Charlotte Motor Speedway Advance
Notes Race: Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile Quad-Oval)
Location: Concord, N.C.
NOTES
Visit EGR: This Saturday, the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing gift shop will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This will give race fans the opportunity to not only support their favorite EGR drivers, but can also walk out onto the viewing deck and look out onto the shop floor. Fans will be able to see up-close and personal the 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winning cars driven by Jamie McMurray and also take a look at what goes on inside the shop floor.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Tracker Boats Team
Statement from Jamie McMurray on the Recent Tornado in Missouri: “My heart goes out to all the people that have been affected by the devastating Missouri tornado on May 22nd, especially in my hometown of Joplin. It is difficult to put into words, the emotions I have when I see the devastation and destruction that was caused by this storm. My thoughts and prayers are extended to all the people who are dealing with so much loss. I would also like to thank all those that have reached out to me to express their concerns for my family. Although I don’t personally have any family in Joplin any longer, there are still many people there that need our support and prayers.”
All-Star Review: McMurray, making his sixth start in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, brought the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/National Wild Turkey Federation Chevrolet home in 17th position after the fourth and final segment of this year’s event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Coming into the non-points weekend on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, the No. 1 team looked to recall some of the Charlotte magic that they experienced with their success at the track in 2010. The team started the event from the ninth position and would spend the night trying to find the right balance and handle on their Chevrolet. After taking advantage of all the cautions and mandatory breaks to make necessary adjustments, the Bass Pro Shops/National Wild Turkey Federation team would restart the final segment in the back of the field before gaining a couple of positions in the closing laps to complete the event in 17th position.
Queen City: After winning last year’s Bank of America 500 and participating in the previous weekend’s Sprint All-Star race, McMurray will make his 28th start at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 in the Queen City. McMurray currently has five top-fives, eight top-10s, and has led 233 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Unites: Bass Pro Shops, one of America’s premier outdoor retailers, joined forces with The NASCAR Foundation in support of NASCAR Unites, a campaign designed to raise valuable funds and encourage volunteerism to help children lead happier, healthier lives. Beginning in time for NASCAR Day, Bass Pro Shops will offer outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to get their NASCAR Unites wristband for a $5 donation which showcases a supporter’s passion for children’s causes and encourages acts of service. The program will conclude on August 20 or while supplies last. Consumers who donate can get a NASCAR Unites wristband at any Bass Pro Shops store and through Bass Pro Shops call center 1-800-BASS PRO.
Lucky Number 7?: McMurray will be looking for his seventh NSCS win this upcoming weekend. His most recent win was at this track last year for the Bank of America 500 after starting fifth and leading 96 laps. McMurray received his first career win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway back in 2002, driving for Chip Ganassi.
Additional Experience: McMurray has also made 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Charlotte, his best start being on pole in 2008. His best finish in the NNS at this track was in 2004 where he finished second.
Outdoors Needs: Visit the local Bass Pro Shops to pick up all of your tailgating needs for NASCAR’s longest race, the Coke 600. Bass Pro Shops is located just 2.5 miles from Charlotte Motor Speedway at 8181 Concord Mills Blvd. and can be reached at 704-979-2200.
Curb Your Hunger: On the way to Charlotte Motor Speedway stop at the local McDonald’s to satisfy all your tastes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. McDonald’s is a convenient 1.7 miles from the speedway located at 7770 Lyles Lane.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 TargetTeam
All-Star Recap: Drivers came into the weekend each vying for the $1 million prize in a non-points race Saturday evening. This marked the second and final exhibition race of the 2011 season. With the Energizer bunny in tow, Montoya started on row four and maintained track position throughout the evening despite some concerns over handling. The crew brought the No. 42 Chevrolet down pit road whenever possible for fuel, tires and adjustments. On the final segment, the Energizer crew made some major adjustments and readied for the 10-lap shootout. Montoya restarted in the 17th position and was able to gain five spots before crossing the finish line in 12th.
Record-Breaking Weekend: Energizer broke the Guinness Book of World Records Saturday night for the most lights illuminated in a sporting arena. Just before the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the lights were dimmed and fans were encouraged to turn on their Energizer LED Headlights. Energizer broke the record by outfitting 65,000 fans with headlights at the speedway. Look for the Energizer bunny to return on the No. 42 Chevrolet at Talladega later this season.
Charlotte History: Montoya will be making his ninth Sprint Cup start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600. His career best in this race was in 2009 where he started eighth and finished ninth.
Target Race Carts Return to the Track:The Target At-Track Mobile Series will make their first 2011 appearance at a NASCAR race this weekend during the Coca-Cola 600. The Target Race Carts demonstrate the unique nature of the Target Racing program and also showcase its valued sponsor partners by handing out samples and coupons. The focal point of the program includes customized, completely operational and oversized Target Race Carts patterned after Target shopping carts. Trained Target street teams will drive and accompany these race cart vehicles at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday through Sunday.
Target Race Cart Fun Facts: · One of the Target Race Cart baskets can hold 32 gallon jugs of milk, 192 loaves of bread and 256 cartons of eggs…and a pack of gum. · They can also hold: o 16,666 10-packs of Energizer Batteries. o Over 3.8 million Glad ForceFlex Trash Bags. o And over 792,529 samples of Gillette Body Wash.
Text to Win: Starting this weekend at the Coca-Cola 600, Target will debut a new “Text to Win” campaign. Throughout the weekend, the Target street team will be handing out vendor samples and Target “Text to Win” cards to race fans from Target Race Carts. These oversized Target Race Carts will be showcased around track property all day Thursday and Saturday. The cards allow fans to send a text message to a specified number for a chance to win either the Grand Prize or 25 $100 Target gift cards. The winner of the Grand Prize will join Juan Pablo Montoya’s Target team as an “Honorary Pit Crew Member for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing” on race day. The winner and a guest will experience the race from the Target pit stall as a crew member and meet Target driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
Good Luck Target: This Sunday Target will take on 1,100 miles of auto racing. Target will take the first 500 miles with teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon in the Indianapolis 500 and then continue 600 more with Juan Pablo Montoya at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. Scott Dixon will start on the front row in second and Dario Franchitti will start ninth at Indianapolis while Juan Pablo Montoya will make his fifth start in the Coca-Cola 600. All three Target drivers are past winners of the Indy 500 – Dixon (2008), Franchitti (2007, 2010) and Montoya (2000), making Chip Ganassi the only owner to have three Indy 500 winners actively racing and one of two owners to have cars in both races.
CHASSIS INFO No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS):Chassis #1104. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has decided to bring Chassis #1104 to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis was raced last weekend in the Sprint All-Star race where McMurray started ninth and finished 17th.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1108. Crew Chief Brian Pattie elected to bring a brand new chassis #1108 to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
2011 STATS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./(Prev) Jamie McMurray 11 0 1 0 2 15.3 20.1 22/21 Juan Pablo Montoya 11 0 2 2 4 16.8 17.5 15/13
CAREER STATS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Jamie McMurray 305 6 8 39 94 19.4 19.1 Juan Pablo Montoya 156 2 7 20 45 17.3 19.6
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 Spotter: Lorin Rainer Prestonburg, KY Jack Man: Tracy Duncan Lincolnton, 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: Ed Watkins Maiden, NC Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu Waterford, MI Spotter: Tab Boyd Pensacola, FL Jack Man: Mark Jacobs Fort Walton Beach, FL .
