RCR Event Preview – Coca-Cola 600 and Hisense 300

Paul Menard, No. 27 Serta / Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Serta/Menards Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … The Justin Alexander-led team will utilize chassis No. 501 this weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is a brand new Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet SS and will make its first laps on Thursday during practice at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Charlotte Stats … Menard has competed in 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the 1.5-mile speedway. This includes one top-five and four top-10 starts along with two top-10 finishes. He has completed 93.1 percent of laps in competition including one lap led.

Rookie Stripe … Justin Alexander has impressive stats in his first year as a full-time Sprint Cup Series crew chief. In 16 races with Menard, Alexander has led the team to 11 top-20 and 10 top-15 starts. He’s also collected 11 top-20, nine top-15 and three top-five finishes. Alexander is also the first repeat winner of the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award this season.

About Serta … Serta is proud to be the manufacturer of the World’s Best Mattress™. Their commitment to quality has made them a leader in the industry, and they look forward to helping you find the right mattress. Visit Serta.com or a Serta dealer near you.

600 Miles of Remembrance … Menard and the No. 27 Serta/Menards team will help honor fallen service members this weekend during the Coca-Cola 600. Menard’s name will be replaced on his race car windshield header with the name of fallen military service member, U.S. Army Specialist (Spc.) David Proctor. This is an extremely personal tribute by the team as Proctor was the son-in-law of long-time RCR employee Rickey Pierce,.Proctor died on March 13, 2013 while serving in Afghanistan during his first deployment at 26 years of age.

Where Do You Stand … Menard currently sits 12th in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, just seven points away from 10th, after finishing 18th at Kansas Speedway.

Last Time in Charlotte … Menard started last year’s October event from the sixth position and reported drive off was going away but the Chevy required no adjustments. After moving to the rear of the field because of  a pit road penalty, the RCR driver gained 18 spots in just 20 laps. Menard raced his way back up to 12th from the 38th position before a mechanical failure ended the team’s night early. This resulted in a 42nd-place finish.

Meet Menard … Fans will have multiple opportunities this weekend to meet the Wisconsin native. Come to the Chevy Stage, located in the track’s midway, at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday for a Q&A with Menard. He will also be at the Pit Road Party, located in the infield near the frontstretch, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

PAUL MENARD QUOTES:

How do you mentally and physically prepare for a race like the Coca-Cola 600?

“The biggest difference for the 600 is just to make sure you’re properly hydrated. The extra 45 minutes or so that you’re in the car does make a pretty big difference, especially if it is a hot weekend like the forecast is showing. Training wise nothing different, just hydration and maybe a little more food before the race starts.”

What is it like racing 600 miles from your point of view?

“It really goes by pretty fast, you don’t notice the difference much sitting in the car. However, the whole weekend is pretty fun because the crew members will bring some of their families and you get to see a lot of people who normally wouldn’t make it to a race.”

What does it mean to you that you’ll be honoring Spc. David Proctor while his family watches at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“I’m just glad that we’re able to get Spc. Proctor’s family out to a race and have some fun. It goes without saying that without men and women such as Spc. Proctor, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do day to day in this country, let alone race and put on a show. Memorial Day weekend is a time to celebrate our heroes.”

Ryan Newman, No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 511 in the Coca-Cola 600. This is the first time this season Newman will race this No. 31 Chevrolet.

Career Stats at Charlotte … In 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the 1.5-mile oval, Newman has recorded runner-up finishes two times (fall, 2003; Coke 600, 2009). The “Rocket Man” also owns nine pole awards. In total, he owns four top-five, 11 top-10 finishes and has led 277 laps in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of eighth and average finish of 18.5. When calculating points earned in the last four events at CMS, Newman ranks fourth in most points accumulated.

Engineered to Amaze … Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s second largest retail home mortgage lender. The company closed $140 billion of mortgage volume across all 50 states in 2013-2014. Quicken Loans generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Primary Mortgage Origination” in the United States by J.D. Power for the past five consecutive years, 2010 – 2014, and highest in customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers in 2014.

Quicken Loans was named among the top-30 companies on FORTUNE magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the last 12 consecutive years, ranking No. 12 in 2015. It has been recognized as one of Computerworld magazine’s ‘100 Best Places to Work in IT’ the past ten years, ranking No. 1 in 2014, 2013, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The company moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010, and now more than 10,000 of its nearly 12,000 team members work in the city’s urban core. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit QuickenLoans.com, on Twitter at @QLnews, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/QuickenLoans.

“Drive Home a Winner” Sweepstakes … Back by popular demand, the Quicken Loans “Drive Home a Winner” sweepstakes is looking to once again make a lucky grand prize winner’s dreams come true with a year’s worth of mortgage payments and a brand-new Chevrolet Colorado. The sweepstakes, open to those 18 and older, is a collaboration between Quicken Loans and General Motors. For more information, or to enter, visit www.qlracing.com. Entries must be submitted before July 13.

Watch last year’s grand prize winner Stephanie Gaines of Dalhart, Texas be surprised at her home by No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevy and Richard Childress Racing driver Ryan Newman with a brand new Chevy SS and a year’s worth of mortgage payments.

Newman Salutes Sgt. Mark A. Bradley …To commemorate the launch of NASCAR: An American Salute™, the industry’s collective expression of reverence, respect and gratitude for those who have served and continue to defend our nation today, Newman’s name on the No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet windshield will be replaced by Sgt. Mark A. Bradley. While supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on June 16, 2011, the 25-year-old Marine from Cuba, N.Y., lost his life during a combat operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.Sgt. Bradley’s widow, father, brother and sister will be guests of Newman and the No. 31 team during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend.

Get to the Points … After finishing 10th at Kansas Speedway, Newman moved up to 13th in the championship point standings and is just eight markers out of the top 10. In the first 11 Cup Series events in 2015, the No. 31 team has earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

Last Time Around … After starting fifth, crew chief Luke Lambert took advantage of a late-race caution. Instead of pitting, Lambert left Newman on track in eighth place for the final three-lap shootout.  Newman picked up one spot to finish seventh.

Meet Ryan … Newman is scheduled to sign autographs on behalf of Coca-Cola on Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m. at Walmart on 1780 South Lake Drive in Lexington, S.C. On Friday, May 22, he’s scheduled to stop by the Coca-Cola Stage at Speed Street in downtown Charlotte, N.C. at 7:30 p.m. for a Question and Answer session.

Rescue Ranch Open House… Come on out to Rescue Ranch on May 20 or 22 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. to see the facility, meet the animals, and get a glimpse of its beautiful 87 acres. Guests can tour Rescue Ranch’s facility every 30 minutes. Daily raffle items along with Rescue Ranch and Ryan Newman merchandise for sale. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and Coca-Cola products will also be for purchase. For details, visit ResueRanch.com.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:

What’s the biggest challenge of a 600-mile race?

“Because of the length of the race, it forces you to focus much harder and maintain it for longer periods of time especially when you are trying to figure out the handling, how to adjust the car and pit stops. I think that’s the toughest part.”

What’s the hardest part of the actual track to figure out?

“The track used to change a whole lot over the course of the race balance wise. That was a challenge in itself. It does that a little bit now, but not like it used to.”

How much does the extra 100 miles affect everything?

“As a driver, if you go 600 miles, it feels like you could go 1,000 but I’m not sure the engine or the wheel bearings and things like that are capable of going the extra distance. Those parts are more mileage sensitive than me.”

Race:            Hisense 300
Date:               Saturday, May 23, 2015
Location:        Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway … In 66 XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile quad oval, Richard Childress Racing has led 497 laps and visited victory lane twice, with Jeff Green in May 2002 and Jeff Burton in October 2007. The Welcome, N.C. organization has started from the pole position on six occasions. RCR averages an 11.1 starting position, a 13.2 finishing position and has accumulated 19 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes.

Dash 4 Cash … This weekend at CMS marks the XFINITY Series qualifier for the first 2015 Dash 4 Cash (D4C) race that will take place Saturday May, 30 at Dover International Raceway. The first four full-time XFINITY Series drivers that receive championship driver points at Charlotte will qualify for the kick-off race.

Iowa Recap … In the Iowa 250, Brian Scott, Brandon Jones, Brendan Gaughan and Ty Dillon posted fourth, eighth, 10th and 14th place finishes, respectively.

The Points … Ty Dillon is currently second in the driver point standings, Brian Scott fifth and Brendan Gaughan ninth. The No. 33 RCR team is currently sixth in the owner point standings.

10 Races In … After the first 10 XFINITY Series races of the season, RCR has made 40 starts with drivers Brian Scott, Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon, Brandon Jones, Paul Menard and Brendan Gaughan. The team averages a starting position of 8.7 and a finishing position of 11.3. RCR has led 274 laps, accumulated 11 top-five finishes and 28 top-10 finishes. Austin Dillon visited victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as well as earning the pole awards at Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Did You Know … Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. Visit SaveInjuredKids.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.

Social Media …  To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter account – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR XFINITY Series team Twitter accounts – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon, @RCR33NNS and  @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s XFINITY Series driver twitter accounts – @bscottracing, @tydillon, @austindillon3 and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on torcrracing.com.

Catch the Action … Coverage for the XFINITY Series Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will begin with both practice sessions on Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and 5:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. Qualifying will also be showcased on Fox Sports 1 live on Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m. ET and race coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. It will also be broadcast live on PRN and SiriusXM channel 90.

Brian Scott, No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 156 in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 300. This chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable was brand new to the fleet at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This chassis has an average starting position of 3.6 and an average finishing position of 7.6.

Charlotte Motor Speedway Statistics … Scott will be making his 11th XFINITY Series start this weekend at the industry’s home track. In 10 previous starts, the RCR driver has captured two top-five and five top-10 finishes with an average start of 9.0 and an average finish of 15.5. Scott has completed 94.7 percent of the laps, with one lap led at the 1.5-mile speedway. In addition to his XFINTIY Series starts, he has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts. Charlotte is where Scott made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the fall of 2013 starting 19th and finishing 27th. Scott also competed in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2014.

Shore Lodge at Charlotte … This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet will don a patriotic red, white and blue scheme in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.

Iowa Speedway Race Rewind … The first XFINITY Series stand-alone event took place on Sunday afternoon at the 7/8-mile track of Iowa Speedway. Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet qualified in the third position but would start second because of a driver change on the front row. As the field took the green flag for the originally scheduled 250-lap event, Scott reported a loose-handling Camaro and was lacking drive off in Turn 2. With two laps to go, the caution was displayed leaving the Iowa 300 race ending under green-white-checkered conditions. The No. 2 team took four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and would restart in the ninth position. With two final laps around Iowa Speedway, Scott picked up five positions and crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Last Time at Charlotte … Scott and the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro team collected their 27th top-10 qualifying position of the 2014 season at Charlotte Motor Speedway after starting third in the Race for the Cure 300. Remaining inside the top-10 for a majority of the race, Scott and team made multiple adjustments on their five visits to pit road to better the handling of the No. 2 car. A strategic race, Scott brought the No. 2 Chevrolet home in 10th place collecting the teams 20th top-10 finish of the season.

To The Points … Scott is currently fifth in the XFINITY Series driver point standings after 10 of 33 races.

Meet Scott … On Saturday, May 23 at 9:45 a.m., Scott is scheduled to make an appearance on the Fan Midway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the XFINITY Zone.

BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:

How do you like racing at the home track of Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“Charlotte Motor Speedway always seems to be where everyone puffs their chests out and walk with a little bit of swagger. Of course everyone wants to have a good showing at Charlotte, you get guys from the shop who don’t usually travel and they’ve got their family. You’re trying to demonstrate for all the RCR and ECR employees – the people who work their guts out back at the shop – and showcase all of their hard work and what it has done for their families who don’t typically get to come to the race track.”

How do you feel about your intermediate program?

“I feel great. Texas Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway we were really fast. I think our intermediate program is really strong. I look forward to these types of tracks. They always seem to race really well. They seem to be a strong suit of our program here at RCR. It should be a fun race.”

Ty Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/NWTF.org Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/NWTF.org Chevrolet Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway … This weekend, Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 163 for the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is brand new to the RCR stable and will see track action for the first time this Thursday afternoon during NASCAR XFINITY Series practice.

Dillon at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the XFINITY Series … The 23-year-old driver made his XFINTIY Series debut at the 1.5-mile home track last spring and recorded a top-10 finish. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon has earned one pole award, two top-10 finishes and one top five finish. Charlotte Motor Speedway is also where Dillon claims his “racing career all began,” driving Legend’s cars, asphalt modified cars and across the street at The Dirt Track in Late Models for Team Dillon Racing.

Bass Pro Shops continues partnership with RCR … Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 92 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. For more information, and to shop online, visit basspro.com.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation… The NWTF is a nonprofit conservation organization that works daily to further its mission of conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage. Through dynamic partnerships with state and federal wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, improving more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat and introducing 100,000 people to the outdoors each year. The NWTF was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America’s wildlife history.  To learn more, visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF.

About Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt… The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

Iowa Speedway Race Rewind … Dillon qualified ninth and rolled off seventh for the Iowa 250 last Sunday in the Series’ first non-companion race weekend. The sophomore XFINTIY Series driver drove the No. 3 Red Kap Chevrolet Camaro inside the top-five for a majority of the scheduled 250 lap race. With 13 laps to go, Dillon experienced a tire going flat, forcing him to pit road under green-flag conditions. A late caution would allow him to gain positioning back as he crossed the finish line 14th.

No. 3 Team Season-to-Date … Second in the XFINITY Series driver point standings, Dillon has accumulated three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 10 races, thus far. According to NASCAR Loop Data Statistics, Dillon leads all XFINITY Series drivers in total laps (1953). He ranks second in average finish and trails the points leader by only eight points.

Meet Ty Dillon … Fans of Dillon will have unique opportunities to meet the driver of the No. 3 car this week around the Concord, N.C. area. On Wednesday evening, Dillon, along with older brother Austin and grandfather/team owner, Richard Childress, are scheduled to visit the Bass Pro Shops in Concord to sign autographs beginning at 6 p.m. On Thursday, beginning at 8:30 p.m., come have a cold Yuengling Light Lager with Dillon at the Carolina Ale House on Concord Mills Boulevard. Yuengling’s seasonal Summer Wheat and Lager will be on draught along with Light Lager bottle specials.

TY DILLON QUOTE:

How do you stay focused during Charlotte race week with it being a home race?

“There definitely is an increase in activity during this time of year – but I enjoy it. I enjoy racing close to home, sleeping in my own bed, seeing friends and family, and participating in all of the activities. It’s also a great opportunity to see a lot of our great partners and spend some time with them. We’re fortunate to have our friends from Bass Pro Shops and the National Wild Turkey Federation on the car this weekend. But, as I’ve always said in the past, as soon as my race helmet goes on – I’m focused.”

You have a brand-new chassis this weekend. Any thoughts on how this may play towards your advantage?

“We have an exceptional team that prepared new race cars for us that are engineered to win right away. The guys have been working on this car very diligently and we’re ready to see it go to work. Between our chassis shop, fabrication team, our engineers and the power from ECR Engines, I expect this car to make it to Victory Lane very soon.”