chevrolet Camaro SS during the 20-race season. Hight scored two wins and three top qualifiers driving his Camaro SS.

The Top Fuel class does not contribute points to the Manufacturers Cup standings, but Brittany Force produced multiple highlights during the season in her Chevrolet dragster. Force, the 2017 Top Fuel champion, placed second in the standings. She recorded 12 No. 1 qualifiers and a victory at Topeka, Kansas.

The 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season begins Feb. 18-20 with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Hamilton retains championship hopes with a comeback victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix

Sir Lewis Hamilton rallied from a difficult start to a racing weekend by persevering in a late battle with championship rival Max Verstappen and winning the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos Circuit on Sunday, November 14.

The reigning seven-time F1 champion’s weekend started off on a rough note when he was penalized five grid spots when his team decided to change engines to his Mercedes. Then he was disqualified from starting on pole position for the F1 Sprint qualification event on Saturday, November 13, due to a technical infringement involving his rear wing and DRS system on his Mercedes. The disqualification relegated Hamilton to start in last place for the Sprint, which he made up for the misfortune by finishing in fifth place. With the five-place penalty grid still intact, Hamilton fell back to 10th place on the starting grid for the main event.


Rolling off the grid just inside the top 10, Hamilton, who methodically carved his way to the front, spent the majority of the main event battling towards the front with his teammate and pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas along with Red Bull Racing’s Verstappen and Sergio “Checo” Perez.

Then on Lap 48 of 71, Hamilton made a move to the outside of on Verstappen for the lead entering Turn 4. Entering the turn, however, both title contenders ran off the circuit as Verstappen retained the lead without being penalized.

Eleven laps later, Hamilton, who made another move to the outside of Verstappen in Turn 4, moved his Mercedes into the lead. From there, Hamilton pulled away and was able to cross the finish line more than 10 seconds ahead of the Dutchman to grab the victory.

The victory was Hamilton’s sixth of the season, third at the Interlagos Circuit and the 101st of his F1 career. With the victory and the points he earned, Hamilton decreased his deficit to Verstappen by five, from 19 to 14, with three Grand Prix events remaining to the schedule as he pursues his quest to win a record-setting eighth F1 title.

“It was one of the most fun races I’ve had in a long time,” Hamilton said. “Just a great start and just really bounced throughout. I definitely didn’t know whether or not that I would be able to overtake [Verstappen]. [The Red Bull competitors] are working as well as the team. It was just kind of crazy to think that where we started yesterday, last, and then, I got up to fifth yesterday, and then I realized I got to go back another five places, and then thinking, ‘By the time I even get there, Max will be gone.’ He wasn’t that far ahead when I finally got there. I just keep thinking what a great team I have behind me. We continue to push, continue to raise a bar and not say no to any answers really. From this weekend, we’ve been thrown a lot at us and it was easy to get down and not be positive and not do our job well. They did a remarkable job this weekend. 

“Success always feel sweeter when you face adversity,” Hamilton added. “Yes, when you start first and have success, there’s a journey to get there, of course, but it’s far, far greater. This is one of the most beautiful feelings I’ve had in a win, knowing that I’ve had all of those pushbacks, setbacks. We never let it stand in our way…I was gonna get [Verstappen] at some stage. That was how my mindset was. I’m coming for you. That’s where we’re headed.”

Like Hamilton, Verstappen rallied from a difficult start to the weekend when he was fined €50,000 for examining and touching Hamilton’s rear wing in Parc Ferme following Friday’s qualification session for the F1 Sprint. He rallied by finishing second in the F1 Sprint behind Bottas and took command of the lead right from the start, where he dominated the event and was eventually overtaken by Hamilton late in the run.

Despite coming up one position shy of notching his third consecutive Grand Prix victory in recent weeks, Verstappen, who won at Interlagos in 2019, continues to lead the driver’s championship standings by a respectable margin over Hamilton as he closes in towards his first F1 World Championship.

“I knew it was gonna be difficult, but I tried everything I could,” Verstappen said. “Clearly, we were just lacking a bit today. Also, top speed wise, it was really tough to defend. You could clearly see when they take a fresh engine, it gives them a bit more power. So hopefully in the coming races, that will die down slowly. At least it was fun. Of course, I would’ve liked to win, but realistically, I think this was a good result. I think it was good, hard racing. That’s how it should be.”

Meanwhile, Bottas, who won the F1 Sprint on Saturday and started on pole position, ran a consistent event to finish in third place, one position ahead of Perez, who managed to clock in the fastest time of the event at 218.453 kph on the final lap. The third-place result marked Bottas’ 10th podium result of the season as he is down to his final three races with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team before transitioning to Alfa Romeo in 2022.

“Lap 1 was quite disappointing,” Bottas said. “We had a very average start. Max had a good one and then, I tried to defend Checo [Perez] and went wide, but I tried. We’ll have a look at what happened. After that, I, obviously, kept pushing and we took the opportunity with the virtual safety car. I think the pace was actually OK today, so it was good to be there till the end. It was very close and was actually pretty close to Max…Really good points. That’s something to be happy about.”

Finishing behind the two Mercedes and Red Bull competitors were the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr., with both competitors being the last of six competitors finishing on the lead lap. The top-six results for Leclerc and Sainz were enough to stabilize Ferrari’s positioning of third place in the constructor’s standings.

Pierre Gasly, the first competitor a lap down, finished in seventh followed by Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon. Lando Norris, meanwhile, rallied from an opening lap puncture following contact with Sainz, to complete the top 10 on the track.

Sebastian Vettel was the first competitor to finishing outside of the top-10 points-paying results in 11th followed by Kimi Räikkönen, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi and rookie Yuki Tsunoda, who damaged his car following an early collision with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

Nicholas Latifi settled in 16th followed by Haas’ Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, who lost his front wing following an on-track collision with Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo.

Daniel Ricciardo retired in 19th place due to losing power in his McLaren, which marked his first retirement since the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix.

Lance Stroll rounded out the field in 20th place following his early collision with Tsunoda.

Results. 

1. Lewis Hamilton, 25 points

2. Max Verstappen, 20 points

3. Valtteri Bottas, 18 points

4. Sergio Perez, 13 points

5. Charles Leclerc, 10 points

6. Carlos Sainz, eight points

7. Pierre Gasly, six points, +1 lap,

8. Esteban Ocon, four points, + 1 lap

9. Fernando Alonso, two points, +1 lap

10. Lando Norris, one point, +1 lap

11. Sebastian Vettel, +1 lap

12. Kimi Räikkönen, +1 lap

13. George Russell, +1 lap

14. Antonio Giovinazzi, +1 lap

15. Yuki Tsunoda, +1 lap

16. Nicholas Latifi, +1 lap

17. Nikita Mazepin, +2 laps

18. Mick Schumacher, +2 laps

19. Daniel Ricciardo – Retired

20. Lance Stroll – Retired

Max Verstappen continues to lead the drivers’ standings by 14 points over Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team continues to lead the constructors’ standings by 11 points over Red Bull Racing Honda thanks to the strong performances from Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

With three races remaining to the schedule, the 2021 Formula One season will continue at Losail International Circuit for the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, November 21.

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Big Heartbreak in 2021 Finale

GT Le Mans championship sweep takes sting out of tough finishes

BRASELTON, Ga. (Nov. 13, 2021) – Corvette Racing had hopes of going out of the GT Le Mans (GTLM) era in winning style, but fortune had other ideas at the 10-hour Petit Le Mans. Despite setbacks to both Chevrolet Corvette C8.Rs in the final race of this year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the program still celebrated a second straight sweep of the full-season GTLM titles.

Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor wrapped up their second straight class Drivers Championship as the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R took the green flag for the race start. It also locked up consecutive Manufacturers championships for Chevrolet and the Team title for the No. 3 Corvette squad.

A mid-race accident, however, forced the No. 3 C8.R’s retirement just before the halfway point. Taylor was part of a long train of cars coming to a restart over a blind crest and crashed heavily into another GT car that had spun and stopped only seconds before. He was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Corvette Racing still had hopes of a ninth Petit Le Mans victory with the No. 4 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R of Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims.

The trio led a race-high 313 laps with all three drivers taking turns at the front of the field. While lacking overall performance, clever strategy and pit work kept the No. 4 C8.R at or near the lead for the first three-quarters of the race. Fuel savings by the Corvette drivers meant shorter fuel fill times, and the No. 4 pit crew helped capitalize by gaining 11 spots during the first six pit stops in the race.

In a fight for track position late and running second in class, Tandy was hit and pushed off-track by the eventual race-winning prototype. The impact broke the left-front suspension of the Corvette with 10 minutes left.

Corvette Racing will return to IMSA in January for the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in the new GTD PRO category. That effort will go along with a single-car entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – 2021 GTLM CHAMPION
TALK ABOUT WINNING YOUR FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP TODAY.
“A good first lap for sure knowing that we had clinched the championship You forget about that right away because you are in race mode. Everything was running super smooth for the first full stint or half-stint then I was able to save fuel and jump first and second place on the first pit stop. Then it felt the car came back to me and was really pretty good. I saw Nick (Tandy) behind me and we pulled a good gap over the other cars. So I settled in and everything seemed to be going to plan. Actually it caught me by surprise because yesterday the car didn’t feel very good. Somehow we had pace today. It’s just a shame about what happened to Jordan. I could anticipate something happening after the three or four restarts I did because traffic was very severe not only on the restarts but with all the class splits out there. There was a lot of tension you could see out there. As Jordan said, the good thing is he is okay that’s the best thing so what I’m very grateful for.”

ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON: “This year was a really good year. We started by winning the Rolex 24. It felt like a really long time since my last one. It was starting to be a little bit like last year. Corvette was super strong and probably even stronger this year. We just kept doing what we did last year, Jordan and I. We seem to be really good together. Everything was working really good. We just kept doing what we did. We didn’t think about the championship but somehow everything came back to us. Other than this year, my only downside was Sebring. I thought we had a really good race going until six minutes to go. Now for sure I’ll remember this championship. Not winning Petit does hurt, though.”

MOVING TO GTD PRO IN 2022: “We’re definitely looking forward to that. That opens up the opportunity to win this race, for one! This championship has really, really good racing. Getting back to race again at Daytona, Sebring, here and the other good tracks we go to, I’m really happy for that. As you can see today, GTD looks like good fun. I’m looking forward to that, too.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – 2021 GTLM CHAMPION
JORDAN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
“Just a little sore, thanks. It’s just really tight, a muscle spasm. I’ll be fine in a couple of days. Thankfully, Corvette, Chevrolet and Pratt Miller built a very strong car that kept me safe. It’s definitely a scary moment when you come over the crest in fifth gear and everyone stops on the other side. It’s something we can learn from in the future on restart procedures. But thankfully I got out of the car and am okay, and we still had another Corvette in the fight.”

TALK ABOUT THE RACING OUT THERE AND SECURING THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
“Like Antonio said, as soon as you start the race, you kind of forget about the championship and go for the win because it is Petit Le Mans. When you come into these events, such high-profile events, it’s unfortunate you have such a mix of drivers and classes that don’t mix well and makes the traffic and the racing so difficult. My first stint was kind of messy with traffic in and out. Then the way it worked we were starting in the back for that restart. The stack-up effect is always there and 10A and 10B, which was way more extreme today. It was unfortunate to catch us out, but definitely amazing to get a championship for Antonio and I and two in a row. Amazing to finish up the GTLM era with two championships like that and I think Antonio is the winningest driver in the class over its existence, so I am proud to have been his teammate for nine of those wins and looking forward to fighting for a third one next year.”

JORDAN, IN YOUR OPINON, WHAT HAPPENED?
“When we were restarting, I don’t know where we were in line, maybe 30th or 35th. The leaders were coming out of 10B and they start accelerating out of the chicane. So they start going and then when you get back to 15th or 20th, they are still braking in the chicane and it starts the accordion effect. We were so far back, we were pretty much flat-out all the way down the back stretch trying to kind of keep up with everyone. By the time we got to the crest, I was behind the 79 or 97 and at that point I’m in fifth gear. I’m just basically following him and trusting him that he knows where he is going and he could see where we were going. As soon as we crested, he went left and I went right. Basically where he had gone turned out to be the only safe place and when I popped up next to him, there were two cars stopped in the middle of the racetrack. I had nowhere to go so I slid into them about 110 miles an hour. Thankfully everyone was fine. The first thing I thought was I thought I broke my back, that is how hard it was and probably hurt the guy in front of me with how hard I hit him directly in the back. Thankfully he was fine.
“I already saw someone already and it is muscle spasms in my lower back. Thankfully nothing right now is too serious. When I got to the medical center, I was the worst one.”

PERSPECTIVE: “This was the first time I’ve had a big crash in an event… we’re a family of racers – my dad and my brother. It’s the first time one of us has had a big accident. It’s always a fear for a family member to get injured. Antonio’s family probably watches at home and they don’t get answers as fast as this if something happens. I knew Ricky was in the 10 car and when I walked over the wall, my first thought was that he was going to drive by this mashed car and he’d be looking for a thumbs up. I knew he’d be freaked out, so it was an emotional moment to be honest. It brings a lot of things back into reality. You’re on track racing these guys and wanting to beat everyone. But as soon as an accident happens, it becomes a lot more human and brings out that back into the big picture. So I want to say thank you to everyone on the team for the safety and the IMSA safety team, as well.”

SEEING YOUR DAD AFTER THE ACCIDENT: “Ricky was one of the first ones I saw on the track. I was on the wall and he was looking for a thumbs up, so I gave him a thumbs up just to put him at ease considering his position for the championship. Then I was carted off to the medical center, where I knew my mom and my girlfriend were outside. I called my mom from someone’s cell phone and told her I was OK and hopefully relay that message to my dad. I saw him about an hour-and-a-half later. He was still crying, which I can imagine. I hated watching him race for the same reasons, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for him to watch his kids every day. Thankfully to this point, it was smooth sailing but in this sport anything can happen. Today was a bit of a reality check for everyone. I’m sure everyone we’ll all be really happy once we get home safely.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SIXTH IN GTLM: “The season started amazing with winning Daytona. I think at Sebring we were in a very good position to win the race as well until we were taken out in the last little part of the race. Le Mans wasn’t too bad. So yes I can look back on a good season. And the boys can look back on an even better season because they won the championship. Today was very unfortunate. We are all happy that Jordan is feeling well and got away with just some muscle pain. Of course I would have loved to drive and not sit on the sideline for the whole race, but other than that it was super nice this season and we get to celebrate a championship.
“It is only one-and-a-half months and we are back in Daytona GTD PRO. New challenge and I think the competition is bigger. The field is bigger. That is going to be interesting. I can’t wait to be honest.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “Going into the race I said our biggest competition would be the Porsches because they had such a big advantage in performance. They already had a fast car last year and on paper, they should have been significantly faster which they were as we saw toward the end of the race today. It is kind of a shame for Corvette Racing that this happens. We don’t go into a race thinking we are going to lose. We use any possible advantage we can find, and today we used whatever advantage we could find to be competitive at the end. It was just a little bit too big of a mountain to climb. Then at the end, Nick got taken out by the Mazda. It happens all the time. As soon as we are out of their view they just decide to move over. We can’t just disappear, and it has ruined races for a lot of GT cars over the years. They’re never really ever penalized as much as they should. The race today was a great race for us for most of it. We were able to find ways to keep the car at the front. It didn’t end like we wanted it to, but we can look back on a great season. There were lots of highlights for both the 3 and the 4 car all year. Nick and I both were happy with the last half of the season with three wins in a row. And we get the Manufacturers and Team championships for Corvette and Chevy. I’m happy with all that. It’s hard to reflect on the good when you had a sour end. I’m very, very proud of this Corvette Racing team and proud to be a part of it.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “I was passing a GTD car late and the Mazda came through to make us three-wide down the straight into the braking zone in (Turn) 10. I was in the middle and all of a sudden the Mazda decided he would try to take the racing line. He was on the inside and came straight across the track and hit the side of our car and broke the suspension. It’s a shame that the season ends like this. Unfortunately into the night toward the end, I didn’t have the pace in the car to challenge the Porsches. It’s a shame not to finish on the podium, but we have a lot to be happy for this season. We wrapped up the Endurance Cup for the No. 4 car, we won a lot of races along the way and we got Manufacturers, Drivers and Team championships. All-in-all its been a successful season even if it ended very disappointing.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED FOURTH IN GTLM: “A large part of today’s race went really, really well. In the first seven hours or so, we were in the mix and showing like we were getting stronger and stronger. We had really good strategy and good pace to make the fuel economy work. We were at the front or near the front most of the time. As the temperatures got really cold, the pace dropped away from us and we couldn’t hang on to the Porsches in the final couple of hours. Unfortunately the race was lost on pace but the final contact on Nick was the final nail in the coffin. I had it happen to me in my stint where a DPi got into me. They just pass three-quarters of the way and then expect you to evaporate. It’s frustrating when we are trying to do our own thing. But I’ve loved the year. It’s been fantastic to drive the C8.R. The team has been brilliant. It feels a bit disappointing because we had a bad Sebring, a bad Le Mans and now a bad Petit Le Mans. But I’ve enjoyed every bit of it except for the results! I’m looking forward to more next year.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.