DARLINGTON RACEWAY (1.366-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
EVENT: NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (RACE 25 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 6 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 (NBC/MRN/SIRIUSXM)
No. 5 LiftMaster Chevrolet SS / Kasey Kahne
Driver Kasey Kahne Hometown Enumclaw, Washington
Age 36 Resides Mooresville, North Carolina
2016 Season
16th in standings
24 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
6 top-10 finishes
0 laps led
Career
456 starts
17 wins
27 pole positions
88 top-five finishes
162 top-10 finishes
4,607 laps led
Track Career
13 starts
0 wins
4 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
4 top-10 finishes
353 laps led
DARLINGTON THROWBACK: This weekend, Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 5 LiftMaster Chevrolet SS modeled after Terry Labonte’s 1982 JD Stacey paint scheme. The year has significant meaning for LiftMaster, as it was entering the garage door opener business in the United States. Kahne revealed the scheme along with Labonte at the NASCAR Hall of Fame last Wednesday. Darlington is significant to Labonte as it is where he won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race — in 1980 — and also his last in 2003 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.
KAHNE AT DARLINGTON: The 36-year-old has declared Darlington as one of his favorite tracks, but still looks to find its Victory Lane. He led two laps and finished 12th in last year’s Labor Day weekend race. Kahne has led laps in nine of his 13 starts at the historic track.
POLES AT DARLINGTON: In Kahne’s 13 starts at the 1.366-mile oval, he has earned the pole position four times – in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011 – which leads all active drivers. In the last 112 races at the track “Too Tough To Tame,” 20 drivers have won from the pole position.
DARLINGTON LOOP DATA: According to NASCAR’s loop data, Kahne ranks sixth in driver rating, with an average rating of 96.1. He is fifth in average speed early in a run at 163.709 mph, in fastest laps run with 232 and in laps led with 329. Kahne is eighth-fastest on restarts at 158.001 mph, and ninth in laps in the top 15 with 2,709.
GOING HOME: Darlington is No. 5 team hauler driver Jimmy Parrott’s home track. Parrott hails from Taylors, South Carolina, which is approximately three hours northwest of Darlington.
LAKE NORMAN MAGAZINE: No. 5 team engineer Taylor Moyer is featured in the September issue of Lake Norman Magazine, along with No. 24 team pit crew member Chad Avrit and other industry members. The article features information on Moyer’s hobbies away from the track as well as his No. 5 team duties. The magazine is on newsstands now and can be read here.
STRONG RESULTS FROM THE DRIVE: Kahne and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson co-hosted The DRIVE charity golf tournament and auction on June 27 and 28 at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington. Last Thursday, Aug. 25, Wilson along with Kahne’s father Kelly presented a check for the $1,060,005 raised for the Seattle Children’s Hospital and its Strong Against Cancer initiative at the Seahawks’ preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. The No. 5 Chevrolet SS that Kahne drove in the July Daytona race was designed by Strong Against Cancer patient Noelia Gutierrez.
FIVE KAHNE 5K: For the seventh consecutive year, Kahne will hold his 5K charity run. The event will take place at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 9, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Interested participants can pre-register online by visiting https://fivekahne5k.racesonline.com/home. Over 8,000 children in the states surrounding North Carolina have benefited from the funds raised by the annual charity run.
No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Assurance of Quality Chevrolet SS / Chase Elliott
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 20 Resides Mooresville, North Carolina
2016 Season
11th in standings
24 starts
0 wins
2 pole positions
7 top-five finishes
12 top-10 finishes
163 laps led
Career
29 starts
0 wins
2 pole positions
7 top-five finishes
12 top-10 finishes
163 laps led
Track Career
1 start
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
0 top-10 finishes
0 laps led
DARLINGTON PAINT SCHEME PREVIEW: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott will pilot a retro-themed NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme for this weekend’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The black-and-yellow scheme mimics a longstanding NAPA AUTO PARTS delivery truck. The design will feature a yellow hood and roof panel sporting NAPA AUTO PARTS’ 1963 logo – the last version before the yellow-and-blue design seen today. The logo introduced in 1963 was meant to remind customers that NAPA was nationwide and represented quality with knowledgeable employees. The lower half of Elliott’s Chevrolet is sleek black with the current NAPA design emblazoned on the quarter panels as well as the deck lid next to a bright white No. 24 on the door panels. The rear television panel features the current logo design next to white script reading “90 Years Strong” as NAPA AUTO PARTS has been in business for over 90 years.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING: NAPA AUTO PARTS was founded in April 1925 during one of the first automobile booms in the United States. A group of 28 men – each owners of individually operated Continental Motor Parts Stations – focused on automotive repairs, specifically distributing replacement parts. Thus, they founded the National Automotive Parts Association – NAPA. Today, NAPA is recognized as one of the most reliable automotive parts distribution systems in the world. Motor sports has also played a major role in NAPA’s identity and brand awareness. The company first tested out motor sports partnerships in the 1970s, increasing the company’s footprint in the 1990s when NAPA jumped into driver and team sponsorships. This weekend in Darlington, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team pays tribute to NAPA’s storied history on both the distribution and motor sport aspects through the retro NAPA AUTO PARTS Assurance of Quality paint scheme.
2014 FLASHBACK: While this weekend marks the resurgence of retro paint schemes at the Southern 500, NAPA AUTO PARTS’ 1963 nostalgic logo is only a throwback of a few years for Elliott. In 2014, the retro logo adorned the No. 9 NASCAR XFINITY Series Camaro that he tested for JR Motorsports, owned by teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., in preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway.
SEASON STANDINGS: Elliott currently sits 11th in the standings with 628 points. The rookie trails leader Kevin Harvick by 171 markers. The 20-year-old is younger than any other driver currently inside the top 16 – the amount of drivers NASCAR takes into its playoffs – while also being the highest ranked rookie.
TOP-RANKED ROOKIE: Elliott leads the 2016 Rookie of the Year contender standings heading into Darlington Raceway by 51 points over second-place Ryan Blaney and 78 points over third-place Chris Buescher. Elliott has accumulated a total of 259 rookie points this year through the first 24 points-paying races.
IF CHASE WINS, YOU WIN: Little Caesars announced the “If Chase Wins, You Win” program last Friday while the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced at Little Caesars’ home track – Michigan International Speedway. The pizza company will be offering America a free $5 HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo, featuring a 20 oz. Mountain Dew, if Elliott wins the Oct. 2 race at Dover International Speedway. For videos, photos and more information about the Little Caesar’s program, visit www.LittleCaesars.com/FastestLunchMedia.
CHASE UNIVERSITY: Elliott is asking collegiate students to enroll in “Chase University” at Charlotte Motor Speedway later this year – a ticket-package program for collegiate fans looking to join in a unique NASCAR experience. “Chase University” will feature concerts, food, beverages and tailgating games before, during and after the Bank of America 500. The 20-year-old driver will make an appearance on race day taking part in a cornhole challenge with select ticket holders. Students with a valid college ID can enroll in “Chase University” with a special $24 party pass available online at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).
PIT MASTERS: Two members of the Nos. 5 and 24 shop are highlighted in Lake Norman Magazine’s cover feature – Taylor Moyer and Chad Avrit, respectively. Avrit, the No. 24 rear tire changer, graced the cover. The story is in the magazine’s September issue and is on newsstands now. To read more about Avrit and Moyer, click here.
No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS / Jimmie Johnson
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 40 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina
2016 Season
9th in standings
24 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
7 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
266 laps led
Career
531 starts
77 wins
35 pole positions
214 top-five finishes
324 top-10 finishes
17,975 laps led
Track Career
17 starts
3 wins
0 pole positions
9 top-five finishes
12 top-10 finishes
551 laps led
DARLINGTON THROWBACK EXPLAINED: Jimmie Johnson and longtime partner Lowe’s will race a throwback car this weekend at Darlington. The No. 48 Chevrolet SS will feature a blue-and-yellow paint scheme from 1979. The scheme was designed for Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s Chevy, but Earnhardt was injured and NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson served as the substitute driver. Pearson competed in four races while Earnhardt recovered. Lowe’s was the primary sponsor on the hood for the race that year at Talladega. During the stretch, Pearson finished second at Talladega, fourth at Michigan and seventh at Bristol before he won at Darlington Raceway. The win was Pearson’s ninth victory at Darlington.
HELMET EXPLAINED: Since the paint scheme Johnson is driving is honoring two heroes of the sport, it’s only fitting that Johnson decided to honor them both with his helmet. Earnhardt’s helmet in 1979 was a solid yellow, open-face helmet and Pearson’s helmet was solid white. Johnson worked with helmet painter Jason Beam to pay tribute to both, so his helmet for this weekend is a combination of both yellow and white.
FLASHBACK TO WIN NO. 200: On May 12, 2012, Johnson led 134 laps around the “Lady in Black” and took the checkered flag at Darlington for his 56th career win and the 200th for Hendrick Motorsports as an organization. Johnson’s other wins at Darlington came when the track had two race dates in a single season and he swept the 2004 events.
DARLINGTON DRIVER RATING: According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Johnson has the fourth-best driver rating at Darlington with a score of 104.4 during the past 10 years at the track. The driver rating is a formula that combines wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The driver rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.
FAST AT MICHIGAN: Last weekend, Johnson and the Lowe’s team qualified second at Michigan and backed it up with a sixth-place finish. Johnson led 37 laps, his most since the ninth race of the season at Richmond in which he led 44. The sixth-place finish was Johnson’s second top-10 finish in a row, on the heels of a seventh-place finish at Bristol.
No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS / Jeff Gordon
Driver Jeff Gordon Hometown Pittsboro, Indiana
Age 45 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina
2016 Season
4 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
0 top-10 finishes
0 laps led
Career
801 starts
93 wins
81 pole positions
325 top-five finishes
475 top-10 finishes
24,929 laps led
Track Career
35 starts
7 wins
3 pole positions
19 top-five finishes
23 top-10 finishes
1,744 laps led
EARNHARDT UPDATE: Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet SS, will miss his seventh consecutive race this weekend at Darlington Raceway as he continues to recover from a concussion. Alex Bowman filled in for Earnhardt last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, finishing 30th due to ignition system issues after running as high as fourth. He also filled in for Earnhardt at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17. Jeff Gordon has served as the substitute for the other four races Earnhardt has missed to date at Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen and Bristol.
GORDON: Gordon will again fill in for Earnhardt this weekend at Darlington. It will be the fifth race that Gordon has driven for Earnhardt and the No. 88 team. Gordon leads all active drivers with seven career wins at the 1.366-mile “Lady in Black.” The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion also leads all active drivers at Darlington in top-five finishes (19), top-10s (23) and laps led (1,744).
THE GRAY GHOST: In partnership with Darlington Raceway, on April 13, Earnhardt and Nationwide revealed the Gray Ghost throwback paint scheme that the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet will feature in the 2016 Southern 500 this weekend. The 2016 throwback car design honors Buddy Baker’s No. 28 Gray Ghost scheme, which was made famous by Baker when he won the 1980 Daytona 500. The Gray Ghost is one of Earnhardt’s favorite paint schemes.
NATIONWIDE’S 90 YEARS: While the throwback paint scheme honors NASCAR’s storied heritage, it is also a way for Nationwide to pay homage to its own past. This year, Nationwide celebrated its 90th anniversary on April 14. Earnhardt’s throwback scheme for the Southern 500 features colors and logos used by Nationwide during the same time that Baker’s original Gray Ghost was on the track, keeping in line with this year’s Darlington throwback theme. The orange Nationwide Insurance logo with the “Nationwide is on your side” tagline was used in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and also matches up with the original orange logo from the Gray Ghost that ran during the same time period. This year’s Southern 500 will focus on the 1975-1984 era of NASCAR, a revolutionary time period when iconic drivers such as Baker, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Earnhardt Sr. and Darrell Waltrip left their imprints on stock car racing.
JG RAFFLE: The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation is holding a raffle for a chance to win Jeff Gordon’s personal 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Tickets are $100 each, with every ticket purchased directly benefiting pediatric cancer research, access to treatment and patient support programming. Only 7,500 will be sold. For more information, click here.
Hendrick Motorsports
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT DARLINGTON: In 53 events at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 14 wins, seven pole positions, 44 top-five finishes and 72 top-10s. Johnson most recently won at the historic track on May 12, 2012, to claim Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th Sprint Cup victory. Gordon leads all active drivers with seven wins, 19 top-five finishes, 23 top-10s, a 6.8 average start and 1,744 laps led at the 1.366-mile oval. Kahne leads all active drivers at the track with four pole positions. Johnson’s average finish of 9.1 ranks third-best among active drivers at Darlington.
DOUBLE DIGITS: Darlington Raceway is one of 12 tracks where Hendrick Motorsports has accumulated 10 or more wins. Its 14 wins on the 1.366-mile oval are tied with Daytona and Atlanta for fifth-most at a track. The Darlington wins have come via six different drivers — Tim Richmond, Ricky Rudd, Gordon, Labonte, Johnson and Mark Martin.
ORGANIZATION STATS: To date, Hendrick Motorsports has totals of 242 victories, 209 pole positions, 1,001 top-five finishes and 1,671 top-10 finishes in Sprint Cup competition. Its teams have led 65,499 laps since 1984.
QUOTABLE /
“Darlington has a great history and since I’ve been in the sport, I look forward to it every time because of how difficult it is to race there. I haven’t won there yet, but we’ve been close at times, and it would be great to do it this trip and in the LiftMaster throwback car. I think Darlington is the perfect track to race the throwback cars at and I’ve enjoyed it.”
Kasey Kahne on racing at Darlington
“I’m looking forward to Darlington for sure. There are a lot of cool schemes running that weekend. It will be fun to keep up with that. I’m excited about ours. I think NAPA did a good job coming up with their scheme and I’m excited to wear their colors. They’ll be different colors, but it will be pretty cool.”
Chase Elliott on running the NAPA AUTO PARTS throwback scheme at Darlington
“The respect Darlington commands is incredible. Competing there is no easy feat. To qualify well requires a lot of bravery, to win there requires a lot of smarts. It’s a tough track — hence the name it’s given — and she requires a lot of respect. I’m pumped to run the throwback scheme. This is the second year and it’s so cool to walk through the garage and see the creativity that all the teams and sponsors have put into the weekend. Every year I see it getting better and better.”
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Darlington
“Darlington has always been one of my favorite tracks. I think everybody knew after seeing how well the throwback idea was received last year that this year would be even better and taken to another level, so I’m excited about being there and being a part of that. Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) designed this paint scheme after Buddy Baker’s because it was one of his favorites. I was a big Buddy Baker fan and knowing that Buddy won the Daytona 500 in that paint scheme is very cool. I’m looking forward to working with (No. 88 team crew chief) Greg (Ives) and this team again; I’ve really enjoyed the experience.”
Jeff Gordon on racing at Darlington
