DOUBLE DUTY
CORNELIUS, N.C. — The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series plays a couple of home games over the next two weeks as the series occupies Charlotte Motor Speedway. This weekend’s non-points paying All-Star Race features a qualifying race, a fan vote and a unique format to decide who walks home with $1 million.
Clint Bowyer is hoping that he has to pull double duty this weekend in his No. 15 Charter Toyota. He will drive in the Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap race whose top two finishers go on to compete in the All-Star Race, which is comprised of last year’s race winners. (Although Bowyer was second or third in points for 12 of the first 26 races, he didn’t reach victory lane.)
Qualifying well for the Showdown will be important with just two 20-lap segments to decide the winner. The format also reverts to the former system where cars make single-lap runs instead of the newly instituted knock-out qualifying.
With $1 million on the line, fans can count on seeing just about anything during the weekend’s events. Bowyer just hopes those fans get to see him pulling double duty.
Do drivers look forward to the All-Star weekend?
“The All-Star weekend is always a great one. There’s a lot for the fans to do. A lot of the drivers have different schemes that look cool under the lights. There’s always a concert and oh yeah, there’s a million dollars on the line. It’s a recipe for a good time. I’m looking forward to it. Sprint puts on a good show and has a lot going on during the week. We’re working hard to make sure we race our way into Saturday’s show in our Charter Toyota.”
CHASSIS
Chassis No. 802 serves as the primary chassis for Bowyer during the Sprint All-Star Race. Bowyer drove this Toyota to a 23rd-place finish at Las Vegas and an eighth-place finish at Texas. Chassis No. 804 serves as the back-up chassis. The Emporia, Kan., native drove this chassis to a 15th-place finish at Bristol and a 12th-place finish at Darlington.
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
SPRINT SHOWDOWN/ALL-STAR STATS
· Competed in three Sprint Showdowns with a best finish of sixth in 2007.
· Competed in five All-Star races with a best finish of 12th in 2009.
· Started on the outside pole in the 2011 All-Star race.
· Led 11 laps in last year’s All-Star race.
Michael Waltrip Racing will hold a Fan Fest at its Cornelius, N.C. race shop on Wed. May 21, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fans may tour the shop, get autographs from MWR drivers and Miss Sprint Cup, enjoy sponsor displays, music by country music star Tim Dugger, free food and drinks.
Fans will be allowed access to the shop floor Wednesday for an up close view of the team’s Toyotas as it prepares for the racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Legendary gas man Danny “Chocolate” Myers and veteran broadcaster Jim Noble will bring their Sirius-XM Radio show “Tradin Paint” to the open house broadcasting from MWR.
MWR is at 20310 Chartwell Center Drive off exit 28 on I-77 in Cornelius, N.C. about 15 miles north of Charlotte, N.C. The race shop is open to the public throughout the year.
Jeff Burton 11 a.m. -Noon
Clint Bowyer Noon – 1 p.m.
Michael Waltrip 1-2 p.m.
*Brian Vickers is testing at Kentucky Speedway and will not be in attendance
