LOCATION: DOVER, DELAWARE
EVENT: NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (RACE 29 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 2 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 (NBCSN/MRN/SIRIUSXM)No. 5 Panasonic Toughbook Chevrolet SS / Kasey Kahne
Driver Kasey Kahne Hometown Enumclaw, Washington
Age 36 Resides Mooresville, North Carolina
2016 Season
17th in standings
28 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
0 laps led
Career
460 starts
17 wins
27 pole positions
88 top-five finishes
166 top-10 finishes
4,607 laps led
Track Career
25 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
8 top-10 finishes
90 laps led
PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK: Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 5 Panasonic Toughbook Chevrolet SS for the final time in 2016 this weekend at Dover International Speedway. He also drove the blue and black Panasonic Toughbook Chevrolet earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
KAHNE AT DOVER: In Kahne’s 25 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover, he has led 90 laps over four races, which ranks him 18th among active drivers. While the Enumclaw, Washington, native is still searching for his first pole award at the “Monster Mile,” he’s earned the outside pole position three times in his career, most recently in May 2010. In his last 10 starts at the one-mile track, he has earned five top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place result in this year’s spring race.
DOVER LOOP DATA: According to NASCAR’s loop data, Kahne ranks fifth in green-flag passes at Dover with 955. He’s ninth in fastest laps run with 363 and 11th in quality passes. Quality passes are determined by the number of times a driver passes another car that is running in the top 15 while under green-flag conditions.
KAHNE AT SHORT TRACKS: At short tracks this season, Kahne has earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes. After Dover, the Sprint Cup Series has just two more short track races remaining in the 2016 season.
BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES: Kahne voices the character of Fender in the upcoming episode “Wishing Wheel” of the animated hit preschool series, “Blaze and the Monster Machines,” premiering on Nick Jr. Thursday, Sept. 29, at 1:30 p.m. ET. In the episode, Blaze, AJ and Stripes are searching for the Wishing Wheel: a magical treasure that will grant a wish for one lucky race car. Blaze and his friends have to stay on track despite treacherous obstacles at every turn.
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.
GREAT CLIPS PROMOTION: Longtime partner Great Clips is working in conjunction with Levi Strauss to give fans the chance to win a VIP race experience with Kahne, free haircuts for a year, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. jeans or a Wal-Mart gift card. Fans have until Nov. 1 to enter for their chance to win by visiting www.greatjeansgreathaircuts.com.
No. 24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS / Chase Elliott
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 20 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia
2016 Season
9th in standings
28 starts
0 wins
2 pole positions
8 top-five finishes
14 top-10 finishes
239 laps led
Career
33 starts
0 wins
2 pole positions
8 top-five finishes
14 top-10 finishes
239 laps led
Track Career
1 start
0 wins
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
1 top-10 finish
0 laps led
Chase Elliott will be available to members of the media on Friday, Sept. 30, at 8:45 a.m. local time in the media center at Dover International Speedway.
HOT-N-READY FOR DOVER: Little Caesars is offering America a free lunch if NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott claims a victory at the “Monster Mile” on Oct. 2. If Elliott wins the race, Little Caesars will give away one free $5 HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo, featuring a 20 oz. Mountain Dew, to every customer who comes into a participating store and mentions the offer at the check-out counter, between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. (local time) on Oct. 11, 2016, in accordance with the offer details. For more information and images for media use, please click here.
CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER: Elliott’s bid for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is marching on as the series heads to the Round of 16 finale at Dover International Speedway on Sunday. In Elliott’s Chase debut, he scored a sixth-place finish and followed that up with a 13th-place finish in the penultimate Round of 16 race. With 10 spots remaining as the series heads to the “Monster Mile,” Elliott is looking to secure his spot in the Round of 12 and continue his championship bid. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native would clinch on points with 31 points (10th and no laps led, 11th and led at least one lap, 12th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, he would clinch on points with 26 points (15th and no laps led, 16th and led at least one lap, 17th and led most laps). With a win, he would automatically clinch a spot in the Round of 12.
TOP-RANKED ROOKIE: Elliott leads the 2016 Rookie of the Year contender standings heading into the race at Dover International Speedway by 54 points over second-place Ryan Blaney and 85 points over third-place Chris Buescher. Elliott has accumulated a total of 274 rookie points this year through the first 28 points-paying races.
CHEVROLET SS TO A C-17A: On Thursday, Sept. 29, No. 24 interior mechanic Jordan Allen will take an orientation flight above the “Monster Mile” alongside service members at the Dover Air Force Base in a C-17A. The flight will even consist of an aerial refueling. If members of the media are interested in interviewing Allen about his experience, please contact Caitlin Barry.
IT DOESN’T EXIST UNTIL YOU DO IT: Every wild idea begins with a spark. And for DEW athlete Elliott, his began with the kindling for an unprecedented game of capture the flag. Filmed by Director Nate Balli, Elliott and his crew motored their way to the dunes of the Little Sahara; mapped a massive, never-been-played course; and planted two oversized flags. Watch here as Elliott and his buddies battle it out in a high-RPM rendition of the classic summer camp staple, and find out who earned the right to be called King of the Dunes — once and for all. Elliott’s adventure is one of several videos in a Mountain Dew series that builds off of the brand idea that “It Doesn’t Exist Until You Do It.”
CHASE UNIVERSITY: “Chase University” – Elliott’s collegiate ticket package program – will debut next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway followed by Talladega Superspeedway. The exclusive ticket package will feature concerts, food, beverages and tailgating games before, during and after the race. The 20-year-old driver will even make an appearance on race day prior to the green flag. Students with a valid college ID can enroll in Chase University with a special $24 party pass available online at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or www.TalladegaSuperspeedway.com/ChaseU.
No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS / Jimmie Johnson
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 41 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina
2016 Season
8th in standings
28 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
7 top-five finishes
11 top-10 finishes
384 laps led
Career
535 starts
77 wins
35 pole positions
214 top-five finishes
325 top-10 finishes
18,093 laps led
Track Career
29 starts
10 wins
3 pole positions
15 top-five finishes
20 top-10 finishes
3,003 laps led
Jimmie Johnson will be available to members of the media on Friday, Sept. 30, at 9:15 a.m. local time in the media center at Dover International Speedway.
CHASE STATUS: After an eighth-place result in New Hampshire, Jimmie Johnson is eighth in the point standings in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup heading into Dover, which is a cutoff event for the Round of 12. Performance-wise, Johnson can clinch on points with 29 points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, he would clinch on points with 24 points (17th and no laps led, 18th and led at least one lap, 19th and led most laps). With a win, Johnson would automatically clinch a spot in the next round.
MONSTER MEMORIES: Johnson won at Dover his first time at the track on June 2, 2002, in just his 16th start as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He followed that up the same year by winning the fall event to sweep the season. Click here to see photos from Johnson’s first win at the “Monster Mile.”
OVER 3,000 LAPS LED: Johnson has led 3,003 laps around Dover International Speedway in his career — the most all-time of any driver at the track. The amount of laps led is almost double the amount of any other current full-time driver.
JOHNSON AND THE MONSTER: After his win in May 2015 at the one-mile concrete oval, Johnson has a total of 10 Sprint Cup wins at Dover International Speedway, which ranks first all-time ahead of NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, who recorded seven wins apiece.
SERIES-BEST DRIVER RATING: According to NASCAR’s loop data, Johnson has the series-best driver rating at Dover with a score of 118.1. He has spent 85.5 percent of all laps run in the top 15 and has an average finish of 8.2.
BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES: Johnson’s character “Dash” is back for two more episodes of Nickelodeon’s popular animated pre-school and STEM-based series “Blaze and the Monster Machines.” Johnson’s character Dash is a car that is fun, friendly, fast and the ultimate racing buddy for Blaze. The third special, titled “Wishing Wheel,” will be airing on Nick Jr. on Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET. The final episode in which Johnson appears is titled “The Hundred Mile Race” and it will air on Nick Jr. Nov. 4 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
JIMMIE JOHNSON WELLNESS VIRTUAL TRIATHLON: Being a part of TeamJJF means staying involved and being up-to-date with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and its events not only by participating, but also by following through social media. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is launching its first “virtual triathlon.” Joining TeamJJF is a perfect way to support the Jimmie Johnson Foundation’s mission of assisting children, families and communities in need while taking on a personal athletic challenge. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation Virtual Triathlon takes place during the month of the month of October. The challenge is to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles. Learn more here.
No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS / Jeff Gordon
Driver Jeff Gordon Hometown Pittsboro, Indiana
Age 45 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina
2016 Season
6 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
0 top-10 finishes
0 laps led
Career
803 starts
93 wins
81 pole positions
325 top-five finishes
475 top-10 finish
24,929 laps led
Track Career
46 starts
5 wins
4 pole positions
18 top-five finishes
26 top-10 finishes
2,389 laps led
GORDON’S PENULTIMATE 2016 START: Jeff Gordon, filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. while Earnhardt continues to recover from a concussion, will drive the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS this weekend at Dover International Speedway in what will mark his second-to-last race as the substitute driver of the No. 88 Chevy. Gordon will also be behind the wheel at Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 30), making a total of eight starts for Gordon in 2016. Alex Bowman will serve as the team’s substitute for the remainder of the races this season (Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead). In the 10 races that Earnhardt has missed thus far, Gordon and Bowman have combined to earn one top-10 and six top-15 finishes in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevy.
JG AT DOVER: While Johnson has earned the most wins at the “Monster Mile,” Gordon leads active drivers in almost every other category – most top-five finishes (18), most top-10 finishes (26), most lead-lap finishes (32), most laps completed (18,389) and most poles (four, tied with Ryan Newman). Gordon also holds the record for being the youngest pole winner at Dover, earning the top spot in qualifying on June 4, 1995, when he was just 23 years and 10 months old. Gordon is tied for fourth on the all-time winners list with David Pearson at five wins apiece, which puts Gordon second among active drivers, behind only Johnson. He’s also second behind Johnson in the laps led category among active drivers with 2,389, putting him third on the all-time list behind Johnson and Bobby Allison.
BOWMAN EARNS TOP-15: Last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Bowman earned his second straight top-15 finish in the No. 88 Chevrolet SS. He will be competing in another No. 88 this weekend, driving for the Earnhardt-owned JR Motorsports team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
EARNHARDT IN DOVER: As Earnhardt mentioned on his podcast, “The Dale Jr. Download,” he will be returning to the track this weekend to support the No. 88 Nationwide team. He also explains on the podcast that he is continuing to make progress in his recovery. The full podcast can be found here and the Hendrick Motorsports story summarizing his comments can be found by clicking here.
VISITING WITH AIRMEN: Members of the No. 88 Nationwide team will be joining airmen at the Air Force Base in Dover to ride along on a C-17 refueling flight on Thursday evening. In return, two members of the Air Force will be joining the No. 88 team at the racetrack on Sunday as honorary pit crew members.
NASCAR FOUNDATION GALA IN NYC: Bowman will be on hand for The NASCAR Foundation’s inaugural Honors Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Nationwide is the presenting sponsor of The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, which honors volunteers who dedicate themselves to children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States. The award winner will be determined from an online vote from among four finalists, which Bowman will be on hand to meet: Jim Giaccone, representing Tuesday’s Children; Andy Hoffman, founder of the Team Jack Foundation; Logan Houptley, a founding member of Mikayla’s Voice; and Parker White, founder of BackPack Beginnings. The winner will receive a $100,000 donation to the charity they represent and the three other finalists will receive $25,000 for their respective charitable organizations.
Hendrick Motorsports
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT DOVER: At Dover International Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports has 18 wins, nine pole positions, 59 top-five finishes and 95 top-10s. Johnson most recently visited Victory Lane for the organization at the track in May 2015.
FINDING VICTORY LANE: Hendrick Motorsports’ 18 wins at Dover are tied with Charlotte Motor Speedway for the organization’s second-most at a track. The Dover victories have come via five different drivers — Johnson (10), Gordon (5), Geoff Bodine, Ricky Rudd and Ken Schrader.
ORGANIZATION STATS: To date, Hendrick Motorsports has totals of 242 victories, 209 pole positions, 1,002 top-five finishes and 1,679 top-10 finishes in Sprint Cup competition. Its teams have led 65,699 laps since 1984.
QUOTABLE /
“Dover is a tough track. It’s probably one of the toughest tracks we go to, physically. My team has been bringing me fast cars to the track. I’m really enjoying driving this car again. It has been a lot of fun. Everyone has been doing a great job and putting a huge effort in.”
Kasey Kahne on racing at Dover
“I’ve always thought that Miles is a really cool trophy to win. As a fan watching I always thought that it was really unique. It also puts a good explanation of that racetrack into a trophy because that’s a really good description of what we fight and what you deal with at Dover. I think that’s a very fitting trophy and it would be great to have one.”
Chase Elliott on racing at Dover
“There is no doubt Dover is my favorite track. I wish we raced there every single weekend. It suits my driving style. I anticipate it to be a tough race since it’s a cutoff race and there will be guys driving their hearts out to stay in the Chase. This Lowe’s team is due for a win. I would love to get number 11 at Dover this weekend.”
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Dover
“Alex (Bowman) has been doing a great job, and I’m just happy to do whatever I can to help the (No. 88) team. I’ve always loved Dover. It’s one of the tracks that I feel confident going to, so I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and working with (crew chief) Greg (Ives) and the No. 88 team again this weekend.”
Jeff Gordon on racing at Dover
