Kansas Speedway Advance Notes
Race: STP 400 on Sunday, April 22
Track: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Location: Kansas City, Kan.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Kansas Speedway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (EGR) on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2012 season by following “@EGRTeams”.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently launched one of the first mobile applications for the high-velocity world of racing. This new application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of CGRT. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.
Most Popular Driver: Voting for the 2012 NSCS National Motorsports Press Association’s (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award has started. Fans can visit www.mostpopulardriver.com once a day to vote for EGR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya until 11:59 pm (EST) September 8 following the race at Richmond International Raceway. At that point the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists and the vote count will be reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2012 NMPA Most Popular Driver from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 18 at 11:59 pm (EST). The winner will be announced at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.
Sprint Fan Vote: Voting for the 2012 Sprint Fan Vote is under way. EGR fans have the opportunity to vote Montoya or McMurray into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will be televised live on SPEED on May 19th. Fans can cast unlimited votes at the following locations: Mobile Handsets by texting “VOTE” to 229466 or by using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Application; Online at http://www.nascar.com/allstar; At-Track at the Sprint Experience. The Sprint Fan Vote closes at 5:00 pm (EDT) May 19th.
Give and You’re in: Kansas Speedway is offering fans free admission to the grandstands on Friday, April 20 for NSCS and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practices. In lieu of admission, the speedway is requesting fans make an on-site donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Impala Power: Of the 12 NSCS races held at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with seven trips to victory lane.
EGR at Kansas: The NSCS has made 12 trips to Kansas Speedway dating back to 2001. EGR has been represented in each of those visits, leading 63 laps and accumulating three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
Did you Know?: Five years ago, on April 27, 2007, Scott Lagasse Jr. led 35 laps at Kansas Speedway en route to victory for CGR in the ARCA Racing Series.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team
Texas Recap: The Bass Pro Shops team started the Samsung Mobile 500 from the ninth-position and maintained position in the top-10 for the majority of the race. Crew chief “Bono” Manion limited the changes during the race to just air pressure adjustments as the car seemed to struggle with varying conditions throughout the race. In the end, the long green flag run limited the amount of time on pit road to make further adjustments or gain ground on the leaders and McMurray would finish 14th.
McMurray at Kansas: McMurray has 10 starts at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet has earned two top-10 finishes and has led 26 laps at the track. He has an average starting and finishing position of 19.3 and 20.9, respectively. His best start of fourth came in October 2009, while his best finish of seventh came in October 2004.
Green, Green, Green: In the last eight NSCS races at Kansas Speedway, McMurray ranks 10th in the number of green flag passes made, having completed 544 passes.
Drive Thru: Jamie McMurray will be stopping by the McDonald’s store location at 6996 Eastwood Trfwy, Kansas City, MO 64129, on Friday evening April 20, to meet fans and sign autographs at 6pm (time subject to change based on track activity for the day). Stop by and meet the driver of the No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
Intermediate Stats: At intermediate tracks (tracks greater than one mile, but less than two miles), McMurray has 123 starts, collecting two victories (Charlotte: 2002, 2010), 16 top-five finishes, 38 top-10 finishes and leading 603 laps.
Did you Know?: It would take 47,520 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets (averaging two inches) to circle the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. You would have to place 7,920 six-piece orders to get that many McNuggets.
Golden Arches: There’s no reason to go hungry while visiting Kansas Speedway this week. McDonald’s has five locations conveniently located within 10 miles of the track. Locations can be found at: 10555 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS; 7350 State Ave., Kansas City, KS; 16210 W 65th St., Shawnee, KS; 606 S 130th, Bonner Springs, KS; 22315 W 66th St., Shawnee, KS.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Texas Recap: Montoya qualified the No. 42 Target Chevrolet midfield for the start of the seventh race of the 2012 season. High winds and long green flag runs were a large factor in the way the race played out. The Target team experienced handling concerns early on and took every opportunity to make adjustments during the 334-lap event. As the evening came to a close, Montoya started to gain ground and battle back for positions. When the checkered flag waved, the Target Chevrolet was credited with 16th.
Montoya at Kansas: Montoya looks to make his seventh NSCS start at Kansas Speedway this weekend. In his previous six starts, the driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet has accumulated one top-five finish, one top-10 finish and has led 11 laps. He has an average starting position of 20th and an average finishing position of 20.2. Montoya’s best start at the 1.5-mile tri-oval came in June 2011, when he started second. His best finish of fourth came in October 2009. In his NSCS career at Kansas Speedway, Montoya has completed 1,545 of 1,550 laps (99.7%).
Pass and Go: Montoya ranks seventh in the number of green flag passes in the last eight races at Kansas Speedway. The driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet has completed 561 passes at the 1.5-mile track.
Intermediate Stats: In his NSCS career at intermediate tracks, Montoya has 69 starts, earning seven top-fives, 13 top-10’s and leading 223 laps.
Did you Know?: 2012 marks the 11th season in the NSCS for Team Target. Minneapolis-based Target also celebrates its 23rd anniversary in motorsports with Chip Ganassi Racing this year. Since the formation of this dominant force in motorsports, TCGR has amassed 86 victories and nine titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). The Target Racing Program enters 2012 with 95 wins across four series.
Hit the Bullseye: Need something in a pinch? No need to worry – Target has all of the essentials and more. Target has two locations within 10 miles of Kansas Speedway. Locations can be found at: 10900 Stadium Parkway, Kansas City, KS and 15700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1208. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 McDonald’s team will bring Chassis #1208 to Kansas Speedway this weekend. This chassis made its debut this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, finishing eighth, McMurray’s first top-10 of the season.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1205. Crew Chief Chris Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1205 to Kansas Speedway this weekend. This chassis was originally brought to Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the primary car, but after contact with the wall in practice, Montoya was forced to go to a back-up car.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
7
0
0
0
2
17.3
21.3
23
Juan Pablo Montoya
7
0
0
0
1
25.7
19.1
18
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
337
6
8
41
98
19.3
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
188
2
7
20
50
17.8
19.5
TEAM ROSTERS
Max Jones – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
No. 1 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion
Boylston, MA
Rear Tire Changer: Brian Eastland
New Bern, NC
Chief Mechanic: Randy Cox
Trinity, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe
Danbury , CT
Front Tire Changer: Bryan Jacobsen
Honesdale, PA
Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Brett Morrell
Windham, ME
Jack Man: Mitch Lash
Salisbury, NC
No. 42 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Chris Heroy
Angola, IN
Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen
Canton, MI
Chief Mechanic: David Bryant
Concord, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode
Statesville, NC
Front Tire Changer: Pedro Martinez
San Antonio, TX
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu
Waterford, MI
Jack Man: Mark Jacobs
Fort Walton Beach, FL
About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 14 championships and 145 victories, including three Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.
