CORNELIUS, N.C. — NASCAR drivers are often asked which of the 23 Sprint Cup tracks is their favorite.
Fans expect the answer is either one of the short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol or the high-speed tracks like Texas and Charlotte. Maybe, a restrictor-plate track like Daytona and Talladega tops the list.
To the surprise of many, the one track that often tops the drivers’ list of favorite places to race is the concrete high banks of Dover International Speedway where the Sprint Cup Series races on Sunday.
Count No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver David Ragan as one of the drivers who enjoys racing at the 46-year-old Delaware facility that’s also home to a casino and a horse track. Not only does Ragan like the challenge of Dover’s 23-degrees of banking where speeds reach 160 mph in qualifying, but he hopes he has a jump on the competition since his Michael Waltrip Racing team tested there on May 13.
RAGAN ON DOVER: “Dover is such a fun race track. The track changes throughout the day and you have to work to keep up with the changes. It’s certainly a challenge, but it rewards the driver and team with the right setup. You can get out there and race and put on a good show for the fans. You have to race hard all the time at Dover or you fall down a lap. It’s just a racer’s track. I think if you ask all the drivers they’ll tell you they love Dover.”
TESTING AT DOVER: “It was a great chance for me, (crew chief) Billy (Scott) and our Aaron’s Dream Machine team to work on some things. The Michael Waltrip Racing group is really working hard on their cars trying to find that sweet spot with this new aerodynamic and engine package. We just have to find a way to produce more speed. I think we got some good information from the tire test. We are adjusting on our race car and I expect we’ll be pretty good when we unload on Friday. We are making progress. We qualified seventh at Charlotte and thought we had a really good car through practice and the first part of the 600. We lost our way in the middle of the race and got the handling back at the end. We’re getting there. As the crew and I get more familiar, the success will come. These guys have been great to work with and we have some really talented people at MWR.”
NOTES:
· AARON’S: The Atlanta-based company, with more than 2,100 stores across the country, helps customers own the life they want. Aaron’s carries only the best brand names in furniture, electronics, and appliances with a variety of flexible payment options. It’s really easy to “Own It” at Aaron’s with customers who are now pre-approved for up to $2,500 in merchandise – no credit needed.
· CREW CHIEF BILLY SCOTT: Scott began racing motorcycles as a 5-year-old and stock cars when he turned 15. He worked in the truck series as a mechanic before he returned to college to obtain an engineering degree. After graduating in 2005 Scott worked at Robert Yates Racing and began as an engineer at MWR in 2008. The 36-year-old served exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer before taking over crew chief duties in 2014.
· 55 CREW:
Billy Scott
Crew Chief
Ryan Langley
Front Tire Changer
Chris Hall
Front Tire Carrier
Shannon Myers
Rear Tire Changer
Blake Haugland
Rear Tire Carrier
Wes Evans
Jack Man
Jeff Kerr
Gas Man
Steve Channing
Car Chief
David Cropps
Interior Mechanic
Roman Pemberton
Spotter
Brandon Pope
Race Engineer
Joe Bisson
2nd Engineer
Jeremy Sharpley
Shock Specialist
Kevin White
Front Mechanic
Joe Zanolini
Rear Mechanic
Scott Swift
Tire Specialist
Kirk Butterfield
TRD
Tim Bruce
TRD
Stump Lewis
Truck Driver
Al Nelson
2nd Truck Driver
· TELEVISION:
Friday, May 29
10 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup, FOX Sports 1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 200, FOX Sports 1
Saturday, May 30
10 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: XFINITY, FOX
2:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It or Ticket, FOX
Sunday, May 31
11:30 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Dover, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks, FOX Sports 1
