Quicken Loans Race for Heros and
DAV 200 – Honoring America’s Veterans
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Event: Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2014
Location: Phoenix International Raceway
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Phoenix International Raceway … Team owner Richard Childress has five victories at Phoenix International Raceway, ranking him third on the all-time car owner win list at the Avondale, Ariz. facility. This includes RCR’s most recent points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win with driver Kevin Harvick last November; Harvick’s November 2012 win and Harvick’s sweep of both races at PIR in 2006. Prior to that, Dale Earnhardt won the Checker 500 on Nov. 4, 1990. In 93 races at PIR, the Welcome, N.C.-based organization boasts 17 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,496 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards, 105 wins, 458 top-five finishes and 977 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR …Throughout the season’s 314 races contested so far, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have earned one pole award with Austin Dillon at Daytona International Speedway in February. Collectively, the organization has notched nine top-five and 31 top-10 finishes with drivers Dillon, Newman and Paul Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank third (Newman), 20th (Dillon) and 21st (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.
RCR Texas Rewind … RCR teammates Newman, Menard and Dillon finished 15th, 17th and 21st, respectively, in the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Save Kids’ Lives by Joining the Childress Champions … Help support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma by selecting your favorite driver when making a bronze level donation of $33 (Austin Dillon), $27 (Paul Menard) or $31 (Ryan Newman) to CIPT. To make a tax deductable donation, visit: . The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was established through the generosity of Richard and Judy Childress. For more information, please visit www.InjuredKids.org.
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 – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-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/austindillon3 , www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and www.facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action … The Quicken Loans Save a Hero 500 will be televised live on Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon
No. 3 Cheerios Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Cheerios Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 465 in the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Dillon raced to an 11th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September, a 24th-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in August, a 16th-place finish at Kentucky Speedway in June, a 16th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and a 21st-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
Dillon at Phoenix International Raceway … Dillon has one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Phoenix International Raceway to his credit, earning a 24th-place finish in March. The Welcome, N.C., driver has made five Nationwide Series starts at the one-mile track, earning a fifth-place finish in November 2013, a sixth-place finish in March 2013, a sixth-place finish in November 2012, a fourth-place finish in March 2012 and a 34th-place finish in April 2009. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the track, he has a pair of top-10 finishes and has made one start in the K&N Pro Series West at PIR (finished 15th in 2009).
#CheerThe3 … Fans can interact and receive unique content about Austin Dillon and the No. 3 race team throughout the 2014 season by visiting the “Cheer the 3” social media communities on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/Cheerthe3) and Twitter at @Cheerthe3.
Get to the Points … Dillon ranks 20th in the championship point standings leading into Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for the Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Season-to-Date …According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Season-to-Date Statistics, Dillon leads the Sprint Cup Series in most Laps Completed (9,938).
Double Duty … Watch Dillon in the No. 14 Rudd Chevrolet Silverado in the Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX Sports 1.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on racing at Phoenix International Raceway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series?
“I can’t wait to get to Phoenix International Raceway in the Cheerios Chevrolet. I’ve learned a lot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since we raced there in March and I think we have grown as a team, as well. Phoenix is a handling track where it’s crucial to have a car that works well during the race. I know Gil Martin and the guys will give me exactly what I need heading into the race. Getting off of each corner is important, and so is corner entry. The race should have plenty of excitement as drivers who are in contention for the Eliminator Round try to clinch a spot for Homestead, but we have nothing to lose.”
Paul Menard
No. 27 Richmond/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Richmond/Menards Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Paul Menard will utilize chassis No. 485 during Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. This is the same Chevrolet SS he raced to an 18th-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in September and a 15th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.
Phoenix by the Numbers … The Eau Claire, Wisc.-native has 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the Phoenix, Ariz. facility. He has three top-10 starts, as well as two top-10 finishes. He has completed 99.5 percent of laps in competition. Menard also has 10 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, which includes three top-five and six top-10 starts as well as one top-10 finish.
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Season-To-Date … Through 34 Sprint Cup Series races of the 2014 season, Menard has completed 9,606 of 9,962 laps contested (96.4 percent), led 45 laps and is currently 21st in the driver point standings. In addition, the RCR driver has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes this season.
Last Time at Phoenix International Raceway … Menard started the spring race at Phoenix International Raceway from the 22nd position and quickly reported a loose-handling condition. Throughout the duration of the 312-lap event, the No. 27 team worked to chase changing track conditions but never found the balance they needed finishing in 23rd place.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
What will it be like going back to Phoenix International Raceway?
“Phoenix International Raceway has a relatively new surface, its only a couple years old. The summers are obviously harsh in Arizona so it’s going to have changed a lot from the spring to the fall with the new surface just aging. So what worked in the spring is probably not going to work this time. I’m curious to get there and see how the track has aged and seasoned. We saw a couple grooves coming in last year and it got better in the spring, so hopefully it has widened out even more this time.”
Ryan Newman
No. 31 Caterpillar Global Mining Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Caterpillar Global Mining Chevrolet SS at Phoenix International Raceway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 479 in Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500. This chassis was utilized earlier this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Start: 5th / Finish: 7th), Chicagoland Speedway (Start: 2nd / Finish: 15th), Michigan International Speedway (Start: 12th / Finish: 11th) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Start: 4th / Finish: 11th).
Newman at the Phoenix International Raceway … In 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, the South Bend, Ind., native owns one victory at PIR winning the spring event in 2010. He also owns four pole awards, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. His average start is 12.7, average finish is 18.2 and he’s led 213 laps in competition.
@CATMining … The No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet features the Caterpillar Global Mining Twitter account this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. @CatMining provides updates and information about the organization and their ongoing commitment to the mining industry. Wherever you go in the mining world, you’ll find Caterpillar. From underground coal mines in the United States to gold mines in Africa and iron ore mines in Australia, Caterpillar products are hard at work and CAT people are right there too with building and supporting products, training operators, helping customers mine more profitably and working with schools, organizations and communities. As industry leaders, Caterpillar is engaged in the mining industry at every level.
About Caterpillar … For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
#NewmanNation …When calculating points earned through the eight Chase races, Newman ranks fourth in most points earned. After Texas Motor Speedway’s late-race mishap resulting in a 15th-place finish, Newman is now third in the championship standings just two markers out of first place.
Newman Media Availability … The driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Global Mining Chevrolet is scheduled to stop by the PIR media center on Friday at 10:15 a.m. MT.
Race Rewind … Earlier this year, Newman started 15th and was scored as the leader on lap 243. He held the top spot for six circuits before pitting one final time with 60 laps to go. When he returned to the track, Newman kept up a fast pace and, with one final nine-lap dash to the finish, recorded a seventh-place finish.
Drive Home a Winner … Quicken Loans’ latest sweepstakes, “Drive Home a Winner” awards one lucky winner both a brand-new Chevrolet SS and a year’s worth of mortgage payments. The sweepstakes, open to those 18 and older, is a collaboration between General Motors and Quicken Loans. Fans can enter by visiting www.qlracing.com.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
Is there any points spread that would make you feel more comfortable going into Phoenix?
“Not really, no. It’s just because anything can happen and we saw that at Texas Motor Speedway. I still look toward Phoenix as being a high potential for some really crazy restarts with the dogleg in the back. We saw the start of that at Loudon, the last couple of laps at Charlotte were pretty intense and then Texas Motor Speedway. I don’t know what the math would be, the high 30s would have been really nice.”
Why do you feel that your Caterpillar team is a threat to win the championship?
“We’ve been consistent. When you look at the points system, it’s based on wins and consistency. We don’t have the wins, but we’ve certainly had the consistency so that’s why most people consider us an underdog. It’s what they say, but it doesn’t matter to me. I am still going out there to do the best job that I can for Caterpillar, Quicken Loans, WIX Filters and Kwikset … the people who have given us this opportunity to compete and hope it will be enough to win a championship.”
Why do you think you and your team have a good chance to hoist the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway?
“Why is because I want to. How is the more difficult question to answer. Really, it’s about having fun. Luke Lambert, our entire team and the entire organization at Richard Childress Racing are doing an awesome job. We’ve all been having a lot of fun because we get to go out there and do what we love to do. It’s been a lot of fun for me, so I think it’s helped with our consistency. I think it’s helped with our performance and I think I have stepped it up. I think the guys on pit road have stepped it up, as well as the guys in the garage. We are doing better things with the tools that we have. ECR and those guys have also stepped it up.”
This is crew chief Luke Lambert’s first Chase. What are his strengths?
“He really is Cool Hand Luke. We have not yelled at each other, yet. I haven’t rattled him. We have not raised our voices to each other one single time this year. Which is really rare to find and yet, it’s easy to do. He is such a level-headed guy. I think that says a lot and is a big reason why we are consistent. It’s all about keeping that level head.”
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Nationwide Series News and Notes
Event: DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2014
Location: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Richard Childress Racing at Phoenix International Raceway … In 50 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has earned three victories with Kevin Harvick (April 2006), Clint Bowyer (April 2007) and Elliott Sadler (March 2012). The Welcome, N.C. organization has led a total of 539 laps and accumulated 20 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes at the one-mile raceway. RCR averages a starting position of 12.6 and finish of 12.4.
Recap of Texas Motor Speedway … Brian Scott, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan earned sixth, seventh, 15th and 16th-place finishes, respectively, in the Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.
NNS Most Popular Driver 2014 … Voting for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver has begun and Brian Scott, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan are all eligible for this season’s award. Fans can vote once a day until the night of the season finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway by visiting NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver.
To the Points … As the Series heads back to Phoenix International Raceway, Brian Scott currently leads the RCR drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship standings in third, 15 points from second place. Ty Dillon is fifth, seven points out of fourth, and Brendan Gaughan is eighth.
Social Media … To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series team Twitter pages – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s Nationwide Series driver Twitter pages – @bscottracing, @tydillon and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Phoenix Coverage … Coverage of this week’s race at Phoenix International Raceway will be televised live on Saturday, November 8, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. It will also be broadcasted live on the MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel 90.
Brian Scott
No. 2 Whitetail Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Whitetail Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Brian Scott and the No. 2 Whitetail Chevrolet Camaro team are heading into Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DAV 200 – Honoring America’s Veterans with chassis No. 101. Most recently raced at Richmond International Raceway, Scott qualified and finished fifth. At Iowa Speedway, Scott qualified fourth and finished seventh. He also piloted this chassis at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he qualified fifth and finished seventh. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared chassis has an average starting position of 5.8 and an average finishing position of seventh. The chassis recorded three pole awards, two at Richmond International Speedway and one at Iowa Speedway. Chassis No. 101 also has two victories at Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway in 2012 to its credit.
Scott at Phoenix … Scott will be making his 11th Nationwide Series start in the 200-lap race on Saturday. In 10 starts at PIR, the 26-year-old has collected three top-10 finishes. Scott also has a NASCAR Camping World Truck victory he claimed in 2012. In addition to the victory in four NCWTS starts, he has completed 100 percent of the laps raced with two top five and two top-10 finishes with 48 laps led. In February, Scott made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at the one-mile track.
Nationwide Leader … Scott leads the Nationwide Series regulars with a 6.4 average starting position and the most laps spent inside the top 15 (5,439, 96.2 percent). Currently third in the driver point standings only 63 points out of the lead, and 15 points out of second place, the No. 2 Chevrolet team has collected six top-five and 21 top-10 finishes this season. Additionally, Scott has earned three pole positions, one at Richmond International Raceway and two at Chicagoland Speedway.
Whitetail Club … Located in the heart of the Idaho Mountains, Whitetail Club is a secluded gated community where social and recreational activities are a part of everyday living. Whitetail Club offers a wide array of amenities including biking, fishing, hiking, golf, water skiing, and snow skiing. The beautiful family neighborhood is located in McCall, Idaho with a variety of modern mountain cottages and homes set to describe camp life. For more information visit www.whitetailclub.com.
Most Popular Driver Award … From now until November 15, fans can vote for Brian Scott for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award. Vote online at nascar.com/mostpopulardriver once per day.
Meet Brian Scott … Fans have the opportunity to meet Scott at the Albertson’s Grocery Store – 12970 W. Indian School Road, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 on Thursday, November 6. Scott will participate in a live radio remote with NBC Sports Radio 1060 AM on behalf of Anderson’s Maple Syrup and Albertson’s beginning at 5 p.m. MT. Scott will also be available for autographs.
Rearview Mirror … Brian Scott and the No. 2 Country Bob’s Chevrolet Camaro team collected their 28th top-10 qualifying position of the season at Texas Motor Speedway by starting fourth for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. The Phil Gould-led team fought tight conditions for the majority of the 200-lap event, but continued to maintain a position inside the top-10. Scott brought the Country Bob’s Chevrolet home in sixth place, collecting the teams 10th consecutive top-10 finish and 21st of the 2014 season.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
Phoenix is not a short track, but everyone says it drives like one. Do you agree?
“Yeah, I really like Phoenix. We started the year off at a deficit, I feel like, performance wise. I feel like all the other teams came out of the gates pretty strong. And we, even at good tracks for this team, didn’t capitalize. Since then, a lot has changed and we have come leaps and bounds from where we were. I’m looking forward to going back and having a little redemption on those teams that maybe started the year a little stronger than us.”
Phoenix has gotten a little different since the repave. How different is it?
“It’s different every time we go there. I guess one thing that is exciting about these repaves, the grip and you don’t have tire fall off and you end up having strategies in the race where you take two tires or fuel only and it becomes just about track position and trying to get up front. The one exciting thing about repaves is that you can really see a noticeable change year-to-year in the pavement in the lines and tire fall off. It seems like you have to adjust more. When we go to Atlanta, it is old and wore out and it has been for years. You don’t see a whole bunch of changes, it’s just old and wore out. These new tracks, they have so much grip and they are one grooved. It’s like each year and each race the season gets on it, you get the groove that moves up and the asphalt wears out a little bit. Goodyear always seems to bring back a different tire combination to try something different. So every time you go back to a track that’s recently been repaved, it’s almost like you have to forget everything from the year before because it’s probably going to be different.”
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 134 for this weekend’s DAV 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was raced twice last season at the one-mile raceway. Last fall, Kevin Harvick drove the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro to a ninth-place finish and earlier this year Brendan Gaughan drove the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro to a 16th-place finish. Chassis No. 134 was last utilized at Dover International Speedway on September 27 where it finished 10th.
Dillon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at PIR … Earlier this year, Dillon made his PIR Nationwide Series debut at the one-mile tri-oval and finished 10th in a rain-shortened race. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Dillon has one top-five finish.
America’s No. 1 Outdoor Retailer On Board … This week Bass Pro Shops will be featured as the primary sponsor on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro. America’s No. 1 Outdoor Retailer, Bass Pro Shops has been a part of memorable moments in RCR history including Austin Dillon’s Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series championships, the 100th victory for the legendary No. 3 and Ty Dillon’s victory at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hunting Big Game … Thanks to Realtree, Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman are visiting Wyoming this week to hunt a trophy Bull Elk. The group will be accompanied by a camera crew capturing every moment of their thrilling hunt. This exclusive footage will air on Realtree’s NASCAR Outdoors, hosted by Realtree’s founder Bill Jordan, later this year on the Outdoor Channel.
#VoteTy … From now until November 15, fans can vote for Ty Dillon for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award. Dillon, the 22-year-old Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie, won the award last season in the Camping World Truck Series. Vote online at nascar.com/mostpopulardriver once per day.
Double Duty … For the second time this season, Dillon will race in both the Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 22-year-old driver will race the No. 33 Charter Communications Chevrolet SS for Circle Sport Racing in the Quicken Loans Race for a Hero 500 Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Looking Back … Dillon drove the No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro to a 10th-place finish earlier this season at PIR. After qualifying fifth and battling with handling issues for the first part of the race, Dillon raced in and around the top 10. In the end, heavy rain fell and the race was called short of the advertised distance with Dillon finishing 10th.
Points update … With two races remaining on the Nationwide Series schedule, Dillon is fifth in the driver championship point standings 75 points behind the leader and 12 points behind third place. Also competing for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, Dillon is currently in second place.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon will participate in a question-and-answer session at the Team Chevy Stage located in the Midway on Sunday, November 9 at 9:15 a.m.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
The Series’ heads back to a one-mile race track, how do you feel about racing at PIR?
“Earlier this year we had pretty good speed and we really were able to get a good balance towards the middle of the race. Unfortunately, some heavy rain fell and ended our day early. I think if we had gone back to green-flag racing we would have been able to compete for a top-five finish. I’m excited to go back. Our team always enjoys going out west to Phoenix because of the beautiful scenery, fans and great racing.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 Charter Communications Chevrolet Camaro
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Charter Communications Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Brendan Gaughan will utilize chassis No. 109 in this weekend’s DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans at Phoenix International Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet has seen on-track action at six other tracks in the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Chassis No. 109’s highest finishes both came at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he earned two top-10 finishes.
Gaughan’s Phoenix Stats … In six Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Gaughan has completed 1,166 of 1,175 laps, 99.2 percent. The 39-year-old RCR driver has accumulated one top-five and one top-10 finish at the one-mile race track. Gaughan has also made 11 starts at Phoenix in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he led nine laps and accumulated one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
New Sponsor for the No. 62 at PIR … The No. 62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team welcomes a new primary sponsor Charter Communications, the leading broadband communications company and the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Charter will also join the No. 33 Circle Sport Racing entry of Ty Dillon in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
In the Rearview Mirror: Texas … The No. 62 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet team qualified 12th for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. Gaughan fought back and forth with loose and tight handling conditions throughout the 200-lap event. Crew chief Shane Wilson took every opportunity to improve the handling of the Chevrolet Camaro by making track bar and air pressure adjustments. After receiving a pit road speeding violation on lap 131, Gaughan restarted at the tail of the field and ultimately finished 16th.
#VoteBG62 … Voting for the 2014 Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver is still open. Fans can continue to vote once a day until the night of November 15th by visiting NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver.
To the Points … With only two races remaining, Gaughan is eighth in the Nationwide Series driver championship standings heading to Phoenix International Raceway.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Phoenix International Raceway?
“I miss the old track where it had the gap in the back straightaway. Turn 2 was so treacherous and difficult because the wall came back at you and you had to be careful. I have to say, that had to be my favorite configuration of Phoenix International Raceway. It is kind of goofy now and that is cool to me because it gives the track character. Now if we are really racing hard and battling we are able to go four wide in the kink. It really makes no sense how we are able to do it, but it sure makes for good racing going in to Turn 3 and it is still that flat Turn 3. That is something that hasn’t changed about the track. It is a driver favorite style corner that really makes for an interesting entry. We always expect the unexpected when we come to Phoenix.”
Did you learn anything from the Phoenix race in March?
“Our RCR Nationwide and fab shops have been busy and working hard on improving our Chevrolets from the race back in March. We are expecting to go back to Phoenix and really work our tails off and try and be better than we were earlier this year. RCR has always been pretty successful there, especially with Kevin Harvick. Shane (Wilson) is going to push and try to find out what we need to be fast, so we can be in the championship hunt in 2015. Our goal is to be as fast as we can now, learn everything we can and take chances so we can be better in the future.”
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