RCR Post Race Report – Talladega Superspeedway

The 33rd race of the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season is the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1, 2015, which is scheduled to be televised live on NBCSN beginning at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.

Austin Dillon Finishes 14th in Dow WeatherTech Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway

Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 Dow WeatherTech Chevrolet to a 14th-place finish in the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon. Dillon started the final of four points-paying restrictor-plate races from the 26th position and comfortably cruised around the back half of the field during the beginning portion as part of a conservative race strategy designed to preserve equipment for the end. The RCR team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire on pit road following their first pit stop on lap 38 and issued a pass-through penalty by NASCAR. Dillon remained on the lead lap after serving his penalty, but lost the lead draft and fell one lap down to the race leader on lap 55, proving the power of the draft at the 2.66-mile speedway. The Dow WeatherTech Chevrolet looked strong in the two- and three-wide packs typical of superspeedway racing. Although Dillon raced in contention for the Lucky Dog, a lack of cautions made it difficult for him to get his lap back.  When the caution flag was displayed on lap 131, Dillon took the “wave around” and rejoined the lead lap cars. He restarted 28th when green-flag racing resumed on lap 139.  Back on the lead lap, Dillon pitted for right-side tires and fuel on lap 164. Dillon survived two green-white-checkered flag finish attempts to secure a 13th-place finish. Next, Dillon will drive the No. 3 Dow Plastics Addititves Chevrolet in the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1. The race is live on NBCSN at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time.

Start – 26                Finish – 14                   Laps Led – 0                Points – 21

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“We got behind early in the race and it took us a while to get our lap back, but I am proud of everyone on the Dow WeatherTech team because we worked together as a team to recover. I’m looking forward to Martinsville.”

Paul Menard Finishes Sixth at Talladega Superspeedway in the Tarkett/Menards Chevrolet SS

Paul Menard finished sixth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon. Menard started the scheduled 188-lap event from the 13th spot in his Tarkett/Menards Chevrolet and continued racing in the top 15 until his schedule pit stop on lap 38. Happy with the handling of the Chevrolet, crew chief Justin Alexander radioed for four tires and fuel by the No. 27 pit crew. Menard and spotter Billy O’Dea navigated the 43-car field, finding the fastest spot between the top, middle and bottom lines. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native took four tires and fuel on lap 79 and, after a fast pit stop and good strategy, took the lead on lap 82 for two laps. Menard continued to search for the fast lanes and saw pit road two more times for a two-tire with fuel and fuel-only pit stops. The No. 27 Chevrolet team raced within the top 10 after their final pit stop on lap 171 and survived two green-white-checkered-flag finishes to cross the finish line sixth. The Richard Childress Racing team moves on to next week’s race on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Start – 13            Finish – 6           Laps Led – 2              Chase Grid – 15

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
“I’m proud of my team for everything today. We had a fast Tarkett/Menards Chevy, fast stops on pit road and good spotting by Billy (O’Dea, spotter). Our strategy was to get up front and stay there, and luckily that worked out for us. I’m happy to be heading home with our Chevy in one piece.”

Ryan Newman Comes Up Short After 12th-place Finish at Talladega Superspeedway

Ryan Newman drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS to a 12th-place finish in Sunday’s final restrictor-plate race of the season at Talladega Superspeedway.  The South Bend, Ind., native started 18th and implemented a strategy that saw Newman drop to the back and watch the trend that was unfolding in the scheduled 188-lap event that would eventually go into overtime. For the most part, the No. 31 driver was silent on the radio requesting only a windshield tear off. Crew chief Luke Lambert called Newman onto pit road on laps 38, 78, 120 and 134 for four fresh tires and fuel. Then, with less than 20 laps to go, the Cat Chevy pitted for a splash-and-go. Newman raced up to eighth in the closing laps before getting shuffled back to 20th when the caution came out for a competitor’s engine expiring. It set up a green-white-checkered-flag finish. Unfortunately when the cars took the green flag, a wreck ensued. NASCAR waved off the caution flag to set up another green-white-checkered flag attempt. Newman restarted in 17th when the final green flag waved but this time, the race was declared finished following another controversial incident. Newman crossed the finish line in 12th place. After a 60-minute delay to review the situation, NASCAR let the finish stand, and therefore the No. 31 RCR race team finished one position shy of transferring into the Eliminator 8 Round. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to competition Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. WIX Filters will be the primary sponsor.

Start – 10                      Finish – 12                   Laps Led – 1                Chase Grid – 9

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTE:
“I’ll be honest. I am extremely disappointed in the situation and what all transpired. I’m not happy coming up one position short under these circumstances. At this point all I can say is we’ll go to Martinsville Speedway like everybody else.”