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[/media-credit]Richmond International Raceway Advance Notes
Race: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400 on Saturday, April 28
Track: Richmond International Raceway (0.750-mile oval)
Location: Richmond, Va.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Richmond International Raceway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (EGR) on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2012 season by following “@EGRTeams”.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently 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 CGRT. 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 (NSCS), IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
Most Popular Driver: Voting for the 2012 NSCS National Motorsports Press Association’s (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award has started. Fans can visit www.mostpopulardriver.com once a day to vote for EGR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya until 11:59 pm (EST) September 8th following the race at Richmond International Raceway. At that point the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will be reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2012 NMPA Most Popular Driver from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 18th at 11:59 pm (EST). The winner will be announced at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.
Sprint Fan Vote: Voting for the 2012 Sprint Fan Vote is under way. EGR fans have the opportunity to vote Montoya or McMurray into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be televised live on SPEED on May 19th. Fans can cast unlimited votes at the following locations: Mobile Handsets by texting “VOTE” to 229466 or by using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Application; Online at http://www.nascar.com/allstar; At-Track at the Sprint Experience. The Sprint Fan Vote closes at 5:00 pm (EDT) May 19th.
Number “Won”: In the 111 NSCS races held at Richmond International Raceway, a Chevrolet has crossed the finish line first 35 times. Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer in the NSCS at RIR, with nine more victories than the second closest manufacturer.
EGR at Richmond: Since 2001, EGR drivers have led 150 laps at RIR, accumulating six top-10 finishes and 16 top-15 finishes.
EGR Autograph Session: Montoya and McMurray will sign autographs on Saturday, April 28th from 3:30-4:15 pm at RIR in the Amphitheatre outside the track.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team
Kansas Recap: From the drop of the green flag, the McDonald’s team quickly started making up ground on the field. McMurray broke into the top-20 by lap 75 and would maintain a lead-lap position the majority of the 267-lap event. McMurray got caught one lap down when he pitted under green and the caution flag was displayed while on pit road. When the leaders pitted, McMurray was able to take advantage of the wave-around and would restart at the tail-end of the lead lap. McMurray quickly overcame the deficit and moved the McDonald’s Chevrolet into the top-15, bringing home a second consecutive 14th-place finish.
McMurray at Richmond: In 18 starts at Richmond International Raceway, McMurray has led 19 laps, earning three top-10 finishes. He has an average starting and finishing position of 23.5 and 23.7, respectively. McMurray’s best start of second came in the fall of 2011 and his best finish of seventh came in the spring of 2009.
Building on Success: McMurray and the No. 1 McDonald’s team are looking to gain a little luck and build on last fall’s strong run at Richmond. McMurray rolled off the grid in second and led the opening 19 laps of the race, before losing two laps due to a caution during green-flag pit stops. McMurray would battle back to finish 14th.
Short Track Stats: In 92 short track starts, McMurray has led 317 laps, earning one pole, six top-five and 28 top-10 finishes. He has average starting and finishing positions of 17.4 and 19.4, respectively.
Movin’ Up: After a second consecutive top-15 finish at Kansas Speedway, McMurray gained four positions in the NSCS points standings, the most of any competitor last weekend.
Ronald McDonald: McMurray will visit the Richmond area Ronald McDonald House Thursday, April 26th from 1:00-3:00 pm. He will make a pit stop at the house to sign autographs and spend time with the children and their families. The Ronald McDonald House Program provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. The Ronald McDonald House is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest.
Golden Arches: There’s no reason to go hungry while visiting Richmond International Raceway this week. McDonald’s has four locations conveniently located within five miles of the track. Locations can be found at: 607 E. Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA; 2011 Chamberlayne Ave, Richmond, VA; 5602 Chamberlayne Road, Richmond, VA; 5106 Nine Mile Road, Richmond, VA.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Kansas Recap: After starting 39th, Montoya moved up 18 positions within 25 laps. That charge to the front continued as the Target Chevrolet broke into the top-10 by lap 66 and led four laps. As the race continued, Montoya began to battle with the handling and would make contact with the wall on lap 188. The crew worked to turn the car around and made a final charge to the front in the closing laps under a long green flag run. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet finished out the day in the 12th.
Montoya at Richmond: Montoya looks to make his 11th start at Richmond International Raceway this weekend. In his previous 10 starts Montoya has earned one pole and three top-10 finishes. He has average starting and finishing positions of 13.4 and 21.5, respectively. Montoya’s pole came in the spring of 2011 and his highest finish of sixth came in the spring of 2010.
Short Track Stats: In his NSCS career, Montoya has made 53 starts on short tracks. He has accumulated one pole, four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. He has led 212 laps and completed 98% of laps run on short tracks in his career. The driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet has an average starting position of 18.5 and an average finishing position 18.9.
Hard Charger: After a loose qualifying run relegated Montoya to a 39th-place start at Kansas Speedway, the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet gained the most positions throughout the race to finish 12th. By gaining 27 positions from his starting position, Montoya picked up the USG Improving the Finish Award.
Reality TV Debut: Earlier this week, Montoya made his reality television debut on the Univision program, “Nuestra Belleza Latina” (Our Latin Beauty). The television show, in its sixth season, features 12 young women competing in a series of challenges covering a variety of topics. In this week’s challenge, Montoya drove contestants to their limits at Homestead-Miami Speedway as they took the passenger seat at over 180 miles per hour while attempting to recite NASCAR facts from memory. Montoya also contributed in deciding who did the best job in this particular challenge.
Hit the Bullseye: Need something in a pinch? No need to worry – Target has all of the essentials and more. Target is just six miles from Richmond International Raceway, located at 7235 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA. Call ahead and make sure they have what you need at 804-559-5802.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1206. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 McDonald’s team will bring Chassis #1206 to Richmond International Raceway this weekend. This chassis first saw track time this year at Phoenix International Raceway, leading one lap before retiring from the race due to an engine failure.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1203. Crew Chief Chris Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1203 to Richmond International Raceway this weekend. This chassis made its debut this year at Phoenix International Raceway, finishing 11th.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
8
0
0
0
2
19.6
20.4
19
Juan Pablo Montoya
8
0
0
0
1
27.4
18.2
16
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
338
6
8
41
98
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
189
2
7
20
50
18.0
19.5
TEAM ROSTERS
Max Jones – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
No. 1 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion
Boylston, MA
Rear Tire Changer: Brian Eastland
New Bern, NC
Chief Mechanic: Randy Cox
Trinity, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe
Danbury , CT
Front Tire Changer: Bryan Jacobsen
Honesdale, PA
Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Brett Morrell
Windham, ME
Jack Man: Mitch Lash
Salisbury, NC
No. 42 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Chris Heroy
Angola, IN
Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen
Canton, MI
Chief Mechanic: David Bryant
Concord, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode
Statesville, NC
Front Tire Changer: Pedro Martinez
San Antonio, TX
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu
Waterford, MI
Jack Man: Mark Jacobs
Fort Walton Beach, FL
About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 14 championships and 145 victories, including three Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.
For more information log onto: www.earnhardtganassi.com
