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[/media-credit]Talladega Superspeedway Advance Notes
Race: Aaron’s 499 on Sunday, May 6
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval)
Location: Talladega, Ala.
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 re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing. The 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. Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.
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 p.m. (EST) Sept. 8 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 Nov. 18 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). The winner will be announced at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.
Rock the EGR Vote: “Rock the EGR Vote” for the 2012 All-Star Race campaign has kicked off on EGR’s social media channels. This unique campaign features a number of promotions and giveaways designed to reward EGR fans for supporting McMurray and Montoya in casting votes to see them in the May 19 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, airing live on SPEED. 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 www.nascar.com/allstar; At-Track at the Sprint Experience. The Sprint Fan Vote closes at 5 p.m. (EDT) May 19.
EGR at Talladega: Since 2001, EGR drivers have led 273 laps at Talladega, completing 8,862 out of 9,842 laps (90%), earning six top-five and 14 top-10s.
Did You Know?: EGR has raced at Talladega in the NSCS, NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Series with 14 different drivers, spanning 11 seasons.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Team
Richmond Recap: After battling a disappointing qualifying effort, the McDonald’s team quickly made adjustments to break into the top-20. The team battled to overcome a two-lap deficit in the second half of the race. Regaining the lead-lap position proved to be critical as the No. 1 team was able to improve several positions in the closing laps, coming home 14th with a third consecutive 14th-place finish.
Charging Hard: McMurray won the USG Improving the Finish Award for the Capital City 400 at Richmond International Raceway by charging up 23 spots from his 37th-place starting position, to finish 14th.
The “Big One”: With a total of 19 starts at Talladega, McMurray has one victory (2009), accumulating five top-five and six top-10 finishes at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. McMurray has an average starting position of 20.4 and an average finishing position of 19.8. In the last 14 events at Talladega, McMurray ranks fifth in the number of laps led with 159, which is 20 more than the driver ranked sixth.
Superspeedway Stats: In 38 NSCS starts at superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega), McMurray has accumulated three wins (Daytona 2007, 2010; Talladega 2009), eight top-fives, 10 top-10s and led 201 laps.
There’s Always a First: McMurray is one of 62 other drivers to make his first NSCS start at Talladega. This took place in the fall of 2002 where he started fifth and finished 26th.
Race Over to the Great Outdoors: Race over to meet Jamie McMurray at the Leeds, Alabama Bass Pro Shops on Thursday, May 3 at 6 p.m. (CT). The store is located at 5000 Bass Pro Boulevard and can be reached at 205-702-7500.
The CoolZone: Don’t let your engine overheat. Swing by the Banana Boat® CoolZone™ Pit Stop to cool down with Sport Performance® CoolZone™ continuous spray sunscreen during the race weekend. Fans can take the Banana Boat® Sun Care Challenge, play games, win cool prizes and take photos with the No. 1 Banana Boat® car.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Richmond Recap: Montoya rolled off from the 20th starting spot and maintained his top-20 position throughout the first half of the 400-lap race. The Target Chevrolet experienced some handling concerns but with a few minor adjustments, Montoya was able to break into the top-10 by lap 250. On the final restart of the race, the No. 42 got shuffled back a few spots in the field and finished the race in the 12th position.
Talladega History: Montoya has made 10 starts at Talladega, leading 57 laps and completing 1,868 out of 1,901 laps (98.3%). Montoya earned his first career NSCS pole at the superspeedway in 2009 and again in 2010. He was runner-up in 2008 and has earned three top-fives and three top-10s at the superspeedway. Montoya’s average starting position is 14.4 his average finishing position of 17.1 at the tri-oval.
Superspeedway Success: In 21 superspeedway starts in NSCS competition Montoya has accumulated three top-five and seven top-10 finishes with 77 laps led. The majority of Montoya’s superspeedway success has come at Talladega, earning a runner-up finish in 2008.
Returning to Talladega: Montoya made his stock car racing debut at Talladega with the ARCA Series in 2006. He started second, finished third and led nine of the 81 laps completed at the superspeedway.
A Year of Openings: In 1969, Talladega Superspeedway, originally named Alabama International Motor Speedway, opened their gates for the first time. In that same year, Target opened its first distribution center in Fridley, Minnesota. Today, Target operates 37 distribution centers across the United States.
You Know You Love It: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese joins the No. 42 Target car as an associate sponsor this weekend at Talladega. For almost 75 years, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese has been bringing gooey, cheesy smiles to peoples’ face everywhere.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1009. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No.1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats team will be bringing the #1009 chassis in Aaron’s 499. This same chassis was used in last season’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, finishing 22nd.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1215. Chris “Sunshine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will be bringing a brand new chassis, Chassis #1215, to Talladega this weekend.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
9
0
0
0
2
21.6
19.7
18
Juan Pablo Montoya
9
0
0
0
1
26.6
17.6
16
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
339
6
8
41
98
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
190
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: Gary Putnam
Vernon, CT
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
