Aaron’s 499 and Aaron’s 312
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Event: Aaron’s 499
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2014
Location: Talladega Superspeedway
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series History at Talladega Superspeedway… Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and leads team owners for the most all-time victories at the storied Alabama track with 12 wins. Dale Earnhardt visited Victory Lane nine times, while Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer swept the 2010 events at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Bowyer added to the Welcome, N.C.-based organization’s total by claiming RCR’s 100th Sprint Cup Series in October 2011. In 146 starts, RCR also has four pole awards, 38 top-fives, 60 top-10 finishes and has led 1,811 laps of competition
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,408 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 44 pole awards, 105 wins, 450 top-five finishes and 955 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90,’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR …Throughout the season’s first nine races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have earned one pole award with Dillon at Daytona International Speedway in February. Collectively, the organization has notched one top-five and nine top-10 finishes with drivers Dillon, Ryan Newman and Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank ninth (Newman), 12th (Dillon) and 18th (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.
RCR Richmond Rewind … In the Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway last weekend, teammates Newman, Menard and Dillon finished eighth, 24th and 27th, respectively.
Save Kids’ Lives by Joining the Childress Champions … Help support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma by selecting your favorite driver when making a bronze level donation of $33 (Austin Dillon), $27 (Paul Menard) or $31 (Ryan Newman) to CIPT. To make a tax deductable donation, visit: . The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was established through the generosity of Richard and Judy Childress. For more information, please visit www.InjuredKids.org.
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 – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-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/austindillon3 , www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and www.facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action … The Aaron’s 499 will be televised live Sunday, May 4th beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon
No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 440 in the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS Dillon drove to a ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500 after earning the pole award for the Great American Race in February.
Dillon at Talladega Superspeedway …. Dillon subbed for Tony Stewart in the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway last year and was in position to win at the restrictor-plate track, but was involved in a multi-car crash in the closing laps of the event, posting a 26th-place finish. He also has two starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Welcome, Bass Pro Shops … Dillon and his team will sport the colors of the nation’s No. 1 outdoor retailer, Bass Pro Shops, on the No. 3 Chevrolet this weekend. A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops’ association with Dillon dates back to 2010 when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon’s first foray into full-time NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series. The Bass Pro Shops/Dillon duo earned the Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2011 and Bass Pro Shops was also partners with Dillon and RCR in the Nationwide Series, where Dillon earned the 2012 title. Bass Pro Shops, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 85 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 116 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world.
Get to the Points … Dillon is 12th in the championship point standings entering this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, 89 markers behind current leader Jeff Gordon.
#ALLin Challenge … Dillon is asking fans whether they are #ALLin for a new and exciting challenge every Wednesday on his Twitter account, @austindillon3. From capturing an “awkward hug” via video to submitting your best “poker face” photo to helping crew chief Gil Martin’s son Ford find a date for his upcoming prom, each challenge is unique and the winner, as voted on by Austin, wins race tickets or unique memorabilia. Follow @austindillon3 on Twitter every Wednesday for the #ALLin Challenge.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs with his brother Ty Dillon at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Alabama (5000 Bass Pro Blvd., Leeds, Ala.) on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT. He is also scheduled to participate in a parade down Talladega Superspeedway’s popular Talladega Blvd. on Friday, May 2 at 6:45 p.m. with fellow NASCAR drivers.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
The last time you were at Talladega Superspeedway you were on your lid, but drove the car into the garage anyway. Talk about that experience.
“That was a wild ride. Talladega Superspeedway is one of the places we circled to try and go win. Talladega is open for everybody to have a really good car like I did last year in the No. 14 car, so hopefully I can back that up in the No. 3 car and be there on the white flag-lap. It’s all about being there for the white-flag so you can try and win the race.”
When you are in the race are you thinking ‘I have to be here, I have to be there’ or are you just trying to survive?
“I feel like you can’t be conservative. You have to stay up front. You have to know what the car needs to stay up front. I really like running up front in these speedway races because, I think, if you’re ahead of that big pack it makes it easier to avoid the big wreck.”
Paul Menard
No. 27 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Richmond/Menards Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 445 in the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS was utilized in this year’s Daytona 500 when the primary car was wrecked in practice. After starting in the back, Menard led 29 laps before getting caught up in a wreck and finishing 32nd.
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Menard Career Info … Paul Menard is making his 265th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this Sunday. During that span, the native of Eau Claire, Wisc. has one victory, one pole award, 11 top-five, 38 top-10 finishes and led 272 circuits.
To Date in 2014…Through the first nine races of the 2014 season, Menard has completed 2,978 of 3,702 laps contested (96 percent), led 35 circuits and is currently 18th in driver points standings.
Most Previous Race … Menard started ninth and finished 24th last Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway
Look back at ‘Dega… In 15 previous starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Menard has two top-five finishes to his credit. His best start of fifth took place twice at the Alabama track, fall 2008 and spring 2011. His best finish of second took place in spring 2008. Through the last seven races at Talladega, Menard has earned one top-five and four top-15 finishes. Through the 15 starts, he’s completed 2,429 of 2,552 laps contested (85.2 percent) and led 29 laps.
This race last year… Menard started the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet in 16th place position and took the checkered flag in 26th place.
Come say “Hi Paul”… Paul Menard will be at the Team Chevy Stage on the Talladega Midway for a Q&A with fans on Saturday, May 3 from 11 to 11:15 a.m. CT
PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
What are you thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
“I like the plate races and we’ve had some measurable success at Talladega and Daytona. We’re taking the same car we ran up front with in the Daytona 500, so we know how it handles from an aerodynamic standpoint. The toughest about restrictor-plate racing is you can have a great car, set up and engine package. But, your finish can be determined by something that is totally not of your doing. I look forward to the fast racing and we’ll give it our all to do well.”
How do you think the new qualifying format will work at Talladega?
“It’s going to be interesting to see how this goes at a plate track. I don’t think you’ll see large packs of cars during qualifying, but you will see some with four, five and six cars trying to draft for a good qualifying position.”
Ryan Newman
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Talladega Superspeedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 436 on Sunday at Talladega. Chassis No. 436 was raced in the Sprint Unlimited exhibition race on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway where the No. 31 team finished eighth.
Newman at Talladega … Newman will make his 450th NASCAR Sprint Cup start when the series embarks on its second restrictor-plate race of the season at Talladega Superspeedway. In total, he owns four top-five and nine top-10 finishes. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 14th and average finish of 22nd. His best start of second came in the fall of 2012, while his best finish of third took place in the spring of 2009.
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Point of Interest … Newman ranks ninth in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings, trailing the current leader by 69 points, entering the 10th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of 2014.
Race Rewind … Last season, Newman was in contention for the race win before getting collected in a late-race, multi-car crash ending the driver’s day and resulting in a 32nd-place finish.
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RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
“Talladega is one of those tracks that is a necessary evil on our race schedule especially considering my history at the track. But, it’s like any other track where it provides you with a legitimate chance and opportunity to win. I just have to figure out a so-called antitoxin to stop getting snake bit there because it happens to me more often than any one there.”
What are your impressions of the new qualifying format at the Superspeedway?
“I have mixed feelings about it. In a way, it doesn’t feel like qualifying. Instead, it’s a race in itself for a starting position and it’s impacted by the quantity of cars you have within your organization. To me, it’s more of a show for television and the fans in the stands who come out and watch. If that’s good for the sport, then it’s good for all of us.”
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Race: Aaron’s 312
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Location: Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.
Richard Childress Racing at Talladega Superspeedway … Richard Childress Racing has 29 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Their average start at the superspeedway is 8.9 with an average finish of 19.3. The organization has led 115 laps, qualified on the pole three times and accumulated five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
Richmond Rewind … In the Richmond 250 at Richmond International Raceway, Brian Scott, Ty Dillon, Cale Conley and Brendan Gaughan posted fifth, 14th, 15th and 20th-place finishes, respectively.
Get to the Points … Heading into Talladega, all three full-time RCR Nationwide Series drivers remain inside the top-10 of the driver point standings. Ty Dillon leads the RCR drivers ranking fourth, Brian Scott, sixth, and Brendan Gaughan, seventh.
Social Media … To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series team Twitter pages – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s Nationwide Series driver twitter pages – @bscottracing, @tydillon and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Talladega Coverage… Coverage of this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. It will also be broadcasted live on MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro team will race chassis No. 137. This is the same chassis Scott raced during the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Scott at Talladega … The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to Saturday afternoon racing action this weekend at Talladega. Scott will be making his fifth Nationwide Series start at the 2.66-mile track where he has three laps led and one top-10 finish.
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Double Duty at Talladega … Scott will once again pull double duty this weekend at Talladega. In addition to competing in the Nationwide Series race this weekend, Scott is scheduled to drive the No. 33 Shore Lodge Chevrolet SS in the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, May 4. The Aaron’s 499 is live on FOX at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
What are your points? … Brian Scott and his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro team enter Talladega Superspeedway sixth in the Nationwide Series championship driver point standings.
Rearview Mirror … In his 150th Nationwide Series start, Brian Scott and his No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro started from the pole position at Richmond International Raceway, his second-career pole at the 0.75-mile short track. Scott led the opening 43 laps of competition, taking home a fifth-place finish.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
Knock out qualifying can be kind of crazy at superspeedways. How do you prepare?
“At Daytona, the superspeedway knockout qualifying was the most intense this season. You had people dragging off, you had cars all over and you had groups of 20 cars together. My biggest fear is to see a knockout qualifying procedure that has a ‘big one’ happen where 20 cars are collected in qualifying at a superspeedway. That is the wrong thing for the Nationwide Series, which is a series built on developing and saving money from the big leagues. It is the teams’ discretion and their choice if they want to go out there, but there is still a lot of risk. You have to try to produce and have the best speed that you can. My thought and hope is that NASCAR does something so we don’t have a ‘big one’ in qualifying in a series that is kind of built around saving money and being competitive.”
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 128 in Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro saw action earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway where it finished seventh. Last season, chassis No. 128 saw action in Talladega with Austin Dillon behind the wheel where he finished 10th.
Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Talladega Superspeedway… Last May, Dillon made his Nationwide Series debut at Talladega behind the wheel of the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro where he finished 24th. He also has two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and recorded a victory in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in 2011.
Bass Pro Shops continues partnership with RCR … Bass Pro Shops, America’s premier outdoor retailer, will be a primary sponsor for the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro in 2014, continuing its long standing relationship with Richard Childress Racing. BPS was last featured on the No. 3 car at Daytona International Speedway, where it finished seventh.
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Race rewind … In RCR’s 1000th career Nationwide Series start, Dillon finished 14th at Richmond International Raceway after running inside the top-five for part of the night.
Points update … The 22-year-old rookie is currently ranked fourth in the driver point standings, trailing the leader by 35 points. Dillon is second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon and older brother Austin are scheduled to make an appearance at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala. at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 1. Additionally, Dillon is scheduled to take part in an autograph session with fellow Nationwide Series drivers, Friday, May 2at 1:45 p.m. located in the midway.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
What are your thoughts about returning to a superspeedway?
“Anxious and excited. Ever since leaving Daytona, I’ve been looking forward to getting back to superspeedway racing, especially Talladega. I’ve always enjoyed going to this track, especially after getting a win there in an ARCA car a few years ago. Our team is looking forward to getting there, having Bass Pro Shops back on the car and bettering last week’s finish.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 138 in the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway. Chassis No. 138 has only one previous start. It was driven at Daytona International Speedway by Gaughan in February where the No. 62 Richard Childress Racing team qualified 27th and finished sixth.
Gaughan’s Stats at Talladega Superspeedway …Gaughan will make his third NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Talladega this Saturday. The Las Vegas native also has five starts at the 2.66-mile tri-oval in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He completed 100 percent (470/470) of the laps contested in the Truck Series and has one top-10.
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In the Rearview Mirror: Richmond International Raceway… Last week in Richard Childress Racing’s 1000th Nationwide Series start, Gaughan qualified 22nd and finished 20th at Richmond International Raceway after a rain delay that lasted over three hours.
To the Points … Heading into the Talladega race weekend, Gaughan and the No. 62 team remain seventh in the driver point standings.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
How do you feel about heading to Talladega after a solid finish at the last restrictor place race in Daytona?
“We finally got through Daytona with a good finish and that was a solid start for the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet in the point standings. As everyone knows anything can happen at Talladega, but I have always had pretty good runs at that track. In comparison to Daytona, I have always had better finishes at Talladega. RCR and ECR aero programs are second-to-none when we come to big tracks like this.
With the new rule that you cannot connect when drafting, what are your thoughts?
“I like it because it is more of the style of racing that I grew up with because you could bump and hit, but you can’t stay locked on. The team and I had a strong finish in Daytona with the new rule and I think it is because I am more familiar with that racing style.”
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