Brickyard 400
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Ind.
Brett Moffitt | No. 34 CSX ‘Play It Safe’ Ford
“I got a little experience at Indy last year. It’s a really cool racetrack. Just with the heritage and the history behind it, it’s really neat to be out there. As a driver, it’s tough, though. It’s narrow. The first time there last year, going into Turn 1, I was a little bit nervous. I’m not going to lie. Going in there, turning the wheel before you ever lift into a 90-degree corner, it was a little sketchy. But that’s part of what makes it a fun track.
“This is going to be a big weekend with our partner CSX. We’ve got their paint scheme on the car for the race weekend, and we’re going to have a special visit with the employees at a CSX rail yard while we’re in town. We’re also hosting a pretty big group of FFA members at the race on Sunday, so we’re really looking forward to the whole weekend.”
JUST THE FACTS: Sunday’s race will be Moffitt’s first Sprint Cup start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway … Moffitt earned his second straight Sunoco Rookie of the Race award last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway … The CSX colors return to the No. 34 Ford for the Brickyard race, promoting the “Play It Safe” railroad safety message.
Cole Whitt | No. 35 Speed Stick Ford
“I have a lot of history at Indy because I grew up in the area. I’m from California but I lived in Lebanon, Indiana, which is about 20 minutes north of Indy. I went to the speedway all the time because they had methanol in their pumps, and I used to get methanol for all my sprint cars there. So, I would drive in every two or three weeks, and I’d have the fuel drums in the back of my truck. And that’s how I’d get my fuel for my sprint car races. So, it’s kind of funny. I already know the place really well because I’ve been in there so much, but I don’t necessarily know the track really well.
“It’s a tough track. Every little detail is so important to get off the corners well there. I’m glad to have Speed Stick as a partner, for moments that matter like this.”
JUST THE FACTS: Whitt has one prior Sprint Cup start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2014) … Speed Stick returns as primary sponsor of the No. 35 Ford … Fans can meet Whitt on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Kroger at 5718 Crawfordsville Road in Indianapolis.
David Gilliland | No. 38 FFA + CSX ‘Living to Serve’ Ford
“Growing up, watching my dad race, they didn’t race at Indy yet. But I was there for the inaugural Cup race. My dad went and helped somebody who was racing there, and I got to go watch. So, that was special. Something I’ll never forget. And so it’s always exciting now to go and race at the Brickyard.
“We have a special partner at Indy. The FFA is going to be on our No. 38 Ford Fusion. It’s the first time in their 87-year history that they’ll be on a race car, so we’re really proud to be the ones to have them. They’re based locally in Indianapolis, so we’re going to have a bunch of the students at the track, honoring them for their service. It’s going to be a really special weekend.”
JUST THE FACTS: Gilliland has seven Sprint Cup starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway … He has two top-20 finishes at the 2.5-mile oval … His best finish is 17th (2007) … In addition to serving as primary sponsor on the No. 34 Ford, CSX has donated a primary sponsorship on the No. 38 Ford to the FFA, marking the first time the 87-year-old youth service organization will adorn a Sprint Cup car.
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a race-winning organization competing in NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup Series, fielding the No. 34, the No. 35 and the No. 38 Fords. The team is owned by Bob Jenkins and is headquartered just outside of Charlotte, N.C. FRM was named to INC Magazine’s “INC 5000” list in 2012, recognizing the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The team’s partnership base is representative of more than $200 billion of the U.S. economy and includes organizations such as Ford Motor Company, Love’s Travel Stops, Colgate-Palmolive, CSX Transportation, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. Visit teamfrm.com.
