Richard Childress Racing Event Preview: Pocono Raceway & Iowa Speedway
Race: Pennsylvania 400
Location: Pocono Raceway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
Richard Childress Racing at Pocono Raceway … In 123 starts at Pocono Raceway, RCR team owner Richard Childress has two wins, both with Dale Earnhardt, who won on July 19, 1987 and July 18, 1993. Additionally, RCR has earned one pole award, 16 top-five and 51 top-10 finishes at the uniquely-shaped three-turn speedway. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed two of those top-10 finishes under the RCR banner. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has a 17.6 average starting position, a 15.8 average finishing position, has completed 22,703 of the 24,076 contested laps (94.3 percent) with 599 laps led at the “Tricky Triangle.”
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,225 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 100 wins, 432 top-five finishes, 898 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 20 races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched five top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. RCR teams have completed 18,276 out of 18,554 total laps (98.5 percent) with drivers Jeff Burton, Austin Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler. The group has led a combined 175 laps.
Get to the Points … Following the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Harvick remains sixth in the driver championship point standings, 78 markers out of the top spot. Menard now ranks 16th in the standings, while Burton is 20th.
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.
Catch the Action … ESPN’s live coverage of the Pennsylvania 400 begins Sunday, August 5 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 21st points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series will be broadcast live on ESPN2 on Saturday, August 4 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Paul Menard
No. 27 Serta/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Serta/Menards Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 384 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 27 Chevrolet was last seen on track at Pocono Raceway in June where Menard started from the third position and drove to a ninth-place finish. The Eau Claire, Wis., native also raced this Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway in March, finishing 19th after starting from the 27th position in the rain-shortened Auto Club 400.
By the Numbers at the ‘Tricky Triangle’ … In 11 career Sprint Cup Series starts at the 2.5-mile tri-oval, Menard has finished all but one of his contested races and completed 97 percent of his laps (2,007 of 2,070). He has an average starting position of 20.8 and an average finishing position of 21.6. Since he joined the RCR family in 2011, Menard has not qualified outside of the top 10 or finished outside of the top 15 at Pocono Raceway. Menard logged his best start of second in the June 2011 Sprint Cup Series event, and earned his best finish of ninth at the Long Pond, Pa.-based facility in his most recent visit to the track (June 2012). and earned his best finish of ninth at the Long Pond, Pa.-based facility in his most recent visit to the track (June 2012).
Paul Menard LIVE for Chevy Q&A … Fans can participate in a question-and-answer session with Menard on Sunday, August 5 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the Team Chevy stage, located in the merchandise area at Pocono Raceway.
Racing Close to Home … The No. 27 team’s front-tire changer, Terry Spalding, grew up in Troy, Pa., 2.5 hours northwest of Pocono Raceway. This is Spalding’s second season as a member of the No. 27 Chevrolet team’s pit crew and his third at RCR.
Race Rewind … In their August 2011 visit to Pocono Raceway, Menard and the No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet team followed up their historic Brickyard 400 victory with a top-10 result in the Good Sam RV Insurance 500. The bright yellow and black machine maintained a position in and around the top 10 for the majority of the day as Menard spent 176 of the 200 laps running in the top 15. As the laps ticked away, a tight-handling condition developed on the No. 27 Chevrolet. Crew chief Slugger Labbe and crew provided adjustments during the final pit stops and Menard claimed his seventh top-10 finish of the 2011 season.
By the Numbers in 2012 … With 20 points-paying events of the 2012 season complete, Menard sits 16th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 79 points out of the final Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup spot on the merit of four top-10 and 10 top-15 finishes. In his sophomore season with RCR, Menard has an average starting position of 17.3, an average finishing position of 15.9, maintains an average running position of 18.2, and has completed 99.6 percent of his laps (5,628 of 5,648), the fourth-best of all drivers.
In the Rearview Mirror: Indianapolis Motor Speedway … Returning to the site of his career-first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, Menard made his best start of eighth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in last Sunday’s Brickyard 400 and drove the No. 27 NIBCO/Menards Chevrolet to a 14th-place finish.
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PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
You finished ninth in June at Pocono Raceway. Tell us about the race.
“It was a solid race (at Pocono Raceway) for the No. 27 Chevrolet team. We qualified well and ran in the top 10 all day. We didn’t feel really good about the race. Every time we put a set of tires on the car during practice and made a mock-qualifying run the car had a lot of speed but, we couldn’t find it in race trim. We changed the car quite a bit for the race knowing that we weren’t very good in race trim during practice and fortunately hit on a couple of things that helped us.”
How much did the new asphalt change the racing at Pocono Raceway?
“I don’t think the racing itself changed a lot, but the track is a lot faster. It opened up a second groove in turns one and two. It was pretty narrow around the entire track, but the racing has always been like that there.”
As the race progressed at Pocono Raceway, how much did the racing groove open up? Did it require you to stay even more focused in the turns or did you have more room which helped the margin of error?
“Turn one opened up maybe a half of a groove where you could feel a little more confident going in there and try to carry more speed to try something different with the car. Turns two and three you still needed to run on the bottom. I think the track will just keep getting better. After the hot summer with the sun beating on the surface, by the time we go back to Pocono Raceway in August it will be even better, and then next year better yet.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 396 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for competition during the 2012 season, this RCR racer was utilized by Austin Dillon earlier this season at Michigan International Speedway where he captured a 24th-place finish in his 2012 Sprint Cup Series debut.
Taming the “Tricky Triangle” … Harvick has made 23 starts at the 2.5-mile track over the course of his Sprint Cup Series career, collecting five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. The Bakersfield, Calif., native holds a 19.7 average starting position and a 14th-place average finishing position at the “Tricky Triangle”, with his best starting and finishing positions of third coming in the fall of 2003 and in the spring of 2006, respectively. Harvick has completed 4,270 of 4,449 (96.5 percent) of the contested laps.
Getting Loopy in Pocono … Since the inception of NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics in 2006, Harvick has completed 15 Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono Raceway. The RCR driver ranks within the top 10 in several categories including: first in Green Flag Passes (1,324), third in the Closers category gaining an average of 3.1 positions within the last 10 percent of laps in a race and sixth in Quality Passes (630). The 36-year-old driver also ranks eighth in Speed in Traffic (158.369 mph), ninth in Average Running Position (13.574) and Driver Rating (90.8) and tenth in Laps in the Top 15 (1,813).
Points Racing … With 20 points-paying events in the books, Harvick remains sixth in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 78 markers behind the leader. Harvick has collected three top-five and nine top-10 finishes thus far this season, completing 99.77 percent (5,635 of 5,648) of the laps contested.
Red, White and Blue Summer … The No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet will once again feature a patriotic red, white and blue look this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The special paint scheme reflects the “Red, White and Blue Summer” packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans found at various locations this summer.
Go for the Gold … With the 2012 London Olympics in full swing, the No. 29 Budweiser team will be cheering for Team USA’s women’s trap athlete Corey Cogdell as she competes in the sport-shooting event on Saturday, Aug. 4. Members of the No. 29 Budweiser Racing team had breakfast with Cogdell while visiting the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo., last month. Cogdell became the first American woman to ever win an Olympic Medal in her sport when she won a bronze medal in women’s trap at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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.
Meet the Press … Harvick will be available to members of the media on Friday, August 3 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the back of the No. 29 Sprint Cup Series hauler.
The Last Time By … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team finished 14th in last season’s Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway after battling loose and tight-handling conditions.
In the Rearview Mirror: Brickyard 400 … Harvick and the No. 29 Jimmy John’s team settled for a 13th-place finish in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after battling handling issues during last Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series event.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
How do you approach each corner at Pocono Raceway?
The first thing you do is you’ve got to survive the restart. We learned last time that practice didn’t really matter, if you could get a good restart and survive going through the corner and get in line then you were in good shape. It’s really fast and the thing I like about what they did at Pocono (Raceway) is that all the bumps are now kind of swells and you have the same kind of feels that you had there, they are just not extreme bumps. Each corner is fast. Turn one is a corner where you drive in and down shift. The key to Pocono (Raceway) now is getting up off the corners and in the throttle and being able to stay in the throttle really in all three (turns).”
With the repave at Pocono Raceway, will you take more of what you learned at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with you when heading back to Pocono?
“I think you bring a lot more to Indianapolis (Motor Speedway) just because of Pocono (Raceway) and Michigan (International Speedway) and how aggressive you can be with the front of the car and keeping the splitter on the ground. I think those race tracks apply more to each other that they have in the past. They have obviously applied in the past, but I think you can be as aggressive at all three of them now.”
You started with a rectangle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, followed by a triangle in Pocono Raceway and you finish off with a road course at Watkins Glen International. Is this one of the most unique three race stretches on the schedule? “I feel like we are starting over in school. I think as we go from Indianapolis (Motor Speedway) to Pocono (Raceway) obviously there is a lot to take back and forth. Watkins Glen is different. As a driver it’s fun to kind of mix that up because each week you really have to change up what you’re thinking about and your approach. Going into that particular week is a lot different than going from Indianapolis (Motor Speedway) to Pocono (Raceway) is not that much different, but Pocono (Raceway) to Watkins Glen (International) is a big difference. It’s just a matter of the train of thought that you go through.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 EnerSys/ODYSSEY Battery Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Weekend’s EnerSys/ODYSSEY Battery Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 385 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Burton has driven this No. 31 Chevrolet three times this season including the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May (started-22nd, finished-19th), Texas Motor Speedway in April (started-24th, finished 29th) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March (started-22nd, finished 14th).
Career Pocono Stats … This weekend’s 400-mile event marks Burton’s 38th start at the 2.5-mile facility and 640th-career Sprint Cup Series entry. Burton has garnered seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes at the track, leading 104 laps.
Getting Loopy at “The Tricky Triangle” … Burton has accrued impressive NASCAR Loop Data Statistics at Pocono Raceway since the inception in 2006. Of all drivers entering the event, he leads the Closers category, gaining an average of 3.8 positions over the last 10 percent of each contested race. Burton also has the sixth-mostGreen Flag Passes (1,241) with 581 coming while running in the top 15 (ninth-most Quality Passes). Burton has also spent 1,849 Laps in the Top 15, which ranks him eighth amongst his competitors. He also has the 10th-best Average Running Position (14.001) at the facility know as “The Tricky Triangle.”
About EnerSys/ODYSSEY Battery … EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, along with their ODYSSEY Battery brand, will be primary sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet this weekend at Pocono Raceway and at Martinsville Speedway in October. ODYSSEY Battery, a RCR partner since 2009, delivers the extreme power that racing enthusiasts demand and EnerSys guarantees longer service life to save time and money. The five-second cranking power of ODYSSEY batteries is double to triple that of conventional batteries. In addition, the ODYSSEY battery’s sealed drycell construction makes it safe, explosion proof, leak proof and it can be mounted in any position. Its rugged construction also offers improved vibration resistance and durability.
In the Booth … Tune-in on Saturday, August 4 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time as Burton will visit SPEED’s Phil Parsons, Rick Allen and Michael Waltrip in the press box for part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race broadcast to discuss RCR’s NCWTS program and his nephew Jeb Burton’s year-to-date performance in his rookie season.
Race Rewind … After running in the top 20 for most of the afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Burton’s No. 31 Rain-X Chevrolet suffered a broken brake rotor which relegated the Richard Childress Racing driver to a 32nd-place finish in the 2012 Brickyard 400.
Points Racing … After 20 points-paying events of the 36-race Sprint Cup Series season, Burton has scored 505 points and sits in the 20th position in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings. The veteran RCR driver has two top-five and four top-10 finishes and has spent 1,863 laps running in the top 15, made 2,062 green-flag passes and led 35 laps.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
What were your thoughts on the first race at Pocono Raceway with the newly repaved asphalt?
“I was very impressed. We had a disappointing 14th-place finish with a top-10 car. The last run of the race was our worst run and we lost a few spots in the end. We had fun that whole week and spent over five days there testing, practicing and qualifying. I had Harrison, my 11-year-old son, with me and we took advantage of what the area had to offer. We went to the go-kart race track, played paintball and all kinds of different stuff. We made a holiday out of it. Pocono Raceway took a step into the present. We used to go there and feel like our race cars, haulers and the preparation far outweighed the quality of the race track. We were taking modern pieces of racing technology to a track that was outdated. Today, Pocono (Raceway) is a modern facility with the kind of racing surface that is needed to put on a good race. I was very impressed with the workmanship and quality of the job. It’s as good of a job as any track we have repaved.”
What’s the difference of the “old” Pocono Raceway to the “new” Pocono Raceway?
“The old Pocono Raceway was so rough, slick and you had to run 500 miles. It was hard to put on an entertaining race. Let’s face it. Part of what we do is for the fans. We do this for them to be entertained. Track surfaces and tires have an impact on what kind of race the fans see. This pavement and the tire Goodyear brings are all collectively going to make a better race for the fans to see.”
Do you play gas mileage more conservatively at long, flat tracks like Pocono Raceway?
“One thing about the EFI engines is that even when you run out of gas, the engine doesn’t shut off. You can’t run fast, but you can idle the car around the track and back to pit road. The old engines would just shut off. It does open a little bit of a window to be able to run out of gas at some point on the race track and still get back to the pits. Pocono (Raceway) is always dangerous because if you run out of fuel coming off turn three and can’t get to pit road, you are in big trouble. You have to play fuel strategy the best way you know how, no matter what the race is.”
Race: U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Enlist Weed Control System
Location: Iowa Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series Notes
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Iowa Speedway … In six starts at Iowa Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has acquired two top-five and four top-10 finishes. The organization has one pole award at Iowa Speedway with Elliott Sadler in May.
The Season So Far … In the 19 races contested this season, RCR has acquired four wins in the Nationwide Series, with Elliott Sadler at Phoenix International Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway and Austin Dillon at Kentucky Speedway. RCR has earned seven pole awards in 2012, with Sadler at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Iowa Speedway, Paul Menard at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick at Richmond International Raceway and Austin Dillon at Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. The organization has 26 top-five and 45 top-10 finishes and has led 956 laps in 2012.
RCR in the NNS … In 823 Nationwide Series starts over the course of the last 15 years, RCR has earned 60 wins, 276 top-five finishes, 456 top-10 finishes and 39 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.4 and an average finishing position of 12.7 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 second (Dillon) in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings heading into this weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway. The No. 2 team sits second in the owner championship point standings while the No. 3 team ranks third and the No. 33 team sits seventh.
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, @AustinDillon3 and @brendan62, the official Facebook fan pages – facebook.com/RCRracing, facebook.com/ElliottSadlerOfficial and facebook.com/austindillon3.
Live on ESPN2 … Flag-to-flag coverage of the U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Enlist Weed Control System is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, August 4 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 Iowa 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. The OneMain Financial team has utilized this chassis on four previous occasions this season, with Sadler racing this Chevrolet to two wins at Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway, a sixth-place finish at Richmond International Raceway and a second-place finish at Iowa Speedway.
Land of the Corn … Sadler has three Nationwide Series starts at the 0.875-mile track, and he is three-for-three in top-five finishes. The Emporia, Va., native also has two pole awards, an average starting position of 2.7, average finishing position of 3.3 and 40 laps led at the Newton, Iowa-based facility.
Last Time By …. After notching his second-career pole award at the Newton, Iowa track, Sadler competed for the victory at the Nationwide Series event in May, but settled for a second-place finish.
Just The Stats … According to NASCAR’s 2012 Loop Data Season-to-Date statistics, Sadler leads the Nationwide Series in Average Mid-Race Position (6.9), Average Position (7.4), Quality Passes (863), Laps in the Top 15 (3182) and Percentage of laps in the Top 15 (95.8). After 19 events in the Nationwide Series season, Sadler has earned three wins, two pole awards, seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes with 174 laps led.
To the Point … Sadler leads the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, leading by one point over RCR teammate Austin Dillon.
Alert the Media … Sadler is scheduled to field questions from the gathered media on Friday, August 3 in the infield media center at Iowa Speedway at 4 p.m. Central Time.
Race Rewind: Indianapolis …In the inaugural Nationwide Series event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sadler competed in the top 10 for most of the 100-lap event, working his way to the second position on lap 78 for the final restart of the day. As the green flag dropped, Sadler moved into the lead, but was penalized by NASCAR as officials reported he crossed the start-finish line before the leader. Sadler was forced to serve a pass-through penalty on lap 89, returning the No. 2 Chevrolet to the field in the 24th position. He utilized the final 10 laps of the race to regain as many positions back as possible, ultimately crossing the finish line in the 15th position.
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. Sadler will auction off his pink shoes throughout the season with proceeds benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information, visit www.sadlerfoundation.org.
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Iowa Speedway?
“We had a really great race when we raced at Iowa Speedway in May. We sat on the pole and did everything that we could to pull off the victory, but brought home a second-place finish. I’m very confident in this OneMain Financial team, and I know that we are going to go back there and try again to get that top spot. I really do like competing at Iowa, especially because it reminds me of my home track of Richmond International Raceway.”
Austin Dillon
No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 116 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. This is a new Chevrolet that will be utilized for the first time this weekend.
Dillon at Iowa Speedway … Dillon has nine previous starts at Iowa Speedway in four different series, including the Nationwide Series (finished fourth in May 2012, 10th in May 2011 and 28th in 2009), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (finished second in 2011), claimed his first NCWTS victory in 2010 and finsihed12th after starting ninth in 2009), ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (finished second in 2009). and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division (finished ninth in 2009 and sixth in 2008)
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 has completed 99.10 percent of Laps on the Lead Lap, leading all competitors. He has completed 93.5 percent of his Laps in the Top 15, ranking him second and has an Average Running Position of 8.441 in the season’s 19 contested Nationwide Series races, also ranking him second among all drivers. The Nationwide Series rookie is ranked third in the Fastest Laps Run category with 224 laps so far this season, maintains a Driver Rating of 104.4, ranking him fourth, has the fourth-fastest Speed in Traffic and is the fifth-Fastest Driver Late in a Run. He has 230 Laps Led this season, ranking him fifth, has the sixth-fastest Green Flag Speed, is sixth-Fastest on Restarts, is the sixth-fastest Driver Early in a Run and ranks sixth in Quality Passes with 756.
Get to the Points … Dillon is second in the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing RCR teammate Elliott Sadler by one point. Dillon currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
Think Green … RCR’s No. 3 Chevrolet team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Iowa Speedway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Led by Growth Energy, more than 100 different entities, from farmers and state corn growing boards to ethanol producers and biotech companies, are working with NASCAR to introduce a cleaner-burning fuel to America. The partnership with American Ethanol takes NASCAR’s environmental commitment to the next level.
Dash 4 Cash …With his fifth-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dillon joins Michael Annett, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Sam Hornish as drivers who are qualified for the fourth and final segment of the Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash Bonus this Saturday at Iowa Speedway. The top finisher among those four drivers at Iowa Speedway will win a $100,000 bonus. Dillon previously earned the bonus at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to appear at the Team Chevy stage for a Q&A Session at Iowa Speedway on Saturday at 2:20 p.m. CT.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Recap … Dillon claimed a fifth-place finish in the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Sunoco Rookie contender started the 250-mile affair from the seventh position and moved into the third position before falling back to fifth for the race’s finish as he battled a tight-handling condition.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What do you think about Iowa Speedway
“It seems like I have always been fast at Iowa Speedway. It’s just a track I really took to as a driver. 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, and I would love to earn a win in the Nationwide Series there.”
Explain what it is like to race at 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 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Rheem/Menards Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 099 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. Built new for competition in 2012, this RCR Chevrolet has been utilized in competition three times this season by Kevin Harvick at Phoenix International Raceway in March (started 12th, finished fifth), Gaughan at Iowa Speedway in May (stared 13th, finished 10th) and most recently by Ty Dillon at Dover International Speedway in June (started third, finished eighth).
The Hoya is Back … The former Georgetown University basketball player will return to the driver’s seat of the No. 33 RCR Chevrolet as the Nationwide Series travels to Iowa Speedway. The 20th race of the 2012 Nationwide Series season marks Gaughan’s fifth of 10 scheduled appearances in the Nationwide Series for RCR. So far this season, he has collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
Midwest Racing … Saturday’s 250-lap event marks Gaughan’s 76th career Nationwide Series start and fourth Nationwide Series appearance at the Newton, Iowa-based facility. During his three previous series starts at Iowa Speedway, Gaughan completed 587 of 750 (78.3 percent) of the laps contested. He holds a 19.7 average starting position and an average finishing position of 22nd. Gaughan collected his best Iowa Speedway finish of 10th, in May while competing under the RCR banner.
In the Loop … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Gaughan maintains an Average Running Position of 20.2 at Iowa Speedway and has made a total of 78 Green Flag Passes. The Las Vegas native has completed 300 (40 percent) of the laps contested running within the Top 15.
To the Points … The No. 33 RCR Chevrolet team sits seventh in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, 79 points behind the No. 18 team in the lead. The No. 33 team has earned two pole awards, eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes between six different drivers (Ty Dillon, Gaughan, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard, Max Papis and Tony Stewart) thus far this season.
Tune In … Guaghan will be featured in a segment on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub Wednesday, August 1 to discuss his racing career and life away from the track. The show is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Gotta Have a Rheem … Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) 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, and is a primary sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
In the Rearview Mirror: Indianapolis Motor Speedway … Gaughan’s RCR teammate Paul Menard started the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet from the ninth position in the inaugural Nationwide Series race at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Saturday and drove the neon yellow machine to an eighth-place finish.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on driving the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet this weekend at Iowa Speedway?
“Iowa Speedway is the only track that I get to race twice at this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, so it will be nice to have our own notes to fall back on. We had a solid top-10 Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway earlier in the season, so I’m hoping we can improve on that this time around and capture a good finish for the Rheem/Menards team.”
Race: Pocono Mountains 125
Location: Pocono Raceway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Notes
RCR at Pocono Raceway … Richard Childress Racing has three previous NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the Long Pond, Pa.-based facility, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes. RCR boasts an eighth-place average starting position combined with a sixth-place average finishing position at the 2.5-mile track. Collectively, the Welcome, N.C.-based race team has completed 100 percent of the contested laps at Pocono Raceway.
RCR’s Camping World Truck Series History … In 238 Camping World Truck Series starts, RCR has earned 25 wins, 88 top-five finishes, 148 top-10 finishes and 32 pole awards, 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 9.6 and an average finishing position of 10.2.
Truck Line-up … Tim George Jr. will pilot the No. 2 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet this weekend at Pocono Raceway. 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 Saturday’s 50-lap event.
Season in Review … Through the first eight races of the season, RCR’s Camping World Truck Series entries have acquired one victory at Martinsville Speedway with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel and notched four pole awards, with Harvick at Martinsville Speedway and Dover International Speedway, George Jr. at Kansas Speedway and Dillon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has seven top-five and 18 top-10 finishes, and has led 499 laps in 2012.
To the Points … With 10 2012 Camping World Truck Series races in the books, Dillon is second in the driver championship point standings, 23 markers behind the leader, and Coulter sits in the eighth position, 73 points outside the top spot. RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet team is seventh in the owner championship point standings utilizing three different drivers (Harvick, Brendan Gaughan and George Jr.) while the No. 3 team ranks second and the No. 22 team is ninth in the 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 Camping World Truck Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3TDillon, @RCR22JCoulter and @RCR2CWTS. RCR’s NCWTS driver personal Twitter pages – @tydillon, @JoeyCoulter, @timgeorgejr, @Brendan62 and @kevinharvick.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of this weekend’s Pocono Mountains 125 is scheduled to be televised live on Saturday, August 4, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on SPEED and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Tim George Jr. No. 2 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Tim George Jr. will pilot Chassis No. 025 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in this weekend’s Pocono Mountains 125. This RCR Chevrolet was utilized by Kevin Harvick at Dover International Speedway earlier this season where he earned the pole award and finished third.
Pocono Details … This weekend’s 50-lap affair will mark George’s first Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. Although the New York City native has yet to make any competitive laps at the 2.5-mile tri-oval in the Truck Series, he has made six ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards starts, garnering one victory, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. George has completed 98.8 percent of the contested laps (396 of 401) and holds a 9.7 average starting position combined with an average finish position of 11.5.
Memory Lane … George will return to the track where he earned his first-career ARCA Racing Series victory last year. The RCR driver took over the top spot and was scored in the first position when the red flag was displayed for dense fog around the raceway just 23 laps short of the scheduled distance. George was declared the winner of the Pocono ARCA 200 after an extended red-flag period. He led a total of two laps in the 59-lap spectacle.
Owner Points … After 10 races in the 2012 season, the No. 2 Chevrolet team currently sits seventh in Camping World Truck Series owner championship point standings courtesy of drivers Kevin Harvick, Brendan Gaughan and George.
Welcome Home … Pocono Raceway is approximately a two-hour drive time from George’s home town of New York City. That’s about the average time it takes to contest a 125-mile Camping World Truck Series at the “Tricky Triangle.”
In Your Neighborhood … George is scheduled to make two appearances at local Pennsylvania Applebee’s restaurants located at 74 Viewpoint Mall in Scranton at 12 p.m. Eastern Time and 253 Wilkes Barre Township Blvd. in Wilkes Barre at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 2 before strapping into the No. 2 Chevrolet. The driver will sign autographs for Applebee’s team members and restaurant guests.
Meet the Driver … Prior to competing in the Pocono Mountains 125, George is scheduled to participate in the Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, August 3. Following the autograph session, George will make an appearance at the Team Chevy stage for a question-and-answer session with RCR teammates Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Tune-In … Earlier this season, George competed against SPEED personality, Ray Dunlap, in an Iron Chef-style cooking competition at Childress Vineyards. The duo was given four ingredients that had to be included in their final dishes. George used his cooking skills to prepare a final entrée to be judged by RCR teammate Ty Dillon, SPEED personality Rick Allen and head chef at Childress Vineyards Chris Wagner. Tune into SPEED’s Set-up on Saturday, August 4 at 12:30 p.m. ET. to find out who won the challenge.
Rearview Mirror: Chicagoland Speedway …Brendan Gaughan and the No. 2 South Point Hotel and Casino Chevrolet team started the American Ethanol 225 from the sixth position at Chicagoland Speedway and reported a tight-handling Chevrolet during the first portion of the race. Despite the handling issues, the Las Vegas native claimed the lead on lap 13 and led for 83 laps before spinning the tires on a restart and falling to the fifth position with nine laps remaining in the event. Gaughan made a dash to the front in the final laps but crossed the line in the second position.
TIM GEORGE JR. QUOTES:
You earned your first ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards victory at Pocono Raceway. What are your thoughts heading there in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series?
“Last year was a major breakthrough for me at Pocono (Raceway) with the victory and second-place finishes. This was the result of growing confidence in myself and team synergy. I’m working on building my confidence this year in the Truck Series. I’ve heard the track has a lot more grip since it was repaved, so I’m excited to get there and see what it’s like to race on the new surface.”
This is technically your home track. Does that give you more confidence or add more pressure?
“I enjoy racing at tracks close to where I grew up. I will have more friends and family at the race then I normally would, but it doesn’t add more pressure. It kind of helps and gives me more confidence knowing my family and friends are there cheering me on.”
Ty Dillon No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Ty Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 021 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 125. Dillon drove this Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway in April where he started fifth and finished ninth. He also earned a third-place finish at Kentucky Speedway in June after starting fourth.
“Tricky Triangle” Stats … This week’s 50-lap race marks Dillon’s third appearance at the Long Pond, Pa.-based facility. Although the RCR driver has yet to compete at the 2.5-mile track in the Camping World Truck Series, Dillon earned a fourth-place finish in his first event at Pocono Raceway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in June 2011. In the series’ second appearance at the track in August 2011, Dillon led for 34 circuits and made a trip to Victory Lane, marking one of his seven ARCA Racing Series wins last season.
Points Racing … Dillon is second in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings, 23 points behind leader Timothy Peters.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update … Dillon leads the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings by 51 points ahead of driver Cale Gale.
Season to Date … Dillon has earned impressive stats with nine races complete on the 2012 Camping World Truck Series schedule. According to NASCAR’s Season-to-Date Loop Data Statistics, the Welcome, N.C., native is ranked third in the Fastest Driver Early in a Run category and Fastest on Restarts. He is ranked fourth in the following areas: Average Running Position (8.374), Driver Rating (100.3), Green Flag Speed, Laps Run in the Top-15 (1,447) and Percentage of Laps Run on Lead Lap (96.59 percent). Dillon has also made 286 Quality Passes ranking him eighth amongst his competitors.
Meet Dillon … Prior to competing in the Pocono Mountains 125, Dillon is scheduled to participate in the Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 3. Following the autograph session, Dillon will make an appearance at the Team Chevy stage for a question-and-answer session with RCR teammates Joey Coulter and Tim George Jr. at 2:30 p.m. ET.
In the Rearview Mirror: Nationwide Series … In an off-weekend from the Camping World Truck Series, Dillon traveled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the No. 51 WESCO Chevrolet team to compete in the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series event at the historic 2.5-mile facility. Dillon took the green flag from the third position and rallied in the top 15 for the 100-lap affair before battling back and crossing the finish line in third.
Chicagoland Speedway Recap … Dillon started the American Ethanol 225 at Chicagoland Speedway from the third position and remained a fixture in the top 10 for a majority of the event. After crew chief Marcus Richmond called for a two-tire pit stop on lap 98, the 20-year-old driver lined up second on the ensuing restart and battled three-wide for the lead, eventually taking over the top spot on lap 117. A tight-handling condition developed on the No. 3 Chevrolet in the closing laps of the race, relegating Dillon to a 12th-place result.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
Pocono Raceway has been repaved since the last time you raced there, what have you heard about the new surface?
“I heard there is a lot more grip since the repave at Pocono (Raceway). My brother, Austin, went there for a Goodyear tire test and said the track was really fast. I’m excited to get there and see what it’s like to race on the new surface. I had a lot of fun there last year and earned a win in the ARCA Racing Series.”
You raced in the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend. A lot of the other drivers in the Camping World Truck Series had a weekend off; do you think that is an advantage for you?
“I think that depends on the driver. I know for me, I’d rather be racing something to keep my driving skills sharp. I had a lot of fun racing in the Nationwide Series event at such a historic track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gil Martin (crew chief) and the guys did a great job putting a fast car together, and we brought home the No. 51 WESCO Chevrolet third. That gives me a lot of confidence going into the weekend’s truck race at Pocono (Raceway).”
Joey Coulter
No. 22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Joey Coulter will pilot Chassis No. 022 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in Saturday afternoon’s Pocono Mountains 125. This chassis has been utilized twice by Coulter; including the 2011 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a fifth-place finish and earlier this season in April at Kansas Speedway.
Last Time in Pocono … In Coulter’s Camping World Truck Series debut at Pocono Raceway in 2011, the Harold Holly-led crew used pit strategy to their advantage on their way to a sixth-place finish at the 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle.”
Coulter in the Pocono Mountains … Although Coulter only has one previous start in the Camping World Truck Series at the three-turn facility in which he posted a top-10 finish, he has amassed four starts in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. In those four appearances, he holds an average starting position of eighth and an average finishing position of 13.2.
Ten Races In … According to NASCAR’s Season-to-Date Loop Data statistics, Coulter is the Fastest Driver Early in a Run and leads all drivers with the Fastest Speed in Traffic. He is third in Quality Passes with 363 and sixth in Green Flag Speed.
Get to the Points … Coulter remains eighth in the Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. He is 73 markers behind leader Timothy Peters.
Rewind: Chicagoland Speedway … After starting the American Ethanol 225 at Chicagoland Speedway from the outside pole, Coulter was involved in a late-race incident, causing the 2011 Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year to battle back for a 15th-place finish.
Meet Coulter … Coulter is scheduled to appear at the Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session on Friday, August 3 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Following this session, Coulter will participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevy stage with RCR teammates Ty Dillon and Tim George Jr. at 2:30 p.m. E.T.
Hanging with the Eagles … Prior to enjoying a weekend off, Coulter joined fellow Camping World Truck Series driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin in the greater Pocono region last week. After visiting with children at the Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital, the trio traveled to Lehigh University to participate in drills with the Philadelphia Eagles at their preseason NFL training camp.
JOEY COULTER QUOTE:
What are your thoughts heading into this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway? “I have a lot of fun racing at Pocono (Raceway). It’s definitely a very different track compared to the others on the schedule. I think the more experience you get there the more you are able to learn. After finishing top 10 last year, I’m confident the (No.) 22 team can get it done again.”
