About GR
Gardella Racing, LLC, is owned and operated by driver Gary Gardella. The Gardella Racing team made their professional track debut in 2000, when their Honda Civic hatchback proved too fast for the street. The desire to improve and go fast, lead to upcoming years of chassis, engine, and motor program modifications, which have made Gardella Racing a leader in sport compact racing.
At the advent of the team, all members were voluntary and took time to work on the racecar after their daily 9-5 jobs. Despite ups and downs, the team kept a positive attitude and in a short time Gardella was able to hire a full-time crew chief. Their determination and commitment has lead to many successes through the years.
Gardella won his first NHRA career event at Gainesville (Fla.) in 2003 and later that year in October at Englishtown, he ran the first 8.4-second (8.459), 180 mph (180.31) lap in the history of the HOT ROD category. In 2004, Gardella Racing was runner-up in both sanctioning bodies and posted a career best elapsed time 8.086 at Englishtown, NJ. In 2005, Gardella Racing held the NDRA national record for elapsed time with a 7.92 and ended the season NDRA Pro 4 Cylinder point Champion. The team had an amazing season with 14 out 16 event winner positions and 16 final round appearances.
In 2006, the team jumped in to the Pro Fwd class. Gardella Racing ended the season number four in both the NHRA and NDRA event series. The independent team received factory support from GM for the Cobalt, which is equipped with ECOtec power and the Hydra-matic 4T65 transmission. This refined racecar is powerfully consistent and extremely competitive.
In 2007, the team debuted their purpose built full-tube chassis racecar for the Pro Fwd class with continued support from GM and new titile sponsor, Red Bull. The team came back from behind during the second half of the season and took the NHRA Pro Fwd point championship. The Red Bull DuPont Chevy Cobalt holds the national ET record with a 7.15@ 209.5 MPH! Gary Gardella was also named the Urbanracer.com "Driver of the Year."
For 2008, you can find the Red Bull Chevy Cobalt competing in the Pro Fwd class in both NOPI presented by NHRA and Battle of the Import events. The team is looking to have a repeat championship and record setting season. In addition, the GR Hot Rod Cobalt will be competing in 6 sport compact events with grass roots pilot, Mike Crawford in the cockpit.
The team also debuted their Pontiac Solstice GXP drift car with contracted talent Ryan Tuerck in the driver's seat. The team will be campaigning a stock Eco-tec motor program throughout the season with the intention of a championship finish!
