Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Advance Notes
RACE SETUP
Race: Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts
Drivers: @jamiemcmurray @jpmontoya
Cars: No. 1 Hellmann’s Chevrolet SS, No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS
Track: Kentucky Speedway
TV: TNT (7:30pm ET)
Social: @EGRTeams #TeamGanassi, #Hellmanns100
I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT
Cardinal Takeover at Kentucky: Cardinal fans and alumni rejoice in the Cardinal Takeover Package exclusive to Kentucky Speedway. This package includes a ticket to Quaker State 400, admission to their special Cardinal hospitality event where fans enjoy complimentary food and beverages. The first 200 to arrive will receive a one-of-a kind miniature Quaker State Louisville Slugger bat and a commemorative mini poster of the souvenir program cover autographed by Sam Bass, A guided pit tour where fans have the chance to see cars and their favorite EGR drivers up close, one Fan Zone pass, a stage-side view of their race-day concert with platinum country music recording artist Billy Currington, along with a post-race view of Victory Lane.
EGR in Kentucky: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (EGR) has four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Kentucky Speedway (two with Jamie McMurray and two with Juan Pablo Montoya). The team’s best start came in 2011 when Montoya qualified in the runner-up position and their best finish is 14th from last year’s race with Montoya.
#TEAMGANASSI
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow EGR on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No.1 and No.42 teams throughout the 2013 season by following “@EGRTeams”.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
@jpmontoya following the Sonoma race-“It’s hard to put into words the disappointment of today. The @Target car was so fast. At least we passed a lot of cars.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Hellman’s Team
Sonoma Recap: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) made a trip to the twist and turns of Sonoma Raceway for the first of just two road-course races on the 2013 schedule. Jamie McMurray and the Cessna team captured the pole for the Toyota/SaveMart 350 and raced among the leaders for most of the race until a flat tire on lap 74 of 110 eliminated the team from contention. McMurray would finish the race in the 25th position.
Bring Out The Best: The No. 1 Chevrolet SS will carry the colors for Hellmann’s® Mayonnaise this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The paint scheme will feature the iconic Hellmann’s® Blue Ribbon logo with the Happy 100 Years branding. Hellmann’s® products have been staples in American kitchens for generations. The brand’s flagship product, Hellmann’s® Real Mayonnaise, is the best-selling mayonnaise in the United States.
McMurray at Kentucky: McMurray has a total of five starts at Kentucky Speedway, two NSCS starts, two NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start. McMurray has completed 1015 of 1084 laps (93.6%) of competition in those five races. His best NSCS start and finish came in 2012 when he started 17th and finished 15th.
My Old Kentucky Home: This weekend’s race at Kentucky Speedway is a homecoming for Lorin Ranier. A native of Prestonsburg, KY, Ranier is the spotter for Jamie McMurray. The Rainer family has been involved with the NASCAR sport for decades. Lorin’s father Harry Ranier was a successful car owner, fielding cars for drivers such as Davey Allison and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Cale Yarborough and many others.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Sonoma Recap: Montoya and Team Target looked to bring home their first win of the 2013 season at Sonoma Raceway over the weekend. The team qualified in the 13th position and was in prime position to bring home a runner-up finish until the No. 42 ran out of fuel on the final lap. Team Target would settle for a 34th-place finish when the checkered flag waved.
First Time in a Cup Car: Montoya participated in his first career NSCS test at Kentucky Speedway back in 2006 for EGR. It was the first time he had driven a NSCS car and it resulted in a hard wreck when the car got loose and spun into the wall.
Kentucky by the Numbers: Montoya has two career NSCS starts at Kentucky Speedway with an average starting position of 16.5 and an average finishing position of 14.5. He has completed all possible laps at the Speedway and is ranked sixth in the number of passes a driver makes under green flag conditions with 165.
Kentucky Wildcats: Mark, Jacobs, Jack Man on the No. 42 Target team, is a former Defensive Tackle for the Kentucky Wildcats at the University of Kentucky. He played college football there from 1995 – 1998 and lettered all four seasons. In 2000, a few months after receiving his degrees in social work and education, he became a member of Bill Elliott’s pit crew and has been in racing ever since.
99 Wins and Counting …: The Target Racing program, which began with Target and Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990, is just one win shy of the 100-win plateau. The first win for the program came in 1994 with Michael Andretti’s Indy car victory at Surfers Paradise, Australia when the team was just a two-car open wheel program. The partnership between Target and Chip Ganassi Racing is one of the longest consecutive team partnerships in motor racing history.
Hit the Bullseye: Need something in a hurry? Be sure to stop by the nearest Target at 1100 Hansel Dron, Florence, KY, 41042 on your way to the track this weekend. Call ahead at (859) 371-7771
Get directions to ensure they have what you need.
ONE TEAM, SIX CARS, THREE SERIES
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 three cars 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 15 championships and over 150 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and five 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
