NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Sprint Unlimited
Daytona International Speedway
February 13, 2016
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing drivers Paul Menard, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman finished third, eighth and 19th, respectively, in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.
Denny Hamlin earned the Sprint Unlimited victory and was followed to the finish line by Joey Logano, Menard, Kyle Larson and Casey Mears.
The 2016 Sprint Cup Series begins with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 21. The first race of the 2016 season is scheduled to be televised live on FOX beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
Austin Dillon Earns Top-10 Finish in Action-Filled Sprint Unlimited
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon earned a top-10 finish in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday despite several close calls in the invitation-only, non-points race. Dillon, one of 25 drivers eligible for the pre-season event recognizing 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole winners, past winners of the Sprint Unlimited, drivers who earned a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2015 and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time last year, started the race from the 10th spot following a random fan draw with crew chief Slugger Labbe on Friday. Dillon narrowly avoided two on-track incidents during the first segment of the race, with multi-car incidents occurring directly in front of him each time. During the lap-25 caution, the Slugger Labbe-led team pitted for a splash of fuel and a chassis adjustment, positioning Dillon fifth for the restart on lap 29. During the second segment of the race, Dillon again found himself playing defense in the action-packed event, with multiple incidents occurring near the No. 3 Chevrolet. Dillon was scored in the seventh position with three laps remaining when he incurred damage in a multi-car incident that sent the race into overtime. After pitting under caution for a flat right-rear tire and right front fender damage, Dillon restarted ninth for the final restart but the field wrecked again, officially ending the race with Dillon scored in the eighth position. The Dow Chevrolet team returns to Daytona International Speedway tomorrow for Daytona 500 qualifying.
Start – 10 Finish – 8 Laps Led – 0 Points – N/A
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“Wow, what a night! I feel like God was definitely looking out for us. We avoided some big wrecks. I feel fortunate to race in the Sprint Unlimited with the Dow Chevrolet because it’s a good opportunity to knock some of the dust off and I feel even more ready for the rest of Speedweeks and the Daytona 500 now.”
2011 CC Team Icon 27 NSCS Menards
Paul Menard Earns Third-Place Finish in Chaotic Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway
Paul Menard drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet SS to a third-place finish in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway. Menard started 14th by way of random draw and maneuvered his way to the front using the high line. The No. 27 team made adjustments throughout the 75-lap shootout to remedy Menard’s changing handling conditions with four stops on pit road. Spotter Billy O’Dea worked with Menard throughout the night to avoid wrecks and find the right line for speed. With six laps to go, Menard found himself in the 10th position and ready for the ensuing green flag. The RCR driver powered through a wreck in overtime to cross the finish line third.
Start – 14 Finish – 3 Laps Led – 0 Points – N/A
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
“Tonight was a lot of fun. We struggled with speed by ourselves, but the PEAK/Menards Chevy just drafted really well. I picked some wrong lanes and I picked some right lanes and in the end, the middle worked pretty well. It was a wild race and a lot of fun.”
Accident and A Cut-Down Tire Ends Caterpillar Racing’s Night in the Sprint Unlimited Exhibition Race at Daytona International Speedway
Ryan Newman drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS to a 19th-place finish in the Sprint Unlimited, the 75-lap exhibition race to signify the start of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Daytona International Speedway. The South Bend, Ind., driver lined up fifth after crew chief Luke Lambert and a race fan participated in a draw held on Friday. Newman earned his starting spot for the 25-car field after making the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the second-straight time driving for RCR. In the first segment comprised of 25 laps, Newman jockeyed for position running as high as fifth and as low as 20th position. The Cat Chevrolet responded best when racing in the high line but an incident on lap 56 cost the team its right-side door. The team made repairs during the caution but with less than six laps to go, Newman’s right-front tire cut down sending him into the wall to end his race. The Cat team will be back in action Sunday for Daytona 500 qualifying.
Start – 5 Finish – 19 Laps Led – 0 Points – N/A
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTE:
“I hope this means we’ve gotten all the bad luck out of the way for Daytona Speedweeks. We had a decent car. I raced the opening laps near the front of the field but then backed off a bit based on what I was seeing. From there, I just worked the different lines to see what worked best for us. Despite getting some damage avoiding a wreck, we still had a pretty good Cat Chevy. What ended our night was a cut down tire. It sent us in the wall. Still, we learned enough to give us an idea of what we have for the Daytona 500. Now we just got to get locked into one of the two front-row spots and then keep moving forward!”
