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[/media-credit]Richard Childress Racing Event Preview:
Charlotte Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway
Race:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Location:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Charlotte Motor Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
Four All-Star Wins for RCR … Richard Childress Racing has won four NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races, most recently in 2007 with Kevin Harvick. Dale Earnhardt won the event in 1987, which included the legendary “Pass in the Grass.” Earnhardt also went on to claim the checkered flag in 1990 and 1993.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,195 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, Richard Childress Racing has collected 100 wins, 430 top-five finishes, 892 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards, with an average starting position of 17.9 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned six Sprint Cup Series championships with Dale Earnhardt (1986, ’87, ’90,’91, ’93, ’94), 14 total championships (five NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR … Throughout the season’s first 11 races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. RCR teams have completed 11,652 out of 11,874 total laps (98.13 percent) with drivers Jeff Burton, Harvick, Paul Menard, Elliott Sadler and Brendan Gaughan. The group has led a combined 173 laps.
Get to the Points … Following the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Harvick fell to eighth in the driver championship point standings, 50 markers out of the top spot. Menard advanced to 13th in the standings, while Burton climbed to 17th.
Pit Crew Challenge … RCR’s Nos. 27, 29 and 31 Sprint Cup Series teams will participate in the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. All teams currently qualified for the 2012 Sprint All-Star Race, which includes NASCAR Sprint Cup race winners from 2011 and 2012, Sprint All-Star Race winners of the past 10 years and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions of the past 10 years who are active drivers and have competed in at least one Series event during the 2011 or 2012 season. The 2011 NSPCC winner is also eligible. If there are no new event winners, the remaining unfilled positions will become available to the car owners ranked highest in the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Championship Owner point standings as of May 14, 2012, who are not otherwise eligible for this event. Seven members of each team are allowed to compete. For ticket information, visit www.pitcrewchallenge.com or call Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at 800-745-3000. SPEED will air the event later that evening at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Day of Wine and Race Cars at 2012 FAN DAY … The Richard Childress Racing Museum and Childress Vineyards will co-host a full day of activities for fans May 25 during the ’12 FAN DAY celebration at the award-winning winery and the RCR Museum. Activities at each venue will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time with autograph sessions, show car and partner displays, guided museum and winery tours scheduled throughout the day. The RCR Museum will have a giant tent sale, with specific racing memorabilia sales to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation. Also, fans can participate in drawings, hide-and-tweet contests and Facebook trivia for a chance to win prizes. Visit www.childressvineyards.com or www.rcrracing.com for more information on how to be a part of ’12 FAN DAY.
Interactive RCR …To keep up-to-date with the latest news and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick and @RCR31JeffBurton. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com.
Vote Often … Fan voting for the 2012 Sprint All-Star Race lasts until 5 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday, May 19. While Burton hopes to qualify by finishing first or second in the Sprint Showdown, he also has the opportunity to be voted in by race fans. Fans can vote by using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application on their Android-powered Sprint devices or by texting “VOTE” to 229466 on any wireless carrier. Voting also is open at www.NASCAR.com/AllStar or by visiting the Sprint Experience at Sprint Cup Series races. Votes cast on a Sprint, Nextel, Boost or Virgin Mobile device count double towards a driver’s total.
Catch the Action … Live coverage of the Sprint Showdown and All-Star Race from Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised on SPEED Saturday, May 19, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and will also broadcast worldwide on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the second and final non points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series tour will take place on Friday, May 18 beginning at 5 p.m. ET but be broadcast on SPEED Saturday, May 19 at 5 p.m.
Paul Menard
No. 27 CertainTeed Insulation/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s CertainTeed Insulation/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 328 from the Richard Childress Racing Sprint Cup Series stable in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. This No. 27 Chevrolet was last seen on track at Phoenix International Raceway in March where Menard finished 31st after he was spun from behind. This chassis was also used in competition in 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway and the November event at Phoenix.
No Holds Barred for $1 Million … Saturday night marks Menard’s first appearance in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards team qualified on the merit of the Brickyard 400 win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 2011). He has made five starts in the Sprint Showdown, earning his best result of fourth in the 2010 event.
How it Works … The 2012 Sprint All-Star Race consists of four 20-lap segments, topped off with a 10-lap sprint to the finish and a $1 million payout to the race winner. This year’s format will place a higher premium on wins during each of the four segments, as the winners of the first four segments will move to the front of the field and line up first through fourth prior to the field coming to pit road for the final mandatory pit stop. When the drivers come down pit road, crew chiefs will have to decide on their best pit strategy. The team that makes the best call and has optimum performance on pit road is likely to be out front for the final 10 laps of competition. Wherever the drivers are positioned as they come off pit road is where they will line up to start the final 10-lap segment.
Pit Crew Challenge 2012 … The No. 27 team will participate in the eighth-annual Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, kicking off the 2012 All-Star Week. The competition begins at 7 p.m. ET on May 17 at Time Warner Cable Arena. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the Sprint All-Star Race. Tickets for the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at 800-745-3000.
Tar Heels, Through and Through … The No. 27 team has several members from the Tar Heel State. Jackman Carey Wimbish is from Granite Falls, N.C., while rear-tire changer Aaron Smith was raised and still lives in Denton, N.C. Hauler driver Jeff “Cowboy” Icenhour calls Lenoir, N.C., home, and secondary driver Robert “Rocky” Boggs is from Burlington, N.C. Engineer Josh Threatte is from and still resides in Statesville, N.C., and graduated from UNC-Charlotte in 2007 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Race Rewind … In the 2011 Sprint Showdown, Menard started the No. 27 Moen/Menards Chevrolet from the third position and quickly drove up to the second spot. The competition caution was displayed on lap 20, ending the first of two segments. Following the start of the second segment, an accident on lap 27 brought out the yellow flag. On the ensuing restart, the leader approached the green flag at a very slow speed and then suddenly accelerated. As a result, Menard received hard contact from behind that sent the No. 27 Chevrolet Impala sideways and resulted in lost track position. It was all-or-nothing in the final 12 laps and from the seventh position, Menard fought a tire rub and ultimately finished 11th.
In the Rearview Mirror: Darlington … Menard started from the 17th position in Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway and was running third in the closing laps when he received heavy damage in a multi-car incident, relegating the No. 27 Turtle Wax/Menards Chevrolet team to a 17th-place finish.
About CertainTeed … CertainTeed Corporation is a leading North American manufacturer of building materials including roofing, vinyl and fiber cement siding, trim, fence, railing, decking, foundations, insulation, gypsum, ceilings, and pipe products. Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, CertainTeed has approximately 7,000 employees and 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. CertainTeed is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the top 100 industrial companies in the world. Saint-Gobain’s North American companies operate nearly 200 manufacturing facilities in industries as diverse as industrial ceramics and containers, reinforcements and flat glass, abrasives, and building materials. For more information, please visit www.certainteed.com.
PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
From years past, is there one memory that jumps out at you from watching the Sprint All-Star Race and what makes it special?
“There isn’t really one specific memory that jumps out, but the All-Star Race is always a really fun one to watch. In the last few years the format has been different. They continue to change it up and keep it exciting. This will be our first one and we’re looking forward to it.”
How long did it take to realize that along with the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, you also qualified for the Sprint All-Star Race?
“It was pretty exciting to know that we qualified for both that and the (Budweiser) Shootout at Daytona (International Speedway). It’s a neat deal to be a part of and we’re excited. We’re definitely going to try to win but, at the same time, use it as a test session in order to learn some things we can apply to the following weekend’s race, the Coca-Cola 600. We’ve run in the Sprint Showdown the last several years and you can always learn something for the next week.”
Was racing in the Sprint All-Star Race something that you wanted to scratch off your bucket list?
“Sure, because that means you won a race. I’d like to win another race and get in the All-Star Race next year, and the year after that. It’s something that is neat to be a part of.”
How does it feel to be able to skip the Sprint Showdown because you get to go straight to the Sprint All-Star Race?
“It is nice to bypass the Sprint Showdown. We’ll get the same amount of practice time and the race itself will be a better learning process for us since it is truly during night conditions, so it will be similar to the Coca-Cola 600 race conditions.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser-Rheem Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 391 from the Richard Childress Racing Sprint Cup Series stable. This chassis was built new for competition in 2012, and was driven by Harvick earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway where he finished 11th and ninth, respectively.
Going for a Loop in the Queen City … Since the implementation of NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics in 2006, Harvick has competed in seven Sprint All-Star races. The 2007 event winner ranks second in Closers (moving up 14 positions in the last 10 percent of laps), fifth in Laps Led (43) and sixth in Green Flag Passes (206).
The Ultimate Experience … On Tuesday, May 15 Harvick will head to Fairfax, Va., to support friend and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competitor, Donald “Cowboy” Corrone. Harvick will accompany Cowboy out of the locker room to the octagon and witness the matchup against Jeremy Stephens from Cowboy’s corner. To catch the action tune into Fuel TV at 8 p.m. ET or follow on Twitter at @UFC and @FUELTV.
2012 Pit Crew Challenge … The No. 29 team will participate in the eighth annual Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, kicking off the 2012 All-Star Week. Three members of the No. 29 team, Austin Craven (front tire carrier), Jason Pulver (front tire changer) and Dustin Necaise (rear tire changer), won individual awards during the 2011 event. The Craven/Pulver team set a record time of 13.901 seconds during last year’s event and hopes to carry that momentum into the challenge Thursday night. The competition begins at 7 p.m. ET on May 17 at Bobcats Arena. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the Sprint All-Star Race. Tickets for the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at 800-745-3000.
Grow One. Save a Million … The Bakersfield, Calif., native and the No. 29 team will take part in Budweiser’s “Grow One. Save a Million.” pledge to help save a million gallons of water for World Environment Day (June 5) by not shaving. On average, men use five gallons of water each time they shave. So, Budweiser is asking men to grow a beard as long as they can and make their pledge on Budweiser’s Facebook page. Additionally, those who can’t grow a beard can pledge to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth for two weeks or shorten their showers by 20 minutes total over the span of two weeks.
Racing for Education … Midland, N.C., Mayor Kathy Kitts will be a Harvick fan for the next two weeks. Her town was paired with the driver of the No. 29 Chevrolet for Charlotte Motor Speedway’s May Race to Education program, which randomly matched up competitors in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with area community leaders vying for a chance at $40,000 in educational grants. If Harvick wins the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race or the Coca-Cola 600, Midland will receive the $20,000 zMAX Race to Education award.
Gotta Have a Rheem … Rheem will return for their fourth appearance of the 2012 season and join Budweiser as co-primary sponsors this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands, including Rheem, Raypak, Ruud and Richmond have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing.
2012 FAN DAY … Harvick is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at Childress Vineyards on May 25 beginning at 2 p.m. ET with Richard Childress and fellow RCR teammates Jeff Burton and Paul Menard at the ’12 FAN DAY co-hosted by the RCR Museum and Childress Vineyards. For more information, visit rcrracing.com.
Looking Back …After starting the non-points race from the 10th position, Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser-Realtree Chevrolet team took home a ninth-place finish in the 2011 Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway after battling handling problems throughout a majority of the 100-lap event.
In the Rearview Mirror: Darlington Raceway … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser team collected a 16th-place finish in the Southern 500 after battling handling issues at Darlington Raceway. Harvick now sits eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship driver point standings.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Is it a relief taking a break from points racing to compete in the All-Star race?
“It is. Our All-Star race is a lot different than other sports. With the All-Star race they put a million dollars in front of you. Anytime they put that much money in front of anybody it’s going to cause things to rise to another level. Take the points away from that and you really have some unique scenarios that come up. It’s always fun when you know there is really nothing on the line but to win. If you do, then usually there is a big check waiting for you at the end so that gives you some bragging rights and a lot of money.”
What’s the biggest challenge about getting around Charlotte Motor Speedway?  “Charlotte (Motor Speedway) is just one of those places that you have to have everything going well. Especially the All-Star event it seems like everybody brings their latest and greatest stuff to see if it will make it through the inspection line and not blow up. That means you have to have your best stuff there and you have to put a night together with all the short segments this year and the bonuses for trying to win the segments you’ve got to try to make something happen. It’s just a unique race.”
What do you think of the format (of the All-Star race)? Where do you want to be at the end?
“Well, you want to win one of the segments to try to have the track position. If you can do that it will take some pressure off that last pit stop. If you don’t win one of those segments the best you’re going to do is fifth going into the last segment. It’s a unique format. I think you could spin it 100 different ways and it would still be the All-Star race.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Caterpillar/BB&T Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Caterpillar/BB&T Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 355 from the Richard Childress Racing Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 31 Chevrolet was utilized three times last season at Darlington Raceway (start-24th, finish-33rd), Kansas Speedway (start-16th, finish-25th) and Chicagoland Speedway (start-22nd, finish-15th) and will make its first appearance of 2012 this weekend.
One Hot Night … Burton has made seven appearances in the Sprint Showdown and qualified 12 times for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race over his 19-year career. Burton won the 2003 Sprint Showdown and finished ninth in last year’s event. His best qualifying effort of fourth-place for the two-segment, 40-lap event came in 1995.
How It Works … The Sprint Showdown consists of two 20-lap segments with the winner and second-place finishing driver qualifying for the 28th running of the Sprint All-Star Race. The Sprint Showdown is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and live television coverage on SPEED begins at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Black and Silver … Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet will sport a special edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar and BB&T during the Sprint All-Star Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Sprint Fan Vote. Vote Now, Vote Often … Fans still have the opportunity to vote Burton into the Sprint All-Star Race with the Sprint Fan Vote. The Sprint Fan Vote launched in 2004 as a way to bring one more deserving driver into the Sprint All-Star Race to compete for the $1 million payout. There are three ways you can vote for Burton and votes from your Sprint, Boost and Virgin Mobile phones count double.
Mobile Handsets
Text “VOTE” to 229466 from any mobile handset Use the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application on your Sprint Android device Voting on handsets is unlimited
Online
NASCAR.COMhttp://www.nascar.com/allstar
There is no voting time limit in 2012
The Sprint Experience
Voting stations will be set up in the Sprint Experience mobile display each race weekend
Bring a Sharpie … Burton is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at the Wal-Mart located on 7735 N. Tryon Street in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, May 17at 2 p.m. ET
Pit Crew Challenge … The No. 31 pit crew has qualified for the eighth annual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge which takes place on Thursday, May 17 starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Similar to other all-star skills competitions like the slam dunk contest or home run derby, the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge features the top-24 Sprint Cup Series pit crews and settles who is the best on pit road with individual and team trials. SPEED will air coverage from the event starting at 8:00 p.m. EST that evening.
Official Bank of RCR … BB&T is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with $174.6 billion in assets and market capitalization of $14.9 billion, as of Dec. 31, 2011. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates approximately 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others. The RCR partnership with BB&T has enjoyed great success both on and off the track in the past five years, including the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver’s championship with Clint Bowyer and multiple trips to victory lane in NASCAR’s premiere division at Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. The relationship began at the start of the 2007 Nationwide Series season and moved up to Sprint Cup Series action in 2009.More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at www.BBT.com.
One Year Ago … After starting the event in fifth, Burton battled a tight-handling No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet and brought home a ninth-place result in the 2011 Sprint Showdown.
Race Rewind … After a solid 10th-place qualifying effort, Burton and the No. 31 BB&T Chevrolet team battled to find the right handling throughout the Southern 500 and finished 18th at Darlington Raceway.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
How do you view your strategy in the Sprint Showdown? Are you concentrated on qualifying for the Sprint All-Star Race or more worried about getting valuable information for the Coca-Cola 600?
“I think it is always big-picture racing. Obviously, we want to win the Sprint Showdown, qualify for the Sprint All-Star Race and win it too, but every practice session and qualifying run we make that weekend gives us the opportunity to learn more about our 1.5-mile program. We must go in with the mindset where we want to win the race and qualifying for the big show. If we do win the race and transfer over, it helps you out for the following week as well. Where else do we get to race the week before a points-paying event other than Daytona International Speedway? It doesn’t happen very often and gives us a great opportunity to learn something.”
If you do win the Sprint Showdown and qualify for the Sprint All-Star Race, it seems like that driver would have an advantage over the competitors already qualified for the main event. Do you agree?
“There is potential for that. One year, we actually won the Sprint Showdown in dominating fashion. I mean, we were wicked fast. A lot of the drivers in the main event that year were worried about how fast we were and I really thought we had a great chance to win the All-Star Race, but we went out there and ended up running something like 10th the whole event. It’s tougher in that big race. The competition steps it up and when it comes time where one million dollars and no points are on the line, drivers are going to get focused and run a little harder and crazier than normal. It doesn’t hurt you being in the first race, but is better to qualify in before that weekend and prepare go into it knowing you are in the main event.”
Race: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pioneer Hi-Bred 250
Location: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Iowa Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series Notes
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Iowa Speedway … As an organization, Richard Childress Racing has three previous starts at Iowa Speedway in the Nationwide Series, earning a best finish of 10th at the track in 2009 with Stephen Leicht.
The Season So Far … Through nine races contested so far this season, RCR has acquired two wins in the Nationwide Series, both with Elliott Sadler, who notched the organization’s first victory of the 2012 season at Phoenix International Raceway and also earned the organization’s second win of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway. RCR has earned four pole awards in 2012, with Sadler at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Paul Menard at Texas Motor Speedway and Kevin Harvick at Richmond International Raceway. The organization has 13 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes and has led 537 laps in 2012.
RCR in the NNS … In 792 Nationwide Series starts throughout the course of the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 58 wins, 263 top-five finishes, 432 top-10 finishes and 36 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.6 and an average finishing position of 12.9 among all races contested. RCR earned the Nationwide Series driver’s points championships in 2001 and 2006 with Harvick and in 2008 with Clint Bowyer. The Welcome, N.C.-based team earned the owner’s title in 2003 with Johnny Sauter and Harvick and again in 2007 with Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer.
To the Point … RCR’s two fulltime Nationwide Series entries rank second (Sadler) and third (Dillon) in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings heading into the Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at Iowa Speedway. The No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team sits third in the owner’s point standings while the No. 3 AdvoCare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team ranks fourth and the No. 33 Menards/South Point Hotel & Casino/Hunt Brothers/Armour Brands/Fast Fixin’/OneMain Financial/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet team driven by Brendan Gaughan, Harvick, Menard, Tony Stewart and Max Papis sits fifth in the owner’s championship point standings.
Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news and information and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series team Twitter pages – @RCR2ESadler, @RCR3ADillon and @RCR33NNS, RCR’s Nationwide Series driver Twitter pages – @Elliott_Sadler and @AustinDillon3 and the official Facebook fan pages – facebook.com/ElliottSadlerOfficial and facebook.com/adillon3.
Live on ESPN 2 … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 will be televised on ESPN beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, May 20 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Elliott Sadler No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s OneMain Financial Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team will utilize Chassis No. 101 from Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide Series stable this weekend. The race at Iowa Speedway marks the fourth time the OneMain Financial team utilized this chassis, which Sadler raced to wins at Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Sadler also drove to a sixth-place finish at Richmond International Raceway with this Chevrolet.
The Hawkeye State … Sadler heads to Iowa Speedway with two starts at the 0.875-mile track. The Emporia, Va., driver made both starts at Iowa Speedway last season, earning one pole award and two top-five finishes. He also led 38 laps and holds an average starting position of 3.5 and average finishing position of 4.0.
Just the Stats … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date statistics, Sadler leads the Nationwide Series in average running position (6.623), average start (4.4) and laps in top 15 (1,606).
To the Point … Sadler ranks second in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, 23 points behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Seeing Pink … For the remainder of the season, Sadler will have a little more color to his outfit on race days. The Emporia, Va., native will sport pink driving shoes, showing support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Sadler’s mother, Bell, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and is now a survivor.
Home Sweet Home … Jon Leonard, engineer on the No. 2 OneMain Financial team, hails from Vinton, Iowa, approximately 80 miles from the Newton, Iowa-based track. The 22-year-old graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is serving his first year on the OneMain Financial team.
Meet Sadler … Sadler is scheduled to participate in the Nationwide Series autograph session at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, May 19 at 2 p.m. CT.
Race Rewind: Darlington … A disappointing late-race incident ended the night early for Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team last weekend at Darlington. After competing in the top-10 for the entire race, crew chief Luke Lambert called for two tires on the final pit stop, putting Sadler out front for the final laps. The green flag dropped with four laps to go, and Sadler chose the bottom line as the leader. As the field approached turn one, Sadler was tapped from behind, sending him into the retaining wall and out of the race. The team was scored in the 24th position, their first finish outside the top 12 this season.
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Iowa Speedway?
“Iowa Speedway is a unique track, and I like it because it reminds me of Richmond International Raceway. Iowa has straightaways that are a little longer, and it is bumpy. Last season was the first time I had the opportunity to race there, and we walked away with two good finishes. After last week’s unfortunate finish at Darlington Raceway, I think the entire team is hungry for a win at Iowa.”
Austin Dillon No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s AdvoCare Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 105 from the Richard Childress Racing Nationwide Series stable. This is the same Chevrolet that Dillon drove to a fifth-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. in March.
Dillon at Iowa … Dillon hopes that experience will pay dividends this weekend. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has eight previous starts at Iowa Speedway in four different series, including the Nationwide Series (finished 28th after starting 16th in 2009 and 10th after starting third in May 2011), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (finished 12th after starting ninth in 2009, first after starting first in 2010 and second after starting fifth in 2011), NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division (finished sixth after starting first in 2008 and finished ninth after starting sixth in 2009) and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (finished second after starting 30th in 2009).
Winner Winner … Iowa Speedway was the site of Dillon’s career first Camping World Truck Series win in 2010.
The Season So Far … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon is the second-fastest driver late in a run and has completed 99.29 percent of laps on the lead lap, ranking him second in that category. He has completed 93.7 percent of his laps in the top 15, ranking him third. The Nationwide Series rookie has an average running position of 8.802 in the season’s first nine Nationwide Series races, ranking him fifth among all drivers and has the fifth-fastest green-flag speed. He maintains a driver rating of 100.0, ranking him sixth and has made 464 Quality Passes, ranking him sixth. Dillon has the sixth-fastest speed in traffic and is the seventh-fastest driver early in a run. He is ranked seventh in the Fastest Laps Run category with 80 laps so far this season
Get to the Points … Dillon is third in the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings. He trails point leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr by 35 points and he is 12 markers behind second-place Elliott Sadler, his RCR teammate. Dillon currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
Meet Dillon … Race fans have three chances to meet Dillon on Saturday at Iowa Speedway. He is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler beginning at 1:30 p.m. Central Time and take part in the Nationwide Series autograph session from 2-2:45 p.m. before greeting race fans at the Chevrolet Display at 2:50 p.m.
Gone Fishing … Dillon and his younger brother, Camping World Truck Series driver Ty Dillon, will fish with race fans as part of the 2012 FAN DAY events at Childress Vineyards and the RCR Museum on May 25. The Dillon Brothers will participate in a Bass Pro Shops fishing tournament from 6-6:45 p.m. on Friday. Autograph sessions, show car displays and cornhole games are among the other festivities scheduled as part of the all-day event. For more information, visit rcrracing.com.
Rewind to Darlington … Dillon and Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet team started third and finished fifth in Friday evening’s Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway, marking their fifth top-five finish through the season’s first nine races.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts heading into Iowa Speedway?
“Ever since the first time I visited Iowa Speedway it seems like I have been pretty fast. I just love going out there and running. It’s a very comfortable place for me and I have a lot of friends out there, with the track and with all of the great people I have met. The race fans in Iowa are so passionate. There’s a great energy and enthusiasm for racing there. Iowa Speedway is where I got my first win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, so I’m looking forward to going out there and putting on a show in the Nationwide Series.”
What kind of confidence level do you have heading into a race at a track where you’ve had so much success?
“I think Iowa Speedway is just going to be a good track for us. Anytime you head to a track where you have a lot of experience at and where you know exactly how to set up your car for the race, you’re going to have more confidence. Iowa Speedway is a track that we expect to win at. A top-three finish is what we want and I think that is a very realistic goal. It’s not the only track we have marked down as a place we can be successful at. You look at the schedule at the beginning of the year and you circle certain tracks based on your history there and Iowa Speedway is a place we have circled. We feel we can really gain some points at Iowa Speedway. In the Nationwide Series race last year, we ran up front early, got behind as a result of a slow pit stop and were able to race our way back up to 10th. I know what we need to do to be different there, and to be better. We ran second in the Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway last year, and I know what we need to do to be better there, too. Hopefully we can find a balance between the Nationwide Series car and the Truck and find just the right setup in order to be successful in the Nationwide Series car this weekend.”
Explain Iowa Speedway.
“It’s a very racy track. We’ve seen some great finishes at Iowa Speedway. Last year’s Nationwide Series race was awesome, and the same is true with the Truck race. Some teams took two tires and we took four and were able to come from eighth to running side-by-side for the lead with Matt Crafton at the end, who had two tires. It’s just an impressive track where you can move up and down on the racetrack and find speed throughout the race.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 99 from the Richard Childress Racing Nationwide Series stable. Built new in 2012, RCR teammate, Kevin Harvick, drove this Chevrolet to a fifth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway in March.
In the Driver’s Seat … Gaughan will climb behind the wheel of the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet this weekend at Iowa Speedway for his fourth of 10 scheduled Nationwide Series events of the 2012 season. In his first three appearances, Gaughan has collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
Nationwide Series Milestone … The Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 on Sunday afternoon will mark Gaughan’s 75th-career Nationwide Series start. During his Nationwide Series career, the Las Vegas native has collected one pole award, seven top-five and 19 top-10 finishes and has led 45 of the 12,909 laps he completed.
America’s Place to Race … Since 2009, Gaughan has made three combined NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series starts at the 0.875-mile tri-oval. During these three appearances, the K&N Pro Cup Series Champion has completed 537 of 700 (76.7 percent) laps contested.
Going for a Loop … According to NASCAR’s Season-to-Date Data Loop Statistics, after only two Nationwide Series starts Gaughan ranks within the top 20 in several categories at Iowa Speedway including: Fastest on Restarts (122.410 mph), Fastest Drivers in Early Run (126.890 mph), Green Flag Passes (56), Green Flag Speed (126.321 mph) and Speed in Traffic (125.770 mph).
To the Points … The No. 33 RCR Chevrolet team sits fifth in the Nationwide Series owner’s championship point standings, 49 markers behind the No. 6 team. The No. 33 team has earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes between four different drivers (Harvick, Gaughan, Tony Stewart and Paul Menard) thus far this season.
Double Duty … Before heading to Iowa for the Nationwide Series race on Sunday afternoon, Gaughan will pilot the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado Friday evening during the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series race will air live on SPEED beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Autograph Please … Fans will have the chance to meet the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet during the Nationwide Series Driver Autograph session at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, May 19 from 2-2:45 p.m. CT.
2012 FAN DAY … Gaughan is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at Childress Vineyards on May 25 beginning at 3:30 p.m. and will sign autographs with fellow RCR teammates Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter at the ’12 FAN DAY co-hosted by RCR and Childress Vineyards. Following the autograph sessions, Gaughan will participate in a competitive round of cornhole with fans in attendance.
South Point Hotel & Casino … South Point Hotel & Casino will serve as Gaughan’s primary sponsor for the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend at Iowa Speedway. Located in the heart of the premiere southwest Las Vegas valley, minutes away from the famous Las Vegas Strip, South Point Hotel & Casino amenities include a 16-screen century theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and a handful of restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes. The casino features a large selection of table games and the latest slot and video poker machines. The distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 42-inch LED televisions, Point Plush mattresses and wireless fidelity throughout. A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country. South Point also has a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and dancing to live bands on weekends.
In the Rearview Mirror: Darlington Raceway … Gaughan was running fifth in the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 last Friday night when he collected a “Darlington Stripe” late in the race by brushing the outside backstretch wall. The contact resulted in a cut a tire on the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, relegating the team to a 26th-place finish at Darlington Raceway.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
You are pulling double duty this weekend running two different races at two different tracks. How do you mentally prepare for a race weekend like this?
“This weekend is actually more like two separate race weekends. Unlike Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) or California (Auto Club Speedway) where I had to jump from one car to the other and go back and forth, the Charlotte truck race is a one day show, so I’ll practice qualify and race it all on Friday. Then I’ll leave for Iowa the next day and start a normal race weekend all over again, so mentally I just am preparing myself like I would for a normal race weekend, only I get to do it twice.”
You have posted some solid Nationwide finishes so far this season. What are your thought heading to the race at Iowa Speedway?
“The No. 33 team has been really strong with all of their drivers this season, and I have been fortunate to have some strong runs, but even better finishes. It’s going to be nice to be able to race the Nationwide Series car two weeks in a row and I’m really looking forward to Iowa (Speedway).”
Race: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â N.C. Education Lottery 200
Location: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Charlotte Motor Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Notes
RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History … In 220 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Richard Childress Racing has earned 25 wins, 83 top-five finishes, 136 top-10 finishes and 30 pole positions, along with the inaugural series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner and again with Austin Dillon in 2011. The organization has an average starting position of 9.9 and an average finishing position of 10.2.
Truck Line-up … Brendan Gaughan will pilot the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 134-lap event will mark Gaughan’s second appearance for RCR in the Camping World Truck Series this season. The No. 2 team will join Ty Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team along with Joey Coulter and the No. 22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team for the 167-lap affair on Friday.
Season in Review … Through the first four races this season, RCR’s Camping World Truck Series entries have acquired one victory at Martinsville Speedway with Kevin Harvick and notched two pole awards, with Harvick at Martinsville Speedway and Tim George Jr. at Kansas Speedway. The organization has two top-five and five top-10 finishes and led 250 laps in 2012.
To the Points … With four 2012 Camping World Truck Series races in the books, Dillon sits fourth in the drivers championship point standings 14 markers behind the leader, while Coulter is 12th in the standings, 108 points outside the top spot. RCR’s No. 2 team is eighth in the owner’s point standings utilizing three different drivers so far this season (Harvick, Gaughan and George Jr.).
RCR at Charlotte … RCR has three previous Camping World Truck Series starts at the Concord, N.C.-based facility, earning one top-10 finish at the 1.5-mile race track. RCR boasts an 11.3 average starting position combined with a 19.3 average finishing position at the intermediate-style track. Collectively, the Welcome, N.C., race team has completed 80.3 percent of the contested laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Meet the Drivers … RCR Camping World Truck Series drivers are scheduled to participate in the 2012 FAN DAY co-hosted by the RCR museum and the Childress Vineyards. The event will take place on May 25 beginning at 9 a.m. with festivities at both the winery and the RCR Museum including autograph sessions, show car and sponsor partner displays, guided museum and winery tours. Visit www.childressvineyards.com or www.rcrracing.com for more information on how to be a part of ’12 FAN DAY.
Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news and information and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3TDillon, @RCR22JCoulter and @RCR2CWTS. RCR’s NCWTS driver Twitter pages – @tydillon, @JoeyCoulter, @timgeorgejr, @Brendan62 and @kevinharvick.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of this weekend’s N.C. Education Lottery 200 is scheduled to be televised live on Friday, May 18, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on SPEED and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
Brendan Gaughan No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 059 from the Richard Childress Racing Camping World Truck Series stable. This Chevrolet Silverado was acquired during the Kevin Harvick Inc. and RCR merger at the end of the 2011 season. After undergoing a remodel during the off season, the RCR entry will make its first paces around the 1.5-mile track on Friday during practice.
Welcome Back … Gaughan returns to the driver’s seat of No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet for the first time since his 20th-place showing at Daytona International Speedway in February. The Las Vegas native is scheduled to compete in five additional Camping World Truck Series races with RCR this season. Gaughan will also share the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition alongside teammates Harvick, Paul Menard, Tony Stewart and Max Papis with Ernie Cope serving as crew chief.
Callin’ the Shots … There will be a new face on top of the No. 2 pit box this weekend. Gil Martin will serve as Gaughan’s crew chief for the 134-lap affair at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. Martin was appointed crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the No. 33 RCR entry early in the 2012 season.
Charlotte Details … In six Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, Gaughan notched two top-five and three top-10 finishes with his best finish of second coming in May 2003. He also competed in four Nationwide Series races and two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the Concord, N.C.-based track running at the end of each race and completing 91.1 percent of the laps contested.
Start Your Engine … This weekend’s 134-lap event will mark the Las Vegas native’s 189th career Camping World Truck Series start. In more than 12 years of competing in NASCAR’s truck division, Gaughan has added eight wins, three pole awards, 33 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes to his racing resume. He also led a total of 872 laps and scored his highest season point standing position of fourth in 2003.
A Look Back … Gaughan’s last Camping World Truck Series start under the RCR banner came at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February where he started the 100-lap event from the 10th position. The No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino team was caught up in a late-race, multi-car incident that ended their night early and relegated them to a 20th-place finish.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts about getting back into the truck for RCR at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
“It’s been tough watching from the sidelines the past few weeks that I haven’t been running in the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado, but RCR has had fast trucks every race no matter who drives. I can’t wait to climb back in for my turn at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.”
The last time you were in a truck was at Daytona International Speedway at the beginning of the season. How do you prepare for Charlotte Motor Speedway after having off for a long period of time?
“Fortunately, RCR has given me plenty of other opportunities in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series this year. I don’t feel rusty coming into this weekend’s race at Charlotte (Motor Speedway). I’m really excited to be back racing in my favorite NASCAR series.”
Ty Dillon No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 019 from the Richard Childress Racing Camping World Truck Series stable in Friday’s N.C. Education Lottery 250 at the 1.5-mile track. Prior to a makeover during the off season, this truck was used by Dillon’s older brother, Austin, throughout the 2011 season, including a victory at Chicagoland Speedway last September. In four appearances last season, this chassis finished seventh or better and has never qualified outside the top eight.
Charlotte Details … Dillon has no previous starts in the Camping World Truck Series at the Concord, N.C.-based facility, but the 20-year-old has some history at the track. Dillon made his racing debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a bandolero car in 2006. Although the young driver hasn’t competed at CMS, he does have some impressive stats on 1.5-mile tracks in his seven Camping World Truck Series starts. With five starts on a 1.5-mile or larger track, Dillon holds an average starting position of 8.4 coupled with an average finishing position of 8.8 and one top-five and four top-10 finishes.
Points Racing … After a ninth-place showing at Kansas Speedway,Dillon slipped one position, to fourth, in the Camping World Truck Series driver’s championship point standings, 14 markers behind the leader Timothy Peters.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update …Dillon took over the lead for the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors after the inaugural race at “The Rock” last month. He is 16 points ahead of driver John King after four races on the Camping World Truck Series schedule.
Changin’ it Up … Marcus Richmond will serve as crew chief on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2012 season. Richmond was appointed crew chief on the No. 2 RCR truck program at the end of the 2011 season working with drivers Harvick, Gaughan and George Jr. In his four races a top the No. 2 pit box, Richmond earned a pole award and victory at Martinsville Speedway with Harvick and a pole award at Kansas Speedway with George Jr. Prior to joining RCR, Richmond worked with Cole Whitt in the Camping World Truck Series, capturing one pole, two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
Gobble, Gobble … The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet will sport a different look this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the National Wild Turkey Federation on board. Bass Pro Shops and the NWTF work together in wildlife habitat conservation in an effort to preserve North America’s wild turkey population. The NWTF was founded in 1973 in Edgefield, S.C., and has since expanded to having local chapters in every state and Canada. Today, the NWTF has helped preserve almost 17 million acres of habitat land.
Kansas Speedway Rewind … Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team finished ninth in the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway. After qualifying in the fifth position, the team battled a tight-handling black and orange machine throughout the 167-lap event even after adjustments over the course of three routine pit stops. On the final restart, Dillon was scored in the 15th position but climbed his way to ninth before the checkered flag was displayed 10 laps later.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at Childress Vineyards on May 25 beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Rookie of the Year contender will sign autographs with fellow RCR teammates Gaughan and Joey Coulter at the 2012 FAN DAY co-hosted by the RCR Museum and Childress Vineyards. Following the autograph sessions, fans in attendance will have the opportunity to fish with the 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team in the pond behind the winery, courtesy of Bass Pro Shops.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
Marcus Richmond has been named your crew chief for the remainder of the season. What are your thoughts on this change?
“We tested at Nashville Superspeedway with Marcus a few weeks ago, and we seem to work really well together. I learned a lot from him at Martinsville (Speedway) when I worked with him and Kevin Harvick. Marcus has the level of experience that can direct a rookie team toward a championship, and that’s one of our team goals this season.”
You’ve never raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway before; does this add extra pressure on you?
“Not really, last year in the ARCA Racing Series there were a lot of tracks that we had never been to and ran well at. We’ll unload at Charlotte Motor Speedway with notes from my brother (Austin Dillon) from last year, and I’ll have the help of my teammates Joey Coulter and Brendan Gaughan. We just have to do our best and learn all we can during practice.”
Joey Coulter
No. 22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Joey Coulter will pilot Chassis No. 024 from the Richard Childress Racing Camping World Truck Series stable in this weekend’s N.C. Education Lottery 200.This is a brand new RCR racer that will be put through its first competitive laps this weekend.
Charlotte Details … Coulter will make his second Camping World Truck Series appearance at the 1.5-mile race track this Friday night. The 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year made his debut at the Concord, N.C. facility last May where he started 16th and finished 23rd while completing 100 percent of the contested laps.
Get to the Point … With four races complete, Coulter sits 12th in the Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings, 55 markers behind leader Timothy Peters.
Kansas Speedway Rewind … Coulter and the No. 22 Husky Liners Chevrolet team started seventh in the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway. Despite a tight-condition on the Chevrolet Silverado in the early stages of the event, Coulter maintained a top-10 running position throughout the first half of the 167-lap affair. While on pit road for a routine stop on lap 99, the caution flag was displayed for debris on the race track, trapping Coulter one lap down to the leader and relegating him to the 23rd position when racing resumed. The 21-year-old driver used the remaining laps to improve his position to 14th where he would cross the finish line.
Home Sweet Home … Five members on Coulter’s No. 22 team hail from the Tar Heel State, including engineer Matt McCall (Denver), front-tire carrier Richard Gray (Winston Salem), rear-tire carrier Thad Wymer (Thomasville), rear-tire changer Cameron Carter (Belews Creek) and hauler driver Gary Hartley (Grantham).
Takin’ A Little Break … The Camping World Truck Series took a three-week hiatus from on-track action, but that didn’t stop Coulter from jumping behind the wheel and sharpening his driving skills. Coulter competed in the ARCA Racing Series International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway for Coulter Motorsports. He also raced at the one-third mile dirt track Talladega short track also know as, “the Hornets Nest,” prior to the ARCA race.
Double Duty … Coulter and crew chief of the No. 22 RCR Chevrolet, Harold Holly, will fly to Toledo, Ohio immediately following the completion of the N.C. Education Lottery 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to compete in the ARCA Racing Series Menards 200. Coulter and Holly will tag team the half-mile bullring in the No. 61 Rip It Energy/Parramount Chevrolet for Coulter Motorsports. The Menards 200 is scheduled to air live on SPEED at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.
Meet the Driver … Coulter is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at Childress Vineyards on May 25 beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Miami Springs, Fla., native will sign autographs with fellow RCR teammates Brendan Gaughan and Ty Dillon at the 2012 FAN DAY co-hosted by RCR and Childress Vineyards. Following the autograph sessions, fans in attendance will have the opportunity to play cornhole with the 2011 Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year.
JOEY COULTER QUOTES:
You raced at Charlotte Motor Speedway last year. What did you learn from that race that you’ll be able to use this time around?
“I learned a lot about the track and what it takes to be fast there. My teammate, Austin Dillon, helped me during practice to get me on the right track. I think we’ll have a good starting point when we get back there this weekend for the race.”
What are your thoughts about the season so far?
“We’ve had really fast trucks so far this season, but we just haven’t had the results to show for it. Harold (Holly, crew chief) and the guys have worked really hard to build strong trucks each week, and I appreciate all of their hard work and dedication. We salvaged a decent finish at Kansas Speedway last month. I hope we can continue that momentum.”
