Pocono Raceway Advance Notes
Race: 5-hour ENERGY 500 on Sunday, June 12
Track: Pocono Raceway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Location: Long Pond, Pa.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Pocono Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Jeff Dowling No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team
Pocono History: McMurray will be making his 17th start at Pocono Raceway when the team returns to the triangle shaped speedway in the mountains of Pennsylvania. His best start came in the spring of 2005 when he won the pole. McMurray’s best finish of ninth came during the June 2004 race at the speedway, and he matched that finish again in August 2008.
Kansas Review: Starting from the sixth-position in the STP 400, the McDonald’s team struggled with handling issues on the No. 1 Chevrolet in the early stages of the race. The crew worked tirelessly throughout the event to try to find the right balance on the car. After a late race pit road penalty, the teams decision to use fuel strategy to gain positions was foiled, and the McDonalds Chevrolet came home with a 29th-place finish.
In the Points: The 29th place finish at Kansas drops McMurray and the No. 1 Team one spot to 27th in the NSCS Championship standings. He is now 92 points out of 10th and only 41 points out of the 20th place wild card cut-off.
Visit to Joplin: Prior to the race in Kansas last week, Jamie McMurray visited the tornado-ravaged town of Joplin, Missouri and offered support to those in his hometown. During his trip to the devastated area, he spoke with many who were directly affected by the tornado. While there, he visited his childhood home and was given a first-hand account of how the owners Thomas and Donna Tinker took cover to survive the storm.
McMurray on Joplin: In a statement, McMurray said, “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.”
Making a SPLASH: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced an associate sponsorship agreement for the remainder of the 2011 season with SPLASH Products Inc. SPLASH a national provider of seasonal safety products based in Eagan, MN,. Will have its logo prominently displayed on several assets for the #1 team including the team’s transporter, on the uniform of Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray and his #1 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevy.
Cool Off With a Summer Treat: Make a pit stop on the way to or from the track at one of several area McDonald’s restaurants including – Route 940 Oak Street Shopping Center, Mt. Pocono PA, 18344 (570) 839-3290 or Route 209 & 115 Brodheadsville, PA 18322 (570) 992-5337 and try a refreshing Real Fruit Smoothie, McCafé Shake or Frozen Strawberry Lemonade to break the summer heat!
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Last Weekend: Juan Pablo Montoya qualified the No. 42 Target Chevrolet on the outside pole for the STP 400 and led the first lap of the race. Montoya would lead a total of 10 laps on Sunday. As the track temperatures rose, the handling of the No. 42 became a concern. The Target crew made adjustments and utilized fuel strategy to get Montoya back up toward the front. With 20 laps remaining, the Target Chevrolet had moved back into the top-10. As Montoya took the white flag, he radioed to the crew that the car had run out of fuel. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet coasted across the finish line in 17th position.
Pocono History: This weekend Montoya will be making his ninth career start at Pocono Raceway and hopes to better his August 2009 finish of second at the 2.5-mile track with a win. His best start came last August when the No.42 rolled off of the grid in second. With the second in 2009, Montoya has one top-five and three top-10’s to his credit at the “Tricky Triangle.”
In the Points: Juan Pablo Montoya’s 17th place finish at Kansas Speedway moves the No. 42 Team into a tie for 14th in the NSCS point standings. Halfway through the Sprint Cup Series regular season, Montoya finds himself only 25 points out of 10th place and the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Getting Less “Tricky”: In his last four starts at Pocono Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya has racked up one top-five and three top-10 finishes. Prior to 2009, his best finish at “The Tricky Triangle” was a 16th place finish in August of 2007. His qualifying efforts have also improved with Montoya starting inside the top-10 three times out of the last four races at Pocono.
“Front Row Juan”: Last Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway marked the 16th time that Juan Pablo Montoya started on the front row in his career. His first ever front row start came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July of 2007.
2011 in the Numbers: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is one-third of the way into 2011, and Montoya has had a whirlwind season thus far. In 13 starts, Team Target has two top-five and four top-10 finishes and has led a total of 57 laps. He also has two poles and has been running at the finish of every race this season. Montoya currently sits tied for 14th in the point standings, 25 points out of 10th.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 McDonalds Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1102. Crew Chief Kevin Bono Manion has elected to bring Chassis number #1102 to Pocono Raceway. This is the same chassis that McMurray drove earlier in 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and most recently at Dover International Speedway in May.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1103. Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the No. 42 team will bring chassis #1103 to Pocono Raceway this weekend. The last time Montoya used this chassis, he finished in the 12th position in the Sprint All-Star Race. Prior to the race at Charlotte, this chassis started on the pole and had a tenth-place run at Auto Club Speedway in March of 2011.
