Pure Michigan 400 and
Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Event: Pure Michigan 400
Date: Sunday, August 17, 2014
Location: Michigan International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing at Michigan International Speedway … In 144 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, RCR teams have earned three wins, two with Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990) and the most recent with Kevin Harvick (August 2010). Additionally, RCR has claimed 21 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes with 10 different drivers including Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, who recorded top-10 finishes at MIS in June 1978 and August 1979. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization has an 18.3 average starting position, an average finishing position of 16.4, has completed 27,118 of the 28,532 contested laps (95 percent) and has led 687 laps in the Irish Hills.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,458 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 455 top-five finishes and 966 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 22 races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have earned one pole award with Austin Dillon at Daytona International Speedway in February. Collectively, the organization has notched six top-five and 20 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 Watkins Glen International Rewind … RCR teammates Dillon, Menard and Newman finished 16th, 32nd and 41st, respectively, in the NASCAR 355 at the Glen.
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:https://www.wakehealth.edu/
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/
Catch the Action … The Pure Michigan 400 will be televised live Sunday, August 17 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 481 in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced to a 10th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
Dillon at Michigan International Speedway …. Dillon has made four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway. In the June 2014 event he finished 30th, despite running in the top 10 for the majority of the race, after making a series of unscheduled pit stops in the closing laps for a flat tire. In August 2013, he subbed for Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Chevrolet finishing 14th and raced an American Ethanol-sponsored No. 33 Chevrolet in June, finishing 11th. In June 2012, Dillon finished 24th after starting 22nd in a No. 33 Chevrolet.
Etc. … In addition to Sprint Cup Series competition, the reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion has made three Nationwide Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, earning back-to-back pole awards in 2012 and 2013, leading 72 laps and acquiring his best finish of fifth in 2012. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon has earned one pole award, led 34 laps and earned his best finish of fifth in 2010.
Think Green … RCR’s No. 3 Chevrolet team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Pocono Raceway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR® drivers have run more than 6 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks 14th in the championship point standings leading into the Pure Michigan 400.
Season-to-Date … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon leads the Sprint Cup Series in Laps Completed (5,910) and Green Flag Passes (2,520).
Double Duty … In addition to Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race, watch Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, compete in the Careers for Veterans 200 Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, August 16 at 12:30 p.m. ET live on FOX Sports 1 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What do you think about Michigan International Speedway?
“It’s go time. The dynamics of the Chase have changed a little bit, now that we’ve added another new winner to the mix and we are closing in on the Chase cutoff point. Making the Chase is a goal we’ve set for ourselves as a team and even though I am a rookie, I feel like it’s a good pressure to be under. We thrive under the pressure. Michigan International Speedway is a fast track and I’ve had success there in the past. I’m looking to perform there. It’s Dow’s home track and we’ll have a large group from American Ethanol there, too. We had some bad luck in the June race, but I think we’ll be fine this time around. It’s one of my favorite tracks.”
Paul Menard
No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 480 in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS was utilized earlier this year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the Richard Childress Racing team started 29th and finished in the 34th position due to an on-track incident.
Michigan by the numbers … Menard has 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway. His best start of fourth came in 2013 and best finishes of fourth were in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The Wisconsin native has completed 3,164 of 3,210 laps attempted (98.6 percent) at the two-mile track.
About CertainTeed … CertainTeed Corporation is a leading North American manufacturer of building materials including roofing, vinyl and fiber cement siding, trim, fence, railing, decking, foundations, insulation, gypsum, ceilings, and pipe products. Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, CertainTeed has approximately 6,000 employees and 65 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. CertainTeed is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the top 100 industrial companies in the world. Saint-Gobain employs approximately 19,000 people in North America and approximately 109,000 people in 64 countries world-wide. Saint-Gobain’s North American companies operate 130 manufacturing facilities in industries as diverse as industrial ceramics and containers, reinforcements and flat glass, abrasives, and building materials. For more information, please visit www.certainteed.com.
Season-to-date … Through 22 Sprint Cup Series races of the 2014 season, Menard has completed 5,774 of 5,921 laps contested (97.5 percent), led 45 laps and is currently 18th in the driver point standings.
Looking Back … The RCR driver scored his second-career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory during the No. 33 Chevy team’s last visit to the two-mile track in June. Menard also started in the fifth position during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event earlier this year at MIS. The No. 27 Chevy team raced in the top 20 during and through a series of pit stops and strategic calls, finished in the fourth position.
PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
Michigan is a big, wide-open track with a repave that has kind of changed the animal there, right?
“We had a good run in June at Michigan. The track is widening out for sure. The first couple of races after the repave were treacherous and now the groove is widening so you can make your car do different things as the run goes on.”
Do you get much of a sensation of speed there or is it all sort of relative?
“Not as much as some of the other tracks, but it’s definitely the fastest track we go to. You don’t really get that sensation because the track is so wide and smooth. The cars handle really well around the track with all the aero, so there are some tracks where we get a bigger sensation. The biggest thing you realize is when you look up in to the stands and see how fast the catchfence goes by, then you understand just how fast you’re going.”
Ryan Newman
No. 31 WIX Filters Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s WIX Filters Chevrolet SS at Michigan International Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 479 in Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This chassis was utilized earlier this season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where Newman qualified fourth and finished 11th.
About WIX Filters … Since 1939, WIX® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks, off-road equipment and manufacturing applications. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com.
Point of Interest … In the last six races at the two-mile oval, the RCR driver ranks sixth in most points earned. He is ninth in the championship point standings entering this weekend’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan Speedway
MIS Rewind … Newman raced as high as second and as low as 19th throughout the Quicken Loans 400 on June 15. With 10 laps to go while running in the top five, the No. 31 pitted for a splash of fuel en route to a 15th-place finish.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced at Michigan in June. How much does the track change?
“To me, the second race is so much better because of the track in keeping some of the rubber laid down during the first race. It’s like we start the weekend at least halfway through what we experience the previous race weekend. This race is so much more fun to drive because the track is racier.”
This week is Michigan, how many teams will take a chance on fuel mileage?
“Teams have to be in a position to take chances on fuel mileage. You never know ahead of time if that will occur. It doesn’t occur at the start of the race or typically in the middle of the race. It usually happens near the end. If we have a caution that sets things up differently, then it may not even be an issue.”
With the Chase closing in, how aggressive are you willing to be to get that win?
“The risks I’m willing to entail are whatever it takes to win and not lose. You can’t afford to really lose anything, or at least not as much as some. To be honest, I’ve never raced that way, so the situation we are in isn’t changing the way I drive or the way I approach racing week in and week out.”
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Event: Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2014
Location: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Richard Childress Racing at Mid-Ohio … Richard Childress Racing returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the second year. Recording three starts at the 2.258-mile road course in 2013, Max Papis and Austin Dillon both led for a total of seven laps and Papis raced to a fourth-place finish. RCR averages an 11.7-place start and a 12.3-place finish at Mid-Ohio. The Welcome, N.C. organization will make their sixth overall start this weekend with Brian Scott, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan piloting the RCR-prepared Chevrolet Camaros in the 90-lap event.
RCR Partners with Nationwide Children’s Hospital … In honor of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the No. 2 and No. 62 Chevrolet’s of Brian Scott and Brendan Gaughan will feature paint schemes with the favorite colors and interests of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champions, Avery Neely and Allie Norman. Visit www.nationwidechildrens.org/
#NCH200 … Nationwide Children’s Hospital is once again honored to be the beneficiary of the NASCAR Nationwide Series event being held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 16, 2014. The patients and their families will get to spend the day with some of the biggest names in NASCAR, from the pre-race drivers meeting, touring the garages with the teams and sitting in the pit boxes; it is an action-packed day.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital …Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been caring for sick and injured children and adolescents for 120 years. There has been a vast amount of change since the hospital was founded in 1892. In its first year, 70 patients were treated by a six-member staff and seven other employees. Today, Nationwide Children’s is the primary pediatric health care provider for 37 counties, with more than 1,100 medical staff members and 9,200 employees who provide expert care to children regardless of ability to pay. Learn more by visiting www.nationwidechildrens.org.
Recap of The Glen … Ty Dillon, Paul Menard, Brian Scott and Brendan Gaughan posted eighth, ninth, 10th and 28th-place finishes, respectively, in the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.
Getting to the Points … Ty Dillon is currently tied for third in the Nationwide Series driver point standings, only 13 points from the leader and one point from second, Brian Scott is fifth, and Brendan Gaughan is tied for seventh as the Series heads to the third and final road course race of the season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
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.
Mid-Ohio Coverage… Coverage of this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International will be televised live on Saturday, August 16, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. It will also be broadcasted live on MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Avery Neely / Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Avery Neely / Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course … This weekend in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio, Brian Scott and the No. 2 Avery Neely / Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro team will race chassis No. 144. This Chevrolet Camaro was new to the Richard Childress Racing stable last weekend at Watkins Glen where Paul Menard started sixth and finished ninth.
Scott at Mid-Ohio … Last season, the Nationwide Series visited the 2.258-mile, 12-turn road course for the first time. Scott and his No. 2 RCR team qualified and finished in the 12th position, completing 100 percent of the laps.
Nationwide Series Leader … Brian Scott continues to lead the Nationwide Series regulars with a 7.0 average starting position, and the most laps spent inside the top-15 (3,409, 94.3 percent). Currently fifth in the driver point standings only 45 points out of the lead, the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet team has collected three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes this season. Additionally, Scott has earned two pole positions doing so at Richmond International Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway.
Meet No. 2 Nationwide Patient Champion, Avery Neely … Lewis, OH-native, Avery Neely discovered her Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at her 20-week ultrasound, allowing her family the blessing of having time to plan and prepare for the journey ahead. Avery had her first of three open heart surgeries, the Hybrid, when she was just three days old. At two months old, Avery was unexpectedly readmitted to the hospital to have a stent placed in her retrograde aortic arch. At four months, Avery had the second of her three surgeries, the Comprehensive Stage II Surgery. She recovered well and returned home after 11 days – just in time to enjoy Christmas and the New Year with her family. At eight months, Avery needed to have her Pulmonary Arteries ballooned in the cath lab due to their small size. At 10 months old, Avery needed a stent placed in her aortic arch. In January 2014, almost two years post her last cardiac procedure, Avery went back to the cath lab for her pre-Fontan Cath. Avery had her third surgery, the Fontan just six weeks ago on July 9. Avery’s family credits her with teaching them to love and persevere like they never knew possible. They love to show off her bright eyes, infectious smile and bubbly personality. Though Avery may only have half a heart, she has a personality that is larger than life to make up for it.
Circus, Circus … In honor of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champion, Avery Neely, the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro will adorn a unique pink and purple Shore Lodge paint scheme with circus animals to honor Avery’s dream of being a horse in the circus.
What are your points? … Brian Scott and his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet Camaro team enter Mid-Ohio fifth in the Nationwide Series driver point standings.
Meet Brian Scott … Scott is scheduled to participate in the Nationwide Series autograph session on Friday, August 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Rearview Mirror …Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro qualified for the Zippo 200 at The Glen in the seventh position at Watkins Glen International. This 82-lap race was a game of strategy from the initial-green flag. The Boise, Idaho, native picked up 12 positions in the final 20 laps crossing the finish line in the 10th position.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
Talk about pairing with Nationwide Children’s Hospital this weekend at Mid-Ohio?
“I’m really looking forward to getting to Mid-Ohio. We have paired with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and have a patient champion who designed our Shore Lodge Camaro for this weekend. We have a special paint scheme designed by a special girl named Avery Neely who will be along with us for the weekend. It’s going to bring something different to this team. We are really proud of the car she designed and excited to be able to help support the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and have Avery on board with us. Hopefully it gives us extra motivation to have a good weekend.”
How technically challenging is Mid-Ohio?
“Mid-Ohio is a very technical track. It’s narrow, it’s not as wide as some of the road courses we go to like Watkins Glen. It’s an older asphalt, its kind of slippery and really heat sensitive. Nobody really has a lot of experience there. We went there for the first time last year in the Nationwide Series. We had a good finish there, so I feel like it’s a place I understand and we are capable of having a good run. There isn’t enough history there in our series to know this is generally what happens ,or this is what you can expect. You don’t know if you’re going to have long runs or short runs because we’ve only been there once.”
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course … This weekend Ty Dillon will race chassis No. 133 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was raced last weekend at Watkins Glen International, where Dillon finished eighth. Chassis No. 133 was also raced earlier this season at Road America.
Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Mid-Ohio … The 22-year-old rookie driver will be making his Nationwide Series debut at the 12-turn, 2.258-mile road course. This weekend’s 200-mile race will be the third and final road course of the season. Dillon finished 19th and eighth in the two previous road course races.
Learning to turn right … Dillon has been sharpening his road course skills over the past several months. He participated in the Ron Fellows Driving School on May 5, tested at Virginia International Raceway on May 27, finished 19th at Road America in the Nationwide Series race, drove the No. 12 Chevrolet Camaro in the Trans-Am Series race at Road America to a fourth-place finish and finished eighth at Watkins Glen International.
America’s Oldest Brewery on board … D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., an American Owned and Family Operated brewery based in Pottsville, Pa., has partnered with Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 Nationwide Series team this season. Brewing beer for 185 years, Yuengling will be featured on the hood for the fifth time this season.
Seasonal Beer … In addition to Yuengling’s 99 calorie, masterfully developed Light Lager, be sure to add their seasonal beer to your grocery list. Yuengling, the 185-year-old establishment, is brewing its seasonal Oktoberfest, scheduled to hit stores this month. Copper in color, this medium bodied beer is the perfect blend of roasted malts with just the right amount of hops, capturing a true representation of the style.
Watkins Glen race rewind … Dillon qualified his No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro eighth and was able to race inside the top-10 for most of the 82-lap event. Dillon and crew chief Danny Stockman played the correct pit strategy as Dillon crossed the finish line eighth, recording the team’s 15th top-10 finish of the season.
Points update … Dillon is currently ranked fourth in the driver point standings trailing the leader by only 13 points and trails second-place by only one point. Also competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Dillon is currently in second-place.
Meet Ty Dillon… Dillon is scheduled to “celebrity bartend” at Boondock’s Restaurant, 2987 State Rt. 61, Cardington, Ohio on Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m. On Friday, Dillon will visit Buck’s Bar & Grill in Lexington, Ohio to celebrity bartend beginning at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to come out and enjoy a cold Yuengling.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
How has road course racing been thus-far?
“I think we’ve had some challenges but overall it’s gone exceptionally well. I thought our Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet was very good this past weekend at The Glen and our pit strategy has been great. I’m still learning, for sure. The more seat time the better, but I’m very confident going into this weekend at Mid-Ohio.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 Allie Norman / South Point Hotel Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Allie Norman/South Point Chevrolet at Mid-Ohio … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 143 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio. This Richard Childress-prepared chassis has been used at both road courses this season with the No. 62 RCR team. Most recently at Watkins Glen last weekend, Gaughan finished 28th. Chassis No. 143 was also used in June at Road America, where Gaughan ended his 10-year winless streak and returned to victory lane.
Meet Nationwide No. 62 RCR Champion Patient Allie Norman … Dresden, OH-native, Allie Norman was nine years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia on April 4, 2013. While the news was devastating to her family, Allie never let it get the best of her. Allie is famous for her love of monkeys and has educated everyone who works on the cancer floor with everything there is to know about monkeys. Although Allie has been very isolated this past year having to give up many things that a child should never have to, never once has she complained or asked why. Allie’s strength is an inspiration and she truly is a champion in every sense of the word.
Monkeying Around … The No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro will don a unique paint scheme in this weekend’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 designed by Nationwide Patient Champion, Allie Norman. The RCR Camaro will feature Norman’s favorite color pink and showcase her love of monkeys.
In the Rearview Mirror: Watkins Glen … The No. 62 South Point team qualified ninth for the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. Gaughan battled a tight-handling race car for the majority of the race. After leading five laps, Gaughan’s last scheduled pit stop put him deep in the field causing him to pick up grass on the grille from a competitor driving off course. After water temperatures began to rise, the team was forced to visit pit road to cool down. Gaughan crossed the finish line in 28th-place
To the Points … Gaughan is currently tied for seventh in the driver point standings as the Nationwide Series heads the final road course race of the season at Mid-Ohio.
Meet Brendan Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to participate in the Nationwide Series autograph session on Friday, August 15beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course?
“We are very excited to be partnering with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital at Mid-Ohio. The No. 62 RCR team has been lucky enough to be paired with Nationwide Patient Champion, Allie Norman. She has designed the coolest paint scheme for the team. We found out she loves monkeys and the color pink, so that is what the South Point Chevrolet is going to have. It is going to be a great weekend, hope we can put on a good show for her and the other Nationwide Patient Champions at the race. We know how much I love my road racing, so maybe we can take Allie and the car she inspired to victory lane.”
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