Gravity Racing, Inc.

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Gravity Racing, Incorporated
GRI2.jpeg
Owner Packer Carroll
Series Competed In TM Lights
FARC Lowe Dollar Series
FARC Larry Lemon Super Series
BAAR Super Pro Series
Manufacturer(s) Lycoia Motors
Race Wins 1 (TMMC)
2? (TM Lights)
15 (FARC LDS)
3 (FARC SS)
1? (FARC Trucks)
1 (Formula Overdrive)
3? (CRL)
3? (BAAR/NPCC)
Championships 2017 Independent's Trophy
2019 FARC Lowe Dollar Series
2019 FARC Super Series
Current Drivers #71-Isaac Lightener (LDS)
Notable Former Drivers Packer Caroll (2002-18)
Henrietta LaVerne III (2009-2010)
Sara Hackson (2010)
Bruce Wilkinson (2010-2011)
Rush McCloud (2010-11)
Regina McCloud (2010-12)
Eric Jackson (2010-13)
Anthony Griffith (2011)
Cameron Taylor (2011)
Todd Wodarczyk (2011-2012)
Zach Gott (2011-14, 2016-18)
Shane Lake (2012)
Erik Draachreider (2012-13)
Rachel Rainsford (2012-14)
Han Yong-Sung (2013-?)
John Quackenbush (2014-?)
Caitlin Richler (2015)
Zidane Quackenbush (2016-2020)
Hunter Blaize (2016-2020)
Team

Gravity Racing, Incorporated, or GRI for short, is an American stock car race team fielded by Packer Carroll, who founded the team with business partner, friend and crew chief Rush McCloud in 2002. The team's shop is located in Columbus, Ohio. The team has primarily competed in the FARC Lowe Dollar Series and TM Lights, while also winning the TM Master Cup Independent's Trophy in 2017. In 2019, Packer purchased a 50% share in former Master Cup champions Frank Lawrence Racing, forming Lawrence Gravity Racing.

2009 Season[edit | edit source]

In 2009, Packer started his ARLA program, fielding just one car, the #71, which he also drove as one of the few driver/owners in the series, with Gasnier supplying the Dragoon. While his rookie season was not what he had hoped for, changing sponsors mid-season, from Shiny Wax to Grape Soup (which is still sponsoring the #71 today), he did pick up his first career win in the 2009 TirADE 100, and performed his patented Bronco Buster Burnout. He got his second career win in 2011 at Watkins Glen. He also fielded his own car in two TM Master Cup Series races as well, with a best finish of 15th at Decatur.

2010 Season[edit | edit source]

In 2010, GRI expanded to three cars in the Elite Series, one in the Street Stocks, and started a new CRL Modified Division team. GRI had just one win the entire season, but it was the most prestigious race ARLA had to offer, the 2010 Rockford 200, which was won by Rush McCloud in a one-off attempt. It was one of the biggest upsets in ARLA history.

2011 Season[edit | edit source]

In 2011, GRI expanded yet again, this time to four cars in ARLA, reformed the Thunder Trucks team, and added two new TM Lights teams to the fold. GRI has scored four wins thus far, two by former TMMC driver Todd Wodarczyk (2011 Verdugo 250 & 2011 Watkins Glen Twin 150K's), one by Anthony Griffith (Verdugo), and one by Packer himself (Watkins Glen).

2012 Season[edit | edit source]

In 2012, GRI expanded its CRL team to two cars. They also changed the ARLA #00 to #171. Also, due to the TM Lights contracting the number of entrants for 2012, GRI reduced its TM Lights program down to one car, driven by Zach Gott. After the 2012 MyCheese.com 250k at Road America, Shane Lake parted ways with GRI to focus on managing his restaurant, Dawgfather's Bar & Grill. Late model driver Isaac Lightener was hired to drive the #7 Kivett Spade for the rest of the season. Lightener scored the team's first pole at the 2012 Four Corners 200, and Todd Wodarczyk scored the victory in race 1.

Regina McCloud scored the team's first major open-wheel championship when she clinched the Formula Overdrive Road Course Championship at Mayville.

Preparing for 2013[edit | edit source]

In preparation for the 2013 season, GRI contracted its ARLA team to two full-time teams, with a possible part-time team. They shut down their CRL operation, preparing to move that operation to FARCE. In addition, one of their affiliated teams in Europe, Dragonrider Motorsports, which is owned and run by Packer's stepfather, will make their Dash Cup debut with Erik Draachreider, and will add a second Formula Overdrive team with Rush McCloud teaming up with wife Regina in 2013, and like its ARLA team, will use their own engines, the JLC Hailstorm engines, and as a result, will be renamed Hailstorm-McCloud Racing in Formula Overdrive.

Major Wins[edit | edit source]

ARLA Elite Series[edit | edit source]

1. 2009 TirADE 100 with Packer Carroll
2. 2010 Rockford 200 with Rush McCloud
3. 2011 Verdugo 250 Race 1 with Anthony Griffith
4. 2011 Verdugo 250 Race 2 with Todd Wodarczyk
5. 2011 Watkins Glen Twin 150K's Race 1 with Packer Carroll
6. 2011 Watkins Glen Twin 150K's Race 2 with Todd Wodarczyk
7. 2012 Four Corners 200 Race 1 with Todd Wodarczyk
8. 2013 Montgomery Motor Speedway Season Opener Race 1 with Rachel Rainsford

ARLA Tornado Alley Truck Series[edit | edit source]

1. 2013 Grape Soup Lemon-Lime 100 with Zach Gott

Hanmore Formula Overdrive[edit | edit source]

1. 2012 Watkins Glen 139 with Regina McCloud

Championships[edit | edit source]

1. 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive Road Course Championship with Regina McCloud

Team Trophy Case[edit | edit source]

Packer Carroll[edit | edit source]

2009 ARLA Grand Detour Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2009 ARLA Clairmont Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2009 ARLA Milwaukee Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2009 TirADE 100 @ Boston Winner's Trophy 2009 ARLA Lake Afton Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2009 TMMC Round of Decatur Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2009 ARLA NitroADE Q-Race Driver of the Year FCA Award 2009 ARLA Most Popular Driver FCA Award 2010 ARLA 4th Place Points Trophy 2010 ARLA LendMaster Comeback Driver of the Year FCA Award 2010 ARLA Competitive Spirit FCA Award 2009 ARLA Soda World Team of the Year FCA Award 2011 TM Lights Round of Las Vegas Bronze Trophy 2011 Watkins Glen Twin 150k's Winner's Trophy 2011 ARLA 16th Place Points Trophy 2011 ARLA Most Popular Team FCA Award

Rush McCloud[edit | edit source]

2009 TM Junior Series Round of Virginia Bronze Trophy 2009 TMJS Round of Japan Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2010 CRL Life Takes VISA Loudon Shootout Bronze Trophy 2010 Rockford 200 Winner's Trophy 2012 CRL Sony HD 50 Red Robin Pole Award 2012 CRL Life Takes VISA Loudon Shootout Red Robin Pole Award

Regina McCloud[edit | edit source]

2011 Formula Overdrive 4th Place Points Trophy 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive Missouri Grand Prix Bronze Trophy 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive Gold Trophy: Watkins Glen 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive Watkins Glen 139 Winner's Trophy 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive Road Course Championship Trophy 2012 Hanmore Formula Overdrive 5th Place Points Trophy 2013 Avril Milwaukee 100 Bronze Trophy

Todd Wodarczyk[edit | edit source]

2011 ARLA Verdugo 250 Winner's Trophy 2011 Watkins Glen Twin 150k's Winner's Trophy 2011 ARLA Roberto Moreno FCA Award 2012 ARLA Four Corners 200 Winner's Trophy

Isaac Lightener[edit | edit source]

2012 ARLA Four Corners 200 Cromwell Pole Award 2012 ARLA B.B. Wolf's House Special @ Memphis Cromwell Pole Award 2013 OVLMS Allstate 150 @ Grundy County Winner's Trophy 2013 OVLMS Pit Stop Donuts Grand Prix of Cleveland Pole Award 2013 OVLMS R-Kuh Brakes 100 @ Salem Winner's Trophy

Anthony Griffith[edit | edit source]

2011 ARLA Verdugo 250 Smash Beer Pole Award 2011 ARLA Verdugo 250 Winner's Trophy

Ronaldo Ventura[edit | edit source]

2011 ARLA Formula Overdrive California Grand Prix Bronze Trophy

Rachel Rainsford[edit | edit source]

2012 ARLA Mini Indy 500 Q-Race Winner's Trophy 2012 ARLA 10th Place Points Trophy 2013 ARLA Montgomery Motor Speedway Season Opener Winner's Trophy

Eric Jackson[edit | edit source]

2010 ARLA Roberto Moreno FCA Award 2012 ARLA 14th Place Points Trophy

Amanda Johnson[edit | edit source]

2012 CRL Modified Division Caterpillar Showdown Down Under Silver Trophy

Zach Gott[edit | edit source]

2013 ATATS Grape Soup Lemon-Lime 100 @ Manhattan Winner's Trophy

Han Yong-Sung[edit | edit source]

2013 TM Lights @ California Silver Trophy