Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Kansas Speedway … In 65 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has one win, visiting victory lane in 2013 with Kevin Harvick, among five top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization holds an average starting position of 20th, an average finishing position of 15.3, has completed 16,905 of the 17,217 contested laps (98.2 percent) and has collectively led for 288 laps around the 1.5-mile race track.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,660 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 471 top-five finishes and 1,012 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16th. 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.
The Collective RCR … RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 10th (Dillon), 19th (Newman) and 21st (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.
Help Save Injured Kids … Will you be in North Carolina for the Charlotte races in May? Sign up now for the RCR/ECR 5K presented by Performance Springs, Inc. benefiting the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma on May 21 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at RCR Headquarters in Welcome, N.C. RCR and ECR Engines employees are passionate about their health and running, and want you to join us to help Save Injured Kids. Register now at saveinjuredkids.org/5k/.
Catch the Action … The Go Bowling 400 will be televised live Saturday, May 7 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot chassis No. 507 in the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon’s teammate Paul Menard drove to a 15th-place finish at Auto Club Speedway in March.
Dillon at Kansas Speedway …. In five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Dillon earned his best finish of eighth and start of 16th in October 2014.
Think Green … American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. NASCAR® drivers will have run more than 10 million flawless miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15 in 2016 . At its core, American Ethanol is a green fuel for an increasingly environmentally-conscious America, and has rejuvenated our rural economy.
Career-Best … Dillon heads into Kansas Speedway on the heels of earning his career-best finish in the Sprint Cup Series, third, at Talladega Superspeedway on May 1.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Your driving style seems to fit 1.5-mile tracks like Kansas Speedway. Why is that?
“The high-speed tracks seem to work out for us. Kansas Speedway is one of those places. Last year, I thought we had a legitimate chance to win and we blew a right-front (tire) while running third. I’ve been looking forward to getting back to Kansas since the beginning of the season. I’m hopeful we can find the same magic we had there last year. We had a really good race going for us. I can’t wait to get there. I really like running the high groove. I think that will come into play a lot as far as driving strategy.”
How has the progressive banking changed Kansas Speedway?
“The progressive banking has made racing at Kansas a lot of fun. It seems like there’s a little bit more grip up on the top of the groove and when tires wear, you can gain some good speed up there.”
The Kansas race falls on Mother’s Day weekend. Heading into the weekend, what are your plans?
“Mother’s Day is really special. My mom is the one that brought me into this world. My mom is really special to me. Growing up, she took me around to a lot of different races, baseball games, football games, always there for me. She still is always there for me. She helps me with everything in life. She comes to a lot of races, as many as she can. She doesn’t like to fly, so hopefully I can get her to Kansas somehow, someway.”
This Week’s NIBCO / Menards Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Chassis No. 512 was selected for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared car will hit the track for the first time in 2016 during Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions.
Kansas Stats … Menard has 14 Sprint Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway with one top-five and five top-10 finishes. His best start of second came in October 2010 and best finish of third in October 2012.
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Good Luck Charm … NIBCO has a winning history with Menard. The Elkhart, Ind.-based company was on the hood of Menard’s Chevrolet during his first-career Sprint Cup Series win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2011. They also saw Menard to Victory Lane in 2014 during the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Michigan International Speedway.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
Kansas Speedway seems to be getting some of its character back after the repave a few years ago. Is that something you notice when we go back there?
“It’s still one of the smoothest tracks we go to, but it is widening out a little bit. We’ve run the middle and top grooves the last time couple times we’ve been there. It’s definitely seasoning, but it’s still extremely smooth and the platform of the car is still really important. You have to get the car sealed off to make the most speed you can. I’m pretty excited about the tire they’re bringing. They had a tire test there in December or maybe earlier this year and I’ve heard that the tire is pretty awesome, so I’m looking forward to that.”
This Week’s Grainger Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Ryan Newman will pilot car No. 504 in Saturday’s 400-mile event. Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions will be the first time this season the car will take to the track for competition.
Career Stats at Kansas … Newman will make his 523rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series embarks on its 11th event of the season. In 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Kansas, Newman visited victory lane in the fall of 2003. In total, he owns three top-five and six top-10 finishes. The South Bend, Ind., native holds an average starting position of 13.7 and average finish of 17.2. He has led 128 laps in competition. In the last four events at the 1.5-mile speedway, Newman ranks fifth in most points earned.
They’re Back! … Grainger is proud to be back on the No. 31 Chevrolet for the fourth time this season. When you’re looking for ways to do more with less, you need easy access to dependable products that help keep your facility functioning. Look for the Grainger Choice badge to identify products-from safety, lighting and pumps to material handling, fasteners, parts and more-that deliver the quality, value and selection you demand. Grainger exclusive brands and products carrying the Grainger Choice designation are continually evaluated for their dependability and durability to help ensure their performance. For more info visit: grainger/choice.
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RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What is the key to success at Kansas Speedway?
“Kansas is a big circle. It’s super fast and it has a little bit of a goofy transition into Turn 1. It just seems like it is a combination of downforce and horsepower to go fast. It’s super smooth so it doesn’t really matter so much how your car rides as much as how you have the tires loaded up in each corner and the overall grip you can get out of the car with the downforce.”
What is the trickiest thing you need to deal with?
You know, it will be interesting to see how much it widens out because it is still a fresh repave. Right now we just don’t know if it has built character or if it’s changed much with the newer style asphalt or it hasn’t changed. We won’t get to know that until we go back.”
With it being a Saturday night race, what will it mean to be able to spend Mother’s Day at home?
“I think everyone in the garage knows how important it is to celebrate Mother’s Day at home and not at the track. There are a few mothers out there that don’t mind, but a lot of them that do. From my mom’s standpoint as well as my wife’s, it so nice to be home and spend the day together as a family.”
