NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY RACE PREVIEW
Michael Annett• No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang
Annett has three career starts in the Nationwide Series at Loudon
Annett enters this weekend’s event in sixth-place in the Nationwide point standings
Annett’s best finish (seventh) at the 1.058-mile track came in 2011
Michael Annett on Racing in Loudon: “We’re in my favorite summer stretch right now. I really enjoying going to the next few tracks on the schedule and I typically run well at all of them. I like racing at Loudon and last year we got a top-10 finish there, so I’m looking to improve on that this weekend. We have a ton of momentum going into Saturday’s race after coming off my best-career finish last weekend in Daytona. My team improves each and every week. I can’t wait to get to the track this weekend and see what kind of a Pilot Flying J Ford they have prepared. We have increased our finishing position by one spot the past two weeks, so, if we continue that this week we should come home with a second-place run.”
Crew Chief Philippe Lopez’s Thoughts on Racing in New Hampshire: “Loudon is very similar to Richmond. It’s a short track and the biggest problem it presents is getting into Turn 3 with the bumps and being able to brake without upsetting the car. The cars that are really good braking into Turn 3 and are smooth, usually end up good everywhere. Our Pilot Flying J Ford needs to roll through the center and have good drive off of all of the turns. Pit road presents a bit of a challenge because the pit boxes are narrow, so qualifying and pit selection will be key.”
Lopez on Success as of Late: “We had a great fourth-place finish at Kentucky, an intermediate track, and a third-place finish at a superspeedway last week. All we need now is a good run at a short track to complete our trifecta. We hope to do that this weekend in Loudon.. If we can capitalize on our momentum and run well this Saturday, that will set the tone for the rest of the year. We’ll know we have a package for every type of race track we go to.”
Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM NASCAR Nationwide Series team has prepared chassis No. 644 for the 200-mile race at New Hampshire. This Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang was run previously this season at Richmond and Iowa.
Notes: Annett has three NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His best finish (seventh) and his best start (18th) at the one-mile track came in came in 2011. Annett has completed 100 percent of laps attempted at Loudon, leading one of them.
Annett’s third-place effort last weekend in Daytona marks his career best finish, and also makes him eligible for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dash 4 Cash next weekend. The top-four finishers to receive NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points at Daytona are now qualified for the first Dash 4 Cash race at New Hampshire. The highest finisher of those four drivers at Loudon will win the $100,000 award payout and automatically qualify for the next event at Chicagoland.
Last Friday night’s stellar finish also allowed Annett to gain one position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings. He sits in sixth spot heading into New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend.
Don’t miss out on your chance to meet Annett. Michael will participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Dash 4 Cash Tweet-Up on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET at the FW Webb Bath Center, located outside of the infield tunnel.
Looking for a Pilot or Flying J store near Loudon? There is one Pilot Travel Center within 100 miles of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (I-84 Exit 1) 400 Route 15 (Haynes Street), Sturbridge, MA, 01566.) There are 13 stores within 250 miles of the track. Go to http://www.pilotflyingj.com/locations to find the nearest locations.
Race Information
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Laps: 197 Laps/200Miles
Track Size: One-Mile
TV Information: 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Radio Information: 2:30 p.m. ET on PRN
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