Race: Sprint Unlimited
Date: February 14, 2015
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
Eight Sprint Unlimited Wins for Richard Childress Racing …RCR has earned eight checkered flags in the Sprint Unlimited winning in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 with driver Dale Earnhardt, and again in 2009, 2010 and 2013 with Kevin Harvick.
Full House … All of RCR’s full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are scheduled to compete in this year’s exhibition event. Dillon earned a berth by virtue of winning a pole in 2014, Newman is entered as a 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup driver and Menard is entered by virtue of his final points finish in 2014. This is the 29th season that the Welcome, N.C.-based organization has fielded an entry in the 37-race history of the Sprint Unlimited.
The Format … The season-opening, 75-lap Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway consists of two segments with a competition caution at lap 25 separating the segments in the non-points event. Select fans will be paired with each crew chief for a random drawing to determine each team’s starting and pit road positions. The drawings will take place on Friday, February 13 at the FDOT Main Stage inside the Sprint FANZONE beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Sprint Unlimited will be televised live Saturday, February 14, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX, and broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel 90.
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Dow Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 468 in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced to his career-best finish of fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the 2.5-mile track in July 2014. In addition, he finished 13th at Talladega Superspeedway in this Chevrolet in October 2014.
Dillon in the Sprint Unlimited … Dillon is one of 25 drivers eligible for the pre-season event recognizing 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole winners, past winners of the Sprint Unlimited, drivers who earned a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2014 and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time last year. The RCR driver earned his spot after winning the pole last season at Daytona International Speedway. The 75-lap race is split into two segments, with a competition caution at lap 25 serving as the breaking point. This year, select fans will be paired with each crew chief for a random drawing to determine starting and pit road positions. The drawings will take place on Friday, February 13 at the FDOT Main Stage inside the Sprint FANZONE beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This will be Dillon’s first Sprint Unlimited start (five drivers have won the event in their first appearance, including Buddy Baker in 1979, Dale Earnhardt in 1980, Jeff Gordon in 1994, Dale Jarrett in 1996 and Denny Hamlin in 2006).
Welcome, Dow …Returning as primary sponsor of the No.3 Chevrolet, Dow enters its second season with RCR and driver Austin Dillon. Together, both teams embrace the power of science, technology and safety 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 with more than 6,000 products manufactured across the globe. See our YouTube video “Dawn to Dusk” to see how Dow products touch the lives of everyone…from dawn to dusk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSspiG8DkOs). More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com
Dirt Trackin’ … Catch Dillon from February 10 through 17 at Volusia Speedway Park where he and his brother, Ty, are scheduled to race dirt Modifieds as part of the 43rd annual University of Northwestern Ohio DIRTCar Nationals.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
When you’re not at the race track, where do you like to go eat, what do you like to do?
“When I am on the road in Daytona, BJ’s across the street from the track has some good food. There is a sushi restaurant called Ronnin that has some crazy good sushi, so I like to go there. I’ll be racing at Volusia Motorsports Park most of the time during the evenings in my dirt modified. I enjoy that a lot. Both my brother and I race there so it’s fun, laid back family time. Between racing at Daytona International Speedway and Volusia, I’ll be going up and down the road from the big track to the dirt track quite a bit. It’s a lot of back and forth in the car.”
What are your thoughts heading into your first Sprint Unlimited?
“I think it’s cool to know that I won the pole last year for the Daytona 500 and one of the rewards is to always be able to race in this prestigious race. It will be my first Sprint Unlimited and I can’t wait. I’ve watched so many of them growing up. I think it will be especially exciting for all of the fans who get to sit in the new grandstands as part of the Daytona Rising project. You can see the entire track from up there, the view is incredible.”
Paul Menard, No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s PEAK/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 492 for the Sprint Unlimited. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS is a new addition to the Richard Childress Racing stable this season.
First Sprint Unlimited … Saturday night’s 75-lap event will mark Menard’s first start in the Sprint Unlimited. The Eau Claire, Wisc., native has 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the 2.5-mile track with three top-10 finishes and an average starting position of 19th and finishing position of 20th.
Rules of The Race … This year’s Sprint Unlimited will feature 25 drivers, including Menard who is competing by virtue of his points finish in 2014. Other drivers in the race include the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole winners, past champions of the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time last year along with last year’s 16 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers. The 75-lap race is split into two segments, with a competition caution at lap 25 serving as the breaking point. This year, select fans will be paired with each crew chief for a random drawing to determine starting and pit road positions. The drawings will take place on Friday, February 13 at the FDOT Main Stage inside the Sprint FANZONE beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
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PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
What are your thoughts looking ahead to this season?
“There is very little change at RCR this year, which helps. Justin (Alexander, crew chief) and Luke Lambert (crew chief, No. 31 team) were roommates in college so they know each other very well and have a close working relationship. Gil Martin (crew chief, No. 3 team) has obviously been with the program for a long time. We really have three crew chiefs who work well together. All three of us drivers have spent time together in the off season going hunting and other activities, so I feel like our relationship is stronger than it was a year ago. The continuity of the organization is there.”
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Daytona International Speedway … Ryan Newman will pilot a brand new chassis, No. 446, in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.
Newman in the Sprint Unlimited … Newman is one of 25 drivers eligible for the 75-lap, pre-season event recognizing 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole winners, past champions of the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time last year along with the 16 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers of 2014. New this season, a fan will be paired with a crew chief and participate in a random drawing to determine the starting and pit road positions. Newman earned his eligibility by being one of 16 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers last season. This year’s format consists of two segments with a competition caution at lap 25 to split up the segments. Newman has 11 Sprint Unlimited starts at Daytona International Speedway. His best start, courtesy of a draw, is fourth (2010) and best finish of second came in 2005. In the Sprint Unlimited, the South Bend, Ind., native has led 25 laps of competition.
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Race Rewind … Newman’s most recent appearance in the exhibition race was his debut in the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS last season. He started 17th and finished eighth. It was his fifth top-10 result in 11 exhibition events.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What is your motivation for 2015?
“We earned our best finish of second in the championship finale. I hope we are able to take that momentum of the finish, and the second-place finish in the standings, and spin it all off into a productive off season that will continue and enable us to have an impressive start to the season at our biggest race in Daytona. We want to be competitive. We have to be competitive for all of our partners like Caterpillar, Quicken Loans, Grainger and WIX Filters. It’s about going out there and having fun. We did a really good job of having fun last year even though we didn’t win. Now it’s time to still have fun, but win.”
What area is your team focusing on the most for this season?
“We focused on the level of competition that will allow this team to lead more laps. We only led 41 laps last year. You have to lead laps in order to win the race or at least lead the last lap. We mathematically did not lead enough laps to have the odds of winning races in our favor in 2014. It’s an area we are focusing more on this season.”
What are your thoughts on racing in your 12th Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway?
“This race always signifies the start to our season and first opportunity for a win in the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS. It’s a good test session for us in race conditions. It also a good practice session for all of us to get back into the rhythm and swing of things before the Daytona 500.”
