Federated Auto Parts 400 and
Virginia 529 College Savings 250
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Event: Federated Auto Parts 400
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,468 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 456 top-five finishes and 969 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 25 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 seven top-five and 23 top-10 finishes with drivers Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank ninth (Newman), 14th (Menard) and 15th (Dillon) in the driver championship point standings.
RCR Atlana Rewind … RCR teammates Menard, Newman and Dillon finished seventh, 18th and 24th, respectively, in the Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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 Federated Auto Parts 400 will be televised live Saturday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon
No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 477 in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced to a 14th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
Dillon at Richmond International Raceway …. In one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Richmond International Raceway in April, Dillon earned a 27th-place finish. In five NASCAR Nationwide Series appearances at Richmond International Raceway, Dillon has earned two top-10 finishes and led 14 laps at the .75-mile track.
Think Green … The No. 3 Chevrolet team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Richmond International 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 15th in the championship point standings leading into the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. With this weekend determining the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders, Dillon can earn a berth in NASCAR’s playoff system by winning the Richmond race thanks to the “win and you’re in” mentality of the system.
Season-to-Date …According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon leads the Sprint Cup Series in most Laps Completed (6,936).
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Richmond International Raceway is a short track but it seems like it has more of an intermediate-track type of feel. Can you describe the racing there. Does it feel like a short track to you?
“It’s probably one of the biggest short tracks we go to because the restarts are so intense and you can really screw a guy getting into the corner there if you duck under him and put him into a bad spot. It’s a place where you have to be aggressive and then have a car that holds on late because that guy that you were aggressive to at the beginning, will come back and get you later in the run. A fast car makes everything easier for sure, and if you’ve got that you don’t have to worry much about Richmond. It’s a place that brings the competition really tight together.”
Paul Menard
No. 27 SYLVANIA/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s SYLVANIA / Menards Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway … Paul Menard will utilize chassis No. 485 during the 300-mile event at Richmond International Raceway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS is a brand new Richard Childress Racing chassis and will make its first on-track laps during Friday’s first practice session at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.
Richmond by the numbers … The Eau Claire, Wisc. driver has 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the .75-mile track. His best start of seventh came in September 2010 and best finish of fifth came in September 2013. Menard has one top-five finish and one top-10 finish at RIR. He’s completed 5,895 of 6,016 laps (98%) and led four laps.
About SYLVANIA: Innovation at its Brightest … OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and services, specializing in innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.
Season-to-date … Through 25 Sprint Cup Series races of the 2014 season, Menard has completed 6,809 of 6,956 laps contested (97.9 percent), led 45 laps and is currently 14th in the driver point standings. In addition, the RCR driver has four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes this season.
Last time in Richmond … The Slugger Labbe-led team started April’s 400-lap event in the ninth position. Menard would race in the top 15 for the majority of the race before a late-race issue sent him down pit road. The No. 27 Chevrolet team would battle back from a lap down to finish on the lead lap and record a 24th-place finish.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
It’s going to be a lot more intense at Richmond International Raceway with guys trying to make the Chase.
“Yeah, it’s the last opportunity to make it in to the Chase. It’s going to be crazy like it always is with short-track racing under the lights with a lot at stake. It’s going to be exciting.”
Tell me about driving this track. Everybody says it’s unique but it’s also comparable to Phoenix International Raceway or Iowa Speedway.
“It’s unique for sure. I’ve only raced Iowa once or twice and it’s really sort of boring compared to Richmond, which is multi-grooved and the tires fall off which is really good. You can bolt on tires at the end and pass cars. It really opens up strategy a little bit. You have to get the front end working, but it seems more and more lately with the way the cars are it’s “drive off” you need. The trick is you have to get your car to turn also.”
Is RIR much different at night than it is during the day?
“Yeah, we practice during the day with really long sessions then we race at night, so it’s a lot of predicting what your car is going to do at night. It changes a little bit; it generally gains more grip but doesn’t really get tighter or looser. You gain some grip which then goes away because you’re doing longer runs. There’s not a whole lot we change from day to night.”
Ryan Newman
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Richmond International Raceway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 456 in Saturday night’s 400-lap event. This No. 31 Chevrolet SS was utilized in three Sprint Cup Series events so far in 2014; California Speedway (Start: 16th, Finish: 20th), Kansas Speedway (Start: 7th, Finish: 11th) and the second Pocono Raceway event (Start: 21st, Finish: 8th).
Career Stats at Richmond … In 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at RIR, Newman visited victory lane at the fall event in 2003. The “Rocket Man” also owns one pole award from the fall of 2004. In total, he owns six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 12th and average finish of 11th.
Featured Caterpillar Dealer … Based in Salem, Va., Carter Machinery will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richmond International Raceway’s weekend event. Established in 1952, Carter Machinery has a clear vision: enable every customer to achieve their highest level of success. They demonstrate this commitment every day through the support of people and equipment working in diverse industries ranging from construction and mining to trucking and power generation. Their network of 19 locations across Virginia and southern West Virginia is staffed by over 1,100 unrelenting, top-notch professionals. As a result, they’ve grown to be one of the leading Caterpillar dealers in the U.S. More information is available at www.cartermachinery.com.
About Caterpillar … For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
Point of Interest …When calculating points earned through the last four races at the .75-mile track, Newman ranks fifth in most points earned. He is ninth in the championship point standings entering this Saturday night’s race.
Race Rewind … Newman drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS to a top-10 finish after a late-race restart saw the outside line stall, costing Newman two spots on the track resulting in a hard-fought, eighth-place finish.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on returning to Richmond?
“Richmond is great short-track racing. It always is, it always has been. I think it is the right size track with the right amount of banking and the right shape. I think those three elements create great racing.”
You are one of the bubble drivers. What do you expect to see when it comes to racing and how will you race other drivers in your same situation?
“When you look at the racing last year, there is no doubt that people contending for a Chase spot were racing in a way to help their cause. I think everyone has learned a lot from what happened and the consequences of it all. I think you may see a very different Richmond this time around.”
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Event: Virginia 529 College Savings 250
Date: Friday, September 5, 2014
Location: Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va.
Richard Childress Racing at Richmond … The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to Richmond International Raceway for the final time in the 2014 season for the Virginia 529 College Savings 250. Richard Childress Racing currently has 62 starts at the D-shaped oval. The Welcome, N.C. organization has posted five victories, in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2012 with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel and 2007 with Clint Bowyer. RCR has also accumulated 20 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes at the .75-mile raceway. The Richard Childress-owned company has completed 14,912 of 15,526 laps (96 percent) and led a total of 1,692 laps. RCR averages a starting position of 10.9 and a finish of 12.8.
Recap of Atlanta … Brian Scott, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan recorded seventh, ninth and 14th-place finishes respectively, in the Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
To the Points … Heading into the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at RIR, Ty Dillon sits third in the Nationwide Series championship standings, 35 points from the lead. Brian Scott is currently fifth, only six points from fourth and Brendan Gaughan remains eighth.
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, @RCR33NNS and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s Nationwide Series driver Twitter pages – @bscottracing, @tydillon, @CaleConley and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Richmond Coverage … Coverage of this weekend’s race at Richmond International Raceway will be televised live on Friday, September 5, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. It will also be broadcasted live on MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Richmond Statistics … Friday night’s 250-lap event will mark Scott’s 11th Nationwide Series start at the .75-mile track. Scott has completed 2,336 of 2,503 laps (93.3 percent) with two top-five and two top-10 finishes, an average start of 11.0 and an average finish of 21.4. Scott has earned the pole position in his past two visits at the Richmond, Va. racetrack.
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 (3,993 for 95 percent). Currently fifth in the driver point standings only 54 points out of the lead, the No. 2 Chevrolet team has collected four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes this season. Additionally, Scott has earned two pole positions, doing so at Richmond International Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway.
Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff … This weekend at RIR, the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro team welcomes back primary sponsor Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, America’s original and best-selling, tobacco-free smokeless snuff. The third of a five primary-race partnership for the world’s largest tobacco-free smokeless company, SMS pairs with retail partner Sheetz for the Friday night showdown.
What are your points? … Scott and his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet Camaro team enter Richmond International Raceway fifth in the Nationwide Series driver point standings.
Rearview Mirror … Brian Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet team had another top-10 run in Saturday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After qualifying ninth, Scott and the Phil Gould-led team remained in the top-10 and crossed under the checkered flags in seventh place.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
What is it like to race at Richmond under the lights?
“I’m excited for Richmond, it’s been a good track for us. I feel like the last two races we’ve led over 300 laps, we’ve contended for the win in both of them and finished in the top five. Obviously, that’s a place where we can go to victory lane. I feel confident with our setup, the setup we bring there and my confidence at the track. I’m excited to get there and try to finish it off.”
Do you keep a mental scorecard on tracks and where you might be due?
“Yeah, as a driver for whatever reason, you go to every single race track and you try and expect to have a fast car and want to win. No matter what, you always have places where you know have been better to you and fit your driving style better and Richmond is one of those for me. ”
Does Richmond race a lot different in the night then in the day?
“Yeah, Richmond is a cool place. It’s similar to Atlanta where the tires fall off a lot and you really have to manage your tires. You race the race track, as weird as that sounds. It’s you versus the race track, instead of you versus your competitors. The night race means speeds pick up a little bit, but you still have tire fall off and wear and you have to manage your tires.”
No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact SheetThis Week’s Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond International Raceway… Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 134 this Friday night in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro most recently saw track action at Iowa Speedway in August where Dillon raced to a fifth-place finish. The Yuengling Light Lager driver also drove chassis No. 134 last September at RIR to a 16th-place finish.
Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at RIR… Dillon is scheduled to make his fourth career Nationwide Series start at the .75-mile short track. In three previous starts, Dillon has one top-10 finish. Earlier this season, Dillon raced to a 14th-place finish in the No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro at RIR.
Second time back … After qualifying 11th, the No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro hovered inside the top-10. In the end, the 22-year-old rookie driver battled handling issues which forced him to finish 14th.
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 seventh 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, which recently hit store. 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.
Atlanta Motor Speedway race rewind… Dillon drove the No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro to a ninth-place finish last Saturday night in the Great Clips 300, recording the team’s 17th top-10 finish of the season. Also making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the Oral-B USA 500, Dillon finished 25th in the No. 33 Realtree/Rheem Chevrolet SS for Circle Sport Racing.
Points update … Dillon remains third in the driver point standings trailing the leader by 35 points with nine races remaining. Also competing for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award, Dillon remains in second place.
Meet Ty Dillon … Fans will have the opportunity to meet Ty Dillon at the Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, Va. on Thursday, August 4 beginning at 6 p.m. Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs before visiting the Islamorada Fish Company, the 10,000 square-foot restaurant and bar attached inside the Bass Pro Shops store. Dillon will also visit Buffalo Wild Wings at 7230 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, Va. beginning at 8:30 p.m. to serve patrons cold Yuengling Light Lager
TY DILLON QUOTE:
What is your approach to some of these tracks that the Nationwide Series returns to for a second time?
“Well, we definitely strive to build on our performance from the last time we visited. I think we are able to unload faster and get the car balanced a little bit quicker because we have a notebook and baseline of information to look back. We were able to finish better at Iowa Speedway the second time back, so I hope we can do the same at Richmond.”
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s IAVA Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond International Raceway … Cale Conley will pilot chassis No. 120 at Richmond International Raceway in Friday evening’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet holds one victory by Kevin Harvick at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2013 along with and three top-five finishes.
Heading Back to The State for Lovers … Friday evening Conley will make his second Nationwide Series start at the 0.75-mile track. The 22-year-old IAVA driver made his first career start at Richmond earlier this season; he qualified 17th and brought home a 15th place finish. Conley ranked among the top-15 in average running position, closers, fastest drivers late in a run, fastest laps run and green flag passes.
About IAVA … Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will adorn the hood of Conley’s No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro Friday evening under the lights. IAVA is the first and largest organization for new veterans and their families, with nearly 300,000 members and supporters nationwide. IAVA is dedicated to standing with the 2.8 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan from their first day home through the rest of their lives. The organization supports new veterans in health, education, employment and building a lasting community for vets and their families.
Conley Joins Linkin Park and Lady Gaga … Conley joins Linkin Park and Lady Gaga for IAVA’s “Convoy to Combat Suicide.” The campaign is a historic, yearlong effort the organization launched to address and lower veteran suicide rate of 22 per day and to improve access to quality mental health care. It brings together artists from a wide variety of musical audiences to stand with our nation’s veterans. To learn more about IAVA’s campaign, visit: http://iava.org/convoy
Last Time in the Seat … Conley last saw track action in Thunder Valley at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Vienna, W.Va-native qualified 10th and brought home a hard-fought 15th-place finish.
Socially Speaking Follow Cale … Fan’s can follow the young driver on Twitter @CaleConley,Instagram @CaleConley and Facebook www.facebook.com/caleconleyracing.
CALE CONLEY QUOTE:
What did you learn in your first Richmond Nationwide Series race that you can apply to your return?
“The center of the corner is where we struggled last time. There was one run in the spring where we had strong center speed and forward drive, we ended up driving up to seventh. I know what that feel was, so I’ll to aim for that same feel in practice and hope to keep that in the race.”
Is there different feeling you have now that you’re heading back tracks for a second time?
“You have that first layer of nerves knocked off because you’ve already been there and know what to expect. Competition will be just as tough, so I hope to be fast enough to not get in anyone’s way that’s running for a championship, but at the same time I have get myself the best finish possible.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 USAF Combat Controllers KIA Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s USAF Combat Controllers KIA Chevrolet at Richmond … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 130 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Camaro last saw on-track action at Iowa Speedway in August, where Gaughan earned an 11th -place finish. Chassis No. 130 was also previously ran at Texas Motor Speedway in April and Iowa Speedway in May. Gaughan finished 12th in both events this season.
Gaughan’s Stats at Richmond …The Las Vegas-native will be making his sixth start at the .75-mile track on Friday night. Gaughan has one top-10 finish, completed 1,245 of 1,252 laps ran and averages a starting position of 16.4 and a finish of 18.6. The 39-year-old RCR driver also has three starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he led four laps and earned one top-10 finish of seventh in 2003.
Gaughan & the USAF Combat Controllers KIA … Brendan Gaughan and the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro will don a military theme this weekend at Richmond. Gaughan’s paint scheme will serve as a tribute to the Combat Controllers (CCT) of today and years past. Each gold star on the hood will feature initials of the CCT that have been Killed In Action while fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers … Air Force Special Operations Command’s combat controllers are battlefield Airmen assigned to special tactics squadrons. They are trained special operations forces and certified FAA air traffic controllers. The mission of a combat controller is to deploy, undetected, into combat and hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control, fire support, command and control, direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance and special reconnaissance in the joint arena. Their motto, “First There,” reaffirms the combat controller’s commitment to undertaking the most dangerous missions behind enemy lines by leading the way for other forces to follow.
In the Rearview Mirror: Atlanta … The South Point Hotel & Casino team qualified 16th for Saturday night’s Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Gaughan began reporting tight-handling conditions early in the 195-lap event. The team took every opportunity to improve the handling throughout the evening. The No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino team crossed the finish line in the 14th position.
To the Points …As the Series heads to Richmond International Raceway, Gaughan remains eighth in the Nationwide Series championship standings, 19 points out of seventh.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
What are your thoughts going to Richmond?
“Richmond International Raceway has never been too kind to me. The No. 62 RCR team and I are hoping to change that this weekend and improve from the last time we were here in April. With only nine races left this season we have to buckle down and give it everything we’ve got.”
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