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[/media-credit]Dover International Speedway Advance Notes
Race: FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks on Sunday, June 3
Track: Dover International Speedway (1.0-mile Oval)
Location: Dover, Del.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Dover International Speedway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Allstate 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 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.
Team Target Wins 96th Indy 500: Franchitti earned his third victory in the Indianapolis 500 and delivered Target Chip Ganassi Racing its fourth Indianapolis 500 victory, and the fifth to owner Chip Ganassi. With his fifth win as an owner, Ganassi is now tied with Lou Moore for second all-time in Indianapolis 500 wins behind only Roger Penske. Franchitti’s 31st win ties him with Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais for seventh on the all-time Indy car wins list. Finishing first and second, Franchitti and Dixon earn TCGR’S 31st double podium and the 15th double podium since the two became teammates in 2009. This is also the second time Franchitti and Dixon finished one-two, respectively, in the Indianapolis 500.
Greatest CGR Driver Bracket: CGRT announced that EGR driver Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver title after fans participated in four rounds of voting. Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti faced Montoya in the Championship round to decide the overall winner of the team’s bracket-style social media promotion. Nearly 12,000 votes were submitted using a driver-specific hashtag – with #TeamMontoya bringing in almost 7,000 votes. The promotion-specific hashtag – #GreatestCGRDriver – accumulated over 6 million impressions and reached nearly 3 million accounts, making it the most successful social media promotion to date for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams.
Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, Dover International Speedway, NASCAR and FedEx have teamed up to create “Autism Speaks Day at the Races,” an unprecedented opportunity for children with autism and their families to enjoy a NASCAR race – the June 3 FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks – in-person in a sensory-friendly environment. All four entities will work together to raise funds and awareness throughout race weekend. For $11 fans can participate in a track walk on Saturday, June 2 at 5 p.m. ET, hosted by NASCAR Unites and Sunoco. Proceeds from the event will go toward The NASCAR Foundation and Autism Speaks.
Taming the Monster: Of the 84 NSCS races held at Dover International Speedway, Chevrolet has gone to victory lane 31 times – six more victories than the next closest manufacturer.
EGR at the Monster Mile: Since 2001 EGR drivers have made 53 starts at Dover International Speedway, in which they have led 51 laps and earned seven top-10 and 17 top-15 finishes.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Allstate Team
Charlotte Recap: From the start of the longest race of the season, Jamie McMurray quickly began driving the No. 1 Chevrolet to the front of the field, running as high as the second-position. The Bass Pro Shops team was able to maintain lead lap position until having to serve a pit road penalty for a missing lug nut shortly after the halfway mark of the 400-lap race. In the end, after just five cautions, there would only be nine cars to finish on the lead lap and McMurray would wheel the Bass Pro Shops Chevy to the 21st-position.
High Marks: McMurray ranked in the top-15 in all of the following categories in the Coca-Cola 600, fastest laps run (13th), green flag passes (second), quality passes (eighth) and green flag speed (12th).
McMurray at Dover: McMurray looks to make his 19th start at Dover International Speedway this weekend. In his previous 18 starts at the Monster Mile, McMurray has accumulated one top-five, five top-10s and led 131 laps. The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet has an average start of 16.2 and an average finish of 17.6. His best start was fifth in 2008 and his best finish was second in 2006. McMurray has zero DNFs (did not finish) and has completed 7,101 of 7,204 laps (98.6%) at Dover.
Movin’ Up: McMurray ranks second in the number of green flag passes in the last 14 races at Dover International Speedway. He has completed 645 green flag passes, which is 45 more than the driver ranked third. The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet also ranks third in the closers category, having gained a total of 18 positions in the final 10% of the laps in those 14 races.
Different Kind of Driver: Jamie McMurray will be driving a golf ball instead of his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet on Thursday May 31 to participate in the Drive for Autism Celebrity-Am Golf outing at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, DE. The 11th annual event is held to raise funds to create better lives for people with autism and their families in Delaware.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Charlotte Recap: The Target team sported a new patriotic paint scheme over the weekend in honor of Memorial Day weekend. The No. 42 red, white and blue Chevy rolled off the starting grid 29th and set their sights on a solid run. The annual race starts in the daylight and ends in the evening hours, causing teams to make aggressive changes throughout the 400-lap race for changing track conditions. Montoya battled with the handling early on and made multiple pit stops to adjust the car accordingly. Long green flag runs and a wheel problem during the second half of the race added to the equation. The Target Chevrolet held strong and finished out the evening in the 20th position.
Montoya at Dover: Montoya will make his 11th start at Dover International Speedway this weekend. In 10 starts at the Monster Mile the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet has earned one top-five, two top-10s and led five laps. His average start is 16.9, while his average finish is 22.9. Montoya’s highest starting position is second (2007, 2009) and his best finish is fourth in 2009.
Short Track Stats: In his NSCS career, Montoya has made 54 starts on short tracks. He has accumulated one pole, four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Montoya 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 18.6 and an average finishing position 18.7.
Hit the Bullseye: On the way to Dover International Speedway this weekend, stop by Target for all of your race-day essentials. Target is conveniently located within three miles of the track at 148 John Hunn Brown Road, Dover, DE. Call ahead and make sure they have what you need at 302-741-0434.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Allstate Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1104. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Allstate team will bring Chassis #1104 to Dover International Speedway this weekend. This chassis made its debut last spring at Charlotte Motor Speedway finishing 17th in the All-Star Race and 37th in the Coca-Cola 600. This chassis also raced in both Michigan races last season (19th, 23rd) the fall race at Dover International Speedway (15th) and this season at Texas Motor Speedway (14th).
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1111. Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1111 to Dover International Speedway this weekend. This chassis made its debut in last season’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leading two laps and finishing 31st after an accident put the No. 42 four laps down. This season, this chassis has seen track time at Bristol Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway finishing eighth and 27th, respectively.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
12
0
0
0
2
21.6
20.2
21
Juan Pablo Montoya
12
0
0
0
1
25.6
19.5
18
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
342
6
8
41
98
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
193
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: Randall Burnett
Fenton, MO
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 146 victories, including four 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
