Quaker State 400 Advance Notes

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Advance Notes

RACE SETUP

Race:                     Quaker State 400 – 267 laps/400 miles #QS400
Track:                    Kentucky Speedway (1.5 mile oval) @KYSpeedway
Drivers:                @jamiemcmurray, @KyleLarsonRacin
Cars:                     No. 1 Cessna SS, No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS
Television:           Saturday, July 11 NBCSN (7:30 p.m. ET)
Social:                   @CGRnascar #Cessna1 #TeamTarget #TeamGanassi

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT

Test and Compete: Before the race this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, NSCS teams will be getting on track a bit earlier than usual for two practices on Wednesday to test a new aerodynamics package that will be run for this weekend’s race. The new package, which is meant to create less downforce and could help produce more side-by-side competition, includes a reduced spoiler height, reduced radiator pan and less overhang for the splitter.

#TEAMGANASSI

Follow CGR on Twitter:  Be sure to follow CGR on the official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No.1 and No.42 teams throughout the 2015 season by following @CGRnascar. You can also connect in the social conversation throughout the season with team hashtags – #TeamTarget #Cessna1 #TeamMcD #TeamGanassi

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

@jamiemcmurray: Best seat in racing. Top row of the new @DISupdates. This is a game changer. (during a tour of the new Daytona Rising project last weekend)

@KyleLarsonRacin: “So glad to see @austindillon3 is okay after that wreck. I’ve been in that spot before and it ain’t fun. Very wild.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Cessna Team

Daytona Recap: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season returned to the “World Center of Racing” at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), for the Independence Day weekend and the mid-way point of the 2015 season. Jamie McMurray rolled off from the ninth starting position in the rain-delayed Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola and survived an action-packed race to capture a 15th-place finish in the McDonald’s Chevrolet.

McMurray at Kentucky: McMurray has just four career starts at Kentucky Speedway in NSCS competition. In those starts he has one top-five, a runner-up finish in 2013. He has an average start of 20.5 and average finish of 22.5. He has completed 982 of 1,068 (91.9%) laps of competition.

The Final Push: With just nine races left in the 2015 NSCS season before the final cutoff to make the 16-car Chase to the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, Jamie McMurray currently has a 61 point advantage over what is now the final cutoff spot. With his 15-place finish last week in Daytona, McMurray gained one position, moving up to sixth-place, and is the highest seeded driver in the standings without a win.

Kyle Larson and No. 42 Target Team

Daytona Recap: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) was at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) for the July 4th holiday weekend, where rain affected major aspects of the schedule. Although both practices sessions on Friday were able to be run, Saturday’s qualifying was cancelled due to the weather. Starting from the 16th position, Larson began the race with a strong Share a Coke Chevrolet SS, but was forced to retire early and credited with a 39th place finish following a wreck on Lap 103 that affected several cars.

Larson at Kentucky: Larson only has one start in the NSCS at Kentucky Speedway, which came last season during his rookie campaign. While Larson qualified sixth for last season’s Quaker State 400, he finished a disappointing 40th after a tire issue on Lap 75 resulted in a race-ending hit to the wall that left the car unable to be driven back to the garage. Larson also has three starts at Kentucky in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and one start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

A Shopping Bullseye:  If you have made it to the race only to find out you’ve forgotten to pack a few necessities, there’s no need to worry. For all your last minute needs and forgotten items, Target has all of the essentials and more.  The nearest Target is located at 1100 Hansel Avenue, Florence, Ky. 41042 and can be reached at (859) 371-2245. Call ahead and make sure they have what you need.
TEAM ROSTERS

Max Jones – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
Tony Lunders – Competition Director

No. 1 (NSCS)

Hometown

Hometown

Crew Chief:  Matt McCall

Denver, NC

Rear Tire Changer: Kenyatta Houston

Bronx, NY

Chief Mechanic:  Ryan Bergenty

Plainville, CT

Rear Tire Carrier: Art Simmons

Newark, MO

Front Tire Changer:  Daniel Kincaid

Port Byron, NY

Gas Man:  Mike Metcalf

Charlotte, NC

Front Tire Carrier: Ben Fetzer

Fredericksburg, VA

Spotter:  Lorin Ranier

Prestonsburg, KY

Jack Man:  Shane Wilson

Edgewater, MD

No. 42 (NSCS)

Hometown

Hometown

Crew Chief:  Chris Heroy

Angola, IN

Rear Tire Changer:  Steven Tautges

Abbotsford, WI

Chief Mechanic:  David Bryant

Concord, NC

Rear Tire Carrier:  Gene Cornwell

Rock Hill, SC

Front Tire Changer:  Nick Krizmanich

Kenosha, WI

Gas Man:  Ed Watkins

Richmond, VA

Front Tire Carrier:  Aaron Schields

Goodland, KS

Spotter:  Derek Kneeland

Windham, ME

Jack Man:  Graham Molatch

Harrisburg, NC

ONE TEAM

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four cars in the IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Prototype in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Overall his teams have 17 championships and over 160 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and six Rolex 24 At Daytonas and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa.

For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com