Daytona International Speedway
Race: Daytona 500
Date: February 24, 2013
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:
RCR NSCS resume at The World Center of Racing … Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 10 poles and collected five 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 Sprint Unlimited titles (2009 and 2010) and tallied the eighth win in the event last Saturday night for RCR, which is more than any other NSCS organization. In addition to Harvick’s victories, Earnhardt won the Sprint Unlimited five times (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95).
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,273 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 101 wins, 435 top-five finishes, 910 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.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick, @RCR31JeffBurton and driver Twitter page @KevinHarvick. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27, www.facebook.com/OfficialKevinHarvick and www.facebook.com/OfficialJeffBurton.
Catch the Action … The 55th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 24 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Budweiser Duels at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Paul Menard
No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s PEAK/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 409 for both the Budweiser Duel and Daytona 500. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS is a new addition to the Richard Childress Racing stable this season.
Stats for “The Great American Race”… Menard has 11 starts at Daytona International Speedway. His best start of first came in July 2008 and his best finish of sixth came in last year’s Daytona 500. The Wisconsin native has completed 1,933 of 1,948 laps attempted at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, leading 37 of them.
PEAK Colors Adorn the Hood of No. 27 Menards Chevrolet …PEAK’s parent company, Old World Industries, LLC, headquartered outside of Chicago in Northbrook, Ill., was founded more than 30 years ago. Today, the company conducts business in more than 52 countries around the Globe and is a symbol of growth and success. Peak Performance Products provides a variety of consumer products for automotive enthusiasts. For more information, visit www.peakauto.com.
Time to Duel … The Budweiser Duels at Daytona feature two 150-mile races to determine the final starting grid for the Daytona 500. By virtue of qualifying 14th in last Sunday’s qualifying session, Menard will start seventh in the second of the two qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Let’s Get “Sirius”… Be sure to tune in to Sirius XM Radio Channel 90 at 3:15 p.m.ET on Saturday, Feb. 23. Menard will join hosts Dave Moody and Angie Skinner atop the Fan Deck at Daytona International Speedway to chat about what to expect heading into Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to See Paul Menard at the Chevy Q&A … Fans can participate in a question-and-answer session with Menard on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 12:30 p.m. ET on the Team Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside of Turn 4.
PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
Paul Menard’s Strategy for the Budweiser Duels on Thursday:
“We aren’t locked into the “500”, so we’ve got to go race. After watching the Sprint Unlimited Saturday night, the cars seemed to drive pretty well, even though it was really cold out. We are going to be racing the Duels on Thursday in the daylight. I’m not sure what the temperature is going to be, but nonetheless it’s going to be a little more of a handful. We’ve got to keep the nose clean on our PEAK/Menards Chevrolet and just go out and race hard.”
Menard’s Thoughts on the Daytona 500:
“There are a lot of unknowns going into the Daytona 500. We learned a little bit about how this new Gen-6 car will handle in the draft during testing in January and practice last week. I think it’s going to be a handful in the draft. We will get some drivability built into the cars between now and the “500”, but it’s going to be a wild race. It feels a lot like the old surface before they repaved it. It has a lot less grip and the cars slide around quite a bit, but that what makes for a fun and exciting race.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No.407 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in both the Budweiser Duel and Daytona 500. New to the fleet, this Chevrolet SS will run its first competitive laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway during Budweiser Speedweeks.
The Champion Returns … When the 2007 Daytona 500 champion takes the green flag for the 55th running of the “Great American Race”, it will mark his 24th points-paying Sprint Cup Series appearance at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Over the years, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has collected two victories (2007 Daytona 500 and July 2010), five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. Harvick is also credited with 178 laps led.
Hitching a Ride… On Wednesday, Feb 20, Harvick and wife DeLana will honor Ormond Beach, Fla., Marine veterans with a home delivery of Daytona 500 tickets via the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch. Jayson and Justin Ryter, 22-year-old twin brothers, both completed four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps and recently returned home after being honorably discharged to pursue college degrees at Daytona State College. Media interested in attending should contact Annette Randall, director of communications for Elevation Group, at arandall@elevationgroup.com.
Draught-ing School… While on-track at DIS, drivers focus on drafting, but on Wednesday night Harvick will learn about draught beer as he and Budweiser’s own Scott Seggi host a private Budweiser Draught School event in Daytona Beach, Fla., for local retailers.
Budweiser Clydesdales… DIS fans can get a close look at the Budweiser Clydesdales, an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality for nearly 80 years. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be stationed in the DIS midway for the remainder of Budweiser Speedweeks. In addition, the hitch, consisting of eight Clydesdales, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon, and two drivers seated next to the hitch’s signature mascot Dalmation will take part in a pre-race parade lap prior to the Budweiser Duel on Thursday, Feb. 21 and the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24.
Dueling for a Position … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team posted the 25th-fastest lap in Daytona 500 qualifying, earning the team a 13th-place starting spot in the first Budweiser Duel 150 race on Thursday, Feb. 21. SPEED will provide live television coverage of the twin qualifying races starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
You’ve Got Questions, He’s Got Answers … Harvick will participate in a fan question-and-answer session prior to the start of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 9:40 a.m. ET at the Team Chevy Stage.
2012 Race Rewind … Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team finished seventh in the 54th running of the Daytona 500 after being delayed one day by rain and a fire that erupted as a car made contact with a jet dryer.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
Kevin Harvick discusses the unknowns heading into the Daytona 500.
“I think you have to keep an open mind about things. You have to be ready for anything as we go through the week. Budweiser Speedweeks is always a little bit different than every other race, because the week kind of evolves from start to finish. I’ve been through weeks where we’ve wrecked anything in sight, and I’ve been through weeks where you’ve won races and been successful through the week. You have to stay calm and not get too high on the highs or too low on the lows and be ready for Sunday.”
Kevin Harvick shares what he has learned about restrictor-plate racing throughout the years.
“The biggest thing is you have to try and be around at the end. We have been successful with varying strategies as we’ve gone through the years, especially running in the back. I think the safest place to be, especially right now, is running up front, to be able to understand the cars and you wind up with a little more experience on when to make the move. We’re going to race hard, and see where we fall in the end and hopefully miss the wrecks.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This week’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 296 in the second Budweiser Duel and Daytona 500. This chassis was utilized last season in the Daytona 500 by Burton and saw action at multiple restrictor-plate events during the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons with driver Clint Bowyer.
Burton at “The World Center of Racing” … Burton’s has 38 starts at Daytona International Speedway with one win (July 2000), nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Burton also scored the pole position for the 2006 Daytona 500 and has led 145 laps at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Featured Caterpillar Dealers … Pon CAT, Ring Power CAT and Toromont CAT will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet this weekend in the Daytona 500.
Pon CAT is the Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish CAT dealer. Pon Equipment and Pon Power focus on the marketing, sales, rental and distribution of CAT earthmoving equipment, CAT marine engines, generators, emergency power generators and diesel engines for various industrial applications. For more information, visit www.pon-cat.com.
Ring Power CAT is the Central and Northeast Florida Caterpillar dealer, headquartered in St. Augustine, Fla. Ring Power is comprised of eight divisions and has 50 years of experience selling, servicing and supporting Caterpillar and allied equipment. Additional information about the Ring Power organization, its products, services and employment opportunities can be found on the Internet at www.ringpower.com.
Toromont CAT is your Canadian Caterpillar dealer in Ontario, Manitoba, Nunavut, Newfoundland and Eastern Labrador. Toromont offers a complete line of Caterpillar equipment. Toromont also provides products for electric power generation, gas, marine, and industrial engines, as well as used equipment, rental equipment, and supplies all parts and service needs. For more information, visit www.toromont.com.
Speedweeks Public Appearances … Burton will participate in two different question-&-answer sessions at Daytona International Speedway this week. The first will take place at the Team Chevy Stage on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. ET and the second on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8:40 a.m. ET in the Sprint FANZONE located in the DIS infield.
Before the main event … The Budweiser Duels at Daytona feature two 150-mile races which will determine the final starting grid for the Daytona 500. By virtue of qualifying 20th in last Sunday’s Daytona 500 qualifying session, Burton will start 10th in the second race on Thursday, Feb. 21.
New faces in 2013 … Luke Lambert returns to the No. 31 pitbox in Sprint Cup Series competition after spending 17 races as interim crew chief of the No. 31 team to finish the 2011 season. Most recently, Lambert served as crew chief on the No. 2 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series leading driver Elliott Sadler to four wins, four pole awards, 15 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes en route to a second-place finish in driver championship point standings. Veteran Keith Barnwell will also join the No. 31 team as Burton’s primary spotter for the 2013 season.
Restrictor-plate ringer … Over the past five points-paying restrictor-plate events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Burton has tallied five consecutive top-10 finishes including a runner-up effort in the Coke Zero 400 at DIS last July.
JEFF BURTON QUOTE:
How big is the Daytona 500 for you as a driver?
“We’ve been close to winning so many restrictor-plate races lately at Daytona (International Speedway) and Talladega (Superspeedway) the last few years. We actually came really close here at Daytona last July and finished second. The Daytona 500 is huge. To win the Daytona 500 after my brother (Ward) won it in 2002 would be a really cool family feat. With our children working up through the racing ranks, if we could build a family legacy of winning the Daytona 500, that would be really special.”
Austin Dillon
No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 334 in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. This is a new addition to the RCR fleet that is being utilized for the first time this week.
Dillon at Daytona … Although this year’s Daytona 500 marks Dillon’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series attempt at DIS, the Welcome, N.C., driver has a pair of top-five finishes at the 2.5-mile restrictor-plate track in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He finished fifth in February 2012 and fourth in July 2012. In addition, He has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the track with a best finish of 20th in 2011.
Welcome, Buzz … Dillon’s pal Buzz, the official SpokesBee of Honey Nut Cheerios, will be featured on the hood of the No. 33 Chevrolet for the Great American Race. This marks the fifth year of Richard Childress Racing’s partnership with General Mills, which is a major associate sponsor throughout the year in the Sprint Cup Series on the No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton. Cheerios, America’s No.1 cereal franchise, debuted in 1941 as Cheerioats. The nation’s first ready-to-eat oat cereal has since become one of the most trusted and recognized brands in America. In fact, one of every eight boxes of cereal sold in America is a box of Cheerios. General Mills’ popular franchise includes Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Multi Grain Cheerios, Multi Grain Cheerios, Peanut Butter Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Cinnamon Burst Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios, Dulce de Leche Cheerios, Yogurt Burst Cheerios and Banana Nut Cheerios.
Dillon’s DRIVE4COPD … Dillon’s paternal grandfather, Stan Dillon, passed away following a battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) in May 2012, sparking Dillon to partner with the COPD foundation to encourage all Americans aged 35 or older to log onto www.drive4copd.org/screener to take a brief, five-question screener to see if they might be at risk for COPD, a serious and progressive lung disease that is the third leading cause of death of Americans.If the screener indicates risk, patients are encouraged to take the next step and speak with their healthcare professional or call the C.O.P.D. Information Line (1-866-316-2673) to discuss what their score may mean. Because COPD is a progressive disease that causes irreversible lung damage, early diagnosis and disease management are critical to helping patients breathe better in the future.
Time to Duel … The Budweiser Duels at Daytona feature two 150-mile races from which the majority of the final starting grid for the Daytona 500 will be set. By virtue of qualifying 16th in last Sunday’s qualifying session, Dillon will start eighth in the second of the two qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Double Duty … In addition to competing at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend, Dillon is scheduled to drive the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Daytona Nationwide Series race kicks off a season-long campaign in which Dillon plans to battle for the 2013 Driver’s Title after earning Rookie-of-the-Year honors and finishing third in the final Driver’s Championship Point Standings in 2012. The DRIVE4COPD300 is live on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Off Season … Dillon has spent much of the off season hunting throughout the U.S., traveling to locations such as Texas, Kansas, Georgia and Montana to hunt with friends and family members.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
This will be your first Daytona 500. What does that mean to you?
“The prestige that this race holds and being out here and being able to watch some of RCR’s guys go to Victory Lane throughout the years and be in Victory Lane to celebrate with them has really helped me appreciate the race and made me even more excited to participate myself. It’s just awesome to be able to fire the engine and try and make this race. It’s just a great opportunity and I can’t wait until Sunday comes.”
What did you learn during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing in January that might help you here at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 this weekend?
“Drafting. It was pretty good to be able to get out there and run near the other drivers and see what the cars handled like. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars didn’t handle as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series cars. There’s just so much more power and less downforce. We’re out there and it’s going to be wild. You have to be able to be there at the end to make something happen. I think that’s what all of these races come down to. I think we are going to have a shot just like anybody else once we get into the race.”
Race: DRIVE4COPD 300
Date: February 23, 2013
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Notes:
RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series History at Daytona … In 49 previous NASCAR Nationwide Series appearances at Daytona International Speedway, RCR has four wins at the famed restrictor-plate track, including victories in July 2010 and Feb. 2002 with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., a win with Clint Bowyer in July 2009 and Kevin Harvick in Feb. 2007. RCR has 24 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes at Daytona International Speedway, along with two poles (Bowyer in July 2009 and Harvick in July 2005).
Averages … RCR boasts an average starting position of 10.3 and a 10th-place average finishing position among all Nationwide Series races the organization has contested at DIS. RCR drivers have completed 98.9 percent of the laps attempted at the 2.5-mile speedway (5,419 of 5,479 laps), with 461 laps led.
RCR in the NNS … In 867 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts over the course of the last 15 years, Richard Childress Racing has earned 64 wins, 297 top-five finishes, 488 top-10 finishes and 42 pole awards, with an average starting position of 12.2 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 Burton and Scott Wimmer.
The Starting Line-up … New to the RCR lineup, Brian Scott (No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet) joins 2012 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet) in competing fulltime for RCR in the Nationwide Series this season. Tony Stewart is driving the No. 33 Oreo 100th Birthday/Ritz Crackers Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
Sporty New Look … The RCR Nationwide Chevrolets will have an all new skin at Daytona International Speedway as the Camaro, the top-selling sports car in America, makes its series debut in the DRIVE4COPD 300. The Camaro Nationwide race car incorporates many of the distinctive styling elements of the production Camaro, including the unique power-bulge hood, deep recessed grille, distinctive halo light rings, dual-port grille appearances and the gold bowtie.
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 – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3ADillon and @RCR33NNS, RCR’s NCWTS driver Twitter pages – @BScottRacing and @AustinDillon3, and the official Facebook fan pages – facebook.com/BScottRacing and facebook.com/austindillon3.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Drive 4COPD 300 will be televised on ESPN beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, Feb. 23 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway… Scott will pilot a brand new chassis from the Richard Childress Racing Nationwide Series stable for Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300.
Welcome To the Team Brian Scott… Brian Scott joins RCR and will climb into the driver’s seat of the No. 2 Shore Lodge Camaro this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. The Boise, Idaho native enters his fourth year of Nationwide Series competition with 109 series starts under his belt, one pole, five top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.
Daytona History… The 25-year-old driver has six previous starts at “The World Center of Racing”. His best start of ninth came in the July 2012 event. He scored his best finish of 12th in the July 2011 event. Additionally, he has two Truck Series starts to his credit, finishing ninth in the series’ 2008 event.
Welcome Aboard Shore Lodge… … Shore Lodge will serve as primary sponsor for Scott and the No. 2 team in 2013. Set on the southern shore of Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho, four seasons of adventure await at this idyllic location. A family favorite since 1948, the travel destination allows guests to enjoy the spectacular views, friendly service and generous accommodations at the lake front resort. Shore Lodge serves as the perfect mixture of adventure and luxury featuring 26 spa adventures, fitness studio, golf privileges at Whitetail Club, jet skiing, and a private beach for guests.
Gould’s Turn on Top the Box …10-year veteran RCR crew member, Phil Gould, will take over crew chief duties for the No. 2 Shore Lodge team in 2013. The Kendall Park, N.J native, spent the 2012 season as car chief for the No. 2 Nationwide Series team, which ended the season runner up in the series’ point standings. Gould also served as car chief for Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Cup crew earning notable victories at Daytona International Speedway and at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600.
No. 2 in the Nationwide Series… For more than a decade the No. 2 has appeared on Nationwide Series entry lists earning championships, wins, pole awards with veterans and future Sprint Cup stars behind the wheel. Kevin Harvick first piloted the No. 2 Chevy in his NNS debut in a single race in 1999. Harvick earned Rookie of the Year honors and won three events in his first full season of competition in 2000, following up his rookie season by winning the 2001 series championship. Another young driver, Clint Bowyer, took the reins in 2005 for the next three years bringing RCR its second Nationwide Series title. Other drivers who have climbed aboard the No. 2 have included Austin Dillon, Sean Caisse, Ron Hornaday, Johnny Sauter, Kenny Wallace and Elliot Sadler. Everyone who has competed in full-time Nationwide Series seasons have found their way to victory lane during their time in the No. 2 Chevrolet. No. 2 has visited victory lane 21 times over the years while earning 19 pole awards.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
What’s your immediate focus in 2013 with the new team?
“Our immediate forcus is to be consistent, finish races. We want to make it through Daytona (International Speedway) with a top five or top-10 finish. It seems so often that teams who don’t get off to a good start have trouble climbing out of a hole, especially if you start off with a bad race. If we can get through the first five races and are right there in the top five in points that would be a huge success.”
Thoughts on driving the new Camaro?
“It’s awesome to drive a name plate like the Camaro; it’s such an iconic muscle car in American history. My parents were always huge Camaro fans growing up, so they’re excited that I get to drive a Camaro. It’s a great to be a part of anything new in NASCAR, to be a part of the Camaro coming into the Nationwide Series is a real honor.”
Austin Dillon
No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s AdvoCare Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 121 in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This is a new addition to the RCR fleet that will be utilized for the first time this weekend.
Dillon at Daytona … Dillon has two previous Nationwide Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, finishing fifth in February 2012 and fourth in July 2012. He also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the track with a best finish of 20th in 2011.
Dirt Tracking and Double Duty … Dillon’s 2013 Speedweeks actually started on Feb. 12 at Volusia Speedway Park, where he and his brother, Ty, began a week-long stint racing dirt Modifieds as part of the 41st annual University of Northwestern Ohio DIRTCar Nationals. He is also pulling double duty at Daytona International Speedway, where he is attempting to make his career first Daytona 500 start in the No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is live on FOX beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
Spark your Engines … Dillon and the RCR team will sport the colors of award-winning premier health and wellness company AdvoCare on the No. 3 Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway. AdvoCare offers nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance products of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Dillon trains with AdvoCare products throughout the week and is a distributor as well. For more information about Dillon’s favorite products, including Spark, Rehydrate, meal replacement bars and Post-Workout Recovery, visit .
Need for Speed … Dillon is scheduled to spend Tuesday, Feb. 19 with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds team, where a portion of the day will be spent flying in an F-16 fighter jet with America’s Ambassadors in Blue. Dillon has been a long time aficionado of the movie Top Gun and has a series of “Maverick” themed helmets that he races with. A replica of his original Maverick, which he wore when he won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship, can be purchased at .
Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the Chevrolet Stage at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET. This season, the Chevrolet Display includes a No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Camaro show car.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Is it a competitive benefit to you to run both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway because you get more track time?
“I think it’s helpful. By running the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, I can gather good information that I can use on Sunday, especially as it relates to pit strategies and drafting. It’s good to be out there drafting and gaining experience and learning how people drive and run around in the pack. Anytime you can see how people make a move to gain positions it’s nice because you can see how people do that and try to learn from that.”
Have you had a chance to drive the new Camaro and have you noticed much of a difference in the new race car?
“It’s a faster car. It’s a little bit of a different feel out there but not much. I think the overall balance may be a little bit better, so that’s a good thing, actually. Because it’s faster it’s going to be very helpful to go out and race against all of these other competitors.”
Tony Stewart
No. 33 Ritz Crackers/Oreo Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Ritz Crackers/Oreo Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Tony Stewart will pilot Chassis No.123 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in the DRIVE4COPD 300. This Chevrolet will run its first competitive laps during the 2013 season opener.
Proven winner … Stewart will make his 14th-career Nationwide Series start at the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based facility during the DRIVE4COPD 300. Since 2006, the Columbus, Ind., native has held the hardware in Victory Lane on six occasions (February ’05,’06, ’08-’11). Stewart has also collected seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes with 206 laps led.
In-Race Reporter … Stewart will be the ESPN in-race reporter for Saturday afternoon’s 120-lap event. Rear-tire carrier Brad Robinson will also wear a crew cam during the race to give fans a birds-eye view of a live pit stop.
The Ritz Cracker, a Lucky Token? … Stewart will attempt to claim his seventh Nationwide Series victory in the annual season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. Riding shotgun with Stewart will be Nabisco’s Ritz Cracker brand, which coincidentally has seven holes in each cracker. In 2010, the buttery-tasting snack was the primary sponsor when Stewart drove to Victory Lane after winning his fourth-consecutive Nationwide Series season-opening event.
2012 Race Rewind … Stewart was poised to notch his fifth-straight win in the 2012 season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, but a last-lap crash while vying for the lead forced him to limp the No. 33 Oreo 100th Birthday/Ritz Crackers Chevrolet across the finish line in eighth place.
TONY STEWART QUOTES:
You have the opportunity to tie Dale Earnhardt for the most wins in the Nationwide Series at Daytona with seven. How special would that be for you?
“It’s cool just to be even close to him. Whether we ever get another win and catch his mark or even surpass him, that’s still a record that’s pretty remarkable here at Daytona. That’s a pretty cool feeling to know we’ve closed in on something he’s done here. To me, this was his playground. You just watched him play with the guys here. He was the best at this place. To even be remotely close to him in the record books, in anything here at Daytona, is very humbling.”
You’ve won the season-opening Nationwide Series race six times. How nice is it to start the year with a win, and how much confidence does it give you going into the Daytona 500?
“The good thing is I’m probably the happiest guy going into the Daytona 500 if we get a win on Saturday. It shows that we can win, and it’s just a matter of whether the cards play out for you on Sunday. It’s always a bonus when you can win on Saturday before going into the biggest race of the year on Sunday. Getting a Nationwide win there, that’s how you like to go to bed the night before the Daytona 500, knowing that you’ve got that trophy sitting out there on your desk from what you did Saturday afternoon.”
Race: NextEra Energy 250
Date: February 22, 2013
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Notes:
RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History … In 74 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Richard Childress Racing has earned 27 wins, 102 top-five finishes, 169 top-10 finishes and 37 pole awards, along with the inaugural series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner and with Austin Dillon in 2011. The organization has an average starting position of 9.6 and an average finishing position of 10.2.
2013 Driver Line-Up … Brendan Gaughan returns to the RCR driver line up for the 2013 Camping World Truck Series season driving the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet. Gaughan joins the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Ty Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team.
RCR at Daytona … This weekend’s 250-miler at Daytona International Speedway marks RCR’s sixth Camping World Truck Series appearance at the track. The Welcome, N.C.-based team has earned one pole award at the 2.5-mile speedway.
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 Camping World Truck Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3TDillon and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s Camping World Truck Series driver Twitter pages – @tydillon and @Brendan62.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of this weekend’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 will be televised live on Friday, Feb. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on SPEED and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 011 from the Richard Childress Racing stable in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250. Dillon earned the pole award with this RCR-prepared Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway last October and finished in the fourth position.
Sunshine State Details … Friday night’s 100-lap affair marks Dillon’s second appearance at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Welcome, N.C., native earned a ninth-place finish after starting from the fourth position last season.
Back in Action … Bass Pro Shops returns for the second-consecutive season with Dillon and the No. 3 Chevrolet team. Named one of the America’s premier outdoor retailers, Bass Pro Shops serves more than 75 million sportsmen a year in 39 locations across the United States and Canada.
Meet the Driver … Dillon is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m. ET at the Team Chevy stage located in the merchandise area outside of turn four at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. He will also sign autographs at the UNOH display on Friday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.
Tune In … The 2012 Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team will be featured on SPEED Trackside Live on Friday, Feb. 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tune in to see what the sophomore driver is doing before the NextEra Energy Resources 250.
Dirt Trackin’ … Dillon’s 2013 Speedweeks actually started on Feb. 12 at Volusia Speedway Park, where he, his brother, Austin, and RCR teammate, Brendan Gaughan raced dirt Modifieds as part of the 42nd annual DIRTCar Nationals. The 20-year-old driver fielded the No. 41 racer for Team Dillon Racing throughout the eight-day event.
Blazin’ Candles … After this weekend’s season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon will celebrate his 21st birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts about the season opener at Daytona
International Speedway?
“I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. Marcus (Richmond, crew chief) and the guys have worked really hard over the off season. We don’t have a rookie stripe on our bumper anymore, and we’ve learned from our mistakes last season. It’s time to go racing.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No.053 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in the NextEra Energy 250. Last season, this Chevrolet was utilized by Gaughan at Daytona International Speedway in February and Tim George Jr. at Talladega Superspeedway in October.
Daytona Bound … The 2013 season opener marks the Las Vegas native’s ninth Camping World Truck Series start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Gaughan has earned one top-10 finish, completed 667 of 820 (83.1 percent) laps, holds a 20.4 average starting position and an average finishing position of 22.2.
South Point Hotel & Casino … Opened in December of 2005, the South Point resort was the first megaresort located south of McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. The facility consists of a 25 story hotel tower and 90,000 square feet convention center located on a 60 acre site along Las Vegas Boulevard in Enterprise, Nevada. South Point Hotel offers a total of 2,163 rooms and 160,000 sq. ft. meeting and convention space; the largest of any hotel in Las Vegas that is not on the Strip. For more information, visit www.southpointcasino.com or call 1-866-796-7111.
Welcome to the Team … Alliance Coach and JoinAPS.com have joined forces with Gaughan and the No. 62 team for the 2013 season. Alliance Coach is a full service RV dealership providing a custom paint and collision center, cabinet fabrication, upholstery shop and chassis area, with technicians that are RVIA master certified, factory trained and experienced in all types of RV service. Advanced Payment Services’ [APS] is a Long Island based company in New York and a registered ISO/AGENT of HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Buffalo, N.Y. that provides Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover merchant services. With national merchant accounts, APS has developed into the premier Independent Sales Organization (ISO).
Meet the Driver … Fans will have an opportunity to meet Gaughan and other Camping World Truck Series drivers during a NASCAR autograph session on Friday, Feb. 22 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time at Daytona International Speedway in the Sprint FANZONE.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
What are your thoughts heading into the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season at Daytona International Speedway?
“It’s time to go racing. Richard Childress Racing started the season off on the right foot with Kevin Harvick winning the Sprint Unlimited. That win has the entire organization energized for this season, and I can’t wait to get back on the track. My teammate Ty Dillon and I have been picked as favorites to do well this season and I’ve been reunited with my former crew chief. It’s going to be a great season, and I can’t wait to get it started.”
