Author: Official Release

  • Matt Kenseth – Crown Royal Racing – New Hampshire Advance

    Matt Kenseth – NSCS ADVANCE

    Team: No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion

    Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig

    Chassis: Primary: RK-704 (brand new chassis)

    Kenseth NSCS record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    Date Event S F Laps

    Status Earnings

    06/27/10 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 33 17 300/301

    Running $122,624

    09/20/09 Sylvania 300 38 23 300/300

    Running $122,590

    06/28/09 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 10 22 273/273

    Running $121,490

    09/14/08 Sylvania 300 12 40 228/300

    Crash $117,341

    06/29/08 Lenox Indus. Tools 301 9 18 284/284

    Running $122,241

    09/16/07 Sylvania 300 30 7 300/300

    Running $141,191

    07/01/07 Lenox Indus. Tools 300 30 9 300/300

    Running $130,741

    09/17/06 Sylvania 300 25 10 300/300

    Running $130,466

    07/16/06 Lenox Indus. Tools 300 24 14 308/308

    Running $119,716

    09/19/05 Sylvania 300 4 3 300/300

    Running $169,311

    07/17/05 New England 300 16 10 300/300

    Running $127,486

    09/19/04 Sylvania 300 5 2 300/300

    Running $175,108

    07/25/04 Siemens 300 31 4 300/300

    Running $146,103

    09/14/03 Sylvania 300 19 7 300/300

    Running $80,750

    07/20/03 New England 300 1 3 300/300

    Running $124,030

    09/15/02 New Hampshire 300 17 10 207/207

    Running $73,875

    07/21/02 New England 300 6 33 299/300

    Running $71,225

    11/23/01 New Hampshire 300 16 4 300/300

    Running $82,525

    07/22/01 New England 300 21 16 300/300

    Running $54,550

    09/17/00 Dura Lube 300 38 17 298/300

    Running $51,625

    07/09/00 thatlook.com 22 19 272/273

    Running $54,400

    Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles

    Earnings

    Cumulative 21 0 5 11

    1 $2,339,388

    Kenseth on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “This weekend as we head to New Hampshire, I’m really happy that we’re a part of the Chase this year. Now our focus has to be to make sure that we go out and perform the best we can so that we’re able to close up some of the point difference between where we’re at versus the leaders.

    New Hampshire is a track that has always been a challenge for me, and I feel like it hasn’t been one of my better tracks on the circuit, but we seem to be pretty consistent here statistically speaking. New Hampshire is a track where it’s fairly difficult to pass, so you’ll see teams use pit stops and pit strategy to advance their way through the field on Sunday.”

    Crew chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    “This weekend’s race car is a brand new chassis so we’re eager to see how we unload off the truck at New Hampshire. Matt has had a lot of consistent runs at New Hampshire and our goal is to focus on making sure we give him the best equipment to give our Crown Royal team the best chances week in and week out for the Chase. Loudon is a difficult track to pass at and it really is a place that makes drivers and teams work for a good finish.”

    FAST FACTS:

    • Kenseth has an average starting position of 19.4 and an average

    finishing position of 13.7 at Loudon

    • Kenseth has earned five top-five finishes and eleven top-10

    finishes at NHMS, but has yet to win a race

    • Kenseth’s best finish at Loudon came in 2004 when he finished

    second

    • Kenseth has completed 6,069 of 6,146 (98.7 percent) laps at

    Loudon, and led for a total of 88

    • This weekend at Loudon, Kenseth will pilot the No. 17 Crown

    Royal Ford Fusion

    • Entering this weekend, Kenseth is currently eleventh in the

    Chase for the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

  • Chase Field Should Be Tight For TUMS Fast Relief 500 At Martinsville Speedway

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (September 14, 2010) – The TUMS Fast Relief 500 is still six weeks away, but it’s not too early for fans to be looking forward to the only short-track stop in the Chase, making their predictions of who will master Martinsville Speedway’s difficult half-mile.

    While two or three names come quickly to mind as favorites because of past successes – Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin – at least half of the 12-driver chase field has won at Martinsville before.

    Hamlin, the top-seed in the Chase, knocked Johnson from his Martinsville throne in recent races. The Virginia driver has won two straight here and three of the last five events. Those three wins came in just 10 starts, so he quickly got the place figured out. Amazingly, he has nine top-10 finishes in those 10 starts.

    Johnson has amassed six Martinsville wins in his relatively short career … which includes just 17 Martinsville starts. He has 12 top 5s, 16 top 10s and an amazing average finish of just over 5.

    Next to Richard Petty, Gordon is the absolute King of Martinsville and even though he’s seeded eighth, has to be taken seriously as a threat in the Chase, and especially the TUMS Fast Relief 500. He has seven Martinsville poles, seven wins, 23 top 5s and 29 top 10s with an average finish of just over 6.

    Kevin Harvick, who is seeded third in the Chase, doesn’t have a Martinsville win … in a Sprint Cup car. But he does have two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins on the track he calls home, plus a NASCAR Nationwide Series win here.

    Tony Stewart, who wasn’t a big Martinsville fan early in his career, has done well on the short track since those days. Stewart, seeded sixth, has three poles, two wins and has finished in the top 5 in almost half of his 23 starts

    Fourth-seeded Kyle Busch doesn’t have a Martinsville win, but has been in the top five in four of his 11 starts. His brother Kurt, seeded a spot behind him, has a pole and a win at Martinsville.

    Next to Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton has the most Martinsville starts out of the 12 Chase drivers. He has 32 starts that have resulted in a win, 10 top 5s and 14 top 10s.

    Seventh-seeded Carl Edwards has a top 5 and three top 10s in his dozen Martinsville starts while 11th seeded Matt Kenseth has a pair of top 5 finishes and a half-dozen top 10s in 21 starts.

    Greg Biffle, seeded seventh, doesn’t have a top five in 15 starts, but had two top 10s.

    Clint Bowyer, seeded 12th, has the least Martinsville starts of anyone in the Chase with nine. He does have one Martinsville top 5 finish and has been in the top 10 in over half of his Martinsville starts.

    Tickets for the entire TUMS Relief 500 weekend are now on sale. Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 begin at $25 and range to $77.

    Tickets to the Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on October 23 are $30 in advance, with children 12 and under admitted free.

    Tickets for Farm Bureau Pole Day, which features practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 200 and the TUMS Fast Relief 500, are $15, children 12 and under admitted free.

    Tickets for all events may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.

  • Toyota NASCAR Notes & Quotes I New Hampshire

    Here Are the Headlines:

    Denny Delivers in Richmond

    Hamlin, Busch Have Chance in Chase

    Tundras Return to ‘Magic Mile’ RICHMOND RECAP: Camry driver Denny Hamlin was victorious in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Richmond International Raceway (RIR). Hamlin led six times for a race-high 251 (of 400) laps at the three-quarter-mile track en route to his series-best sixth victory of 2010 in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry. Three other Toyota drivers — Kyle Busch (second), Joey Logano (fourth) and Marcos Ambrose (fifth) — also recorded top-five finishes at RIR. Hamlin, from Chesterfield, Va., now has two wins (September 2009 and 2010) and six top-10 finishes in 10 NSCS starts at Richmond.

    CHASE CHANCES: Hamlin and Busch will carry the Toyota banner in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Hamlin enters the 10-race, 12-driver playoff as the top seed with his six victories, holding a 10-point advantage over four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. This year marks Hamlin’s fifth consecutive Chase appearance since joining the series in 2006, when he finished a career-high third in the final standings. Busch starts his fourth career Chase tied for third in the standings with Kevin Harvick — each with three wins — just 30 points behind Hamlin.

    LOUDON LUCK: The Chase will kick off Sunday with a 300-lap event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). Hamlin has one win (spring 2007) and six top-10 finishes in nine starts at the one-mile oval, including a runner-up result in the first Chase race last season. Busch has five top-10 finishes in 11 NHMS starts, including a victory in the spring of 2006. Logano, from Middletown, Conn., became the youngest winner in NSCS history in the June 2009 race at NHMS, while Dave Blaney earned Toyota’s first ever NSCS pole in June 2007 at the track.

    RACE REWIND: Trevor Bayne (third) was the highest-finishing Toyota driver in Friday evening’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at RIR. Bayne started eighth in the Diamond-Waltrip Racing No. 99 Out! Pet Care Camry and matched his career best NNS result — a third-place at Gateway International Raceway in July. Camry drivers Reed Sorenson (fifth), Hamlin (sixth) and Busch (ninth) also recorded top-10 finishes at RIR. Busch remains third in NNS points following Richmond, despite running only 22 of 27 events. Toyota drivers Bayne (seventh), Steve Wallace (eighth), Jason Leffler (ninth) and Brendan Gaughan (10th) are also in the top-10 in points with eight races remaining on the 2010 schedule.

    TUNDRA TIME: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) returns to action Saturday at NHMS. Toyota has three NCWTS victories at Loudon since joining the series in 2004 — Travis Kvapil (2004), Johnny Benson (2006) and Busch (2009). Last year, Busch led 75 (of 200) laps en route to victory lane. Todd Bodine continues to lead the series point standings after 18 of 25 races this season, holding a 261-point advantage over fellow Toyota driver Aric Almirola heading into Saturday’s race.

    SPONSAFIER 2 VOTING: Toyota Racing announced the 100 national semi-finalists from the ‘Sponsafier 2’ contest on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Fans can vote from Sept. 14 through Sept. 23 for their favorite paint scheme designs at www.toyotaracing.com. The winning design will be unveiled at Phoenix International Raceway, Nov. 14.

    BACK STORY: Background and images on the Toyota NASCAR program are available at www.toyotamotorsportsmedia.com.

    TOYOTA 2010 NASCAR STATISTICS: Series Races Starts (Drivers) Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Times Led Laps Led NSCS 26 337 (29) 10 30 58 5 153 2,130 NNS 27 288 (29) 13 56 113 13 136 2,655 NCWTS 18 169 (24) 11 44 89 8 80 1,532

    WEEKEND RACE SCHEDULE: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series @ New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 19 @ 1:00 PM (ET), ESPN — Race 27 of 36 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series @ New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Saturday, Sept. 18 @ 3:00 PM (ET), SPEED — Race 19 of 25

  • Dodge Motorsports NSCS Race Advance – Sylvania 300 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway

    Dodge Motorsports NSCS Race Advance

    Sylvania 300

    New Hampshire Motor Speedway

    NASCAR Sprint to the Championship – Race 1 of 10

    www.media.chrysler.com

    www.twitter.com/teamdodge

    DODGE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

    • Dodge has three wins at New Hampshire (Ward Burton, Ryan Newman and Kurt

    Busch).

    • Penske Racing’s Kurt Bush (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) leads all current Dodge

    drivers with three Sprint Cup victories at NHMS.

    • Busch won the rain-shortened spring event in 2008. He swept both events in

    2004 prior to joining the Dodge family.

    • Dodge holds the track qualifying record of 133.357 mph (28.561 sec.) set in

    September 2003 (Newman).

    • A Dodge has started from the pole in six of the last 12 races at NHMS when

    qualifying was not postponed.

    THE DODGE BOYS

    • Dodge has 207 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

    • Dodge’s most recent win came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch led

    252 of 400 laps en route to victory in the Coca-Cola 600.

    • Dodge has claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.

    • Dodge teams have posted 47 wins since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s

    premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.

    • First Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win: Lee Petty, 2/1/53, West Palm,

    Fla., 100 miles, .5-mile track.

    • First Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    David Pearson, 3/19/67, 75.937 mph avg. speed.

    DODGE IN THE CHASE: NEW HAMPSHIRE

    • 2004: Former Dodge drivers Jeremy Mayfield and Ryan Newman were in the

    inaugural Chase. Both had problems in the first event at NHMS with Newman

    finishing 33rd and Mayfield 35th.

    • 2005: Three Dodge drivers (Mayfield, Newman and Rusty Wallace) made the

    Chase field with Newman winning the opener at NHMS. Newman ended up sixth,

    Wallace eighth and Mayfield ninth in the final standings.

    • 2006: Kasey Kahne was the lone Dodge driver in the Chase field. Kahne

    started 33rd and finished 16th at Loudon.

    • 2007: Kurt Busch was the lone Dodge representative; Busch started third and

    finished 25th in the Chase opener at Loudon. He finished seventh in the final

    Chase standings.

    • 2008: There were no Dodges in the 2008 Chase field.

    • 2009: Kurt Busch was the lone Dodge representative among the elite 12.

    Busch started third and finished seventh at NHMS.

    KURT BUSCH – INSIDE THE CHASE NUMBERS

    • Competing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the fifth time: 2004 –

    Champion, 2005 – 10th, 2007 – Seventh and 2009 – fourth.

    • Enters the 2010 Chase fifth in the standings. He earned 20 bonus points for

    wins at Texas and Charlotte

    • Through 26 races this season, Busch has eight top-five and 15 top-10

    finishes.

    • Has competed in 58 Chase races since 2004, 40 of those have been in a Dodge

    Charger, with 15 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes.

    • Has three wins at The Magic Mile (2004 – 2, 2008). Best start at the

    1.058-mile track was second in July 2007.

    • Has finished sixth or better in last five races at New Hampshire. Started

    third and finished third in spring race this year.

    • In 19 races at NHMS, Busch has led 366 laps, sixth best all-time, with seven

    top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and an average start of 13.4 and average

    finish of 13.7.

    • Kurt Busch has led 1,237 laps in the final 10 races.

    • At the 10 tracks hosting a Chase event, Busch has 157 starts with nine wins

    along with 38 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes.

    NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FAST FACTS

    • New Hampshire’s 1.058 mile speedway has identical front and backstretches

    that measure 1,500 feet.

    DODGE MOTORSPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK

    “The one change that I’d like to see is a separate point system for the 12

    Chase drivers. They should be running against each other and not the entire

    starting field. That way, if you run into problems during a race and finish

    30th, it doesn’t completely eliminate your chances. If it’s structured like

    that, it will definitely add to the excitement by keeping it close all the way

    down to the final race. You could still have eight or more drivers with a

    shot at winning the title going into the final race weekend. Can you imagine

    the publicity value of that scenario going down to the wire?”

    Kurt Busch – No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger

    ENGINEERING TALK

    “So, the Chase begins this week at Loudon. The teams are no doubt ready with

    their best chassis for this very-flat, 1.058-mile oval. They’ve had weeks to

    prepare for it. But it’s not that easy. The very-flat Loudon is followed by

    Dover, a one-mile track, but high banked. The next stop is the high-banked,

    1.5-mile track at Kansas followed by Fontana, a test on a two-mile track. And

    that’s just the first four races of the 10-race Chase. Teams are now

    definitely in the crunch part of the season, a new engineering challenge and a

    new chassis every week.”

    Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering

    DODGE DRIVER QUOTES

    “I know from experience that if you can get it going in the right direction at

    Loudon, you can keep the momentum growing and sort of build some insurance for

    something bad happening later on during the 10-race stretch. But, on the

    other end of the equation, with so much hype and such great expectations you

    have going into the first race of the Chase, I’ve definitely seen just how

    much of a blow it can be to get started on a bad note. When you look at my

    career, winning the first Chase in 2004 – and especially what happened in the

    years since then – mine is probably as good of example as any when it comes to

    considering the importance of getting a good finish in that first race. I

    guess it’d be really accurate to say that I’ve definitely seen the good and

    the bad.”

    Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger

    “New Hampshire is one of the most challenging tracks that we run at because

    the cars generally want to get loose entering the corners and there is no

    banking to hold you. There are not a lot of places to run and be fast. You

    want to be right down at the bottom (of the track) so your car has to be set

    up for one particular area, but you still have to be able to move around a

    little bit to get around people or take their

    line away from them.

    “We’re out there trying to help the No. 2 team get through some more things on

    race weekend as far as trying to check some more stuff off the list. I think

    that’s how we’re best served in trying to help them during the Chase.”

    Sam Hornish Jr. No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger

    “I don’t have any specific goals for the Chase races that we don’t have any

    other week. We want to go out and do the best we can and challenge for wins.

    That doesn’t change because we can’t win the championship. It probably gives

    us some added incentive to go for wins because we don’t have to worry about

    points. You do have to be mindful of who you are racing because you don’t

    want to put yourself in bad spots with a guy in the Chase, but if I have a

    fast car I’m going to get all the positions I can.”

    Brad Keselowski, No 12 Penske Dodge Charger

  • Rusty Wallace Racing Makes Management Changes

    –Larry Carter Named General Manager, New Crew Chief for Gaughan–

    MOORESVILLE, NC (September 14, 2010)—Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing this afternoon named veteran Sprint Cup Series crew chief Larry Carter as the team’s General Manager. In his new role, Carter will oversee all competition efforts of the two-car NASCAR Nationwide Series operation.

    A native of Raleigh, NC and graduate of North Carolina State University, Carter served as crew chief for Rusty Wallace’s No. 2 team at Penske Racing in 2004 and 2005. In that role, Carter led Wallace to his 55th—and final—career victory, as well as to a Chase appearance in Wallace’s final season as a driver.

    Following Wallace’s retirement from driving, Carter was crew chief for Jamie McMurray at Roush Fenway Racing in 2007 and 2008 before serving in the same role for Paul Menard at Yates Racing last season. Carter was also recently rumored as a top candidate for the position of Sprint Cup Series director.

    Said Larry Carter, “I’m both very excited and grateful to have this opportunity. This team has a lot of potential and I look forward to trying to help get them into Victory Lane. Rusty has put together a really solid infrastructure and I’m excited for the chance to take this team to the next level.”

    In addition to the naming of Carter, team officials also announced that Brad Parrott, crew chief for No. 62—Brendan Gaughan, will be replaced beginning with next weekend’s round of the Nationwide Series championship in Dover, DE. An interim crew chief for the No. 62 team will be named within the next week and a new full-time replacement will be named for the start of the 2011 season.

    # # #

    About Rusty Wallace Racing

    North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary history of its founder, Rusty Wallace—one of NASCAR’s top-ten drivers of all-time. The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys in the prestigious NASCAR Nationwide Series, driven by Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan, respectively. In 2009, RWR stood as the only team with multiple drivers among the top-ten in the final Nationwide Series driver standings. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.

  • Earnhardt Ganassi Racing – New Hampshire Motor Speedway Advance Notes

    New Hampshire Motor Speedway Advance Notes

    Race: Sylvania 300 on Sunday, Sept. 19

    Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile oval)

    Location: Loudon, N.H.

    Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

    Jarrod England No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet

    Shayna Keller No. 42 Energizer Chevrolet

    NOTES

    Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team

    New Hampshire History: Jamie McMurray will be making his 16th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on Sunday. At the 1.058-mile oval McMurray has two top-five starts of third and fifth (2004 and 2003 respectively). His best finish at NHMS also came in 2004 when McMurray drove to a fifth-place finish.

    Richmond Recap: Jamie McMurray and the No.1 Bass Pro Shops Team looked to the second race at Richmond International Raceway as an opportunity to make one last push towards the top 12 in points-the cutoff for the chase. McMurray took the green flag for the Air Guard 400 and quickly started knocking off cars in front of him, moving up 17 positions by the first caution on lap 56. The driver was by far the biggest mover of the race, and his car’s speed was right there with the leaders. By lap 93, McMurray had set his sights on the top 10, working his way up to 13th. This would mark McMurray’s highest running position of the night as he radioed that his car was getting “really loose.” Because of the long green flag run from lap 241 until the end, McMurray would eventually lose one lap, eventually finishing 17th.

    Visit McDonald’s: Race Fans! Stop by one of the four McDonald’s locations near New Hampshire Motor Speedway to curb your hunger. The McDonald’s can be found at 5 Tilton Road, Tilton, NH 03276; 111 Fisherville Road, Concord, NH 03303; 117 Loudon Road, Concord, NH 03301; 822 Central Street, Franklin, NH 03235.

    “Bono” Goes Modified Racing: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and Car Chief Gary Putnam will again be pulling double duty this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The duo will bring the No. 7NY Whelen Modified Car to the race track with Ryan Newman behind the wheel to race in the F.W. Webb 100 on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:00 (ET) live on SPEED. This will be the third race of the year for Manion, Putnam and Newman in the Modified Car after capturing wins at Loudon and Bristol earlier this season. The Modified is the Crew and Car Chief’s “labor of love” in their down time away from the hectic NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.

    Charlotte Ticket Package: Race fans who plan to attend the upcoming Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway should consider the Bass Pro Shops ticket package. Fans who purchase a ticket for $99 will receive the following:

    · $25 Charlotte Motor Speedway Gift Card

    · $15 off $100 or more Bass Pro Shops purchase

    · Meet and greet with Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 Champion Jamie McMurray

    · Professional hunting seminar at the Bass Pro Shops located at Concord Mills Mall

    · Behind-the-Scenes tour of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing

    For more information visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets/bassproshops

    Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Energizer Team

    Birthday Wishes: Montoya will celebrate his 35th birthday on Monday following the event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

    Loudon History: Montoya will make his eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday. Montoya dominated this race last September when he led all practice sessions, broke the track record in qualifying on his way to capturing the pole position and led 105 of the 300 laps before coming home in third. Montoya again captured the pole position at the first 2010 NSCS visit to NHMS in June. He has completed 2034 of 2058 laps (98.8%) competed.

    Returning Pole Winner: The No. 42 team holds back-to-back pole awards at Loudon after capturing the pole position for the 2009 September event and the 2010 June event. Montoya is one of six drivers to have started from the pole for two consecutive races at NHMS and the first since 2003-2004.

    About Richmond: Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team’s top-10 streak continued at Richmond International Raceway last Saturday evening. Montoya placed the No. 42 Target Chevrolet on the front row for the Air Guard 400, ran all but five laps in the top-10, led three laps and finished in the seventh position. The strong performance marked the fifth consecutive top-10 finish for the team and 13 total top-10 finishes this season. Crew chief Brian Pattie was also presented with the DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Race award.

    Welcome Energizer: The Energizer Bunny® will be powering the No. 42 car of Juan Pablo Montoya this weekend and he is all charged up and ready to Keep Going all the way to victory lane. The Energizer Bunny® is leading his company into new and exciting territory in 2011. From solar lights to exciting new chargers for smart phones proving Energizer is way more than just a battery company.

    About Energizer: Energizer Holdings, Inc. [NYSE: ENR], headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries, portable battery-powered devices, and portable flashlights and lanterns. Energizer is a global leader in the dynamic business of providing power solutions with a full portfolio of products including Energizer® brand battery products Energizer® MAX® premium alkaline; Energizer® Ultimate Lithium; Energizer® Advanced Lithium; Rechargeable batteries and charging systems; and portable flashlights and lanterns. . Visit www.energizer.com, www.facebook.com/energizerbunny.

    Did You Know?: In the 26 Cup races so far this season Montoya and the Target team have two poles, 17 top-10 starting positions, one win, five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. Montoya has qualified in the top-10 for the last eight consecutive races and has five consecutive top-10 finishes starting with his win at Watkins Glen. He also has scored a driver rating in the top-10 for the last seven races starting at the Brickyard. Along with his on-track statistics the No. 42 sits in the top-10 in the following categories:

    · Driver rating of 95.5, which ranks him sixth and the highest driver not in the top-12 in points

    · 1795 times passed under green-flag conditions, lowest of all drivers

    · 77.1% of quality passes, highest of all drivers

    · Green flag speed (Third)

    · Fastest drivers early in a run (Third)

    · Fastest drivers on restarts (Fourth)

    · 5385 laps in top-15 (Fifth)

    · 358 Fastest laps run (Sixth)

    · 676.20 Miles led (Sixth)

    · Average running position of 13th (Sixth)

    · 388 Laps led (Seventh)

    · Fastest drivers late in a run (Seventh)

    · Fastest speed in traffic (Seventh)

    · Quality passes (Seventh)

    Energizer Fun Fact: Did you know that the Energizer Bunny® has its own Hot “Hare” Balloon? The Hot “Hare” Balloon is the tallest hot air balloon in the world. At 166 feet tall, (the height of a sixteen-story building and 15-feet taller than the Statue of Liberty), the Energizer Bunny® Hot Hare Balloon is the world’s biggest hot air balloon. The Energizer Bunny® Hot Hare Balloon’s feet alone are gigantic at a 98 EEEE size.

    CHASSIS INFO

    No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1008. The No. 1 McDonald’s team will bring chassis #1008 to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis was last used at the first 2010 New Hampshire event in June where McMurray finished18th. The chassis was also used in April at Phoenix International Raceway where McMurray battled handling issues after an on track altercation forced a 24th-place finish.

    No. 42 Energizer Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #907. Brian Pattie and the No. 42 team are bringing chassis #907 to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. The team last used this chassis at the first 2010 New Hampshire event in June where Montoya captured the pole position and ran in the top-10 for most of the afternoon before an on-track incident forced a 34th-place finish. This chassis was also used twice during the 2009 season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September and Martinsville Speedway in October where Montoya finished third in both events.

    2010 STATS

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

    Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./(Prev)

    Jamie McMurray 26 2 3 7 9 14.1 17.3 14/14

    Juan Pablo Montoya 26 1 2 5 13 10.7 17.8 16/17

    CAREER STATS

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

    Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish

    Jamie McMurray 284 5 6 37 89 19.8 19.2

    Juan Pablo Montoya 135 2 4 17 40 17.6 19.9

    TEAM ROSTERS

    Tony Glover – Team Manager

    Steve Hmiel – Director of Competition

    No. 1 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown

    Crew Chief: Kevin Manion Boylston, MA Rear Tire Changer: Chris Taylor West Plains, MO

    Chief Mechanic: Gary Putnam Vernon, CT Rear Tire Carrier: Adam Mosher Fort Mill, SC

    Front Tire Changer: Cory DeMarco St. Louis, MO Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs Richmond, VA

    Front Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe Danbury, CT Catch Can: Eric Hoyle Asheville, NC

    Jack Man: Tracy Duncan Lincolnton, NC Spotter: Keith Barnwell Hudson, NC

    No. 42 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown

    Crew Chief: Brian Pattie Zephyrhills, FL Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen Troutman, NC

    Chief Mechanic: Heath Silver Asheville, NC Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode Statesville, NC

    Front Tire Changer: Trevor Lysne Fergus Falls, MN Gas Man: Mike Bodick Norwalk, CT

    Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu Waterford, MI Catch Can: Heath Silver Asheville, NC

    Jack Man: TJ Ford Charlotte, NC Spotter: Tab Boyd Pensacola, FL

  • Shane Wilson Named WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Richmond

    Roswell, Ga. (September 14, 2010) – Shane Wilson, crew chief for the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet and driver Clint Bowyer, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Saturday night’s Air Guard 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

    Wilson helped his team clinched the covered 12th and final spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Series title. After an impressive fourh-place qualifying effort, Bowyer ran solid throughout the race and came home sixth, finishing ahead of the drivers who were close enough to take that 12th spot away. Now, Bowyer has the opportunity to vie for the championship in the 10-race Chase.

    Entering the race in 12th, Wilson and company decided to go all out to win the race, not just finish high enough to retain his position in the standings. They accomplished that with a lightening fast car, quick pit stops and good calls from Wilson atop the box. He led 33 laps and never ran outside of the top-six for the entire 400-lap event.

    “I can’t say enough about Shane and the entire No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet team,” said Bowyer. “They never give up and have dug deep these last few races to get us where we needed to be.”

    “From the beginning of the weekend, Shane and the boys came prepared,” said WYPALL Wipers crew chief representative Jeff Hammond. “Coming in under a lot of pressure, they unloaded well and stayed on top all weekend long. Keeping in the top-5 all night, they won the biggest battle of them all – getting that last spot in the Chase.”

    WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Results

    Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevy led by Todd Berrier came into Saturday’s race with a determination to win. Having already secured a spot in the Chase, they felt prepared.

    Starting from the 25th position, Burton worked his way up into the top 10 for the majority of the race and finally setting for a 13th finishing spot going into next week’s race at New Hampshire.

    Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 Kroger Toyota Camry, led by Frank Kerr took off from the 13th position and finished a remarkable 5th place!

    Following two good practice sessions and a good qualifying effort, Ambrose felt ready to attack Richmond. Despite fighting some handling conditions, the Kerr-led team never let him down in the pits.

    “I’m just really proud of my guys,” Ambrose said. “It was a lot of fun out there. The No. 47 Kroger Toyota kept getting better and it was the best it had been near the end of the race.”

    WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Team

    Berrier, Kerr and Hammond, along with representatives from the WYPALL Wipers brand, serve as the panel for the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge and vote for the weekly crew chief winners. In addition to the $500 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at season’s end.

    Former winners of the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge include Tony Eury, Sr. (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.), Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth), Doug Richert (Greg Biffle), Mike Ford (Denny Hamlin) and Chad Knaus (Johnson).

    About WYPALL Wipers

    WYPALL is a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional. Since 2004, WYPALL Wipers has been affiliated with some of racing’s top teams. Offering heavy-duty to versatile light-duty towels, WYPALL Wipers provide race teams with a number of products that demonstrate strength and durability. Defeating the toughest of challenges, from absorbing tough grease and oil to wiping down windshields without leaving residue behind, WYPALL Wipers continue to offer performance and versatility.

    The WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2010 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.wypall.com.

  • STATER BROS. RACEFEST PRESENTED BY PEPSI OFFERS FANS AN UP-CLOSE PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH NASCAR DRIVERS

    SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2010) – Fans that want a little extra helping of NASCAR before race weekend will not want to miss the Stater Bros. Racefest presented by Pepsi at Auto Club Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 7.

    For the 6th year, Stater Bros. Supermarkets will sponsor this free event to the public (admission and parking) which will be held in the DiscoverIE FanZone outside the front stretch and in the shadow of Auto Club Speedway. Stater Bros. Racefest is scheduled from 5 – 9 p.m. and is an exciting kickoff to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoff weekend at Auto Club Speedway, highlighted by the Pepsi MAX 400.

    With the much anticipated Pepsi MAX 400 scheduled just three days later (Sunday Oct. 10), the Stater Bros. Racefest will provide a glimpse of the celebrity and excitement that is NASCAR with a fun-filled evening including driver autograph and Q&A sessions, a freestyle motocross stunt show with Rockstar Metal Mulisha, live music, rides, games, souvenir trailers, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hauler parade and great food & beverages.

    Speed Channel’s John Roberts will host the evening, introducing an all-star lineup of NASCAR personalities who will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs. Scheduled to appear are:

    Justin Allgaier

    Kyle Busch

    Scott Speed

    Marcos Ambrose

    Kevin Conway

    Steve Wallace

    Clint Bowyer

    Kevin Harvick

    Rusty Wallace

    Jeff Burton

    Kasey Kahne

    Kurt Busch

    Joey Logano

    * The driver schedule is subject to change. For the latest updates on the driver schedule visit www.autoclubspeedway.com/racefest.

    There will also be a special appearance by four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon.

    Stater Bros. Charities is also presenting several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities through an online auction at www.racefestauctions.com, where fans can bid on amazing NASCAR-related prizes. Fans can get more online auction information and an opportunity to bid on a private meet-n-greet with Jeff Gordon, an intimate cocktail reception with Carl Edwards, or dinner with the legendary Hall of Famer Junior Johnson and the Stater Bros. Racefest schedule of events by visiting their local Stater Bros. Supermarket and picking up a Racefest Guide starting on Sept. 22.

    Fans can see the superstars of NASCAR when they visit Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 10 for the Pepsi MAX 400. Incredible ticket offers are available, while supplies last, like the $35 Pepsi Rock ‘n Rows, Show Your Card & Save discounts for AAA members and the First Time Fan Package for race weekend rookies.

    As always, fans experiencing Auto Club Speedway can also take advantage of free parking, bring in their own food, or partake in the unbelievable menu items on site as well as other cost-savings opportunities while enjoying a full day of entertainment and fun at a fantastic family value.

    For more information about the Stater Bros. Racefest presented by Pepsi or to purchase tickets to the Pepsi MAX 400, call 800-944-RACE (7223), or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com/racefest.

    # # #

    About Auto Club Speedway

    This October the playoffs go golden! The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup roars into the Golden State and Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway. Experience a weekend full of speed beginning with NASCAR Qualifying Day (Oct. 8), followed by the NNS CampingWorld.com 300 (Oct. 9) and culminating with Southern California’s “playoff” race – the Pepsi MAX 400 (Oct. 10).

    Free parking, unbelievable menu items and a full weekend of entertainment, live music and fun await fans in the Speedway’s DiscoverIE FanZone.

    Pepsi MAX 400 tickets start at $35 and AAA members receive Show Your Card & Save discounts, including a special section with half-priced tickets for kids 12 and under. And don’t forget children 12 and under can sign up for the FREE Auto Club Speedway Lefty’s Kids Club membership to receive FREE admission on Friday and Saturday.

    For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com.

  • Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Team NHMS Advance

    Kasey Kahne

    No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion

    SYLVANIA 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

    Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Budweiser Ford team return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for the second time this season for Sunday’s SYLVANIA 300. In June’s race at the track, Kahne started second and led 110 laps before the car’s engine expired, leaving him with a 36th-place finish.

    The Budweiser Ford team will utilize Chassis No. 637 this weekend. It’s the same car they ran in June at NHMS when Kahne led more than a third of the race.

    In 13 starts at NHMS, Kahne has scored one top five and five top-10 finishes. His average start at the track is 15th and his average finish is 19.4.

    With 10 races to go in the 2010 season, Kahne has earned two pole awards, six top fives and eight top-10 finishes. His average starting position is 12.3 and his average finish is 18.2. Kahne is currently ranked 18th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.

    Follow along each weekend with Kahne and the team on Twitter. Check out @kaseykahne for behind-the-scenes information straight from the driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Ford. Get live updates from the track each weekend from @kk9team, the PR team for Kahne. Also, follow @RPMotorsports for additional information about the Richard Petty Motorsports organization.

    Become a fan of Budweiser on Facebook. Exclusive information on Kasey and the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Team can be found on the Budweiser Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Budweiser.

    For the online version of the Budweiser Racing media guide, please visit .

    Kasey Kahne discusses racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

    What are your thoughts on NHMS? “It’s a track that has very long corners, so it’s going to be important that we get our Budweiser Ford to roll really well through the center of the corners. The straightaways are long for just a one-mile track and the turns are extremely flat, so having good brakes that will last you to the end is important if you want to run well.”

  • Sam Hornish Jr. NSCS New Hampshire Motor Speedway Preview

    SAM HORNISH JR.

    No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger

    New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Sylvania 300

    September 19, 2010

    Mobil 1 Team News and Notes

    Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the Penske Racing No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger, has made five Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In June, after starting from the eighth spot, Hornish battled a loose-handling race car and secured a 23rd-place result at the 1.058-mile oval. His best finish at Loudon came in June of 2009 when he secured his first top-10 result at the track with an eighth-place effort.

    Before heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hornish and the No. 77 team spent Tuesday of this week testing at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia.

    Each week Mobil 1 crew chief Travis Geisler offers fans a glimpse into car setup for each racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit at washingtonpost.com. Geisler reports that at New Hampshire, tight corners require a loose racecar and older tires still have a lot of life left in them. Learn more at .

    Hornish will appear at the AAA display in the midway at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to answer fan questions on Sunday, September 19, beginning at 9:15 a.m. EDT.

    Hornish will also be on hand to sign autographs at the Penske Racing souvenir trailer in Loudon on Sunday from 9:40 – 10:10 a.m.

    Sam Hornish Jr. Quote

    Why is New Hampshire Motor Speedway such a challenging track for drivers?

    “New Hampshire is one of the most challenging tracks that we run at because the cars generally want to get loose entering the corners and there is no banking to hold you. There are not a lot of places to run and be fast. You want to be right down at the bottom (of the track) so your car has to be set up for one particular area, but you still have to be able to move around a little bit to get around people or take their line away from them.”

    How do you help teammate Kurt Busch during the Chase for the NASCAR Cup?

    “We’re out there trying to help the No. 2 team get through some more things on race weekend as far as trying to check some more stuff off the list. I think that’s how we’re best served in trying to help them during the Chase.”

    Does the No. 77 team try to help teammate Kurt Busch during the Chase through testing?

    “It’s important for us to try to learn as much as we can during our tests to help the Mobil 1 Dodge, but if they’ve got things that they want to try out and they didn’t get to do it at one of their tests, we can try it for them. Hopefully, our feedback can help them decide if they want to try it on a race weekend when we get limited practice time.”

    Crew Chief Travis Geisler Quote

    What are your thoughts on this weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?

    “Last year we had some good races in Loudon and I am excited to get back on track with a solid run at the flat one-mile oval. New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a flat, short track which always proves difficult when trying to get a good balance on the handling of the race car. Having a car that will turn through the center and still have good forward drive off the corners is always a challenge. We’re looking forward to getting back to Loudon and improving on our run there in June.”