New Hampshire Motor Speedway Advance Notes
Race: Sylvania 300 on Sunday, Sept. 25
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile oval)
Location: Loudon, N.H.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
NOTES
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates on their official team Twitter page.
Follow the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2011 season @EGRTeams.
Get Your “App” in Gear: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM launched one of the first mobile applications for the high-velocity world of racing. This new application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, IZOD IndyCar Series and Rolex GRAND-AM Series.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 AXE Cool Metal Team
Gone fishin’: Jamie McMurray will take part in the Grand Opening of the newest Bass Pro Shops store on Wednesday Sept. 21st in E. Peoria, Ill. McMurray will join Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris along with celebrities and local dignitaries in the ribbon cutting ceremony and sign autographs for fans in attendance of the opening for the 57th Bass Pro Shops retail location.
New Hampshire History: McMurray has made 17 starts at New Hampshire since his first race there in 2003. In those starts, he has two top-fives, four top-10s and has been running at the finish of 14 events. He has also completed more than 92% of the laps run (4,678 of 5,067) there and has led 32 of them. His best start at NHMS came in September 2003 when he started third and his best finish was last fall when he took the checkered flag in third.
McMurray with Ganassi at NHMS: McMurray has made nine starts at NHMS with current team owner Chip Ganassi. In races with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, he has scored both of his career top-fives, all four of his career top-10s, three starts inside the top-10 and all 32 of his career laps led. His average start is 14.8, average finish is 18.4 and he has completed 2,440 of 2,702 laps run (90%) at the track in those nine races.
AXE Cool Metal: AXE is now the world’s most popular male grooming brand, becoming an industry leader in over 60 countries. Everyone loves a guy who keeps his cool, no matter how much things heat up. The new Cool Metal shower gel and deodorant bodyspray, infused with menthol, quartz and zinc, will cool you down and leave you feeling ready for anything.
Unilever’s Global Vision: With more than 400 brands focused on health and wellbeing, no company touches as many people’s lives in as many different ways as Unilever. Their portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. They produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Suave. Since Unilever was established in the 1890s, their social mission has been at the core of their business, bringing innovation, sustainability and corporate responsibility to the forefront of their strategy.
Chicago Recap: Following two practice sessions on Friday, the No. 1 team felt they had a car that would be very strong for the 400-mile race. The McDonald’s team had to wait until Monday morning to prove their strength, as persistent rains forced postponement of the race. When the green flag finally flew, McMurray had his Chevrolet running strong, as high as seventh-place and never fell lower than his 14th-place qualifying position. However that solid run came to an abrupt end when the engine on the McDonald’s Chevrolet let go, resulting in a 38th-place finish.
In The Points: With their 38th-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway, the No. 1 team fell one position in the point standings to 26th. They are now 140 points behind 13th-place, which is the highest points position a “non-chase” driver and team can achieve.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Degree Men Team
Loudon History: This weekend, Montoya will be making his 10th start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In his previous nine races he has one top-five, one top-10, two poles (Fall 2009, Spring 2010) and has been running at the finish eight times. His best finish at NHMS came in September of 2009 when he brought the No. 42 home in third. He has completed 99% of the laps run (2,634 of 2,659) at the track since 2007 and has led 147 of them (5.5%).
Birthday Wishes: Montoya just celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday (September 20th). He has made four career NSCS starts in races that fell either on his birthday or on the following weekend. In those starts, he has scored one top-five, two top-10s, started inside the top-five three times (Including a pole at Loudon in the Fall of 2009), and led 105 laps. He has also completed more than 96% of the laps (1,450 of 1,500) in those races and has had three different primary sponsors on his car (This weekend’s partnership with Degree Men makes it four in five races).
Making Moves: Montoya has made nine career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but in that short time, he has moved toward the top of the charts in many statistical categories. Out of all of the drivers who have started a race at the “Magic Mile” since 2005, he ranks third in “Quality Passes” (Passes of a top-15 car made under green) with an average of 33.8 per race. The only two drivers with more are Jeff Gordon (36.2) and Denny Hamlin (35.2). Montoya is also fourth in the category of “Fastest on Restarts” (Average speed of first two laps under green) with an average speed of 120.712 mph.
Homestead Ticket Package: Fans who plan to attend the season finale Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway should take advantage of the “Race Day with Juan” ticket package. The package, which fans may purchase for $142, will include:
. Ticket to Sprint Cup Championship-finale Ford 400 (Turn 1, rows 11-21)
. Private pre-race meet-and-greet with Montoya in the infield Driver’s Meeting Room
. Pre-Race Pit Pass access to front-stretch for photos, autographs, Q&A sessions
. No. 42 Target commemorative lanyard and credential holder
. $42 donation to the Formula Smiles Foundation headed by Montoya and wife Connie
For more information visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com/Montoya
Adrenaline Rush: New Degree MenR V12TM Juan Pablo Montoya special edition, available exclusively at Target, is designed to respond to increases in adrenaline and provide top protection when men need it most. To support the new stick, Degree MenR is giving NASCAR fans a sneak peek inside the adrenaline-fueled racing life of Juan Pablo Montoya and his Earnhardt Ganassi teammates at Facebook.com/DegreeMen. Along with this, Degree debuted the first-ever QR code to be featured on a racecar. This QR code, which directs consumers to Degree’s homepage, can be seen on the rear quarter-panels of the No.42.
Last Weekend at Chicago: When the green flag waved Monday morning, Montoya began to report handling problems with his race car due to the track conditions. The Target crew made six stops throughout the race for tires, fuel and major adjustments in order to improve the handling on the Target Chevrolet. Montoya maintained his track position and stayed in the top-20 for the majority of the race. The Target team would gain significant momentum as the laps wound down. Montoya came back from a lap down and saved fuel to gain seven positions in the closing laps and cross the finish line in the 14th position on the lead lap.
In The Points: With his 14th-place run at Chicagoland, Montoya dropped one spot to 19th in the NSCS point standings. He is now only 47 points behind 13th, the highest point’s position a “non-chase” driver can reach.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 AXE Cool Metal Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1116. The No. 1 AXE team will bring chassis #1116 to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. This will be the first time that this brand new car hits the track during the 2011 season.
No. 42 Degree Men Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1110. Crew Chief Jim Pohlman and the No. 42 team are bringing chassis #1110 to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. This will be the third run of the season for this chassis after it was previously driven to a fourth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in April and in the first event of 2011 at NHMS in July.
