Quaker State 400
Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Ky.
Brett Moffitt | No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford
“This will be my first Sprint Cup start at Kentucky. I tested a Cup car there earlier this year, but not with the rules package that we’ll be taking this week. So I’m glad we’ll have some extra hours on the track Wednesday to shake things out. The bumps are always challenging at Kentucky, so that will obviously be something that we’ll focus on.
“It might be a good thing to get back to intermediate track racing after my first superspeedway race Sunday. Daytona was exciting and wild, but you really do have to depend on other drivers working with you. You really don’t control your own destiny.”
JUST THE FACTS: Saturday’s Quaker State 400 will be Moffitt’s first Sprint Cup start at Kentucky Speedway … He has one Camping World Truck Series start at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, a 14th-place finish in 2013 … The Dockside Logistics colors return to the No. 34 Ford for the Kentucky race.
Cole Whitt | No. 35 Kentucky Fried Chicken Ford
“I’m excited to have KFC on the car. It’s going to be fun, having them at their home track for their home race, and doing a lot of promotion around it. I’ve got an awesome new firesuit. It’s going to look like Colonel Sanders’ suit. All white, so I’ll have to try not to get it dirty by the end of the weekend.
“I don’t think we’re going to see a huge change with this new rules package. As drivers, we push our cars to the limit lap after lap after lap. So, the fact that they’re going to take a little bit of downforce away isn’t going to change how we drive our cars. We might have to focus more on the mechanical side of things instead of aero, but we’re still going to be driving as hard as we can.”
JUST THE FACTS: Whitt has one prior Sprint Cup start at Kentucky Speedway, a 28th-place finish in 2014 … Kentucky Fried Chicken joins the No. 35 as primary sponsor for Saturday night’s race … Whitt will be on the Ford Performance stage in the Fan Zone for fan Q&A on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
David Gilliland | No. 38 Love’s Travel Stops Ford
“Kentucky is definitely unique. It’s multiple times rougher than any other race track we go to. So, that makes it its own animal. But I’m anxious to get out there with our Love’s Travel Stops team and see how the new rules package plays out there. I think, directionally, this package is how a lot of the drivers wanted to go. We want to put on better races for the fans and have more options as drivers in the racecar. Hopefully we’ll see more passing and better racing.
“Kentucky will always be a special place for me and my family. That (2006 XFINITY Series) win obviously played a big role in getting me where I am today, and I’m thankful for all the moments and all the people along the way. Now that we go there every year for Cup, it brings back great memories every time.”
JUST THE FACTS: Gilliland has four Sprint Cup starts at Kentucky Speedway … His best finish is 28th (2012 and 2013) … Gilliland has a victory at Kentucky in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, an upset win in 2006 that propelled him to the Cup series … Love’s Travel Stops returns as primary sponsor of the No. 38 at the 1.5-mile tri-oval … Gilliland will sign autographs at the Professional Bull Riders display in the Fan Zone Saturday at 4 p.m. with bull rider Douglas Duncan.
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a race-winning organization competing in NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup Series, fielding the No. 34, the No. 35 and the No. 38 Fords. The team is owned by Bob Jenkins and is headquartered just outside of Charlotte, N.C. FRM was named to INC Magazine’s “INC 5000” list in 2012, recognizing the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The team’s partnership base is representative of more than $200 billion of the U.S. economy and includes organizations such as Ford Motor Company, Love’s Travel Stops, Colgate-Palmolive, CSX Transportation, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. Visit teamfrm.com.
