Bristol Motor Speedway Advance Notes
Race: Irwin Tools Night Race on Saturday, August 25
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (.533 mile oval)
Location: Bristol, Tenn.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Bristol Motor 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”.
EGR at Bristol: EGR has made 57 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Bristol, earning five top-five, 17 top-10 and 24 top-15 finishes. In those starts EGR has completed 26,765 laps of a possible 28,539 laps, or 93.8 percent, and have led 318 laps. EGR has an average start of 21.2 and an average finish of 19.7 at Bristol. Sterling Marlin has EGR’s highest start (second, 2001) while Jimmy Spencer has EGR’s highest finish (second, 2002).
A Whole New Animal: Bristol has undergone a great deal of changes since the race earlier this season. The top lane had been removed, as well as some of the progressive banking going into the turns. The reconfiguration is in hopes of more bumper-to-bumper and fender-banging racing at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”
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 – 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.
JAMIE MCMURRAY AND THE NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS/ALLSTATE TEAM
McMurray on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet by following McMurray’s personal Twitter account, @JamieMcMurray.
Michigan Review: From the drop of the green flag on Sunday, the No. 1 Chevrolet was strong and began picking up positions. McMurray posted lap times that were as fast as the leaders throughout much of the race as he battled through traffic. On lap 97 McMurray reported that he had a flat tire and had to pit off sequence. A caution on lap 44 allowed McMurray to advance in the last 50 laps finishing 14th.
Previously at Bristol: The McDonald’s team used pit strategy to work their way into the top-10 early in the race. McMurray stayed consistent on long green flag runs and was able to pass enough cars to finish seventh.
McMurray at Bristol: McMurray has made 19 NSCS starts at Bristol, earning three top-five, eight top-10 and 11 top-15 finishes. He has completed 9,253 laps out of a possible 9,513 laps, or 97.3 percent, and has led 21 laps. His average start is 16.4 and average finish is 17.1. McMurray’s best start was third in the summer of 2007 and his best finish was third in the summer of 2010.
Short-Track Stats: On NSCS tracks that are one-mile in length or less, McMurray has 93 starts, earning one pole, six top-five and 28 top-10 finishes. McMurray has led 317 laps on short tracks, and has an average start of 17.6 and an average finish of 19.3.
Green Means Go: McMurray ranks first in the number of green flag passes in the last 15 races at Bristol, passing 794 cars under green flag conditions. This is three more passes than second-place driver, Dale Earnhardt Junior.
Let’s Go Fishing: Bass Pro Shops recently announced their plan to build a new store in Bristol, Tenn. Jamie McMurray will attend a Groundbreaking ceremony this Friday morning at the site of the future store location at the northeast quadrant of the Exit 74 intersection of Interstate 81 and Highway 11 W in Bristol. The store is scheduled to open in late 2013 or spring of 2014. Bass Pro Shops operates 58 retail stores in 26 states and Canada.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND THE NO. 42 TARGET TEAM
Montoya on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet by following Montoya’s personal Twitter account, @jpmontoya.
Michigan Review: Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team returned to the newly resurfaced Michigan International Speedway for the second time this season. Sunday, Montoya battled with handling early on and then rebounded only to have a tire shred which put a halt to a top-10 run. The Target team would have to settle for a 26th-place finish at the close of the race.
Previously at Bristol: Montoya started in 30th position and would battle through the middle of the pack for the first half of the race. A timely caution towards the end of the race allowed Montoya to pit for new tires and adjustments, restart 11th and pass three cars on his way to finish eighth.
Montoya at Bristol: In 11 NSCS starts at Bristol, Montoya has earned three top-10, and seven top-20 finishes. At a track historically known for DNFs, Montoya has finished every race. He has completed 5,496 laps out of a possible 5,513 laps, or 99.7 percent, and has led 29 laps. His highest start was second in the summer of 2007, and highest finish was seventh in the summer of 2010. Montoya’s average start is 20th while his average finish is 18.3.
Short-Track Stats: Montoya has 54 NSCS short-track starts, earning one pole, four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. He has completed 22,739 laps of a possible 23,356 laps, or 97.0 percent and led 212 laps. Montoya’s average short-track start is 18.9 while his average finish is 18.8.
Spot the Bullseye: Swing by Target to get your race supplies on your way to Bristol Speedway. Target is located at 2116 North Roan St. Johnson City, Tenn. Call ahead to ensure they have everything you need at: (423) 854-8899.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1104. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Mercury team will bring Chassis #1104 to Bristol. This chassis was raced in 2011 at Charlotte for the All-Star race, finishing 17th; the Coca-Cola 600 finishing 37th; both Michigan races last year, finishing 19th and 23rd; Dover, finishing 15th. Earlier this season Chassis #1104 has seen action at Texas, finishing 14th; and Dover, finishing 19th.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1209. Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1111 to Bristol 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 finishing eighth, Darlington Raceway, finishing 27th and Dover, finishing 28th.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
23
0
0
0
3
20.7
19.6
19
Juan Pablo Montoya
23
0
2
0
2
21.7
21.0
22
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
353
6
8
41
99
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
204
2
9
20
51
18.0
19.7
TEAM ROSTERS
Max Jones – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
No. 1 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion
Boylston, MA
Rear Tire Changer: Jeremy Fuller
Newnan, GA
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: Dennis Terry
Mooresboro, NC
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Jake Brzozowski
N/A
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 150 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
