RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Race: Richmond 400
Date: April 27, 2013
Location: Richmond International Raceway
RCR in Richmond … Richard Childress has eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories as a car owner at Richmond International Raceway – five with Dale Earnhardt, two with Kevin Harvick and one with Clint Bowyer. Additionally, in 135 starts at the Richmond, Va.-based track, RCR drivers have claimed 33 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes at RIR. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed three of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization holds a 17.3 average starting position, a 14.8 average finishing position, has completed 50,888 of the 53,904 contested laps (94.4 percent) and has collectively led 3,239 laps around the 0.75-mile race track.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,297 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 101 wins, 42 pole awards, 435 top-five finishes and 916 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.9 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned 14 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90,’91, ’93 and ’94, 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.
RCR Kansas Rewind … In the Sprint Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway last weekend, Paul Menard scored his fourth top-10 finish of the season (10th) while RCR teammates Harvick and Jeff Burton finished 12th and 18th, respectively.
The Collective RCR … Throughout the season’s first eight races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched six top-10 finishes and completed 7,705 of 7,952 total laps (97 percent) with drivers Burton, Austin Dillon, Harvick and Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 10th (Menard), 12th (Harvick) and 23rd (Burton) in the driver championship point standings.
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 Richmond 400 at Richmond International Raceway will be televised on FOX Saturday, April 27, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Paul Menard
No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 419 at Richmond International Raceway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS was previously run this season at Martinsville Speedway.
Richmond Stats … Menard has 12 starts at Richmond International Raceway. His best start of seventh came in 2010 and best finish of 13th came in 2012. The Wisconsin native has completed 4,689 of 4,810 laps attempted (97.5 percent) at the Virginia track, leading one of them.
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Autograph Time … Menard will participate in an autograph session at Richmond International Raceway in the amphitheater located next to the Commonwealth Mall at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, April, 27. Fans must have a wristband to participate. The first 200 fans in line at the Virginia 529 College Saving Plan display in the midway on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET (with a Saturday race ticket) will receive a wristband.
Fast Fact … Menard has four top-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finishes in 2013 and has completed 100 percent of laps attempted (2,584) this year.
Race Rewind … Starting 31st, Menard finished 13th in last spring’s 400-lap race at Richmond International Raceway, marking his best finish to-date at the .75-mile track.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
Menard’s Thoughts on Racing at Richmond International Raceway:
“Racing at Richmond (International Raceway) is significant because when we go back there in the fall it’s the last race before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. We want to do well and learn all we can this weekend, so we can take that knowledge and apply it to the fall race. Richmond is uniquely shaped so, as a driver, I’ve got to approach both ends of the track differently. It is shaped like a ‘D,’ and there is a really big arch going into turn one. Turn three is almost like a Martinsville (Speedway) turn. It has a really sharp entrance and it’s not very open. On exit, it opens back up with the ‘D’ shape. Hopefully we can keep our fenders clean this weekend and come home with another top-10 finish.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Bell Helicopter Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bell Helicopter Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway … Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 420 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Richmond 400. This Chevrolet is new to the rotation this season and made its first appearance at Martinsville Speedway in April, where Harvick finished 13th.
RIR Stats … Harvick will make his 25th Sprint Cup Series start at the 0.75-mile facility Saturday evening. Through the years, the California native has collected two wins (September 2006 and September 2011), one pole award (September 2005), six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. Harvick maintains an average start of 16.5 coupled with an 11.7 average finishing position, has completed 98.8 percent (9,486 of 9,603) laps contested and led 942 laps at the Virginia-based facility.
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Double Duty … In addition to driving the No. 29 Bell Helicopter Chevrolet SS in Saturday night’s race, Harvick will pilot the No. 33 Hungry-Man Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Friday evening. This race is scheduled to air live on ESPNEWS at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, along with the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Champion Chat … Harvick will participate in his monthly Champion Chat on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. ET answering fan questions via Twitter and TweetChat.com. To ask a question, simply log on to TweetChat.com or Federal-Mogul’s @ChampionParts Twitter feed and add the #ChampionChat hashtag to the end of each tweet. Harvick’s video “Touts” will be available through the @ChampionParts Twitter feed as well as www.Tout.com (search for “#TeamChampion”).
2012 Race Rewind … Harvick and the No. 29 team finished 19th during last year’s Capital City 400 at Richmond International Raceway, after battling an unfavorable handling race car for the majority of the 400-lap event.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Richmond International Raceway is the second short-track race of the season, what are your thoughts heading into this race?
“Richmond has been a great race track for us through the years. It’s always fun to go there and do a little short-track racing, I really enjoy the style of racing that Richmond International Raceway produces. I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the car there to see what kind of result we can walk away with.”
Short-track racing produces a lot of bumping and banging. How much can you do with the Gen-6 car?
“Not much. You want to bump and bang, but the bottom line is you don’t want to tear the fenders off the car so aerodynamically the car works like it needs to. You can definitely get a few bumps and dings in the fenders, but you don’t want to be tearing it up too much.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Airgas/Bulwark Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This week’s No. 31 Airgas/Bulwark Chevrolet SS at Richmond International Raceway… Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 329 this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. This No. 31 Chevrolet was utilized twice during the 2012 season at both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) events at Martinsville Speedway.
Career Richmond Stats … Burton grew up two hours away from the Richmond, Va.-based facility in South Boston, Va. Saturday’s event marks Burton’s 38th start at the .75-mile facility and 664th-career NSCS start. He has amassed one win (1998), one pole award (2000), nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes at the historic track.
No Stranger to Victory Lane … Burton has made three trips to Victory Lane at Richmond International Raceway, winning the NSCS event in September 1998 and NASCAR Nationwide Series races in June 1998 and September 2000.
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Sign Here Please … Burton will be signing autographs with fellow NSCS drivers Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Joey Logano, Bobby Labonte and Paul Menard in the Richmond International Raceway (RIR) Amphitheater (located next to the Commonwealth Mall) on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Wristbands are required for an autograph and can be picked up Saturday starting at 10 a.m. ET at the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan display in the RIR fan display area. The first 200 fans with a Saturday race ticket receive a wristband.
Race Rewind 2012 … An on-track incident on lap 310 knocked Burton and the No. 31 Chevrolet team out of contention for a top-15 run in the 2012 Capital City 400, relegating them to a 31st-place finish at Richmond International Raceway.
JEFF BURTON QUOTE:
What are your thoughts heading into Richmond International Raceway this weekend?
“Richmond (International Raceway) is truly one of my favorite race tracks. It’s a fun time of the year and the weather is warmer. I think Richmond is the perfect size race track. It’s both big enough and small enough to produce good races. One thing we haven’t seen lately is the top groove come in. Most competitors are finding speed at the bottom of the race track. Hopefully, that top groove will come in. If it does, that will make the racing even better than it already is. I always look forward to going to Richmond.”
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Race: Richmond 250
Date: April 26, 2013
Location: Richmond International Raceway
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Richmond International Raceway … Richard Childress Racing has earned six wins at Richmond International Raceway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with drivers Kevin Harvick (September 2012, May and September 2006, September 2005 and May 2003) and Clint Bowyer (May 2007). The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has three pole awards (Harvick in April 2012 and September 2003 and Jeff Burton in September 2008), 17 top-five finishes and 30 top-10 finishes in 52 starts.
RCR in the NNS … In 885 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts through the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 65 wins, 302 top-five finishes, 500 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards with an average starting position of 12.1 and an average finishing position of 12.4 among all races contested. RCR earned the Nationwide Series driver points championships in 2001 and 2006 with Harvick, and in 2008 with 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 six races contested this season, RCR has earned one win in the Nationwide Series, with Tony Stewart at Daytona International Speedway, along with five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. The organization has led 55 laps in 2013.
Get to the Points … Austin Dillon is ranked third in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by eight points, while Brian Scott is tied for fourth, just nine points out of the lead. In the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, the No. 3 Chevrolet team ranks fourth, while the No. 2 team ranks sixth and the No. 33 team ranks seventh.
Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, 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 – facebook.com/BScottRacing, facebook.com/austindillon3 and facebook.com/OfficalKevinHarvick
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Richmond 250 will be televised on ESPNEWS beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 26 and broadcast live on the Motor 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 Richmond International Raceway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 101 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in Friday evening’s Richmond 250. This chassis last saw track action earlier this season at Phoenix International Raceway where Scott earned a ninth-place finish. Additionally, this workhorse claimed three wins (Phoenix International Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway) and two pole awards (Iowa Speedway) in the 2012 season.
RIR History … The 25-year old Chevrolet driver has seven previous Nationwide Series starts at Richmond International Raceway. He has two top-10 starts and one top-10 finish to his credit, with his best starting spot of third coming in the spring 2009 event.
Point Out the Points … Coming off an 11th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, Scott is tied for fourth in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings just nine markers out of first.
Best Career Start … After the first six Nationwide Series events of 2013, Scott is experiencing the strongest start of a season in his career. The Boise, Idaho native boasts five top-10 finishes, eight laps led, an average finishing spot of ninth and is currently tied for fourth in series driver point standings.
Lodging in Idaho … Shore Lodge will serve as primary sponsor for Scott and the No. 2 team this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. 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.
Socially Speaking … Follow Shore Lodge on twitter @ShoreLodgeIdaho and Facebook at facebook.com/shorelodge.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
Tell us what you’re looking forward to this Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
“I’m excited for Richmond (International Raceway), I’ve always had mixed results at the track. I like the position we’re at with this No. 2 team and their successes on short tracks. I’m looking forward to getting to Richmond; we have a little extra practice time to get our Camaro tuned in to what we need for Friday night’s race.”
Richmond International Raceway is a short track, but drives differently than a Bristol Motor Speedway or Iowa Speedway, how so?
“Richmond (International Raceway) is an old surface which causes the tires to wear a lot during a run. The exit going into turn two is really narrow so there isn’t a lot of room for error. For me that’s the most challenging part of the race track, getting the car to turn really well coming off of turn two. Overall, I think that really sets this track apart from a lot of other places we compete.”
Austin Dillon
No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s AdvoCare Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 125 in the Richmond 250 at Richmond International Raceway. This is the same Chevrolet Camaro that Dillon drove to a sixth-place finish, after starting sixth, at Phoenix International Raceway in March.
Dillon at Richmond International Raceway … In three previous Nationwide Series appearances at Richmond International Raceway, Dillon has earned two top-10 finishes and led 14 laps at the 0.75-mile track. In his most recent appearance at the track (September 2012), he started second and led 14 laps despite struggling with a tight-handling condition in the center of the corners, ultimately finishing sixth.
Did you know … Dillon made his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond International Raceway in September 2008, driving the No. 21 Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish after starting from the 31st position.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks third in the 2013 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing current leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by eight 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 Richmond International Raceway. 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 Richmond International Raceway, 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. So far this season, the No. 3 team has raised $6,000 towards the cause. Several members of the Richard Childress Racing Team visited Brenner’s Childrens Hospital at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. to great patients this week as part of their affiliation with CIPT. 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.
Make a Difference … With the help of Drive4COPD, Dillon and his younger brother Ty are taking part in NASCAR’s Race to Green campaign, a fully-integrated and massive national tree planting initiative designed to engage the NASCAR industry and excite fans. The month-long initiative focuses heavily on sustainability programs that NASCAR, the industry and a wide range of partners have in place to help reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. COPD is helping to reduce the sport’s footprint by donating five trees for each lap the Dillon brothers lead during the month of April.
How Many Candles … Dillon will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Saturday, April 27.
Off Weekend … During the Nationwide Series off week, Dillon participated in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goodyear Tire Test at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet SS.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What do you think about Richmond International Raceway?
“One of the best things about Richmond International Raceway is that it’s similar to Iowa Speedway, a track where I have logged a lot of laps. It’s a fun track because you really slide around. You’ve really got to use the brakes at Richmond International Raceway. You don’t really touch the brakes much at mile-and-a-half long tracks, but braking is very important at a track like Richmond. Getting off the corner, having forward bite, and being able to adjust your car to make it really good for longer runs and then being able to go at the end when there is a late race caution are needed. I think we have a good package for Phoenix International Raceway, Iowa Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and a lot of the short tracks, so I am excited to get there and do some night racing.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 33 Hungry-Man Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Hungry-Man Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 127 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in the 250-mile event at Richmond International Raceway. This is a new Chevrolet for the No. 33 team and will make its first competitive laps this weekend at the 0.75-mile track.
Track Master … Friday night’s 250-lap event at Richmond International Raceway marks Harvick’s 24th Nationwide Series start at the track. Since 2000, the two-time series champion has picked up six wins (May 2003, September 2005, May and September 2006, September 2010 and September 2012), three pole awards (September 2003, September 2010 and May 2012), 15 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Harvick holds an 8.3 average starting position, an average finishing position of seventh, has completed 99.9 percent (5,756 of 5,763) of the laps contested and is credited with 1,089 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.
This Just In … Harvick will double as driver and in-race reporter during live coverage of Friday night’s 250-lap event. The 37-year-old driver will chat with ESPN personalities during the race and provide viewers a unique look from the driver’s seat. Front tire carrier, Austin Craven, will also participate in the live coverage by wearing a helmet camera to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s pit stops.
Double Duty … In addition to driving the No. 33 Hungry-Man Chevrolet Camaro Friday night, Harvick will also pilot the No. 29 Bell Helicopter Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on Saturday evening. This race is scheduled to air live FOX at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, along with the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
2012 Race Rewind … After starting from the pole position and dominating the first half of the Virginia 529 College Savings 250, Harvick and the No. 33 Fast Fixin’ team battled a tight-handling condition to capture a third-place finish at Richmond International Raceway.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
Share your thoughts on running the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at a track where you have been so successful in the past.
“We’ve won a lot of races at Richmond International Raceway in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series, so I’m really excited to get into the Hungry-Man Camaro Friday night. Hopefully, we can run a little better than we have so far this season, in that particular car, and pick up another win.”
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