DODGE NEWS AND NOTES
. Kurt Busch is the only Sprint Cup Series driver who has been in the top-10 in the driver point standings all season.
. A Dodge has started from the pole in four consecutive Sprint Cup races – Brad Keselowski (Charlotte) and Kurt Busch (Kansas, Pocono and Michigan).
. Robby Gordon leads all current Dodge drivers in laps led at Infineon with 158 (fifth most of all active Cup drivers).
DODGE AT INFINEON RACEWAY
. Dodge Motorsports has two wins at Infineon Raceway (Juan Pablo Montoya (2007) and Kasey Kahne (2009).
. Dodge’s Kurt Busch started from the pole at Infineon Raceway in 2006. He led 29 of 110 laps en route to a fifth-place finish.
. Dodge has earned two poles at Infineon Raceway (Busch – 2006 and Kahne – 2008).
. Dodge’s Robby Gordon has a win, three top-fives and four top-10s at the 1.99-mile road course.
THE DODGE BOYS
. Dodge has 208 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.
. Dodge’s most recent win came at Kansas Speedway. Brad Keselowski led nine of 267 laps en route to his victory in the STP 400. The victory was the first for Dodge in 2011.
. Dodge teams have posted 48 victories since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.
. Dodge has posted wins each season since its return in 2001 including seven wins twice (2002 and 2006).
. Dodge’s Kurt Busch earned victories at the season opening Bud Shootout and Gatorade Duel at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
. Dodge claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.
DID YOU KNOW
. Drivers completing all 110 laps on the 1.99-mile road course will have made 1,100 turns when the checkered flag falls at Infineon Raceway.
. Dodge has won two of the last four Sprint Cup races at Infineon.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
. Last year’s Sprint Cup race at Infineon produced an event record 12 lead changes.
. Eight of the 22 races at Infineon have been won from the front row. Only two have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
. Kurt Busch is one of seven active Cup drivers to have led more than 50 laps at Infineon.
. The track was changed to its current 1.99-mile configuration in 2002.
FROM THE ENGINEER “As we travel to the first road course race of the year, teams have to instantly change gears to, well, thinking about changing gears for one thing. A road course means lots of slow parts of the track as well as lots of fast parts. More than a dozen transmission gear changes every lap is the norm. That will put a tremendous amount of strain on all the driveline parts, not just the transmission. Teams have to be ever mindful of the durability of these key components. The right driveline parts will help provide speed, but the failure of any one of them will bring a quick end to your day.” Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering
2011 SPRINT CUP SERIES SEASON BEST
. Kurt Busch Start: Pole – Kansas, Pocono, Michigan Finish: 2nd – Pocono
. Brad Keselowski Start: Pole – Charlotte Finish: Win – Kansas
. Robby Gordon Start: 30th – Daytona Finish: 16th – Daytona
INFINEON RACEWAY BEST
. Kurt Busch Start: Pole – 2006 Finish: Third – 2005
. Brad Keselowski Start: 36th – 2010 Finish: 35th – 2010
. Robby Gordon Start: 2nd – 2003, 2007 Finish; Win – 2003
ODDS AND ENDS
. Dodge’s Kurt Busch posted three consecutive top 10s in his No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger (Charlotte 4th, Kansas 9th and Pocono 2nd) before finishing 11th at Michigan. The second at Pocono is a season best.
. Brad Keselowski is one of three drivers outside the top-12 in the driver point standings with a win this season.
. The last driver to win three consecutive poles was former Penske Racing driver Ryan Newman (2007).
. There were seven cautions for 14 laps in last year’s race at Infineon. The record is nine (1990).
ON BEING SUCCESSFUL AT INFINEON: “Patience is certainly a huge part of it, but I think it goes back to what I said. You need to come there fully prepared and be competitive from the time you unload. Qualifying up front is really important; not only because you want to start in front of the other competitors, but it also allows you to get the premium pitting positions on pit road for the race.” Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T
DODGE MOTORSPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The two road course races (Infineon and Watkins Glen) could really shake the standings up and determine who makes the Chase. They’re two critical races. Marcos Ambrose and Juan Pablo Montoya are in front of me in points and both could easily win on those road courses, along with AJ Allmendinger. That would complete ruin any shot that I would have unless I win another race. I think, in reality, we just need to focus on our own path and what we can do and it will take care of itself. For us, we just need to run solid races.” Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T
DODGE QUOTES “I really do feel like we’re closing in on getting that first Cup road course win. They don’t give you anything out there; you have to scratch and claw and earn everything you get. I’ve seen our team continue to make progress and if we continue to get ourselves in the position to win, we’re bound to capitalize on it sooner or later. Hopefully, we can continue that progress at Sonoma (Infineon) on Sunday and finally win us one of these things.” Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T
“Really excited to come back home to Sonoma where we’ve had a lot of success. Last year was a great race for our team finishing second. We look forward towards capitalizing on that great run. If everything goes well, from qualifying to pit stops, and even some strategy involved, you could find the SPEED Energy Dodge Charger R/T towards the front. We have GNC as a partner this weekend. They are a great retailer for SPEED Energy and we hope to put them in victory lane.” Robby Gordon, No. 7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger R/T
