35-TIME MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPION – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
GOOD SAM CLUB 500
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
TALLADEGA, ALA
OCTOBER 23, 2011
DID YOU KNOW? Spark Joins Chevrolet’s U.S. Small Car Lineup in 2012 – Chevrolet hopes to excite first-time buyers and city residents when the Spark mini car joins the brand’s small car family next year in the United States and Canada. The Spark is a five-door, four-passenger hatch that is on sale in Chevrolet markets around the world.
TEAM CHEVY SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Team Chevy on Facebook and @TeamChevy on Twitter to receive the latest news as well as updates with times and locations of events.
CHEVROLET CENTENNIAL: Chevrolet will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 3, 2011. To commemorate Chevy’s centennial, Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet driven by Clint Bowyer will carry a special silver-and-black paint scheme in this weekend’s race at Talladega. Last week, in the Charlotte race, the four Hendrick Motorsports Chevys – the No.’s 5, 24, 48 and 88 – sported 100th Anniversary nameplates on the front and rear bumpers.
“The generosity displayed by Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick by having their cars recognize Chevrolet’s Centennial is very humbling,” said Terry Dolan, Manager, Chevy Racing. “These tributes mean a lot to us. To have our partners acknowledge our 100th anniversary in such a public fashion is really very special.”
CELEBRATING COUNTDOWN TO CHEVROLET CENTENNIAL WITH GREATEST TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACING MOMENTS: In 1989, the Chevy Lumina competed for the first time in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) on May 7, 1989, at Talladega. The first Lumina win was by Darrell Waltrip at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on May 28, 1989.
CHEVY RACING AT THE TRACK-TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY – JEFF CHEW, MARKETING MANAGER, NASCAR, CHEVY RACING: “The Team Chevy Racing Tour has something for everyone who visits Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. We’ve added more elements to the display, like the latest GM Performance Parts crate engines, and Chevy accessories and performance parts that fans can purchase from their local Chevy dealer. Plus, there are interactive games, digital photography and other activities for fans of all ages. Racing is a very important part of Chevy’s long history – a history that next month will encompass a full century – and sharing that heritage with our fans is very important to us.”
TEAM CHEVY RACING FOR THE FANS AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY:
• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Talladega Superspeedway HorsePower Plaza near Gate EP2 behind the main grandstands
• In the Team Chevy display, fans can check out Cruze LT, Malibu LT, Impala LTZ, Camaro SS Coupe, Camaro Coupe Convertible, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe LT, Silverado 1500 and Silverado HD Fans will receive a Chevy T-Shirt for registering at the display
• Activities at the Chevy Racing Display includes a variety of interactive activities for adults and kids including pit box games and on-site digital photos
• New this year is the GM Performance Parts display including crate engines and an assortment of GM accessories and performance parts
• Fans are encouraged to bring old cell phones to Chevy Display and donate in drop box for Cell Phones for Soldiers program
• In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and Chevrolet’s support of the American Cancer Society, pink wrist bands as well as will be available for all fans
• DRIVER AND CREW APPEARANCES:
o SATURDAY
James Buescher – 12:30 p.m. Q & A
Richard Childress & Bill Jordan from Realtree – 1:30-2:00 p.m. Autograph session
Ryan Newman & Bill Jordan from Realtree – 2:30-3:00 p.m. Autograph session
• 75 wristbands for each autograph session will be handed out at 10:00 a,m. Saturday-limit one per person
o SUNDAY:
Juan Pablo Montoya – 9:30 a.m. Q & A
Richard Childress – 9:45 a.m. Q & A
No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet over-the-wall pit crew – 10:00 a.m. Autograph session
• Hours for Team Chevy Racing Display will be: Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
TEAM CHEVY IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (NSCS) COMPETITION:
• Chevrolet has won 35 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Manufacturers’ Championships
• Team Chevy drivers have scored 683 wins AND 619 poles in NSCS competition
o 2011 wins – 14
o 2011 poles – 10
TEAM CHEVY IN THE 2011 CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP:
Team Chevy has six drivers competing in the 10 race 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Standings after Race 5 of 10:
• Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, is 2nd in the points order, 5 points behind leader
• Tony Stewart, No. 14 El Monterey/Office Depot Chevrolet, sits 5th in the standings, 24 points behind leader
• Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 MyLowes Chevrolet, is 8th in points, 35 points behind leader
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Paint the 88/ National Guard Chevrolet, sits 9th in points, 60 points behind leader
• Ryan Newman, No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet, is 10th in standings, 61 points behind leader
• Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, is 11th in points, 66 points behind leader
TEAM CHEVY AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY: ALBA COLON, NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES PROGRAM MANAGER, GM RACING: “Team Chevy heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, which is always exciting racing; and at the same time, a little bit stressful! So many things can happen that are out of the drivers’ control to ruin a good day, and trust me; you want to finish in one piece especially if you are a contender in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Nonetheless, it is always a great show!
“With just five races remaining in this extremely tight run for the Driver’s Championship, every point and every position counts.
“As is always the case at Talladega, the right combination of aerodynamics and speed is the recipe for success. Of course you need to have the right drafting partner too, and just try to stay out of trouble!
“Compared with the last time we were at Talladega race six months ago, NASCAR has mandated some minor changes for this race. The restrictor-plate will increase in size, the pressure release valves on the cooling system will be recalibrated to reduce the pressure, and the addition of lubricants to the rear bumper cover is prohibited. All of these changes will improve the racing.
“It is always important to have the best cars and the best engines in the hands of the best drivers, and we have strength in all those areas. Chevrolet has a strong success record at this track. The last Talladega race was really good for Team Chevy with a great qualifying effort and a great finish. We hope to repeat those results this time and are looking forward to a safe and clean race on Sunday.”
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY:
• A Chevrolet driver has won 37 of the 84 NSCS races at Talladega Superspeedway (TSS)
• Chevy has 27 poles at Talladega
• Team Chevy drivers have scored 160 top-five finishes and 294 top-10 finishes at Talladega
• A Chevrolet has led 6,624 laps (42% of possible 15,752) at Talladega
• Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, has six (6) wins at TSS – second on the all-time win list at the famed Alabama track (’96, ’00, ’04, ’05 & ’07-TWICE)
• Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Paint the 88/National Guard Chevrolet, has five (5) victories at TSS (’01,’02-TWICE, ’03 & ’04)
• Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 MyLowes Chevrolet, has two (2) victories at Talladega (’06, ‘11)
• Mark Martin, No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, has two (2) wins at TSS (’95,’97)
• Clint Bowyer, No. 33 Chevrolet 100 Chevrolet, has won once (1) at TSS (’10)
• Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, has one win at TSS (’10)
• Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, has one TSS win (’09)
• Tony Stewart, No. 14 El Monterey/Office Depot Chevrolet, has won once at TSS (’08
TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY:
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 JIMMY JOHNS CHEVROLET – 2ND IN STANDINGS: “Restrictor plate stuff has been great for us, you never know how it is going to go at Talladega, but we have been pretty good there in the past. I don’t anticipate the restrictor plate change doing anything. I think the speeds will be a little bit higher. I think the pop-off valve will probably be a bigger change than the restrictor plate for sure. I don’t think it’s going to change the two-car tandem other than you’re going to have to switch spots a lot more to keep the engine cool. For whatever reason, we’ve just always had a good plate program at RCR and when you have good cars, it makes it a lot easier to have success. We’ll stick with our teammates and see where we fall at the end. Everyone is just battling to keep the cars up front and doing the things they have to do (in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup). We haven’t had the fastest cars in the first few races, but we just have never given up on it and wound up with decent finishes. Hopefully we can keep at that and get a little more speed out of them.”
TONY STEWART, NO. 14 EL MONTEREY/OFFICE DEPOT CHEVROLET – 5TH IN STANDINGS: “We’re looking at it (the Talladega race) as an opportunity to gain some points and positions. Every time you’re at Talladega you try to take care of yourself and your equipment by not getting yourself in compromising positions that are going to take you out of an opportunity to get you to the end of the race. For me, it’s no different whether the race is in April during the regular season or in October when I’m in the Chase.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 MYLOWE’S CHEVROLET – 8TH IN STANDINGS: “I think with the new rules it’s a step to make us pass more. I don’t think we are going to be able to stay connected as long. Any time you put a bigger plate on the cars it allows for a larger closing rate with more opportunities to pass with more power. With that said, I don’t think the changes are large enough to have us not push. That threshold for pushing, the grip level is still so high at the race track that I don’t think it’s going to separate us yet but it should make for more passing. We see that more with a larger plate and then the fact that we can’t stay together we’re going to be changing, I don’t think we’ll be staying together as long we’ll be changing out more often which could lead to us being in a big pack like some of the fans want to see. We’ll get down there and see what happens. I don’t care what the rules are. I learned a long time ago to stop worrying about that stuff. I just go.”
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW PAINT THE 88/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET – 9TH IN STANDINGS: ““It was frustrating (two-car drafting) because you had to learn a whole new way to adapt and draft. You had to buy into that way or you weren’t going to be good at Talladega. And you had to buy into it all the way in Daytona. We did well at Talladega, and we were okay at Daytona but I got separated from my teammate. I think this change will shake things up and hopefully for the better.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 39 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET – 10TH IN STANDINGS: “We need to have some special runs in the next five races. We definitely have the potential to do well at each of the next five tracks. We just need to avoid the bad breaks that plagued us during the first five Chase races. No matter which way you dissect the numbers, we haven’t produced the results in the past couple of years at the restrictor-plate races in Daytona and Talladega. However, our recent sub-par finishes at the restrictor-plate races were not from a lack of performance, but mostly of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ll have to wait and see what effect the new rule changes will have on restrictor-plate racing. We all have our theories but won’t know for sure until we actually get on the track this weekend. Personally, I think there will be less tandem drafting than in the past because of the rule changes. But weather will also dictate how long we can push each other before swapping. Cooler temperatures the better.”
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET – 11TH IN STANDINGS: “My strategy is to race whatever way gives us the best chance to win. I think the bonus ($100k to the driver who leads the most laps, provided there are 100 or more lead changes during the race) is a cool thing that the track is doing, and 100 might be reachable. Our plan is to be there at the end battling for the win. That could mean battling lap-after-lap for the lead, or it could mean staying a safe distance back and watching the race unfold. It could also be a mixture of the two. We’ll just have to wait and see once the green flag is waved. I don’t expect a whole lot different (regarding how rule changes will affect the racing), but we won’t really know until we get into Friday’s practice and start drafting. I think you’re still going to see two-by-two, but the cars might have to swap more frequently. But we are going to try to do everything we can to not have to swap. When I first started racing here, we were racing single file and you had to work lap-after-lap-after-lap for just one position. If you didn’t complete the pass, you could be shuffled out and lose 20 or 30 spots. Then we began racing in huge packs where you could race from 20th to first back to 20th in the span of a few laps. Now, it’s evolved into this two-car drafting, and it’s not as easy as maybe it looks on TV. It takes some skill but, most importantly, it takes getting two cars and two drivers and two spotters and two crew chiefs to work together. You have to watch your gauges a lot, you have to be really aware of what happens around you, and then you still have to put yourself in position as a two car tandem to win the race. It’s not an easy thing”.
CLINT BOWYER, NO. 33 CHEVROLET 100 CHEVROLET – 13TH IN STANDINGS: “I am looking forward to seeing what the rule changes are going to do. It’s a step in the right direction. Do I think it will fix the two-car tandem? I really don’t know. I am reluctant to answer right now. Only time will tell. It’s not really up to me, you or anyone, but the fans. If the fans don’t like it (tandem racing) then I don’t like it and no one likes it. If they love it, then everyone loves it. We are in show business and here to put on a show. It’s as simple as that. Unfortunately, you can’t (give a Chase contender a break to avoid ‘the big one’). As soon as you try to be consciously aware of a specific individual and try to give them something to help them or whatever, you’re probably putting them in more danger by not going with the flow of things and making sure everything is right. That’s kind of a tough to juggle at a track like Talladega Superspeedway.”
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 42 ENERGIZER CHEVROLET – 19TH IN STANDINGS: “Talladega is a fun race and it comes right down to the very end so it’s anyone’s to win. With the changes it’ll be interesting to see how fast we run at Talladega this time around. If we were running 200 mph in the spring and they give us a little more power, we will be doing like 210 mph in tandems. If you are by yourself you will be doing 195 mph. You are going to want to be in tandem no matter what come race time. We will see if we have to swap, but typically we (EGR) always do swap. It should be fun.”
MARK MARTIN, NO. 5 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET – 20TH IN STANDINGS: “I know NASCAR made some rule changes for this race, and I’m anxious to see how it affects the way we’ve been racing on these restrictor-plate tracks this year. I’m a big fan of the two-by-two racing. I like it a lot better than those huge packs that we used to race in. There’s a whole new element to this style — working specifically with another driver and having a plan in place — than what we did in the big packs It’s intense. That may go away a little with this new package, but we’ll have to see after we get on the track and get some practice laps in.”
PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 SERTA/MENARDS CHEVROLET – 21ST IN STANDINGS: “Our number one goal (this weekend at Talladega) is to win the race. If we can’t do that, we want to finish second; and if we can’t do that, we want to finish third. If we can help our teammates along the way without hurting our position, we’ll try to do that also. You’re still going to see the same two-car breakaway drafting that we’ve seen all year. I’m not sure that the rule changes will change that a whole lot. We’ll probably go a little bit faster when we do it, but it should be about the same two-car drafting. If you look at the number of lead changes and leaders and stuff, we’re at record numbers. I think that’s what race fans like is to see passes for the lead. We don’t have the big pack racing, but you still get the ‘big ones’ that people want to see also. So I don’t think you need to do anything to it.”
JEFF BURTON, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET – 24TH IN STANDINGS: “With the two-car tandem, we saw a lot of lead changes and pushing and a lot of things going on because the risk for danger wasn’t as big as it is when you’re in a big pack. So, I know a lot of fans didn’t like the two-car tandem pack, but there were some positives from that too; it wasn’t all negative. You never know the consequence when you make a rule change and this rule change has been made and it might force drivers to be real conservative. One guy will stand there and say yeah, it wasn’t good to watch and I didn’t like two-car tandems, and the next guy will say it was fine. Was it needed for other reasons? No. From a technical standpoint it worked fine. We had wrecks because of the two-car tandem and we had wrecks without a two-car tandem. It’s Talladega and Daytona. So, I don’t know if it was needed or not. But I understand there was a percentage of fans who didn’t like the two-car tandems and I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. With the two-car tandem situation, we would no question dedicate somebody to be with him (Kevin Harvick) all day. But without being able to bump-draft, in that tandem, that’s going to take some of that out because once you overheat and once you blow that valve off, you’ve got trouble. And you cannot start pushing water. So it’s going to take away the opportunity to help a teammate that’s in the Chase.”
REGAN SMITH, NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW RACING CHEVROLET – 26TH IN STANDINGS: “I enjoy the restrictor-plate races and feel that our Furniture Row Chevrolet has a good shot at winning this weekend. It’s going to be interesting to see how the new rules package will come into play. As a team, we’ve had discussions about the new rules but really won’t know until we begin practicing on Friday. I keep on getting asked about the Talladega race three years ago when it appeared I won, but was penalized for passing below the yellow line on the final lap. I don’t feel the Talladega track owes me anything. Winning at Darlington earlier this year has softened the disappointment because I would wonder if I would ever again be in position to win.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER BOATS CHEVROLET – 27TH IN STANDINGS: “We typically have a good restrictor plate program and our guys have done a lot of work on our speedway cars so I am excited for Talladega. We will sit down as a team during the weekend and discuss our strategy with regard to how we want to approach the race with our teammates on the No. 42 car. The last few superspeedway races have been the two car tandems and everyone has a different opinion about that style of racing. I think that it is interesting that Talladega has put up an award of $100,0000 to the driver that leads the most laps if there are more than 100 lead changes during the race. It would be cool to see that many lead changes there, as it is a testament to how competitive this series is on restrictor plate tracks.”
DAVE BLANEY, NO. 36 GOLDEN CORRAL CHEVROLET: “I’m really looking forward to Talladega. We had a great run there in April, and it was by far the most fun I’ve had on the racetrack all year. Tommy has always had good cars at Talladega, and we will have the same car that we ran at the superspeedways this year. Daytona in July was an unfortunate day because we had an engine problem from the beginning. Other than Daytona in July, we have been really strong at superspeedways this year. Hopefully, we can get Golden Corral a top-10 finish so kids can eat free on Monday.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturers Championships
Total (1949 – 2011): 35
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 9 twice (1983 – 1991) (2003-2011)
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Drivers Championships
Total (1949 – 2010): 27
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 6 (1993 – 98) & (2005 – ’10)
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Event Victories
2010 Race Wins: 18
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 – 2007
2011 YEAR-TO-DATE STATISTICS:
Wins: 14
Poles: 10
Laps led: 3,888
Top-five finishes: 64
Top-10 finishes: 138
CHEVROLET IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 683 (1949 – to date) (2,313 possible = 29.5%)
Poles Won to Date: 619
Laps Lead to Date: 204,124
Top-Five Finishes to Date: 3,431
Top-10 Finishes to Date: 7,020
Total NASCAR Cup wins by Corporation, 1949 – To-Date
GM: 1,018
Chevrolet: 683
Pontiac: 155
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 706
Ford: 606
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Chrysler: 461
Dodge: 212
Plymouth: 190
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 38
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com .
