CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Elliott Sadler and his Michael Waltrip Racing team visit Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for the penultimate race in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Both Sadler and the No. 55 team have enjoyed success at Phoenix. Sadler claimed the pole for the Nationwide race in March 2012 and the No. 55 team won the Sprint Cup pole with driver Mark Martin earlier this year. Sadler hopes for similar success this weekend on the fast, mile oval.
SADLER ON PHOENIX: “I won the spring Nationwide race at Phoenix last year so that was pretty good. I finished fifth there this year in the spring, but I wrecked there last fall. So, let’s hope we have more of a spring result than a fall result. I haven’t been in a Cup car in Phoenix in a long time — not since the repave — so I know it’s going to drive a little bit different. I feel like the MWR program is pretty good. I know the 55 sat on the pole there last year, so they definitely have a good short track program. We’ll go there and see where it takes us, but I can’t really give you an honest answer what to expect because I haven’t been there on the new pavement in a Cup car. Two of the last three races that we have been there in the Nationwide car is a win and a top-five so I feel pretty good about that.”
SADLER ON GOALS DRIVING THE NO. 55: “We’re going to look at it as we have nothing to lose. We’re not trying to battle any points or anything like that, so we can really try different setups, we can try different pit strategy. To sit here and tell you that I just want to go be competitive and not do much is a lie. I want to come out and try to qualify good each week and run good each week and put ourselves in position to be there at the end of the race. I’m a competitor no matter what I play and no matter what I race. I want to be involved and competitive in a good way. This is what we come for whether it’s Phoenix or Homestead. It can happen. That’s the attitude we have. My guys are working their butts off to get the cars good for these final races and I’m going to do everything I can to give them the information to make the car as good as we can and get me as good as we can. We’re going to go after it.”
NOTES:
· CHASSIS: 762—Brian Vickers drove this chassis to victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14.
· ALL IN THE FAMILY: Sadler’s older brother Hermie drove the Aaron’s Dream Machine at Talladega in 2003 and five times in the 2006 season.
· SADLER STATS: In 18 Phoenix races he owns a top 10 and has led 17 laps. In 432 Sprint Cup starts he’s won three races, eight poles and led 1,244 laps. In 227 Nationwide starts he’s won nine races, 15 poles and led 1,422 laps. He won the spring Nationwide race in Phoenix in 2012.
· SADLER IN NO. 55: Sadler finished 25th at Martinsville and 19th at Texas driving the No. 55 in 2013.
· NO. 55 IN 2014: Aaron’s, Inc. announced Aug. 13 it had reached a multi-year agreement to sponsor Vickers in the No. 55. Vickers has raced the No. 55 on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting his third career victory at New Hampshire on July 14. Beginning in 2014, he’ll pilot the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with a fresh new paint scheme. Aaron’s will sponsor each race during the length of the agreement.
· MWR IN 2013: MWR cars have combined for two wins (Truex Jr. – Sonoma; Vickers – Loudon-1), 20 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes. The three-car team has led 834 laps and won one pole award (M. Martin – Phoenix-1). Bowyer is seventh in points trailing Jimmie Johnson by 69 with two races remaining.
· No. 55 CREW:
Ex. VP Comp. – Scott Miller
Car Chief/7thman – Steve Channing
Front Changer – Ryan Langley
Rear Changer – Shannon Myers
Front Carrier – Chris Hall
Rear Carrier – Mark Kennerly
Jackman – Tony Cardamone
Gas man – Brian Dheel
2nd Gas Man – Kelly Johnson
Spotter – Curtis Markham
Engineer – Billy Scott
2nd Engineer – Scott McDougall
Tires – Kevin White
Eng.Tuner – Denny Chandler (TRD)
Shocks – Mike (Nook) McCarville
Front Mechanic – Jacen Johns
Interior Mech. – David Cropps
Truck Driver – Glenn Shano
2nd Truck Driver – John Murphy
Pit Coach – Greg Miller
Dir. Race Eng. – Chad Walter
Ex. VP Engineering – Tom German
· SOCIAL STOP: Make MWR’s “Social Stop” your second screen to follow all the racing and social media action when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this weekend. MWR’s “Social Stop” goes live race morning allowing fans to view information from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube all on one page. Twitter feeds from MWR drivers, media members and NASCAR fans will populate the page. Visitors can also interact with fellow race fans and answer poll questions on the page. Visit www.facebook.com/michaelwaltripracing or www.MichaelWaltripRacing.com/social.
· AARON’S BLACK FRIDAY JOYNORMOUS EVENT: This year’s Black Friday is going to be JOYnormous! It’s focused on amazing, unprecedented merchandise deals and bundles that will be available all day Friday Nov. 29, Saturday Nov. 30 and Monday Dec. 2, while supplies last. Stores will open at 7 a.m. on Friday, with regular hours on Saturday and Monday. Shopper will also be offered 50% OFF their first month’s payment on anything in the store (on new leases 12 months or longer) Go to Aarons.com or visit our stores to learn about our great product selection and services.
· INSIDER PROGRAM: MWR Insider Program offers all race fans sponsor discounts, specials on merchandise, exclusive pictures and video content plus fan giveaways throughout the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Fans can access the MWR Insider Program through the CardStar application available on most smartphones. MWR will work on behalf of the fans to expand the offerings beyond just its current sponsor line-up, aggregating industry-wide deals and discounts. Fans can text MWR to 42828 to get the card for free. Offers include free headset with rental of a FanVision unit ($19.99 value) and 25% off Toyota Racing merchandise at Toyota Racing.com.
