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AMERICUS, Ga. - As Sovereign-Star Racing's championship contender No. 4 Michael Ray continues to compete for the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock Motorcycle title, he will be joined by 19-year-old rookie teammate Chaz Kennedy this weekend Oct. 4-6 at the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
"I'm looking forward to going to Reading and running really well. We've been taking those baby steps forward, so now it's just time to keep up the momentum towards the championship. We're not out of it yet. Maple Grove has been such a truly magical place for our team. That's where Angelle (Sampey) got her first win with the Star Racing team.
"The pressure is really on for all the teams. With the performance gains at that track, it'll be a good chance for the teams to show what they can do. Especially with Chaz (Kennedy) coming out, I'm excited to see him get his shot. He doesn't know how fast that motorcycle is gonna go, so he has a chance to go out there and break some hearts this weekend," Ray said.
So far during his 2013 season with Sovereign-Star Racing, Ray has earned two national event wins, three other semifinal round appearances, two No. 1 qualifiers, low ET for the Norwalk event, and the top speed for Norwalk that also set a new track record. For the last nine races, Ray has also maintained a position within the top five competitors in the Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings, holding the No. 2 position for three consecutive races.
With only three races left to go in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Ray is only 17 points, or less than one round of competition, out of the second place position as he enters this weekend's race at Maple Grove Raceway.
"I have my sights set on the championship just like Michael (Ray) does, but you can't force it. You have to stay in the moment; make the next run be the most important one; and collect all the points you can. Then, by Sunday afternoon, we'll have a new story about where we stand in the Countdown to the Championship," Star Racing owner George Bryce said.
Kennedy, a Sovereign-Star Racing crew member and developmental driver for 2013, has been training with the team with the intention of making his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut aboard the team's Suzuki during the last few races of the season. After receiving the sudden news that former Sovereign-Star Racing driver Scotty Pollacheck would be leaving the team to ... Continue reading. |
