Ricky Carmichael
No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala … Ricky Carmichael will pilot chassis TMS-021 from the Turner Motorsports (TMS) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) stable in Friday night’s Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Built new for 2011, this truck saw action most recently at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where, despite being collected in an early-race incident, Carmichael finished 12th. This truck also saw action this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway (St. 17, Fn. 12), Texas Motor Speedway in June (St. 9, Fn. 6), Kentucky Speedway in July (St. 14, Fn. 16), Michigan International Speedway (St. 7, Fn. 12) Chicagoland Speedway (St. 4, Fn.25) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (St. 1 Fn. 8).
Phoenix Facts … Carmichael participated in last weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race where he and his Doug George-led Monster Energy Team turned in a gritty 15th-place performance in the WYPALL 200 Powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional at Phoenix International Raceway. It was Carmichael’s fourth and final NASCAR Nationwide Series start of 2011 but perhaps, his most determined. The ever-resolute competitor battled through miscues on pit road, handling issues and late-race contact with another racer to muster a respectable top-15 showing behind the wheel of the No. 34 Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala.
In a Nutshell … The 2011 season marks Carmichael’s second year competing on a full-time basis and third overall in the NCWTS. Since making his series debut 67 races ago, he has gone on to earn four top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Over those same 67 races, the motocross legend has logged a 14.8 average start, a 16.9 average finish, led 40 laps, completed 90.3 percent of the laps run and earned just over of $862,000 in purse money. In Nationwide Series competition, he’s made eight starts spanning the last two years and logged a career-best ninth-place finish earlier this season at Road America.
2011 Totals … In 24 NCWTS races this season, Carmichael has notched one pole, one top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 15-time AMA National Champion has led 39 laps this season, recorded a 16.3 average start and a 17.2 average finish. He has completed 3,254 of 3,719 total laps (87.5 percent) and finished on the lead lap 13 times. Nationwide Notes … In 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2011, TMS-fielded teams have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes. TMS’s No. 32 Dollar General team picked up one spot in owner’s points and now sits sixth after Ron Hornaday Jr., finished 13th last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet, was ninth in the final rundown after Phoenix and maintained third in the driver point standings. While Jason Leffler was credited with 26th at Phoenix, the Long Beach, Calif., native still held on to sixth in points heading into the final race of the year.
RC Live … On Thursday, Nov. 17, Carmichael will appear at the NASCAR Championship Drive at Lummus Park located along Ocean Drive, between 7th and 9th Streets, in Miami Beach. The Clearwater Fla., native will be on hand from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. for a question and answer session and to sign autographs for race fans.
Turner Truck Totals … In 23 NCWTS races in 2011, TMS entries have earned 13 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes. James Buescher leads the way with 19 top 10s and is third in points – 28 behind leader Austin Dillon. Buescher has only finished outside the top 10 four times in the 23 NCWTS races in which he has competed this season. Carmichael has logged one top five and seven top 10s and is 15th in the standings. Blake Feese finished fourth and Ryan Newman was fifth in Atlanta. Mark Martin finished seventh in the No. 32 machine at Pocono while Brad Sweet drove the same truck for the first eight races of the year, logging a pair of top-10 results.
Get to the Point(s) … Carmichael jumped from 16th to 15th in points following his eighth-place finish two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway. Buescher is third in the standings. While Feese has made just nine starts in 2011, he is 26th in points. The No. 32 machine is also assured a spot on Friday night’s starting grid by virtue of being 20th in the NCWTS owner point standings.
Welcome Aboard … Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to feature CVS/Pharmacy on the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 4 entry this weekend in Homestead. CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation, is America’s leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,200 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com.
Up to Speed … Live coverage of the Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will take the green flag Friday, Nov. 18 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will be televised live on SPEED and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ season-finale will be televised live on SPEED the same day at 4:30 p.m. EST.
RICKY CARMICHAEL QUOTES
After three years racing in the Camping World Truck Series, where do you think you are on the learning curve and have you met your expectations?
“I think I’m getting closer to where I need to be with my learning curve. I’m getting more comfortable when I get out on the race track so I can focus more on actually racing and getting the vehicle to where it’s handling better. As far as my own expectations go, there have been times where I’ve over-exceeded my expectations and times when I’ve under under-performed. I’m not a great guy to ask about judging myself. I think if you take everything into account and you know everything about my program, I’ve done pretty well, all things considered. I think I’ve done a pretty good job at holding my own against guys who have been racing on four wheels for a long time. I’m somewhat happy but, me being the competitive person that I am, I expect more and want more.”
What have been the biggest challenges?
“The biggest challenge I face every single week is my lack of experience when we don’t unload that fast and being able to explain what the vehicle is doing so I can give good feedback about what to change so we can get faster. I need to be better when it comes to taking some of the guesswork away from the crew chief. My lack of seat-time has hindered me a little bit when it comes to restarts closer to the end of races and knowing all the tricks of the trade. I think my lack of experience is pretty obvious when I’m racing guys like Hornaday (Ron Hornaday Jr.) and some of the other guys who have been doing this for years and years. That’s really when I get taken to school.”
Can you put 2011 into perspective?
“I expected to have a better season than we did. My goals at the beginning of the season were to be inside the top five in points and no worse than being in the top 10. I think, given the amount of experience I have, being inside the top five would have almost been the equivalent of winning the championship. It’s definitely been a let down from that perspective. At the same time, we made some strides as a team that shouldn’t be overlooked. We won the pole at Atlanta and ran up front all day at both restrictor-plate races. We also led some laps and that was a big deal for me, personally. I definitely feel like I’ve made some accomplishments this year but the point thing is definitely a letdown. I’m not one to make excuses so all I can do is put my best foot forward and work hard to be better next year.”
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About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas businessman Steve Turner, the organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will compete with three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Brian Vickers, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher, Brad Sweet, Brandon McReynolds and Ron Hornaday Jr. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.
