Carl Edwards – Daytona 500 Advance
Team: No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig
Chassis: RK-835 – Last ran in the Sprint Unlimited practice (accident)
ADVANCE NOTES
· Edwards in the 500
o Edwards will make his ninth start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24th. Last year Edwards swept the pole in the famed event, moving on to an eighth-place finish. He finished second in the race in 2011; pushing fellow RFR teammate Trevor Bayne to the victory.
· Edwards at Daytona
o Edwards’ average start in the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway is 16.2; his average finish is 16.6. Edwards’ best finish at Daytona is second place, captured in the 2011 Daytona 500 (and in July 2008).
· Duels
o After going out 44th for qualifying, the Fastenal Ford finished 17th overall, placing Edwards and the team starting ninth in the first Duel on Thursday.
· Edwards/Fennig Team in 2013
o Sunday will mark the first official race of the 2013 Sprint Cup season for Edwards and veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig. The No. 99 Blue Crew will also debut its award-winning pit crew members, who transitioned over from last year’s No. 17 Best Buy Ford Fusion. Fennig led the No. 17 team to victory in the Daytona 500 a year ago, exactly 25-years after his first Daytona 500 win as a crew chief in 1988.
· The Car
o The No. 99 team will be using RK-835 for the 500. The car debuted this year as the primary for last weekend’s Sprint Unlimited, when a wreck in practice forced the team to roll out a backup car and send 835 back to RFR for repairs.
· Local Connections
o Car Chief Richie Davis, a Miami native, returns to his home state of Florida. Davis was the car chief on the No. 17 Ford for last season’s Daytona 500 victory.
· Primary Sponsor Note
o The No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion will continue its back to back sponsorship in Daytona where suppliers Milwaukee, GearWrench, Weiler and Rubbermaid will debut on the hood, TV panel, deck lid and B-post.
o Be sure to follow @FastenalRacing on twitter for up to date coverage of the Fastenal Blue Team and performance.
QUOTE WORTHY
Edwards quotes on the Daytona 500:
“The new Ford Fusion is fun to drive. The weather looks like it is going to be warm so the cars should slide around a lot, which is always exciting. Jimmy (Fennig) and the Fastenal crew have been great to work with and we have plans for lots of Fastenal blue in victory lane.”
2013 No. 99 Fastenal “Blue Team”
Name Duties Hometown
Darren Beach Catch Front Tire New Franklin, M.O.
Cameron Cobb Jackman Washington, I.L.
Justin Coble Spot Rear Tire Greensboro, N.C.
Richie Davis Car Chief/Grille Miami, F.L.
Greg Emmer Road Mechanic/Front Hose Allenton, W.I.
Jimmy Fennig Crew Chief Milwaukee, W.I.
Joey Fennig Windshield Harrisburg, N.C.
Jason Hedlesky Spotter Clinton, M.I.
Doug Impsen Motor Specialist/Sign Board/Spot Front Tire Pequannock, N.J.
Norm Lowe Catch Rear Tire Webster, M.A.
Zach Marquardt Road Mechanic/Tire Runner Lena, W.I.
Dave McDonald Shock Specialist/2nd Gas Man Clinton, M.I.
Ryan McCray Rear Tire Carrier Highland, C.A.
Matt Millard Truck Driver Middleton, W.I.
Jon Moore Rear Tire Changer Gainesville, G.A.
Justin Nottestad Front Tire Changer Cambridge, W.I.
Collin Pasi Front Tire Carrier Concord, N.C.
Garrett Reding Mechanic Rockton, I.L.
Greg Rimmer 2nd Truck Driver Charlotte, N.C.
Nick Sandler Engineer Ashville, N.C.
Randy Seals Engineer Ashville, N.C.
Dave Smith Mechanic Baltimore, M.D.
Don Stern Mechanic Burnt Hills, N.Y.
Scott Swift Tire Specialist Kannapolis, N.C.
Shawn Ward Gas Man Hickory, N.C.
Jim Watson Catch Gas Can/Gas Runner Greenfield, W.I.
