Category: NASCAR Cup Series

Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Richmond Raceway – April 12, 2019

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media in Richmond:

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Do you come here with the sense that you have a homefield advantage?

“I don’t know that there’s any advantage for sure, but I certainly feel like I know what I need out of the car to be successful here I’d say. Just searching for that feel is really what you do every time you come here. Especially the races that we’ve dominated here, that’s a special type of feel that you have to have in the race car. Getting it out of the car especially through all the rule changes and balance changes is the biggest task. This is kind of our wheelhouse of tracks you could say for sure.”

Do you feel like the guy to beat at Richmond?

“I’m not sure to be honest with you. Our cars have been running really good. We’ve been finishing really well and running really well every single week. Certainly probably on the short list I’d say.”

Are you, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano in a theoretical ‘Big Four’ or is it still too early to tell?

“It’s just too early. I think that you really need to get into the summer months and allow some of these teams to really make adjustments. I think we’ve seen really even from the West Coast Swing, the Hendrick cars in particular have made some pretty good strides. I think that that’s going to continue to swing. Teams are going to make gains over the next couple months. It takes a little time. Any time you have a major rules package change there’s always a few teams that hit it right off the bat. It just takes other teams a little bit longer to catch up once they see what you’re doing. Really by the late summer, everyone will have seen what they need to see and they’ll have caught up and the field will be closer than ever then. Then you can kind of determine who is what.”

How do you feel coming into Richmond this year as the defending Daytona 500 winner?

“It’s great. I’ll always love coming to this race track. It is home. It’s one that I’ve been to many, many times even when I wasn’t racing. It’s certainly the home track for me. It’s just exciting because I know that I very well could have a great weekend ahead of us and really focus a lot of my efforts on how can we go out there and dominate the race, not just win but dominate. That’s been the primary focus for the last five days and hopefully we put it all together for tomorrow night. When I come home, it’s a special feeling for sure.”

How different does this season feel versus last season?

“It’s just different in general. Everything is different. A lot of personnel on my race team has changed over the offseason. It’s not just the crew chief. There’s a lot of key people that have been changed and so I think that really it’s a revamped team all around. All new pit crew members. Everyone is new on the pit crew, so I feel like it’s almost an expansion team of Joe Gibbs Racing. We’ve really mixed in a lot of different guys and certainly the relationships are all still growing. I’m really excited to be running as good as we are this early in the season which is kind of uncharacteristic of our 11 car anyway. Certainly to have wins early, running up front every week, it’s a great feeling knowing that we haven’t even got to our potential yet.”

How does the rain impact things in preparation for the weekend?

“I think we did a good job of managing our first practice. Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) decided to go out there and use two sets of tire and really focus on nothing but race trim in the first practice. I thought that we had a decent car there. I feel like we did a good job managing. We’ve done everything – we predicted the rain correctly and now we’re either going to qualify or we’re going to start second. Either way I think we’ll be pretty good and we’ve executed so far this weekend pretty well. We’ve just got to put it all together tomorrow night and not make any mistakes and we should be up front.”

What did you come up with, with your crew chief Chris Gabehart during your meeting about speeding on pit road?

“It is a risk, reward. I’ve always pushed things to the very edge. When I came into the sport I remember having conversations with (Mike) “Wheels” (Wheeler) and Mike Ford and they said ‘alright, the speed limit is 35’ and they said ‘yeah, but they give you a five mile per hour buffer’. I remember my rookie season and I said ‘well, why do you set my tach(ometer) at 35, why not at like 39.9?’ and they’re like ‘sure, we can start doing that,’ and I beat everyone on pit road like badly for a year. So I’ve always been the guy to kind of always get to the edge and find that edge and now there’s just not as big a reward because everyone is dealing with tenths of a mile per hour now. Everyone sets their stuff as high as they can. It has its rewards and it has its downfalls. Texas I had a speeding penalty and then I come into pit road on the final stop and I had Clint Bowyer right behind me and I continued to push and it got me a 2.5-second lead leaving pit road. I mean there’s a balance to it. It certainly has its rewards to be aggressive but there is a time and a place for it I do believe. The speeding penalties that we’ve had this year – we’ve had three – two of them have been really unique anomalies. It hasn’t been just kind of straight line. It’s been accelerating or decelerating into the box. There’s some things that definitely could get cleaned up. If you look last year, we had I think four penalties after Talladega and then we didn’t have any for months and months and months. Historically, I do speed early in the season and I typically get it cleaned up by the end of the year once I get more data points and understand where my limits are. Certainly it’s mistakes that I don’t want to have happen because it hurts the team. Obviously last week it hurt our strategy coming out on pit road there with the lead and then having to go back to 20th is not ideal. I’ve put my team in a hole where it’s put us in tough strategy moments through the year so far but we’ve had the speed and everything to rebound from it.”

Are you going to change your pit road strategy this weekend with the speeding?

“Sure. It’s something I really wanted to focus on in happy hour. Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) actually saw that the rain was coming so he had me make a couple of runs there right in the first practice. It’s something that we do every week, but certainly I’m more cognizant of it. Not that I wasn’t before, but you certainly want to hedge down to it’s okay to be a tenth or two slow.”

How has your relationship been off and on the track with your crew chief, Chris Gabehart?

“It’s been really good. I feel like our communication just gets better every week and we start to understand each other more and more every week. I’ve put a lot of trust in him that whatever he says do, then that’s what I go out there and do. He sets the game plan and it’s up to me to go out there and execute that game plan that he sets out. It’s a good relationship. He’s on it. He would definitely – no learning curve I feel like with him. He’s be on it. I’ve been super impressed with the things they’ve done, the calls he’s made, the setups on the race car. Everything he has done for our race team has been a big, big help and for me personally.”

Does it help to have the Joe Gibbs Racing playbook with Kyle Busch who has multiple wins this season?

“Playbook of what? (Joe) Gibbs (Racing)? I certainly know I’m with the team that I want to be with and obviously when Kyle (Busch) has the success that he has, you know you’re in very similar equipment. That doesn’t mean we all drive it the same or are able to drive it the same, but yes it’s a big plus to have the teammates that I have, especially the long established ones like (Martin) Truex (Jr.) and Kyle that have been in the sport for such a long time that when they come to these race tracks, they really know what they’re looking for and any time you kind of get off track, they are the ones that you really lean on. Erik (Jones) is quickly learning it as he goes. It’s an advantage I believe to have the Gibbs – Joe Gibbs and probably the best driver out there on your side.”

What did you learn at Texas that you can use moving forward at other 1.5-mile tracks?

Texas is one of those race tracks where you were able to run wide open through one of the corners consistently throughout a run. You won’t really see that again until we get to maybe Kansas and maybe Michigan as well. You can’t really bunch all of the mile-and-a-half (tracks) and say that they’re all going to be the same. This package is going to be good, really good on specific tracks like Texas, Michigan, Kansas, but it’s going to have its downfalls on the other tracks – possibly Charlotte and the other ones where if you have to let out of the gas, it’s tough because of the big wake. There is no draft per say. I think the strategy comes into play as a driver on those tracks. What line you want to be, especially going on the backstretch after a restart. You have an option to go high or low. That’s where the drafting aspect comes in and the driver puts himself in the line he wants to be in. Other than that, you really don’t use any technique from a Daytona or Talladega so it’s kind of its own beast.”

What are your thoughts on qualifying and the new five-minute rounds this weekend?

“We’re worried about it frankly. Especially in the first round. If you average it out, they’re going to have to get through eight cars per minute. If you run three laps, which you typically do in the first round, that’s a minute. That means that eight cars are going to have to be on the track at one time, plus you have to get a new round of cars in once those are done, so that takes an extra 30 seconds. Some guys are going to get screwed and it’s going to be bad. There’s going to be people pulling out in front of each other so that part of it is going to be pretty tough. The mathematics, to me it just doesn’t work. I don’t know whether we’re trying to fit into a TV window or what it might be. I’m sure there was thought put into that five minutes in the first round, but at this track eight cars on the track at one time, it’ll be tough for some guys. It might be good for fights. You might see one of those (Daniel) Suarez, (Michael McDowell) things.”

What do you anticipate the racing to be like at Talladega with the changes and with the spoiler? Is there a possibility of some tandem draft element coming back?

“I’m not sure. You’d probably have to ask the guys that did test it. I talked to (Kyle) Larson. He was there. They tested at Daytona and just through our talks I don’t even think he knows honestly what to expect. He said that they really had to add a lot of spoiler and even some wickers on the car to get down to the speed that they were hoping. I don’t know. It certainly – to me there’s been three types of legitimate types of superspeedway racing and this could create a fourth. There was a way that you drafted with the old car before the Car of Tomorrow. There was the tandem that was a type of superspeedway drafting that took a certain technique and strategy and then the package that we have today where it kind of has that bubble effect. I don’t know which one it’s going to be a mix of and I’m interested to see when I get there.”

You were really good at tandem racing. Is that something you would embrace?

“I don’t think so. I don’t know. I wasn’t a huge fan of the tandem just simply because you relied on someone else to drive your car. If you were leading, you were relying on – you were just holding the wheel. It was like those chain races in the local short tracks where one car’s got the brakes, one’s got the engine and the guy in the middle is just along for the ride. That’s pretty much what it is. It definitely is tough. I wouldn’t be a fan of the tandem racing, but who knows how it all turns out. I don’t think it will be tandem, but I’m not sure to be honest.”

Toyota Racing – Kyle Busch
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Richmond Raceway – April 12, 2019

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch was made available to the media in Richmond:

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Has anything exciting happened in the past week and how do you feel rolling into the Richmond race weekend?

“What’s happened this week? I can’t remember what I even did yesterday so I can’t say that there’s a whole lot going on. It’s been pretty quiet. Just our normal meetings week or whatever we had going on. Just got on track today and felt pretty good I guess. A few other guys that were running some good lap times as well too around us and looking forward to qualifying being rained out so hopefully we can start on the pole and have a good start to tomorrow night’s race.”

How do you quantify how well you’re doing this season on a weekly basis?

“Obviously, I guess I just go after hard work and preparation – the things that you do behind the scenes that help you succeed on race days and what you can do behind the wheel of a race car. It’s also due to being with some really good, talented people – Adam Stevens (MENCS crew chief) and my group on the 18 car. Of course Ben Beshore (NXS crew chief) on the Xfinity side and Rudy Fugle (NGOTS crew chief) on the truck side. They’ve all done a tremendous job in leading the groups that they’ve got with them and we’ve been doing really well and the results have been coming too. We’ve had a little luck on our side as well. I’ll admit I always tell you when we don’t have any luck on our side so I might as well tell you when we do have a little luck on our side. It’s been nice to have. We just have to continue with the way we’re running and the way that we’re doing it. Keep being successful.”

Is there such a thing as momentum in racing?

“There’s no question there’s momentum. Absolutely. You can go through the whole beginning stretch of the season – we’ve had a really good stretch to the beginning of this season and unfortunately we’re coming up to one of my most favorite race tracks in the world, Talladega, in a couple weeks, that can certainly end that momentum at any particular moment and knock you down off your pedestal or whatever you want to call it. Then you have to figure out how to rebound and get back. I think that’s where our strength is and we’ve had some moments in some of these races that we’ve kind of been knocked off that we’ve been able to rebound and come back up through. Just treat it like anything else and focus forward.”

What do you remember about your first win here at Richmond and can you believe it’s been 15 years?

“We’re talking about the Busch Series one right? I came here the year before in the Truck Series and hit about everything but the pace car. It was an ugly, ugly venture for me. I don’t even think I ran 15th in a Truck Series race, it was pretty bad. Then came here two years later I guess with Hendrick Motorsports and the 5 car and was able to qualify on the pole, brand new asphalt and was able to qualify on the pole, was able to lead the most laps and was able to go on and win the race and Greg Biffle finished right behind me. Probably if he was a little bit meaner of a guy, he could have moved me out of the way and won for himself, but we’ve always had respect for one another. I remember that day and being able to score that first victory and remembering going to victory lane and jumping off the car and all the guys catching me behind me and just having a good celebration. That was certainly a lot of fun. 15 years, that’s scary. I didn’t think I’d be here that long for a few of those years, but I’m glad it all worked out now and there’s better days ahead.”

What was your decision to put Greg Biffle in your truck later this season?

“We’ve been friends for a long time and we were just kind of ‘BSing’ a little bit about it and I always thought that – it’s nothing against the older guys, (Greg) Biffle is older now. When you’re done racing Cup, you go back and run Xfinity or you go back and run truck or whatever it might be. He was a Truck Series champion, he was an Xfinity Series champion and coulda, woulda, shoulda been a Cup Series champion, just never quite got there. I asked him if he ever thought about running full time in the trucks as an ‘on your way out’ type of thing. I’ve asked him about it a couple times and he’s kind of given thought to it and said he didn’t really want full time. Earlier this year he asked me if I had a race available and I was like, ‘yeah, actually I do, not the one you want, but I’ve got one that you can have and take it or leave it.’ He took it and he’s going to run Texas.”

Is there one specific thing that makes you successful at Richmond?

“Again, the first time I came here I was terrible and then I came back here after the repave with the Busch Series back then and was able to run really well and we won that race, the first race here, and then ran pretty strong in my Cup Series career here since my Hendrick Motorsports days and in the Joe Gibbs Racing days. I don’t know if it’s necessarily a tendency or a trait or something that works with me here. Whatever it is, cool. Let’s keep it going. It’s nice to be able to come to Richmond and know this is a familiar place or familiar territory we can come and get strong runs and good finishes and be able to hopefully win and continue our winning ways here.”

Do the stats of where you are compared to many Hall of Fame drivers motivate you to keep winning?

“No, I don’t need any more motivation to try to win. We’ve got plenty of reasons to win – I think it’s written about all over me. It obviously is just cool to have opportunities like that, when you do win and you are successful, every weekend somebody brings up something new to you and there’s that top-10 streak that we’re kind of running right now that we’re on so that’s pretty cool. To keep that rolling as long as we can and of course too if we can win three in a row here at Richmond and match names like that – the Godfathers of our sport that built our sport to what it is today would be pretty cool. I think I’m only the third guy now — (Matt) Kenseth did it – to win on my birthday and I won here on my birthday years ago so that was pretty special too.”

What does it mean to see your name matched up to the Godfather’s of our sport?

“It’s pretty cool and I think we’re tied with Lee Petty right now so obviously there’s some pretty good company that’s in the top 10. In any sport in the top 10 of accolades that guys go up against, it’s pretty cool to be recognized within that group. I talk about where we’re at right now, it’s cool and it’s great, but I feel like hopefully I can still have 10 or 12 years left in this business to be able to have the opportunity to reach much higher levels and numbers and to look back on it and reminisce on it when it’s all said and done and see where we stack up.”

Is there anything specific you feel you’re missing compared to the Penske cars?

“I wouldn’t say it’s a multitude, but it’s just different things. The Penske guys just seem to have the pure short run speed right now where we don’t quite have that. That’s something that we know we need to work on and get better at and find. It would be nice to have short run speed and long run speed because then you would have the field covered. Some of these races have gone long runs that have lended more towards our style and where we’re at and some have lended towards the short run. It just kind of depends and it’s just the way the luck of the day falls. Last week at Bristol, the showed probably the most run speed, the longest speed of runs and they were fast for 50 laps and I think the longest run we had was 79. They were pretty quick for the majority of it and it was hard to make ground on them even in the long run when we had 40 laps on tires, it was still inches at a time rather than tenths of a second at a time.”

What do Samantha and Brexton think of the beard?

“I don’t think Brexton really cares, he doesn’t know much about it, but Samantha, it’s growing on her. It’s gotten softer so she’s a little bit better with it. She said, ‘You just have to keep it going, you’re on the top-10 streak so maybe that’s what it is and keep it rolling.’ I don’t know, I guess when I finish outside the top-10, it will be gone so we’ll see.”

There weren’t any ‘starting on the pole’ questions so I don’t have to come back later? Can we do that now?

“Feels pretty good to be able to get the number one qualifying spot today. I want to thank Mother Nature for that and having the opportunity to start up front because every time we do qualify here, we qualify in the back. It would be nice to start up where I think we’re going to finish and not have to pass everybody. That’s what I like, up front, it’s key.”

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
RICHMOND RACEWAY
TOYOTA OWNERS 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
APRIL 12, 2019

DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 8 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER BOATS CAMARO ZL1, met media and discussed the season thus far, making his second Cup start at Richmond Raceway and more. Full transcript:

IS THAT GOOD LUCK CHARM GOING TO WORK THIS WEEKEND?
“We’re going to find out; we have plenty of them. It’s cool to kind of posting that a joke and to see all the fans sending so many different, interesting gifts/lucky charms for us. It’s cool to see everybody react to that.”

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR SPIRIT UP DESPITE THE BAD LUCK YOU’VE EXPERIENCED THIS SEASON?
“It’s just been a matter to fall back on the things that got me through times like this in my life. This is definitely one of the harder moments because you kind of got to regroup and redo it all over again, so it’s such a quick timeframe. Some of the other series I’ve ran, you have more time to dwell or rebuild on whatever situation and so it’s kind of a good thing, bad thing. You have to turn it around really quick and flip it around. Juts the support group around me, my wife obviously first and foremost. She has seen me and dwelt with me through all stages of life and to get to this point, so leaning on her as well as the organization. They know the trials and things we’re going through and it’s not anything that any haven’t experienced before. It’s just been a little longer drawn out than we would want it to be. In the grand scheme of things, I’ve said that when the sun comes up you get another shot at it and that’s the way I’m approaching it.”

ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO CARRY ANY OF THOSE OR HAVE ANY IN THE CAR?
“It’s more of a personal thing. I’ll keep stuff on me personally inside my locker inside the hauler. In the race car, I’ve always been a little weird about putting something in the car. One of the fans sent us eight different rabbits’ feet. We’ve given one out to the crew chief and engineer, myself, the truck driver. Just distributed them in a way that we felt that anybody who had a hand on the car they have one to carry with them and however they feel appropriate. So just trying to make a little lighthearted situation out of it, but they are kind of spread out throughout the team.”

HOW DID THIS MORNING GO?
“This morning was kind of a battle again. We unloaded not where we wanted to be but in the grand scheme in how the car drove and the feel I look for when I come to Richmond we got it fairly close. I’m sure a lot of guys are struggling with rear grip and trying to maximize that part of making a lap here. The mechanics of what I want to feel we got pretty close to where I want to be, so hopefully we can get qualifying in here and we can get a solid starting position. It’s just one of those things that I think short-track racing that we’ve all grown up doing with feels and things that lets you attack and make a difference and we went the right way to help us do that.”

WAS THE RABBITS’ FEET THE MOST INTERESTING GOOD LUCK CHARM YOU HAD?
“In all fairness, when I posted it it was what, Monday or Tuesday, and we left pretty early to come up here, so I haven’t gotten to see the full box of – from my understanding a huge box of stuff came in – as I left the shop the other day, so I can’t quite answer that until probably next week. I’m very interested to see what we all have received. Definitely a lot of items to say the least. I think the rabbits’ feet was the most interesting to date. There have been a couple lucky coins, just a whole bunch of stuff.”

HOW MUCH TO YOU LEAN ON AUSTIN FOR ADVICE OR HELP?
“Very heavily. I don’t look at Austin as just a teammate. He’s family to me. As a guy I watched him grow up and have been a part of some of his success and seen him have the success he’s had. He’s also had his own struggles at times and stuff that I’ve seen and witnessed with my own eyes. I guess it was after Texas I reached out after him as well as RC and asked them both, ‘Man, this is probably the bottom for me. I got to know which way to go here.’ They said just keep putting your best foot forward and leaning on guys like that who have experienced the same struggles at times and came out on the other side with success, that’s all the motivation you need. It’s no different with our boss RC and what he’s done with the company Richard Childress Racing. It wasn’t only everything hunky dory. It’s had its own struggles as well. A lot of knowledge inside our company that as long as they stay patient with me, they are giving me time to be patient with myself, and it’s helping I think turn the corner. It’s just a matter of seeing it actually result in results. Once we get to that point, I think we’ll be just fine.”

DO YOU SET THIS AS A GAUGE OF WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED SINCE (LAST YEAR AT RICHMOND)?
“Not really. To make my debut here we got in trouble early in the race and had some things happen that kind of put that race as a race from an on-track performance thing that I try to forget because on a personal level that’s one of the biggest moments of my life making my Cup debut here last year. From the racetrack standpoint, this is the place I have the most confidence coming to. This is my favorite racetrack out of anywhere we go. I feel like I know what I need, and I know what I want, and very verbal about what I want and what I need in my race cars. It’s a matter of whether or not we can get them there. Because of that, I feel like I have a ton of confidence when I’m asking for those kinds of changes. So, with all that being said, I can’t really use that as a benchmark based off my first race here in a Cup car. But as far as translating feel to feel in different series I’ve ran here at Richmond, I think I can use that as a benchmark to see what our Xfinity cars are from a raw standpoint to how they stacked up to us having success versus the Cup car and seeing how it changes. With this aero package, we’ve been to places where … but that’s such a variable to really know what you’re looking for. Coming here, when you’re fighting mechanic grip all night, all day, I think it’s a good way to judge what changes are what from series to series and that’s the benchmark for me.”

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST THING YOU GUYS NEED RIGHT NOW?
“For us, it’s been balance. We’ve been on both sides of it all year. At times, the speed has been fine. Just haven’t been able to maintain the balance throughout the course of an entire race. The racetracks are obviously going through a big change, but even when we’ve had the speed, I haven’t felt like me and my race car drives like a top-five or top-10 capable of car. We’ve had a couple of them where if everything went right Atlanta, maybe, could have been a top five. Probably our best finish of the year if things go right there, but outside of that one run we’ve probably had an 11th-, 12th-, 15th-place car at best when we had the balance as close as we could get it. Getting that balance better and then obviously figuring out what it takes to make speed with it, I wish we could kind of flip those things. I wish I had the balance and not the speed because I think the way these races have gone the balance has mattered more than the speed. It’s just something that we’re kind of evolving with as we figure out more and more about the package itself. And, obviously as a driver, myself and Austin have to be the leaders to trend this thing in the right direction. We’ve tried a couple of things the last couple weeks that have allowed us to hone in on that and hopefully that’s what we’re doing.”

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Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Richmond Raceway – April 12, 2019

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media in Richmond:

MARTIN TRUEX JR, No. 19 Auto Owners Insurance Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How would you evaluate this season so far?

“So far it’s been good. Honestly, we haven’t gotten the results we probably deserve. We’ve had some tough races like last week. Drive up to second from a bad qualifying effort and have a loose wheel that puts us two laps down and then basically your race is over. We’ve had some hurdles for sure, but I think performance-wise, the team’s done a good job and we’ve run well. We’ve had a shot at winning a couple races already. Going to a new team with all new rules, I think it’s been a pretty good start, but certainly looking for more.”

How new is the new team?

“It’s a new group of guys and a new group of people. New pit crew. Just the way everybody fits together, works together – it’s a little bit different and that’s always something that can take a while to get rolling. Honestly, I think probably the rules and getting arms around that is a bigger story than new people here and there.”

Do you think you would have the same performance if you were still the 78 team?
“I don’t see why not. It’s hard to answer that question. I feel like we were so dialed in on that old package and our team – our stuff we liked to do and stuff that worked for us. We kind of had each track somewhat nailed down. Now each week it’s kind of new and you’re learning as you go so from that standpoint, it’s really hard to answer that question.”

Are the competition meetings different as a member of Joe Gibbs Racing?

“I would say they probably feel a bit more different than they are, to be honest. You feel like part of the team now and not a competitor. It’s great and it’s been really good.”

Are you still able to do things the way you want to do then or have you have to conform in some ways?

“I would say we pretty much do everything the way we want. Cole (Pearn, crew chief) might have a different answer on certain things. He kind of knows more of the day-to-day stuff and details. I think for the most part, for what I see, we get to do our own thing and we have leeway to make some options here and there and make decisions. Some guys want to go down one path and if we want to go down a different one then certainly I feel like we have the ability to do that.”

Do you feel the team members that went from the 78 to the 19 are happy?

“I don’t know. It’s really hard to answer these questions. I don’t live in these guys’ heads all week. I know they’re doing a great job and things are going well – that’s really all I can ask for. They’re professionals and at the end of the day, we’re here to do a job and that’s what we’re here to do. They’re doing a good job at it right now. I’m not a psychiatrist I guess is what I was trying to say.”

How do you feel coming into this race after a strong result in the fall?

“In general, over the last couple of years, this track has been really good for us. We’ve led so many laps, it’s kind of been one that we’ve let slip away a few times or kind of had things go against us towards the end of a few of them. From that standpoint, I always look forward to coming here and just trying to get some redemption. I love this track. It’s a great place to race. It’s more similar I would say to the short tracks that I grew up racing on, especially in the K&N Series, than anywhere we go. Martinsville and Bristol, they’re short tracks, but they’re so unique and so different to anywhere you could grow up racing across the country. I feel like you come here and you feel a little bit of that old short track feel of the car – the way it drives and the way you need to work on it. From the handling to the way you have to finesse the car, make tires last and those kinds of things. I really like this track, it’s very unique from that standpoint on our circuit. It’s a huge challenge for sure, but it’s been a good one for us, we just haven’t quite got that win yet.”

What are you able to learn from Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin with their success this year?

“I think when they say things you can pretty much guarantee that it’s right. They’re not just guessing or just talking to talk. If they say things about the car, things about the track or what they think it’s going to do, it’s not really taking a gamble taking their advice I guess. From that standpoint, that’s been good and all of us having a lot of experience, even Erik (Jones) has a lot of experience now and I feel like we get a lot out of each other. Not only as drivers, but our teams all working together – we get a lot out of each other. I feel like as a group, we go forward on the weekends from start to finish and that’s always a positive.”

How much has the success of Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin given you confidence every week?

“It always gives you confidence when your cars are fast and we’ve seen that. We’ve had enough speed to win races this year, we just haven’t put it all together. A couple seconds and a couple races where we felt like we had a car capable of winning and things didn’t work out. From that deal, we’re confident. Everybody is doing a good job, but it’s still early in the year and a lot is changing, things are changing fast. New rules for this year at all these race tracks and you have to stay on top of it, you have to keep pushing to try to find more because everybody is.”

Are there times when Kyle Busch is so hot on the track he seems invincible?

“Yeah, I’d say right now. Like last week, he even said he wasn’t going to win the race and the next thing you know he’s leading and they stay out and he drives off into the sunset. This sport is kind of cyclical. There’s a lot of highs and lows, but once you get on a roll – I’ve been on teams where you just get on a roll and you can’t do anything wrong. Then there’s other times like for us this year, it doesn’t seem like you can do anything right. It’s just the way it goes sometimes and you just have to work through it all and keep pushing to try to find more speed all the time. For me, as a driver I’m always looking at how I can be better or what I can do different. It changes so fast week to week with tires, cars and setups – just the rules and all the things we’re doing all the time, it’s always changing.”

How frustrating is it to have the potential you have and be going through this period?

“Honestly, it’s part of racing. I would say that most years or most of the time in racing, you feel this way. You feel like you’re not getting the results you deserve. I don’t know if it comes from it being a tough sport or the fact that a great season if you win six, seven, eight races – you still lose a lot more than you win. You’re always kind of playing defense somewhat and trying to get better and move forward. It is tough when you kind of have an unlucky streak going or feel like things aren’t going your way or not getting the results you deserve. Honestly, I’ve been through it a lot in my career and it pushes you to drive harder and try to get more out of the car and work harder to come in the next week and hopefully turn the tables.”

Are you happy at Joe Gibbs Racing?

“Yeah, it’s been great. I love it and everybody there has been awesome. I feel like part of the family so it’s been great.”

Is it easier to handle the unlucky streak after your success the past few years?

“Yeah, I would say absolutely. It absolutely is. You can be like, it’s just a race and we’ll get them next week. When you’re early in your career and you haven’t got those results yet, it really hurts because you feel like everybody forgets or everybody is questioning you and they really don’t pay attention to the race and didn’t see what happened for instance. If you didn’t know we had a loose wheel last week, you would have said we finished 19th or 17th, I don’t even know where we finished because I don’t care. When a race goes bad like that, you just have to forget about it. It’s definitely harder to do as a young guy or a new guy coming up trying to make your mark. For me, the last couple years have kind of proved what we’re capable of and we’re not satisfied with anything less than that. We really could care less what people say or write or think or anything like that. We are our own worst critics and I think that’s the best way to go racing.”

Is it harder to get over bad races now after being so successful?

“It’s easier to deal with the crappy days. There’s no question. It’s no easier to win, I can promise you that. It’s still very, very difficult. I don’t think that challenge ever gets easier, especially in this sport we’re in and all these people around this garage – top to bottom – are so good, so smart and you have to stay on top of it.”

What do you think Talladega will be like?

“I couldn’t tell you. It’s going to be really fast is all I know. Really fast. I think that in testing from what we’ve heard, how fast they were going, they had to keep slowing them down and that’s with three cars on the track. I don’t know, we get 38 cars, 35 car pack or something like that – it’s going to be fast.”

Does the potential of those speeds at Talladega worry you?

“No, not really. I really don’t know how the cars are going to drive, how they’re going to handle or what its going to be like. We’ve never had anywhere near this much horsepower at a restrictor track before. It’s going to be a whole new learning experience, just like every other week this year I suppose.”

What do you anticipate with this package in the race at Richmond?

“It seems like the shorter the track, the less the changes from last year had affected things. Martinsville was a little different, Bristol was a little different and here feels a little different. Not huge and not a huge change with the more downforce. Of course they changed the tire as well so you never know which is which. Do we have less grip in the tire, more in the car? Speeds today weren’t as quick as I thought they would be, I thought the track felt slicker than it should have so I would assume we had a little less grip in the tires.”

What is it about Richmond that fits your driving style?

“Just the old school kind of short track feel. It’s really slippery out there. I can’t stress enough how slick this track is and especially on the long runs how bad the wheel spin is and how the cars just don’t handle good here. The tires wear out and the pace gets really slow. Just managing the car and kind of being somewhat of a finesse driver and being able to finesse the car and take care of it I think. I feel like I’ve gotten better at it over the years and here, I think as a team we’ve just really hit on some things that have worked for us in the past. Hopefully they work again for us this weekend.”

Do you feel like Richmond ‘owes you one?’

“Man, I’ve been down that road. Nothing owes you anything. You have to earn it in this sport. It’s tough. A perfect example, Jimmie Johnson has won how many races at Martinsville and he went there this year and he’s two laps down. None of these places owe you anything, you have to go out and get it.”

If you could pick anything to do with horsepower or the package, what would you do at Talladega?

“I really enjoy the old cars at Talladega. I guess it would be Gen-5. I really thought those cars were fun. They were kind of more strategic, you had to really setup your runs and it wasn’t just like everybody could get a run and make a pass at any time. You had to kind of play that strategy. I guess we had a lot less horsepower and a lot slicker race car. I would go that direction, but I guess it depends on who you ask and at the end of the day, Talladega is not my favorite in general, it hasn’t been very kind to me.”

What is the simple reason why you and Cole Pearn aren’t dominating races right now?

“Rule changes, lots of them. Lots and lots of rule changes, that’s the best I can tell you. I think if you talk to Cole (Pearn, crew chief), he’ll tell you as well, we haven’t executed that well as a group. Friday’s have really hurt us. Last week was another example of that, we qualified 23rd at Bristol. We had a car we probably could have won with. We just have to put together a full weekend. Honestly, we’ve been good enough to win four or five races already I think. Part of the race we’re good here, part of the race we’re good there and we have a mistake here and a mistake there, you just have to do it all right and you have to be perfect. We haven’t been able to do that yet. Everybody is so close and so tight here, you have to have everything perfect. One little mistake, whether it’s with the car setup or making a wrong decision going into a race or one pit stop – a bad qualifying or a bad pit stall, little things they add up and just can’t afford them here.”

How did you get better at not speeding on pit road?

“Try to be as aggressive as you can without stepping over the line. Another place you have to get all you can because if you give up one or two seconds on pit road, that could be two or three spots. At the end of a race, that could be the difference in winning and losing. It’s definitely difficult and something you have to work on with your team. I think that the more we work on it and the more we talk about it, seems like the more it’s helped. If you just go in the race blind and say, yeah we’re going to be fine then that’s when I feel like it bites you.”

Do you have the dashboard setup a certain way to keep you from speeding?

“Everybody does their lights a little different with how they set their dash. We have a digital dash so you can choose any color lights or how many lights you want to have and then I know the engine tuners and stuff, they can set filters to make it more accurate or less accurate. It’s a whole thing. We kind of just try to keep it the same all the time and adjust our speeds from there. It’s worked pretty well for us. I would say we’re not consistently the best on pit road, but we’re usually right up front and get less speeding penalties than most.”

Does the team ever make you think you’re going one speed when you’re going another?

“That’s the problem, we don’t have any idea how fast we’re going. They set it all, they tell us what to do and we do it. Now if you don’t do it right, they can know and they know when they look at it. I just follow directions basically and my guys do a good job with that.”

Is pit road speed a mental game?

“Not really, it’s just something that it takes a lot of concentration because there’s so much going on. You figure you’re out there racing and you’re so focused on the car and going fast and hitting your marks and racing in traffic. Then all of the sudden you hit pit road and it’s like slow and steady – it’s just different. It’s like when I go home after a race and get in the car or leave the race track in a vehicle and I feel like 50 mph, I’m barely moving. On a normal day, I feel completely normal going 50 mph with traffic. It’s that separation from being on the race track, being 110% all the time to kind of having to reign yourself in and have that control. It’s harder than it should be or harder than it seems for most people.”

RICHMOND, Va. (April 12, 2019) – Five individuals with mobility challenges, including three U.S. Paralympians were on the fast track Wednesday (April 10), riding and driving the adaptive Bass Pro Shops/Toyota Camry at Richmond Raceway. The event served as a prelude to this weekend’s Toyota Owners 400 and ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR races at the historic .75-mile short track.

It was the second event of the year for the Falci Adaptive Motorsports team, whose NASCAR Cup race car includes special components which allow those with mobility challenges to drive the car hands-and-feet free with only slight movements of the head and mouth.

Before driving on their own, the participants took a few laps as a passenger in the race car with NASCAR Xfinity Series Toyota driver Christopher Bell behind the wheel. The thrill and excitement to ride along with Bell at speeds ranging up to 130 miles per hour and nearly hugging Richmond’s Raceway’s concrete wall was indeed an exhilarating experience for the participants.

Steve Serio, a Team Toyota athlete and co-captain of the U.S. Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team when they won the gold medal during the Paralympic Games Rio 2016, exited the adaptive race car eyes wide open with an euphoric smile.

“That was a surreal experience to be a rider and driver of a NASCAR race car,” said Serio, who was paralyzed after undergoing surgery at 11 months old to have a spinal tumor removed. “Coming from New York City we don’t get the chance to go that fast. That first moment when Chris took off, it was a feeling I have never experienced before.

“If Chris pulled up as my Uber driver, I would be really excited to get there quickly but I would definitely strap my seatbelt and hold on. He would drive circles around any New York City cab driver. This event with Falci Adaptive Motorsports is a perfect example of how dedication to innovation can bring freedom of movement to everybody with different ability levels.”

Trevon Jenifer (two-time Paralympian) and Will Waller (four-time Paralympian), also members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, echoed the same feelings as Serio.

“I felt like I was in a rocket ship,” said Jenifer, who has no legs as a result of being born with congenital amputation. “Chris was awesome. While it was like another day at the office for him my heart was jumping out of my chest. Being a passenger and then driving the car definitely superseded what my expectations were. Didn’t expect to go that fast.

“This is an example of making things more adaptive to the disabled community. It’s awesome because I never thought I would be able to adapt to NASCAR. But there are people out there like members of the Falci Adaptive Motorsports team finding a way to make things more adaptive for the disabled. It’s all about inclusion.”

Waller, who sustained a spinal cord injury after being a victim of an inner city shooting in 1992, elaborated on his version of the experience.

“I’ve gone fast on highways, but never that fast,” said Waller in his booming voice. “The acceleration of the race car was really, really cool. I used to work for Goodyear and going around the track on Goodyear tires had a very special meaning for me because I’ve been in the plant where those tires are built. An awesome day and an amazing experience.”

Along with the U.S. Paralympians, quadriplegic individuals – Ethan Thompson and Jake Walter — also took part in the ride along and drive.

“It was everything I expected and more,” said Thompson. “I’ve been a NASCAR fan my entire life and this is a dream come true.”

Walter said after his ride and drive, “The ride was fabulous and pretty powerful. Driving on my own was something else. I would love to take it on the street. That would be so much fun.”

Dr. Scott Falci, a Denver-based neurosurgeon, who founded Falci Adaptive Motorsports, said he was excited about how the event turned out and looked forward to the future with more technology for the mobility-challenged.

“This was our sixth overall event and gets better each time,” said Falci. “With the adaptive technologies we keep honing I think the car will become more user friendly and hopefully the adaptive technologies that we develop will shoot out to the real world and help those with disabilities. We have a mission, and the good news is we’re off to a great start.”

Joe Garone, who oversees the operations and fundraising for Falci Adaptive Motorsports, said the adaptive program is moving forward and felt the Richmond event was a total success.

“Everyone at Falci Adaptive Motorsports extends a sincere thank you to Toyota and Bass Pro Shops for their sponsorship of the Richmond event and we also send a great deal of gratitude to the folks at Richmond Raceway for the support and enthusiasm about our program. It was such an electric atmosphere with all the participants beaming with excitement as they rode and drove the adaptive Bass Pro Shops/Toyota Camry.

“Christopher Bell also did a tremendous job as our Cup driver. He was very well received by the participants. We’re looking at additional venues to showcase our adaptive program. Personally, it’s been a wonderful experience and I look forward with great enthusiasm in growing the program that will lead to developing more mobility to the mobility-challenged community.”

It has happened to most of us: we are driving down the highway and CRACK! A rock flies right into the windshield. It’s a pain and annoyance that once meant you had to replace the entire windshield. Luckily, with new technology, chips and cracks in the glass can be repaired and salvaged, depending on the severity of the damage.

Whether you should replace or repair depends on several factors such as length, depth, and location of the damage. Let’s go over how to make the decision between replacement and repair.

How Soon Should You Fix Your Windshield?

It is easy to want to put off repairing a little chip in your windshield, especially if it doesn’t obstruct your vision. Windshields need to be replaced or repaired as soon as possible. A small crack can spread if you hit a pothole or are driving down a bumpy, unpaved road.

In many states it is illegal to drive with a cracked windshield. It is an integral part of the overall structure and strength of the car, and damage should not be ignored.

How to Tell When Windshields Can Be Repaired?

Windshield repair is a process where resin is inserted into the chip or crack, then cured and polished for strength and clarity. If you are obsessive about the appearance of your car, repair may not be the right option for you. Windshield repair serves to protect the glass from further damage, but does not always look perfect, and can leave a slight blemish in the glass.

Repairs are a great way to save money and salvage a windshield, but there are limitations. Not all cracks and chips can be repaired. Sometimes a full replacement is required. It depends on the size, location, and depth of the damage.

Size – A general rule of thumb to follow is any chip smaller than a quarter or crack shorter than three inches can be repaired. Depth, location, and expertise of who is repairing the glass also come into play, but usually any damage larger than the sizes mentioned needs a full replacement.

Location – As a rule of thumb if there is damage in the following areas you will need a full replacement:

·      In the drivers line of site: a repair can cause distortion in the glass, this is fine in other parts of the windshield, but in front of the driver can inhibit their vision

·      On a side or back window: most side and back windows are made of tempered glass, which cannot be repaired like the laminated glass used for windshields

·      Obstructing sensors: damage that blocks the view of lane control, automatic braking, rain sensors, etc. cannot afford to be distorted, they need clear vision to function properly

·      Damage to outer edge of the glass: cracks spreading to the edge of the windshield compromise the structural integrity of the glass

Depth – Windshields are made up of three layers. Two layers of tempered glass sandwich a middle, inner layer of polyl-vinyl butyral. If the chip is deeper than the inner layer it is too deep for repair, and must be replaced.

If you are unsure if you should repair or replace your windshield you can consult with a repair and replacement service such as www.richmondhillautoglass.ca. They will examine your car and even give you an estimate for how much it would cost to repair or replace it.

Where To Get a Repair

Depending on your location and personal need there are several options for where to get servicing:

·      New car dealer

·      Automotive glass specialist

·      Mobile glass repair and replacement – come to your home

·      General glass service

DIY Repair

If you are comfortable and have some experience in auto-repair, you can try to replace a windshield by yourself. Repair kits are available with materials similar to those used by professionals to insert resin injections into the glass. This is the cheapest option, but these kits are lower quality than the material and supplies professionals have.

If you are concerned about the appearance of your windshield, this is probably not the best option for you.

Conclusion

Repairing a crack or chip can save you a lot of money, but sometimes it is necessary to replace the entire windshield. No matter what the solution, it is important to your safety to take care of it as soon as possible.

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Richmond Raceway … Richard Childress has nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories as a car owner at Richmond Raceway – five with Dale Earnhardt, three with Kevin Harvick and one with Clint Bowyer. Additionally, in 171 starts at the Richmond, Va.-based track, RCR drivers have claimed 37 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed three of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,936 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 488 top-five finishes and 1,068 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Menards Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

#RCR50 … Richard Childress Racing celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary in 2019. Follow our social channels season-long to join in the celebration.

Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3, @TylerReddick and @DanielHemric. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – http://www.facebook.com/austindillon3 and www.facebook.com/DanielHemric.

Catch the Action … The Richmond 400 will be televised live Saturday, April 13 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week’s AAA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Richmond Raceway … In 10 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Dillon’s best finish at the track is sixth in September 2018. He earned his best starting position of eighth in the September 2016 edition of the race. He also has 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, acquiring seven top-10 finishes and one pole award.

Go Ahead … AAA has been in the assurance business for over 100 years, providing the peace-of-mind that comes with the nation’s most recommended roadside assistance. But now more than ever, AAA helps to enhance the everyday – providing knowledge and insight so members can make the most of their lives. From auto loans to insurance, roadside assistance to repair and maintenance, travel planning to discounts, AAA offers the products, services and experience to fulfill members’ needs. Learn how AAA helps members go ahead at AAA.com.

Cheering for Dillon … If you’re at Richmond Raceway, come shop the all-new Austin Dillon merchandise available track-side by visiting the RCR souvenir trailer in the fan midway.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What do you think about some of the changes Richmond Raceway has made?
“I think Richmond Raceway has done a really good job moving the facility forward. It’s nice to see what a lot of the tracks on the NASCAR schedule are doing in terms of improvements. It puts us in competition with other sports that have impressive venues. Richmond Raceway is one of those venues that I enjoy going to now because of the additions that they have made to the track facility-wise. As far as racing at Richmond Raceway, in the past Richmond has not been one of my best tracks. I’ve qualified well there and ran well for a little while, but always seemed to struggle adjusting the car throughout the race. Last year, Richmond Raceway was a bright spot for us. We finished sixth the second race there and raced inside the top-10 the entire race. I was really pumped after last year to see what we were able to do because that was definitely an Achilles heel for me in the past. I had to get over it mentally because it beat me up pretty hard for a while. Now, I love going to Richmond Raceway. We figured something out. We’ve found a setup that works, so I’m pumped to get to Richmond.”

Will the new rules package make a big difference at Richmond Raceway since it’s a night race and the temperatures are, theoretically, much cooler?
“Yeah, it definitely should. That place falls off a lot. Tires matter the most there. Down force is big but at a place where you’re going a lot slower, it doesn’t come into play as much as the tires do. The tires are always the main factor when we get to Richmond Raceway, and figuring out how to make them hold on.”

Is that really the battle of this package – trying to get the right tire to make the car do what you hope it will do?
“I think it should race fine. I think our short track races have been good this year. Richmond Raceway always produces good races because of the falloff we see in the tires. You see a lot of guys come and go throughout that race. It’s a race that’s challenging to keep up with the handing of your car as track conditions change and rubber lays down. The movement around the track is key.”

Is Richmond Raceway different night versus day, or not so much?
“There are definitely big differences from night time to day time and how hot the track gets. At night as rubber lays down the track seems to mysteriously do things that you wouldn’t obviously think affect the car. I always try to do the opposite of what I think when I get to Richmond Raceway and it helps.”

Daniel Hemric and the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Richmond Raceway … Hemric will return to the site of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut for his second start at Richmond Raceway. Hemric completed 99.3 percent of the laps in his debut on April 21, 2018. In four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Virginia short track, Hemric has an average start of 4.8, average finish of 9.8, a total of 85 laps led and one pole award.

Meet the Driver … Fans will have the opportunity to meet the driver of the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the RCR merchandise hauler for an autograph session on Saturday, April 13, starting at 3:15 p.m. ET. The first 50 fans to purchase an RCR-related item will receive a wristband for the autograph session.

Meet the Press … Hemric is scheduled to meet with members of the NASCAR media corps during an availability session at the Richmond Raceway media center on Friday, April 12, starting at 3 p.m. ET.

About Bass Pro Shops … Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit .

DANIEL HEMRIC QUOTE:
You have a strong record in the Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway and made your Cup debut there last April. Where does that track rank for you and what does it take to be successful there?
“For me, you just chase grip at Richmond Raceway. Front grip, rear grip, overall grip is king. There is something that I have found there over the last few time races that have caused us to not necessarily qualify well, but really comes on 20-30 laps into the run. It will be key to find that early in the weekend and maintain that throughout the weekend and Saturday night’s race. With this new package, it is going to be a challenge to get back to the gas and have good forward drive off the corners. If we can get that feeling I’m looking for, Richmond is my personal favorite track on the schedule that we go to and hopefully when we get there this weekend, we can start to turn some of this bad luck around and have a solid day with the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway … In 98 Series starts at the 0.75-mile raceway, RCR has captured six victories with drivers Kevin Harvick (2003, 2005, 2006 and 2012) and Clint Bowyer (2007). The Welcome, North Carolina organization has accumulated seven pole awards, 31 top-five finishes, 54 top-10 finishes, led 1,989 laps and averages a starting position of 11.1 and finishing position of 12.4. RCR has completed 23,486 laps of the 24,142 (97.3 percent) that they have competed.

Bristol Review … Tyler Reddick secured his fourth-consecutive top-five finish when he placed second during last weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Hello, Kaz Grala … Kaz Grala will make his second of select NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for RCR this weekend at Richmond Raceway. Grala will pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro under the direction of crew chief, Justin Alexander.

Dash 4 Cash … The NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash is back. The top-four finishing Xfinity Series regulars from Bristol Motor Speedway will compete for a $100,000 bonus at Richmond Raceway this weekend. Tyler Reddick qualified for this segment of Dash 4 Cash with his second-place finish at Bristol.

The Points …Tyler Reddick remains the current Xfinity Series points leader.

Social Media … To keep up with the latest updates from RCR’s Xfinity Series teams, follow @RCRracing and @RCRNXS on Twitter. Updates can also be found via RCR’s Facebook Page and Instagram (@RCRracing).

Catch the Action … Coverage of this week’s Richmond 250 at Richmond Raceway will be televised live on Friday, April 12, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on FS1. It will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.

Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Anderson’s Maple Syrup Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond Raceway … In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Tyler Reddick has one top-10 finish, placing seventh at the 0.75-mile track in last fall’s race. The defending champion has completed all but one of his 750 laps attempted at the track.

About Anderson’s Maple Syrup … In 1928, Paul Anderson first shared the distinct taste of Wisconsin’s Northwoods by producing sweet pure maple syrup and starting a 90-year pure maple syrup tradition. Three generations later his grandson, Steve Anderson, still carries on this syrup making heritage by bottling pure maple syrup from the same sugar bush his grandfather tapped for so many years. Anderson’s Maple Syrup is pure, all natural and a healthy alternative for families. From its humble roots in Cumberland, Wisconsin; Anderson’s Maple Syrup is still made with the love your family would expect. Try Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup in coffee or tea as a sweetener, and on ice cream as a topping. Today, some of the top barbecue grillers and chefs in the country eye Anderson’s as one of the best ingredients and glazes for most meats, fruits & veggies for summertime use and ham glazes for the special occasions. From our farm to your kitchen Anderson’s can be found in grocery & specialty stores around the country. “Everything tastes better with Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup”. For more information on Anderson’s Maple Syrup, visit andersonsmaplesyrup.com, and follow Anderson’s Maple Syrup Racing on Twitter via @AndersonsMaple and on Facebook via AndersonsMapleSyrup.

Powered by Pure Fuel … The Anderson family eats, breathes, and sleeps Pure Maple Syrup. They have for over 90 years! When Steve Anderson’s sister started talking about the energy gels that she and her friends use during marathon training, he was listening. They’ve heard one common complaint – these gels are thick and even with plenty of water can be difficult to swallow and digest. It got him thinking. What is it that your body needs to keep you fueled when working out? A little research quickly revealed that the family’s passion is good for something other than breakfast. It turns out, Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup has the same nutrients that endurance athletes and mid-endurance athletes need but is easier to swallow and digest when working out. So, they put Anderson’s Organic Pure Maple Syrup in a gel packet and called it Pure Fuel. Pure because it is an All Natural, Organic Pure Maple Syrup with nothing added. It is straight from the tree to you. Fuel because it supports your performance with natural nutrients that your body needs like manganese, zinc and potassium, along with over 60 antioxidants. The most obvious source of Fuel for athletes is carbohydrate intake. Research shows that the most efficient way to replenish carbs while working out is with a combination of fructose and glucose, and guess what? Pure Maple Syrup and Pure Fuel are natural sources for these energy boosters! With Pure Fuel there is no need for chemical manipulation or additives. So, give Pure Fuel a try. The Anderson family think you’ll find that, just like Steve Anderson’s sister and her friends, this stuff works! Visit OrganicPureFuel.com to learn more.

Dash 4 Cash … Reddick qualified for this week’s Xfinity Racing Dash 4 Cash bonus after finishing second and being the top-four finishing Xfinity Series regulars during last week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He will compete against Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Cole Custer for the $100,000 bonus at Richmond Raceway.

Meet Reddick … Fans have the chance to meet Reddick when he takes part in a Dash 4 Cash Q&A session at Richmond Raceway’s FanGrounds Stage beginning at 2 p.m. local time on Friday, April 12. Later that day, Reddick will also take part in a Dash 4 Cash autograph session at the Xfinity Zone beginning at 2:50 p.m. local time.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
We visit another short track this weekend, Richmond Raceway. Do you prefer Richmond to Bristol Motor Speedway?
“I actually do, and I never thought I’d say that. I struggled with Richmond early in my career and couldn’t figure it out the first two times I raced there. Last fall, I don’t know exactly what happened, but something clicked for me at that track. I went in there with my team with a headstrong plan of running our own race and focusing on ourselves, and it ended up working out really well for us. Seventh isn’t necessarily the best finish, but at the time it was just what I needed and helped me build some confidence at that track. Being in this No. 2 Chevrolet this time around, I feel good about our chances. My crew chief, Randall Burnett, and the team had a lot of speed there during both visits last year. We’ve had a great start to the year, so I’m hoping at Richmond we can take it to the next step and get our first win of the year.”

Kaz Grala and the No. 21 HotScream Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond Raceway … Kaz Grala has one previous NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Richmond Raceway, as well as two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts and one start in the 2013 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at the 0.75-mile track. His best start of fifth and best finish of eighth came in the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at the track.

About HotScream … HotScream takes two concepts, dessert and spicy food, and combines them to form a product that can only be described as ‘HotScream The Spicy Ice Cream’. By taking ice cream with its cool creaminess and incorporating a spicy swirl, HotScream has created a new taste sensation, one that almost defies one’s own senses. At first, you taste the pureness of the vanilla, followed quickly by the sweetness of one of seven flavor swirls. As you continue to enjoy HotScream, things change: You feel a warming sensation that starts in the back of your mouth, creating a rush that only can come from spicy foods. The warming continues to linger but doesn’t engulf your mouth with fire. Taking another bite, you again taste the cool, creamy vanilla and the respective flavor profile while the heat dissipates, only to come back time and time again. HotScream will be available in Walmart stores from Maine to Texas, ACME Food stores, Big Y, select ShopRites and Stop & Shop in April. For more information, visit .

Meet Grala … Fans can meet Grala when he stops by the Xfinity Zone for a Q&A session on Friday, April 12, beginning at 1:45 p.m. local time. Stop by, ask a question and grab an autograph before he goes racing under the lights.

KAZ GRALA QUOTE:
Now that you have one race under your belt with RCR, what are your thoughts about getting back behind the wheel this weekend at Richmond Raceway?
“I feel really confident going into Richmond Raceway with the No. 21 HotScream team. We learned a lot about each other at Texas Motor Speedway, and definitely showed some strengths that we can build on. RCR already has a great baseline for Richmond, so I think our focus this weekend is going to be keeping up with the changing track conditions and making sure we are proactive with our adjustments. Luckily, my crew chief, Justin Alexander, has had some great success at Richmond in the past, so I’ll be looking to him for guidance throughout the day on Friday. Tire management over the course of a run has always been one of my strong suits, so I am looking forward to putting this No. 21 HotScream Camaro up front and hopefully capitalizing at the end of the night.”

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Toyota Owners 400
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Saturday, April 13
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 100),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 200), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)
2018 Winner: Kyle Busch

NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: ToyotaCare 250
The Place: Richmond Raceway
The Date: Friday, April 12
The Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 6:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 187.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 75),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
2018 Winner: Christopher Bell

NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Next Race: JEGS 200
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Friday, May 3
The Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 4:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
2018 Winner: Johnny Sauter

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Kyle Busch looking for three in a row

They say Virginia is for lovers and one thing Kyle Busch would love to do is win his third straight race at Richmond Raceway this Saturday (April 12, 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader and winner of three races already this season (including last weekend’s battle at Bristol) is looking to do what was last accomplished in the early 1980s by Bobby Allison – win three consecutive races at the 3/4-mile track.

Only three drivers have won three or more in a row at Richmond – all NASCAR Hall of Famers – David Pearson (three, 1965-66), Richard Petty (seven, 1970-1973) and Allison (three, 1982-83).

And in the last 20 years, only one other driver has even won back-to-back races – Jimmie Johnson in a sweep of the 2007 season races.

It will be hard to bet against Busch achieving that mark of three straight this weekend. The Las Vegas native remains the lone Monster Energy Series driver to finish in the top 10 in each race this season. And last year the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry also won Bristol the weekend before the Toyota Owners 400.

Overall, Busch has six Richmond Cup wins in 27 starts – along with 17 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. And even if he doesn’t visit Victory Lane on Saturday, he still stands a good shot at extending his top-10 streak to 11 races as he has an average finish of 6.9 at Richmond.

Harvick still hungry for a win

After posting eight wins in 2018, Kevin Harvick is winless thus far in 2019 and has to be missing the sweet sound of confetti cannons in Victory Lane.

Despite failing to post a win through the opening eight races, the 2014 Monster Energy Series champ has six top 10s (Daytona and Bristol being the lone exceptions) and three top fives. And a fun fact there – all of those top fives were fourth-place finishes for the driver of the No. 4 Stewart Haas Racing Ford Mustang.

But could Richmond be the place that puts Harvick back on top? He has three wins at the track and finished in the top five in both races last season. Overall in 36 starts at Richmond, Harvick has 14 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.

He’s completed over 99% of the laps in those races, led 1,109 laps (fourth on his career tally list: Phoenix – 1,595, Dover – 1,442, Atlanta – 1,197) and has yet to post a DNF at the 0.75-mile track.

However, it’s been five years since his last win at Richmond Raceway – which came in the spring race in 2013 while he was still with Richard Childress Racing. But in the 10 races at Richmond since joining Stewart-Haas, Harvick has been amazingly consistent – posting seven top fives and recording a worst finish of 15th.

So, could this be the track that puts Harvick back on top? Survey says…possibly!

Seven-time getting back on track

The last time a winner of a Richmond Raceway Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series contest went on to win the year-end title was 2008. And in fact, that same driver achieved the same feat in 2007.

The driver? Jimmie Johnson.

After posting his second top-10 finish in a row, and fourth of the season, last weekend at Bristol, the driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is hoping this positive trend continues as he hopes to end a nearly two-year winless streak…and potentially march towards a record-setting eighth championship.

The last time Johnson visited Victory Lane was in June of 2017 at Dover. Through eight races last year, he had two top 10s and an average finish of 19.12. This year, he has an average finish of 14.5 to accompany his four top 10s.

There’s reason to have optimism that Johnson can post a solid finish or even reach Victory Lane at Richmond this weekend. He has three wins, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes and has finished all but one race in 34 starts. And he has top-10 finishes in seven of the past nine races at the track – including a sixth-place result in this race last season.

The terrific two at the top

Nobody has dominated the Monster Energy Series this season like the Fords of Team Penske and the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing.

The organizations have shut all other teams out of Victory Lane in 2019. Penske’s Joey Logano (Las Vegas) and Brad Keselowski (Atlanta, Martinsville) have captured three races while JGR’s Denny Hamlin (Daytona, Texas) and Kyle Busch (ISM Raceway, Auto Club, Texas) have combined for the other five wins.

And there’s no reason to think that trend couldn’t continue this weekend. The dynamic duo has combined to win eight of the last 10 races at Richmond Raceway. The lone standouts were current Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kyle Larson in the 2017 fall race and Kurt Busch in the spring of 2015:

Spring 2014 – Joey Logano (Team Penske)

Fall 2014 – Brad Keselowski (Team Penske)

Spring 2015 – Kurt Busch (Stewart Haas Racing)

Fall 2015 – Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Spring 2016 – Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Fall 2016 – Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Spring 2017 – Joey Logano (Team Penske)

Fall 2017 – Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Spring 2018 – Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Fall 2018 – Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Here’s a breakdown of the current driver lineups for the two teams and their historic performance at Richmond:

Joe Gibbs Racing

Kyle Busch – The leader among active drivers with six wins at the track (double that of the next closest competitors), he also has 17 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes in 27 starts.

Denny Hamlin – The Virginia native has three wins at his home track along with 11 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 25 starts.

Martin Truex Jr. – The first-year Joe Gibbs Racing driver has yet to win in 26 starts at Richmond, and has three top fives and nine top 10s.

Erik Jones – The JGR driver with the least experience at the track has one top-10 finish in four starts.

Team Penske

Joey Logano – The reigning Monster Energy Series champion leads the team with two wins at Richmond, along with eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 20 starts.

Brad Keselowski – The 2012 series champion has recorded a win in 19 starts and has tallied four top fives and nine top 10s. Richmond will be Keselowski’s 350th career Monster Energy Series start.

Ryan Blaney – The most junior member of the team has yet to post a top 10 in six starts at Richmond.

Chip Ganassi Racing looking to break up the band at the top

If there’s a team who might feel optimistic about their chances of breaking up the pair of dominating forces on the winners’ list this year it could be Chip Ganassi Racing.

Kyle Larson is one of two non-JGR or Penske drivers to record a win at Richmond in the last 10 races – winning the fall race in 2017. And the only other driver outside of those teams to win at Richmond in that 10-race stretch was Kurt Busch (then with Stewart Haas Racing but now teamed up with Larson at CGR) in the spring of 2015.

Busch’s 2019 has started off strong. Through the opening eight races, he has three top-five and six top-10 finishes – including a runner-up to his little brother Kyle last weekend at Bristol. And he currently sits eighth in points.

Overall, he has a pair of wins at Richmond, along with seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 36 starts.

Larson has only recorded two top-10s this season and sits an uncharacteristic 14th in points.

In 10 starts at Richmond, he has the win from 2017, two top fives (including a runner-up finish in the fall of 2016) and four top 10s.

Parade Laps: Insights ahead of this week’s driver media breakouts

Six drivers from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be participating in this week’s media rotations at Richmond Raceway leading into this Saturday’s Toyota Owner’s 400 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ryan Blaney – The driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang has yet to post a top 10 in six career series starts at Richmond Raceway – and is the only member of his team to not have a win, yet, in 2019. Currently sixth in points, he has four top fives and four top 10s so far this season along with a Busch Pole and a season-best finish of third at Phoenix.

Chris Buescher – Racing with a full-time teammate (Ryan Preece) for the first time at JTG Daugherty Racing is the driver of the No. 37 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Buescher is currently 23rd in points and recorded a ninth-place finish at Atlanta earlier this season. He, like Blaney, has six starts at Richmond without a top 10.

Martin Truex Jr. – The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry is still chasing his first win of the season – and his first win at Richmond Raceway. He does have three top fives and nine top 10s in 26 starts at the 0.75-mile venue. Overall this season he is seventh in points with two top fives and five top 10s.

Aric Almirola – Almirola’s streak of six top-10 finishes came to an abrupt end last weekend in Bristol after getting caught up in an early-race incident. Besides last week, the driver of the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang is having a fantastic start to the year. In 14 starts at Richmond, he has two top fives and five top 10s, including placing fifth here last fall.

William Byron – The second-year Hendrick Motorsports driver who pilots the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has just two starts at Richmond and is still looking for his first top 10 there. Byron is currently 20th in the points standings and has a season-best finish of sixth at Texas for his lone top 10 of the year.

Paul Menard – Legendary Virginia-based Wood Brothers Racing is hoping the driver of the No. 21 Ford Mustang can net the team their 100th Monster Energy Series win in their home state. His best finish of the season came last weekend at Bristol (sixth). In 24 starts at Richmond, he has one top 10 – a fifth-place result in the fall of 2013.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Xfinity dashes for the cash at Richmond Raceway

This season’s Dash 4 Cash program continues to produce lots of heightened action for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contenders.

First at Texas Motor Speedway two races ago, Michael Annett, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe all qualified for the first round of the Dash 4 Cash at Bristol.

Then last weekend, Christopher Bell won the first of four Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus checks with his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell not only grabbed the checkered flag at Bristol, the spoils of Victory Lane and the big check, but he also qualified himself for this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash at Richmond Raceway.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe are this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash qualifiers in Friday night’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway (April 12 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

2019 Dash 4 Cash Format Rundown:

Ø The top four NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contending drivers at Texas Motor Speedway qualified for the first Dash 4 Cash event at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Ø Of the four NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers competing for Dash 4 Cash, the highest finisher wins the $100,000 prize, and automatically moves on to defend the title at the next event.

Ø The next three highest-finishing NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contending drivers, for four total competitors, will join the previous Dash 4 Cash winner to compete for the next week’s event.

Ø Each of the four races this season will provide an opportunity for the qualifying Dash 4 Cash contenders to win a $100,000 bonus.

Christopher Bell is looking to become the ninth driver in NASCAR Xfinity Series history to win more than one Dash 4 Cash in a single season; joining Brad Keselowski (2009), Reed Sorenson (2011), Elliott Sadler (2012 and 2018), Austin Dillon (2013), Regan Smith (2015), Daniel Suarez (2015) Erik Jones (2016) and Justin Allgaier (2017) with two Dash 4 Cash wins each per season. Bell swept both Richmond races in 2018. He has made three series starts at Richmond posting two wins, three top 10s and an average finish of 2.7.

2018 Xfinity champ and current points leader, Tyler Reddick, is ready to cash one of those big bonus checks. In three starts at Richmond he has put up one top 10 and an average finish of 11.7.

Cole Custer came close to cashing in on last weekend’s Dash 4 Cash check, finishing third at Bristol, just behind race winner Christopher Bell. This weekend, Custer will have another shot at the big payday at 0.75-mile Richmond Raceway, a track where he has made five starts, posting two top 10s and an average finish of 10.8.

A $100,00 bonus is big chunk of change for any of the drivers this weekend at Richmond, but especially so for Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Chase Briscoe. The youngster from Indiana will get his second chance at the bonus as he finished a strong fourth last weekend at Bristol to qualify for this weekend. Briscoe has found his footing early this season, as he is on a streak of five top-10 finishes dating back to Las Vegas. He made his series debut at Richmond last season driving for Roush Fenway Racing, starting 15th and finishing 26th.

Christopher Bell not done cashing in

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell will be making his 49th NASCAR Xfinity Series career start this weekend at Richmond Raceway, and with how his career has skyrocketed it should be no surprise his name is being mentioned with some of the all-time greats of the series.

Last season, Bell set the Sunoco Rookie single season record for wins with seven victories, surpassing previous rookie record holders Greg Biffle (2002), Kyle Busch (2004) and Carl Edwards (2005) with five wins each.

This past weekend at Bristol, Christopher Bell won his 10th NASCAR Xfinity Series race in his 48th career start – a winning percentage of 20.83%. How impressive is that? Well, only four other drivers in series history have recorded 10 or more wins in their first 48 Xfinity Series starts – Darrell Waltrip (12 wins), Dale Earnhardt (11 wins), Harry Gant (10 wins) and Jack Ingram (10 wins).

Last weekend’s performance was also Bell’s 25th Xfinity career top-five finish, making him one of seven drivers all-time to post 25 or more top fives in their first 48 races, joining Jack Ingram (34 top fives), Sam Ard (29), Darrell Waltrip (28), Brett Bodine (26), Geoff Bodine (26), and Dale Earnhardt (25).

Bell heads to Richmond this weekend to add to his already fast start to 2019. Bell swept both Richmond races in 2018; including the fall race from the pole. He has made three series starts at the 0.75-mile circuit, posting two wins, three top 10s and an average finish of 2.7.

Richmond Raceway: Stats Snapshot

Below are some quick stats to get you up to speed for this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway (Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio):

Races/Starts:

Richmond Raceway is tied with Dover International Speedway for hosting the third-most (70) NASCAR Xfinity Series races in series history. The first Xfinity Series race held at Richmond Raceway was on February 20, 1982 and the event was won by Tommy Houston driving for car owner Mike Day (Pontiac). The series has competed at Richmond Raceway three times the first season (1982) and then twice a season since 1983. In total, 484 different NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers have made starts at Richmond Raceway, and 336 drivers have competed in more than one. Kenny Wallace leads the series in starts at Richmond Raceway with 36.

Poles:

In total, the NASCAR Xfinity Series has seen 38 different drivers win the pole award at Richmond Raceway; led by Kyle Busch with six poles (2004 ,2007, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017). Geoff Bodine won the series’ first pole (96.207 mph) at Richmond Raceway in 1982 and Christopher Bell won the most recent Xfinity pole (118.990 mph) at Richmond last September. The youngest Xfinity pole winner at Richmond Raceway is Kyle Busch (May 14, 2004 at 19 years, 0 months and 12 days). Harry Gant is the oldest series pole winner at Richmond Raceway (September 10, 1988 at 48 years, 8 months, 0 days). Kyle Busch holds the NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying record at Richmond Raceway with a speed of 129.348 mph (May 14, 2004).

Wins:

In total the NASCAR Xfinity Series has seen 34 different drivers win the race at Richmond Raceway; led by Kevin Harvick with seven victories (2003, 2005, 2006 sweep, 2010, 2012 and 2014). Tommy Houston won the series’ first race at Richmond Raceway in 1982 and Christopher Bell won the most recent Xfinity race at Richmond last September. Only two former winners are entered this weekend – Jeff Green (2000) and Christopher Bell (2018). The youngest Xfinity race winner at Richmond Raceway is Kyle Busch (May 14, 2004 at 19 years, 0 months, 12 days). The oldest series winner at Richmond is Harry Gant (March 7, 1992 at 52 years, 1 month, 26 days). Denny Hamlin holds the race record in the series at Richmond Raceway with an average speed of 108.415 mph (April 29, 2011).

Loop Data:

Below are the top five NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contenders in key Loop Data categories heading into Richmond Raceway.

Driver Rating

Average Running Position

Laps in The Top 15

Drivers

Driver Rating

Drivers

Avg. Running Pos.

Drivers

Laps in Top 15

Christopher Bell

127.0

Christopher Bell

4.527

Justin Allgaier

2,990 (81.8%)

Noah Gragson

119.7

Noah Gragson

4.800

Michael Annett

1,220 (40.6%)

John H. Nemechek

98.4

John H. Nemechek

6.448

Cole Custer

1,111 (96.4%)

Cole Custer

96.5

Cole Custer

9.068

Christopher Bell

976 (97.6%)

Justin Allgaier

93.9

Justin Allgaier

10.815

Tyler Reddick

577 (76.9%)

Laps Led

Quality Passes

Fastest Laps Run

Drivers

Laps Led

Drivers

Quality Passes

Drivers

Fastest Laps

Justin Allgaier

195

Justin Allgaier

270

Justin Allgaier

166 (4.5%)

Christopher Bell

187

Michael Annett

148

Christopher Bell

81 (10.8%)

Cole Custer

43

Cole Custer

113

Michael Annett

46 (1.5%)

John H. Nemechek

36

Jeremy Clements

98

Cole Custer

35 (3.0%)

Noah Gragson

10

Brandon Jones

83

Noah Gragson

32 (12.8%)

Can’t Stop: Elliott Sadler returns to the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing

Some just can’t get enough. At least that seems to be the case for veteran driver Elliott Sadler, who last season announced he was retiring from fulltime racing, but it didn’t take long for him to return to the series as the Virginia native is back this weekend in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the ToyotaCare 250 (April 12 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

This weekend will mark the third time this season Kaulig Racing has fielded a second car. The previous starts saw Ross Chastain (Daytona) and Austin Dillon (Las Vegas) behind the wheel of the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

Sadler will be working with crew chief Adam Yontz this weekend at Richmond Raceway. The 43-year old from nearby Emporia, Virginia, has made 31 series starts at the famed 0.75-mile short track, posting six top fives, 16 top 10s and an average finish of 12.9.

Parade Laps: Insights ahead of this week’s driver media breakouts

Six drivers from the NASCAR Xfinity Series – JR Motorsport’s Tyler Reddick, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe, SS Green Light Racing’s Gray Gaulding and Rick Ware Racing’s Kyle Weatherman – will be participating in this week’s media rotations at Richmond Raceway leading into this Friday night’s ToyotaCare 250 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry)

Birthdate: December 16, 1994

Driver’s Age: 24

Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma

Hobbies: Dirt track racing, iRacing, golf

Team: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff

Xfinity Career Highlights:

In 2018, he set the rookie single season Xfinity Series wins record with seven victories; the previous record of five wins was held by three drivers – Greg Biffle (2001), Kyle Busch (2004) and Carl Edwards (2005).
Made the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs in rookie season (2018), and advanced to the Championship 4; ultimately finishing fourth in the championship standings.
Has 10 career NASCAR Xfinity Series wins in just 48 starts; including two this season (Atlanta, Bristol).
He is one of only five drivers in series history to win 10 or more races in their first 48 starts; joining Darrell Waltrip (12 wins), Dale Earnhardt (11 wins), Harry Gant (10 wins) and Jack Ingram (10 wins).
2019 Season Highlights:

Currently second in the NASCAR Xfinity driver points standings, just 13 points back from the series standings leader Tyler Reddick.
In seven starts this season, he has posted two poles (ISM Raceway, Texas), two wins (Atlanta, Bristol), four top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 8.1.
Won the first Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus of 2019 last weekend at Bristol; is qualified this weekend for the Dash 4 Cash in Richmond.
Leads the series in laps led this season with 406 (30.16% of his total laps completed). Has led at least one lap in all seven races in 2019.
Richmond Raceway Performance:

Has made three series starts at Richmond Raceway, posting one pole, two wins (2018 sweep) and three top 10s. Has average start at Richmond of 5.7 and an average finish of 2.7.

Chase Briscoe (No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing with Fred Biagi Ford Mustang)

Birthdate: December 15, 1994

Driver’s Age: 24

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Hobbies: Spending time with family, online racing, watching sports

Team: Stewart-Haas Racing with Fred Biagi

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Xfinity Career Highlights:

Made NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2018 at Atlanta.
Ran 17 Xfinity races last season for Roush Fenway Racing (12) and Stewart-Haas Racing with Fred Biagi (five) and won the inaugural race at the Charlotte Road Course.
2019 Season Highlights:

Currently eighth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship standings and the leader of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
In seven starts this season he has posted three top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 7.7.
Currently on a five-race streak of top-10 finishes dating back to Las Vegas; including last weekend’s fourth-place finish to qualify him for this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash.
Richmond Raceway Performance:

He made his series debut at Richmond last season driving for Roush Fenway Racing, starting 15th and finishing 26th.

Cole Custer (No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang)

Birthdate: January 23, 1998

Driver’s Age: 21

Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Hobbies: Watching sports

Team: Stewart-Haas Racing

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett

Xfinity Career Highlights:

In 2018, he made the Playoff’s Championship 4; ultimately finishing runner-up in final driver standings while his No. 00 car won the owner’s title for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Made the Playoffs and finished fifth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings in his rookie year (2017).
Has three career NASCAR Xfinity Series wins (Homestead, Texas and Auto Club Speedway); including last season’s Playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway to win his way into the Championship 4.
2019 Season Highlights:

Currently third in the NASCAR Xfinity driver points standings, 46 points back from the series standings leader Tyler Reddick and 33 points back from second-place Christopher Bell.
In seven starts this season he has posted one pole (Bristol), one win (Auto Club Speedway), four top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 9.6.
Has led the fifth-most laps (105) this season.
Richmond Raceway Performance:

Has made five series starts at Richmond Raceway, posting one pole (this race last season), two top 10s and an average finish of 10.8.

Tyler Reddick (No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro)

Birthdate: January 11, 1996

Driver’s Age: 23

Hometown: Corning, California

Hobbies: Riding ATVs, gaming, working on cars

Team: Richard Childress Racing

Crew Chief: Randall Burnett

Xfinity Career Highlights:

Won the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.
Also won the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors; just third driver in series history to win the title in his rookie season, joining Chase Elliott (2014) and William Byron (2017).
In 2017, he captured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Kentucky while running a partial schedule. Currently has three series career wins (Kentucky, Daytona and Homestead-Miami).
2019 Season Highlights:

Current NASCAR Xfinity driver championship standings leader, 13 points ahead of second place Christopher Bell.
In seven starts this season he has posted two poles (Daytona, Auto Club), five top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 5.6 (career-best).
Richmond Raceway Performance:

In three starts at Richmond he has put up one top-10 finish. His average starting position at Richmond is 16.3 and his average finish is an 11.7. Has completed 99.9% of his laps attempted.

Gray Gaulding (No. 08 SS Green Light Racing Chevrolet Camaro)

Birthdate: February 10, 1998

Driver’s Age: 21

Hometown: Colonial Heights, Virginia

Hobbies: Weight lifting, basketball, spending time on the lake, Go-Karting

Team: SS Green Light Racing

Crew Chief: Patrick Donahue

Xfinity Career Highlights:

Has made 15 NASCAR Xfinity Series career starts; posting a best finish of 12th at Las Vegas earlier this season driving for SS Green Light Racing.
Made five series starts in 2017 gaining experience driving for RSS Racing.
Made NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2016 with Roush Fenway Racing – competed in two races in 2016 finishing 13th at both Bristol and Richmond.
2019 Season Highlights:

Currently 15th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver points standings.
In seven starts this season he has two top-15 and five top-20 finishes with an average finish of 18.6.
Richmond Raceway Performance:

Made his series track debut at Richmond in 2016 driving for Roush Fenway Racing; he started 11th and finished 13th.

Kyle Weatherman (No. 17 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet Camaro)

Birthdate: August 28, 1997

Driver’s Age: 21

Hometown: Wentzville, Missouri

Hobbies: Go-Karting

Team: Rick Ware Racing

Crew Chief: Rb Bracken

Xfinity Career Highlights:

Made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway driving for Rick Ware Racing.
2019 Season Highlights:

Made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend; where he started 24th and finished 28th.
Richmond Raceway Performance:

This weekend will be Kyle Weatherman’s NASCAR national series track debut at Richmond Raceway.

NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series

Looking Ahead: Dover poses a challenge for current point leaders

Since the NASCAR Gander Trucks Series began racing at Dover International Speedway in 2000, only one driver has managed to win at the Monster Mile and go on to win the series championship – NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. in 2007.

Looking back, Hornaday had an excellent season that year that included four wins, 13 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.

Since that season, we have not seen another driver win both the at Dover and take the title, but perhaps this will be the year. Let’s look at the current top four driver’s in the series and their performances at Dover International Speedway:

Stewart Friesen (No. 52 Halmar Friesen Chevrolet Silverado): Friesen currently holds the series points lead, but Dover may prove to be a challenge for the Canadian driver to hold that position. In two starts at Dover he has posted two DNFs – a 28th in 2017 and a 23rd in 2018. Still, we can’t ignore his solid performance this season, where he has managed three top fives, four top 10s and an average finish of 7.8.

Grant Enfinger (No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150): Enfinger currently sits second in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series points, six points back from Friesen after posting three top fives, four top 10s and an average finish of 5.4. Heading to Dover in a few weeks, the Alabama native has had mixed results on the concrete track. He fought hard for a disappointing 14th-place finish last year but managed a third-place finish back in 2017. This season is Enfinger’s third fulltime season chasing a title the Gander Trucks.

Ben Rhodes (No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150): Rhodes is off to an excellent start this season, as the 22-year old has jumped three spots in the driver championship points from sixth to third and only 16 points back from the series standings lead. This season Rhodes has put up two top fives, three top 10s and average finish of 11.2. Rhodes could use Dover as another spring board to catch points leaders Friesen and Enfinger (second), as the Kentucky native has made four series starts at the Monster Mile grabbing one top five and two top 10s. Plus, he has led 71 laps at 1-mile facility.

Johnny Sauter (No. 13 ThorSport Ford F-150): Sauter arguably has the greatest chance at matching Ron Hornaday Jr.’s 2007 achievement, not only is he a former NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series champion, he has also won the last two series races at Dover International Speedway (2017, 2018). Sauter is currently cruising in fourth in the Gander Truck point standings, 22 points back from series standings leader Stewart Friesen. In total the 40-year old veteran, Sauter, has made 10 series starts at Dover posting two wins, five top fives and seven top 10s. His average starting position is 7.8 and his average finish is 8.0.

Gander Truck drivers on the Playoff bubble

With five races in the books this season, the battle in the points along the Playoff cutoff is heating up between Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates. Just one-point separates Todd Gilliland in the coveted eighth place cutoff, and rookie Harrison Burton in ninth the first spot outside the cutoff for the postseason.

Both young drivers have rebounded from DNFs in the season-opener at Daytona to put themselves in Playoff contention. Gilliland has posted two top 10s and an average finish of 12.8 this season, and Burton has posted one top five, two top 10s and an average finish of 14.6.

Dover is a track both Gilliland and Burton have shown promise at recently. Gilliland has made two starts at the Monster Mile posting one top-10 finish and Burton also has two starts at Dover with one top-five finish.

Rank

Driver

Points

Pts From Cutoff

Starts

Race Wins

Stage Wins

Playoff Pts

8

Todd Gilliland

149

1

5

0

0

0

9

Harrison Burton

148

-1

5

0

0

0

10

Sheldon Creed

133

-16

5

0

1

1

11

Tyler Dippel

97

-52

5

0

0

0

12

Spencer Boyd

95

-54

5

0

0

0

Reigning champ Brett Moffit hasn’t skipped a beat

Despite moving to a new team this offseason, reigning NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion, Brett Moffit, hasn’t skipped a beat. The Iowa native is fifth in series championship standings and this season is looking to become just the second driver in series history to win back-to-back titles; joining Matt Crafton (2013-2014).

Moffitt ended the 2018 season with six wins and the series championship while racing for Hattori Racing Enterprises.

This season, with GMS Racing, the 26-year old has amassed three top fives and an average finish of 10.8.

At Dover in a few weeks watch for Moffit to be a contender for the win. In his series track debut last season he started 12th and finished 12th.

Natalie Decker adding races to schedule, expected to be at Dover

This week, DGR-Crosley announced that the driver of the No. 54 Toyota Tundra, Natalie Decker, would be adding an additional six races to her schedule this season—including Dover International Speedway on May 3.

Decker had a rough start to the 2019 season with her debut at Daytona International Speedway ending in an incident on Lap 1, but she didn’t let that defeat her though. The 21-year-old rookie continued her season at Atlanta and Las Vegas where she finished 24th and 13th respectively.

After sitting out for Phoenix, Martinsville, and Texas, Decker picks her season back up at Dover International Speedway and she couldn’t be happier or more hopeful going into the remainder of the 2019 season.

“I’m so excited to add more races with DGR-Crosley,” said Decker. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be with this team,” said Decker.

“I didn’t think that I would be racing this much this year in the Trucks, but I’m so excited that we are. I love competing in the Truck Series – it’s challenging but so fun.”

Decker is definitely a driver to watch this season as she continues to grow with her team and showcase her skills as a developing driver