Johnny Gray failed Saturday to make the Pro Stock field for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, hunting but never finding the electrical gremlin in his NTB Pontiac GXP.
 
But he still has something exciting to focus on this weekend -- his blueprint for the 2011 season.
 
During qualifying Saturday, he addressed rumors that he will be moving to Don Schumacher Racing or possibly another team -- perhaps returning to the Funny Car class.

However, he played his cards close to the vest, saying he knows that TCB Retail Group is making plans for him but he doesn't know what they are.

Johnny Gray failed Saturday to make the Pro Stock field for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, hunting but never finding the electrical gremlin in his NTB Pontiac GXP.
 
But he still has something exciting to focus on this weekend -- his blueprint for the 2011 season.
 
During qualifying Saturday, he addressed rumors that he will be moving to Don Schumacher Racing or possibly another team -- perhaps returning to the Funny Car class.

However, he played his cards close to the vest, saying he knows that TCB Retail Group is making plans for him but he doesn't know what they are.
 
"I know nothing. I've heard all kinds of rumors, but I have no confirmations on anything," Gray said.
 
"In the next couple of days I'll know for sure what I'm going to do. At this time, I flat don't know. We do not know what the future holds right at the minute. We've an a horrible past three races with the blue NTB car. We've got some electrical gremlins in it somewhere we can't find. At the moment all we're concentrating on is trying to see if we can get it in the show.
 
"I know there are a lot of rumors out there, but at this point in time they are strictly rumors. When I'm told what my plans are, I'll be glad to let you know what my plans are. TBC Retail Group is the boss."
 
He said he has ruled out driving a dragster -- called them "just no fun" -- but said he is open to competing in either the Pro Stock or Funny Car class.
 
"I'm just like a duck -- if it don't rain, I'll walk. We'll see what happens," Gray said. "I'll drive whatever they tell me to drive. I'd be just as happy in a Pro Stock car or a Funny Car. But I won't drive a dragster -- I'll walk first. They're just no fun. Personally I would rather somebody pull me around the pits in a Funny Car than to make a run in a dragster."  
 
He said he and his wife Terry had a drink during the recent Las Vegas weekend with Don Schumacher and his own sponsor and the sponsor's wife. "I used to drive for Don a little bit," Gray said, "and we talked about that and how much fun we had."
 
He confirmed, "There's been a couple of discussions with a couple of teams that's not just Schumacher, yes. I will do and I will drive whatever it is that TBC Retail Group asks me to drive. That's my job as their representative and they're my sponsor."
 
Gray said son Shane, who drives the Big O Tires/Tire Kingdom Pontiac GXP, "will be driving a car that is sponsored by TBC Retail Group next year, and so will I."
 
He said Shane will remain in the Pro Stock class in 2011: "No matter what, Shane will stay right here."
 
He has a new Pro Stock car at Jerry Haas' shop but isn't sure what color it will be painted or what role it will play in his or his son's 2011 campaigns.  
 
"I have a brand-new Jerry Haas car that's sitting there in primer, waiting for orders on how it's to be painted. When they tell me whether to paint it Service Central, NTB, Big O, Merchants, Tire Kingdom, whatever they want -- I'll paint it that color. If they tell me, 'No. we're not going to do that. You need to go drive a car for So-and-so,' then that's what I'll do."
 
Top Fuel driver Dom Lagana has a deal for seven races with Big O Tires sponsorship next year. But Gray said he knows nothing about a possible alliance with the longtime independent racing family. "I have absolutely no information at this time exactly what they're going to have me do," Gray said.
 
Lynn Berger of TBC Retail Group and some of his group were in the lounge of Gray's hauler Saturday afternoon, ironing out details of their proposal to Gray.

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