Event: Bank of America 500
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Charlotte Motor Speedway … In 148 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing teams have earned seven points-paying victories (four wins with Dale Earnhardt, one with Jeff Burton and two with Kevin Harvick) and four All-Star race victories (three with Earnhardt and one with Harvick), giving RCR 11 total Sprint Cup Series checkered flags at the Concord, N.C.-based track. RCR boasts 21 top-five and 47 top-10 finishes on the 1.5-mile surface. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed two of those top-10 finishes from 1978 to 1979. The Welcome, N.C. organization has led a combined 1,148 laps.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,604 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards, 105 wins, 468 top-five finishes and 1,001 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.9. 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 …Throughout this season’s 29 contested races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have collectively notched seven top-five and 21 top-10 finishes with drivers Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. Newman ranks 11th in the Contender round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, while Menard ranks 15th in the standings and Dillon ranks 21st.
RCR Dover Rewind … RCR teammates Newman, Dillon and Menard finished 19th, 23rd and 25th, respectively, in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.
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.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at RCRracing.com along with official driver pages -facebook.com/austindillon3, facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action … The Bank of America 500 will be televised live Saturday, October 10 beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow GREAT STUFF Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Dow GREAT STUFF Chevrolet SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 512 in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This Chevrolet SS was built new for the 2015 season and utilized for the first time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, where Dillon finished 25th.
Dillon at Charlotte Motor Speedway …. In three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dillon has not finished worse than 16th. The sophomore Sprint Cup Series competitor also has two Sprint Showdown starts to his credit, earning finishes of sixth in 2015 and eighth in 2014. In five NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dillon has two top-five and three top-10 finishes, including a win in his most recent appearance in May 2015. In three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dillon has two top-10 finishes.
A Family Tradition … Dillon grew up watching races at Charlotte Motor Speedway from his grandfather’s condo, which overlooks the racetrack. As a Carolina native, he considers CMS his “hometown” track.
Welcome, Dow … Returning primary sponsor of the No.3 Chevrolet SS, Dow enters its second season with RCR and driver Austin Dillon. Together, both teams embrace the power of science, technology and safety as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. Dow also drives innovation to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, bringing a broad range of sustainable products and solutions to customers in nearly 180 countries with more than 6,000 products manufactured across the globe. See our YouTube video “Dawn to Dusk” to see how Dow products touch the lives of everyone…from dawn to dusk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSspiG8DkOs). More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Seal gaps and cracks … The average midsize U.S. home has a half mile of gaps and cracks according to energystar.gov. Cold air infiltrates through those spaces causing your furnace to work overtime. An easy project to combat the problem is to use GREAT STUFF™ Gaps &Cracks to fill openings around electrical outlets, plumbing pipes, doors, dryer vents and more. Sealing your home takes just a few hours whether you do it yourself or work with a contractor. Visit dowgreatstuff.com/warmhome to learn more.
Meet Weezie … Dillon will be joined at Charlotte Motor Speedway by Louisa “Weezie” Broughton, a 12-year-old who will serve as the guest of honor at his 3-on-3 celebrity basketball tournament presented by Dow to benefit the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The tournament will be held at High Point University on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Dillon and Weezie became friends when he treated her to a VIP experience at a Taylor Swift concert courtesy of XFINITY in Charlotte, N.C., earlier this summer. Weezie is able to enjoy experiences like these thanks to the access she had to a level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center after she was struck by a car when crossing the street when she was 10 years old.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks 21st in the championship point standings leading into the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In the Rear View … Dillon started 21st and finished 23rd in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Double Duty … In addition to driving the No. 3 Dow GREAT STUFF Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing this weekend, Dillon is scheduled to compete in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is live on NBC Sports Network on Friday, October 9 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in a Q&A session at the Team Chevrolet Stage in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Midway on Saturday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m., and will also greet race fans at the Fanatics NASCAR SuperStore on Saturday, October 9 at 2:55 p.m. A purchase at the Fanatics SuperStore is required in order to obtain an autograph.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
Do you notice the difference between the 500 and 600 miles that is run at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
“I think you can definitely tell the difference. Its only 100 miles shorter but it changes the way you run the race. They’re both a lot of fun, but I’m looking forward to this 500-mile race.”
Paul Menard, No. 27 Richmond / Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Richmond/Menards Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Chassis No. 480 was chosen for this weekend’s 501-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the Concord, N.C.-based track. This Chevrolet SS was raced by Menard once earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he started 24th and finished 12th.
Charlotte Stats … Menard has competed in 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the 1.5-mile Charlotte, N.C.-based facility. He’s started in the top 10 four times and has two top-10 finishes. The RCR driver has completed 93.5 percent of laps in competition. Menard also has nine NASCAR XFINITY Series starts with one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
About Richmond … Richmond®, a member of the Rheem family of quality brands, is committed to offering exceptional value and performance with a complete line of water heating products for residential environments. Known as, “the water heater experts,” Richmond is the go-to brand for value-conscious buyers. Innovations including “Fast Recovery” technology for peak-time water use and EverKleen™ Self-Cleaning tanks make choosing Richmond products easy. Richmond water heating products are available in Menards® stores throughout the Midwest. For more information, visit www.richmondwaterheaters.com.
Rookie Stripe … Alexander has impressive stats in his first year as a full-time Sprint Cup Series crew chief. In 33 races with Menard, Alexander has led the team to one top-five, 15 top-15 and 22 top-20 starts. He’s also collected 23 top-20, 19 top-15 and three top-five finishes. Alexander is the first three-time winner of the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award this season. He’s also led Menard to his first-career berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
#MenardNation … The No. 27 Chevy team is currently 15th on the Chase grid after finishing 25th at Dover International Speedway.
Pit Stops for Hope … The Second Annual Pit Stops for Hope Shootout to End Child Hunger will be held on Wednesday, October 7 at the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, N.C. This event is free and open to the public starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The shootout will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature NASCAR drivers including Ty and Austin Dillon. For more information about PSFH, go to www.pitstopsforhope.org.
Last Time in Charlotte … Menard and the No. 27 team had a fast Chevy when the Sprint Cup Series last visited Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native started 23rd and raced his way to the top six as the laps were winding down. Menard was poised for a top-10 finish but crossed the finish line 14th after fuel strategy played a factor in the closing laps.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
What’s the major difference between the spring and fall races at Charlotte Motor Speedway? How does that change the car’s handling?
“The fall race is generally cooler and a true night race since it starts and ends in the dark. That makes the transition as the track cools a little easy and predictable. Charlotte is a very temperature sensitive track. Generally the grip on the track builds toward the end of the race and makes it harder to make time if you don’t run the bottom.”
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 526 on Saturday at the 1.5-mile speedway. This Chevrolet was utilized earlier this season in the first Chase event in the Challenger Round at Chicagoland Speedway. Newman started sixth and finished fourth.
Career Stats at Charlotte … Newman will make his 506th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series competes at the speedway. In 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, Newman has recorded runner-up finishes two times (fall, 2003; Coke 600, 2009). The “Rocket Man” also owns nine pole awards. In total, he has earned four top-five, 12 top-10 finishes and has led 277 laps in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 8.6 and average finish of 18.1. When calculating points earned in the last five events at CMS, Newman ranks fourth in most points accumulated.
Featured Caterpillar Dealer … Carolina CAT Power Systems will be the featured Cat dealer on the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte.
Since 1926, Carolina CAT Power Systems is a recognized leader of electric power generation and on-highway truck solutions in Western North Carolina. Our power generation products cover a wide range of industries, and are tailored to fit your business needs and applications. Our product support is second to none, with 24/7/365 availability, fast response time, and immediate access to millions in parts inventories. Our on-highway truck capabilities include sales, service, and parts to keep your fleet up and running. Our team is here to be our customers’ trusted partner and total solutions provider.
About Caterpillar … For nearly 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. 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 – Resource Industries, Construction 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.
Cut to the Chase … Newman enters the first event in the Contender 12 Round 10th in points.
Last Time at Charlotte … Earlier this season, Newman started 19th and while scored in the 18th position with 20 laps to go, crew chief Todd Parrott instructed his driver to conserve at least four laps of fuel while the leaders started to pit. The strategy paid off when Newman managed his speed and mileage to earn the team’s seventh top-10 finish in 11 events.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What is the key to running well at Charlotte?
“Some of the history of Charlotte Motor Speedway has been being successful in knowing which way the balance is going to go. I don’t think it is as sensitive as it used to be, but it is still a factor. Secondly, the key is having a car that’s balanced at both ends of the track because it is fairly unique. In Turns 1 and 2 you carry more speed than in Turns 3 and 4. There is a lot more vertical force. Turns 3 and 4 also have more bumps than there ever has been, so that’s a big part of it now. It’s kind of back to where it was before it was repaved.”
What is the hardest thing to figure out?
“It depends on which tire NASCAR plans to take. There are times when you can move around, and then there are times where you have to run the bottom. Recently, we haven’t really been able to move around as much as we used to and in my opinion, it makes for better racing when you can.”
Event: Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Date: Friday, October 9, 2015
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway… In 70 Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, RCR has captured three victories with drivers Jeff Green (2002), Jeff Burton (2007) and most recently, Austin Dillon (2015). The Welcome, N.C., organization has completed 13,116 laps of the 13,983 (93.8 percent) they have competed. RCR has accumulated six pole awards, 20 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes, led 660 laps and averages a starting position of 10.9 and finishing position of 13.1.
Dover Review … Austin Dillon finished sixth as the highest finishing Richard Childress Racing driver in the Hisense 200 at Dover International Speedway. Brendan Gaughan finished 16th, Ty Dillon 28th and Brian Scott was 31st.
The Points … With five races remaining in the 2015 season, all three RCR XFINITY Series full-time drivers remain in the top 10 of the driver point standings as the Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. Ty Dillon is currently fourth, Brian Scott eighth and Brendan Gaughan is ninth. The No. 33 RCR team is fourth in the owner point standings.
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.
Social Media … To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter account – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR XFINITY Series team Twitter accounts – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon, @RCR33NNS and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s XFINITY Series driver Twitter accounts – @bscottracing, @tydillon, @austindillon3 and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Catch the Action … Coverage of this weekend’s XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Friday, October 9, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC Sports Network. It will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott, No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 164 in Friday night’s NASCAR XFINITY Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. This chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable made its debut at Michigan International Speedway where Scott qualified second and finished ninth. Scott also raced this chassis at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
Charlotte Motor Speedway Statistics … Scott will be making his 12th XFINITY Series start this weekend at the industry’s home track. In 11 previous starts, the RCR driver has captured two top-five and five top-10 finishes with an average start of 8.5 and an average finish of 15.9. Scott has completed 95.1 percent of the laps, with one lap led at the 1.5-mile speedway. In addition to his XFINTIY Series starts, he also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts. Charlotte is where Scott made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the fall of 2013 starting 19th and finishing 27th. Scott also competed in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2014.
Five to go … After 28 XFINITY Series races this season; Scott has captured five top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, sits eighth in the driver point standings and has led 251 laps with an average starting position of 6.3 and an average finish of 13.3. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Scott currently leads the XFINITY Series drivers with the highest average starting position of 6.3.
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Dover International Speedway Race Rewind … After rain canceled on-track activity Friday at Dover International Speedway, the NASCAR rule book set the starting lineup of the Hisense 200 per the driver/owner points, lining up Brian Scott and the No. 2 ACME/Main St. Bistro Reser’s Chevrolet 12th for the 200-lap event. With no practice time or qualifying, Scott and the Mike Hillman, Jr.-led team were ready to tackle the Monster Mile. Once the race began, Scott radioed a loose-handling condition in his No. 2 machine. After the lap-32 restart, the Boise, Idaho native reported a flat tire and the team was forced to go to the garage to fix the damage caused by the flat. The No. 2 ACME/Reser’s Main St. Bistro Chevrolet returned to the track in hopes of finishing out the race, but was unable to do so bringing home a 31st-place finish.
Last Fall at Charlotte … Scott and the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro team collected their 27th top-10 qualifying position of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway starting third in the Race for the Cure 300. Scott battled with front grip issues on the eight separate restarts in the 200-lap event. Remaining inside the top 10 for the majority of the race, Scott made multiple adjustments on their five visits to pit road to better the handling of the No. 2 car to bring home a 10th-place finish.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
Does Charlotte feel like a home game for you even though you aren’t from North Carolina?
“Yes it does, everyone likes Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s an easy weekend on the families without the traveling and being able to sleep in your own bed. Everyone loves it for those reasons and it’s always a great chance for us to showcase for all the guys at the race shop who don’t get to travel on a weekly basis. We always look forward to Charlotte to put on a good race for them and their families.”
Do you feel like Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of the most weather sensitive tracks on the circuit?
“Yes, Charlotte is an interesting race track. It definitely changes a lot from clouds to sun, morning to evening. It’s always adjusting and it makes it fun as a driver because you always have to do adjustments in the wheel. You can’t always have a perfect car conditions so you’ve got to do certain things from a driver perspective to try and help some of those issues.”
Ty Dillon, No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 160 for this weekend’s Drive for the Cure 400 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet visited Victory Lane earlier this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway with driver Austin Dillon. Chassis No. 160 also saw Victory Lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.
Dillon at Charlotte Motor Speedway … In two NASCAR XFINITY Series races at the 1.5-mile speedway, Dillon has two top-10 finishes. Earlier this season in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/NWTF.org Chevrolet Camaro, Dillon finished seventh. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon has earned one pole award, two top-10s and one top-five finish. Charlotte Motor Speedway is also where Dillon claims his “racing career all began” racing Legend’s cars, asphalt Modified cars and across the street at The Dirt Track in Late Models for Team Dillon Racing.
Welcome back, WESCO … WESCO International, Inc. has returned for its fourth season as a primary sponsor on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro. WESCO, a leading provider in electrical, industrial and communication supply, began its relationship with RCR in 2012. WESCO employs approximately 9,400 people, maintains relationships with over 18,000 suppliers, and serves over 65,000 active customers worldwide. Its 2014 annual sales were approximately $7.9 billion.
Race Rewind, Dover International Speedway … Weather complications cancelled XFINITY Series practice at the Monster Mile on Friday and qualifying on Saturday morning. The weather cleared out and per the NASCAR rule book, Dillon started the Hisense 300 fourth. During a yellow-flag caution, Dillon mistakenly hit a piece of debris on the racing surface which cut down his right-front tire. Subsequently, he hit the outside wall creating significant damage. The No. 3 team went behind the wall to make repairs and returned Dillon to the race track on lap 114. He made up eight positions on the track and eventually crossed the finish line 28th.
To the points … Dillon moved back to fourth place in the XFINITY Series driver championship point standings with five races remaining. He trails third place by only three points and the leader by 39.
No. 3 team Season-to-Date … Through 28 of the 33 XFINITY Series races, Dillon and the No. 3 team have compiled nine top-five finishes, 20 top-10 finishes, completed 4951 of 5046 laps (98.1 percent), have an average starting spot of 10.5 and an average finish of 9.2.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs at the Team Chevy display in the Fan Midway beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 9. Fans are invited to visit the Chevrolet display, meet Ty Dillon and check out the lineup of trucks, SUVs, performance vehicles and show cars.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
How will the No. 3 team respond to last weekend’s setback?
“We’re still in this thing and no one should count us out. Obviously it was an unfortunate weekend for us, but man, I’m proud of my team for sticking with it and salvaging what we could. This weekend, we’re going to come out guns blazing, hopefully win this thing and be right back in it. Anything can happen in this sport, which makes it so entertaining for the fans. This stretch will be critical for our team.”
Austin Dillon, No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 167 in the Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet last saw track action with Paul Menard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and Chicagoland Speedway in September where he earned a fourth-place finish in both events.
Hometown Stats … The Welcome, N.C., native has made five NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, collecting one victory, two pole awards, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Dillon is credited with an average starting position of second and average finishing position of 6.8 with 167 laps led.
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. Just like 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.
Victorious in Charlotte … Dillon started from the pole and after taking the green-flag for the 200-lap affair, the Rheem team made minimal air pressure adjustments during routine four and two-tire pit stops to alleviate a tight-handling Chevrolet. On the final restart of the race, Dillon was scored in the fourth position and worked his way into the second spot with less than 20 laps remaining. With 15 laps to go, the 25-year-old driver battled three-wide for the lead before taking over the top spot. The victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway marked the second of Dillon’s three wins this season in the XFINITY Series.
33 Team by the Numbers … So far this season, the No. 33 team has accumulated some impressive stats with Dillon, Paul Menard and Brandon Jones behind the wheel. In 28 races, the RCR team has garnered four wins, five pole awards, 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes with 453 laps led.
Race Rewind: Dover International Speedway … Due to inclement weather in the Dover, Del., area, all track activity for the XFINITY Series was canceled. The starting lineup was set per the NASCAR rule book placing Dillon in the fifth spot for the start of the Hisense 200. The Welcome, N.C.-native quickly reported he was too loose. The first of two competition cautions waved on lap 24 and the Danny Stockman-led team visited pit road for right-side tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. Dillon used different lines to help with the handling of his black and red Chevrolet and maneuvered through the top 10 in the closing laps, crossing the finish line in the sixth position.
Getting Loopy in 2015 … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon holds some notable stats so far in the 2015 season. The 25-year-old driver ranks first in the following categories: drivers fastest early in a run, drivers fastest late in a run, fastest driver on restarts and green-flag speed. Dillon is third amongst his competitors in fastest laps run (312 laps) and closers. He also ranks fourth in laps led (413 laps) and mile leaders.
Season in Review … So far this season, Dillon has been entered in 15 XFINITY Series events, collecting three victories, 11 top-five finishes, 13 top-10 finishes and five pole awards. Dillon has led a total of 413 laps with an average starting position of 4.7 coupled with an average finishing position of 7.0.
Looking Ahead … Following this weekend’s 200-lap event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dillon is scheduled to compete in the No. 33 Chevrolet for the remaining four XFINITY Series races this season.
Double Duty … In addition to Friday’s Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, watch Dillon in the No. 3 Dow GREAT STUFF Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500, which airs live on NBC Saturday, October 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
You won this race in the spring, what are your thoughts heading back to Charlotte Motor Speedway this week?
“We had a really fast car there in the spring. I’d love nothing more than to go for the sweep with the No. 33 Rheem team this weekend. It would be an honor to win the Drive for the Cure 300, it’s a cause that close to a lot of our hearts back at RCR.”
Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 166 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro last saw track action at Chicagoland in September where Gaughan started 11th and finished 10th.
Charlotte Nuggets … In seven NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gaughan has completed 1,339 of 1,373 (97.5 percent) of the laps he has competed. The Las Vegas native has garnered one top-five finish. He is credited with a 22.6 average starting position and a 15.9 average finishing position.
This Week at South Point … On October 10, the Equestrian Center at the South Point Hotel and Casino will host the Moutai Polo Classic in the Priefert Pavilion. Two matches are scheduled for the day beginning at 12 p.m. local time. The 240-seat arena offers up close interaction with the players and horses. For more information, visit www.southpointcasino.com
In the Rearview Mirror: Dover …. The Las Vegas native started the 200-lap race 14th after wet weather canceled the Series’ practice and qualifying sessions at the one-mile track. Without anytime on track, Gaughan reported he was loose through the center of the corner in the opening laps of the race. The Shane Wilson-led crew made adjustments on laps 65 and 105 until rain brought out the red flag. After a lengthy rain delay, Gaughan restarted 17th, but quickly moved up to the 12th spot and continued to move toward the top 10 until cutting down a right-front tire forcing him to pit road under green-flag conditions. Gaughan returned to the track two-laps down and eventually took the checkered flag in the 16th position.
Season in a Loop … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Gaughan ranks sixth in Quality Passes with 942 passes so for this season. He also ranks ninth in Driver Rating with an 88.2. Gaughan has spent 80.4 percent of his contested laps competing in the top 15 of the running order in the first 28 events this year.
To the Points … With five races remaining this season, Gaughan is currently ninth in the driver point standings as the XFINITY Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Meet the Driver … Gaughan is scheduled to sign autographs at Scott’s Collectibles on Thursday, October 8 beginning at 12 p.m. Scott’s Collectibles is located at 934 Cloverleaf Plaza in Kannapolis, N.C.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
Five races to go, talk about going back to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Charlotte is my style of race track. It’s the home track for our sport, so everyone gets all amped up for Charlotte race weeks. But for the South Point Hotel and Casino Chevrolet, it’s just another 1.5-mile track where we run well. I love racing there. Shane (Wilson, crew chief) and I do well there.”
