CLINT BOWYER
No. 15 AAA INSURANCE TOYOTA
Richmond International Raceway Preview
VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS
CORNELIUS, N.C. — In 1969 the Virginia State Travel Service rolled out an ad campaign called “Virginia is for Lovers.” The simple slogan was created as a way to attract travelers to the state. But more than 40 years later its simple message still resonates today.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to the state’s capital this weekend for some racing under the lights at Richmond International Raceway. Clint Bowyer is one driver who loves the .75-mile D-shaped oval as evidenced by his two wins in May 2008 and September 2012. He also earned three top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 16 starts. Most impressively, the Michael Waltrip Racing driver does not have a DNF (did not finish) and has completed 6,413 of 6,416 laps.
Sporting the colors for AAA Insurance, Bowyer knows his No. 15 Toyota will rate as a contender Saturday night. He also hopes that after 400 laps, he and the rest of the No. 15 team continue their love affair with the Virginia short track.
What does it take to get around Richmond?
“The same principles apply everywhere, but Richmond is unique in the fact that (turns) one and two are drastically different from three and four. There’s no really perfect setup. You can’t just focus on that first corner or just the handling in one and two because about the time you get your car turning really good down there then it’s too loose down in three and four. Forward bite is always an issue. Then loose in — you can continue to work on your car and get it turning in the center down there in one and two where it’s a tight radius. Never fight loose in all practice and you know darned well from your past experience every time the race starts for whatever reason you’ll fight loose in. There’s a handful of tracks in the sport that are that way. You have to have that in the back of your mind when you’re thinking about where your car needs to be for the race that, ‘Hey, I have to remember this thing is going to be loose in.’ Don’t even be even close to being neutral to free in the corner in practice because when you come back you’re going to have your hands full.”
CHASSIS
Chassis No. 798 serves as the primary chassis for Bowyer at Richmond International Raceway. Bowyer drove this Toyota to a 13th-place finish at Phoenix and a 16th-place finish at Fontana. Chassis No. 795 serves as the back-up chassis. This chassis has never seen action on a race weekend but did test at the Michigan tire test a few weeks ago.
NO. 15 CREW ROSTER
Brian Pattie
Crew Chief
Brandon Hopkins
Front Tire Changer
Richard Coleman
Front Tire Carrier
Lee Cunningham
Rear Tire Changer
PJ Briody
Rear Tire Carrier
Brian Chase
Jack Man
Evan Marchal
Gas Man
Billy Curwood
Car Chief
Chris Sherwood
Interior Mechanic
Brett Griffin
Spotter
Dax Gerringer
Race Engineer
Tim O’Brien
2nd Engineer
Adam Cooke
Shock Specialist
J.D. Frey
Front Mechanic
Travis Stock
Rear Mechanic
Andrew Beason
Tire Specialist
Gregg Huls
Engine Tuner
Chris Valverde
Engine Engineer
Ray Erwin
Truck Driver
Jeff Shano
2nd Truck Driver
RICHMOND STATS
· Two wins (May 2008 and September 2012)
· 3 top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 16 starts
· Completed 6,413 of 6,416 laps (100.0%) and led 348 laps
· Average start 12.9 and average finish 10.1
· Finished in the top five in two out of the last four races at Richmond
· Captured a win at Richmond in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in May 2007
#15WITH15
Look for the No. 15 Pit Crew in the Parking Lots at Richmond International Raceway Saturday afternoon. They will be searching for 4 of the biggest Clint Bowyer fans. Those 4 winners and a guest will be invited to an exclusive garage tour & a meet-and-greet opportunity with Bowyer at the No. 15 transporter. Use #15With15 to let the crew know your location and the opportunity to be selected.
AAA Insurance serves as the primary sponsor for Bowyer this weekend at Richmond International Raceway as well as Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26. AAA serves as an associate sponsor on MWR’s Toyotas including Brian Vickers’ No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota throughout the season. AAA has been serving its members and the community on the road and around the world for more than 100 years. AAA helps more than 50 million people across the U.S. and Canada any time with their Automotive, Travel, and Insurance needs.
