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[/media-credit]Charlotte Motor Speedway Advance Notes
Race: Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 27
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile Quad-Oval)
Location: Concord, N.C.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Arctic Cat 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.
Greatest CGR Driver Bracket: With both the IZOD IndyCar Series and NSCS holding two of their largest events of the season during the month of May, CGRT has launched their first-ever all-time greatest driver bracket. The promotion encourages fans to vote for their All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver through the team’s social media platforms. With over 23 years of history in motorsports, CGRT trimmed their all-time list of over 50 drivers down to 16. Match-ups began May 11 across all three CGRT Twitter handles – @CGRTeams, @TCGRTeams and @EGRTeams. There will be a new match-up every day with the finals concluding on Friday, May 25. The All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver will be announced on Saturday, May 26, the day before the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500.
Fan Appreciation Day: Don’t miss the opportunity to meet EGR drivers Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya for a joint autograph session on Thursday, May 24, at 10 a.m. ET at the EGR Shop located in Concord, N.C. Fans must reserve a wristband to attend the event and can do so by calling EGR, at 704-662-9642, or stopping by the gift shop. 100 wristbands will be available the week of May 21, leading up to the morning of the event. Please limit phone requests to two per person. Wristbands will be available for pick up during normal gift shop hours (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET) beginning Monday, May 21.
Top of the Heap: Of the 106 NSCS races held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has accumulated 39 victories. That is 11 more wins than the next closest manufacturer.
EGR at Charlotte: Since 2001 EGR drivers have made 56 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, accumulating three victories (2001, 2002, 2010), six top-fives and 15 top-10s. EGR drivers have led a total of 372 laps and have completed 17,983 of 19,855 laps (91%).
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Arctic Cat Team
Showdown Recap: Coming into the non-points weekend on the NSCS schedule, the No. 1 team looked to race their way into the “main event”, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with a first or second-place finish. After starting from the rear of the field, McMurray charged to the front and showed some strength in his No. 1 Chevy. Unfortunately, in the closing of the 40-lap event, the Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet got a little bit loose and was unable to hold onto the second position, bringing the No. 1 Chevy home with a third-place finish.
McMurray at Charlotte: McMurray has made 19 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In those 19 starts, the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet has accumulated two wins (2002, 2010), five top-five, eight top-10 finishes and led 238 laps. He has an average start and finish position of 22.4 and 17.4, respectively. His best start at the 1.5-mile oval was fifth in 2002.
Recapping Victory: In just his second NSCS start, McMurray, subbing for an injured Sterling Marlin, started fifth and led 96 laps en route to his first NSCS victory in 2002. In 2010 McMurray started 27th and led 65 laps on the way to his second victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway and his sixth NSCS victory overall.
To the Top: McMurray has led at least five laps in three of the last four races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Pass and Go: McMurray ranks third in the number of green flag passes at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the last 14 races. He has made 1,080 passes, which is 17 more passes than the driver ranked fourth.
Intermediate Stats: At intermediate tracks (tracks greater than one mile, but less than two miles), McMurray has 125 starts, collecting two victories (Charlotte: 2002, 2010), 16 top-five finishes, 38 top-10 finishes and leading 603 laps.
Drop a line at Bass Pro Shops: Visit the Bass Pro Shops Concord Mills location on Wednesday, May 23 at 6 p.m. ET for an autograph session with McMurray. Bass Pro Shops will also be giving away a pair of tickets to the Coca-Cola 600. Bass Pro Shops is conveniently located within five miles of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Visit the store at 8181 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 20827.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Showdown Recap: The NSCS headed home over the weekend to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sprint hosted their annual Showdown and All-Star races, where drivers didn’t compete for points, but for bragging rights. The Target team raced in the Showdown with hopes of finishing in the first or second position to transfer into the main event. Montoya started in the seventh position in the two segment, 40-lap race and ran in the top-five throughout. In the final segment, the Target Chevrolet had slight contact with fellow competitors causing some damage and handling issues. Montoya held on to finish fifth.
Montoya at Charlotte: Montoya looks to make his 11th start this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his previous 10 starts he has led five laps and earned one top-10. His best start and finish came in 2009 when he started eighth and came to the checkered in ninth. The driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet has an average starting position of 26.4 and an average finishing position of 24.7 at the 1.5-mile oval.
Pass ‘Em All: In last fall’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Montoya completed the most green flag passes, with 127.
Intermediate Stats: In his NSCS career at intermediate tracks, Montoya has 71 starts, earning seven top-fives, 13 top-10’s and leading 227 laps.
NASCAR Unites: The Coca-Cola 600 launches The NASCAR Foundation’s summer initiative, NASCAR Unites. The program creates an opportunity for NASCAR fans, drivers, teams, tracks and sponsors to unite to improve the lives of those in need across the nation through volunteering, raising awareness and utilizing the assets of the sport to make a difference. As a part of this initiative Target and EGR have teamed up for a special NASCAR Unites paint scheme. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet will carry new colors for the weekend, with red, white and blue.
Makeover Please: Look for the Target pit crew to make some surprise visits to three camp sites surrounding Charlotte Motor Speedway during race week. The lucky recipients will receive a complete camp site makeover by the No. 42 Target pit crew, compliments of Target.
Surprise and Delight: Target will have nine branded race carts providing samples of their grocery items in the campgrounds surrounding Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as a Target Taste Wagon and a Target Shuttle that will provide fans transportation to the Target in Kannapolis, N.C. Look for the Target branded vehicles on track property from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Thursday, May 24 – Saturday, May 26.
Hit the Bullseye: On the way to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, stop by Target for all of your race-day essentials. Target is located at 6150 Bayfield Parkway, Concord N.C, 28027. Call ahead and make sure they have what you need at 704-262-6080.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Arctic Cat Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1208. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops®/Arctic Cat team will bring Chassis #1208 to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis has raced this season at Las Vegas and Kansas, finishing eighth and 14th, respectively.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1205. Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will bring Chassis #1205 to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis raced to a 12th-place finish at Kansas this season.
2012 STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Pts. Pos.
Jamie McMurray
11
0
0
0
2
20.7
20.2
20
Juan Pablo Montoya
11
0
0
0
1
25.3
19.5
19
CAREER STATS
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Starts
Wins
Poles
Top 5s
Top 10s
Ave Start
Ave Finish
Jamie McMurray
341
6
8
41
98
19.4
19.4
Juan Pablo Montoya
192
2
7
20
50
18.0
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
Vernon, CT
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
