SpongeBob SquarePants 400
Kansas Speedway
Circle Sport Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Race: SpongeBob SquarePants 400
Location: Kansas Speedway
Ty Dillon
No. 33 Plankton Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
NOTES:
This Week’s No. 33 Plankton Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 441 for this weekend’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway. This Chevrolet SS was last raced earlier this season at Auto Club Speedway by Brian Scott. Dillon is scheduled to make his fourth-career Sprint Cup Series race. He made a start in the No. 33 Cheerios/Kroger Chevrolet SS earlier this season in the Daytona 500.
Dillon in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway … Dillon is making his Sprint Cup Series debut at the 1.5-mile speedway. In one NASCAR XFINITY Series start coming last October, Dillon won the pole award and finished fifth. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon has two top-10 finishes.
On the Pit Box … Crew chief Richard “Slugger” Labbe will be a top the pit box for this weekend’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400. Labbe has five wins, 33 top-five and 91 top-10 finishes as a Sprint Cup Series crew chief, including a win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2011 with Paul Menard.
Dillon joins Team of Nickelodeon Drivers … Dillon is one of five drivers to join the Sprint Cup Series lineup who will be sporting SpongeBob SquarePants character paint schemes. Greg Biffle, Michael McDowell, Casey Mears, David Ragan and Dillon will support the Bikini Bottom-themed weekend of fun.
Follow Along on Social Media … To stay in tune with all of the action follow Dillon on Facebook (facebook.com/tydillonmotorsports) and Twitter (@tydillon), Nickelodeon (@NickSportsTV , @NickelodeonTV) and Plankton on Facebook (facebook.com/Plankton). Use #SpongeBob400 to join the conversation.
About Plankton … Sheldon J. Plankton is a pint-sized microbe with an evil plan… to steal the Krusty Krabs’ secret Krabby Patty recipe. Along with his computer wife, K.A.R.E.N., Plankton is always scheming to rule the restaurant business… and the world. Too bad his restaurant is called The Chum Bucket. Gross!
About Nickelodeon … Nickelodeon, now in its 36th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
About SpongeBob SquarePants … Since its launch in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has emerged as a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched animated program with kids aged 2-11 for more than 13-consecutive years. And, through the past several years, it has averaged more than 100 million total viewers every quarter across all Nickelodeon networks. SpongeBob is seen in more than 185 countries and translated in more than 50 languages.
Media Availability … Dillon is scheduled join fellow Nickelodeon drivers Greg Biffle, Michael McDowell, Casey Mears, David Ragan, Ben Kennedy and SpongeBob SquarePants costumed characters in the Kansas Speedway media center, Friday, May 8 beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to visit the Nickelodeon display in the Kansas Speedway Midway on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 3 p.m. CT to sign autographs for fans.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
How do you feel about partnering with Nickelodeon for their big race weekend in Kansas?
“I grew up watching episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon, so you can imagine it’s pretty cool to have Plankton on our Chevrolet SS. The NASCAR community is fortunate to have such a great partner in Nickelodeon for this weekend and to utilize our sport in its activation plans. Nickelodeon is all about kids and having fun, and I look forward to having some fun with the Nickelodeon characters and their guests at the race track this weekend.”
This is your fourth Sprint Cup Series start, are you getting the hang of the Cup cars?
“From all the practices, testing and races I’m starting to get very comfortable in the Chevrolet SS. I’m fortunate to be put in the position to race as often as I do and I’m focused on going out and doing the best that I possibly can. Kansas will be a fun race this weekend, not only off the track, but on the track with the high speeds, different racing lines and competition. Our team will be ready.”
