Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500
Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Brett Moffitt | No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford
“I raced at Phoenix once in the K&N Series before they repaved it. It was a lot of fun then, and it was a worn-out surface. When they repaved it, it became more of a one-groove track. From the recent tests there a few week ago, people are saying it’s starting to get back like the old Phoenix. So, that’s a good direction to go. But it is fun. It’s challenging with two different corners. You have one sweeping corner and one really tight corner. And that brings shifting into the equation, and it makes restarts a handful. And then with the dogleg on the backstretch, it makes it even more wild and exciting.”
JUST THE FACTS: Sunday’s race will be Moffitt’s second Sprint Cup start at Phoenix International Raceway… He finished 32nd in his first Cup start at the one-mile oval in March … The Dockside Logistics colors return to the No. 34 Ford for Sunday’s race.
Cole Whitt |
No. 35 Ferguson Enterprises Ford
“I like Phoenix because it’s six hours from my house, so I get to go home and see family. I’ve raced on Phoenix growing up, and have even been out there just to watch a lot of races. So, for me, it’s going back to a place that’s close to home and familiar. Although it’s a lot different from what it used to be. I really enjoyed the track before they changed it, and I’ve been a little more hit-or-miss with the new track. You’ve got to be really perfect with your set-up and hit your marks. We’ve got a new sponsor, Ferguson, with us this week, so we’ll do our best to hit those marks and give them a good run.”
JUST THE FACTS: Whitt has five Sprint Cup career starts at Phoenix International Raceway … He has two top-25 finishes at the one-mile oval, including his last start in March … Ferguson Enterprises, the largest distributor of commercial and residential plumbing supplies, and pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) in the United States, joins the the No. 35 team as primary sponsor for Sunday’s race … Bubba Blade joins the team as an associate sponsor.
David Gilliland | No. 38 Love’s Travel Stops Ford
“I love racing at Phoenix. It’s kind of a home track for me. Growing up watching my dad race, I spent a lot of time out there, and I’ve got a lot of friends and family out there. And I love the racetrack. It’s different. It’s not your average, typical oval. Turns 1 and 2 are different than 3 and 4, and then you’ve got the dogleg in the back. It’s very unique, but it’s a lot of fun. I’m eager to get our Love’s Travel Stops Ford on track Friday.
“This is going to be a special weekend because my son, Todd, will be making his debut in the K&N Series, racing on Thursday. A lot of people from the west coast who supported me when I was getting started racing are going to be there supporting Todd. I’ve won there in the K&N Series, and I’m excited now for him to get the chance.”
JUST THE FACTS: Gilliland has 18 Sprint Cup starts at Phoenix International Raceway … He has one top-15 and two top-20 finishes at the track in the desert … His best finish at the one-mile oval is 15th (2008) … The Love’s Travel Stops colors return to the No. 38 Ford for the Phoenix race, promoting TirePass.
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.
