Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes – NSCS Race Advance – Bristol

Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes

NSCS Race Advance

Irwin Tools Night Race

Bristol Motor Speedway

Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011

DODGE NEWS AND NOTES

. Both Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski are in the top 12 in the Sprint Cup driver point standings for the first time this season. Busch is currently eighth and Keselowski has moved up to 12th.

. Dodge’s Kurt Busch is the only Sprint Cup Series driver who has been in the top-10 in the driver point standings all 23 races this season. He posted his first Sprint Cup victory at Bristol in 2002.

. A Penske Dodge has finished first, second or third in six of the last 11 Cup races and inside the top 10 in nine of the last 11 races.

DODGE AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

. Dodge has six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Bristol: David Pearson, Bobby Allison (2), Richard Petty (2) and Kurt Busch.

. Dodge has earned eight poles at BMS: Bobby Isaac, Neil Bonnett, Ryan Newman (2), Kasey Kahne, David Pearson, Richard Petty and Kurt Busch.

. Dodge holds the BMS track qualifying record, set by Ryan Newman in 2003 (14.908 seconds at 128.709 mph).

KESELOWSKI RED HOT

. Brad Keselowski has gained 11 positions in the Sprint Cup driver standings in the last four races. He has posted four consecutive top-10 finishes. He has led laps in five of the last seven races. He has only two finishes outside the top 10 in the last eight races.

THE DODGE BOYS

. Dodge has 210 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

. Dodge’s most recent win came at Pocono Raceway on August 8. Brad Keselowski led 19 of the 200 laps en route to victory. The victory was the third for Dodge in 2011.

. Dodge teams have posted 50 victories since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.

. Dodge has posted wins each season since its return in 2001 including seven wins twice (2002 and 2006).

. Dodge claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.

2011 DODGE SPRINT CUP REWIND

. Race 1: Kurt Busch wins the Bud Shootout and a Gatorade Duel during Speedweeks.

. Races 12-15: Dodge earns four consecutive poles.

. Race 13: Keselowski wins Kansas; first Dodge win of the season.

. Race 16: Busch dominates at Infineon for first win of season and first road-course victory of his career.

. Race 21: Keselowski, racing with a broken left ankle, earns his second win of the season at Pocono Raceway.

. Race 23: Keselowski up to 12th in Cup Series driver points.

FROM THE ENGINEER “If you’re a driver that likes Bristol, this will be a good week. If you’re a driver that dislikes Bristol, this will likely be a bad week. If you’re an engineer in the Sprint Cup Series, this will be, literally as well as figuratively, a stressful week. Bristol is one of the toughest places in all of racing on components, especially chassis components. You might think engines, transmissions, and rear axles would be at risk for failure here, but actually, they all seem to hold up well. Its suspension components that take the worst beating at this half-mile suspension torture chamber. Drivers sail off into the 30-degree banked corners at speeds in excess of 140 mph and the stress load transmitted through every component in the suspension is mind blowing. Parts like control arms, ball joints, and chassis mounts better be engineered to take a beating this week or you’ll be looking at an early exit from Bristol.” Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering

ODDS AND ENDS

. Brad Keselowski has set Sprint Cup personal bests this season in wins (2), top fives (5) and top 10s (8).

. With his win at Infineon last June, Kurt Busch has now posted a win in Sprint Cup competition 10 consecutive seasons. He has 23 career victories.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

. Kurt Busch is one of three current Sprint Cup drivers with five wins at Bristol Motor Speedway (Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch).

. The first Sprint Cup race at BMS was July 30, 1961.

2011 SPRINT CUP SERIES SEASON BEST . Kurt Busch Start: 1st (Kansas, Pocono & Michigan) Finish: 1st (Infineon) . Brad Keselowski Start: 1st (Charlotte) Finish: 1st (Kansas & Pocono) . Robby Gordon Start: 30th (Daytona) Finish: 16th (Daytona)

DODGE QUOTES “That win in the spring race of 2002 was memorable because we were racing our big nemesis (Jimmy Spencer) so close back then. It came down to me and him. He led with about 50 laps to go. We got a little physical, but that’s to be expected at Bristol. We got the lead and went on to win the race, with Jimmy finishing second. There’s been a lot of volleying back and forth during the years since our battles back then, but I’ve publicly said that our issues have made me a stronger person and a better driver. I really do consider him a friend these days.” Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

“This just might be the strongest car we have in the ‘Double-Deuce’ stable. We completely reworked it heading into this season. It was pretty responsive back in February out in Phoenix. It was actually our backup at Pocono in June. We had to roll it off the trailer and Kurt drove the wheels off of it, winning the pole and finishing second. We have a lot of confidence in this Shell-Pennzoil Dodge and can’t wait to see how strong we can be with it at Bristol this weekend.” Steve Addington, crew chief, No. 22 Dodge, on chassis PRS-738 running this weekend at Bristol

“Bristol is one of those tracks where you always have to be mindful of your pace, where you are on the track and who you are around. But you also have to be looking forward so that you can avoid that wreck that happens half of a straightaway in front of you. Short track racing and restrictor-plate racing are very similar in that you can get caught up in a wreck that you had nothing to do with.” Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T

“As a crew chief you look forward to going to Bristol because you don’t have to worry about aerodynamics or ‘dirty air.’ It’s all about finding mechanical grip and forward bite. If you can do that your driver can be successful. Track position will be important. Running up front should keep you out of trouble and in position for a good finish. Brad loves Bristol and his record reflects that. I’m confident we can go up there and contend for the win. I like where we are in the ‘wild card’ standings, but we’re not out of contention to get ourselves inside the top-10. That’s definitely a goal of ours, but we can’t be overly aggressive in trying to get there.” Paul Wolfe, crew chief, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T