Richard Childress Racing Event Preview:
Daytona International Speedway
Race: Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
Richard Childress Racing Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won seven poles and owns 30 total victories at the most storied race track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. RCR owns two Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including 10 consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999) and Jeff Burton’s most recent win in 2011. Harvick became the fourth driver to win back-to-back Budweiser Shootout titles (2009 and 2010) and it marked the seventh win in the exhibition race for RCR, more than any other organization. In addition to Harvick’s victories, Earnhardt won the event five times (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95). Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Feb. 2002 and 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Daytona, driving cars fielded by RCR. Harvick drove to Victory Lane in the 2007 Nationwide Series season opener in the No. 21 Chevrolet and Clint Bowyer won the July 2009 event at the “World Center of Racing.”
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,216 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 100 wins, 431 top-five finishes, 896 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards, with an average starting position of 17.9 and an average finishing position of 15.8 among all races contested. RCR has earned six Sprint Cup Series championships with Dale Earnhardt (1986, ’87, ’90,’91, ’93, ’94), 14 total championships (five NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
Goodyear “Gives Back” for Third Straight Year … The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR’s three major national series, is honoring the U.S. Armed Forces with the launch of the “Goodyear Gives Back” program, a charitable fund-raising effort to benefit Support Our Troops®. This organization helps to boost the morale of active duty troops and their families through care packages sent to the front lines and programs for those at home. Goodyear is donating up to $250,000* during the program (July 1 – August 31), and running special “Support Our Troops” tires in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races over the July 4th holiday race weekend. Fans can join in by visiting www.Goodyear.com/GivesBack, where they can bid on authentic race-used Goodyear NASCAR tires autographed by drivers and other racing memorabilia, make direct donations, and purchase limited edition Goodyear Gives Back merchandise – all to benefit the Support Our Troops organization.
RCR is Wide Open for “Goodyear Gives Back” … RCR’s Sprint Cup Series drivers Paul Menard, Harvick and Burton will be featured in a “Goodyear Gives Back” commercial that will air during TNT’s Wide Open coverage of the 54th annual Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 7 beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Goodyear Challenges Tire Specialists … Tire Specialists Chris Sherwood (No. 27 RCR team), Andy Flynn (No. 29 RCR team) and Kyle Collins (No. 31 RCR team) will participate in the Goodyear Tire Specialist Challenge on Saturday, July 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time at the Goodyear display on the DIS Midway. The obstacle course competition was designed to drive awareness of Goodyear Gives Back benefitting Support Our Troops program will include challenges such as running through tires, rolling a tire, stacking tires on a handcart and dropping a tire down the Throw/Down display (Plinko). A $500 donation will be made in the name of the competition winner to Support Our Troops and they will be awarded a custom Goodyear Gives Back trophy along with bragging rights among fellow tire specialists in the Sprint Cup Series garage.
The Collective RCR … Throughout the season’s first 17 races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched four top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. RCR teams have completed 16,424 out of 16,691 total laps (98.4 percent) with drivers Burton, Harvick, Menard, Elliott Sadler, Brendan Gaughan and Austin Dillon. The group has led a combined 175 laps.
Get to the Points … Following the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, Harvick remains sixth in the driver championship point standings, 68 markers out of the top spot. Menard sits 13th in the standings, while Burton ranks 20th.
Interactive RCR … To keep up-to-date with the latest news and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick and @RCR31JeffBurton. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com.
Catch the Action … TNT’s live coverage of the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola begins Saturday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 18th points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series will be broadcast live on SPEED on Friday, July 6 at 4 p.m. ET.
Paul Menard
No. 27 Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 388 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 27 Chevrolet was last utilized at Talladega Superspeedway in May where Menard started 17th and finished 17th after receiving heavy damage in a multi-car incident while running third in the closing laps. This chassis was also used at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February where the Eau Claire, Wis. native started 37th and brought home a sixth-place finish.
Slightly different colors on the Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet in the Sunshine State … The No. 27 Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet will sport a different look this weekend when the Sprint Cup Series rolls into the Daytona Beach, Fla., superspeedway, carrying a special paint scheme of “Quaker State green” and “Menards yellow.”
By the Numbers at the World Center of Racing … At a track notorious for the field-reducing “Big One,” Menard has completed an impressive 99.2 percent of his laps (1,773 of 1,788) in 10 previous starts. He has an average starting position of 23.6 and an average finishing position of 17.3, with his best finish of sixth coming in the 2012 Daytona 500. He has led for 37 laps. Menard earned the pole award at Daytona International Speedway for the 2008 Coke Zero 400 (July). The following year, he started the Budweiser Shootout from the pole position when he drew the top spot during Budweiser’s annual Shootout Draw Party.
Getting Loopy in 2012 … With 17 points-paying events of the 2012 season complete, Menard sits 13th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 60 points out of the final Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup spot. In his sophomore year with RCR, Menard has an average starting position of 18.4, an average finishing position of 16.1, maintains an average running position of 18.2, and has completed 99.6 percent of his laps (5,007 of 5,027).
Q&A with Menard … On Friday, July 6 from 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, Menard will participate in a question and answer session at the Coke Zero Club, one of Daytona International Speedway’s premier hospitality areas for fans. For more information on the Coke Zero Club, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.
Race Rewind … Menard and the Quaker State/Menards took the green flag in the 10th position to start the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and quickly paired up with RCR teammate Kevin Harvick to create a powerful two-car tandem and raced to the front. The pair battled in the lead pack for the majority of the 170-lap race, and Menard took the checkered flag in the eighth position.
In the Rearview Mirror: Kentucky Speedway … Menard and the No. 27 Sylvania/Menards team battled back to regain lost track position after a lengthy pit stop to finish 12th in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.
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PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
You have three consecutive top-10 finishes at Daytona International Speedway. How confident do you feel going back there?
“We feel good about our superspeedway program. The question is where are you with five laps to go? That’s what it comes down to. Also, it depends on how long you can push (the car in front of you) before temperatures get too high. We have some work to do on our engine management and cooling. We’ve had fast cars and have been able to get good results at Daytona (International Speedway), knock on wood we’ll get another one.”
Why do you think that Daytona International Speedway fits you?
“I don’t think it is that the track (Daytona International Speedway) necessarily fits me, it’s that we’ve had fast cars. There’s not a lot you can do behind the wheel except hold it wide open, manage temperatures and point the car where you want it to go. Fast cars, good teammates and good strategies are what you need for success at Daytona.”
Looking at the tandem versus non-tandem racing as we go back to Daytona International Speedway, is the racing the way you like it or what would be optimal for you?
“Optimal for me would be to take the restrictor plates off and flatten the track, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It is what it is, honestly. If it is tandem racing or pack racing, or a mixture of both, which it is now, that’s what we have to deal with.”
Are there certain drivers that you like to draft with or draft around at the superspeedways? Do you look for certain guys or just take what you can get?
“Unfortunately, these races are managing your engine temperature. For us, we’ve spent about 80 percent of the race not racing, and instead riding around. Towards the end, you start heating up your engine and making a move to the front. At that time, you really go with whoever you can to move forward. I’ll work with anyone. Everyone out here knows what they’re doing, it’s just unfortunate that you have to wait that long to go race.”
Does the 400 miles of the Coke Zero 400 feel any different than the 500 miles of the Daytona 500?
“No, I don’t feel a difference between the Coke Zero 400 and the Daytona 500. Other than the (Coke Zero) 400 is at night and it’s a lot hotter in July, there’s not much of a difference. With the repave of the track, the grip level is still very good even though it is a lot hotter in July.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 295 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend’s Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola. Harvick drove this Chevrolet to a top-10 finish during the 2009 Daytona 500 and into Victory Lane in the July event at Daytona International Speedway in 2010. The No. 29 team most recently utilized this car during the Budweiser Shootout earlier in February.
Racing at the Superspeedway … Harvick has 22 career starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, collecting two pole awards (July 2007 and 2010), two victories (February 2007 and July 2010), five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. The Bakersfield, Calif., native holds a 16th-place average starting position and a 15th-place average finishing position. Harvick has completed 93.4 percent of the laps contested (3,609 of 3,865) and has been credited for leading the field for 178 circuits.
Going for a Loop in the Sunshine State … Harvick has made 15 starts at the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based facility since the inception of NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics in 2006. He holds a 19th-place average starting position, an average finishing position of 15.2 and has completed 91.5 percent (2,154 or 2,353) of the laps contested. The RCR veteran driver has posted 70 of the Fastest Laps Run ranking him second among his fellow competitors and has an average Green Flag Speed of 187.583 ranking him fifth.
Points Racing … With 17 points-paying events in the books, Harvick remains sixth in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 68 markers behind the leader. Harvick has collected three top-five and eight top-10 finishes thus far this season, completing 99.76 percent (5,015 of 5,027) of the laps contested.
Red, White and Blue Summer … The patriotic red, white and blue Budweiser Folds of Honor paint scheme will again be featured on Harvick’s No. 29 Chevrolet this weekend at Daytona. The special paint scheme reflects the “Red, White and Blue Summer” packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 – July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the No. 29 Chevrolet. (*Maximum donation of $2.5 million includes $5,000 for every walk-off in select 2012 professional baseball games and a portion of sales for every case of Budweiser sold, 5/20-7/7.)
Gotta Have Freedom … Rheem will adorn the quarter panels of the No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to RCR. For more information about Rheem please visit: www.rheem.com.
Meet the Press … Harvick will be available to members of the media on Thursday, July 5 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time in the Daytona International Speedway infield media center.
Double Duty … In addition to competing in the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola Saturday evening, Harvick will also drive RCR’s No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event Friday night. The race is scheduled to air live on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Meet the Man … Fans will have an opportunity to meet the 2007 Daytona 500 Champion, while enhancing their race experience during an at-track hospitality appearance at 31 Degrees on Saturday, July 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET. Those who would like to attend the event will need to purchase an additional pass that includes access to food, drinks, a climate controlled environment, driver appearances and comes with a pre-race/Sprint Fan Zone pass. For more information please visit http://bit.ly/DISKH31Degrees.
The Last Time Around … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet team utilized teamwork and strategy during last year’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway to bring home a seventh-place finish that positioned them in the lead of Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.
In the Rearview Mirror: Kentucky Speedway … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Folds of Honor team crossed the finish line in the 11th position in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway after battling handling issues during the 267-lap event.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
What are your overall thoughts heading back to Daytona International Speedway?
“Speedway racing has been good for us. The last couple of races at Talladega (Superspeedway) haven’t been great due to some crashes, but Daytona (International Speedway) has been a good race track for us. I think the main talk when we get back this year is going to be about cooling as we go to the restrictor plate stuff again. Obviously, with the race being in July the cooling isn’t going to be better than it was in February, so it will be interesting to find that balance as to how hard you can push the engine and keep yourself in a position to be able to run up front and hopefully win the race.”
Do you have different strategies for the weather differences between the two Daytona (International Speedway) races?
“It used to be a lot different before they repaved the race track. You had to really worry about handling. But July is definitely the hottest time of the year that you could go and race in Daytona. I don’t think handling is as big of an issue once the track was repaved, so now it’s just a big chess game.”
How did the Daytona 500 start the season out for your team?
“We ran a pretty conservative race at the 500 and didn’t really get ourselves in the right position there toward the end of the race to have a chance to win, but we were competitive and took care of our stuff. We knew we were going to have some cooling issues and probably couldn’t race all day, but all in all, it was a good start to the year.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Wheaties Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Weekend’s No. 31 Wheaties Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Jeff Burton will race Chassis No. 343 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This chassis, built in 2011 for RCR’s No. 29 entry with driver Kevin Harvick, competed in three superspeedway events last season including the Daytona 500 where an engine failure relegated Harvick to a 42nd-place finish. Harvick also guided this machine to a top-five finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2011 and a top-10 finish in last season’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Burton got behind the wheel of this Chevrolet in the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona where he was involved in an early incident, but battled to an 11th-place finish and brought home a top-10 finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
Breakfast of Champions … The iconic Wheaties franchise returns to Sprint Cup Series action this weekend. This is the fourth of six scheduled races during the 2012 season in that Wheaties will be the primary partner of the No. 31 Chevrolet team. Wheaties also serves as an associate partner of the No. 31 team for the remainder of the races during the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season. For more information, please visit www.wheaties.com or follow Wheaties on Twitter @Wheaties_FUEL and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Wheaties.
Career Daytona Stats … The Coke Zero 400 marks Burton’s 38th start at the “World Center of Racing” and 637th-career Sprint Cup Series entry. He has amassed one win, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes along with one pole award at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Getting Loopy at the World’s Most Famous Beach … Burton has garnered some impressive NASCAR Loop Data statistics at Daytona International Speedway. Of all drivers entering the summer event, he has the second-most Green Flag Passes (3,142), the sixth-most Quality Passes (1,912), spent 1,549 Laps in the Top 15 (seventh-most), has the eighth best Average Running Position (15.562) and an 86.0 Driver Rating that ranks him ninth amongst his competitors.
No Stranger to Victory Lane … Although he has yet to capture a victory in the “Great American Race,” the South Boston, Va., native has three Daytona race trophies on his mantle. The first is from the 2000 Coke Zero 400 and most recently from last season’s Duel 150 qualifying race. Burton also tallied the pole award for the 2006 Daytona 500.
Restrictor-Plate Ringer … Two of Burton’s three top-10 finishes during the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season came at restrictor-plate race tracks. Burton finished fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500 and 10th-place at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
Inside the Cockpit … The No. 31 Chevrolet will carry an in-car camera on behalf of RCR partner Coca-Cola during the NASCAR on TNT live race broadcast of the Coke Zero 400.
Race Rewind … Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team posted a 24th-place finish in the Sprint Cup Series night race at Kentucky Speedway.
Points Racing … After 17 points-paying events of the 36-race Sprint Cup Series season, Burton scored 428 points and sits 20th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings. The veteran RCR driver has one top-five and three top-10 finishes and spent 1,820 laps running in the top 15, made 1,688 green-flag passes and led 35 laps.
JEFF BURTON QUOTES:
You had a top-five finish in the Daytona 500. What are your thoughts on the Coke Zero 400?
“Daytona International Speedway has been a good race track for us. We typically run well there. We’ve had fast race cars going into Daytona the last few years and don’t have the finishes to show for it. I felt like we have been position to win those races. I’m excited about our superspeedway program. We have worked hard on the program since Talladega (Superspeedway) in April and found some speed. I expect us to run well at Daytona.”
The weather this weekend will be completely different than the weather for the Daytona 500. How will the car handle differently?
“They repaved the track a few years ago and it won’t be long before handling becomes a factor. Everyone is wondering if this will be the race where handling starts to come into play. It’s going to be hot and slick. I think the big question is, ‘will handling come into play on the hot, slick track?’ During the Daytona 500, we didn’t have that issue.”
Do you think the engine cooling issues have been fixed yet?
“I think it will still be a major issue. I’m not convinced we have fixed the issues. When you step back and look at the Talladega (Superspeedway) race in April, there were a lot of teams that couldn’t run in the pack. We saw half of the teams drop back because they couldn’t keep from overheating. I don’t think enough has been done yet to fix that problem.”
What are your thoughts on restrictor-plate racing with the new rules package instituted in 2012?
“Honestly, I like it the other way, but it doesn’t matter to me. At the end of the day, we all go down there with the same rules package and we have to find a way to make it work. One thing about pack racing is that there is a price to be paid. Nothing is for free. If you put everyone in a pack, you know what that price is. I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and I know the result of pack racing. I’ve seen it enough times to know what it is. It gets a little old tearing up cars. A majority of the fans like the pack racing, but we still have to remember what the result ultimately becomes. You’re going to see those big wrecks.”
Race: Daytona 250 powered by Coca-Cola
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series Notes
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Daytona … In 44 previous Nationwide Series appearances at Daytona International Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has four wins at the famed restrictor-plate track, including victories in July 2010 and Feb. 2002 with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Clint Bowyer brought RCR to Victory Lane at Daytona in July 2009 and Kevin Harvick won in Feb. 2007.
By the Numbers … RCR has started Nationwide Series races at Daytona International Speedway from the pole position with two different drivers -Bowyer in July 2009 and Harvick in July 2005. RCR has just four starts outside of the top 10 in the last 17 consecutive Nationwide Series attempts at the track, nine of which were starts of fifth or better. In addition to four wins, RCR has 23 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes at Daytona.
Averages … RCR boasts an average starting position of 9.7 and an average finishing position of 9.8 among all Nationwide Series races the organization has contested at Daytona International Speedway. RCR drivers have completed 99.2 percent of the laps attempted at the 2.5-mile speedway (5,133 of 5,176 laps), with 441 laps led.
The Season So Far … Through the 15 races contested this season, RCR has acquired three wins in the Nationwide Series, with Elliott Sadler at Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway and Austin Dillon at Kentucky Speedway. RCR has earned seven pole awards in 2012, with Sadler at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Iowa Speedway, Paul Menard at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick at Richmond International Raceway and Austin Dillon at Michigan International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. The organization has 21 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes and has led 875 laps in 2012.
RCR in the NNS … In 811 Nationwide Series starts over the course of the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 59 wins, 271 top-five finishes, 447 top-10 finishes and 39 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.5 and an average finishing position of 12.8 among all races contested. RCR earned the Nationwide Series driver points championships in 2001 and 2006 with Harvick and in 2008 with Clint Bowyer. The Welcome, N.C.-based team earned the owner’s title in 2003 with Johnny Sauter and Harvick and again in 2007 with Jeff Burton and Scott Wimmer.
To the Point … RCR’s two full-time Nationwide Series entries rank first (Sadler) and second (Dillon) in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings heading into the Daytona 250 powered by Coca-Cola. The No. 2 team sits second in the owner point standings while the No. 3 team ranks third. The No. 33 team sits fourth in the owner championship point standings.
Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news and information and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series team Twitter pages – @RCR2ESadler, @RCR3ADillon and @RCR33NNS, RCR’s Nationwide Series driver Twitter pages – @Elliott_Sadler, @AustinDillon3 and @KevinHarvick the official Facebook fan pages – facebook.com/RCRracing, facebook.com/ElliottSadlerOfficial, facebook.com/adillon3 and facebook.com/OfficialKevinHarvick.
Live on ESPN … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 250 powered by Coca-Cola is scheduled to be televised on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, July 6 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Elliott Sadler No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s OneMain Financial Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway… Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team will unload Chassis No. 499 from Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend. The team utilized this Chevrolet at both superspeedway events earlier this season, bringing home a third-place finish at Daytona in February and a pole award and 10th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in May.
Daytona Beach Experience … Sadler has competed at Daytona International Speedway in the Nationwide Series six times in his career with a best finish of third in February 2012 and has led 69 laps around the 2.5-mile track. He also has experience at the historic superspeedway across NASCAR’s other top series, making 24 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with four top-five and nine top-10 finishes and two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with one top-five finish and 56 laps led.
Last Time By … In the summer 2011 event under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 2 OneMain Financial team gunned for a win at the famed superspeedway. After leading 31 laps, the most of any driver in the field, Sadler brought the field to the white flag as the leader. While racing through turn four on the final lap, the No. 2 was involved in a multi-car accident, skidding across the finish line in the eighth position.
Just The Stats … According to NASCAR’s 2012 Loop Data Season-to-Date statistics, Sadler leads the Nationwide Series in Average Starting Position (5.6), Average Mid-Race Position (6.9), Laps in the Top 15 (2,603), Percentage of Laps Led (95.8) and Driver Rating (107.1). After 15 events in the Nationwide Series season, Sadler has earned two wins, two pole awards, six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes with 129 laps led.
To the Point … Sadler leads the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings by four points ahead of RCR teammate Austin Dillon.
Race Rewind: Kentucky … Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial team battled through a loose-handling condition to finish ninth in the race under the lights last Friday night at Kentucky Speedway.
The REAL Heroes … Throughout the summer the No. 2 team will participate in “The REAL Heroes” program with OneMain Financial, a campaign designed to salute the troops. The No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet will sport a special red, white and blue paint scheme as part of the NASCAR Unites program. Last weekend at Kentucky, Sadler spent time with two Gold Star families who lost loved ones in battle. Fans also have a way to get involved and send thanks to the troops throughout social media outlets and at OneMain Financial branch appearances during that time. For more information, visit www.onemainracing.com and utilize #OMRREALHeroes.
All About the Dash 4 Cash … This weekend’s event at Daytona International Speedway serves as the qualifying event for the Nationwide Insurance Dash for Cash. The top four finishers in the event at Daytona that are eligible to receive Nationwide Series championship driver points are eligible for the first Dash 4 Cash bonus at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The highest finishing driver of those four drivers, will win the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash award, and automatically qualify for the next event at Chicagoland Speedway. The three-highest finishing drivers that receive Nationwide Series championship driver points at New Hampshire will also qualify for the Chicagoland bonus. Those same rules are in effect for the last two events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway. Nationwide Insurance will award an additional $600,000 to the prize if the same driver captures each Dash 4 Cash bonus and wins the final race at Iowa in August, bringing the total prize money to one million dollars. Last season, Sadler scored a Dash 4 Cash victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning $100,000 for himself and $100,000 for a lucky fan, Joe Thornton. Fans have the opportunity to participate in the action as well by entering the Nationwide Series $100,000 Sweepstakes at www.nascar.com/dash4cash. Four lucky entrants will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the final D4C event at Iowa Speedway. The four fans will be randomly paired with the four eligible D4C drivers for that race, and the fan whose driver wins the D4C award also will go home with a check for $100,000.
Seeing Pink … For the remainder of the season, Sadler will have a little more color to his outfit on race days. The Emporia, Va., native will sport pink driving shoes, showing support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Sadler’s mother, Bell, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and is now a survivor. Fans have the opportunity to bid on his race-worn pink shoes and a VIP experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with proceeds benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information, visit www.sadlerfoundation.org.
Meeting and Greeting … Fans have several chances to meet Sadler in the Daytona Beach, Fla. area this weekend. On Friday, Sadler will host a meet and greet beginning at noon at the OneMain Financial branch located at 828-8 Saxon Boulevard, Orange City, FL 32763. He will also make an appearance on behalf of Coca-Cola on Friday at 4:15pm at the Coke Zero Club at Daytona International Speedway.
Hosting Duties … Sadler will trade the steering wheel for the microphone this weekend as co-host of Trackside on SPEED. On set at Daytona International Speedway, Sadler will join the regular SPEED personalities for the show that will air on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Daytona International Speedway?
“I love the night race at Daytona. There is something in the air that makes it electric. The OneMain Financial team had a great run at Daytona in February, bringing home a third-place finish. We know that this car is fast, so I’m really looking forward to getting back down there.”
Austin Dillon No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/NRA Museum Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/NRA Museum Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 478 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. This is the same Chevrolet that Dillon raced to a fifth-place finish after starting fifth in the Nationwide Series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in February. This former Kevin Harvick, Inc. chassis was driven by Clint Bowyer at Daytona in February 2011, where he earned the pole and finished second, and at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2011, where Bowyer started second but finished 22nd after being involved in a multi-car incident.
Dillon at Daytona … In his lone Nationwide Series appearance at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon survived numerous multi-car incidents to earn a fifth-place finish in the Drive4COPD 300 in February. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender started the race in the fifth position and ran anywhere from the second to the 31st positions during the 120-lap race, gaining valuable experience drafting within large packs of cars. He also has two starts at the 2.5-mile track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning the pole award in 2011.
Red, White and Blue! … Dillon’s paint scheme this weekend highlights the new NRA Museum that is set to open at Bass Pro Shops’ flagship store in Springfield, Mo in early 2013. The 7,000 square foot NRA museum will house the finest firearms collection in the world and offer visitors the unique opportunity to view some of America’s most significant firearm treasures and learn historic facts about the NRA.
Dash 4 Cash … The Daytona 250 powered by Coca-Cola will officially kick off the 2012 Nationwide Series Dash 4 Cash bonus award program. This year’s D4C program consists of a qualifying race at Daytona this weekend followed by four consecutive D4C races at New Hampshire International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway. The top-four finishing drivers to receive championship points at Daytona will qualify for the first D4C race at New Hampshire. The highest finisher of those four drivers at New Hampshire will win the $100,000 D4C Award payout and automatically qualify for the next event at Chicagoland. The top-three finishing drivers to receive championship driver points at New Hampshire will qualify for the next event at Chicagoland. Those rules will apply for the remaining three events. If one driver wins the previous D4C awards and wins the Iowa race, that driver will receive an additional $600,000 bonus. Fans have the opportunity to participate in the action as well by entering the Nationwide Series $100,000 Sweepstakes at www.nascar.com/dash4cash. Four lucky entrants will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the final D4C event at Iowa Speedway. The four fans will be randomly paired with the four eligible D4C drivers for that race, and the fan whose driver wins the D4C award also will go home with a check for $100,000.
The Season So Far … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon has completed 99.12 percent of Laps on the Lead Lap, leading all competitors. He has completed 93.5 percent of his Laps in the Top 15, ranking him second and has an Average Running Position of 8.746 in the season’s 15 contested Nationwide Series races, ranking him second among all drivers. The Nationwide Series rookie maintains a Driver Rating of 103.9, ranking him third, is the fourth-Fastest Driver Late in a Run and is ranked fourth in the Fastest Laps Run category with 191 laps so far this season. Dillon is also ranked fourth in the Laps Led category with 220 laps led, has the fifth-fastest Speed in Traffic, the sixth-fastest Green Flag Speed, is the sixth-fastest Driver Early in a Run, ranks sixth in Quality Passes with 594 and is seventh-Fastest on Restarts.
Get to the Points … Dillon is second in the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing RCR Teammate Elliott Sadler by four points. Dillon currently leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
Meet Dillon … Dillon will participate in the Nationwide Series autograph session on Friday, July 6 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the Sprint FANZONE in the infield of Daytona International Speedway. For more information, visit DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com.
Questions, Please … Dillon is scheduled to answer questions from the gathered media in the Daytona International Speedway Infield Media Center at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
First Win … In a dominating performance that culminated with his first career Nationwide Series win, Dillon set a record for most laps led and lapped all but six competitors in the Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway. The 22-year-old earned a perfect driver rating of 150.0 and crossed the finish line 9.852 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, setting a new track record for the largest margin of victory. The win marked the first time that a No. 3 entry has won in the Nationwide Series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. did so in July 2010.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
There were a lot of wrecks during the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February. How did you manage a fifth-place finish among all of those wrecks?
“We sorted through the wrecks at Daytona International Speedway in February and ended up with a fifth-place finish. I have a great spotter, Andy Houston, and we made a good move there at the end that put us in position to earn a top-five finish. Truthfully, coming to the finish line in that race I thought we had more laps left so I thought we were in a really good spot. That race was a blast. We were able to push Dale Earnhardt Jr. out to the front and that was really cool for me and for a lot of race fans. Learning how to tandem draft was fun. The cars can’t push as long as they could earlier this year. After Talladega though, I learned a lot. Hopefully, that will help us during a late-race restart, and getting in line and being able to find a partner that will go with you at the end. I put myself in a great position at Talladega Superspeedway for most of the race but I got in a wreck at the end and put ourselves in a bad position so we weren’t able to finish the race where we needed to. We ran all the way up to the top-five and stayed there. With three laps remaining I think we were running third or fourth and that was really fun.”
What part of restrictor plate racing do you like the most?
“I love drafting. It’s so much fun. You can really make a lot of ground by picking the right lines and watching how people move up through the field to make yourself better and I’ve really taken a hold of it. I think we’ve put ourselves in great position in the late stages of a lot of these restrictor plate races and have had shots to win so I think we’re coming close to a plate win.”
How do you feel about the Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash program?
“It’s awesome. I’ve been waiting for these Dash 4 Cash races. I just want to get our team in a qualifying position. Daytona International Speedway is going to be a wild Nationwide Series race and anyone can put themselves in position going into New Hampshire Motor Speedway to win $100,000. I’m going to try and stay out of trouble early so that I can have a shot at the end to be one of those top four that qualify for the Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash at New Hampshire.”
What did winning your first Nationwide Series race mean to you?
“You cherish those moments. Every victory is so special because you never know if you are going to be fortunate enough to visit victory lane again, so we certainly cherish our wins at RCR. I loved seeing all of the guys come and congratulate our team in Victory Lane. Crew chiefs Ernie Cope and Luke Lambert came over and congratulated us. Our team works together so well in the Nationwide Shop. It’s really cool. We use the same information. We all work towards a common goal. We all have our team meetings together so everyone knows exactly what everyone else has in their cars going into each race and we’re competitive so it pushes all of us. We can’t wait to get to the track each and every weekend to work together.”
Did you think you would get a win so soon?
“We’ve been working so hard. We have pushed ourselves and have never been satisfied with a top-five finish. We had the confidence and pushed ourselves and that is how it happened. Once you get that first win behind you, you want to win all of the time. That’s how it felt after I won my first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2010. We have some good tracks coming up so I hope we can do it again. It feels so awesome to show the fans that we want to put the No. 3 in Victory Lane.”
How did you celebrate your win?
“We all went to the lake on Saturday to celebrate. The entire team was there. I made a bet with my engineer before the race at Kentucky Speedway. I got a buzz cut last week and the whole team was making fun of it so I bet my engineer that if we won the race I could shave his hair. My engineer loves his hair and always has, but now he has about the same amount of hair that I do, which isn’t much. I think he would take that bet again if we could win every week though.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Rheem/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 520 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable, which was built new for competition in 2012. This chassis was first put to use when Tony Stewart captured an eighth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in February. Harvick then drove this Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway in May where he collected a 22nd-place finish after being caught up in a late-race incident.
Nationwide Back-to-Back … Friday night’s event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway will mark Harvick’s seventh of 14 scheduled Nationwide Series appearances, and second of three back-to-back races, in the No. 33 RCR Chevrolet. In his first six Nationwide Series starts of the 2012 season, the 36-year-old driver has collected four top-five and five top-10 finishes.
Sunshine State Racing … Harvick has made 18 Nationwide Series starts during his NASCAR career at Daytona International Speedway, collecting three pole awards, one victory (February 2007), 12 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He has completed 100 percent of the laps contested and holds an average starting position of 9.1 and an average finishing position of 6.5.
Going for a Loop … According to NASCAR’s Data Loop Statistics, created in 2006, Harvick holds solid stats at the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based facility in the Nationwide Series. The two-time series champion has an average Driver Rating of 106.6 placing him third in the category. Harvick also ranks third in Green Flag Passes (1,455) and Laps in the Top 15 (1,156). The 36-year-old driver has led 113 laps, ranking him fourth in the category. He also sits fifth in Fastest Driver Early in a Run (186.174) and Fastest Laps Run (49).
Get to the Points … The No. 33 RCR Chevrolet team sits fourth in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, 42 points behind the No. 18 team. The No. 33 team has collected seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes between five different drivers (Stewart, Harvick, Brendan Gaughan, Paul Menard, Ty Dillon and Max Papis) thus far this season.
About Rheem … Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands, including Rheem, Raypak, Ruud and Richmond have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing, and is a primary sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
In the Rearview Mirror: Kentucky Speedway … Harvick and the No. 33 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet team finished third in the Nationwide Series event at Kentucky Speedway Friday night despite battling a persistent loose-handling condition.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on driving the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway?
“I’m looking forward to climbing back into the driver’s seat of the Rheem/Menards Chevrolet this weekend at Daytona (International Speedway). The team and I ran well last weekend in Kentucky, I was really hoping for a win, but we just couldn’t get the car where we needed it to be. I have a good track record at Daytona (International Speedway) and really enjoy competing there, so I’m hoping we can capitalize on the momentum we picked up last week and make things happen this weekend.”
