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Analyzing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Post Race No. 1

By
SM Staff
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Race No. 1 of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase to the Championship is in the books and it provided lots of drama for all fans. 

Clint Bowyer came out as the hero on top as he took the win, holding on at the end with enough fuel. Coming in a bottom of the chart, Bowyer knew he needed a good run and it turned out perfect as now he sits second, 35 points behind Denny Hamlin.  

Hamlin stuck to the theory that consistency wins you championships as despite getting spun out, he came back to finish second.  

Kyle Busch played the same card as after his spin, he came back to finish ninth. He now sits fourth, 62 points behind Hamlin.  

Sticking it out between in third is Kevin Harvick, who now sits 45 points behind Hamlin with his consistent fifth place finish. Harvick proved during the regular season that consistency can equal being at the top and he plans to continue that show.  

Jeff Gordon is also following the theory as he came sixth and now sits fifth in points, 75 points behind.  

Following Gordon, you’ve got Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson sitting sixth and seventh, who both experienced an adventure at Loudon.  

Kurt Busch, who sits 86 behind, said in post-race that he was overdriving the car and as a result, caused some incidents. He added that he had a top-10 car, though due to trying to get that elusive top-five, he ended up 13th.  

Johnson, meanwhile, experienced an adventure of a day as trouble seemed to find him no matter what spot he was, relegating him to a 25th place finish. Though nobody is saying the drive-for-five is over as he’s started out the chase like this before and only now sits 92 points behind Hamlin.  

Roush-Fenway drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle sit ninth and tenth after finishing 11th and 17th, respectively.  

Tony Stewart drops from sixth to fifth after running out of fuel while leading with two to go, which resulted in a 24th place finish.   Rounding out the top 12 is Matt Kenseth, who sits 136 points back after finishing 23rd.   So who is going to win the championship this year?  

Well, it’s still anyone’s game as a 150 point swing is possible in one race so numerically, Matt Kenseth could be leading after Dover.  

The next Chase race this weekend takes place at Dover International Speedway, known to most as the Monster Mile. Action is quick on this track as a lot of people say that it’s Bristol on steroids. Drivers can quickly be caught up in wrecks and quickly be down and out of the Chase.  

So, who’s got the best shot?   Statistically, Edwards is the best driver at Dover with an average finish of 7.9. In 12 starts, he has one win, five top fives and eight top 10s. Recall last year that it was Edwards and his teammates Biffle and Kenseth that put on the Roush-Fenway show with their entertaining battle for the lead. A good run at Dover could put him right back in the thick of things.  

Another driver looking for a good run is Johnson, who has the second highest average finish of 10.2. In 17 starts, Johnson has five wins, seven top fives and 11 top 10s. Also if you look at the past three races at Dover, Johnson has gained the most points (+515), with Kenseth having the second most (+500). Johnson is also known for being hot in the Chase and going on a hot streak of top fives. With this being a good track for Johnson, he could very easily start that streak this weekend.  

Points leader Denny Hamlin has the worst average finish of the Chasers at 22.8. In nine starts, he has two top fives and three top 10s. Hamlin has been doing a lot of talking and a lot of bragging about how good his team is; he’ll need to prove that and run better than average if he wants to show what he means.  

The second lowest ranked of the Chase drivers is Kurt Busch, who has an average finish of 19.6. In 20 starts, Busch has no wins, four top fives and six top 10s. Busch is in need of a good run as he now sits 86 points behind so keeping in mind that he should take what he can get and not overdrive the car again will be key.   The other Chase drivers’ Dover averages go as follows:

  • Clint Bowyer – 14.7
  • Kyle Busch – 15.5
  • Kevin Harvick – 17.4
  • Jeff Gordon – 12.1
  • Greg Biffle – 10.5
  • Tony Stewart – 11.4
  • Matt Kenseth – 12.7

No clear favorite has been declared yet as this year seems closer than any. Though if the past is any indication, look for Johnson to claim his spot back atop at the standings.

Martinsville Speedway Offering Lots Of Bargains For TUMS Fast Relief 500 On October 24

By
Official Release
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The TUMS Fast Relief 500, the only short-track stop in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, is just over a month away, but plenty of affordable ticket options remain for race fans.

In fact, there is a ticket package or price to suit most every race fan’s needs.

Check out some of Martinsville Speedway’s great ticket offers for the TUMS Fast Relief 500:
       
All-you-can-eat specials will be offered in two grandstands, the Clay Earles Tower and the backstretch seating, for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on October 24.

For $65, fans can get a seat in the Clay Earles Tower, rows 15-52, and an all-you-can-eat wristband that is good from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on race day. The price for a child 18 and under is $20.

For just $35, fans can get a backstretch ticket and an all you can eat wristband.

Both all-you-can-eat specials can be ordered by calling 877.RACE.TIX.

The  $99 Family 4 Pack includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (18 and under) to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog™ (four), four Pepsi products and two khaki-colored Martinsville Speedway hats.

The $99 Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn.

Order your Family 4 Pack today by calling 877-RACE-TIX (877-722-3849) and mentioning the Family Four Pack offer or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Backstretch seats are $25 along with the first five rows of seats in the Sprint Tower, the Clay Earles Tower and the South Annex. Seats in the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn are $55. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. All seats in Bill France Tower are $40. Seats in the Sprint Tower are $65.

Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race may be purchased by calling 877.722.3849 (877.RACE.TIX) or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.

The TUMS Fast Relief 500 is scheduled for October 24, the day after the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Farm Bureau Insurance Pole Day is October 22.

Trevor Bayne, No. 99 OUT! Pet Care Toyota Dover Preview

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Official Release
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CORNELIUS, N.C. — Every time Trevor Bayne climbs into the No. 99 OUT! Pet Care Toyota he wonders if this will be the weekend he notches his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory. He’s been getting closer and closer. The 19-year-old, Knoxville, Tenn., finished a career-best third in the series’ most recent race in Richmond. He’s scored the fifth most points of any driver and most points of a Nationwide Series only driver in the last 10 races. This weekend the Diamond-Waltrip Racing driver races at Dover International Speedway. Bayne is seventh in the standings with only eight races left in the 2010 season.

TREVOR BAYNE QUOTES

SEVENTH PLACE IN STANDINGS: “It’s cool to work our way up to seventh after the rough start we had in February. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We started the season off with a 41st-place finish at Daytona and just struggled until about May. Before that we struggled to get the finishes we deserved. Now, I think we’ve figured out how to run in the top five each week and finish. Our next step is to figure out that little bit extra to win a race. Hopefully, we’ll do that this weekend in Dover and get us closer to the top five in the standings.”

BAYNE ON DOVER: “I like racing at Dover a lot. I don’t have a ton of experience there but I do have some track time. I finished 29th there in May and I ran an East race there once. For us to be successful this weekend we have to be able to get to the throttle hard and fast up off the corners. I remember in the East Series cars we were almost wide open during qualifying and the Nationwide cars aren’t that far off. One thing Martin (Truex Jr.) told me was to make sure you get to the throttle wide open. If you have to get to the gas easy and wait on the car a little off the corners you will get your butt kicked at Dover.”

NOTES OF INTEREST

· Bayne will participate in an autograph session on Saturday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Dover International Speedway FanZone.

· Gary and Blake Bechtel along with Michael Waltrip Racing own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields Toyota Camrys out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C. The Bechtels have owned cars in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series since 1990. The Morgan Hill, California residents’ teams have visited victory lane 10 times in the Nationwide Series.

· Bayne owns only one Nationwide Series start on the one-mile concrete oval in Dover. On May 15, he started 23rd and raced well before a late race incident left him with a 29th-place finish. Bayne started third and finished 21st in the Sept. 19, 2008 NASCAR K&N Pro Cup East Series race at Dover.

· Bayne is the second highest series-only regular in the driver point standings.

· Only Bayne, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, and Sam Ard have notched three consecutive Nationwide poles. Bayne won poles at St. Louis, Indianapolis and Iowa in July.

· Bayne owns 42 NNS starts. He has four poles (Indianapolis –2009, 2010, Gateway—2010 and Iowa 2010), five top-fives and 10 top-10s and has led 129 laps. His best finish (third) came at Gateway International Raceway on July 17 and at Richmond International Raceway on September 10.

Winners at Dover International Speedway this weekend will pull into the new Sunoco Victory Lane

By
Official Release
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DOVER, Del. – Dover International Speedway and Sunoco have extended their existing partnership to include naming rights for the Monster Mile’s Victory Lane, now known as Sunoco Victory Lane. Winning drivers in all three NASCAR series racing at the one-mile, high-banked oval this weekend will pull into a brand new Sunoco Victory Lane after conquering the monster.

The 10-year agreement also names Sunoco as the ¡°Official Fuel of Dover International Speedway.¡± As part of this designation, Sunoco will have prominent signage surrounding Victory Lane including the Philadelphia-based company¡¯s familiar yellow, blue and red colors. The display will also feature a canopy-like structure that showcases their recognizable diamond logo on the checkered patterned floor. Future plans call for the addition of a small seating area near Victory Lane for VIPs, guests and race fans.

¡°Dover International Speedway has been a great partner since Sunoco entered the sport in 2004,¡± said Drew Kabakoff, Brand Manager of Sunoco, Inc. ¡°We¡¯re proud to extend our relationship with Dover Motorsports for many years to come and to have the opportunity to sponsor Sunoco Victory Lane.¡±

¡°Sunoco is a company that we¡¯ve worked closely with over the years, and we¡¯re happy to extend our partnership with them,¡± said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. ¡°Sunoco is such a key player in the sport that it¡¯s only fitting that their name be attached to an area as prestigious as Victory Lane. All eyes will certainly be on Sunoco Victory Lane this weekend, and for many years to come.¡±

Fans at home will notice the newly designed Sunoco Victory Lane at Dover while tuning into ¡°NASCAR Victory Lane¡± on SPEED, presented by Sunoco, following the Sunday, Sept. 26 ¡°AAA 400¡± NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Sunoco is also the entitlement sponsor for the ¡°Sunoco 150¡± NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Dover, held on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010.

NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on Sept. 24-26, 2010. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 1-800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.

About Sunoco, Inc.

Sunoco is a leading transportation fuel provider, with operations located primarily in the East Coast and Midwest regions of the United States. The company operates more than 4,700 branded retail locations that market transportation fuels and convenience store merchandise in 23 states. This retail network is principally supplied by Sunoco-owned refineries with a combined crude oil processing capacity of 675,000 barrels per day. Sunoco is also the General Partner and has a 31-percent interest in Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P., a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates 6,000 miles of refined product and crude oil pipelines and approximately 40 product terminals. Many of Sunoco Logistics’ pipelines and terminals and storage facilities are integrated with Sunoco’s retail network and refineries. Through SunCoke Energy, Sunoco makes high-quality metallurgical-grade coke for major steel manufacturers. The company’s facilities in the U.S. have the capacity to manufacture approximately 3.67 million tons of metallurgical coke annually. Sunoco also is the operator of, and has an equity interest in, a 1.7 million tons-per-year coke-making facility in Vit¨®ria, Brazil.

About Dover International Speedway

Dover International Speedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and the NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com.

Toyota NASCAR Notes & Quotes II Dover-Las Vegas

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA TALK: Kyle Confident at Monster Mile Hamlin Hopes for Solid Finish at Dover Almirola Optimistic Heading West

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 10 wins, 31 top-five results, 61 top-10 finishes and five poles after 27 of 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races … Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will each make their 100th NSCS starts in a Camry at Dover … Hamlin and Busch are currently competing in the ‘Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship’ playoff … Hamlin is first and Busch is fourth in the Chase standings … Camry driver Martin Truex Jr. is from Mayetta, N.J. … Truex hosted the third-annual Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Golf Tournament presented by NAPA on Wednesday at Sea Oaks Country Club in Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J. … Ty Norris, vice president and general manager at Michael Waltrip Racing, grew up in Smyrna, Del., and graduated from Delaware State University … ‘Sponsafier 2’ voting runs through Sept. 23.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Why do you enjoy racing at Dover? “I like Dover. It’s a place where I really like to go. I run well there in the trucks, the Nationwide cars, the Cup cars. It’s a hard place to get around. It’s a little bit treacherous and kind of tricky sometimes, especially the way the rubber is there and the way Goodyear brings tires in. We won there in the spring. I feel like we can go back there and kind of repeat that performance. We ran top-five most of the day and then made some really good changes towards the end of the race and got there to try to compete for the win and we beat Jimmie (Johnson) on pit road. There again, you can have a mistake on pit road, on the last pit stop during a green flag stop or something. There’s so many different ways to lose these races that you have to keep your head on.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Does your second-place finish at New Hampshire give you confidence going to Dover? “It gives me somewhat of a buffer at Dover. We all know how Dover is for me. We’ve just got to minimize a bad day again at Dover. That’s our goal. You’ve got to set a number that you’re satisfied with, and try to reach that goal at Dover. The good news is we finished fourth there in the spring, which is a heck of a lot better than 22nd and two laps down last year in the Chase race (at Dover). Just if we can get past Dover, we’ve got a lot of really good tracks for us.” What makes this year the best year for you to win the championship? “I think the biggest thing is we’re competitive everywhere — competitive as in we can win races everywhere. We’ve shown we can win races and that means we’ve been up front a lot during the course of this season. For as many wins as we’ve had, we’ve had second and third-place finishes as well. That means we’ve been up front a lot during the season and that’s what it’s going to take to win the championship — a low average finish and making sure you have everything in line and prepared in case something does happen. Even if you have a bad race or two, if you consistently run in the top two to three positions every week and put yourself out there to possibly win a lot of races, I think you’ll be a contender.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Do you like racing at Dover? “I like Bristol a lot and Dover is a stretched out Bristol. It’s a cool race track. I enjoy going there. I wish there were more race tracks on the circuit like that. It’s fun and it’s fast and we usually get around pretty good there. I think we’ll be decent heading there and hopefully have a good run.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Do you enjoy racing at Dover with it being close to your hometown in New Jersey? “It’s a track that has been very good to me and my family. I won races there in both the Nationwide and Cup Series events. Back in May, I won the pole with my NAPA team and that was pretty cool. Now we want to get our first win there as a new team. Since the first time I took a lap on it, I have loved the place. When you find a track like that, it usually makes it easier to be good there. I like the fact that the concrete is very unforgiving. The speeds are high and the banking makes it intimidating. It’s pretty fast. I find it to be a track that you really have to attack, but at the same time, respect that it is very unforgiving. You have to be willing to put it right there on the edge and have the discipline not to cross over it.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Toyota drivers have combined for 13 wins, 56 top-five results, 113 top-10 finishes and 13 poles after 27 of 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races … Reed Sorenson has recorded 15 top-10 finishes in 20 NNS starts this season, including six of his last eight starts … Toyota currently holds a 35-point advantage over Chevrolet in the NNS manufacturer point standings.

JASON LEFFLER, No. 38 Great Clips Toyota Camry, Braun Racing Are you looking forward to racing at Dover? “The Dover race is always an exciting one. Everyone compares it to a Bristol on steroids and that’s a pretty good description for it. There’s a good reason they call it the ‘Monster Mile.’ For a one-mile track, it’s really fast. It’s also pretty narrow, so there’s not a whole lot of room to negotiate through the turns. Being able to charge hard into the corners so you can keep up your momentum on the straightaways is really important. This has been a good track to me over the years. My first NASCAR win came at Dover in 2003 when I was racing in the Truck Series.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: This year, Tundra drivers have combined for 12 wins, 45 top-five results, 93 top-10 finishes and nine poles after 19 of 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races … Todd Bodine (first), Aric Almirola (second), Timothy Peters (fourth), Mike Skinner (eighth) and David Starr (ninth) are in the top-10 in the NCWTS point standings with six races remaining … Tundra drivers have recorded three wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Bodine (2005) and Skinner (2006 and 2008) … Toyota currently holds a 16-point advantage over Chevrolet in the NCWTS manufacturer point standings … Red Horse Racing drivers and crew members will visit Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas on Friday to meet the Red Horse Squadron (RHUSAF).

TODD BODINE, No. 30 Germain.com Toyota Tundra, Germain Racing Are you points racing at this point of the season or are you racing for wins? “We go out to win, that’s what we come for. When you get in a situation when you don’t have a truck that’s going to win, then you have to points race. Then you have to do the best you can staying out of trouble to get the most positions you can, and not make mistakes. That’s what we have to do the rest of the year.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 51 Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports How much do you enjoy racing at Las Vegas? “The track is a lot of fun to race on. It’s really fast, has a lot of grip and it is pretty rough making you able to pass. You can move around too and run the top or the middle. Some people run the bottom, but it just depends on how you are handling. The track allowed us to put on a great race last year. We got a top-10 result and I’m optimistic that we can beat that this year. I’m looking forward to going back there with some of the notes from last season to apply to the Graceway Pharmaceuticals Tundra. We’re really looking for wins.”

TOYOTA DRIVER ROSTER — Dover International Speedway/Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series David Reutimann, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Camry Robby Gordon, No. 7 SpeedFactory.TV Camry Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Express Camry Casey Mears, No. 13 GEICO Camry Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Camry Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Camry Marcos Ambrose, No. 47 Bush’s Baked Beans/Scott Camry Mike Bliss, No. 55 Prism Motorsports Camry Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry Josh Wise, No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Camry Scott Riggs, No. 66 Prism Motorsports Camry Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Camry Reed Sorenson, No. 83 Red Bull Camry Joe Nemechek, No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Camry NASCAR Nationwide Series Josh Wise, No. 10 Iron Horse Jeans Camry Brian Scott, No. 11 BigSpot.com Camry Michael Annett, No. 15 Germain.com Camry Kyle Busch, No. 18 NOS Camry Joey Logano, No. 20 GameStop Camry Reed Sorenson, No. 32 Dollar General Camry Jason Leffler, No. 38 Great Clips Camry Kevin Lepage, No. 56 RaceDaySponsor.com Camry Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 Snap On Camry Steve Wallace, No. 66 5 Hour Energy Camry Trevor Bayne, No. 99 Out! Pet Care Camry NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Mike Skinner, No. 5 International Trucks/Monaco RV Tundra Justin Lofton, No. 7 VisitPit.com Tundra Jason Bowles, No. 9 Germain Racing Tundra Nelson Piquet, No. 15 Qualcomm Tundra Timothy Peters, No. 17 Red Horse Racing Tundra Brian Ickler, No. 18 Toyota Tundra Johanna Long, No. 20 Panhandle Grading & Paving Tundra Tayler Malsam, No. 25 Exide Tundra Todd Bodine, No. 30 Germain.com Tundra Aric Almirola, No. 51 Zyclara/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Tundra Narain Karthikeyan, No. 60 SafeAuto Insurance Toyota Justin Hobgood, No. 77 Tundra David Starr, No. 81 Stratosphere Tundra Donny Lia, No. 90 Stringer Motorsports Tundra

Drew Blickensderfer Named Crew Chief of Roush Fenway’s No. 6 Sprint Cup Team

By
Official Release
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Veteran Mike Beam takes over as crew chief of the No. 60 Nationwide Team

CONCORD, N.C. – (Sept. 22, 2010) — Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Drew Blickensderfer will take over as crew chief on the No. 6 Sprint Cup team with driver David Ragan effective immediately. Mike Beam will replace Blickensderfer as crew chief of the No. 60 Nationwide Team, with driver Carl Edwards. Beam had previously served as competition director of Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program.

“It’s obviously a great opportunity and I’m eager to work with David Ragan, the No. 6 team and everyone at UPS,” said Blickensderfer, who won his first two races as a Sprint Cup crew chief in 2009.

“I actually started at Roush Fenway as a rear-tire changer and set-up mechanic on the No. 6 team, so it is kind of like coming full circle. There is a lot of tradition that goes with that team here at Roush Fenway and it is really an honor to get to head it up. I look forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get to Dover this weekend.”

With the move Blickensderfer returns to the Sprint Cup series where he served as Matt Kenseth’s crew chief in 2009, leading the No. 17 Sprint Cup team to two victories, including the famed Daytona 500. In addition to wins in the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona and California, Blickensderfer boasts 12 wins in the Nationwide Series. In 2008 he guided Edwards’ team to a Nationwide Series runner-up finish and in 2006 he helped Danny O’Quinn Jr. capture the Nationwide Raybestos Rookie Award.

Beam, a 30-year NASCAR veteran, has served at Roush Fenway as a crew chief in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. He most recently served as director of competition for Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the box and working with Carl and this No. 60 team,” said Beam, who boasts 14 total NASCAR wins as a crew chief. “Obviously Carl is a tremendous talent and the No. 60 team is one of the best in the series, so it’s a really good situation to step into. Our goal will be to continue to run up front and take that No. 60 Ford to victory lane a few times.”

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating eight motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and five in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Colin Braun, Brian Ickler, Paul Menard and Erik Darnell. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

Brian Scott Quick Facts : Dover International Raceway : Dover 200

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Official Release
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BRIAN SCOTT QUICK FACTS

Dover International Raceway

Dover 200

September 25, 2010

– Scott will make his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Dover International Raceway

— Scott posted a 17th-place start and 9th-place finish in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Raceway.

– Dover is the site of Scott’s first NASCAR win in the Camping World Truck Series (2009)

– This weekend’s Dover 200 will mark the fifth time that Scott will drive the BigSpot.com Toyota Camry this season.

– Scott currently leads Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings by three points (198-195) over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

– Scott leads all other rookies in laps completed. (92.1%)

Scott talks Dover

“Dover obviously has a special place in my heart just because I scored my first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win there. Aerodynamics come into play at Dover a lot more than people think. Dover is like Bristol in a sense that, not only is it concrete, but it’s all about being in the right position at the right time. You really have to save your tires at Dover as the track really chews them up. Handling is important at any racetrack, but at Dover, you’re in the corner so much the without decent handling, you’re in for a long day.”

Scott on his first NASCAR win

“That was a big momentous day for me. It changed the course of my future a good bit and gave me the confidence I need to go back to Dover, knowing I can win. We had a great setup and qualified really well which I think is important at Dover. You have to be very conscious of track position. Our truck was really good off the corners and it gave us an advantage over the other trucks. Coming across the line was real vindicating for our team. It was a team that was homegrown and had been through a lot. To win there was really special.”

Scott on BigSpot.com

“Companies can really learn from BigSpot.com’s presence in motorsports. In their limited schedule of only five races this season, they have really engaged the fans with their online presence through BigSpotRacing.com and their twitter entity @BigSpotDotCom. They have done everything from giving away BigSpot.com racing swag to race tickets to those that follow them on twitter. They have done a great job building a lot of excitement around the times they are on the No. 11 car. They’ve worked very hard on getting the maximum amount of exposure out of their races. The fans have really responded and connected well with the company though their motorsports program at Braun Racing and I’m excited to have them back on the car for the next two weeks.”

Equipment Information

The No. 11 BigSpot.com team is bringing chassis No. BR27 for this weekend’s Dover 200. Scott piloted BR27 inside the top-10 at Bristol earlier this summer before an accident ended his day with less than 10 laps to go.

Carl Edwards, Copart No. 60 NNS – Dover Advance

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Official Release
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Carl Edwards – NNS ADVANCE

Team: No. 60 Copart.com Ford

Crew Chief: Mike Beam

Chassis: RK-674

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Dover International Speedway:

“Dover has been a very good track for us in the Nationwide Series. It’s perfectly suited for these cars and my driving style. I really enjoy racing there and I’m proud to have Copart on board. It should be just a fun race, I really love racing the Nationwide Series cars in Dover.”

Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Dover International Speedway:

“We have a really solid team in the Nationwide Series that I’ve been a part of this season as director of competition. I’m ready to hit the ground running in my new role as crew chief. I’ve been fortunate enough to be associated with teams in the past that have earned victories in the Cup Series and Truck series at Dover. Being that it is one of my favorite race tracks, I’m ready to get in victory lane.”

FAST FACTS

-FLASHBACK…Two weeks ago in Richmond, Edwards finished 10th after qualifying fourth.

-CARL EDWARDS will make his 12th Nationwide Series start at Dover International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. In May, Edwards finished 11th after qualifying fourth.

-FOR THE RECORD… Edwards’ average start in Dover is 5.4 and his average finish is 9.4. He has one Nationwide victory at Dover along with two pole awards.

-THE CAR…The No. 60 team will take chassis – RK 674 to Dover. This is the same chassis that was used in Both 2010 races at Bristol and the spring race in Dover.

-ON THE TRACK…This weekend Copart.com will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 60. To sell your cars fast, visit the Online Vehicle Auction at Copart.com.

-IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES…Roush Fenway Racing has three wins, 16 top-five and 26 top-10s in 50 Nationwide Series starts at Dover International Speedway.

2010 No. 60 Racing Team

Name Hometown

Mike Beam Hickory, NC

Seth Barbour Chattanooga, TN

Heath Landis Forest City, NC

EC Nichols Detroit, TX

Brett Ragan Unadilla, GA

Kenny DeGuisto Garland, TX

Jay Maybry Camp Bello, SC

Bennie Stevens Hampton, TN

Justin Edgell Salisbury, NC

Troy Cupples Normal, IL

Jason Hedlesky Clinton, MI

Tom Hatcher Middleburg, FL

Frank Brassfield Fort Walton Beach, FL

Jeremy Neeley Trenton, GA

Michael Smith Hiddenite, NC

Dale Hoffman Allentown, PA

Jon Moore Gainesville, GA

Darren Beach New Franklin, MO

FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS – DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

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Official Release
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RACE INFO:

Event: AAA 300

Date/Time: Sept. 26/1 p.m. EST

2009 winner: Jimmie Johnson

2009 polesitter: Jimmie Johnson

Distance: 400 laps/400 miles

Track Length: 1.0 miles

Banking: 24 degrees

Track Shape: Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:

Hamlin, FedEx Racing Second at New Hampshire: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team kicked off their 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup effort with a hard-fought performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, recovering from a late-race spin to outlast all but one competitor and record an impressive second-place finish. Hamlin had steadily worked his way forward after starting the race from the 22nd spot, but contact with Carl Edwards on lap 206 sent the #11 around and, after repairs, deep in the pack for the restart. The stop put the #11 team out of sequence with the field and, as the FedEx Toyota improved, Hamlin charged forward to put himself in position for the second-place finish. The result sees Hamlin expand his lead at the top of the Chase standings to 35 points heading to Dover International Speedway this weekend.

Hamlin at Dover: This weekend will mark Hamlin’s tenth-career Cup start at Dover International, his 179th career Cup start and his fifth start at Dover in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Earlier this season, Hamlin and the #11 team posted a fourth-place finish at the often treacherous, high-banked mile. The FedEx team steadily improved throughout the race, working their way into the top-ten by lap 54, then into the top-five by lap 225. Last fall, Hamlin fought handling issues all race long and, despite best efforts of driver and crew alike, he was never able to challenge his fellow Chase contenders as he drove the FedEx Ground Camry to a 22nd place finish in the AAA 400. In June of 2009, trouble at Dover quickly turned an otherwise promising day into a day to forget for Hamlin. A very quick stop on lap 165 had Hamlin running a strong second before a cut right tire sent him hard into the turn three wall and, subsequently, into the garage. After inspection it was determined the damage was too severe to fix and the car was loaded onto the truck. In Sept. of 2008, Hamlin qualified in the top-three, and was running in the top-ten before the crew discovered oil on the inside of the rear wheel during a lap 144 stop. It was determined that a crack in a fitting on the rear-end cooler was the culprit and, after slowing the leak, Hamlin was sent back on to the track but, unfortunately, the fix was only temporary. Hamlin was running in the top ten on lap 244 when he lost the drive shaft and gear and finished 38th. In June of 2008, Hamlin suffered a DNF when he was collected in the large, multi-car wreck that red-flagged the race on lap 16. Hamlin posted a finish of 38th in the 2007 fall Chase race after contact forced him from the lead, where he had led 61 laps, and into the garage for repairs.

Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)

Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup May 16, 2010 14 4 400/400

AAA 400 Sprint Cup Sept. 27, 2009 13 22 398/400

Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup May 31, 2009 16 36 232/400

Camping World RV 400 Sprint Cup Sept. 21, 2008 3 38 362/400

Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup June 1, 2008 33 43 16/400

Dodge Dealers 400 Nextel Cup Sept. 23, 2007 3 38 308/400 61

Autism Speaks 400 Nextel Cup June 4, 2007 29 4 400/400

Dover 400 Nextel Cup Sept. 24, 2006 23 9 400/400

Neighborhood Excellence Nextel Cup June 4, 2006 7 11 400/400

Averages/Totals 15.9 25.1 78.6% 61

FedEx Express, Philadelphia Market Along for the Ride in Dover: The #11 FedEx Express Camry will carry the letters PHL on the B-posts this weekend at Dover International in recognition of FedEx Express Philadelphia market’s excellence in performance and customer service.

Dover International Speedway Chassis – JGR 279 and 270: The FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 279 this weekend in Dover. This car recorded a fifth place finish at Pocono in August. JGR #270 will serve in backup duty this weekend – it won at Texas earlier this season.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – Dover International Speedway:

Leaving Richmond you said getting through New Hampshire and Dover would be fairly critical to Chase success – still the case?: “It’s really important to start the Chase on a high note because more than likely it will be the Chase competitors who win these first two Chase race and who fill out the balance of the top ten. You just can’t give anyone points in this series. We know from past experience that we are better in the second half of the Chase and if we can just be right there heading to places like Martinsville, Texas and Homestead then we have a good shot. We had a good run at Loudon, a lot of things went our way when it maybe looked bad there for a moment, but we kept going and came out of there just where we wanted to be.”

How do you approach Dover this weekend? Does being in the points lead make a difference?: “We really need to approach it like any other race. We know it’s big and that we are in a good position, but we aren’t taking anything for granted. We know what we need to do and it’s just like the other weekends. At Dover, qualifying is very important because pit road there is a scary place so we’ll be hoping to improve there for sure. Being the points leader doesn’t make a difference. You can’t let that interfere with the focus of the team because there is so much racing left to do. We’ve learned that over the years.”

2010 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER

Crew Chief: Mike Ford – Morristown, Tenn.

Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, NY

Shocks: Tim Sparkman – St. Louis, Mo.

Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, NY

Tire Specialist: Patrick Mullen – Brick, N.J.

Windshield: Bobby “Spike” Christenson – Spokane, Wash.

Mechanic: Rick Bray – Placerville, Calif.

Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.

Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, NY

Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.

Spotter: Curtis Markham – Fredericksburg, Va.

Front Tire Changer: Jonathan Sherman – Monroe, La.

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C.

Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C.

Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.

Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio

Motor Specialist: Chris Woodward – Franklin, NH

Gas can: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C.

Catch Can: John Eicher – London, Ky..

JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C.

Justin Lofton Las Vegas Preview

By
Official Release
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JUSTIN LOFTON QUICK FACTS

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Smith’s Food and Drug Stores 350

September 25, 2010

Last time out… Lofton and the No. 7 Red Horse Racing team added another 11th place finish to their 2010 stats last Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Lofton started the 175-lap race from the 10th position and battled within the top-10 throughout, before crossing the finish line in the 11th position.

Off-road roots… Lofton is taking advantage of the stop out West this week by embarking on a little nostalgia. Lofton, who honed his skills racing off-road machines before transitioning to stock cars, will head to the desert on Thursday and climb behind the wheel of a MasterCraft Safety/Rockstar Energy Trophy Truck. The NCWTS rookie won’t have all of the fun, since crew chief Mark Rette, as well as SPEED cameras will be along for the ride. Lofton’s off-road excursion will be taped for an upcoming pre-race segment on NCWTS Setup.

Around town… Lofton will join other Red Horse Racing team members on Friday at the Nellis Air Force Base, visiting the Red Horse Squadron of the United States Air Force. The No. 7 team will also run the Squadron’s decal on the B post of the truck on Saturday. Following the morning visit, Lofton will head to the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino for an open autograph session. The session will begin at 7PM and run through 8:30 PM.

Intermediate tracks, advanced finishes… Lofton will make his first start in the 1.5-mile Las Vegas race track this Saturday, but he has a strong record on other intermediate tracks to his credit. Over the last month, Lofton scored a fifth place run at Chicagoland, followed by an 11th at Kentucky.

Justin Lofton on racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway “I’m excited about going to Las Vegas this week. We have a lot going on leading up to the race and it will be fun to take Mark out to the desert in the off-road truck. The visit to the Air Force base will also be exciting. It is always humbling to meet members of the military. As far as the actual race, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is another track I haven’t raced on before, but I can always rely on my crew to prepare fast trucks, and we’ve been solid on other mile and a half tracks, so it should be a good weekend.”

Crew Chief Mark Rette on Las Vegas Motor Speedway “I’m looking forward to going to Las Vegas. It’s another track Justin hasn’t been to. We’ll use the first part of the first practice to get him acclimated to the track. We’ll approach it with a conservative setup until he gets comfortable and go from there. We have a lot of fun things going on this week before the race. I have been dying to get into an off-road truck with Justin. The first time I heard about him being from off-road, it was something I always wanted to do, and we’ve been trying to get out there for a while.”

Equipment Information Lofton will race chassis RHR123 at Las Vegas this weekend. It is the same truck that he qualified third with at Darlington, and finished fifth in at Pocono.

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