Homestead-Miami Speedway Advance Notes
Race: Ford 400 on Sunday, Nov. 22
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Location: Homestead, Fla.
Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Jarrod England No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
Chip Ganassi Racing Teams 2010 Notes
Record Breaking Year: 2010 has been a historic year for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. The following are highlights of on-track success across all three sanctioning bodies (NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM)
· Chip Ganassi became the first owner in history to win what has become known at the Triple Crown of American auto racing – the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in NASCAR and the Indianapolis 500 in the IndyCar Series.
· He became the first owner to win both IMS events in the same year – the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.
· Ganassi’s teams won 2010 championships in both the GRAND-AM Rolex Series (Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas) and the IZOD IndyCar Series (Dario Franchitti) – his 11th and 12th championships.
· All five of his teams and all six of his drivers found victory lane in 2010 to score a team record 19 victories (previous best was 14) – 4 in NASCAR, 9 in GRAND-AM and 6 in IndyCar
· The four wins by Chip’s NASCAR Sprint Cup operation, is the most in the organization’s history breaking their 2002 mark of three (Marlin 2, McMurray 1)
· Only Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Gibbs, RCR and Roush-Fenway have had multiple drivers win races in 2010
· Only Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have won more races in 2010 than Jamie McMurray (Harvick and Kyle Busch also won 3)
· Earnhardt Ganassi Racing leads all teams with the most Coors Light pole awards in 2010 with seven (McMurray 4, Montoya 3)
NOTES
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Team
McMurray at Homestead-Miami: McMurray has eight NSCS starts at the one-half mile Florida oval. McMurray has an average starting and finishing position of 15.8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS). He has one pole award at the speedway when driving for car owner Chip Ganassi during the 2003 season. His career best finish came in the 2008 season finale finishing third. McMurray has three top-10 starts, one top-five and three top-10 finishes with only one DNF due to a blown engine. He has also completed 2121 of the 2141 laps raced (99.1%).
Phoenix Recap: Jamie McMurray made a dramatic comeback during last Sunday afternoon’s event at Phoenix International Raceway. McMurray, who started in the fifth position, was running well inside the top 10 early on in the 312 lap event when he brushed the wall coming off of turn four on lap 70. The brush with the wall nearly knocked the spoiler off of McMurray’s No.1 McDonald’s Chevrolet. Hanging on by a thread, McMurray would be forced to fight terrible handling conditions, dropping through the field several positions. The driver would continue his battle to stay on the lead lap, but would eventually succumb to a long green-flag run. McMurray would ultimately receive the lucky dog and with a fixed race car, would begin to move through the field eventually making his way to and finishing in the 10th position.
Visit Local Bass Pro Shops: Race Fans looking to stock up on all of their tailgating or fishing supplies should be sure to visit one of the two Bass Pro Shops located within minutes of HMS. The Miami location, located at 11551 Northwest 12th Street is the closest location, just 30 minutes from the Speedway. Fans seeking a bit more adventure can make the one-half hour drive down the scenic Overseas Highway to the Islamorada location at 81576 Overseas Highway. For more information on store activities, location and hours fans can visit www.basspro.com.
Fishing Trackside: Jamie McMurray will join a host of other NASCAR stars as they come together to support the 9th Annual Hot Shot ‘Hot Rods & Reels’ Charity Fishing Tournament this Saturday, November 20th at the infield lake at HMS. This will mark McMurray’s third appearance for the tournament after competing in the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s season opening event on Lake Lloyd at Daytona International Speedway and this same tournament last season. The event benefits the non-profit Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and the “Speediatrics” unit at Homestead Hospital. The tournament begins at 8:30am ET, and race fans are encouraged to attend.
Consistency Streak: McMurray’s 10th place finish at Phoenix continues the No. 1 team’s trend of consistency since the mid-season Chicago race. Since Chicago, the team has had only two finishes outside of the top-20 in 17 starts, this includes two wins (Indy and Charlotte), two poles (Chicago and Fontana), 10 top-10 starting positions, five top-five, seven top-10, 11 top-15 and 15 top-20 finishes. The team has an average starting and finishing position of 12th.
McMurray vs. the Chase: While not in the Chase, McMurray and the No. 1 team haven’t given up on being one of the most impressive race teams on the track. The team has been on a hot streak throughout the nine Chase races. Compared to the top-12 Chase drivers this is how McMurray and the No. 1 Team currently stack up:
– Poles – Tied for 1st
– Wins – Tied for 2nd
– Average start of 12.4 – Ranks 3rd
– Top-five finishes – Tied for 4th
– Top- 10 finishes – Ranks 4th
– Average finish of13.1 – Ranks 5th
– Ranks 5th for the most points gained in the chase with 1175 points gained
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Home Sweet Home: Juan Pablo Montoya will return home to close out the 2010 season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Not only do the Montoya’s call Miami home, this weekend’s start will mark four years since Montoya climbed behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. In his inaugural race, Montoya started 29th and finished 34th due to an accident.
Homestead History: Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his fifth NSCS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Montoya’s career best weekend at HMS came at the 2007 season finale when he started 11th and finished 17th. He has only one DNF in his first visit to the 1.5-mile oval.
About Phoenix: Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team headed out west for the final time in 2010 to Phoenix International Raceway. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet found itself in contention for a win in the closing laps of the Kobalt Tools 500 until the team’s luck turned on them. Montoya was displayed in the second position chasing down the leader when the No. 42 ran out of fuel on the final lap and coasted across the finish line in the 16th position.
2010 Statistics: Montoya and the Target team have accumulated three pole awards, 24 top-10 starting positions, one win, six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes this season. He has led 411 laps, averages a starting position of 10.8 and a finishing position of 17.5 for the season. Montoya has set a career best for number of poles, laps led and average start in a season. He is just one top-five short of his career best set last season with seven. Along with these statistics Montoya currently sits in the top-10 in the following performance generated categories:
– Average start of 10.8 (2nd)
– 7141 Laps in top-15 (6th)
– 407 Fastest laps run (6th)
– Fastest drivers early in a run (7th)
– Quality passes (7th)
– Fastest drivers on restarts (7th)
– Average running position (7th)
– 733.08 Miles led (8th)
– Driver rating of 91.9 (8th)
– Green flag speed (8th)
– 411 Laps led (9th)
– Green flag speed (9th)
Montoya Makes an Appearance: Race fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway should be sure to stop by the Sprint Experience on Saturday, November 20. Montoya will be visiting the Sprint Experience to participate in a Q&A Session from 11:30am-11:45am (ET). The Sprint Experience is located outside of the racetrack on souvenir row.
Montoya’s Honor NASCAR Veteran Kyle Petty: Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie Freydell Montoya will honor NASCAR veteran driver Kyle Petty at this year’s BeLive gala on Thursday, Nov. 18 in Miami. The former NASCAR driver turned analyst on SPEED will be presented with the BeLive Humanitarian award for his ongoing work and dedication to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The award recognizes individuals that selflessly work towards helping others in need. Kyle and his wife Pattie created the Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son Adam who was killed in a racing incident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000. Victory Junction provides life-changing experiences for kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Since the doors opened in 2004, the camp has enriched the lives of more than 11,000 children and families and has welcomed children from 47 states and three countries.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1006. The No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boat team will bring chassis #1006 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This chassis has been used five times this season, most recent at Charlotte where McMurray started 27th and captured his third win of the season. This chassis has also captured the pole position three times at Kansas, Chicagoland and Darlington and has two out of three top-five finishes of second and fifth. It was also used in August at Michigan where the No. 1 started 19th and finished 20th. McMurray has led 143 laps with this chassis.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1015. Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the No. 42 Target team are bringing chassis #1015 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. The No. 42 team has used this chassis three times this season at Charlotte last month and both Michigan events. Montoya has scored two top-10 qualifying positions of fifth and 10th (both Michigan) and three top-15 finishes of seventh, 13th and 11th (Charlotte).
2010 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./(Prev)
Jamie McMurray 35 3 4 9 12 13.7 16.3 14/14
Juan Pablo Montoya 35 1 3 6 14 10.8 17.5 17/17
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray 293 6 7 39 92 19.6 19.0
Juan Pablo Montoya 144 2 5 18 41 17.2 19.7
TEAM ROSTERS
Tony Glover – Team Manager
Steve Hmiel – Director of Competition
No. 1 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion Boylston, MA Rear Tire Changer: Chris Taylor West Plains, MO
Chief Mechanic: Gary Putnam Vernon, CT Rear Tire Carrier: Adam Mosher Fort Mill, SC
Front Tire Changer: Cory DeMarco St. Louis, MO Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe Danbury, CT Catch Can: Eric Hoyle Asheville, NC
Jack Man: Tracy Duncan Lincolnton, NC Spotter: Keith Barnwell Hudson, NC
No. 42 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown
Crew Chief: Brian Pattie Zephyrhills, FL Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen Troutman, NC
Chief Mechanic: Heath Silver Asheville, NC Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode Statesville, NC
Front Tire Changer: Trevor Lysne Fergus Falls, MN Gas Man: Mike Bodick Norwalk, CT
Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu Waterford, MI Catch Can: Heath Silver Asheville, NC
Jack Man: TJ Ford Charlotte, NC Spotter: Tab Boyd Pensacola, FL
