Johnny Gray
NHRA
NHRA Gatornationals will be a big family affair for Johnny Gray, racing sons at Tire Kingdom event
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (March 6, 2012) - Johnny Gray is ready for some luck to fall his way and no time would be better than this weekend during the March 8-11 NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals presented by NAPAFilters.com at Gainesville, Fla.
Johnny's season has gotten off to a satisfactory start but it isn't what he and crew chief Rob Wendland expected.
A part malfunction sidelined the Tire Kingdom/Service Central Dodge Charger R/T in the first round of the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series opener at Pomona.
Two weeks ago, the team rallied to earn the second No. 1 qualifying position at the NHRA Arizona Nationals but his car developed tire shake in the second round in a loss to eventual event winner Robert Hight, whose Funny Car lost traction.
Gray now is prepared for one of the busiest weekends of his season. Not only are sons Shane and Jonathan also competing at Gainesville, but Tire Kingdom/Service Central sponsors all three of their cars and also is sponsoring the Gatornationals.
"Yeah, we'll be pretty busy but it's fun and all the family will be there and that's all good," said Johnny, 58, who has a winter home with wife Terry near West Palm Beach, Fla.
Shane, 39, competes full time in the NHRA Pro Stock category and Jonathan, 30, races part time in Competition Eliminator out of the family's Gray Motorsports shop near Charlotte, N.C.
"We'll be burning up some gasoline in the scooter going from pit to pit," Gray says.
"We're just all coming down to have a big time and put on the best show we can for the fans and our sponsors."
Gray is the latest member of the Don Schumacher Racing family to live in the Sunshine State. DSR team owner Don Schumacher has lived near Stuart the past few years.
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