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[/media-credit]Richard Childress Racing Event Preview:
Michigan International Speedway
Race: Michigan 400
Location: Michigan International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
Richard Childress Racing in the Motor City … In 127 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, RCR teams have earned three wins, two with Dale Earnhardt (June 1987, 1990) and the most recent with Kevin Harvick (August 2010). Additionally, RCR has claimed 17 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes with 10 different drivers including Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, who recorded top-10 finishes at MIS in June 1978 and August 1979. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has an 18.6 average starting position, an average finishing position of 16.9, has completed 23,772 of the 25,129 contested laps (94.4 percent) and has led 676 laps in the Irish Hills.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,207 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 100 wins, 431 top-five finishes, 895 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.8 among all races contested. 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 Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR … Throughout the season’s first 14 races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. RCR teams have completed 14,492 out of 14,774 total laps (98.22 percent) with drivers Jeff Burton, Harvick, Paul Menard, Elliott Sadler and Brendan Gaughan. The group has led a combined 174 laps.
Dillon Joins the RCR NSCS Lineup at MIS … Austin Dillon is scheduled to make his second career Sprint Cup Series start in this weekend’s Michigan 400. Dillon will pilot the No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet during Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway.
Get to the Points … Following the Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR at Pocono Raceway, Harvick advanced to sixth in the driver championship point standings, 53 markers out of the top spot. Menard climbed to 13th in the standings, while Burton remained in 18th.
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, @RCR31JeffBurton and @RCR3ADillon. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com.
Catch the Action … TNT’s live coverage of the Michigan 400 begins Sunday, June 17 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 15th points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series calendar will air live on SPEED on Saturday, June 16 at 12 p.m. ET.
Paul Menard
No. 27 Duracell/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Duracell/Menards Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 397 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2012 competition, this No. 27 Chevrolet will turn its first laps at MIS.
By the Numbers in the Irish Hills … In 11 career Spring Cup Series starts at the two-mile oval, Menard has finished each of his contested races and completed 98 percent of his laps (2,164 of 2,209), leading for seven circuits. He has an average starting position of 27.2 and an average finishing position of 23.2. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Menard ranks sixth in the category Green-Flag Passes, gaining 1,004 positions under green-flag conditions since its inception in 2006. The Eau Claire, Wis., native recorded both his best start (ninth) and his best finish (fourth) during his last year’s June visit to the Brooklyn, Mich.-based facility. He also owns two top fives, five top-10 finishes and one pole award in six NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at MIS.
Getting Loopy in 2012 … With 14 points-paying events of the 2012 season complete, Menard sits 13th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 27 points out of the final Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup spot. In his sophomore year with RCR, Menard has an average starting position of 18.3, an average finishing position of 15.6, maintains an average running position of 18.4, and has completed 99.6 percent of his laps (4,429 of 4,448).
Double Duty Weekend … In addition to his driving duties with the No. 27 Sprint Cup Series team, Menard will also drive the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet for RCR in Saturday’s 250-mile Nationwide Series race at MIS. The event will air live on ABC beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Meet Menard … On Thursday, June 14, Menard is scheduled to meet with fans and sign autographs alongside ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver Frank Kimmel at the Menards store grand opening in Jackson, Mich. from 7-8 p.m. ET. The new Menards store is located at 3588 Page Avenue, Jackson, Mich., 49203.
Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3 … Menard and the No. 27 team will participate in an open test session June 14 at MIS. They are utilizing chassis No. 351 from the RCR stable, which will also serve as the backup to the primary car during this weekend’s events.
Happy Father’s Day … With children ranging from six months of age to young adults, there is never a shortage of stories from proud dads in the Duracell/Menards hauler. Happy Father’s Day to crew chief Slugger Labbe, car chief Craig Smokstad, shock specialist Kris McCabe, tire specialist Chris Sherwood, mechanics Clint Almquist, Jesse Sanders and Chad Tigert, spotter Stevie Reeves, hauler drivers Jeff Icenhour and Rocky Boggs, front-tire changer Terry Spalding, front-tire carrier Erik Pringle, rear-tire changer Aaron Smith and rear tire-carrier Ray Wright.
Race Rewind … Menard and the Pittsburgh Paints/Menards team brought home a fourth-place finish in the June 2011 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Starting from the ninth position, the No. 27 Chevrolet team competed in the top 15 for the entire 200-lap event.
In the Rearview Mirror: Pocono … Menard took the green flag in the third position and drove the Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet to a ninth-place finish in last Sunday’s Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR, spending 159 of 160 laps in the top 15 and marking his best result at Pocono Raceway.
About Duracell … Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, Duracell has been powering people around the world for more than 40 years as the brand that was, and is, trusted everywhere. Their products serve as the heart of devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries, Duracell also innovates in lighting, renewable power and wireless charging technologies to help consumers live life without limits. Visit Duracell.com for more information, follow on Twitter.com/Duracell_Power, and “like” Duracell on Facebook.com/Duracell.
PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
As we head to Michigan International Speedway you’re faced with another repaved race track. Do you think it will be as wide open as it used to be?
“No, absolutely not (will the track be as wide open as before). I think it is going to take a little bit for it to burn in. Much like Pocono (Raceway) and Phoenix (International Raceway) which were also repaved, it has a single groove for a little while, but as we test and as we run more laps it does open up. I’m looking forward to going there; it is going to be exciting. I think it’s going to be the fastest track on the schedule.”
The teams that tested recorded really fast speeds. Does that concern you at all?
“No, I’m not concerned about the speeds. It’s going to be pretty exciting for us drivers. Unless you came from Indy cars, a lot of us have never run that fast.”
Running those high speeds and the RPMs at Michigan International Speedway, how much is the wear and tear on the engine a concern to you and the team?
“We run roughly 9500 RPM and by changing the rear gear, we’ll make the motor last through the race. You have to do a lot of adjustments to the car when you run those speeds, and when a track is repaved there are a lot of unknowns. Goodyear held a tire test at MIS since the repaving of the track, so I am sure the guys at ECR have a good idea of what gear we need to run.”
What will you and the No. 27 team work on during the open test on Thursday?
“We don’t really know yet. We’ll have a test plan put together, but until you make that first lap you really don’t know what you have.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 378 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. The Bakersfield, Calif., native drove this RCR racer earlier this season at Kansas Speedway where he brought home a sixth-place finish. This chassis was also used in competition twice during the 2011 season when Harvick captured a second-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway in September and a sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway in October.
Racing in the Irish Hills … Throughout the course of his Sprint Cup Series career, Harvick has 22 starts at the Brooklyn, Mich.-based facility, collecting one victory (August 2010), three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 36-year-old driver holds an average starting position of 18.8 and a 15th-place average finishing position at the two-mile tri-oval. Harvick has completed 4,259 of 4,300 (99 percent) of the contested laps and led 149. In addition to his 2010 Sprint Cup Series win at MIS, Harvick has one Nationwide Series win at the track which came in the fall of 2003.
Going for a Loop in 2012 … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Harvick has completed 14 Sprint Cup Series events this season garnering solid stats in several categories including: third in Fastest in Traffic (11.214 average position), fourth in Green Flag Speed (8.231 average position) and fifth in Fastest Driver on Restarts (11.643 average position).
Points Racing … With 14 points-paying events in the books, Harvick and the No. 29 team sit sixth in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 53 markers behind the leader. The team has collected three top-five and seven top-10 finishes thus far this season, completing 4,436 of 4,448 laps (99.73 percent) contested.
Visiting MacDill Air Force Base … On Tuesday Harvick traveled to Florida to help promote Daytona International Speedway’s July race. The first stop of the day was MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., where the driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet toured a KC-135, a long-range tanker aircraft, took part in a Q&A session with base personnel and participated in a media availability session with local TV and print media.
Throwing Out the First Pitch … While in Florida, Harvick will visit the Tampa Bay Rays stadium where he’ll meet several of the team’s players and participate in media availability with team manager Joe Maddon. Harvick will cap off the night by throwing out the first pitch as the Rays take on the New York Mets.
Red, White and Blue Summer Returns to the track … The patriotic red, white and blue Budweiser Folds of Honor paint scheme returns to the No. 29 Chevrolet this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The special paint scheme reflects the “Red, White and Blue Summer” packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 – July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the No. 29 Chevrolet. In addition to Sunday’s race, Harvick’s Budweiser ride will feature the “Red, White and Blue Summer” paint scheme for Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway (June 30), Daytona International Speedway (July 7), Pocono Raceway (Aug. 5) and Watkins Glen International (Aug. 12). (*Maximum donation of $2.5 million includes $5,000 for every walk-off in select 2012 professional baseball games and a portion of sales for every case of Budweiser sold, 5/20-7/7.)
Grow One. Save a Million … The No. 29 Budweiser Racing Team, additional RCR employees, several media members and a number of Sprint Cup Series crew members helped conserve more than 17,500 gallons of water as part of Budweiser’s “Grow One. Save a Million.” efforts. In support of World Environment Day (June 5), Budweiser encouraged individuals to pledge not to shave for a set number of weeks to help save a million gallons of water. Additional information on the program is available on the “Grow One” tab on Budweiser’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Budweiser.
Transform Reality with Blippar … Emerging technology from Blippar delivers an exclusive mobile experience to fans of Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Racing Team. Blippar is the first image-recognition phone app aimed at bringing to life products with exciting augmented reality interactions and instantaneous content. With the Blippar app fans can use their smart phones to convert the Bud 29 logo into an interactive, wow experience where they can view footage of Harvick and the team, get behind-the-scenes access and take their photo with the driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet. The free app is available for download on iOS and Android devices. Once downloaded, fans can utilize the app to blipp (scan) the Bud 29 logo, accessible in retail locations and on team merchandise, to access the special content.
Happy Father’s Day … While most members of the NASCAR community will celebrate Father’s Day at the track and away from their father or children, front tire carrier on the No. 29 Budweiser team, Austin Craven, will spend the day near the man who was his hero, his father. Jeff “Rooster” Craven is the hauler driver for the No. 31 RCR team and a well-respected, longtime member of the NASCAR community. Austin followed in his father’s footsteps and started working in the industry as a teen before going fulltime after he graduated from high school in 2003. The two worked for different teams for years, but have worked for the same organization since Austin joined RCR four years ago.
Meet the Press … Harvick will be available to members of the media at 11:50 a.m. ET on Friday in the MIS infield media center.
The Last Time By … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser team rallied back from late-race contact with the outside retaining wall to finish 14th in last year’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
In the Rearview Mirror: Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR … Harvick and RCR’s No. 29 Rheem team finished 14th at Pocono Raceway last Sunday after overcoming a pit road penalty and battling a tight-handling condition during the 160-lap event at the “Tricky Triangle”.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
What do you anticipate at Michigan International Speedway this weekend now that the track has been repaved? Will it be as wide open as usual?
“I think it will be more wide open. With the test at Pocono (Raceway) the week before, I think a lot of what we learned there will apply as we go to Michigan (International Speedway), but the speeds will be a little bit higher at Michigan.”
Do you think the cars will move up and down in the corners? Or do you think everybody will be locked to the bottom?
“I think you’re going to have to move around. The bottom is probably going to be the fastest as you go through the race, but it’ll be a little bit easier for the cars to move around at Michigan (International Speedway) just because it’s more wide open with different degrees of banking than Pocono (Raceway). I still think the bottom will probably be the fastest though.”
Speeds at the Goodyear tire test at Michigan International Speedway were over 200 mph. Are there any concerns about that?
“Not really. I think everybody knew with the race track being repaved you were going to have some pretty high speeds and everybody was prepared. You just go do the same things that you would do at any other race track and try to acquire as much information as you can on Thursday and apply it as fast as possible for the rest of the weekend.”
You broke through with a win at Michigan International Speedway in 2010. What are your thoughts about getting that done?
“I think everything we’ve done at Michigan (International Speedway) kind of goes out the window. Obviously it was a tricky race track when we went there before because the tires fell off so bad. A lot of times you had to run the high groove and you had a lot of options for your car to move around. As you go back this time you’re going to have some new challenges that you didn’t face in the past, but it was good to finally get that breakthrough win at Michigan. We’d struggled there for several years before that and it hadn’t been one of our better tracks, but we were able to get all of that behind us.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Weekend’s No. 31 Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 393 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet, built new for the 2012 season, was utilized twice this year at Auto Club Speedway in March (started-19th, finished-22nd) and Darlington Raceway in May (started-10th, finished-18th).
Career Michigan Stats … This weekend’s 400-mile event marks Burton’s 37th start at the two-mile facility and 634th-career Sprint Cup Series entry. Burton garnered four top-five and nine top-10 finishes at the track along with two pole awards in 1996 and 2006. He also led 75 laps at the Brooklyn, Mich.-based race track.
Getting Loopy in the Irish Hills … Burton has accrued impressive NASCAR Loop Data Statistics at Michigan International Speedway since its inception in 2006. Of all drivers entering the event, he has the third-most green flag passes (1,078) with 382 coming while running in the top 15. Burton has also spent 1,041 laps running in the top 15.
Goodyear Tire Testing … The No. 31 team has been selected as one of the three Sprint Cup Series teams to test the new repaved surface at Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday, June 12 and Wednesday, June 13. Burton will field questions about the first day of Sprint Cup Series testing from the media inside the BMS infield media center on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.
Team Chevy … Burton is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session at the Team Chevy stage located in the Michigan International Speedway display area on Sunday, June 17at 9:05 a.m. ET.
NASCAR Unites … The No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet will sport red, white, and blue patriotic trim on spoilers, fins and side skirts to support the NASCAR Unites program. The patriotic initiative is designed to unite the NASCAR industry and fans this summer to celebrate America and support U.S. military families. For information on NASCAR Unites, visit http://www.NASCAR.COM/Unites, like NASCAR Unites on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/NASCARUnites or follow them on Twitter: @NASCARUnites.
Race Rewind … Burton and the No. 31 Armed Forces Foundation Chevrolet team survived two rare penalties and to bring home a top-15 finish in the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Points Racing … Burton scored 351 points and sits 18th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings. After 14 points-paying events of the 36-race Sprint Cup Series season, Burton has one top-five and three top-10 finishes. The veteran RCR driver has spent 1,789 laps running in the top 15, has made 1,477 green-flag passes and led 34 laps.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
What do you expect out of Michigan International Speedway now that it is repaved?
“I think it is going to be really fast. I am more concerned about how many racing grooves there will be. Until we get there and start running, it is really hard to know. Sometimes with new asphalt, there is only one groove. One groove at Michigan International Speedway would be hard to deal with restarts and everything else. We need to figure out where the grooves are going to be and will there be multiple grooves. All those things we need to figure out during testing on Thursday and practice throughout the weekend. Right now, I just don’t have that answer. I have to keep an open mind going there until we can figure out what we need to do.”
Michigan International Speedway has always been a place where you see a lot of drivers running in different grooves.
“The shape of Michigan International Speedway will allow us to run more places than just the bottom. The radius is so tight because the corners and racing groove are so wide. There is a huge difference in the corner radius at the bottom of the race track against the top of the race track. Sometimes with new pavement, there is only one place you can run and until we figure it out, it is hard to know that answer.”
Are the high speeds going to be a major concern?
“It is more of a constant speed at Michigan International Speedway. You’ve got a two-mile race track and you run at a high speed consistently. We have to be careful to not get going too fast. Not just from a safety standpoint, but from a quality of race standpoint. Races tend to be better when the speeds are down just a little bit. The cars drive better when they are going fast, but from the quality of the race standpoint, I’m not sure that more speed out of the track would be a good thing.”
How important is your engine package at Michigan International Speedway?
“Engine reliability is always a concern at Michigan International Speedway because you are in the high RPM range for so long. When you lift off the gas there, the RPMs don’t come down as much. You operate with a very high average RPM. That is always a concern and will be again this weekend.”
Austin Dillon
No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 396 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This Chevrolet is a new addition to the RCR fleet and will be put through its first paces this weekend.
Dillon at Michigan International Speedway … Dillon has four starts at MIS, spread among the NASCAR Nationwide Series (finished 19th in 2009), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (finished fifth in 2010 and 22nd in 2011) and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (finished second in 2009). The 2011 Camping World Truck Series Driver Champion earned the pole award at the two-mile track in the 2010 edition of the Camping World Truck Series race.
WIN with American Ethanol … American Ethanol will activate a strategic integrated branding campaign, including an extensive sweepstakes aimed to engage NASCAR fans, from June 8 to August 31, 2012. The “American Ethanol Sweepstakes” will educate consumers about E15, fuel blended with 15 percent American Ethanol, similar to the Sunoco Green E15 used in every race car in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series races. The American Ethanol Sweepstakes will give away over 500 prizes valued at $150,000, including three Chevy Silverados, race tickets and autographed merchandise. Fans can enter for a chance to win online at NASCAR.COM/aesweeps. The sweepstakes will be promoted on the TNT Summer Series race coverage, online via promotional units, on American Ethanol’s Facebook page and onsite at various events across the country.
On Top the Box … Long-time RCR employee and veteran crew chief Gil Martin will serve as crew chief of the No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet team this weekend. Martin, who currently serves as RCR’s Director of Team Operations overseeing the organization’s Nationwide Series programs, is among an elite group of crew chiefs who have earned wins in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. Martin guided Kevin Harvick to four wins, nine top-five and 19 top-10 finishes en route to a third-place showing in the point standings during the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season. He also worked in the Sprint Cup Series with Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer and Robby Gordon at RCR.
Double Duty … In addition to Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race, Dillon is scheduled to compete in RCR’s No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250 at MIS on Saturday afternoon. The race is scheduled to be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the Team Chevrolet Stage located near the track’s main Gate 24 ticket office in the Fan Plaza beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday.
Trackside, Live … On Friday evening, Dillon is scheduled to appear on Trackside Live. The program airs on SPEED beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Last Time Around … In his Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway last October, Dillon drove the No.98 Curb-Agajanian/Reagan Centennial/Camping World/Curb Records Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish driving for owner Mike Curb, in partnership with Richard Childress Racing.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What does it mean to you to run the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race for American Ethanol?
“It means a lot to have this opportunity. I look forward to representing American Ethanol, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association in the Sprint Cup Series. They’ve become great partners for RCR in the Nationwide Series, and I commend their commitment to clean air. Michigan International Speedway has always been one of my favorite tracks, and I think it will be even more exciting to race there in the Cup Series race given the recent repave the track has undergone.”
How do you feel about running on Father’s Day weekend?
“My dad pushes me a lot. We always joke around and say we are going to take the radio from him during races because he is so vocal. I know he’s trying to help me, but we like to tease him about it. It’s cool to be able to run a Sprint Cup Series race on Father’s Day weekend because I am close to both my father and my grandfather. Everything we do together as a family is either hunting and fishing-related or racing-related, so even though it’s Father’s Day weekend, it’s not that much different from what we do every day. I’m proud of my family, and the organization my grandfather has built. He’s taught me about working hard. He built everything he has from the ground up and it’s an honor that he has given me the chance to race.”
Race: Alliance Truck Parts 250
Location: Michigan International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series Notes
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Michigan International Speedway … In 23 previous starts at Michigan International Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, making a trip to Victory Lane at the track with Kevin Harvick in 2003. RCR entries have completed 96.1 percent of laps attempted, with 96 laps led.
The Season So Far … Through the 12 races contested so far this season, RCR has acquired two wins in the Nationwide Series, both with Elliott Sadler, who notched victories at Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway. RCR has earned five pole awards in 2012, with Sadler at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Iowa Speedway, Paul Menard at Texas Motor Speedway and Kevin Harvick at Richmond International Raceway. The organization has 17 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes and has led 631 laps in 2012.
RCR in the NNS … In 802 Nationwide Series starts over the course of the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 58 wins, 267 top-five finishes, 441 top-10 finishes and 37 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.5 and an average finishing position of 12.8 among all races contested. RCR earned the Nationwide Series driver 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 full-time Nationwide Series entries rank first (Sadler) and third (Dillon) in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings heading into the Alliance Truck Parts 250 at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team sits second in the owner point standings while the No. 3 AdvoCare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team ranks fourth. The No. 33 Menards/South Point Hotel & Casino/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour Brands/Fast Fixin’/OneMain Financial/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet team driven by Brendan Gaughan, Harvick, Menard, Ty Dillon, Tony Stewart and Max Papis sits fifth in the owner 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, facebook.com/adillon3 and facebook.com/PaulMenard27.
Live on ABC … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Alliance Truck Parts 250 is scheduled to be televised on ABC beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, June 16 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Elliott Sadler No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s OneMain Financial Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team will unload Chassis No. 104 from Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend. This is the fifth time the team has utilized this chassis, including a pole and third-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and most recently, a seventh-place result at Dover International Speedway.
Heading to the Irish Hills … Sadler competed at the two-mile track seven times in the Nationwide Series, notching four top-10 finishes. He brings experience from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 24 starts at the track, including one top-five and six top-10 finishes. He also competed in one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event in 2010 where he finished ninth.
Last Time By … In 2011, Sadler fought to an eighth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway after falling a lap down to the leader late in the race.
Just the Stats … According to NASCAR’s 2012 Loop Data Season-to-Date statistics, Sadler leads the Nationwide Series in the following categories: Average Starting Position (4.4), Average Finishing Position (6.9), Laps in the Top 15 (2,251) and Percentage of Laps in the Top 15 (96.1 percent). After 12 races this season, Sadler earned two wins, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with 126 laps led.
To the Point … Sadler returned to the top of the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, sitting 12 points ahead of the second-place driver. The No. 2 team sits second in the owner championship point standings, 34 points behind the No. 18 team.
Race Rewind: Dover … Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team overcame a loose-handling condition to claim a seventh-place finish in the Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway. The finish helped push Sadler to the top of the championship driver point standings.
The REAL Heroes … Throughout the summer the No. 2 OneMain Financial team will participate in “The REAL Heroes” program, a campaign designed to salute the troops. The No. 2 team will host military members at Nationwide Series races throughout the summer. In Dover, Sadler spent time with a family from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Fans also have a way to get involved and send thanks to the troops throughout social media outlets and at OneMain Financial branch appearances during that time. For more information, visit www.onemainracing.com and utilize #OMRREALHeroes.
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.
Questions, Questions … Sadler is scheduled for media availability on Friday, June 15 at 10:45 a.m. Eastern Time in the infield media center at Michigan International Speedway with RCR teammate Austin Dillon.
Meet Sadler … Fans have the opportunity to meet Sadler at the Nationwide Series autograph session on Friday, June 15 at 4 p.m. ET at the Budweiser Acceleration Club located outside turn four.
Trackside … Sadler will serve as co-host on Friday for SPEED’s NASCAR Trackside from Michigan International Speedway. The show will air on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on SPEED.
Happy Father’s Day … Crew chief Luke Lambert will celebrate his first Father’s Day with son Waylon, who was born in January. Sadler will spend Father’s Day with his two children, Wyatt and Austyn, and his father, Herman.
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Michigan International Speedway?
“Michigan (International Speedway) is a fun track. There are always a lot of bragging rights involved because it is in the manufacturers’ backyard. With only 125 laps in the Nationwide Series race, there is a sense of urgency. We have to unload quickly and qualify well. I’m very interested to get out there on Friday for practice to see how the repave affected the track. The track has historically been one that fuel mileage is very important, and with it being a shorter race, anything can happen.”
You get to be home on Sunday. What makes Father’s Day special for you?
“One thing I love about NASCAR is that family is so important. If it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. He is my biggest fan, but also a man that I revere and will be my biggest critic. He sacrificed so much for my brother, Hermie, and I so we could pursue our dreams. Now that I am a father, it is so fun to be able to see everything from his shoes. I’m thrilled to be able to spend this Father’s Day with my two kids, Austyn and Wyatt. Having kids definitely changes your life. It’s always nice to get home after a long weekend away. No matter what kind of weekend you have at the track, to walk into my house and have two kids hugging and smiling on you makes everything better.”
Austin Dillon No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s AdvoCare Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 109 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. This is the same Chevrolet that Dillon drove to an 11th-place finish after securing his best Nationwide Series starting position of second at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.
Dillon at Michigan International Speedway … Dillon battled his way to a 19th-place finish after starting 37th in his lone Nationwide Series appearance at Michigan International Speedway in 2009. The 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in the June 2010 event after starting from the pole position. In the August 2011 Truck Series race at the track, Dillon was making a move for the lead on the outside line with 10 laps remaining in the race when a car running the bottom groove clipped him, causing significant damage to Dillon’s truck. He was unable to complete the race and posted a 22nd-place finish. He also has one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards start in 2009, where he finished second after starting 36th.
Spark your Engines … Dillon and his team will sport the colors of award-winning premier health and wellness company AdvoCare on the No. 3 Chevrolet this weekend. AdvoCare offers nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance products of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Dillon trains with AdvoCare products during the week and is a distributor of AdvoCare products. For more information about Dillon’s favorite products, including Spark, Rehydrate, meal replacement bars and Post-Workout Recovery, visit .
The Season So Far … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon has completed 99.27 percent of laps on the lead lap, leading all competitors. He has completed 95.4 percent of his laps in the top 15, ranking him second andis the third-fastest driver late in a run. The Nationwide Series rookie has an average running position of 8.189 in the season’s 12 contested Nationwide Series races, ranking him third among all drivers and has made 541 Quality Passes, ranking him fourth. He maintains a driver rating of 102.5, ranking him fifth, has the fifth-fastest speed in traffic and is the fifth-fastest driver early in a run. He has the sixth-fastest green-flag speed and is ranked seventh in the Fastest Laps Run category with 103 laps so far this season.
Get to the Points … Dillon is third in the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, 14 points behind leader Elliott Sadler and two markers shy of the second position. Dillon currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
Questions, Please … Dillon will join RCR teammate Elliott Sadler to field questions from the media in the MIS Infield Media Center on Friday at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the Team Chevrolet Stage located near the track’s main Gate 24 ticket office in the Fan Plaza beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday.
Happy Father’s Day … Dillon will spend Father’s Day with his family at MIS by making his first Sprint Cup Series start of the season in the No. 33 American Ethanol Chevrolet. Both his grandfather (car owner Richard Childress) and father (RCR Vice President of Competition Mike Dillon) will be in attendance.
Livin’ the Dream …
