[media-credit name=”darlingtonraceway.com” align=”alignright” width=”199″]
[/media-credit]Darlington Raceway Advance Notes
Race: Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Saturday, May 12th
Track: Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile oval)
Location: Darlington, S.C.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Darlington Raceway
Trisha Vance No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Tracker Boats 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 re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing. The 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. Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.
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 8th 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 18th at 11:59 pm (EST). The winner will be announced at the NASCAR Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.
Rock the EGR Vote: “Rock the EGR Vote” for the 2012 All-Star Race campaign has kicked off on EGR’s social media channels. This unique campaign features a number of promotions and giveaways designed to reward EGR fans for supporting McMurray and Montoya in casting votes to see them in the May 19 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, airing live on SPEED. 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 www.nascar.com/allstar; At-Track at the Sprint Experience. The Sprint Fan Vote closes at 5 pm (EDT) May 19.
Like a Rock: Of the 108 NSCS races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet has gone to victory lane 39 times (36%). That is 11 more times than the second highest manufacturer.
All for Mom: As an annual tradition the Darlington race will fall on Mother’s Day weekend. The track will recognize the driver’s mothers during the pre-race ceremonies. All of the moms in attendance will receive a bouquet of flowers and will give the command for “start your engines”.
EGR at Darlington: In 2002, EGR driver Sterling Marlin started 11th and led 57 laps at Darlington Raceway en route to victory. In 15 visits to Darlington, EGR drivers have accumulated one win, seven top-five finishes, 10 top-10 finishes and have led 409 laps.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Tracker Boats Team
Talladega Recap: The start of Sunday’s race was delayed close to an hour as early morning storms rolled through the area. Once underway, McMurray dropped to the back of the field for the first half of the race, hoping to avoid any wrecks that are common with the larger packs on the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. McMurray would charge toward the front in the second half of the race and keep the Bass Pro Shops Chevy in the lead pack bringing home an 11th-place finish.
McMurray at Darlington: In 11 NSCS career starts at Darlington, McMurray has earned three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He has led 163 laps, which includes laps led in each of the last two races at Darlington. He has an average start and finish position of 14.3 and 14.5, respectively. His best start and finish at the track came in 2010, when he started from the pole and finished second.
On a Roll: In each of the last two NSCS races at Darlington Raceway, McMurray has started within the top-15, led at least 13 laps and finished in the top-10 (2010: 2nd; 2011: 9th).
Closing the Deal: In the last seven races at Darlington Raceway, McMurray ranks fifth in the closers category having gained 10 positions in the last 10% of the races.
At the Top: McMurray ranks eighth in the number of laps run in the top-15 at Darlington, running 1,648 of 2,575 laps (64%) in the top-15.
Reeling in a Win: McMurray has one victory at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In 2004, McMurray crossed the finish line first after starting 34th and leading 72 laps.
Intermediate Stats: At intermediate tracks (tracks greater than one mile, but less than two miles), McMurray has 124 starts, collecting two victories (Charlotte: 2002, 2010), 16 top-five finishes, 38 top-10 finishes and leading 603 laps.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Talladega Recap: Montoya started the Aaron’s 499 in the 12th position and quickly dropped to the back of the field to avoid any on-track incidents early on. The Target Chevrolet strategically stayed back until just before the halfway point. Montoya joined the lead pack, jockeying for position and even leading the field to the start/finish line for three laps. With 45 laps to go, the unpredictable Talladega would live up to its name as Montoya would be caught up in the “Big One”. An accident in front of him left him with nowhere to go and caused significant damage to the Target Chevrolet. The day would end early for the team and result in a 32nd-place finish.
Montoya at Darlington: In five NSCS career starts at Darlington Raceway, Montoya has one top-five, one top-10 and zero DNF’s (did not finish). He has completed 1,833 of 1,838 laps run at the track (99.7). He has an average starting position of 23.2 and an average finishing position of 18.8. His best start and finish came in 2010 when he lined up 15th and finished fifth.
Intermediate Stats: In his NSCS career at intermediate tracks, Montoya has 70 starts, earning seven top-fives, 13 top-10’s and leading 227 laps.
Closing in: Montoya is tied for fourth in the closers category, gaining 14 positions in the last 10% of the races this season.
Miss Sprint Cup Chat: This weekend at Darlington, Montoya will participate in a chat with Miss Sprint Cup and SPEED. Fans have the chance to submit questions for the Target driver using #SprintFanVote to Miss Sprint Cup and SPEED via twitter, @MissSprintCup and @NASCARonSpeed. Look for the interview on SPEED’s website, facebook page and YouTube channel. Fans whose questions are selected will receive a prize.
Did you know?: Thirteen years ago this week, on May 15, 1999, Montoya won in the CART Series with Target Chip Ganassi Racing at Autodromo Nelson Piquet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Montoya drove his way to his third victory of the season, leading 93 of 108 laps. He would go on to win a total of seven races in 1999.
Hit the Bullseye: On the way to Darlington this weekend, stop by Target for all of your race-day essentials. Target is located at 2791 David H. McLeod Blvd., Florence, SC 29501. Call ahead and make sure they have what you need at 843-667-6731.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1112. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Tracker Boats team will bring Chassis #1112 to Darlington Raceway this weekend. This chassis raced in last year’s Brickyard 400, leading five laps and finishing fourth. This chassis also saw track time during last fall’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, finishing 38th due to an engine failure.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1111. Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1111 to Darlington Raceway this weekend. This chassis made its debut in last season’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leading two laps and finishing 31st after an accident put the No. 42 four laps down. This chassis also earned Montoya’s first top-10 of the 2012 season, finishing eighth at Bristol Motor Speedway.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
10
0
0
0
2
21.7
18.8
16
Juan Pablo Montoya
10
0
0
0
1
25.1
19.0
17
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
340
6
8
41
98
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
191
2
7
20
50
17.9
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: Gary Putnam
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.
For more information log onto: www.earnhardtganassi.com
