BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Food City 500
March 17, 2013
Bristol Motor Speedway
RCR in Thunder Valley … In 137 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts nine wins – seven with Dale Earnhardt, one with Kevin Harvick and one with Jeff Burton – three pole awards, 32 top-five and 59 top-10 finishes. RCR Chevrolets swept the top-three positions in the 2008 Food City 500 when Burton drove to Victory Lane, Harvick finished second and Clint Bowyer third. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has led 3,593 laps at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.”
RCR Las Vegas Rewind … In last Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Harvick (ninth-place) and Paul Menard (10th-place) both collected their first top-10 finishes of the 2013 season, while Jeff Burton finished 26th.
Get to the Points … RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 12th (Menard), 19th (Harvick) and 20th (Burton) in the driver championship point standings heading into this weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick, @RCR31JeffBurton and driver Twitter page @KevinHarvick. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27, www.facebook.com/OfficialKevinHarvick and www.facebook.com/OfficialJeffBurton.
Catch the Action … Live coverage of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised on FOX Sunday, March 17, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and will also be broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
Paul Menard
No. 27 Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 412 at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS has never been run under race conditions, but was tested earlier this year at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway.
Bristol Stats … Menard has 11 starts at the half-mile oval. His best start of fourth and best finish of fifth both came in 2011. In Menard’s last four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Bristol Motor Speedway, he has earned three top-10 finishes. The Wisconsin native has completed 5,490 of 5,509 laps attempted (99.7 percent) at the Bristol, Tenn., track, leading 35 of them.
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Driver Points … Menard’s 10th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway allowed him to gain five positions in the driver championship point standings. He heads to Bristol Motor Speedway in 12th, just six markers out of the top 10.
Race Rewind … In last year’s spring event at Bristol Motor Speedway, Menard started the No. 27 Chevrolet seventh and finished 10th, collecting his third top-10 finish at the Tennessee short-track.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on racing at Bristol Motor Speedway?
“Short tracks are the heart of our sport and Bristol (Motor Speedway) is the type of track that NASCAR was built around. We’ve had some good runs at Bristol the past couple of years, so we are looking forward to this weekend and seeing what the No. 27 Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet can do. Bristol is a track where we have to find a good rhythm and track position is very important. If we can qualify well, stay up front on Sunday and stay out of trouble, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 391 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Food City 500. Harvick last drove this RCR Chevrolet to a sixth-place result during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Volunteer State Stats … Sunday’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway will mark Harvick’s 25th Sprint Cup Series-career start at the half-mile facility. Through the years, the RCR veteran driver has collected one victory (March 2005), nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. He has completed 11,790 of 12,013 (98.1 percent) of the laps contested and is credited with 427 laps led.
Bud Tap Room… Fans wanting to take their Bristol racing experience to the next level can purchase tickets for the Bud Tap Room package, which combines grandstand seat tickets with access to an indoor, climate-controlled, skybox suite. Not only will fans have spectacular racing views, but also a $25 food and drink voucher, access to private restrooms and the ability to watch closed-circuit TVs. Harvick will make a special appearance at the Bud Tap Room on Sunday prior to the Food City 500. More information on the special ticket package can be found by calling 866-415-4158 or by visiting www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.
Meet the Man … Fans can meet Harvick during a NASCAR autograph session on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Eastern Time during Food City Race Night at Bristol Motor Speedway. 125 wristbands will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis when the track Hospitality Village opens at 4 p.m. ET.
Double Duty … Harvick will not only compete in the Food City 500 Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, but he will also drive the No. 33 Armour Vienna Sausages Chevrolet during the NASCAR Nationwide Series event Saturday afternoon. The race is scheduled to air live on ESPN2 beginning at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
2012 Race Rewind … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team rebounded from an early wreck to score an 11th-place finish in this event last season.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
This is the second race at Bristol Motor Speedway on the new track configuration. What did you learn about the changes to the top lane of the track from the 2012 fall race?
“I don’t think the changes that were made to the track did much to the top lane. Everyone still wound up in the top groove, and the racing ended up pretty much as it was in the past. We had an exciting race there last time, I think any time you go to a short track – no matter if the groove is top, bottom or middle – you’re going to have cars beating and banging on each other. I think with the way the groove moved up the track, everyone is a little more aggressive in trying to slide themselves into a spot, so you have to be aggressive to take the opportunity to pass somebody.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet SS … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 372 this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS). This is a brand new No. 31 Chevrolet seeing its first on-track action during Friday’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session.
Burton in Thunder Valley … Burton has 38 starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with one win (2008), eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. In addition, he has led 322 laps at the 0.533-mile facility.
No Stranger to Victory Lane … Burton claimed the 2008 Food City 500 trophy at Bristol Motor Speedway in a 1-2-3 RCR finish. He also visited Victory Lane in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition at the half-mile facility in April 1997.
Black and Yellow … The iconic General Mills brand Cheerios returns as the primary sponsor on Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet SS. America’s No.1 cereal franchise will bring its fan-favorite yellow and black paint scheme to these additional races in 2013: Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 26), Dover International Speedway (June 2), Michigan International Speedway (August 18) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (September 22). General Mills has roots as a NASCAR sponsor for more than 15 years and began its partnership with RCR in 2008 with the Cheerios brand as the primary sponsor of the No. 33 Sprint Cup Series team. The program moved to the No. 31 team as a co-primary sponsor for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.
Food City Race Night … Burton will take part in the Food City Race Night fan question-and-answer session on Friday, March 15 at 5:45 p.m. in the track hospitality village located outside turn four. For more information on the free event, log on to http://www.foodcity.com/community/racing/food-city-race-night.
Race Rewind 2012 … Burton and the No. 31 Chevrolet team scored their second top-10 finish of the 2012 NSCS season, after placing sixth in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
To be successful at Bristol Motor Speedway, do you need to be aggressive or patient?
“You definitely have to be aggressive. I think the fans like to see drivers beating and banging on each other. At the same time, they like to see side-by-side racing. We gave them side-by-side racing and now they want to see us hit each other. You aren’t going to make everyone happy all the time. There are not as many wrecks as there used to be, but the actual racing is better.”
The top groove was supposed to be fixed last year where drivers couldn’t run up there. That wasn’t the case though.
“The top groove was incredible. To be honest, I was really surprised. They took the banking out of it, but we got up there and made a lot of grip. It was definitely rough, but faster up there. I think it surprised everyone. I think they just need to let us go race and let the race speak for itself. I know I’m in the minority there, but I think when we try to manipulate something, we always make it worse.”
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Race: Bristol 300
Date: March 16, 2013
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Bristol Motor Speedway … In 53 previous Nationwide Series appearances at Bristol Motor Speedway, RCR leads all organizations with seven wins at the half-mile bullring, including a victory in the March 2012 Nationwide Series race with Elliott Sadler. Clint Bowyer earned RCR a win at Bristol in March 2008, while Kevin Harvick has contributed four wins for RCR with victories in March 2005, March 2003, August 2001 and August 2000. Jeff Green won in an RCR entry at Bristol in March 2002. RCR also has five pole awards at Bristol: Scott Wimmer in March 2008, Kevin Harvick in March 2006, March 2001 and August 2000 and Mike Skinner in August 2001.
Averages … RCR boasts a 10th-place average starting position and an average finishing position of 12.7 among all Nationwide Series races the organization has contested at Bristol Motor Speedway. RCR drivers have completed 94.1 percent of the laps attempted at the half-mile track (12,042 of 12,801 laps), with 1,624 laps led. In addition to seven wins and five pole awards, RCR has earned 21 top-five finishes and 29 top-10 finishes at the track.
RCR in the NNS … In 873 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts over the course of the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 65 wins, 298 top-five finishes, 492 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.2 and an average finishing position of 12.5 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 Burton and Scott Wimmer.
The Season So Far … In the three races contested this season, RCR has earned one win in the Nationwide Series, with Tony Stewart at Daytona International Speedway, along with one top-five and six top-10 finishes. The organization has led nine laps in 2013.
Get to the Points … Brian Scott is tied for second in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing point leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by 19 points, while Dillon ranks sixth, just eight points out of second. In the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, the No. 2 Chevrolet team ranks fourth, while the No. 3 team ranks seventh and the No. 33 team ranks 11th.
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 – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3ADillon and @RCR33NNS, RCR’s NNS driver Twitter pages – @BScottRacing, @AustinDillon3 and @KevinHarvick and the official Facebook fan pages – www.facebook.com/BScottRacing, www.facebook.com/austindillon3 and www.facebook.com/OfficialKevinHarvick
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Bristol 300 will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, March 16 and broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Satellite Radio.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 115 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in Saturday’s Bristol 300. Most Recently, Ty Dillon drove this Chevrolet to a third-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July 2012 and a seventh-place-finish at Richmond International Raceway in September 2012.
Thunder Valley History … The 25-year-old Chevrolet driver has seven previous Nationwide Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway. His best start of third came in the August 2012 event. He holds two top five starts and one top-ten-finish at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile”. Additionally, Scott has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts with a best start and finish of fifth in the 2009 event.
Point Out the Points … Coming off his third consecutive top-10 finish of 2013, Scott is in a three-way tie for second in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings. This marks his strongest start of a Nationwide Series season since his debut in 2009
Longest Top-10 Streak Currently in NASCAR … Heading into this weekend’s Bristol 300, Scott has the longest top-10 finishing streak of any driver in the top three touring series. The RCR Camaro driver has not finished outside the top-10 since Phoenix last fall.
Lodging in McCall, Idaho … Shore Lodge will serve as primary sponsor for Scott and the No. 2 team in 2013. Set on the southern shore of Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho, four seasons of adventure await at this idyllic location. A family favorite since 1948, the travel destination allows guests to enjoy the spectacular views, friendly service and generous accommodations at the lake front resort. Shore Lodge serves as the perfect mixture of adventure and luxury featuring 26 spa adventures, fitness studio, golf privileges at Whitetail Club, jet skiing, and a private beach for guests.
Fight Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee … Friday evening Scott will take part in the Annual Food City Race Night at Bristol Motor Speedway. He will take on his fellow competitors by putting up his dukes in Bristol’s Wii Boxing Tournament. The in ring action will kick off at 6:30p.m. ET.
Last Time Around … One year ago, the 25-year-old Nationwide Series competitor started from the fifth spot and had a strong run, until falling victim to a mechanical failure relegating him to a 35th-place-finish.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
Can you describe racing on the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway?
“You’re constantly in the corner and it’s a physically demanding track that has the ability to frustrate you. The outside line is the preferred line which is the nature of the beast. It’s really hard to pass someone on the outside since you’re already up high, so you have to make the bottom work in order to pass. That’s the magic of the track, you’ll need to make the bottom work to pass and get to the front and win the race.”
Austin Dillon
No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s AdvoCare Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 116 in the Bristol 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Dillon earned a pair of sixth-place finishes with this Chevrolet in September 2012 at Phoenix International Raceway and Richmond International Raceway. He also led 53 laps in this car at Iowa Speedway in August before recording a 15th-place finish after making an unscheduled pit stop under green-flag conditions for a vibration.
Dillon at Bristol Motor Speedway … Dillon has two Bristol Motor Speedway starts to his credit in the Nationwide Series, posting a 12th-place finish in March 2012 after he was thwarted by a NASCAR-issued penalty for exiting pit road too fast and challenged by a loose-handling condition throughout the race. He earned a career-best, fourth-place finish at the 0.544-mile short track in August 2012. The 22-year-old Nationwide Series regular has two starts at the half-mile track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, finishing 17th in 2010 and 23rd in 2011.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks sixth in the 2013 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing current point leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by 27 points.
Spark your Engines … Dillon and the RCR team will sport the colors of award-winning premier health and wellness company AdvoCare on the No. 3 Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway. 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 throughout the week and is a distributor as well. For more information about Dillon’s favorite products, including Spark, Rehydrate, meal replacement bars and Post-Workout Recovery, visit .
AdvoCare Supporting the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma … If Dillon wins this weekend’s Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, AdvoCare will make a $5,000 donation to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The health and wellness company will pledge $2,000 to CIPT for a top-five finish and $1,000 for a top-10 finish. The Childress Institute invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S. and AdvoCare’s generous donations are aimed at helping to raise awareness for pediatric trauma, the No. 1 killer of children in America. You can help save the lives of injured children by making a contribution to the Childress Institute in two ways: donate $33 in honor of Dillon via his website, or text WIN to 80077 to make a $10 donation.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What do you think about Bristol Motor Speedway?
“I love Bristol Motor Speedway. The track is really challenging and Tennessee race fans are some of the most passionate and most fun to be around in all of NASCAR. I’ve been fortunate enough to race near Bristol Motor Speedway a lot in my Dirt Late Model at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., and it’s really cool when those dirt fans come out to Bristol to watch the NASCAR races.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 33 Armour Vienna Sausages Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Armour Vienna Sausages Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 099 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in the 300-lap event at Bristol Motor Speedway. This RCR machine was last driven to a second-place finish by Harvick’s teammate Paul Menard at Dover International Speedway in September 2012.
Short Track Success … Since his first Nationwide Series-career appearance in 2000, Harvick has made 23 series starts at the half-mile track. In those 23 events, the two-time series champion has collected five wins (fall ’00 and ’01, spring ’03, ’05 and ’09), three pole awards (fall ’00, spring ’01 and ’06), 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Harvick has completed 98.7 percent (5,913 of 5,989) laps contested, with 1,173 laps led.
Enjoy the Tastes of Victory … Armour® and Hungry-Man® are giving fans an opportunity to enjoy the tastes of victory and win a custom designed 2013 Chevrolet Camaro featuring Harvick’s No. 33 Armour®/Hungry-Man® paint scheme. Now through Sept. 16, fans can enter for a chance to win one of 33 monthly prizes including: die-cast cars, gift cards/certificates, Armour apparel gift packs and more. At the end of the seven-month promotion, five finalists will be selected at random to receive an all-expense-paid, four-day, three-night trip for two to Charlotte, N.C. in October. The five finalists will have a chance to win the grand prize, a custom designed 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. Fans 18 years of age and older, within the continental United States, can enter the promotion once a month at www.thetastestofvictory.com, or by completing the official entry form found at participating retailers that carry Armour® and Hungry-Man® products. For official rules visit, www.thetastesofvictory.com.
Meet the Man … Harvick will meet fans and sign autographs at the Armour display during Food City Race Night at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, March 15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. 250 wristbands will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis at the Food City Race Night Armour display beginning at 4 p.m.
Double Duty … In addition to competing in the Bristol 300 Saturday afternoon, Harvick will also drive RCR’s No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 on Sunday. The race is scheduled to air live on FOX beginning at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
2012 Race Rewind … Harvick started the 2012 Nationwide Series event from the sixth position before receiving a late-race pit road speeding penalty that relegated the No. 33 Armour Vienna Sausages team to a ninth-place finish.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
You’re running both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. What things do you think you’ll learn in the Nationwide car that you can relate to the Sprint Cup car?
“You don’t really learn much, because the throttle and cars are so different. The biggest thing for me is seat time, because it’s a rhythm race track. There are some things you can take back such as a tire issue or something that pops up with the track itself, you can use that information between series, but for me it’s just really about the extra seat time.”
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