Richard Childress Racing at Pocono Raceway … In 148 starts at Pocono Raceway, RCR team owner Richard Childress has two wins, both with Dale Earnhardt, who won on July 19, 1987 and July 18, 1993. Additionally, RCR has earned one pole award, 16 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes with 604 laps led at the uniquely-shaped three-turn track. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed two of those top-10 finishes under the RCR banner.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,688 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 472 top-five finishes and 1,022 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.
The Collective RCR … RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 12th (Dillon), 13th (Newman) and 23rd (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.
Pediatric Trauma Experiences Affect the Whole Family … We are thankful to Penn Medicine’s Dr. Jeremy Cannon for sharing his brother Brett’s pediatric trauma story http://bit.ly/2aecQcx. Dr. Cannon works with other pediatric trauma specialists to improve pediatric trauma research and education with the goal of improving care for injured children all over the world.
Catch the Action … The Pennsylvania 400 is scheduled to be televised live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
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This Week’s American Ethanol Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Austin Dillon will pilot chassis No. 528 in the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced to a fourth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
Dillon at Pocono Raceway … Dillon has made five Sprint Cup Series starts at Pocono Raceway, earning his best finish of 13th and best starting position of fourth at the track in August 2015. He has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the triangle-shaped track, finishing seventh in 2010, fifth in 2011 and posting a win in 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 have run nearly 10 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15. At its core, American Ethanol is a green fuel for an increasingly environmentally-conscious America, and pairs perfectly with the naturally beautiful state of Pennsylvania.
#AustinDillonTakeover … For an inside look at Dillon’s life at the track, follow @americanethanol on Instagram. Dillon plans to take over the account throughout the Pennsylvania 400 race weekend.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
You had an incident at Pocono Raceway in June that took you out of the race early, but what was the big take-away from that race that you can use when you go back there this week?
“Well we have a different brake package now, and it’s been really good for us. I think Pocono Raceway can be one of those places where we gain a lot of points so we’ll keep working on it. I have learned that you can really gain positions off of Turn 3. The best I’ve been there, and the most cars I’ve been able to pass at Pocono Raceway, is when I’ve been fast off of Turn 3. If you can get through Turns 1 and 2 pretty consistent and really gain speed off of Turn 3 you’re a really good car.”
This Week’s Moen / Menards Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 531 this weekend at Pocono Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet SS has raced previously this season with Menard’s teammate Ryan Newman behind the wheel at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Start: 4 / Finish: 24) and Menard at Texas Motor Speedway (Start: 25 / Finish: 26).
Tricky Triangle Stats … In 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the Tricky Triangle, Menard has recorded two top-10 and six top-15 finishes. He has an average start of 19.4 and finish of 23.4 with 95.7 percent of laps completed in competition.
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PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
Pocono Raceway is the closest in terms of the amount of time between events there. How good will your notes still be after that soon of a turnaround?
“I feel like we had a really good car in Pocono. We had a brake issue which really hurt us and put us a bunch of laps down. Our Chevy was really good though. We made a lot of passes around cars than what passed up so I feel like we have a good baseline for this weekend. Some of it will depend on the weather and what everyone else has learned over the last few weeks. We definitely have a good starting spot though.”
Are you one of the guys who is glad they’ve gone to a 400-mile from a 500-mile event to make that thing a little less grueling?
“Actually, I didn’t really mind the 500 miles. There are some 500-mile events I would like to make 400 miles in place of Pocono, but I think that was more for the fans. It can get pretty spread out. As a driver it’s pretty fun because you’re shifting quite a bit so it never gets boring for us. I could see how going from 500 miles to 400 miles was a good thing for the fans.”
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Ryan Newman will race car No. 548 in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400. Paul Menard drove this car earlier this season at Richmond International Raceway where the No. 27 started 26th and finished 27th.
Newman at the Tricky Triangle … Newman will make his 533rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the Series returns to the 2.5-mile raceway this weekend. In 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono, Newman drove to victory lane in the second summer event of 2003. The “Rocket Man” also owns two pole awards. In total, he’s recorded nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He has led 184 laps in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 11.3 and average finish of 12.8. In the last 10 races at the Pennsylvania track, the Richard Childress Racing driver ranks fifth in most points earned.
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See Newman … On Sunday, he is scheduled to participate in a question and answer session at the Team Chevy display at 10:10 a.m. located in the midway.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What makes Pocono Raceway so unique?
“Pocono Raceway has the super long front straightaway and three distinct corners with different banking and different radiuses. Sometimes you shift and sometimes you don’t. It all depends on how your transmission and your driving style is. It’s tricky. That’s why they call it the Tricky Triangle.”
What is one area that your team will focus on?
“There is a lot of focus on corner speeds and a lot of focus on straightaway speeds. The combination that usually pays the most is Turn 3 to the front straightaway because it’s the flattest corner and the longest straightaway so you got to be good in Turn 3 if you are going to win.”
Of the three Turns, which one is the hardest?
“Turn 3 because it leads to the longest straightaway. To me, Turn 2 is the most fun, but it is the shortest turn. It has a little bit of character to it.”
The last time we were there, the restarts were wild. What is it like for you to be in the driver’s seat on a restart?
“The restarts are crazy at Pocono with the big, wide front straightaway, shifting and getting up to speed and then all of a sudden you realize you have to get stopped for Turn 3 and there is no downforce in a big pack of cars. It’s a challenge. Sometimes you get a two for one when the cars get doubled up. Sometimes you can go and get three for one when they get three or four wide. It’s a time and a place where you can make up as much ground as you can.”
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Iowa Speedway … In 33 Series starts at the 7/8-mile speedway, RCR has captured one victory with Elliott Sadler in 2012. The Welcome, North Carolina, organization has completed 8,164 laps of the 8,326 (98.1 percent) that they have competed. RCR has accumulated three pole awards, 11 top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, led 438 laps and averages a starting position of 9.2 and finishing position of 10.2.
Indianapolis Review … Paul Menard was the highest RCR finisher in third, Ty Dillon ninth, Brandon Jones 10th and Brendan Gaughan 16th, respectively, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Points … All three RCR XFINITY Series full-time drivers remain in the top 10 of the driver point standings as the series heads to Iowa Speedway for the 19th event of the season. Ty Dillon is currently third, Brendan Gaughan is sixth and Brandon Jones is seventh. The No. 2 RCR team is third in the owner point standings. Brandon Jones is currently second in the XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings.
Catch the Action … Coverage of this weekend’s U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, July 30, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. It will also be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Sam Hornish Jr. will pilot chassis No. 148 in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet is new to the No. 2 team’s fleet and will see track action on Friday during practice.
Welcome to the Team … This weekend, the No. 2 team welcomes a new driver to their line up for the 2016 season. Sam Hornish Jr. will make his first start with the RCR team at Iowa Speedway.
Winner, Winner … Hornish earned the victory at the 7/8-mile speedway last month when the NASCAR XFINITY Series visited the track. In eighth previous XFINITY Series starts at Iowa Speedway, Hornish has earned two wins, six top-five and six top-10 finishes. The Ohio-native holds an average starting position of fifth, coupled with an average finishing position of 6.4.
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No. 2 Team by the Numbers … With 18 XFINITY Series events complete in 2016, the No. 2 team has one victory, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, with 24 laps led to their credit. Paul Menard returns to the driver’s seat next weekend for the XFINITY Series’ first road course race of the season.
SAM HORNISH JR. QUOTE:
This weekend marks your first race with Richard Childress Racing, what are your thoughts heading into the weekend?
“I’ve been looking forward to this for quite some time. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Childress and can’t wait to drive for him. I really like racing at Iowa Speedway because the layout and character really fits my driving style. It’s going to be great to be back behind a Chevrolet. I won a lot of races with them in the IndyCar Series. The opportunity to work with the guys on the No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet provides me a shot to run up front and hopefully get another win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.”
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 176 for this weekend’s US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was raced earlier this season at Iowa Speedway, where Dillon qualified eighth and finished second.
Dillon at Iowa Speedway … In five NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Iowa Speedway, Dillon has four top-10 and three top-five finishes. In Dillon’s previous two starts at the 7/8-mile speedway, he has a runner-up and fourth-place finish. Overall, Dillon averages a starting position of 11 and a finishing position of 6.6.
Second Time Back … Dillon’s runner-up finish last month at Iowa Speedway was his second, second-place finish of the 2016 season. Dillon drove the No. 3 American Ethanol/Kum & Go Chevrolet Camaro inside the top five for a majority of the 250-mile race, but came up short of victory despite a late-race caution. Dillon is currently third in the XFINITY Series driver point standings with eight races before The Chase cutoff.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs at the XFINITY Series autograph session prior to qualifying at 2 p.m. CT located under the Turn 4 grandstands.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
You finished second here last month. How can you duplicate those efforts this weekend?
“We had a pretty good run here last month mainly because we utilized the extra practice time to really work on our balance. One thing I’d like to improve on this time around is our qualifying effort. If we can start the race inside the top five, rather than, say, eighth, I think it will only help our chances. The other important part is to have a good day on pit road. Because these XFINITY Series races are so short, there really isn’t room for error. I like Iowa. I have a good feeling about this weekend and our chances. Our short-track program has been solid this season and I hope we can score a victory Saturday night.”
This Week’s M-D Building Products/Menards Chevrolet Camaro at Iowa Speedway … Brandon Jones will pilot chassis No. 172 this weekend at Iowa Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro previously raced at Auto Club Speedway, Dover International Speedway and the June race at Iowa Speedway, where Jones finished ninth, 25th and 12th, respectively.
Iowa Nuggets … Jones has made three NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at 7/8-mile short track and is a former winner in the NASCAR K&N East Series. He has an average start of 6.3 and an average finish of 13.3 in his three XFINITY Series starts. Along with his XFINITY and K&N East Series experience, Jones has also competed in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series at Iowa Speedway.
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Rearview Mirror: Indianapolis … Making his first start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend, Jones qualified in the 11th spot and finished the Dash4Cash heat in the seventh spot. Jones started the 60-lap main event in the 13th spot and fought his way into the top 10 by the end of the day. Finishing 10th, Jones earned his eighth top-10 finish of the 2016 season and moved to seventh in the XFINITY Series driver standings.
BRANDON JONES QUOTES:
Will it be an advantage going to Iowa Speedway this weekend after going there earlier this year?
“Iowa Speedway is the track on the NASCAR circuit I have been to the most. I’ve been there in the past in the K&N Series, the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA as well, so I’ve been there plenty of times and have a really good feel for how to get around that track. I always look forward to getting back to Iowa Speedway. I think we can run inside the top five and hopefully get up there and contend for the win with the M-D Building Products/Menards Chevrolet.”
What is it about Iowa Speedway that makes it such a favorite of drivers?
“The best way I can describe Iowa Speedway is that it drives like a mile-and-a-half track, but you also drive it like a short track. You can race around people and you don’t get aero-tight like you do at the mile-and-a-half tracks. It is very similar to the mile-and-a-half tracks because of the way the corners are banked and how you arc the car into the corners. That just fits my style for whatever reason. I’m still learning and picking things up about the mile-and-a-half tracks, but the short track stuff we have figured out pretty well.”
This Week’s U.S. Cellular Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 178 this weekend at Iowa Speedway under the lights for the U.S. Cellular 250. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared chassis has been utilized in three NASCAR XFINITY Series events in 2016 at Auto Club Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Iowa Speedway finishing seventh, 15th and 15th, respectively.
Gaughan at Iowa Speedway … In nine XFINITY Series starts at the 7/8-mile paved oval, Gaughan has earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes. Gaughan averages a starting position of 13.9 and finishing position of 14.8.
U.S. Cellular Onboard the No. 62 Chevrolet … U.S. Cellular provides national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the wireless customer experience. We are a proud sponsor of the U.S. Cellular 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race, and we strive to build a connection with our communities that extends beyond our business by supporting community events that enhance the neighborhoods where we live, work and play. For more information, visit uscellular.com.
Statistically Speaking … With 18 XFINITY Series events complete, Gaughan is tied for first in most laps completed in competition with 2,812 of 2,819 (99.8 percent) laps on track. The Las Vegas native has led 14 laps so far in 2016 and ranks fifth in quality passes with 627 passes complete.
Meet Brendan Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to sign autographs and meet with fans at U.S Cellular located at 3418 Eighth Street SW in Altoona, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT. Gaughan is also scheduled to sign autographs at the XFINITY Series autograph session prior to qualifying on Saturday, July 30, located under the Turn 4 grandstands beginning at 2 p.m. CT
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
Round two at Iowa Speedway, what did you learn and what do you take to the second event?
“We had an interesting race when we were here in June. We had an issue in qualifying that set us back. We learned a lot from that race and will apply the notes on Saturday. I love Iowa, it is one of the few short tracks that I really enjoy and actually like. The track is bumpy and rough, and I love how that plays into the way you race. It can be tough to drive and get a hold of the car. We will go back with the same chassis but with a different setup and U.S. Cellular on the car.”
