Phoenix International Raceway Advance Notes
Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500 on Sunday, Feb. 27
Track: Phoenix International Raceway (1.0- mile tri-oval)
Location: Avondale, Ariz.
Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at Phoenix International Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
John Olguin No. 1 Bass Pro ShopsR/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Wheaties Most Popular Driver: Voting for the 2011 NASCARR Sprint Cup Wheaties most-popular driver has now started. Fans can visit www.wheatiesfuelmostpopulardriver.com once a-day to vote for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray until 11:59 PM CT Sept. 10 following the race at Richmond International Raceway. At that point, the 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists, and the vote count will reset to zero. Fans will then have 10 race weeks to cast their vote once a day to determine the 2011 NASCARR Wheaties FUEL Most Popular Driver from the final field of 10 drivers. Voting will conclude November 20 at 11:59 PM CT. The winner will be announced at the NASCARR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.
Did you Know?: Dating back to the 2001 season, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams have accumulated 10 NASCAR wins (NSCS, Nationwide Series) at tracks deemed intermediate (NSCS: Charlotte: 2001, 2002, 2010; Las Vegas: 2002; Darlington: 2002; Nationwide: Phoenix: 2002; Nashville: 2002; Gateway: 2005, 2007; Chicagoland: 2006).
Intermediate Success: In the last 43 races on tracks 1.5-miles or smaller, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has claimed one win, 13 top-fives (two second and three third-place finishes), 29 top-10’s and 36 top-15 finishes with 793 laps led (936-miles).
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro ShopsR/Tracker Boats Team
McMurray at Phoenix: McMurray has one top-five and two top-10 finishes in 15 career starts at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). McMurray’s career best start and finish came in 2008 when he qualified on the outside pole for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 and finished third.
Daytona Recap: Expectations were high for McMurray and the No. 1 team, who entered Speedweeks as the reigning Daytona 500 champions, and finished second in the 2011 Bud Shootout on Feb. 12. McMurray led 11 laps in the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 and ran near the front of the field for the majority of the race. McMurray appeared to be in position for another strong finish at Daytona when his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet dropped a cylinder with 20 laps to go. McMurray and the No. 1 team finished on the lead lap in 18th and currently sit 17th in the point standings, 15 points behind the championship leader.
Follow EGR on Twitter: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates now has an official team Twitter page. Follow the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2011 season @EGRTeams.
Bass Pro Appearance: Jamie McMurray will be making an appearance at the Meza, AZ Bass Pro Shops store on Thursday evening, Feb 24 from 5:30-7:00pm. The store is located at 1133 North Dobson, Mesa, AZ, 85201. The location is approximately 45 miles from Phoenix International Raceway, and can be reached at 602-606-5600.
Local McDonald’s: Race Fans: Curb your hunger for breakfast, lunch and dinner by stopping at one of the five McDonald’s conveniently located within five miles of PIR. Locations can be found at: 9930 West McDowell Rd, Avondale, AZ and can be reached at 623-478-3925; 13870 West McDowell Road, Goodyear, AZ and can be reached at 623-535-5628; 1720 North Dysart Road, Goodyear, AZ and can be reached 623-932-2707; 13055 West Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale, AZ and can be reached at 623-935-2823.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
MEDIA ALERT: Juan Pablo Montoya will be available in the media center for a brief media Q&A session on Friday, Feb. 25 at 11:45 a.m. (PT).
Phoenix NSCS History: In eight starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Montoya has one top-five and two top-10 finishes (all in his last three starts). He recorded his best finish of fifth last April, after leading 104 laps. Montoya has completed 2558 of 2563 laps raced (99.8%) at PIR, where he has an average starting position of 21.2, an average finishing position of 17.0 and zero DNF’s.
Last week in Daytona: Juan Pablo Montoya and teammate Jamie McMurray looked to defend Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ title of Daytona 500 champions at the 53rd running of the “Great American Race” in Daytona. The No. 42 Target team endured two close calls out on the track and fell as low as 38th before gaining momentum and finishing out the day in the sixth-position .The top-10 finish places Montoya in the top-five in the point standings heading into Phoenix. He currently sits fifth with 39 points, three points out of the top spot in the championship standings.
Auto Club Speedway Appearance: Montoya will make a trip over to Auto Club Speedway the Monday following the Phoenix race to partake in a media and fan day. The driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet will answer fan questions and then teach a “Remote Control 101” class with track president Gillian Zucker.
Follow EGR on Twitter: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates now has an official team Twitter page. Follow the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2011 season @EGRTeams.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1008. Kevin “Bono” Manion will bring chassis #1008. This was the chassis that McMurray drove to a 10th place finish in the fall race at Phoenix last year.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1109. Brian Pattie and the Target team will be bringing Chassis #1109 to Phoenix International Raceway. This is a brand-new chassis.
