Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes NASCAR Nationwide Release Sam’s Town 300 Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday, March 5, 2011 www.media.chrysler.com www.twitter.com/teamdodge
DODGE SPEAKS “We’ve spent the last year redefining and building the Dodge brand. Now we’re going to show customers what the future of Dodge will look like. At Dodge, we’re passionate about driving; we look forward to it. We think a car should have a personality, be powerful and fun. We’re going to put that Dodge mojo into the entire lineup, from compact cars to minivans to SUVs and everything in between.”
Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Dodge Car brand, Chrysler Group LLC
DODGE QUOTES: SAM’S TOWN 300 “Things happen in a hurry at Las Vegas. Wrecks happen fast because you can quickly run up on another competitor. You have to make decisions on the fly because these Nationwide (Series) cars run on momentum as much as anything, due to the tapered carburetor spacer. You can’t waste time getting around someone.
“I’ve worked hard to improve my driving at the mile-and-a-half tracks, so I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger this weekend.” Brad Keselowski, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T
DID YOU KNOW • Dodge set the Las Vegas Motor Speedway qualifying record for the Nationwide Series last year when Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski turned a lap at an average speed of 185.427 mph. • Special Dodge presentation Sunday in Neon Garage.
DODGE IN THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES • Dodge won its first Nationwide championship last year when Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski won the driver’s title.
• Dodge will field two entries in the Nationwide Series from the Penske Racing stable. Sam Hornish Jr. will join teammate Keselowski for a limited race schedule in 2011. • The Dodge Challenger R/T will serve as Dodge’s entry for all 35 races this season in the Nationwide Series.
STAT OF THE WEEK • Of the 6,488 laps competed last year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Dodge’s Brad Keselowski led 1,147 of those circuits (17 percent).
FROM THE PITBOX “This season definitely has not started like we had hoped it would. The good news for us is that we don’t need to change what we are doing. The most important thing for this No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team is to continue to put good cars on the track and we will get this team rolling to the finishes that we deserve. We’ve had two solid top-five runs going in both races to start the season, but circumstances out of our control led us to poor finishes.
Todd Gordon, crew chief, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge
BRAD KESELOWSKI – No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T Career Starts: 141 Wins: 12 Top Fives: 59 Top 10s: 82 Poles: 8 Career Highlights: • Keselowski’s last NASCAR Nationwide Series win came at Gateway last fall (five races). • He is the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion • Earned Penske Racing its first NASCAR champion last season. • In 2010, he set career-bests in wins (6), top five’s (26), top 10s (29) and poles (5).
• Set a NASCAR record 102 consecutive Nationwide Series races without a DNF (Did Not Finish) that ended at this year’s season-opening race at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
• First Nationwide victory came at Nashville Superspeedway (2008).
KESELOWSKI AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY • Keselowski is making his fourth-career Nationwide Series start at LVMS. • Highest starting position: Pole – 2010 race • Highest finishing position: 4th – 2010 race • Average starting position: 13.8 • Average finishing position: 22 • Laps Led: 13 • Career-best finish at Las Vegas, a fourth in 2010.
