Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Advance Notes
RACE SETUP
Race: Pure Michigan 400 – 200 laps (400 Miles) #PureMichigan400
Track: Michigan International Speedway (2-mile D-shaped oval) @MISpeedway
Drivers: @jamiemcmurray, @KyleLarsonRacin
Cars: No. 1 Cessna/McDonald’s Chevrolet SS, No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS
Television: Sunday, August 16 NBCSN (2:30 p.m. ET) @NBCSN
Social: @CGRnascar #TeamTarget #Cessna1 #TeamGanassi
I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT
Hometown Favorite: Should a Chevrolet SS drive to victory this weekend at MIS, the Bowtie brand will celebrate its 750th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win. A Chevrolet has won 23 of 92 races at MIS, including the last three and has claimed the pole award in each of the previous three races. This weekend on race day, both Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 1 Cessna/McDonald’s Chevy SS and Team Target driver Kyle Larson will be headed out to the Team Chevy Racing display to answer questions for fans.
Return of the Drag: For this weekend’s race at MIS, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teams will again be racing cars with the high-drag rules package, similar to what was used three weeks ago at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To go along with the change in the rules package, the group-qualifying format will be put on hold this weekend in favor of single-car qualifying format. Qualifying will be reduced to two rounds, with the top-12 cars from round-one advancing to the final round. During each round, cars will make one timed lap with drivers being released from pit road at predetermined intervals.
#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 #TeamGanassi
TWEET OF THE WEEK
@jamiemcmurray – “Had a really fast car today. The guys did an amazing job getting the car fixed and back on track. Super proud to be a part of this team”
@KyleLarsonRacin – “(McMurray) most underrated driver in the garage”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Cessna/McDonald’s Team
Watkins Glen Recap: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) paid a visit to the Finger Lakes region of New York and Watkins Glen International (WGI) over the weekend, for the second and final road course race of the season. Jamie McMurray drove a damaged McDonald’s Chevy SS to a 40th place finish after starting in the top-20.
Michigan Stats: Jamie McMurray has made 25 starts at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) where he has completed 4,726 of 4,877 (96.9%) laps of competition. He has five top-10 and one top-five finish with an average start of 23.8 and an average finish of 18.7. McMurray has led a total of 40 laps in NSCS competition. His best start of second came in June 2010 and his best finish of fourth in Aug. 2004.
Powered Up: As the series travels back to the home state of Chevrolet World Headquarters, stationed in Detroit, Jamie McMurray, who has wheeled a Chevrolet-powered race car since his return to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in 2010, will head to Motor City to pay a visit to the General Motors (GM) Powertrain Division in Pontiac, MI. on behalf of Chevrolet.
Kyle Larson and No. 42 Target Team
Watkins Glen Recap: Watkins Glen International (WGI) played host to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) this past weekend, as teams raced for the second and final time this season on a road course. Although the Target Chevy needed a few adjustments off the truck to improve the balance and speed, the crew worked to have the car in a position to be competitive on race day. After earning a sixth-place start, Larson drove a strong race on Sunday en route to a 12th place finish.
Larson at Michigan: Larson will be making his fourth NSCS start at MIS when the series returns to the Irish Hills this weekend. Although Larson has an average finish of 22.7 at the 2-mile track, he’s had fast Target Chevy’s during each previous race. Larson has led a total of nine laps, and narrowly missed out on a win there earlier this season when he ran low on fuel and was forced to pit from the lead moments before the race was called due to inclement weather.
Kicking-It: Before heading to MIS, Larson will be in Knoxville, Iowa to watch his sprint car team, Larson Marks Racing (LMR), compete in the prestigious Knoxville Nationals. In addition to taking in the winged sprint car races, Larson will also get behind the wheel of a go-kart on Wednesday for the WELD Racing Go-Kart Spectacular to help raise money for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. Larson, who has participated in the event on several previous occasions, will be taking on other NSCS drivers and fans as they race on the slick go-kart track.
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. Target is located at 1076 Jackson Crossing in Jackson, Mich. 49202, and can be reached at (517) 788-3900. 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
