RCR Post Race Report
NNS Chicagoland Speedway and NCWTS Iowa Speedway
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola
Chicagoland Speedway
September 15, 2012
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished third (Austin Dillon), fifth (Paul Menard) and eighth (Elliott Sadler).
Sadler is in the second position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, nine points behind leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr., while Dillon ranks third in the standings, trailing the leader by 34 points.
The No. 2 Chevrolet team is third in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, 13 points shy of the No. 18 team’s lead, with the No. 3 team fourth in the standings and the No. 33 team sixth.
Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Menard was ranked the seventh-Fastest Driver Early in a Run (168.466 mph), Late in a Run (168.078 mph) and on Restarts (165.090 mph). He also maintained the eighth-best Average Running Position (7.645), Driver Rating (103) and Green Flag Speed (167.236 mph).
Dillon and Menard spent 100 percent of the contested Laps in the Top 15, while Sadler turned 199 of the 200 laps (99.5 percent) in the top 15. The RCR drivers turned 51 of the Fastest Laps Run with Dillon contributing 38, Sadler with 11 and Menard with two.
Dillon was the Fastest Driver Late In a Run with an average speed of 167.599 mph according to NASCAR’s Post-Race Loop Data Statistics. Dillon ranked second in Average Running Position (2.582), Laps Led (52) and Speed in Traffic (168.412 mph). He was third-Fastest on Restarts (166.161 mph), averaged a Green Flag Speed of 168.400 mph and earned a Driver Rating of 127.1 ranking him third in both categories.
Sadler notched the second position in Quality Passes, third in Fastest Drivers Late in a Run and fourth in Speed in Traffic.
Stenhouse, Jr. claimed the victory at Chicagoland Speedway, followed to the line by Kyle Busch, Dillon, Brad Keselowski and Menard.
The next scheduled Nationwide Series race is the Kentucky 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, September 22. The 27th race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Eighth-Place Finish for Elliott Sadler and the OneMain Financial Team at Chicagoland Speedway
Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team earned an eighth-place finish Saturday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event. Starting the Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola from the fifth position, Sadler competed in the top-five for the first 38 laps before the caution flag was displayed. Crew chief Luke Lambert called Sadler down pit road for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, positioning the No. 2 Chevrolet to restart in the sixth position. Sadler continued to turn the fastest lap times around the 1.5-mile track, and he reported that the No. 2 Chevrolet was getting tight to the center of the corner. Lambert called Sadler down pit road for a green-flag stop on lap 94 for four tires and fuel, and the Emporia, Va. native quickly communicated that the right-front tire was chattering. Sadler continued to work with the tighter OneMain Financial Chevrolet, maintaining the fifth position until another caution came out on lap 123. Sadler steered the No. 2 Chevrolet down pit road for another routine stop for four tires and fuel, and the team discovered the right-front tire was blistered, which caused the chattering. Restarting from the fourth position on lap 129, Sadler consistently ran as fast as the leader. The yellow flag was displayed for the final time on lap 166, and the OneMain Financial pit crew went to work for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. The quick stop positioned the No. 2 Chevrolet as the leader for the restart. As the field went back to green-flag racing, Sadler reported there was chattering again in the front tires as he was shuffled back to the eighth position. Unable to move forward with the loose-handling condition, Sadler crossed the finish line in the eighth position, marking the team’s 19th top-10 finish of the 2012 season. Sadler ranks second in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, nine points behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Start – 5 Finish – 8 Laps Led – 3 Points – 2
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTE:
“Not the kind of finish we were looking for here today at Chicagoland Speedway. We had a blister on the right-front tire in the middle of the race, and lost track position. I’m just glad that it didn’t happen later in the race. The pit crew was great all day long on pit road, and the team worked hard all weekend. We will remain focused on our goal and regroup for next week at Kentucky Speedway.”
Austin Dillon Captures a Third-Place Finish at Chicagoland Speedway
Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet to a third-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway after leading 52 laps in the Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola Saturday afternoon. The Welcome, N.C., native started the race from the second position and reported to crew chief Danny Stockman that the black and green Chevrolet had developed a tight-handling condition during the early laps of the race as he slipped back to the fifth position. Stockman called the No. 3 Chevrolet to pit road under yellow-flag conditions on lap 41 for four tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments to help the handling issues Dillon was battling. A speedy pit stop by the American Ethanol pit crew placed Dillon in the second position for the ensuing restart. The NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year contender remained a fixture in the top five before battling for the lead, taking over the top spot on lap 70. Dillon continued to lead the field until a lap-125 pit stop for four tires, fuel and the removal of a large piece of debris from the grille. The stop placed Dillon in the second position for the lap-129 restart. As the laps ticked away, Dillon held a position in the top three until a lengthy pit stop positioned the 22-year-old driver in the sixth spot for the lap-171 restart. During the final laps, Dillon maneuvered his American Ethanol Chevrolet around the competition, ultimately crossing the finish line in the third position, marking the team’s 13th top-five finish of the 2012 season. Dillon remains third in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, 34 markers out of the lead.
Start – 2 Finish – 3 Laps Led – 52 Points – 3
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“We had a really strong American Ethanol Chevrolet, and I had a blast racing out there today. I had fun moving around the track going from the top to the bottom. We got something on the grille during the middle of the race when we were leading and it made me really loose, we were able to get that off and then we kind of over adjusted. We were good at the end, but the No. 6 was better. We’ll keep working on it and turn our focus on next week’s race at Kentucky (Speedway).”
The No. 33 Rheem/Menards Team Earn Fifth-Place Finish in NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Chicagoland Speedway
Paul Menard and the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet rallied to a top-five finish in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola after battling handling issues at Chicagoland Speedway. After starting from the seventh position, the Eau Claire, Wis., native wrestled a loose-handling Chevrolet during the first half of the 200-lap event at the 1.5-mile facility. Crew chief Ernie Cope called for chassis and air pressure adjustments during routine green and yellow-flag pit stops on laps 41 and 96 to combat the handling challenges. After falling to 12th in the running order, a lap-123 caution period provided the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing team an opportunity to make an aggressive chassis adjustment, coupled with air pressure changes to aid Menard in his effort to drive back into the top 10. Flawless pit stops gained the No. 33 Rheem/Menards team three positions during each of the final two visits to pit road. Armed with an improved-handling Chevrolet, Menard fought hard to remain in the top five during the closing 30 laps, bringing home a fifth-place finish in his fifth Nationwide Series race of the 2012 season.
Start – 7 Finish – 5 Laps Led – 0 Owner Points – 6
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
“Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and the No. 33 Rheem/Menards team did a great job as always this weekend. We had a strong afternoon in the pits and made good adjustments all day. Unfortunately, we struggled with the car’s handling early and it took us a little too long to get it turned around. Still, it was a great effort all-around to finish fifth.”
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
American Ethanol 200
Iowa Speedway
September 15, 2012
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished second (Ty Dillon), 13th (Joey Coulter) and 22nd (Tim George Jr.). Dillon is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point leader by eight markers, while Coulter ranks sixth in the standings. The No. 3 Chevrolet team is the Camping World Truck Series owner championship point leader, with the No. 22 team fifth in the standings and the No. 2 team 10th. Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings ahead of Cale Gale. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon earned the fifth-highest Driver Rating (100.5) and Coulter earned a rating of 82.4, ranking him 12th amongst the competitors. RCR drivers made a total of 108 Green Flag Passes during the American Ethanol 200 with Coulter earning 54 passes, Dillon with 35 and George with 19 passes. Dillon scored an Average Running Position of 7.625, ranking him sixth in the category, and Coulter ranked 12th with a 12.185. The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team was ranked as the sixth-Fastest Early in a Run. Combined, RCR teammates Dillon and Coulter scored the Fastest Laps Run for eight circuits at the 0.875-mile track. Dillon spent 100 percent of the event in the top 15 ranking him second amongst the rest of the field, while Coulter spent 77 percent in the top 15. RCR drivers tied for ninth in the Closers category. Dillon was the third Fastest on Restarts. Ryan Blaney took the checkered flag at Iowa Speedway and was followed to the line by Dillon, Todd Bodine, Johnny Sauter and Cale Gale. The next scheduled Camping World Truck Series race is the Kentucky 201 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, Sept. 21. The 16th race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on SPEED beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on Motor Racing Network beginning at 7:45 p.m.
Tim George Jr. and the Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Team Finish 22nd
at Iowa Speedway
Tim George Jr. and the No. 2 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group team finished 22nd in the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway after a pit road penalty at the halfway point of the event. George started the 200-lap affair from the 25th position and soon reported he was experiencing a loose-handling condition on the No. 2 Chevrolet. Crew chief Gere Kennon utilized routine pit stops that included four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments to combat the handling issues. The New York City native climbed through the field and was scored in the 14th position on lap 59. A caution flag slowed the field on lap 96, and George was instructed down pit road for four tires, fuel and an additional chassis adjustment. NASCAR officials penalized the Richard Childress Racing driver for entering pit road too fast and as a result required to restart at the rear of the field. George restarted the No. 2 Chevrolet in the 25th position, two laps down to the leader. In the closing stages of the American Ethanol 200, George continued to battle a loose-handling condition but was able to improve three positions, to 22nd-place, where he took the checkered flag.
Start – 25 Finish – 22 Laps Led – 0 Owner Points – 10
TIM GEORGE JR. QUOTE:
“Although this wasn’t the result we were looking for, it was a confidence builder for me. I just can’t say enough about how good a truck this RCR crew gave me today. Now we’ll go to Kentucky (Speedway) where we have some really good notes to start off with and continue our progress.”
Ty Dillon Finishes Second at Iowa Speedway and Takes Over
Championship Points Lead
Ty Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team became the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver and owner championship point leaders after finishing second in the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. Dillon started the 200-lap affair from the ninth position and reported the No. 3 Chevrolet was loose in the center and exit of the corners. Crew chief Marcus Richmond instructed the Richard Childress Racing driver to turn his front brake fans on to help alleviate the handling issues. During a caution period, Dillon was called to pit road on lap 54 for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. A quick stop by the No. 3 pit crew placed the 20-year-old driver in the fourth position for the ensuing restart. The No. 3 Chevrolet remained a fixture in the top five until returning to pit road under caution on lap 95 for another round of chassis adjustments and fresh tires. With other teams opting not to pit, the black and orange Chevrolet restarted in the 12th position on lap 139. Dillon was able to climb up the leaderboard when green-flag pit stops began and was scored in the fourth position when a caution flag slowed the field on lap 165. The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team restarted third with 30 laps remaining. Dillon was running faster times than the leader and survived multiple restarts in the closing laps of the race to bring home a second-place finish, marking the team’s fourth top-five finish of the season and the Camping World Truck Series driver and owner championship points lead.
Start – 9 Finish – 2 Laps Led – 0 Points – 1
TY DILLON QUOTES:
“The No. 3 Bass Pro Shop Chevrolet was fast tonight. Marcus Richmond (crew chief) made some good calls there at the end to put us in contention and the pit crew was great on pit road. I’m really happy with the second-place finish. We’ve been carrying a lot of momentum during the last few weeks, and I’m excited to get to Kentucky (Speedway) and have another back-to-back race weekend.”
“It feels great to get the points lead, but that doesn’t guarantee how we will finish out the season. We’re going to keep our heads down and keep digging. This whole team has worked so hard this season, and they deserve to be sitting on top of the points battle.”
Joey Coulter Earns Finishes 13th at Iowa Speedway
Joey Coulter and the No.22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team overcame handling issues and battled back to a 13th-place finish in Saturday night’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. After qualifying in the 14th position for the 200-lap event, the No. 22 Chevrolet showed speed from the initial green flag before Coulter reported that something wasn’t right on his Silverado. During each routine pit stop, the crew worked to make adjustments for the handling challenges on the RCR Chevrolet. Coulter battled through and was scored in the seventh position on lap 100. After working his way up to the second position when green-flag pit stops began on lap 139, Coulter visited pit road for four tires and Sunoco E15 fuel. When the caution flag was displayed prior to all the teams completing their pit stops, NASCAR scored the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year in the 17th position, two laps down to the leader. The No.22 truck was allowed to take the wave around and on the ensuing restart, the Miami Springs, Fla.-native picked his way back up through the field. Following multiple late race cautions, Coulter took the checkered flag in the 13th position. Coulter is currently sixth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings, 46 points behind the leader and RCR teammate Ty Dillon.
Start – 14 Finish – 13 Laps Led – 0 Points – 6
JOEY COULTER QUOTE:
“I’m just really proud of Harold (Holly, crew chief) and the rest of the guys on this (No.) 22 team. They just never give up and they motivate me to never give up, even when I’m faced with the challenges we saw tonight. We will regroup and go get them next weekend in Kentucky.”
