RCR Event Preview – Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway

Kansas 400
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes

Event:         Kansas 400
Location:    Kansas Speedway

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Kansas Speedway … In 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has one win, visiting victory lane in 2013 with Kevin Harvick, among five top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization holds an average starting position of 20.2, an average finishing position of 15.3, has completed 13,009 of the 13,199 laps contested (98.6 percent) and has collectively led for 275 laps around the 1.5-mile race track.

RCR in the NSCS … In 2,411 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 44 pole awards,105 wins, 450 top-five finishes and 956 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 …Through the season’s first 10 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 10 top-10 finishes with drivers Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank ninth (Newman), 14th (Dillon) and 17th (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.

RCR Talladega Rewind … In the Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend, teammates Menard, Dillon and Newman finished sixth, 15th and 19th 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 Kansas 400 will be televised live Saturday, May 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Austin Dillon
No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet

This Week’s Dow Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 457 in the Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS Dillon drove to an 11th-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in March.

Dillon at Kansas Speedway …. Dillon made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway in 2011, posting a 26th-place finish in an entry fielded by Mike Curb. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, earning a career-best, second-place finish in 2012 after starting second and earning a sixth-place finish in 2013 after starting on the pole. He has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile track earning his best finish of sixth in 2010, after starting fifth, and earning a 12th-place finish in 2011 after winning the pole award.

Welcome, Dow …Dillon’s rookie year in the Sprint Cup Series is also Dow’s first year as a primary sponsor with RCR and the No. 3 Chevrolet. Together, both teams embrace the power of safety, science and technology as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. Dow also drives innovation to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, bringing a broad range of sustainable products and solutions to customers in nearly 180 countries. www.dow.com.

On the Pole … Dillon is a two-time polesitter at Kansas Speedway, earning the top starting position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2011. This year’s qualifying session will mark the first time NASCAR will implement their new “knockout” qualifying format at Kansas Speedway.

Double Duty … In addition to competing in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series on Saturday, Dillon is scheduled to race in Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race, which is scheduled to air live on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, May 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET. In 2013 Dillon, the 2011 Camping World Truck Series Champion competed at Eldora Speedway and won the race.

Get to the Points … Dillon is 14th in the championship point standings entering this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway, 66 markers behind current leader Jeff Gordon.

#ALLin Challenge … Dillon is asking fans if 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.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on racing at Kansas Speedway?

“At the beginning of the year, we sat down as a team and talked about goals and expectations for the year. Kansas Speedway is one of the tracks I circled as a place I think this No. 3 team can win. I’ve always loved the track. Mile-and-a-halves have been my strong suit in the past. We were able to test at Kansas Speedway a few weeks ago and I learned a lot. Restarts will be important during the race.”

Paul Menard
No. 27 Schrock/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet

This Week’s Schrock/Menards Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 466 in the Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS is a new addition to the Richard Childress Racing stable in 2014 being utilized for the first time.

Menard at Kansas Speedway … In 10 previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, Menard has one top-five finish to his credit. He earned his best starting position of second in October 2010 and his best finish of third in October 2012. Through the last 10 races in Kansas, Menard has earned one top-five and four top-10 finishes. He’s also completed 2,613 of 2,618 laps contested (99.8 percent) and led 17 laps.

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Menard Career Info … Menard is making his 266th-career Sprint Cup Series start this Saturday. The native of Eau Claire, Wisc., has earned one victory, one pole award, 11 top-five, 39 top-10 finishes and led 282 laps.

Season to-date …Through the first 10 races of the 2014 season, Menard has completed 3,166 of 3,290 laps contested (96 percent), led 45 laps and is currently 17th in the driver point standings.

Race Rewind … Menard started second and finished sixth in last Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.

One Year Ago … Last April at Kansas Speedway, Menard started the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet in the 12th position and took the checkered flag in 10th place.

Meet Menard … Menard is scheduled to appear at the Team Chevy Stage in the Kansas Speedway Midway for a Q&A with fans on Friday, May 9 from 3 to 3:30 p.m. CT.

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on the inaugural night race at Kansas Speedway?

“I’m looking forward to racing in Kansas on Saturday. Kansas is a fun track to race on with the new pavement. I think it’s one of the fastest tracks we race on all year. It’ll be interesting to see what the winter has done to the surface and what it will be like at night. Our No. 27 team is ready for anything, so it will be a good weekend.”

Ryan Newman
No. 31 Kwikset Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet

This Week’s Kwikset Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 462 on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. Chassis No. 462 was utilized by Newman at Auto Club Speedway this year producing a qualifying effort of 16th and a finish of 20th in March. The No. 31 team also used it in the April 9 Goodyear Tire Test at Michigan International Speedway.

Newman at Kansas … Newman will make his 451st NASCAR Sprint Cup start when the series competes at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. In 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Kansas, Newman visited victory lane at this event in the fall of 2003. In total, he owns three top-five and four top-10 finishes. The South Bend, Ind., native holds an average starting position of 14th and average finish of 19th. He has led 122 laps in competition.

About Kwikset … Since 1946, millions of families have relied on Kwikset for home security and peace of mind. Kwikset, the #1 selling residential U.S. lock brand, is behind technologies like SmartKey®, the patented ANSI Grade 1 re-keyable cylinder that provides best-in-class security, and Kevo™, the nation’s first Bluetooth-enabled, iPhone-integrated smart lock. Kwikset manufactures and markets a complete line of door locks and door hardware, including door knobs, door levers, deadbolts, handle sets, pocket door hardware and electronic keyless entry locks for residential and light commercial applications.  Kwikset continues to invest in consumer insights to ensure they are offering the smartest security products on the market. For more information visit: www.kwikset.com.

Kwikset Brand Ambassador: Tom Jensen … Throughout the Kansas 400 race weekend, Tom Jensen of FOXSports.com will serve as a brand ambassador for Kwikset by joining the No. 31 crew for behind-the-scenes coverage. Jensen will share insights on his social media channels, as well as FOXSports.com.

Media Availability … Newman will be accessible to media at Kansas Speedway when he stops by the media center on Friday at 2:45 p.m. Central Time.

Point of Interest … Newman ranks ninth in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings, trailing the current leader by 48 points, entering the 11th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of 2014.

Race Rewind … Last season, at Kansas, Newman appeared to be en route to his fifth top-10 of the season before the handling went away on his Chevrolet in the closing laps. It resulted in a 14th-place finish.

#31in31 … Fans are encouraged to enter the Quicken Loans “31 Mortgages in May Sweepstakes” for a chance to win a one month mortgage payment. Quicken Loans is awarding one winner per day in May. Plus, three winners will be awarded a trip for two to the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway, where one lucky winner will receive a full year’s mortgage payment. For details, check out QLRacing.com.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on racing under the lights at Kansas especially with having a win there under your belt?

“Everyone enjoys racing under the lights. I certainly do and I think we can return to victory lane there this weekend with the No. 31 Kwikset Chevrolet. It’s a different deal now because the track has been repaved and it is so much faster. I think it is going to be an amazing race track with progressive banking once it ages out to the point where we can use the entire track. I really don’t know what to expect this weekend after a winter’s worth of weather beating up the race track a little bit. I expect our Kwikset Chevrolet to be competitive. When we look at the RCR history at the track, especially scoring the pole and victory back in the fall race, I feel like the entire organization has the potential to bring home a win on Saturday night and I think we have some added confidence when we pull through the gates this week.”

We’ve raced at 1.5-mile tracks already like Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. What are your thoughts about racing at Kansas?

“I think Kansas is a track all its own. With the new asphalt and the different aggregates they have at the different race tracks now, even if it’s a 1.5-mile track, there is a lot of difference between them and you have to really approach each track as its own unique entity.”