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[/media-credit]RCR Post Race Report — Dover International Speedway
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Dover 200
Dover International Speedway
June 2, 2012
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished sixth (Austin Dillon), seventh (Elliott Sadler) and eighth (Ty Dillon).
Sadler leads the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 12 points. Dillon ranks third, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. and Justin Allgaier.
The No. 2 Chevrolet team is second in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, 34 points shy of the No. 18 car’s lead, with the No. 3 team fourth in the standings and the No. 33 team fifth.
A. Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, A. Dillon was the third-fastest driver early in a run.
A. Dillon posted the fastest lap of the race for 10 circuits.
A. Dillon and Sadler spent 100 percent of the laps running in the top 15, while T. Dillon spent 99 percent of his contested laps in the top 15.
The Dillon brothers ranked fifth (Austin) and sixth (Ty) in the NASCAR Loop Data category for Fastest on Restarts.
The Dillon brothers tied for third in Quality Passes with 20 each.
T. Dillon made 28 green-flag passes during the 200-lap race, ranked seventh among all drivers.
T. Dillon earned a top-10 finish in his career first Nationwide Series start.
Joey Logano earned his fourth win of the 2012 Nationwide Series and was followed to the finish line by Ryan Truex, Brian Scott, Kurt Busch and Justin Allgaier.
The next scheduled Nationwide Series race is the Alliance Truck Parts 250 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 16. The 13th race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on ABC beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Elliott Sadler Retakes Points Lead with Top-10 Finish at the “Monster Mile”
Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team overcame a loose-handling condition to claim a seventh-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway. After starting the 200-lap race from the sixth position, the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet soon developed a loose-handling condition which would set the tone for the afternoon. During a competition caution on lap 40, the Luke Lambert-led crew armed Sadler with four fresh tires, along with chassis and air pressure adjustments to assist with the handling on the OneMain Financial Chevrolet. With a number of teams opting not to get fresh tires during the caution period, the No. 2 Chevrolet restarted the race in the 12th position. The Emporia, Va., native gradually worked his way back into the top-10 by lap 89, and was listed in the ninth position by the halfway mark of the event and took over the seventh spot ten laps later. Still challenged with the loose-handling condition, the OneMain team made additional chassis and air pressure adjustments to the No. 2 Chevrolet during their final two pit stops to assist Sadler in maintaining his position in the top 10. Opting for track position, Lambert called for Sadler to remain on track during the final caution period of the day on lap 152, lining up the No. 2 Chevrolet fourth for the restart. Sadler battled over the final laps but the loose-handling condition returned, ultimately dropping the blue and white Chevrolet a few positions, crossing the finish line in the seventh position. With his 10th top-10 finish of the 2012 season, Sadler regains the lead in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings.
Start – 6 Finish – 7 Laps Led – 0 Points – 1
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTE: “We had a solid finish today but not what we were hoping for at Dover (International Speedway). Luke (Lambert) made some great adjustments and the OneMain Financial team had quick pit stops all day long but we just couldn’t overcome the loose condition. It’s great to take over the points lead again but it’s a long season, so we need to keep fighting to get strong finishes every week. We really want to win more of those race trophies and if we can do that, the points should take care of themselves.”
Austin Dillon Earns a Sixth-Place Finish at the “Monster Mile”
Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet to a sixth-place finish at Dover International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender started Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race from the 11th position and raced his way into the fourth position before a lap-40 competition caution provided the Danny Stockman-led team an opportunity to pit. Dillon’s black and green No. 3 Chevrolet was serviced with four Goodyear tires, Sunoco Green E15 fuel and a chassis adjustment designed to combat a loose-handling condition. When green-flag racing resumed at lap-45, Dillon was scored in the seventh position and again began moving forward in the running order. He raced his way into the fourth position before the final caution flag of the race was displayed to the field on lap 152. Although several teams opted to stay on the race track, Dillon was instructed to make a trip down pit road for four tires and a splash of fuel. Restarting in the eighth position with 43 laps remaining in the 200-lap event, Dillon raced his way into the sixth position before the checkered flag was displayed but could not advance any further in the running order as a tight-handling condition developed on his No. 3 Chevrolet. Dillon remains third in the Nationwide Series driver’s championship point standings but gained ground on the leaders, now sitting 14 markers shy of the lead and two points behind the second-place contender.
Start – 11 Finish – 6 Laps Led – 0 Points – 3
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE: “The No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet was really good this weekend in race trim. We took off at the beginning of the race and made it up to third. We were a little bit loose early in the race but the car tightened up a lot after our final pit stop and it made it hard to pass. Overall it was a great day for us, and a great points day so it’s hard to complain. I’m really proud of my little brother Ty for his performance today in his Nationwide Series debut.”
Ty Dillon Earns Top-10 Finish in NASCAR Nationwide Series Debut
Ty Dillon made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Dover International Speedway and raced to an impressive eighth-place finish. Dillon posted the third-quickest time in Saturday morning’s qualifying session. After taking the green-flag, the Richard Childress Racing driver was scored in the sixth position when NASCAR officials displayed a competition caution at lap 40. Crew chief Ernie Cope directed Dillon to pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment to combat a loose-handling condition on the No. 33 Chevrolet. Dillon restarted in the 13th position on lap 45 and maintained position through the halfway point of the 200-lap affair. The 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion moved into the 11th position but fell one lap down to the leaders just past the race’s halfway point. Following a routine green-flag pit stop on lap 116, a caution flag slowed the field and positioned the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet ninth for the ensuing restart. Dillon held onto the ninth-place position and was awarded the Lucky Dog Award, placing the team back on the lead lap. Dillon improved one position, to eighth, in the final stages of the race to claim a top-10 finish in his Nationwide Series debut. The No. 33 team remains fifth in the Nationwide Series owner’s point championship standings after earning the top-10 finish.
Start – 3 Finish – 6 Laps Led – 0 Owners Points – 5
TY DILLON QUOTE:
“I’m really proud of the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino team. I knew they put together a great car and it was up to me to perform in it, and we came out with a top-10 finish. I learned a lot from this race that I hope I can use in other Nationwide Series races. It’s a great series, and I’m looking forward to running in it full time one day.”
