Senior staff writer
Drew Skillman’s Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro is firing on all cylinders as the third-generation driver won his third consecutive NHRA winner’s trophy Sunday in the Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.
Driving the Ray Skillman Auto Group Camaro, Skillman gave Chevrolet its 16th consecutive Pro Stock victory this season. Skillman, a manager at Ray Skillman Ford in Greenwood, defeated former teammate and two-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, 6.604 seconds to 6.609, for his third Wally trophy of the year.
Skillman credited last year’s midseason switch to engines prepared by Gray Motorsports for the team’s newfound success. Tanner Gray of Gray Motorsports is his teammate.
“The teams are working really well together,” Skillman said. “We’re a team. We have all their data, and we share everything we have.”
Skillman qualified No. 2 with a run of 6.572 seconds (210.08 mph) and reached the final race with elimination runs of 6.617 and 6.605. He is fifth in points; Gray is third.
Skillman swept NHRA’s western swing with previous wins in Colorado and California.
Only one event remains (Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 17-20) before the NHRA Yello Mello Drag Racing Series comes to Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg for the U.S. Nationals Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
Speedrome winners
Three winners emerged Saturday from the annual Triple-8 night at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Ben Tunny took the 25-lap clockwise oval; Chad Sizemore won the counterclockwise oval; and Jesse Tunny claimed the nightcap 50-lap figure-8 for late models after finishing second in the two oval features.
No driver has won all three races in the event’s history.
Late models return to the figure-8 for a 50-lap race Friday and a 75-lap event Saturday. The track championship will be decided Aug. 26 in a one-hour figure-8. Racing starts at 7 p.m.
The 41st annual World Championship Figure-8 endurance race unfolds Sept. 9 with $20,000 to the winner.
(Editor’s note: Team Chevy contributed to this article.)