Category: NASCAR Cup Series

A TUMS MOMENT

(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a glimpse of a previous event at that track, one that could easily be described as A TUMS Moment. This week, the focus is “The Great American Race”, the Daytona 500).

DALE EARNHARDT SHREDS A TIRE, LOSES THE DAYTONA 500

The date was Feb. 18, 1990. Seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt dominated the 32ndrunning of the Daytona 500, leading 155 of the race’s 200 laps in the No. 3 Chevrolet from Richard Childress Racing.

NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.

He was the leader on the final lap, but hit a piece of debris from another car and shredded the right-rear tire entering turn three. His black Chevrolet drifted high, giving way for Derrike Cope to take his first-career win. Earnhardt finished fifth, nursing his car across the start-finish line behind Cope, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott and Ricky Rudd. Now, that was a TUMS moment.

After two decades of coming close, Earnhardt finally won “The Great American Race” in 1998 with another dominating performance.

Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes NSCS Race Advance Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011

THE DODGE BOYS •    Dodge has 207 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

•    Dodge’s most recent win came at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Kurt Busch led 252 of 400 laps en route to victory in the Coca-Cola 600.

 •    Dodge claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.

•    Dodge teams have posted 47 wins since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.

•    Dodge has posted wins each season since it’s return in 2001 including seven wins twice (2002 and 2006).

DODGE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

•    Dodge has four Daytona 500 wins (Richard Petty (2), Ward Burton and Ryan Newman).

•    Dodge has 15 Sprint Cup wins at Daytona International Speedway.

 •    Dodge had a 1-2 finish in the 2008 Daytona 500 when Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge) and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) claimed the top two spots in the 50th running of the “Great American Race”.  Dodge drivers finished in six of the first eight positions.

•    Dodge earned its first Budweiser Shootout win Saturday night when Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch took the checkered flag to claim his first career win in a restrictor plate race.

•    Ward Burton’s win at the 2002 Daytona 500 was Dodge’s first Cup win at Daytona since Richard Petty’s visited victory lane in 1974.

DODGE NEWS AND NOTES

•    Kurt Busch has visited victory lane at least once every year since 2002.  Only Tony Stewart (12 years) has a longer streak in NASCAR’s premier series.

•    Kurt Busch has finished second three times (2003, 2005, and 2008) in 10 Daytona 500 starts.

•    Robby Gordon is making his first start in a Dodge since the season finale at Homestead-Miami in 2008.  Gordon finished eighth in the 2008 Daytona 500 in a Dodge.

DID YOU KNOW?

•    Kurt Busch has 15 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in restrictor plate races.

•    Brad Keselowski gave Dodge its most recent pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last September.

•    Dodge is an Official Passenger Car of NASCAR.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

 •    Kurt Busch’s 22 Sprint Cup wins ties him for 27th with former series champion Terry Labonte.

•    Robby Gordon has eight career top 10s in restrictor plate races.

DODGE MOTORSPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It will be wild and wide-open racing, that’s for sure.  With the new pavement, you can pretty much throw the handling aspect out the window.  It’ll be all about raw speed and how well you can run in the two-car draft.  You have to still be in that survival mode because there are going to be so many cars going every which way.  How guys can manage the two-car draft, it will definitely be the way to win at Daytona.” 

Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

FROM THE ENGINEER “From the day after last year’s Daytona 500, everyone knew a repave of the 50-year-old track was due. Although we knew that a fresh surface would mean more speed, few could have imagined the increases we’ve seen in the early days of Speedweeks.  Lap averages above 206 mph in the Bud Shootout were recorded in the two-car drafts.  NASCAR announced two rule changes after Sunday’s qualifying in an effort to limit engine cooling.  By limiting engine cooling opportunities, drivers won’t be able to draft lap-after-lap in the same formation without the second car overheating.  Changing positions takes time and slows speeds.  One thing we know for sure is that it’s going to be a busy week for NASCAR and the teams as they prepare for Thursday’s Duels and Sunday’s 500-mile race.” Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering

TALKING SHOP WITH PENSKE RACING “During the “off-season” Penske Racing has worked countless hours in preparation for the Daytona 500.  With a new and improved Dodge Charger R/T in the Cup Series and a full season effort with the Dodge Challenger R/T, Penske Racing has rebuilt every car in the fleet.  In the month of January, we have tested 18 days on track getting ready for the “Great American Race” and the 2011 season.  Everyone at Penske Racing is proud and excited to send 10 of our best cars to support our teams during the Daytona Speedweeks.” 

Travis Geisler, Director of Competition, Penske Racing

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FAST FACTS

 •    The Daytona 500 qualifying record of 210.364 mph was set by Bill Elliott in 1987.

•    There have been nine different winners in the last nine Daytona 500s.

•    The last five and seven of the last nine Daytona 500s have been won by first-time winners of the “Great American Race”.

 •    Car No. 22 has won the Daytona 500 twice; a No. 2 has never won the event.

DODGE HISTORICAL DATA

 •    First Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win:  Lee Petty, 2/1/53, West Palm Beach, Fla., 100 miles, .5-mile track.

•    Last Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win: Kurt Busch, 05/30/2010, Coca Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 144.966 mph avg. speed.

 •    First Dodge Daytona 500 Win: Richard Petty, 02/18/1973, 157.205 mph avg. speed.

 •    Last Dodge Daytona 500 Win:  Ryan Newman, 02/17/2008, 152.672 mph avg. speed.

DODGE DRIVER QUOTES “Our goal is to come back and make it a Daytona sweep by winning the Daytona 500.  Our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team is bubbling with confidence after last weekend.  It would definitely be the biggest day of my career if we can pull it off.” Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

“The opportunity to jump behind the wheel of the ‘Blue Deuce’ is something that is still pretty surreal for me.  Only two drivers have ever been lucky enough to drive Mr. Penske’s flagship ride.  Rusty Wallace and Kurt Busch are two champion drivers of the highest caliber.  There is definitely pressure that comes with following those two guys, but I’m ready to tackle it head on.  This is a pressure sport and we, as drivers, put just as much pressure on ourselves as anyone.” Brad Keselowski, No 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T

“We came here to Daytona to win the race.  We know that the Penske engines are strong and reliable.  Kurt (Busch) won Saturday night in the Shootout and his Dodge really looked strong in the draft.  We’ll use practice this week to really shake down our SPEED Energy car and see where we were off in qualifying.”

Robby Gordon, No. 7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger R/T

SAM HORNISH, JR.   No. 12 Dodge Challenger Daytona International Speedway – DRIVE4COPD 300 February 19, 2011  

Sam Hornish Jr. NASCAR Racing History at Daytona International Speedway   No. 12 Dodge Team News and Notes

 ·         Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the No. 12 Dodge Challenger, will make his 2011 return to NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition this weekend in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Hornish last competed in the NNS Series at the 2010 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he qualified 12th and finished 21st. His last Nationwide Series race at DIS was in February of 2007 when he finished 31st.

·         From 2006 to 2010, Hornish has made a total of 20 Nationwide Series starts, scoring five top-15 finishes. Hornish also captured one top-five, three top-10 and eight top-15 starting positions while competing in a limited NNS schedule over the four-year period.

·         This weekend’s race marks the first event together for Hornish and crew chief Chad Walter, who will sit atop the No. 12 Dodge pit box for Saturday’s season opener at DIS. Walter previously served as crew chief on the No. 12 Penske Racing Nationwide Series team as he guided driver Justin Allgaier to top-six championship finishes in each of the last two seasons.

 ·         This race also represents the beginning of the first-full season for the new Nationwide Series car that debuted in 2010 as Hornish will proudly compete in the sleek Dodge Challenger this weekend.  

Sam Hornish Jr. comments on this weekend’s DRIVE4COPD 300 “I am really excited about the first race of the season. I have not run a Nationwide Series restrictor plate race since 2007 so I am looking forward to this. It is great to have Dodge backing us for this event and the No. 12 Dodge is looking especially sharp – I think this car is going to get a lot of attention. I am very pleased that things have come together. We have been working hard to get a program in place for this year and I am glad to get back to the racetrack. We have a lot of possibilities in this program and I am looking forward to running with Dodge and building our relationship with Alliance Truck Parts over the course of this season.”  

Crew Chief Chad Walter comments on the first race of the season “We’re all very anxious to get the season rolling with the new Dodge Challengers at the “new” Daytona race track.  This track and our manufacturer have much rich tradition together and we would love to add to that with a victory in the Drive4COPD 300.  The No. 12 Dodge team is looking forward to establishing a strong relationship with Sam, and working to expand on the solid foundation it set up in the two previous seasons.  The Hart Honeywell paint scheme with the retro Le Mans stripes and the modern graphics looks great and it will be exciting to see race.  I can’t wait to unload this paint scheme and hear the great comments from fans and competitor. It’s got the crowd pleaser ‘pop’ to it.  I’ve always run well at Daytona, but I have yet to win there in the Nationwide Series. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work with Sam and we are going to do our best to notch a victory for Dodge and Penske Racing.”

RACE INFO: Event:Daytona 500 Date/Time: Feb. 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET 2010 winner: Jamie McMurray 2010 polesitter: Mark Martin Distance: 200 laps/500 miles Track Length: 2.5 miles Banking: 31 degrees Track Shape: Tri Oval  

EXPRESS NOTES:  Hamlin in the Daytona 500:  When the green flag drops for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon, it will have been 92 days since the 2010 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  Three months for Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team to reflect on its eight-win season, learn from its near-championship year, and shift its focus to 2011 as a unit primed to make another title charge. It all starts with the ‘Great American Race.’  

This year, Hamlin is making his sixth Daytona 500 start in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin matched his career-best 500 finish with a 17th-place result in 2010, equaling his run from 2008.  He started 25th and led one lap in last year’s event that saw more than two hours in delays to fix a pothole in the track and three attempts at a ‘green-white-checkered’ finish before declaring Jamie McMurray the winner.

Daytona’s 2.5-mile high banks have been repaved and the new two-car drafting style has made this year’s event more unpredictable than ever before. Hamlin learned the tricks of the trade in last Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout, crossing the finish line first in the pre-season, exhibition event. However, the decisive pass coming to the checkered flag was made below the yellow ‘out of bounds’ line, drawing a black flag penalty and 12th-place result.  

The #11 FedEx Racing team does not have the results to show for how well they’ve raced in their previous five Daytona 500 starts. Hamlin was caught up in an incident in 2009’s rain-shortened event, and led 32 laps in 2008 as one of the field’s strongest cars before contact on pit road disrupted the handling of the #11 Camry. Hamlin ran as high as second in 2007, but was collected in a wild, last-lap wreck to finish 28th, and also fell victim to one of Daytona’s multi-car incidents during his rookie year in 2006, finishing 30th.

FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway:2274 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 323-7840   2011 FedEx Racing Press Kit – Available for Download:  Please visit www.fedexracing.com/presskit for the 2011 FedEx Racing press materials, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Mike Ford and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, program statistics and 2011 crew roster.  

Salt Lake City “SLC” Market Recognized: The Salt Lake City, Utah, ramp location works closely with the station under extreme weather conditions, and in 2010, the SLCA station posted the highest on-time delivery percentage of any large station in the Great Basin District. The SLC market team has a history of working together in support of corporate and local programs that benefit the residents of Salt Lake City, including United Way, March of Dimes, Safe Kids Walk and the Festival of Trees.  SLC will be represented on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Toyota during the Daytona 500.  

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – DAYTONA 500: What do you think your chances are of winning the Daytona 500? “This hasn’t been our most successful race when you look at our past finishes, but I think we are capable of winning here. We’ve had some bad luck in the past and made a few mistakes, but I feel more comfortable each time we come here and run at a superspeedway. We had a good car in the Shootout and I learned a lot about the new drafting style, so it will be interesting to see the race with 43 guys out there. It’s going to be wild, for sure. As long as you can stay out of trouble and be around at the end, I think everyone has a shot to win this thing.   Are you optimistic heading into 2011 and why? “I am. One is coming off a career year. For me, since my rookie season and going into 2007, I’ve never taken a step back.  It’s always been, we had a great 2006 rookie season and had a chance to win a championship. In 2007, the driver just tried to make up too much, and then since then these last four years we have steadily marched — more wins, higher in the points every single year and obviously there’s only one more place to go.  I don’t consider myself stepping back at all and obviously anything less than what we did last year is going to be considered by me a failure in the sense of that I took a step back.  I didn’t accomplish what I did before.  Given, there are a lot of variables.  Whether your cars are as good, pit crew is as good and things like that.  We’ve never taken a step back with our FedEx team and that’s something I’m proud of.”  

How will you approach the first part of the season with the new NASCAR points system? “I think you’re going to race it very, very similar, but I think once you get two wins in the first 26 races, I think you’re going to feel pretty comfortable.  You’re going to be in the Chase if not as a wild card.  So, you can go for a lot more wins from that point forward, but you’ve got to be inside the top-10 for those bonus points to count.  It’s a little bit different game, but I think it’s mostly going to be about consistency in the Chase.  I love what they’re doing, having those race winners be a part of the Chase, but honestly if you’re not consistent enough in the 26 races and you’re 18th in points and you’ve won a couple races, you’re probably not going to go on a run the final 10.  But, it makes it more interesting and gets those guys involved in the Chase.”  

What did you think and where were you when you found out Dale Earnhardt passed away? “I didn’t believe it personally.  I remember watching the race obviously and seeing it and it’s just like everyone else thought, it didn’t look too bad.  Then next thing you know you get a phone call and someone says they heard something and next thing you know you log onto the internet and there’s rumors here and there on whether he has or hasn’t passed.  Then the next thing that you know it becomes reality when you see his face on TV.  I remember that for me as a race fan that was probably the first time I’ve ever cried because of something else outside of my life that has actually happened.  It was a big event.  Trust me, I’ll say it right here, I wasn’t the biggest Dale Earnhardt fan.  I was a big Bill Elliott fan and he was the alpha.  But still, everyone had a respect for him and obviously he touched a lot of people even though he might not have been your favorite.”  

2011 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER: Crew Chief:  Mike Ford– Morristown, Tenn.                      Front Tire Changer: Jonathan Sherman – Monroe, La. Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, N.Y.                      Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C. Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, N.Y.                        Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C. Shocks: Drew Bible – Coldwater, Mich.                           Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C. Tire Specialist: Patrick Mullen – Brick, N.J.                   Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio Engine Tuner: Chris Woodward – Franklin, N.H.                   Gas Man: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C. Mechanic: Rick Bray – Placerville, Calif.                               Pit Crew Coordinator:  Paul Alepa – Vienna, Va. Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, N.Y.                       JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C. Spotter: Curtis Markham – Fredericksburg, Va.                     Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.      Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.

Carl Edwards– NSCS DAYTONA 500 ADVANCE

Team:           No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion Crew Chief:   Bob Osborne Chassis:       RK-712   

Brand new chassis

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Daytona International Speedway : “We’re going for three in a row coming off wins in the last two races of the season last year. 

I think it’s really anybody’s race with the new surface and you’re going to see a different style of racing than we’ve seen at Daytona in a long time, maybe ever.  I still haven’t exactly decided how to approach the race.  We’ll have to see how the Duels go with the rule changes NASCAR implemented since the Shootout, and we’ll see what we are left with to make all of our decisions.  

I think it looks to be one of the most anticipated Daytona 500s in a long time.”   Crew chief Bob Osborne on racing at Daytona International Speedway : “The Duels on Thursday will be a good test for the 500. Since NASCAR made some changes to the cooling system after the Shootout we’ll have to see how that affects the racing compared to what we saw in the Shootout.   We’ve got a good car so we need to stay out of trouble in the Duels and be there at the end to have a shot at winning the 500.”  

FAST FACTS

* CARL EDWARDSreturns to Daytona International Speedway for his seventh Daytona 500, and his 13th overall Sprint Cup start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

* 2010 STATS…Last season Edwards accumulated two wins, nine top-five 19 top-10 finishes and three poles. He led 427 laps of competition to finish fourth in the Sprint Cup point standings.

* FOR THE RECORD…Edwards’ average start at Daytona International Speedway is 17.6, his average finish is 17.7.  Edwards’ best finish at Daytona is second place, captured in July 2008.  His best finish in the Daytona 500 is ninth in last year’s race. He finished in the top 10 in both Daytona races last year.

* SHOOTOUT RECAP…Edwards started third and was scored in seventh after the first 25-lap segment.  Only a few laps after the restart Edwards was involved in a multi-car accident on lap 28 which sent him to the garage with considerable damage to the Scotts Ford resulting in a 21st-place finish.

* ON THE TRACK…The No. 99 will carry the Aflac colors Sunday for the Daytona 500. The No. 99 crew will race RK-712 for the weekend, a brand new Ford Fusion.

* REWIND, DAYTONA 500, 2010…Edwards made it interesting for his fans by starting in the back of the field after an engine change and working his way as high as second in the final laps of the race.  After two green-white-checker restarts he was shuffled back, but rebounded to finish the race ninth.   

2011 No. 99 Aflac Racing Team  

Name                                       Duties                                         Hometown Jim Bender                               Tire specialist                                Duryea , Penn. Kevin Brucher                            Engineer                                      Callicoon, N.Y. Jerel Dawson                             Fuel runner                                   Danielsville , Ga. Steve Dietrich                            Mechanic                                     Nipomo, Calif. Craig Derian                              Engineer                                       Westlake , Ohio Jody Fortson                             Rear tire carrier                             China Grove , N.C. Wade Hanna                             2nd gas can                                  Lansing , Mich. Jason Hedlesky                         Spotter                                        Clinton, Mich. Doug Impsen                             Engine/7th man                             Pequannock , N.J. Adam Jordan                             Suspension                                  Timberville, Va. Joe Karasinski                          Gas man                                      Spotswood , N.J. Dennis Killian                            Jack man                                     Wentzville , Mo.          

Pierre Kuettel                            Car chief                                      Phoenix , Ariz. Justin Meador                           Mechanic                                     Bedford, Va. Chris Miko                                Truck driver                                  Bronx , N.Y. Steve Mitchell                           Co-truck driver                              Woodville , Ohio Dwayne Ogles                          Rear tire changer                          Hoover , Ala. Bob Osborne                            Crew chief                                    Chester , Penn. Caleb Sparks                            Pit support                                   Greensboro , N.C. Dave Stillman                           Shock specialist                           Appleton, Wisc. Alan Troutman                          Front tire carrier                            China Grove , N.C. Kale Uphoff                               Front tire changer                         McFarland, Wisc.

David Ragan – NSCS ADVANCE Team: No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion Crew Chief:  Drew Blickensderfer Chassis:    Primary: RK-691    Last ran Talladega – finished 21st     Backup: RK-723     Brand new chassis 

Ragan, NSCS at Daytona International Speedway: Date    Event        S    F    Laps    Led    Status    Money    7-3-10    Coke Zero 400    25    38    116/166    0    Accident    $91,500 2-14-10    Daytona 500    19    16    208/208    2    Running    $289,695 7-4-09    Coke Zero 400    31    13    160/160    0    Running    $111,750    2-15-09    Daytona 500    33    6    152/152    0    Running    $412,163 7-5-08      Coke Zero 400    6    5    162/162    0    Running    $141,150 2-17-08    Daytona 500    14    42    161/200    0    Accident    $267,763 7-7-07      Pepsi 400                  24    12    160/160    0    Running    $137,250 2-18-07     Daytona 500    35    5    202/202    0    Running    $529,350

        Races    Wins    Top-5s    Top-10s    Poles    Led    Money    Spring        4    0    1    2    0    2    $1,498,971 Summer                  4    0    1    1    0    0    $481,650 Cumulative     8    0    2    3    0    2    $1,980,621

Ragan on racing at Daytona International Speedway: “I’m excited and pumped up for the first race of the year.  Hopefully everyone had a good off season and are ready for Daytona.  The new track surface is so smooth so it is going to be a different type of race than we’ve seen in the past.  When we were down here for testing we didn’t do any drafting and just worked on handling, so practice and the Duels will be important to see how the cars draft.  The Duels in general will be more important than in years past because the cars will handle different and there will be different pit strategies with the new fueling system. We’ll be able to see what kind of fuel mileage we can get.  Hopefully we can start the year with a good run in our UPS Ford.” 

Crew chief Drew Blickensderfer on racing at Daytona International Speedway: “The new track surface at Daytona is super smooth.  It’s going to be extremely important to find a drafting partner because I think we’ll see a lot more two-by-two racing like we’ve seen at Talladega.  We are going to work on being fast for qualifying and then hopefully by having a fast car it will help us find drafting partners.  Handling will be less of an issue then in the past with the new smooth track surface which will make for fewer changes being needed from qualifying to race time.”

FAST FACTS •    David Ragan earned a fifth-place finish in his first-ever Daytona 500 in 2007. •    Ragan has an average finishing position of 17.1 at Daytona. •    Ragan had three top-five finishes out of four restrictor-plate races in 2008. •    Ragan has six Nationwide Series starts at Daytona, four of which resulted in top-10 finishes. •    Bob Hook, a UPS tractor-trailer driver from New Jersey, will deliver the green flag for Sunday’s Daytona 500.  The 33-year UPS employee has 31 years of safe driving and was inducted into UPS’s      Circle of Honor program when he achieved 25 years of accident-free driving.

Biffle on the Daytona 500:  “I think this Daytona 500 will be the most one we’ve had for everyone involved.  As a competitor, I don’t really know what to expect because the track surface is different, the tires are different and we have new rules.  I think you will see some of the two-car drafts that we had in the Shootout but there will be so many more cars and we have a new cooling system rule so we’ll see how it plays out.  All of these factors will also make it a pretty exciting race for the fans too.  I think we’re all ready to see what’s going to happen in the Duels on Thursday.”

Erwin on the Daytona 500:  “We were pretty happy with our performance in the Shootout so we’re going to build on that and factor in the new cooling system rule.  Right now we’re looking forward to the Duels to get a better idea of how the Daytona 500 will play out.  We know we have a fast car but we’ll need to stay out of trouble in the Duels in order to capitalize on it.  Greg was right there at the end of the 500 last year. If we can do the same thing this year, I think we learned things last year that will put us in a better position to be the lead car at the checkered flag.”

Daytona Notes – Mike Lingerfelt will be joining the 3M Pit Bulls for the 2011 season in the front tire changer position. Todd Zeigler, who has been a tire changer with Roush Fenway since 1998, opted to take on a non-travel role with the team. – The No. 16 Ford will feature the new 2011 3M paint scheme throughout speedweeks. 

The paint scheme first ran at the All-Star race in 2010 and received such positive reviews that it is now the primary scheme for the 2011 season. – Visit www.shop3M.com to learn more about all of the innovative products 3M has to offer.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2011) — Excuse Regan Smith if you catch him humming the Beatles hit song — “With A Little Help From My Friends” — in the NASCAR garage.

Actually, Smith and every other Sprint Cup driver will need a lot of help from their fellow competitors at the newly-paved, ultra-fast Daytona International Speedway.

Entering uncharted conditions at the famed 2.5-mile track, Smith is well aware of the importance of having a drafting partner in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel qualifying race and Sunday’s Daytona 500.

“Now it’s all about making friends — we’re going to have to do some politicking,” explained Smith, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet. “Without a partner you’re simply toast. It’s like musical chairs — you don’t want to be the last guy without a chair, and you sure don’t want to be the last driver without a dancing partner in the big race.”

Smith feels that Furniture Row Racing being a single-car team should not be a negative for finding a drafting partner.

“Based on what I saw in the (Budweiser) Shootout, the guys weren’t necessarily concerned about their allegiance. Finding the best partner was the first priority.”

Mark McArdle, managing director of competition for Furniture Row Racing, echoed Smith’s feelings.

“With all the talk about teammates working together it wasn’t that way in the Shootout,” noted McArdle. “You simply find the car you work well with regardless of team, manufacturer, driver and sponsor.”

McArdle added, “It will be a challenge. As in any situation that’s in flux, he who adjusts best is going to potentially have the advantage for a short period of time.”

Since he raced in Saturday’s Shootout, Smith feels a lot better about what needs to get done for the 500 and Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying race.

“You can’t really simulate race conditions at a superspeedway in practice,” said Smith. “It was definitely helpful to be in the Shootout even though we got collected in an accident and didn’t run all the laps.”

Smith, who finished 12th in his last superspeedway race at Talladega in November, feels he has the car and team to pull off strong finishes in the qualifying race and the 500.

“We’ve been preparing for the opener for a long time and we’re ready,” stated Smith. “Having a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and running Earnhardt Childress Racing engines are a big boost to our Furniture Row Racing program. In our world, there’s nothing like the Daytona 500 and there’s nothing like starting the season with a solid performance. We just need to continue what we were doing at the end of 2010.”

Speaking about the late stages of last season, Smith and the No. 78 team rallied to notch some strong finishes, including three top 13s in the final seven races.

Race: Daytona 500

February 20, 2011

Location: Daytona International Speedway

Richard Childress Racing

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Notes:

RCR Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won seven poles and owns 29 total victories at the most storied race track on the circuit. RCR owns two Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 13 qualifying races, including 10 straight victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999). Most recently, Harvick became the fourth driver to win back-to-back Budweiser Shootout titles (2009 and 2010) and it marked the seventh win in the exhibition race for RCR, more than any other organization. In addition to Harvick’s victories, Earnhardt won the event five times (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95). Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Feb. 2002 and the July 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Daytona, driving cars fielded by RCR. Harvick drove to Victory Lane in the 2007 NNS opener in the No. 21 Chevrolet and Clint Bowyer won the July 2009 NNS race at the “World Center of Racing.”

RCR Sprint Cup Stats … In 121 points-paying Sprint Cup Series races at the historic 2.5-mile Daytona Beach race course, RCR has five wins, 10 poles, 30 top-five and 52 top-10 finishes and has led 1,578 laps. Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s premier division, earned two of those top 10s between February 1976 and July 1980.

RCR to Duel it Out … As a result of Sunday’s Daytona 500 single car qualifying session, that saw RCR drivers record the fourth (Paul Menard), fifth ( Bowyer), sixth (Jeff Burton) and 14th (Harvick) fastest speeds, two RCR entries will be slated into each of the Duel 150 qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 17. Menard and Harvick will compete in the first Duel 150 event, rolling off the starting grid second and ninth, respectively, while Bowyer and Burton will race in the ensuing Duel 150, starting third and fourth, respectively.

Remembering Dale … RCR and Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines will pay tribute to the life and legacy of the legendary Dale Earnhardt throughout 2011 Speedweeks at Daytona. Commemorative No. 3 decals will adorn all eight of RCR’s race cars, transporters and pit boxes. ECR employees will wear special ECR/No. 3 hats at the track throughout Speedweeks while RCR employees will wear special RCR/No. 3 hats February 18.

Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma … The Childress family founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma (CIPT) at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in July 2008. Serious injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America – more than 12,000 children die each year and more than 100,000 survive with some form of a disability. The Institute is working to save children’s lives and help them recover quickly through research, education and prevention. For more information, please visit ChildressPediatricTrauma.org.

RCR on Twitter … To keep up-to-date with the latest news and information and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick, @RCR31JeffBurton and @RCR33CBowyer. This week, follow the RCR NSCS team Twitter accounts for Daytona 500 ticket give-a-ways courtesy of Chevrolet.

Catch the Action … The Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 20 beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying races will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

Paul Menard

No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet Impala

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s PEAK/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 338 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This No. 27 Chevrolet Impala is a brand new addition to the RCR fleet, and saw its first laps on the track during preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines! … The 53rd Daytona 500 will mark Menard’s 148th career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This will be his fourth consecutive run in the “Great American Race” and his eighth appearance at the 2.5-mile speedway.

Starting up front at Daytona … Menard earned his one career NSCS pole position at Daytona International Speedway. In 2008, he claimed the pole award for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (July). The following year, he started the Budweiser Shootout from the pole position when he drew the top spot during Budweiser’s annual Shootout Draw Party.

Daytona Tidbits …

In seven previous starts at a track that is notorious for the field-reducing ‘Big One,’ Menard has completed an impressive 98.8% of his laps (1,193 of 1,208).

He has an average starting position of 24.3 and an average finishing position of 21.4, with his best finish of 13th coming in the 2010 Daytona 500. He has led for 19 laps.

Familiar Faces on the No. 27 team … Slugger Labbe, a fixture in NASCAR since 1989, made the move to RCR with Menard. Also joining Menard and Labbe in the move were spotter Stevie Reeves, hauler driver Jeff Icenhour, engineers Mike Wolf and Grant Hutchins, tire specialist Chris Sherwood, shock specialist Kris McCabe and mechanic Jesse Sanders. Back at the shop are the familiar faces of Dale Fishlein, Derick Mathis and Joey Fellores.

When You PEAK, You Win.™ … When you want maximum protection for your car, you want to reach for PEAK Performance products. Whatever you drive, PEAK can take it on. PEAKS offers products for all of your needs under the hood, as well as products to clean, dry and polish your vehicle. From antifreeze, to motor oil, to truck bed liners, PEAK has you covered.

Meet the Driver … Menard will sign autographs at the Menards/RCR souvenir hauler located in the merchandise area outside Turn 4, on Friday, Feb. 18 from 3:50 – 4:20 p.m. EST.

Paul Menard LIVE for Chevy Q&A … Fans can participate in a question-and-answer session with Menard on Friday, Feb. 18 at 3:35 p.m. EST on the Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside Turn 4.

Tune in to FOX and Friends on Race Day … Menard will join FOX and Friends LIVE from Daytona’s Victory Lane on Sunday, February 20 at 9:30 a.m. EST to discuss Daytona and preview the 2011 season.

PAUL MENARD QUOTES:

Do you feel that the Duel 150 qualifying race is a good learning tool for the Daytona 500? What is your mind-set as you prepare for the 150-mile race versus the 500?

“For sure. The only thing better would be the Shootout, which I’m confident we’ll be in next year! With the Shootout, you can be as aggressive as you want because, ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. The Duels, even though they’re non-points races, it’s still your (Daytona) 500 car and can mean a lot as far as starting position – not just for the race, but to get the season started well.”

Daytona International Speedway is rich with history. What would it mean to you to win the Daytona 500?

“It would be huge. The only other race I want to win more would be the Brickyard 400, but I’d definitely take the 500!”

The Daytona 500 is race number one of 36. How do you approach the first race of the season compared to those in July? Do you feel the same intensity each week?

“It’s really the same as any other week, aside from the duration of time that we’ll be in Daytona, along with the media coverage. Ultimately, I don’t approach this race any different. The guys spend more time on the (Daytona) 500 car than they will on any other car, so, obviously, it puts a little bounce in your step.”

This is your fifth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. What is an example of how experience has changed how you prepare for a race?

“The biggest eye opener is how much preparation goes on behind the scenes. Once you’re strapped into the race car, I get the same mentality that I’ve had since I was 8, and it’s just focus on what’s at hand. Off track, the training and conditioning is something I’ve really stepped up the past couple years, as well as getting to know these cars better. That’s something that Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) has really helped me with.”

As you prepare to start your first season with RCR, what is it that drew you to the organization? What are your goals for the year?

“RCR and Richard’s track record speaks for itself. It’s an awesome group of people up there in Welcome (N.C.). They build beautiful race cars and, most importantly, they’re fast.”

Kevin Harvick

No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet Impala

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 343 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This brand new racer was built in-house by the No. 29 team and will make its first competitive laps during this weekend’s prestigious 500-mile event.

Daytona Details … In 19 starts at the historic superspeedway, Harvick has earned two wins (2007 Daytona 500 and July 2010), five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He has completed 97.9% (3,215 of 3,285) of the contested laps with an average starting position of 15.8 and an average finishing position of 14.8.

Budweiser Shootout Recap … The No. 29 Budweiser team had a strong showing this past Saturday night at the 2011 Budweiser Shootout. Harvick started the night from the 18th position, but didn’t stay there long. He quickly made his way to the front by lap eight, using the two-car draft with fellow RCR stablemate, Jeff Burton. The duo continued to work together during the second half of the 75-lap event until the lap-51 restart when they got separated, leaving Harvick to work with the No. 24 Chevrolet. The Bakersfield, Calif., native held strong in the closing laps of the big dollar race when his engine started hitting the rev limiter chip. The Gil Martin-led team finished seventh in their seventh Bud Shootout appearance.

Black and Red … Harvick will start his 2011 campaign in the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 with his new sponsor Budweiser adorning the hood of the black and red No. 29 Chevrolet.

Welcome to the Stage … Budweiser will host a roast in honor of their newest driver on Tuesday, February 15. The event will air on Saturday, February 19 on SPEED at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Harvick will be roasted by popular comedians Jon Reep, Jeremy Hotz, and Earthquake. Roaster’s include NASCAR’s Tony Stewart, Ron Hornaday, Elliot Sadler, Mike Dillon and DeLana Harvick.

Eyes on Harvick …Harvick is scheduled to appear live on ESPN’s Rome is Burning on Wednesday, February 16 at 4:35 p.m. EST before interviewing with FOX and Friends on Thursday, February 19 at 7:45 a.m. EST. The driver of the No. 29 Chevrolet will begin his race day morning with a question-and-answer session on the Chevy stage, located outside of Turn 4, at 9:30 a.m. prior to appearing live on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Day show at 11:50 a.m. EST before suiting up for the 2011 Daytona 500.

Meet the Press … Harvick will entertain questions from the gathered media on Friday, February 18 inside the DIS infield media center from 9:45 – 10 a.m.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:

Is the idea for the twin Duel 150 qualifying races to get your (Daytona) 500 car through there safely? You’re a race car driver and you like to win races, so how do you marry those two things?

“Yeah, we’re just going to go for it. If they’re going to write a check and give out a trophy, then we’re going to go as hard as we can. The only way to race at these speedways is to push and shove, and you’re going to have to push and shove, or you’re going to get left behind. You have to go out and do what you have to do. The team has plenty of time to tune up and get everything straightened out, so we’ll race as hard as we can and see what happens.”

Do you think Daytona will be as wild and unpredictable as a Talladega race?

“Oh yeah, absolutely, just because it is Daytona. You, basically, take the same things you do at Talladega and do it on a whole lot narrower race track. That’s why the Budweiser Shootout is an important race. You have to see how the traffic shakes out, whether it is going to have one line, two lines, and if that two-car breakaway is going to be a part of it. I don’t think you’re going to be able to just sit in the back because it’s going to be hard to drive through the middle. I think that will be where the open line is, but there isn’t as much room to navigate that two-car draft from the back. You’re going to be racing for track position to keep it up front.”

Is going three-wide a lot hairier at Daytona than it is at Talladega?

“It’s a lot hairier. It’s a lot easier now with the pavement, and the grip level that you have on the race track. It’s not that big of a deal, but definitely a lot hairier than Talladega.”

How much less room do you feel like you have?

“At Daytona, it feels like it’s half the width of Talladega. It’s just a lot narrower than Talladega is. You definitely feel like you have a lot less room.”

With the way you ran last season and the way things are going, especially with the power that’s under the hood, could this be the year to win that second Daytona 500?

“Well, last year, I think we led the most laps in the (Daytona) 500. We won the 500, but we lost the 520. With the way that the rules are now, the green-white-checkers at the end are difficult to know exactly where you need to be. I think I know where I need to be with where you want to be coming to the checkers at this particular race. It’s one of those things where we just have to keep working on our cars, nickel and diming them to get every ounce of drag out of them that we can, and the guys in the engine shop will do their part on the power. We just need to keep racing and putting ourselves in the right spot to be in those positions with fast cars. To be able to be competitive, you have to work on them constantly.”

Do you still remember what it felt like to win the Daytona 500?

“There isn’t anything that compares to winning the Daytona 500 ,just for the fact of the magnitude and the attention that comes with that particular race. There’s nothing else that even comes close. I remember that day like it was yesterday. There’s no better feeling of winning a race than that one.”

Jeff Burton

No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Jeff Burton will pilot Chassis No. 331 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new No. 31 racer that will be put through its first competitive paces in this weekend’s season opener.

Start Your Engine … The 53rd Daytona 500 will mark Burton’s 584th career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This will also be his 18th consecutive run in the prestigious event.

Unfinished Business … In 17 starts in the Great American Race, the South Boston, Va., native has earned three top-five efforts. His best finish of second came in February 2000.

Former Winner … Although Burton has yet to carve his name on the Harley J. Earl trophy, he is a former winner at the famed Daytona International Speedway. He claimed victory under the lights in the July 2000 Coke Zero 400. In 34 starts at DIS, Burton has posted one win, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes.

Leading the Field to Green … Burton captured his one and only pole position at the historic speedway for the 2006 Daytona 500.

Top-10 Qualifier … The Cat Racing team was the sixth-fastest car to tour Daytona’s newly-paved race track on Sunday during Daytona 500 qualifying that placed them in the second Duel 150 qualifying race on Thursday. The No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet will line up fourth for the 60-lap event.

Bud Shootout Rewind … Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar team led the most laps and gained valuable information that they’ll transfer over to next weekend’s Daytona 500 despite finishing eighth in the season opening, non-holds barred Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. The South Boston, Va., native was pushed to the lead by RCR teammate Kevin Harvick, completing the initial 25-lap segment of the 75-lap event running 1-2. After a routine four-tire pit stop during the event’s 10-minute break, the 2000 Daytona July race winner returned to competition for the final 50 laps and, in spite of being separated from Harvick at the restart, he hooked up with fellow RCR stablemate Clint Bowyer. The new duo drafted to the lead before competitor tandems would join them, moving Burton to eighth in the closing laps where he remained in that position when the checkered flag fell.

Meet the Driver … On behalf of Coca-Cola, Burton will sign autographs at the Walmart store located at 1101 Beville Road in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Friday, February 18 from 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Meet the Press … Burton will field questions from the gathered media inside the speedway’s infield media center on Wednesday, February 17 at 9:15 a.m.

Jeff Burton Live … Fans can see Burton live Sunday, February 20 at 8:40 a.m. on the Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside Turn 4. Burton will be part of a question-and-answer session hosted by Chevrolet.

JEFF BURTON QUOTES:

You made the Chase last year. What kind of goals do you have this year?

“The Chase started out slow for us last year. The first three races we ran exceptionally well. In all three of those races, we had circumstances that prevented us from winning – fuel mileage and just some weird stuff in two of the three races. We ran really well, but after three races in, we were at a deficit. It wasn’t because of the way we ran, but because of some circumstances. We got in a hole, and we, collectively, as a team said ‘we’re either going to win it, or we’re going to finish dead last.’ We’re going to get real aggressive and bring science experiments to the race track. I’m going to drive harder than I’ve ever driven in my life. We went out and tried to make something happen, and that didn’t work out for us. At the end of the day, it was recorded as a 12th-place finish, and that’s what it was. The effort that went into trying to win that championship from being behind was cool. It didn’t work out for us, but what the heck, we swung for the fences, and it didn’t work out.”

I think a lot of people were surprised that you didn’t win last year. There were a bunch of races that you would have, should have, and could have won last year.

“Yeah, we put ourselves in the position to win a lot of races. Last year was a really rewarding year and a really frustrating year all at the same time. We had bad pit stops at the wrong time. I made a poor decision at the wrong time. We made a poor decision on the chassis set-up at the wrong time. At the end of the day, it’s on us. We had a few circumstances, like Martinsville for instance, where we were sitting there passing Hamlin for the win and cut a right-front tire. At Texas, we were sitting there leading the race with 15 (laps) to go. There was a red flag and we sat there. The tire pressure changes an absorbent amount and we finish 10th. We go from leading to finishing 10th in the last 15 laps. I’m not going to lose sleep over those kinds of things. There’s nothing we can do about them. The things that drove me nuts were the times that we impacted it with poor decisions – Todd and I not making the right decisions on the car, bad pit stops, etc. We tried to get better from that. We tried to learn from it, but we never made them up. Some teams are able to lose one and make two up later, maybe win one they didn’t deserve. That never worked out for us. Hopefully, this year we can execute. This thing has a way of paying you back and, hopefully, this year we can get some we don’t deserve, and the ones we do deserve we can capitalize on.”

Talk about Paul Menard joining RCR as the fourth team.

“I’m excited about it. I like Paul. I think he’s a good addition to our race team. He’s one of those guys that if you were building a team, and you needed someone young to come in that hadn’t done it yet, but has the ability, he would be on that list of people. I feel like Paul’s going to bring something to us. He consistently out qualified us last year. That means he has the speed. We hope to learn from him in some areas, and we believe we can help him in some areas. It’s going to be fun to work with somebody new. It’s always fun to get to spend time with somebody and get to know him. Paul is here because he’s capable of being here. He’s doing a good job. We’re proud to have him, and we think he’s going to be a good addition to our team. I really believe he can help us be better.”

What would it mean to you to win the 53rd running of the Daytona 500?

“Well, I have more years behind me than I have ahead of me and the more the years that go behind me the more I appreciate the Daytona 500. I’ve been lucky. I have filled out my list of big races pretty well. However, this one I haven’t. It wouldn’t make my career. This is a marquee race with a tremendous amount of history and being part of this event means a lot to me. But, I can honestly tell you if I don’t ever win the Daytona 500, I’m not going to look back on my career with great disappointment, but it would confirm some things. It would mean some things to me, personally.”

This is race one of 36. Is every race an adventure for you?

“Every lap is an adventure. My view on the world is that I live and make my living one corner at a time, one straightaway at a time. When I approach the Daytona 500, I’m not thinking about 500 miles, I’m thinking about one-quarter mile at a time. So to me, I don’t look at a race as a race, I look at a race as thousands of little races. Every corner is an adventure, every straightaway is an adventure. Every time I get in the car it’s a new beginning. I probably don’t have — I don’t want to say the enthusiasm — but I probably don’t have the excitement level that some of the other drivers have that are new to the Cup Series level, but I don’t have the downs, either. I think that maturity has taught me this isn’t a season-per-season event. I don’t view it like that. I’m racing a career, I’m not racing years. This is a new year, but it’s a continuation from last year.”

Clint Bowyer

No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot chassis No. 336 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this year’s Daytona 500. This is a brand new No. 33 Chevrolet Impala that will turn its first laps on the track at Daytona.

Familiar Faces … Shane Wilson returns for his third season atop the pit box after scoring two wins, seven top-five and 18 top-10 finishes in 2010 with Bowyer at the wheel. Kevin Hamlin, who replaced RCR Vice President of Competition Mike Dillon as Bowyer’s spotter for the final three races of the 2010 NSCS season, will also return for the 2011 season.

Last Week … After qualifying for last weekend’s Budweiser Shootout by making the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Bowyer and the Cheerios/Hamburger Helper team kicked off the 2011 NSCS season with a ninth-place finish.

Career Daytona Stats … The Daytona 500 marks Bowyer’s 182nd NSCS start.

In 10 NSCS starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Bowyer owns two top-five and six top-10 finishes.

He has completed 99.9 percent of the total laps contested at DIS during his career.

The Emporia, Kan., native has led 115 total laps at DIS.

Bowyer owns an average starting position of 20.7 and average finishing position of 12.8.

His best effort at the Florida facility is two fourth-place finishes (2009 and 2010 Daytona 500).

Last Time Around … Bowyer finished fourth in the 2010 Daytona 500 after a last-lap dash to the checkered flag. He also led a race-high eight times for 37 laps.

Meet the Press … Bowyer will field questions from the gathered media inside Daytona International Speedway’s infield media center on Friday, February 18 at 10:15 a.m.

CLINT BOWYER QUOTES:

How are you approaching the Duels on Thursday? Are you trying to finish with your 500 car in one piece or are you trying to accomplish something else?

“Just don’t tear your car up. I hate to say that, but you want to have a decent starting spot. More importantly, you don’t want to go to your backup car.”

You’ve been close to winning the Daytona 500. Is it so close you can almost taste it?

“Yeah, I was leading twice last year and the caution came out for debris and for the big hole. I thought they were going to call it one time and we just didn’t end up coming up with a win. We were definitely close. That’s the one of the coolest things I’ve ever been apart of. Truthfully, I thought I was going to win. Anytime you’re thinking you’re going to win it is cool. It just doesn’t happen every day, especially at a place like Daytona. The good thing is that testing went well. Our cars were very fast and our engines are backing up every bit, if not more, performance than they did last year. I’m excited. I think we’re going to have a good package. If I can stay out of trouble and make it to the end, I think we’re going to have a shot at it.”

Does it still feel like a big deal that a dirt-tracker from Kansas takes the green flag at the Daytona 500?

“You know what, it is, but it’s amazing how that role changes. It meant so much to just be able to start the Daytona 500. You know your upbringing and your career path to get to the 500. Now, winning the Daytona 500 is everything.”

Richard Childress Racing Event Preview Fact Sheet

Race: Nextera Energy Resources 250

Location: Daytona International Speedway

Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Notes:

RCR’s NCWTS History … In 158 NCWTS starts, RCR has earned 22 wins, 66 top-five finishes, 101 top-10 finishes and 23 poles, along with the inaugural series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner. The organization has an average starting position of 10.3 and an average finish position of 9.9.

Welcome to the Family, No. 22 … RCR revived its NCWTS program in 2010, fielding a full-time Bass Pro Shops-sponsored Chevrolet in the series with driver Austin Dillon, effectively ending a 10-year hiatus from the series. This year, the racing organization expands its NCWTS program to a two-truck team, with the addition of driver Joey Coulter in the No. 22 RCR Chevrolet Silverado.

RCR at Daytona … This weekend’s 250 miler at Daytona marks RCR’s second NCWTS appearance at the track.

Social Media …To keep up-to-date with the latest news and information and to view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3ADillon and @RCR22JCoulter, RCR’s NCWTS driver Twitter pages – @AustinDillon3 and @JoeyCoulter, and the Official Austin Dillon Facebook fan page -http://www.facebook.com/adillon3.

Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of this weekend’s Nextera Energy Resources 250 will be televised live on Friday, Feb. 18, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on SPEED and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Austin Dillon

No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot chassis No. 011 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in this weekend’s Nextera Energy Resources 250. This is a brand new Chevrolet that the Danny Stockman-led Bass Pro Shops team built during the off season.

Dillon at Daytona … In 2010, Dillon made his career first start at Daytona, where a lap-one incident left the team playing catch up for the duration of the race, resulting in a 26th-place finish after starting third.

The No. 3 Team Reunites … The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team heads into the 2011 season virtually unchanged from 2010. Driver, crew chief Danny Stockman, team engineer Ryan Sparks and many of the race shop and over-the-wall pit crew members have remained the same. One notable exception is that Scott Naset, who served as truck chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet in 2010, has moved over to RCR’s ARCA program as crew chief for Austin’s younger brother, Ty Dillon. Robert Strmiska, a mechanic on the team in 2010, has been promoted to truck chief.

Meet Austin … Dillon will join teammate Joey Coulter on the Chevrolet Stage for a question-and-answer session and autograph session with race fans on Friday, February 18 at 12:30 p.m. Following the Chevrolet appearance, Dillon will greet race fans at the RCR Souvenir Trailer located in the main fan Midway from 2 until 2:30 p.m. In addition, Dillon and Coulter will both participate in a NCWTS autograph session in the Sprint FanZone from 4-5 p.m. later that day.

Dirt Tracking … Dillon’s 2011 Speedweeks actually started on February 8 at Volusia Speedway Park, where he and his brother, Ty, raced dirt Modifieds as part of the 40th annual DIRTCar Nationals.

Take a Cruze with Austin … Official Chevrolet “Cruze-arati,” Amy Martin, will join Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team at Daytona. Dillon will give Martin an inside look at his life at the track and walk her through race day at Daytona. Earlier this month, Martin took a Chevrolet Cruze to the Richard Childress Racing shop for a similar tour. To watch a video of the day, visit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGvtIAwgbzg.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on the new pavement at Daytona?

“To be honest, my brother Ty knows more about the new pavement at Daytona than I do. He raced in the ARCA race last week and tested in January, so I can ask him about it and get some information before I race on it. I won’t get to test it out until the trucks practice on Wednesday.”

Tell us about your dirt track racing.

“A bunch of us from my dad’s dirt team, Team Dillon Racing, went out to Volusia [Speedway Park] for the DIRTCar Nationals this past week. It’s been a blast. Any time you can get behind the wheel of a car it is helpful to your career. It was action-packed, for sure. I actually flipped my Modified last Thursday night. That’s the first time I’ve ever been on my roof before, and, hopefully, the last.”

You’re really into social media these days…

“I’ve had a Twitter account and a Facebook account for a long time, but over the winter I started updating things more often. It’s a good way to keep up with other drivers, media and fans. We’ve done some contests and give-a-ways on there, too. It’s cool to have an avenue like that to keep people updated [follow Dillon on Twitter – @RCR3ADillon and @AustinDillon3].”

Joey Coulter

No. 22 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Silverado Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s RCR Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Joey Coulter will pilot chassis No. 010 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in this weekend’s Nextera Energy Resources 250. This is a brand new Chevrolet built by the RCR team during the off season.

Introducing Joey Coulter … Friday’s NCWTS race marks Coulter’s first-career NASCAR attempt. The 20-year-old Miami Springs, Fla., native joins RCR on the heels of two successful seasons in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, where he earned seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, including one win in 2010.

Not Just Another Pretty Face … In addition to his roll as full-time driver of the No. 22 RCR Chevrolet, Coulter is currently a full-time Mechanical Engineering student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Joining Coulter at RCR … Veteran NASCAR crew chief Harold Holly, who has served as Coulter’s crew chief in the ARCA Racing Series for the past two years, is calling the shots from atop the pit box for the No. 22 team this season. Spotter Randy Renfrow also worked with Coulter in the ARCA Racing Series and has transitioned to RCR with the driver.

Season Warm Up … Coulter competed for his family’s ARCA team, Coulter Motorsports, in last Saturday’s ARCA 200 at Daytona, finishing 21st after starting 13th.

Meet Coulter … Coulter will join teammate Austin Dillon on the Chevrolet Stage for a question-and-answer session and autograph session with race fans on Friday, February 18 at 12:30 p.m. Following the Chevrolet appearance, Coulter will greet race fans at the RCR Souvenir Trailer located in the main fan Midway from 2 until 2:30 p.m. In addition, Dillon and Coulter will both participate in a NCWTS autograph session in the Sprint FanZone from 4-5 p.m. that same day

JOEY COULTER QUOTES:

You’ve never raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series before. Do you feel prepared for Daytona?

“I’m extremely excited and ready for this next chapter in my racing career. I’ve already tested twice with the team. We went down to Disney World Speedway in Orlando and tested for a good, solid day and a half. After that, I was at Gresham Motorsports Park for a day, doing a short track test. Everything at RCR is just top notch. It’s unbelievable the caliber of equipment that comes out of these shops.”

Have you noticed any similarities or differences between the trucks and the ARCA cars that you are familiar with?

“Compared to an ARCA car, the trucks are different, but not as different as I thought they were going to be. I really expected it to be something that I hadn’t ever felt before, but it was actually pretty close. You can tell the trucks don’t make as much power, but they really turn in the corners. They have a lot of air on the side of them, and that really helps them turn. You can drive the trucks two or three times as hard as an ARCA car, and it makes them a blast to race. Now, I understand why the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is so much fun to watch on television and in the stands.”

Tell us about your ARCA race at Daytona last week.

“Daytona can be a brutal track – one you love, hate and love to hate all at the same time. My family’s team put together a very competitive car that drafted well for the ARCA race. Our finish didn’t do any justice to how well our car was running and where we should have finished, but that is the nature of Daytona. I do think the experience of getting some laps on the new pavement will help me for Friday’s truck race.”