Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Daytona International Speedway … Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected five points-paying victories at the most-storied race track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. RCR owns two Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999). In addition, RCR has earned the Sprint Unlimited a total of eight times, with drivers Harvick (2009, 2010, 2013) and Earnhardt (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95).
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,628 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 468 top-five finishes and 1004 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.0. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
Time to Duel … The Duel at Daytona features two 150-mile races from which the majority of the final starting grid for the Daytona 500 will be set. By virtue of qualifying ninth and 16th, respectively, in last Sunday’s qualifying session, Dillon and Menard will start fifth and ninth in the first of the two qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 18. Newman starts seventh in the second Duel after qualifying 15th on Sunday.
Catch the Action … The 58th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 21 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Cam-Am Duels at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This Week’s Dow Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 533 in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. This is a new Chevrolet SS that will also be utilized for Thursday’s Duels.
Dillon at Daytona … In five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon has acquired one top-five and three top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place finish in the Coke Zero 400 in July 2014. The Welcome, N.C., driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has six starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with one win, five top-five and five top-five finishes. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Pole Winner … Dillon earned his career-first Sprint Cup Series pole award with a lap of 196.019 mph (45.914 seconds) in the 2014 edition of the Daytona 500. It marked the fourth time the No. 3 has won the pole for the Daytona 500, and its 67th Sprint Cup Series pole, overall. Dillon also started on the front row for the July 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
Dow Delivers Solutions at the Intersection of Science and Markets … Working closely with their customers, Dow delivers products and solutions that create value and competitive advantage while positively impacting the world we live in. Collectively, Dow’s efforts have lasting results, creating higher performance for their customers and reshaping the world around us to build a better future for everyone.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to greet race fans at the NASCAR Trackside Superstore on Thursday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m. ET. A $25 RCR apparel purchase is required in order to meet Dillon. Making its inaugural trip to the reimagined Daytona International Speedway, the Trackside Superstore footprint is located outside the center injector. The first motorsports stadium has its own 72,000 square foot shopping area to accompany 32 additional in-venue, infield and on property shopping options.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Any expectations for Daytona International Speedway?
“I want to finish the race with all four wheels on the ground. The last time I was there it was a little bit of a wicked ride. I saw a lot of effort coming from our guys and that’s the biggest thing heading into this year’s Daytona 500. We want our cars to be faster so that we’re not in that mess. We want to be in front of that. I’ve seen a lot of push at the shop from the guys making our speedway cars faster and I don’t really think we’ve put that effort in the last couple of years because the speedway races are a wreck fest sometimes so it’s hard to put a lot of effort into something sometimes when you don’t know what the outcome is going to be. Our opinion now is to put more effort in and be in front of it. I think we’ve put a lot of effort in this year to go fast at Daytona, so we have an expectation to be fast.”
Did you learn anything in the Sprint Unlimited that you can take to this week?
“Yeah, I think so. And I said that last year. It’s just a small group of cars, so it’s hard to tell. But in a smaller group, when it got to 23, I felt like the middle lane was pretty solid. You could gain some speed through there. And that helped my car. We struggled a little bit when we got air on our nose. So, if I ever got to the front of the pack, it didn’t seem like my car could hold a lead. We kind of got shuffled out a couple of times and went front and back and front and back. This is an older car. It’s the car we sat on the pole with two years ago that was our Sprint Unlimited car. So, now we’ve built a brand new car. The 500 car seems to be pretty fast. We were eighth in qualifying and I’m proud of that. We’ll see what we’ve got for the Duels. I just want to take care of that and make sure we have that car for Sunday’s race.”
Did you look at the fence at the start/finish line during practice?
‘I never looked at it during practice, but I did at some point in time when I was walking on the grid during qualifying day. I just kind of looked down at that area. It was the first time I’d seen it since the last time we were here. It was a crazy crash that I was a part of. The good part is that we all go through a safety meeting at the beginning of the year. I thought I was going to be in that safety meeting, but I wasn’t. I usually make the highlight reel in the safety meeting every year. But, I was safe. I had a bruised tailbone; that was it. So, for a wreck like that to get through it, shows you how safe our cars are and we’re only making improvements and I think NASCAR has shown us some more improvements. I hope they implement them pretty fast because that will definitely make our cars even safer.”
This Week’s PEAK / Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Crew chief Justin Alexander and the No. 27 team prepared chassis No. 539 for Thursday night’s Duel and Sunday’s Daytona 500. This Chevrolet SS is brand new to the Richard Childress Racing stable.
Menard in Daytona … Menard has 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway. His best start of first came in July 2008 and his best finish of sixth came in the 2012 Daytona 500. The Wisconsin native has completed 2,816 of 2,985 laps attempted at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, leading 67 of them.
Win $1,000,000 … Indiana resident, Kevin Lesniak and Habitat for Humanity both have the chance to win $1,000,000 during Sunday’s Daytona 500 thanks to PEAK Antifreeze. If Menard wins the Great American Race, Lesniak will go home with $1,000,000 and Habitat for Humanity will get a $1,000,000 donation from Menards.
Meet Menard … Come to the Team Chevy stage, located in the new Daytona International Speedway Fan Zone, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 19 for a Q&A with Menard.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
You won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, how big would a Daytona 500 win be for you?
“It’s number two on the bucket list. We knocked number one off and the Daytona 500 is for sure my number two on that list. We learned a lot during the Unlimited last week and hope to carry that over to the Duel then again on Sunday. The weather is a little cooler during the Unlimited, so we have to translate that during the warmer temperatures on Sunday during the day. It all starts this week.”
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Daytona International Speedway … Ryan Newman will pilot a brand new car, No. 536, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season opener, the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet SS will also compete in the second Duel race on Thursday to secure his starting spot in the Daytona 500.
Newman in the Daytona 500 … Newman is the proud owner of a Harley J. Earl trophy by winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. In total, the South Bend, Ind. native has 27 starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, earning four top-five and seven top-10 finishes. His average start is 20.0 and finish is 20.5. He’s led 102 laps in competition.
Featured Caterpillar Dealers … Ring Power and Louisiana Cat are the featured Cat dealers for the Daytona 500.
Ring Power is the Central and Northeast Florida Caterpillar dealer, headquartered in St. Augustine, FL. Ring Power is comprised of eight divisions and has over 50 years of experience selling, servicing and supporting Caterpillar and allied equipment. Additional information about the Ring Power organization, its products, services and employment opportunities can be found on the Internet at ringpower.com.
For over 80 years, Louisiana Cat has served the area with sales and service of Cat equipment. With 21 locations across the Pelican State, Louisiana Cat provides an extensive line of equipment, engines and power systems, work tools, vocational trucks, and more. In addition, they carry a large stock of used Caterpillar equipment, and with Caterpillar’s extensive dealer network, Louisiana Cat has access to used equipment on a global scale. Louisiana Cat’s parts and service departments provide the reliability and availability you have come to expect from your Caterpillar dealership. Louisiana Rents is your single resource for high quality, low-hour Cat and top brands construction equipment and attachment rentals. Louisiana Rents locations also sell new equipment from Caterpillar’s brand allied vendors. Daily, weekly, monthly or longer rentals are available, and to ensure that the equipment is ready to work when you are, all machines are serviced and maintained by factory trained technicians. Big or small, Louisiana Rents rents it all.
About Caterpillar … For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2015 sales and revenues of $47.011 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
Meet Newman … On Thursday, Newman is scheduled to greet race fans at the NASCAR Trackside Superstore at 3 p.m. A $25 RCR apparel purchase is required in order to meet the Cat driver. Making its inaugural trip to the reimagined Daytona International Speedway, the Trackside Superstore footprint is located outside the center injector. The first motorsports stadium has its own 72,000 square foot shopping area to accompany 32 additional in-venue, infield and on property shopping options. On Sunday, he is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session with Miss Sprint Cup at 9:40 a.m. in the Sprint Fan Zone stage located inside the track courtesy of Coca-Cola.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
How has winning the Daytona 500 affected your life?
“I don’t think winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500 has changed my life. I think it has changed the perception fans have of me as a driver. It’s the ultimate credential of being a champion in one of the biggest races let alone the 50th anniversary. No doubt winning the Daytona 500 is really special but I still do the same things I did before winning the race. Now, I happen to have a ring that goes along with that victory. I think what changes is the fans and their impressions of who I am and what I’ve accomplished that really makes the difference.”
What are the keys to Daytona?
“The biggest key to Daytona is survival. It’s a track where most every car is equal and you have to kind of be there at the end. There is no guarantee at the end what it is going to be. It could be rain shortened. It could be a long green-flag run or you could have several restarts which can make it difficult to pass. It also depends if the cars go single file because it makes it very difficult to pass. You don’t really know how it is going to pan out so you just have to have patience and hope for the best.
“What you also have to keep in mind is Daytona will always be the kind of race where you can win. If you are that fortunate, you’ll find that it changes the tone and your approach for the rest of your season because that win punches your ticket to the Chase.”
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Daytona International Speedway… In 69 Series starts at the 2.5-mile track, RCR has captured six victories with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002 and 2010), Kevin Harvick (2007), Clint Bowyer (2009), Tony Stewart (2013) and Austin Dillon (2015). The Welcome, N.C. organization has completed 7,617 laps of the 7,710 (98.8 percent) that they have competed. RCR has accumulated four pole awards, 29 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes, led 589 laps and averages a starting position of 10.9 and finishing position of 11.4.
RCR in the XFINITY Series … In 1,213 XFINITY Series starts dating back to 1995, RCR has earned 62 pole awards, 75 wins, 384 top-five and 686 top-10 finishes with an 11th-place average starting position and an 11.9 average finishing position. RCR has earned four driver’s championships; two with Kevin Harvick in 2001 and 2006, Clint Bowyer in 2008 and Austin Dillon in 2013. The organization has also earned five owners’ championships doing so in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
2016 Driver Line-Up … RCR will field four full-time XFINITY Series entries in 2016. Austin Dillon and Paul Menard will share seat time in the No. 2 Chevrolet with crew chief Danny Stockman. Ty Dillon and crew chief Nick Harrison again partner up this season with the No. 3 Chevrolet team. New to the full-time driver line up this year, Brandon Jones will pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet with crew chief Mike Hillman, Jr. Brendan Gaughan also returns to the driver’s seat with RCR with Shane Wilson at the helm.
Did You Know … Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. Visit SaveInjuredKids.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
Catch the Action … Coverage of this weekend’s XFINITY Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, February 20, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX Sports 1. It will also be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 174 in the Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This is a new Chevrolet Camaro that will be utilized for the first time this weekend.
Dillon at Daytona … In six previous XFINITY Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon has earned one victory (2015), five top-five finishes and two pole awards. The RCR driver holds an average starting position of 10.2 coupled with an average finishing position of 6.7.
Performance Counts . . . RCR and Rheem understand that winning is the result of a commitment to unparalleled achievement and continuous improvement. Rheem, a global leader in heating, cooling and water heating products is dedicated to keeping families and businesses comfortable through reliable, energy efficient products and systems customized to any lifestyle and budget. As at RCR, Rheem invests in talented professionals, advanced technology, R&D and world-class facilities that deliver Victory Lane performance. Rheem is . . . The New Degree of Comfort.
Welcome Back … Dillon, the 2013 XFINITY Series Champion and 2012 Rookie of the Year, returns to regular XFINITY Series competition this season. After competing in 20 XFINITY Series events in 2015, Dillon plans to run a majority of the scheduled races this season under the RCR banner with Rheem. He is a six-time race winner in the XFINITY Series and 16-time pole winner, holding the record for most consecutive poles in series history with seven.
Experience on Top of the Box … Veteran NASCAR crew chief Danny Stockman returns in 2016 to work with a multi-driver lineup that includes Dillon and Paul Menard. The Dillon-Stockman duo dates back to 2010 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The pair earned the 2011 Camping World Truck Series driver’s championship followed by the 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series driver’s championship. Together, Dillon and Stockman have recorded 12 victories including back-to-back wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway last season in the XFINITY Series.
Slingin’ Dirt … As speedweeks ramped up for 2016, Dillon spent any time away from the track at Volusia Speedway racing his No. 3 dirt modified for Team Dillon Racing.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
You’re back behind the wheel in the NASCAR XFINITY Series again this season. What are your goals for the year?
“I can’t thank Rheem enough for this opportunity to drive the No. 2 Chevrolet this year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. We had a lot of success last season and plan to do the same again this year. Our goal is to go out and contend for the owner’s championship title. We have the team, resources and determination to make it happen.”
Is it a competitive benefit to you to run both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series?
“Sprint Cup Series drivers and crew chiefs have always paid attention to the Saturday XFINITY race, but I think you’ll see more of it this year. By running the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, I can gather good information that I can use on Sunday.”
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Dillon will pilot chassis No. 173 for this weekend’s Powershares QQQ 300 at DIS. This is a brand-new chassis in the Richard Childress Racing stable.
Dillon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Daytona International Speedway … In five XFINITY Series starts at the superspeedway, Dillon has two top 10 finishes.
RCR and Bass Pro Shops together for 21st season … Bass Pro Shops will be featured on the hood of the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro for select races this season, its 21st season as primary sponsor with Richard Childress Racing. The relationship dates back several decades between outdoorsman, conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder, Johnny Morris, and Richard Childress.
Slinging Dirt … Prior to Daytona Speedweeks, Dillon raced at Volusia Speedway Park in the annual DIRTcar Nationals behind the wheel of the No. 41 Florida Lottery Chevrolet for family-owned Team Dillon Racing.
Meet Dillon … Fans will have several opportunities to meet Dillon. He is scheduled to sign autographs on Thursday, February 18 at the UNOH Display in the Fan Midway beginning at 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, February 20 at the Florida Lottery display beginning at 8:45 a.m., and Sunday, February 21 at the Team Chevy super stage at 9:30 a.m.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
What are your goals this season?
“Our goals this year are pretty simple: win the championship. I am in year three now as an XFINITY Series driver and I have probably the highest expectations of anyone in the garage. We expect to win multiple races, make the new chase format, advance to final four at Homestead-Miami Speedway and win the championship. Our team is capable of doing so.”
What are your thoughts on the new Chase format for the XFINITY Series?
“I think it’s great that the XFINITY Series is moving to a chase format to crown its driver champion. We’ve seen in the Sprint Cup Series how exciting it has become, how there is drama down to the final lap at Homestead, two years in a row. The XFINITY Series is an ultra-competitive series and I’m glad to be a part of its inaugural chase format and plan to bring home the championship this season.”
This Week’s Barrett Jackson Premium Auto Care/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Brandon Jones will pilot Chassis No. 152 in the Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is new for the 2016 season and will see its first competitive laps in Friday’s practice sessions.
Daytona Nuggets … This weekend’s Powershares QQQ 300 marks Jones first appearance at Daytona International Speedway. Jones has accumulated two starts on tracks larger than two miles in length across the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards where he recorded two top-five finishes and seven laps led.
Welcome, Barrett Jackson Premium Auto Care … Take Home Million-Dollar Performance! As the leader in collector car auctions, Barrett-Jackson knows all about car care. Now they are bringing that same performance to your garage. Formulated with advanced polymer technology to give your car unbeatable protection and a deep wet -look shine, these new Barrett-Jackson Premium Auto Care products give you a look that’s worthy of the auction floor. For more information visit us at barrett-jacksonautocare.com.
Available at Menards … Menards carries the tools, materials and supplies for all of your home improvement projects from just needing a light bulb, gallon of paint or household items to building a deck, fence or new home! A family-owned company started in 1958, Menards currently operates 287 home improvement stores located throughout 14 Midwestern states. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right, the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town, and the way Guests are always treated like family.
Happy Birthday, BJones! … Jones will celebrate his 19th birthday on February 18. The No. 33 Barrett Jackson Premium Auto Care / Menards Chevrolet team extend their happiest of wishes to the 2016 XFINITY Series Rookie of the Year contender.
BRANDON JONES QUOTES:
What are your goals for the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season?
“One of our goals this season is to win Rookie of the Year honors. We have some talented drivers to contend with, but I know the No. 33 Menards team is capable of making a great run at it. We’re going to do our best to go out there and clinch a spot in the XFINITY Series Chase. Mike (Hillman, Jr.) and the guys have worked really hard this off season to put together fast Chevrolets. I’m confident we’ll meet the goals we set this season.”
This will be your first time in a car at Daytona International Speedway, what is your plan for the week?
“I’ve been talking with a lot of my RCR teammates and picking their brain about what to expect. Mike (Hillman, Jr.) has been great about talking me through drafting and our plan for the practice sessions. I’m going to go out in our first practice session and get a feel for the car and the track. The No. 33 team will give me a fast machine, so it’s up to me to get comfortable and ready for the race on Saturday.”
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 175 this weekend at Daytona International Speedway for the Powershares QQQ 300. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is a new addition to the RCR stable and will make its first laps at Daytona International Speedway during practice Friday.
Daytona Details … In eight XFINITY Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Gaughan has completed 95.1 percent (848 of 892) of the laps he has attempted. The Las Vegas native is credited with one top-10 finish, three laps led, a 20.6 average starting position and a 22.4 average finishing position.
At South Point … South Point Hotel & Casino will host round three of the WORCS Series in conjunction with the MotoCon Expo on February 26-28. WORCS Racing kicked off in 2001 and has established the series as the biggest national off road motorcycle racing series. For more information visit southpointarena.com/events.
Meet Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to sign autographs and participate in a Q&A session on Saturday, February 20 at the XFINITY Zone Display in the Fan Midway beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
How will this year be different considering the new format in the XFINITY Series?
“This season is very different from previous years, in the past you went in with the mindset; this is Daytona everybody wants to win here, but it is just one race and you wanted to get out of there with a good points situation. With the new Chase for the XFINITY Series you can now go to Daytona and really take chances that you couldn’t take before. Drivers were always aggressive at Daytona, but now I think you are going to see even more aggression because of this new format.”
