Event/Date: Subway Firecracker 250 – July 5, 2013
Venue: Daytona International Speedway
Notes:
- This Week’s ToyotaCare Toyota … Alex Bowman will debut RAB Racing Chassis No. 043 in the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
- I’ve Been Here … Bowman has competed at the Florida superspeedway once in his Nationwide Series career. In February, Bowman started the season off on a high note qualifying eighth and finishing third in the DRIVE4COPD 300.
- Daytona Flashback … The 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series began with a great run for RAB Racing’s No. 99 Florida Lottery Toyota Camry in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Following a late-race caution, crew chief Chris Rice made the call for fuel only, which put the No. 99 in front of the 13-car accident which occurred on Lap 117. Bowman set up for the green-white-checker finish in the eighth position. As the field made its way to the start-finish line on the final lap, a violent wreck erupted. In an effort to avoid the incident, Bowman darted into the frontstretch grass. Though his Toyota Camry suffered extensive damage, Bowman completed the race in the third position, both his and RAB Racing’s highest ever at the famed superspeedway.
- RAB Racing at Daytona … In nine NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, RAB Racing entries have earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes and have completed 951 of the 1005 (94.6 percent) laps contested in those events. Additionally, in four ARCA RE/MAX Series starts at Daytona, RAB Racing has earned one top-five finish.
- Chris Rice at Daytona… In 11 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Rice boasts a nearly perfect lap completion record, 1221 of 1228 laps (99.4 percent), including three laps led. Additionally, Rice has notched one top-five and four top-10 finishes.
- Get to the Points … As we head into the 16th race of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Bowman currently occupies the 11th position in the drivers’ point standings, only 37 points out of the top 10. Owner Robby Benton held steady at 15th position in the Nationwide Series owners’ point standings.
- Rookie Battle… Following Bowman’s 10th-place finish at Kentucky Speedway, he holds down the second position in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings, 51 points behind leader Kyle Larson.
- Catch the Action … The Subway Firecracker 250 from Daytona International Speedway will be televised live Friday, July 6th beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network.
- Get Social … Don’t miss any updates from Bowman and RAB Racing. Follow us on Twitter @AlexBRacing and @RAB_Racing.
Alex Bowman Quotes:
“I’m really excited to be going back to Daytona, the site of our third place finish earlier this year in February. As evident from that race and from Talladega, RAB Racing builds really fast superspeedway cars, cars that I can easily go out and contend for wins with. A lot of that has to do with my crew chief Chris Rice, the information we receive from TRD, and our Joe Gibbs Racing Engines. Although RAB Racing has showed that they build extremely safe racecars, this time we’re shooting for a car to come home in one piece. It’s something I will work hard for, but also try to get the best possible finish because I already know we have a car capable of winning the race.”
Chris Rice Quotes:
“This Daytona race will look a little different than the race we saw in February. For one the track will have a lot less grip in it because of the increased temperatures, really going to be slick out there when the tires have a lot of laps on them. Second, NASCAR has taken away some rear spoiler so car handling will be at a premium, it will be harder to tandem draft which should break up the pack a little bit, at least make it more difficult for the drivers and force them to drive the racetrack instead of rely on the draft. I know we will definitely be a lot more cautious this race, and may play some strategy to avoid the on track excitement that usually comes from superspeedway racing.”
