NASCAR CUP SERIES
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
PENNZOIL 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2022

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 FOCUSfactor CAMARO ZL1, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

ERIK, WE SAW YOU VISITED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS WEEK FOR READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY. TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.

“It was really great. That was a couple of days ago we went out there and got to do that in person. Been doing a lot with reading initiatives, obviously with the foundation. It’s been tough the last couple of years to do things in person and indoors, so it was nice to be able to get to a school in person with kids and read to the class. Then obviously get to answer tons of questions from them on all different subjects. Really enjoy that and hopefully get to do some more of that. Not only at the schools, but at tracks and obviously all the places we go through a season. It was a lot of fun.”

ERIK, I KNOW ITS ONLY TWO RACES BUT HOW HAS THE START OF THIS SEASON AS FAR AS HOW COMPETITIVE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST TWO RACES DONE FOR YOUR PSYCHI AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR TEAM IS SITUATED IN TERMS OF THE NEXT GEN CAR?

“Well, it’s been good. Obviously, your confidence goes up week to week. I think in racing it is a bigger thing than people realize. It’s easy to look at a sport like golf and think when someone gets on a hot streak it is easy to keep it going. Honestly, racing is very similar and when you get kind of rolling and it’s not just me, it’s the team, it’s Dave (Elenz, crew chief), it’s everybody. When they get rolling on that confident hot streak, it’s easier to keep that momentum going. The Next Gen car I think has been great to us so far you know two races in. Hopefully just continue it going this weekend. This is a lot different track than Fontana. It’s easy to say that and it will be a totally different challenge for a racecar than what fought last week and balance last week. It’ll be a learning process, but you know the speed for sure has been there at Daytona, Fontana. Hopefully it continues this weekend. We are in a good spot in points right now and want to keep that going. Your expectations change. Obviously, being in contention to win last week definitely puts our mindset towards a win at this point. Hopefully we can continue to chase that.”

I THINK SOME PEOPLE SAY THE NEW CAR CREATES PARODY AND THAT IS WHAT’S ALLOWED YOU TO IMPROVE SPOTS, BUT I’M CURIOUS HOW MUCH IS IT NEW CAR AND HOW MUCH IS IT NEW CREW CHIEF AND NEW TEAM?

“Well, it’s a combo. It is hard to put a percentage on each one. I think it’s a combination of things, right. The new car and some of the tendencies of the new car, some strong suits I think that Dave (Elenz) has had in the Xfinity Series and already learned a little bit about at that level and has brought that over. Obviously with the merger with GMS, it really lets us kind of develop our own package right here. You know when I came to RPM last season, that car was in a development freeze, and it was what it was. There’s nothing left to gain on it. We couldn’t do anything to make it any better or any different than what it was. You know, that’s tough as a driver. Kind of locked into what you got and every driver wants something different. So, I kind of had to adapt and figure that out. With the Next Gen car, I think it’s opened up so many doors for us. Just having the same parts and pieces, we just have to figure out to take that wheel that they have given us and make it a little bit rounder and for us I think Dave’s (Elenz) done good job with that and that’s been a focus of not just him but everybody on the team. To answer your question, it’s bits and pieces of everything. It’s not just the new car. It’s not just the new crew chief. It’s everything kind of bundling all in one.”

A LOT OF TIMES DRIVERS SAY IF I HAD WHAT THAT GUY HAD I COULD DO JUST AS GOOD AS HE IS. DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THAT BOX THAT’S CLOSE ENOUGH TO GO LIKE OK I HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE, NOW I REALLY DO GET TO SHOW THEM WHAT I GOT AND I CAN BE AS COMPETITIVE AS THEY ARE?

“For sure, right now. I think it’s so early on with this car, we don’t totally know everything that is even right and wrong with it. What’s the right things to adjust on and make it faster, make it better. What’s the car want? We have ideas of it, but we don’t truly know what’s going to be better and what’s going to be worse for this car right now. I think if the rules are continue being enforced the way they are right now with the parts and the pieces, I think that parody will last a while. I think eventually guys are going to start figuring out what makes these cars better, what makes them tick. Obviously, the big teams will have some sort of advantage there, but for sure right now we are on a good track to have you know at least somewhat of a leg up at this point in this season. It’s closed that gap. You know I would say that gap is 90 percent closer to what it was the last few years.”

HOW ABOUT THOUGH DRIVER TO DRIVER? DO YOU FEEL NOW LIKE OK, I’VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS AS GOOD AS THEY ARE AND NOW, I HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVE IT?

“Yeah, I think so. It’s adapting at this point, right? You know the car’s quite a bit different than what last years were. Driver to driver, you know I look at a lot of guys in the series and I think if you put most of the guys in a race winning car situation, they would have an opportunity to do it. I think the difference maker comes down to the finesse parts of it. You know, restarts, passing, traffic. I’ve seen a lot of guys take fast cars and when they are out front it’s fine, but as soon as they get back in the field they can’t come through. There’s a lot of different parts and pieces to being a winning racecar driver in the Cup Series and it’s by far the hardest thing that I’ve ever done. But right now, I think it’s definitely at a point where driver is able to make a bigger difference than in years past.”

ERIK, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE READING AND THE YOUNG KIDS. WHY IS THAT YOUR PASSION, WHY IS THAT SOMETHING YOU DO?

“I think for me, it starts from when I was pretty young kid. You know, my parents started reading to me when I was probably before I could comprehend what they were even saying to me. Then it would continue. It was every night when I was a kid, until I started reading on my own. My mom or dad would sit and read books to me, books I was interested in and wanted to read. Obviously when I started reading on my own, I could remember sitting in bed at night, had my own light, I would stay up. Instead of staying up late to watch TV, I was staying up late reading books. For me, I just really enjoyed it. I enjoyed learning and I wasn’t always the greatest student in school, but I wanted to learn thing that I wanted to learn. With books for me, that gave me the opportunity I could read and learn about any subject that I wanted to. That’s continued now. Anytime I want to go and figure something out or be more in tune with a subject, I’ll pick up a book and read and figure it out. I think that translates to childhood, right? That’s an early jumpstart, something that anybody, any family can do is reading. That gives that kid such an early advantage in life. If you’re a good reader and you can comprehend early and figure out how to take that information out of a book and absorb it that’s a huge advantage for any kid. So that’s what really it means to me and why it’s something that I really push for.
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Ty Dillon, No. 42 Goettl Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Dillon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

• Dillon has competed in seven NASCAR Cup Series events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, notching a 10th-place result in 2020. The 30-year-old has also participated in seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races, earning an eighth-place finish in his last start at the Nevada oval in September 2021. In addition, Dillon has two NASCAR Truck Series starts, posting two top-10 results.
• We Do Things the Right Way, Not the Easy Way: Goettl (gEHt-uhl), a leading provider of HVAC and plumbing maintenance, repair and replacement services in the residential market, will serve as primary partner on Dillon’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Goettl is a company doing things the right way not the easy way since 1939.
• Trackside Live: Dillon will kick off race day morning at Trackside Live in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone on Sunday, March 6, from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m. PT. – About Goettl: Goettl is a leading provider of HVAC and plumbing maintenance, repair and replacement services to the residential market. Founded in 1939, Goettl has established a reputation for customer service, quality and innovation and today services the Southwestern U.S. through nine branches across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. Additional information about Goettl can be found at www.goettl.com.
• From the Drivers Seat: What are your thoughts heading into Las Vegas with a new partner? “I’m excited to welcome Goettl on board the No. 42 Chevrolet for this weekend in Las Vegas. To be partnered with another company from Las Vegas is special not only for myself but for Petty GMS. Goettl is no stranger to our sport, but what I appreciate most about their company is their desire to do things the right way even if it’s not the easy way. In order to sustain success in any business, you must have that outlook. The goal is to have the Goettl colors up front on Sunday.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Jones at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

• Jones has competed in nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, collecting three top-10 results in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively. In addition, Jones has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (one top-five finish) and two races in the NASCAR Truck Series (one win in 2014) at the Nevada oval.
• Nutrition for the Brain: FOCUSfactor will serve as primary partner on Jones’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Speedway. As the anchor sponsor on the No. 43 machine, FOCUSfactor’s blue and green colors will be sported for a total of 26 races during the 2022 Cup Series season.
• Youngest Pole Winner: Jones continues to hold the record for the youngest pole award winner in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Earning the award in 2018, the Michigan native was just 22 years, three months and 17 days old.
• Firsts for Petty GMS: One week ago at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Jones collected a series of firsts for Petty GMS in the NASCAR Cup Series – first front row starting position (second), first laps led and first top-five finish (third) in a points paying event. - About FOCUSfactor: FOCUSfactor is sold at America’s leading retailers such as Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, The Vitamin Shoppe and Amazon.com. FOCUSfactor, America’s leading brain health supplement, is a nutritional supplement that includes a proprietary blend of brain supporting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients. In December 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent 8,329,227 covering FOCUSfactor’s proprietary formulation “for enhanced mental function”. The issuance of the patent marked one of the few times a patent has been issued for a nationally branded nutritional supplement. FOCUSfactor is clinically tested with results demonstrating improvements in focus, concentration and memory in healthy adults.
• From the Drivers Seat: Coming off a strong run at Fontana, what are the expectations for Las Vegas? ”These first few races seem to set the tone for your year, so for our FOCUSfactor team to come out and run strong right off the bat is a huge win. Just to go out and not only run up front, but to have race winning speed at times and an opportunity to win is great. I’m really looking forward to Vegas and the rest of the season. I was before, but when you go out and have a run like we did at Fontana, it really gets your expectations high and gets you excited to go back to the track every week. Hopefully we keep the momentum going this weekend and have another great race car to run up front with.”

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. The newly formed team brought together two storied organizations in December 2021. Over the last decade, owner Maury Gallagher built a victorious team, capturing two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, one ARCA Menards Series title, and two ARCA Menards Series East championships, as well as 65 wins and 235 top-five finishes across six series. Richard Petty, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2010, serves as Chairman of Petty GMS. Petty, known as “The King,” accumulated over 200 wins and was the first of three drivers to win seven championships in the Cup Series. For more information, visit www.pettygms.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow Petty GMS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Richard Childress Racing’s History at Las Vegas Motor Speedway…In 76 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts 11 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. The storied organization has four wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with drivers Kevin Harvick (2004), Jeff Burton (2007), Austin Dillon (2015) and Tyler Reddick (2019). In addition, RCR boasts six pole awards in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the 1.5-mile oval.

Introducing the Next Gen … NASCAR’s Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which officially debuts in 2022, is a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing. With technology at the forefront, Richard Childress Racing has played a unique and critical role in helping to bring this new on-track identity to life, working closely with OEMs, other teams and NASCAR to build and test the initial prototype.

Catch the Action … The ALSCO Uniforms 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, March 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, March 6 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … In 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dillon has two top-five and two top-10 finishes, including his best finish of fourth in March 2020. He is a former winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2015) and NASCAR Truck Series (2010).

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Sponsors the No. 3 at Las Vegas … BREZTRI is an AstraZeneca product and the sponsor of No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Austin Dillon. You can learn more at breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Are the bumps and challenges at Las Vegas Motor Speedway similar to the bumps in Turns 3 and 4 at Auto Club Speedway?
“Turns one and two at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are high speed corners and the bumps have always been something that you work on your car to get through to make speed. The faster your car can go through there without having to unload and get the feel back in the front tires has always been an issue. The person that can skip through them the best usually runs really well. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway it’s an entry issue, unlike last week at Auto Club Speedway where it was an exit issue. At Auto Club Speedway, you’re leaving the corner with wheel in the car. I think the bumps at Las Vegas will be challenging this weekend, just as they always are. Although truthfully, from the simulator work I’ve done to prepare for the race, the bumps were not as upsetting as they were at Auto Club Speedway. The Auto Club Speedway bumps were pretty accurate to our sim. We were busting loose across those bumps. So, I’m hoping that it’s accurate again, as far as the bumps in Las Vegas not being as much of a problem as they were in Fontana.”

You and Tyler Reddick both ran well at the Clash and at Auto Club Speedway. Explain what is behind RCR’s recent resurgence.
“I think Chevrolet, in general, is in a pretty good position. At RCR and ECR, we’ve put a big focus on the Next Gen car. We definitely tried to be the guys to embrace this new car the earliest in the process. I think some of the teams probably didn’t embrace it as much as we did. We saw it coming and tried to put a lot of effort into it from the beginning. I really love working with Tyler Reddick. He’s a great teammate and I think we both do each other some good. We have different thought processes on things, and I think that allows us to open our minds and push each other in different ways. I was bummed for him last week. I felt like that was his first win coming, for sure. And then all of a sudden, we popped up there and had a great shot at winning it.”

Wherever it might be, it could be a market, it could be a trip, but does Austin Dillon have a go-to place? What is it and why?
“When we’re out on the west coast, we like to stay out there for the entire west coast swing. Last year, my wife Whitney and I took my son Ace to a road course that Ron Fellows runs for Chevrolet. We spent a day at road course school out there. Then, we went to Phoenix Raceway early because I love the Phoenix area. Goodyear, Arizona is a cool area. We stay at the Wigwam and it’s nice and relaxing. It has a couple golf courses that we hit up. I like traveling the west coast swing at the beginning of the year because it gets the year going. When we come home, we don’t do a lot of traveling after that. We don’t do many road trips, but the west coast is the one that I stay out since we’re out there for several weekends in a row.”

This Week’s BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Reddick will make his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas, Nevada track on Sunday afternoon. His first Cup Series start was in 2020 and most recently, Reddick tallied his best finish of sixth at the track. Reddick has two wins under his belt at Las Vegas in the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series. In 2019, Reddick won the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas and in 2016, he won in the Truck Series. He has five Xfinity starts at the track with one win, one top five, two top 10s and 95 laps led and three Truck Series starts with one win, one top five, two top 10s and 74 laps led.

Reddick’s Stats Improve … Reddick’s race last weekend at Auto Club Speedway didn’t end the way he wanted but did provide him with some new career statistics. Reddick swept the stages, adding two more stage wins to his resume and grabbing two Playoff points. He’s currently tied for third with Martin Truex Jr. for 2022 stage points. Reddick also led a career-high 90 laps at the Fontana track, having led only 73 laps in his Cup Series career prior to the race.

Roll the Dice with BetMGM … When a legendary global entertainment company joins forces with the world’s largest online betting technology company, the gaming world sits up and takes notice. BetMGM is a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain Holdings that is revolutionizing sports betting and online gaming in the United States. BetMGM is the exclusive sports betting division of MGM, both online and in MGM casinos nationwide. BetMGM is also the headline brand for online casino gaming alongside sister brands Borgata Online (New Jersey), Party Casino and Party Poker. We aspire to make unforgettable moments of sports and gaming even more personal, powerful, and fun through unmatched digital technology and evocative player experiences. For more information, visit betmgminc.com.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
Looking back on last week’s race at Auto Club Speedway, you earned two stage wins and had a victory in sight before bad luck won again. How do you get your mindset back on track for this weekend?
“Well, I think you have to look at the positives of the race at Auto Club. Sure, I’m completely gutted that we didn’t get the win when it felt like we had the best car out there but there were also a lot of other small victories to come from that day. Winning two stages and leading the most laps of my Cup Series career just goes to show that our time is coming. We learned so much over the weekend from practice to qualifying to the race and those are all things that we will take with us and learn from to become stronger from it. This car has been a learning experience for all of us drivers and I think the handle that I do have on it right now is only going to get better and more consistent as the season goes on. I’m looking forward to seeing what my team and I can do this weekend at Las Vegas.”

You’ve had success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series, but with this new car and having raced at Auto Club last weekend, what do you anticipate the racing being like this weekend?
“I expect the racing to look a lot like Fontana. It’s the same type of situation. You’re going to see cars being able to run all three lanes fairly early on and be able to make lanes work with their cars. You’re going to have to be able to run all three lanes in a lot of different points in the run. Early run, middle of the run, end of the run. Las Vegas has a lot of grooves, in the sense of you can run the very bottom of the racetrack in Turn 1, 2, 3 and 4 and paint the line, kind of like you would at the old Atlanta. You have a lot of options lane-wise at this racetrack and I think you’re going to see a lot of drivers forced to make those work to be able to get around their competition, to make passes, to maintain, whatever it might be. I expect a very similar race to Fontana last weekend. It will be very interesting to see how the rubber lays down, how lanes will come and go. You’ll have to keep up with this racetrack as it lays rubber, this one lays a lot of rubber. Fontana was a lot of fun and Las Vegas is going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sheldon Creed and The No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Creed will be making his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. He collected four top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Truck Series starts at the track, highlighted by a second-place finish in 2020. Creed enters the Las Vegas event 16th in series driver standings with one top-10 finish in the first two races of the season.

About Whelen … Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

SHELDON CREED QUOTES:
Are you planning to spend time on the west coast between races during the west coast swing?
“I grew up in San Diego, and I usually only get back out here twice year nowadays. I’m glad I get to take advantage of NASCAR’s West Coast swing and will stay out here for two full weeks. I’ll get to hang out with family and just enjoy a little time on the West Coast before going back east.”

Are pit stops a difficult challenge for drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
“Pit stops can be difficult because the track goes from banking to flat pretty quickly. When I was racing in the NASCAR Truck Series, I found that you could drive really hard past the center of the corner before you started checking up to pit. I haven’t had the opportunity to pit yet in a NASCAR Xfinity Series car so it’s going to be a little different on Saturday with our Whelen Chevrolet, especially early in the race when I am getting used to things. I’m going to have to play with that a little bit if we do have green flag pit stops.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Hill will be making his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was credited with a 17th-place finish in the Fall 2020 race.

A Vegas Winner … Hill owns a pair of victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in NASCAR Truck Series competition. He won in 2019 and again in 2020, with both victories coming in the fall event at the 1.5-mile speedway. In eight Truck Series starts, Hill racked up six top-10 finishes for an average finish of 10.1.

And The Point Is … Hill enters this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings. With his victory at Daytona, he has clinched a spot in the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.

About Bennett Family of Companies … McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its nine affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. The company will use race experiences to recruit and retain hundreds of truck drivers for their organization in 2022. For more information, visit www.Drive4Bennett.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on Las Vegas Motor Speedway? As a former race winner in the NASCAR Truck Series there, you have to be excited to go back there this weekend with Richard Childress Racing.
“Stats-wise Las Vegas Motor Speedway is probably one of my best racetracks. I have two wins there in the Truck Series, and it seems like I’ve ran up front pretty much every time we’ve raced there. I have a lot of confidence in that racetrack. I have confidence everywhere we go, but Las Vegas is probably at the top of the list. The Truck had so much downforce and sideforce. It was all about who could stay in the throttle longest. The track has a lot of bumps so I think if we can get our Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet through the bumps the best, especially down in Turns 1 and 2, that’s going to be big.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
PENNZOIL 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
MARCH 6, 2022

RACE #3 – LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Coming off a NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) victory for Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway, NASCAR makes its second of three stops on the series’ west coast swing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Situated just northeast of the famed Las Vegas Strip, the 1.5-mile Nevada oval will be the host of a tripleheader race weekend, featuring all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.

The three-day race weekend kicks-off with the return of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) under the lights on Friday, March 4, with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200, the series only appearance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this season. The 134-lap event marks the second race for the new Silverado RST, which made its competition debut in the series at Daytona International Speedway.

Saturday brings the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS), where the Camaro SS drivers and teams will take on the Alsco Uniforms 300. Chevrolet swept the two NXS races at Las Vegas Speedway in 2021. A.J. Allmendinger raced his way to victory lane for Kaulig Racing in the March 2021 race at the venue, his first of five NXS wins on the season. The fall 2021 Las Vegas race saw Josh Berry capture his second-career NXS win when filling the seat of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet after Michael Annett was sidelined due to an injury.

The weekend is capped off with the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 6. In 28 NCS races held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the bowtie brand has made its way to Victory Lane nine times, including Kyle Larson’s monumental win in the March 2021 race. In just his fourth start with Hendrick Motorsports, Larson led 103 laps in his No. 5 Chevrolet en route to his first victory for the team to start a career season for the 29-year-old driver and his quest for the Championship title.

FIRST WIN AND A STRONG SHOWING FOR THE NEXT GEN CAMARO ZL1
In just the second points-paying race of the season, reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson drove his way to a hard fought victory at Auto Club Speedway to give the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 its first victory since its debut into the NASCAR Cup Series. The 29-year-old had to forfeit his starting spot and move to the rear of the field after discovering an ignition issue that resulted in unapproved adjustments. Larson drove through the field, holding the lead for 27 of the final 34 laps to capture his second-career win at Auto Club Speedway and his 17th all-time victory in NASCAR’s premier series.

It was a strong showing for Chevrolet in the 200-lap event. The Camaro ZL1 crossed the finish line in an impressive 1-2-3-4 finish, as well as capturing six of the top-10 in the final running order. Six different Chevrolet teams were represented in the top-10: Kyle Larson (Race Winner; Hendrick Motorsports); Austin Dillon (2nd; Richard Childress Racing); Erik Jones (3rd; Petty GMS Motorsports); Daniel Suarez (4th; Trackhouse Racing); Daniel Hemric (9th; Kaulig Racing); and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (10th; JTG Daugherty Racing).

“We are proud of the competitive performance of the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 at Auto Club Speedway and the car’s debut on an intermediate-style track,” said Dr. Eric Warren, Chevrolet Director of NASCAR Programs. “Six different Chevrolet teams were represented in the top-10 in Fontana, which is a testament to the collaboration between the GM NASCAR Competition Engineering Team and all of our Chevrolet race teams in developing the Camaro ZL1. We are excited about the early on-track performance of the car and look forward to seeing continued success for our Chevrolet drivers and teams in 2022.”

Also having a stand-out day was Team Chevy’s Tyler Reddick, who swept both stage wins in his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and led 90 laps – more than the total laps led in his 75 Cup starts combined. Damage sustained from a flat tire while leading took him out of contention.

BOWTIE BULLETS

· With its 40 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships; 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships; and 815 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet holds the title of winningest brand in NASCAR.

· In addition to its nine wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, Chevrolet has recorded 56 top-five’s, 110 top-10’s, and has led 2,945 laps.

· Erik Jones is the youngest pole winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (22 years, 3 months, 17 days).
· Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in all-time wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010).

· With a victory, Kyle Larson could potentially become just the sixth reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion to win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the following season, joining Matt Kenseth (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2010), Tony Stewart (2012), Kevin Harvick (2015) and Joey Logano (2019).

· Tyler Reddick has led 90 laps in 2022 to lead all NASCAR Cup Series drivers thus far this season.

TUNE IN
FOX will telecast the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube live at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 6. FS1 will telecast the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300 at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 6. Live coverage of both events can also be found on PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. FS1 telecast the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 4. Live coverage of the NCWTS 134-lap race is also on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BREZTRI CAMARO ZL1
ARE THE BUMPS AND CHALLENGES AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY SIMILAR TO THE BUMPS IN TURNS 3 AND 4 AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY?
“Turns one and two at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are high speed corners and the bumps have always been something that you work on your car to get through to make speed. The faster your car can go through there without having to unload and get the feel back in the front tires has always been an issue. The person that can skip through them the best usually runs really well. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway it’s an entry issue, unlike last week at Auto Club Speedway where it was an exit issue. At Auto Club Speedway, you’re leaving the corner with wheel in the car. I think the bumps at Las Vegas will be challenging this weekend, just as they always are. Although truthfully, from the simulator work I’ve done to prepare for the race, the bumps were not as upsetting as they were at Auto Club Speedway. The Auto Club Speedway bumps were pretty accurate to our sim. We were busting loose across those bumps. So, I’m hoping that it’s accurate again, as far as the bumps in Las Vegas not being as much of a problem as they were in Fontana.”

YOU AND TYLER REDDICK BOTH RAN WELL AT THE CLASH AND AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY. EXPLAIN WHAT IS BEHIND RCR’S RECENT RESURGENCE.
“I think Chevrolet, in general, is in a pretty good position. At RCR and ECR, we’ve put a big focus on the Next Gen car. We definitely tried to be the guys to embrace this new car the earliest in the process. I think some of the teams probably didn’t embrace it as much as we did. We saw it coming and tried to put a lot of effort into it from the beginning. I really love working with Tyler Reddick. He’s a great teammate and I think we both do each other some good. We have different thought processes on things, and I think that allows us to open our minds and push each other in different ways. I was bummed for him last week. I felt like that was his first win coming, for sure. And then all of a sudden, we popped up there and had a great shot at winning it.”

WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE, IT COULD BE IN A MARKET, IT COULD BE A TRIP; BUT DOES AUSTIN DILLON HAVE A GO-TO PLACE? WHAT IS IT AND WHY?
“When we’re out on the west coast, we like to stay out there for the entire west coast swing. Last year, my wife Whitney and I took my son Ace, and we took our motorhome to a road course that Ron Fellows runs for Chevrolet. We spent a day at road course school out there. Then, we went to Phoenix Raceway early because I love the Phoenix area. Goodyear, Arizona is a cool area. We stay at the Wigwam and it’s nice and relaxing. It has a couple golf courses that we hit up. I like traveling the west coast swing at the beginning of the year because it gets the year going. When we come home, we don’t do a lot of traveling after that. We don’t do many road trips, but the west coast is the one that I stay out since we’re out there for several weekends in a row.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1
LARSON ON LAST YEAR’S LAS VEGAS WIN:
“That win was really special for us. It was our first win as a team and meant a lot to a lot of people on this team – some visiting victory lane in the Cup Series for the first time. But I also know how much it meant to Rick and Linda (Hendrick) because the paint scheme was similar to what (their late son) Ricky (Hendrick) ran. It’s an honor to drive for them and to drive this car with this scheme that means so much to so many.”

LARSON ON LAST SUNDAY’S WIN AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY:
“It’s always fun to win in your home state. I learned a lot on the track with this new Camaro ZL1 and I’m sure (crew chief) Cliff (Daniels) and the team did as well. But it’s a new car and we’re going to be constantly learning each and every race – and it will be no different this weekend at Vegas. Every lap we turn, we learn.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1
DANIELS ON IF LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS AT LAS VEGAS CAN TRANSLATE TO THIS WEEKEND:
“It’s a completely different car and tire, and the way the race plays out will probably be different. Las Vegas is real bumpy and it has a lot of character. The way you approach its uniqueness and the bumps – you have to have good ride in your car and the driver can’t get too upset by the bumps. The comfort and control and stability are things the entire field will be searching for, and we missed some of those qualities a little bit last weekend in California but still ended up with a great result.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 SCHLUTER SYSTEMS CAMARO ZL1
“Our Spire team is hard at work, turning around the Fontana car and heading to Vegas with it. We learned a bunch on Sunday, which we can hopefully apply for a solid run in our Chevy Camaro this week. The bumps over the tunnel are tricky, so it’ll be a test of who can get over those the best. Statistically Vegas is one of my best racetracks, so I always have confidence rolling in that we have the opportunity for a good run. I’m excited to have Schluter Systems back on board for their first race of the 2022 season, and the 6th year of our partnership.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 BETMGM CAMARO ZL1
LOOKING BACK ON LAST WEEK’S RACE AT AUTO CLUB, TWO STAGE WINS AND A VICTORY IN SIGHT; AND UNFORTUNATELY, BAD LUCK WON AGAIN. HOW DO YOU GET YOUR MINDSET BACK ON TRACK FOR THIS WEEKEND?
“Well, I think you have to look at the positives of the race at Auto Club. Sure, I’m completely gutted that we didn’t get the win when it felt like we had the best car out there but there were also a lot of other small victories to come from that day. Winning two stages and leading the most laps of my Cup Series career just goes to show that our time is coming. We learned so much over the weekend from practice to qualifying to the race and those are all things that we will take with us and learn from to become stronger from it. This car has been a learning experience for all of us drivers and I think the handle that I do have on it right now is only going to get better and more consistent as the season goes on. I’m looking forward to seeing what my team and I can do this weekend at Las Vegas.”

YOU’VE HAD SUCCESS AT LAS VEGAS IN THE XFINITY SERIES AND TRUCK SERIES. BUT WITH THIS NEW CAR AND HAVING RACED AT AUTO CLUB LAST WEEKEND, WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE RACING BEING LIKE THIS WEEKEND?
“I expect the racing to look a lot like Fontana. It’s the same type of situation, you’re going to see cars being able to run all three lanes fairly early on and be able to make lanes work with their cars. You’re going to have to be able to run all three lanes in a lot of different points in the run. Early run, middle of the run, end of the run. Las Vegas has a lot of grooves, in the sense of you can run the very bottom of the racetrack in Turn 1, 2, 3 and 4 and paint the line, kind of like you would at the old Atlanta. You have a lot of options lane-wise at this racetrack and I think you’re going to see a lot of drivers forced to make those work to be able to get around their competition, to make passes, to maintain, whatever it might be. I expect a very similar race to Fontana last weekend. It will be very interesting to see how the rubber lays down, how lanes will come and go. You’ll have to keep up with this racetrack as it lays rubber, this one lays a lot of rubber. Fontana was a lot of fun and Las Vegas is going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
ELLIOTT ON RACING AT LAS VEGAS:
“Last week was our first real test with these new cars and I think it definitely made for some exciting racing for the fans. Having Fontana under our belts will put us in a better position this weekend at Vegas, knowing a little bit more about how these cars race on intermediate tracks and what adjustments we can make.”

ELLIOTT ON THE WEST COAST SWING:
“The West Coast swing, I’ve always found it kind of challenging. You start with Daytona, and I feel like that week has its own vibe. Then you go west and you kind of feel like things really get rolling and get started and that’s where you really kind of figure out, ‘OK, hey, this is where we are, this is where we stack up, this is where we need to go to work in certain areas.’ And then I feel like everybody comes home and gets an opportunity to get caught up.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1
GUSTAFSON ON HEADING TO THE SECOND INTERMEDIATE TRACK OF THE SEASON:
“There’s a lot we can take from Fontana. The cars aren’t going to change much and there’s not a whole lot we can do to them. Fundamentally, what we’re trying to do is good. As long as we get the car balanced and driving reasonable for Chase then I think we’ll have a shot. In Fontana, nobody knew what to expect with it being our first time on an intermediate track. So I’m interested in going to Vegas, and I think if we get the car driving good and execute, we’ll have a shot.”

DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 16 SOUTH POINT CAMARO ZL1
“Going out to Vegas is exciting to me for many reasons. Through my involvement with the Gaughan family and South Point Hotel & Casino, it’s like going to see my second family. I’m super excited to be able to continue that relationship now through Kaulig Racing in both the Xfinity and Cup races this weekend. I’m looking forward to another solid, doubleheader weekend with Kaulig Racing.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1
BYRON ON HOW THE NEXT GEN CAR WILL RACE AT LAS VEGAS:
“Just based on off-season testing and the characteristics of Vegas, I think racing is going to be pretty similar to Charlotte (Motor Speedway). It’s going to be fast, and Vegas typically has a lot of grip in the springtime. The fall race is a little bit of a different story since it’s a little bit hotter that time of year. The spring race is a little more straightforward in that you can tell pretty early on who has the fast cars, and I think that will be the case again. That was us for sure this time last year, and I think we’ll have another good shot to win this race. Hopefully we get it done this time.”

BYRON ON WHAT MAKES LAS VEGAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER MILE-AND-A-HALF TRACKS:
“It’s got a lot of character but it’s fast and really smooth. I feel like Vegas and Phoenix, as weird as that sounds, have similar asphalt. They’re very smooth surfaces but have character as well. With it being so smooth you really have to run all over and utilize every lane to be good. The track changes a lot with rubber buildup, too, so you have to keep up with that so you don’t get behind early on in the race.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1
FUGLE ON MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE DESPITE MISFORTUNE EARLY IN THE SEASON:
“Obviously this isn’t the start to the year that we envisioned, but no one on the No. 24 team is getting down about it. It’s only been two races and even then, both races we were running up front and in contention for the win. We have a strong team, from the work they put in, the speed we show and how we execute during the weekend. The results don’t reflect that accurately. We had a hot rod in Fontana, and we’ll have another one in Vegas. We’re not going to dwell on the past. We’re already focused on Vegas and ready for our next challenge.”

FUGLE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN WELL AT LAS VEGAS:
“Vegas in the spring has much cooler temperatures than when we race there in the fall. The spring race seems to focus more on overall speed and setting yourself up with track position. Vegas is a track where you walk a fine line with your setups, and in Fontana we really found out just how fine that line is with the Next Gen car. I feel like we showed a lot of speed in Fontana, so if we keep up with track changes, we should be up front again this weekend.”

JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 31 LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION CAMARO ZL1
“I’m looking forward to going to Las Vegas this weekend. It’s always been one of our better mile-and-a-half tracks at Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series, but obviously this weekend will be more of a challenge in the NextGen car. Hopefully we will show some good speed, gather points, minimize mistakes this week, and get a good finish in our No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 SUNNYD CAMARO ZL1
“Last Sunday at Fontana (Auto Club Speedway), it was a great effort by everyone to finish in the top-10. We kept our car clean and kept it rolling to learn a lot about it. It was really fast out there when it was by itself. It got tight when I was behind other cars, but we will keep working on that at Las Vegas. We will also have SUNNYD on our car this weekend. They’ve been a longstanding partner during my racing career, and I’ve developed some great friendships along the way. We’re proud to have them back at JTG Daugherty Racing for the race weekend.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1
BOWMAN ON HEADING TO LAS VEGAS:
“I’m looking forward to going to Las Vegas. We had a good car at Auto Club last week, just an unfortunate situation at the end of the race. Our team works so hard to put together fast race cars, and I know they are going to do it again this weekend. Greg and I will talk about our strategy and be ready for the green flag this Sunday.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1
IVES ON HIS APPROACH TO SUNDAY’S RACE AT LAS VEGAS:
“I feel like Las Vegas is another place where you don’t have to be isolated to one lane. You can run top, bottom and middle. As long as your car has the ability to move around, you can make passes. We have run well in the past at Las Vegas and come close to getting some wins there, and I feel like we have the speed to do it. We just have to go out there and execute and make sure we are there at the end when the checkered flag falls.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1
THOUGHTS FROM SUNDAY?
“In some ways I am really disappointed because I could see how close we are to winning and I thought we might have had it Sunday. Then I also realize how good our Chevrolets are, how good my team is and how fast my pit crew is this season.”

HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO WINNING?
“We’re going to win a few races very soon here. My pit crew, those guys are legends; it’s unbelievable. It’s the best pit crew I’ve ever had, and it’s a lot of fun to race like that. I can tell you that I’m going to work very, very hard to go to Victory Lane very, very soon.”

WHAT HAS COMMSCOPE MEANT TO YOU?
“They are one of the reasons why I am here. CommScope has been with me for so long. Race fans sometimes don’t realize how important companies like CommScope are to our sport. I hope we can give them a trip to victory lane soon.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2021): 40
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2021): 33
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2022 STATISTICS:
Wins: 1
Poles: 1
Laps Led: 186
Top-five finishes: 4
Top-10 finishes: 7
Stage wins: 2
· Tyler Reddick (Fontanax2)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 815 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 724
Laps led to date: 241,522
Top-five finishes to date: 4,142
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,562

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:
General Motors: 1,149
Chevrolet: 815
Pontiac: 154
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65

       Ford: 812                                                         
       Ford: 712
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 162

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.