AJ ALLMENDINGER
NO. 47 KROGER® / SCOTT® PRODUCTS CHEVROLET SS
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY PREVIEW
Race: Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts
Date/Time: Saturday, July 11 / 7:30 PM ET
TV/Radio: NBCSN /PRN / SIRIUSXM
TEAM QUOTES:
Kentucky Speedway: “You’ve almost got to wear a mouthpiece in the No. 47 Kroger/SCOTT Products Chevrolet SS at Kentucky Speedway because it is one of the roughest tracks we race on,” Allmendinger said. “There are bumps that are really harsh that jar your teeth out and make the car bounce a lot and then there are just wavy bumps. It’s bumpy for sure and the goal is to get your car working over the bumps. If you can do that, you should have a good car. If you have a nice platform to get over bumps, it makes for a better race. We’ll try to focus on Wednesday and take it day by day, see where we are at, see how the car feels and make a plan from there.”
Wednesday: “We’re looking at the test date with the new package as a separate thing and it is a new car we have brought and it’s a chance to get it fine-tuned,” Allmendinger said. “Our plans are making our cars better and this gives us a chance to see how this car is and put some work into the new rules package. We’re not sure what to expect. NASCAR is trying to put the best product on track for the fans and trying to take away downforce to allow for more passing – – making us be off throttle a little more instead of being in the throttle so hard. They are hoping for better racing for the fans by finding ways for more passing because there hasn’t been a lot of passing.”
Decent runs: “I have had some decent luck at Kentucky Speedway in the past,” Allmendinger said. “The last two years, our finishes do not show the way we ran there. Also, the past few years have been so different there and we have a different rules package. It will be interesting to see what notes transfer over and how different the car will be than in the past.”
Character: “The track has a lot of character,” crew chief Brian Burns said. “Kentucky is a unique kind of track with all the bumps, the variety of lanes, and also the differences you see between the short and long runs. Kentucky is a place that changes from day to night and you have to keep up with the track.”
Leveling the playing field: “They are trying to take away the aerodynamic influence so track position is not playing as much of a factor,” Burns said. “Cars should be able to race around each other easier without being affected by the air so much. It’s supposed to help take away the aerodynamic affects in traffic. Right now, you have it where the leader is able to pull away, then the second place car pulls away and the field spreads out to where it’s not so racy. This will make it where the cars are more mechanical. Cars racing 15th to 20th will be able to race through the field more easily to gain track position. The objective is to make the drivers be able to race around each other easier in dirty air. It’s to level out the field. We look forward to the challenges the new package presents and at bringing all the teams back to the same level.”
Chassis 515: “We are bringing a new car,” Burns said. “This is our first race of the season with the new generation chassis. RCR’s improved their chassis design in more ways than one. They have run it on the racetrack for quite a few races now. This will be our first time to unload with it. I feel like there will be some immediate gains with the new design. We are excited to see what the new aero-package offers. We feel like it will be a more entertaining race for the fans.”
More time: “The extra track time is very crucial,” Burns said “It’s all about adapting to the new package quicker. With RCR’s technical support, we feel like it gives us an advantage.”
Kroger and SCOTT Products: “This weekend we have SCOTT Products and Kroger on our No. 47 Chevrolet SS,” Allmendinger said. “These two brands do a great job of activating like our other great brands. SCOTT Products just had a nice group of fans out at Daytona International Speedway that won their sweepstakes. And, this is a big weekend for Kroger because this is their home base. I’m sure we’ll have some top executives coming out. Just to be their home race is a big deal. We’ll have a lot of fun. We’ll test and then go play golf and have a big dinner before the weekend.”
Big weekend: “We have SCOTT Products on the car at Kentucky, but we will also have a lot of folks at the track from Kroger being that their headquarters is based in Cincinnati,” Burns said. “We’re very fortunate to have some of the best brands involved with our team and we look forward to putting on a good show for our fans and sponsors.”
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FAST FACTS:
Career Starts: 244
Wins: 1
Top-fives: 7
Top-10s: 37
Pole Awards: 3
First Start: 3/25/2007 Bristol
First Pole: 4/10/2010 Phoenix
Last Pole: 6/27/2015 Sonoma
Best Start: 1 – 4/10/2010 Phoenix
Best Finish: 1 – 8/10/2014 Watkins Glen
Driver DOB: 12/16/1981
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
Crew Chief: Brian Burns
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RACING-REWARDS:
Each week throughout the NASCAR season Racing-Rewards members are given the opportunity to download exclusive AJ Allmendinger cell phone wallpaper. This week’s design design features AJ and his SCOTT Products car.
Click HERE to visit the download page.
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AJ’S WHEREABOUTS:
Thursday, July 9th
Golfing and dinner with Kroger
Friday, July 10th
Kroger suite appearance after qualifying
Saturday July, 11th
4:40 PM JTG Daugherty Racing Sponsor Meet & Greets
