Category: NASCAR Cup Series

Biffle on Talladega: “We started the season this year with a good run at Daytona and although Talladega is certainly different than Daytona despite them both being superspeedways, I am hoping that we can have that same sort of performance this weekend.  We haven’t had a lot of luck at Talladega but last year we had two top-10’s there so it looks like we’re doing something right.  If we can just get out of there with a top-10 finish I will be happy.”

Erwin on Talladega: “The superspeedway races are obviously  unique races in that even if you have the best driver, the best pit crew and the fastest racecar, you can very easily get caught up in someone else’s accident and take the car home in pieces.  Qualifying is not as important as it is at other tracks just because pit selection isn’t that crucial because the pit stalls are so big and no matter where you start you could have the lead one lap and be 20th the next lap.  We had a couple of good finishes at Talladega last year so we’ll just go out there and do what we did then to try to get out of there with a top-10 finish.”

Talladega Notes

•    Biffle and the 3M team dropped to 11th in the standings following their 33rd-place finish in Martinsville; they are 316 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson and 113 points out of fifth.
•   Biffle’s average finish at Talladega is 22nd from an average starting position of 16.4.
•   Biffle scored his two best-ever finishes at Talladega last year when he finished seventh in the spring and fourth in the fall.
•   Manheim will be on the hood of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion this weekend.  Manheim was established more than 65 years ago as a wholesale vehicle auction operation and is the world’s largest provider of vehicle remarketing services. For more information, visit www.manheim.com .

DODGE AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

• Dodge has three wins at Talladega: Richard Brickhouse (1969), Richard Petty (1974) and Dave Marcis (1976).

• Dodge has earned one pole at Talladega since returning to the Sprint Cup Series in 2001 – Stacy Compton in 2001.

• Dodge driver Brad Keselowski is the only current Dodge driver with a win at the 2.66-mile superspeedway in Sprint Cup competition. He won the spring event in 2009, leading only the final lap. He was driving for another team at that time.

THE DODGE BOYS

• Dodge has 207 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

• Dodge’s most recent win came at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Kurt Busch led 252 of 400 laps en route to victory in the Coca-Cola 600. It was his second win of the 2010 season.

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

• Last Dodge Sprint Cup Win at Talladega: Dave Marcis, 08/08/1976, Talladega 500, 157.547 mph average speed.

• First Dodge Sprint Cup Win at Talladega: Richard Brickhouse, 09/14/1969, 1969 Talladega 500, 153.778 mph average speed.

DODGE IN THE CHASE: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY • 2004: Ryan Newman and Jeremy Mayfield represented Dodge in the Chase. ‘Dega was the third race. Newman finished 16th and Mayfield 38th after being involved in a four-car accident on lap 143.

• 2005: Ryan Newman led the three-car Dodge contingent with a fourth-place finish. Jeremy Mayfield was 14th and Rusty Wallace 25th.

• 2006: Kasey Kahne was the only Dodge driver in the Chase. He finished third and led seven laps.

• 2007: Kurt Busch was the lone Dodge representative in the Chase. He posted his seventh consecutive top-eight finish at ‘Dega, finishing seventh.

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

• 2009: Kurt Busch, the lone Dodge representative in the Chase, started sixth, led seven laps, but finished 30th after being involved in a 13-car mishap as the field was taking the white flag.

KURT BUSCH – INSIDE THE CHASE NUMBERS

• Busch is competing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the fifth time: 2004 – Champion, 2005 – 10th, 2007 – seventh and 2009 – fourth.

• Busch is ninth in the Chase standings after his 16th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway last weekend, 277 points behind the leader.

• Busch was ranked sixth, 240 points behind the leader, after six races in the 2009 Chase.

• Busch’s average finish in 19 starts at Talladega is 12.8; he has an average running position of 16.2.

• His best finish at Talladega was third in 2006 after starting 29th. He has six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 19 ‘Dega starts.

• Through six Chase races this year, Busch’s average finish is 16.16.

• In 32 races this season, Busch has two wins along with nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

• Has competed in 65 Chase races since 2004 (46 have been in a Dodge) with 16 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes.

KURT BUSCH ON RACING AT TALLADEGA

“I’m one that doesn’t take a lot of chances and more times than not plays it more defensively than on the offense. I think that’s been my mentality over the years. The times that I’ve been too aggressive out there and tried to make big bold moves, I wound up wrecked or getting shuffled out at the end and it didn’t turn out well.”

DODGE FAST FACT

Dodge driver Brad Keselowski earned his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top -10 finish as the driver of the No. 12 Dodge Charger from the Penske Racing stable. He started 25th and finished 10th at Martinsville.

DID YOU KNOW?

On March 24, 1970, Buddy Baker guided the No. 88 Dodge Daytona to a closed course speed record of 200.447 mph, becoming the first stock car driver to officially exceed the 200 mph mark.

DODGE MOTORSPORTS ENGINEERING QUOTE OF THE WEEK –

“If NASCAR set out to drive engineers crazy, then putting the Talladega race one week after Martinsville will get it done. Martinsville and its single lane, 60 mph mid-corner speeds last week now gives way to a 40-car pack, three wide, at nearly 200 mph this weekend at Talladega. And that’s with the same chassis, same body templates and same engine at both places. Using the same equipment, it’s the engineer’s job to get the same result – win.”

Howard Comstock – Dodge Motorsports Engineering

DODGE DRIVER QUOTES

At Talladega, if you make your move too early or you’re too aggressive, that means there’s that much more time for things to backfire. Then there are times that if you go too late, you’ll want to kick yourself for not going earlier. That’s why you have to dig down and forecast what’s going on out there on the track. You ask yourself if this guy is an experienced racer or is he one of the younger guys? Has this guy been fast or has he been slow? You’re out there trying to digest all of that and play all your cards right while you’re just inches from the other guys and doing 200 miles per hour.”

Kurt Busch, No. 2 Operation Home Front/ Miller Lite Dodge Charger

“Talladega has always been a wildcard race and it always will be. I really like restrictor-plate races and we’ve typically run pretty well at places like Talladega and Daytona. Superspeedways remind me of IndyCar Series racing because the outcome depends mostly on aerodynamics. It’s like a chess game where you are trying to figure out what to do as the race progresses to position yourself correctly.”

Sam Hornish Jr. No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger

“You really have to pay attention to how the race unfolds at Talladega. There are times when you need to be patient. There are times when you need to keep your head about you and race smart. But you are going to have to be aggressive at the end. Those are three elements of restrictor-plate racing that I work on throughout the race. I learned that from Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. He gets a lot of the credit for the kind of racer that I am on the plate tracks.”

Brad Keselowski, No 12 Penske Dodge Charger

Roswell, GA (October 26, 2010) – Gil Martin, crew chief for the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Martin and company rebounded from a disappointing 36th starting spot and rallied for a third-place finish – the first top-five for Harvick at Martinsville. And, it couldn’t have come at a better time as Harvick, third in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings, closed the gap on the two frontrunners. With four races to go, he is only 62 points behind Jimmie Johnson and 56 in arrears to Denny Hamlin.

After the poor result in time trials at NASCAR’s shortest track, Martin and crew used Saturday’s two final practice sessions to make wholesale changes on the No. 29. The changes worked, as he was third and fifth fastest.

At Martinsville, a driver who starts at the back of the pack can go down a lap in a hurry, but Harvick’s car showed strength from the beginning, vaulting into 17th by lap 48 when the day’s first caution flag flew. The first of numerous lightening fast pit stops during the day moved Harvick up an additional five spots to 12th when racing resumed.

He danced up the leader board and cracked the top five on lap 89, and then eventually took over the top spot on lap 377. Late in the race, he held the lead, but his yellow and red machine lost grip in the latter stages of the race, but he held on for third. He led a total of 97 laps on six different occasions.

“Gil and the No. 29 team did an amazing job this weekend,” said WYPALL Wipers crew chief representative Jeff Hammond. “They made the adjustments needed after qualifying that enabled Kevin to drive to the front, gave him great pit stops, and inched closer to Jimmie and Denny. These last four races are going to be something to see which crew chief will make the right calls.”

WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Results

Todd Berrier, Jeff Burton and the No. 31 CAT team finished ninth after leading the most laps. Jeff started 18th, but quickly maneuvered his way to the front. He was running second with 50 laps to go when his car began experiencing a loose condition, eventually dropping him to ninth.

Frank Kerr, crew chief of the No. 47 Camry driven by Marcos Ambrose, qualified second for the event, but dealt with numerous struggles throughout the day. He suffered a flat tire after making contact with Johnson, spun out, but stayed on the lead lap. Later in the race, Ambrose had to pull behind the wall with brake issues. After making lengthy repairs, The No. 47 Camry wound up 34th, seventy two laps behind.

WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Team

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

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

About WYPALL Wipers

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

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

Matt Kenseth – NSCS ADVANCE

Team: No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion

Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig

Chassis: Primary: RK-690 (last run at Talladega)

Kenseth NSCS record at Talladega Superspeedway:

Date Event S F Laps Status Earnings

04/16/00 DieHard 500 42 18 187/188 Running $50,260

10/15/00 Winston 500 36 10 188/188 Running $65,100

04/22/01 Talladega 500 40 19 188/188 Running $58,395

10/21/01 EA Sports 500 24 4 188/188 Running $77,550

04/21/02 Aaron’s 499 37 30 180/188 Running $80,905

10/06/02 EA Sports 500 8 14 188/188 Running $67,295

04/06/03 Aaron’s 499 27 9 188/188 Running $104,730

09/28/03 EA Sports 500 37 33 158/188 Engine $61,125

04/25/04 Aaron’s 499 31 42 59/188 Engine $112,298

10/03/04 EA Sports 500 7 14 188/188 Running $116,973

05/01/05 Aaron’s 499 23 11 194/194 Running $136,586

10/02/05 UAW-Ford 500 11 3 190/190 Running $179,511

05/01/06 Aaron’s 499 12 6 188/188 Running $159,841

10/08/06 UAW-Ford 500 19 4 188/188 Running $167,216

04/29/07 Aaron’s 499 17 14 192/192 Running $137,641

10/07/07 UAW-Ford 500 25 26 171/188 Running $120,066

04/27/08 Aaron’s 499 13 41 150/188 Running $125,741

10/05/08 AMP Energy 500 31 26 173/190 Crash $121,091

04/26/09 Aaron’s 499 13 17 188/188 Running $136,315

11/01/09 AMP Energy 500 14 24 191/191 Running $121,790

04/25/10 Aaron’s 499 2 28 196/200 Running $127,901

Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Earnings

Cumulative 21 0 3 6 0 $2,328,330

Kenseth on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:

“Everyone always talks about Talladega being the wild card race in the Chase, and I guess it really could be. Any of the races in the Chase can always end up being a wild card because you never know what’s going to happen as far as wrecks are concerned, but certainly Talladega always has the potential to be an accident waiting to happen. You never know where it’s going to occur, when it’s going to happen, or who it’s going to take out, so that’s one race that you’re never sure where everybody is going to end up finishing until the race is over.”

Crew chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:

“It’s very difficult to have a plan for racing at Talladega because you never know when wrecks are going to happen. There can be incidents starting from the drop of the green flag so you just never know. A lot of teams opt to hang out in the back of the field to try to avoid wrecks, but that doesn’t always work out. We just plan to race the best we can at Talladega and hope to avoid whatever happens on the track. We’ve also worked hard on our drag numbers to keep the resistance levels down in order to have the best car we can for this weekend.”

FAST FACTS:

• Kenseth has an average starting position of 22.3 and an average finishing position of 18.7 at Talladega

• In 21 starts, Kenseth has achieved three top-five and six top-10 finishes at Talladega in the Cup series

• Kenseth has completed 3,733 of 3,977 (93.9 percent) laps at Talladega and led for a total of 146 laps

• This weekend at Talladega, Kenseth will pilot the No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion

• Entering this weekend, Kenseth is currently tenth in the NSCS driver point standings

David Ragan – NSCS ADVANCE

Team: No. 6 UPS Logistics Ford Fusion

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Chassis: Primary: RK-691 Last ran Daytona – finished 38th

Backup: RK-665 Last ran Talladega in the fall of ’09 as the No. 26 – finished first

Ragan, NSCS at Talladega Superspeedway:

Date Event S F Laps Led Status Money

4-25-10 Aaron’s 499 26 6 200/200 8 Running $130,650

11-1-09 Amp Energy 500 28 17 191/191 0 Running $89,600

4-26-09 Aaron’s 499 10 12 188/188 2 Running $107,500

10-5-08 Amp Energy 500 16 3 190/190 11 Running $149,200

4-27-08 Aaron’s 499 6 4 188/188 0 Running $152,775

10-7-07 UAW-Ford 500 42 34 146/188 0 Accident $106,625

4-29-07 Aaron’s 499 10 17 192/192 1 Running $127,100

Races Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Led Money

Spring 4 0 1 2 0 11 $518,025

Fall 3 0 1 1 0 11 $345,425

Cumulative 7 0 2 3 0 22 $863,450

Ragan on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:

“It’s kind of crazy going straight from the shortest track we race at to the longest track, but I really enjoy racing at Talladega. It’s not far from my home in Georgia, so a lot of my family comes to the race. I’m excited about our special UPS Logistics paint scheme for this weekend. I think the car looks really good and Talladega is a place we can run really well at. Talladega is such a wide, smooth track which creates tight packs and makes for some exciting racing.”

Crew chief Drew Blickensderfer on racing at Talladega Superspeedway:

“I’m excited to head to a restrictor-plate race with David. He tends to run really well at these superspeedways and Talladega is the place he got his first Nationwide win. Overall he has a pretty good track record in the Cup car at Talladega. Restrictor-plate racing is all about staying out of trouble and being in the right line at the end with help to push you to the end. Hopefully we can do just that and get a good finish in our UPS Logistics Ford.”

FAST FACTS

We Love Logistics: UPS will feature its newest advertising and communications campaign, “We Love Logistics,” on David Ragan’s No. 6 UPS Ford this weekend. This marks the debut of the campaign’s iconography and messaging on the race car and in other elements of the company’s racing program. The broader campaign focuses on UPS’s unique ability to help companies of any size harness the power of logistics to drive growth, improve efficiencies and enhance customer relationships.

Ragan has scored more points in the last 10 restrictor-plate races than any other driver.

Ragan has visited Talladega Superspeedway seven times in his Sprint Cup Series career and in his seven starts has earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes, while also leading for a total of 22 laps.

In the spring of 2009 Ragan earned his first Nationwide Series victory at Talladega.

UPS Maximum Center Recognition—Talladega Superspeedway:

The Hartselle Center (SLIC 3561) has been selected as the Maximum Center for the October 31 race in Talladega as part of UPS’s Center Recognition Program. The Hartselle Center will have its number on the C-post of David Ragan’s UPS Ford throughout the weekend.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 26, 2010) – The plan is to visit Victory Lane following Sunday’s Amp Energy Juice 500, and there are several different ways to get there. While a pre-race game plan may be formulated, six-time Talladega Superspeedway winner Jeff Gordon believes a willingness to adjust it during the event may be a factor in determining the race winner.

Multi-car accidents – known as the “big one” – often occur on restrictor-plate tracks since drivers race in tight two, three, four and sometimes five-wide packs.

Gordon is the all-time leader in restrictor-plate victories with 12, so he has avoided his fair share of those accidents – and there are several ways to do that.

One is to race up front – in or near the lead – and be ahead of any accidents that occur. But there is the chance of being ‘shuffled’ out of the lead straight into a hornet’s nest of activity.

Another theory is to race well behind the main pack – out of harm’s way – and watch the “big one” unfold ahead. At some point, though, a driver will need to enter the mix and battle his way into contention. Gordon’s strategy for this weekend’s race has yet to be determined.

“The plan is to win – and whatever strategy works for that is the one I want to use,” said Gordon, who has 11 top-fives and 16 top-10’s in 2010. “More than likely, we won’t be laying back and just riding around.

“You have to be willing to adjust as you go, though. You never know how the race is going to play out, so it might be necessary to drop back out of the lead pack at some point.

“But laying back is not in the pre-race game plan.”

Gordon has won at Talladega using both strategies. In 2005, Gordon led 139 laps en route to the win while, in 2007, he led one lap – the last one – on the way to Victory Lane. Overall, the 82-time winner has six wins, one pole, 13 top-fives and 16 top-10’s in 35 starts at the 2.66-mile track.

“I like Talladega a lot,” said Gordon, who is fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and 203 behind the leader. “I look at it and know what to expect and accept it. I’ve won there enough times to have great memories.

“But you’re running so close to one another that it just takes the slightest little bobble by one guy and 10, 12, or 15 cars are in an accident. That’s the part about Talladega that’s not fun. I think we have a great shot at a top-five if we survive the ‘big one.’

“Or a couple of ‘big ones.’”

TALLADEGA, Ala.(October 26, 2010) – As Halloween approaches, Flu season is lurking in the shadows. Entering Talladega Superspeedway for the Amp Energy 500, Marcos Ambrose and his No. 47 KLEENEX® Brand Toyota Camry team are supporting Say “Boo!” to the Flu events.

The racing organization, owned by Jodi and Tad Geschickter and Brad Daugherty, is teaming up with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) and The Clorox Company to build awareness about family flu vaccination locations and to educate parents on the importance of flu prevention.

Family Dollar, which is a No. 47 Toyota Camry associate sponsor at Talladega Speedway, will host the VNNA by having six stores designated as a vaccination location in the Talladega area. Family Dollar along with The Clorox Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and GlaxoSmithKline are presenting a $10,000 check to the VNAA during driver introductions to assist in their flu prevention efforts.

“For the Halloween race weekend, we are asking parents to become ‘flu fighting wizards’ by visiting Say ‘Boo!’ to the Flu events – – where the whole family can get vaccinated and learn simple tricks to help prevent the flu,” Ambrose said. “Washing and sanitizing your hands and cleaning hot spots (frequently touched surfaces) with Clorox products are a couple of ways to be preventive along with getting vaccinated. And, using KLEENEX® Brand facial tissues will help keep from spreading air-born germs. I have two young daughters and we’re definitely following the Say ‘Boo!’ to the Flu guidelines to scare away the flu monster. You can visit www.SayBooToTheFlu.com to find a vaccination location near you and learn more about flu prevention.”

“However, if you are coming out to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega, there are convenient Family Dollar locations where you can be vaccinated and purchase Clorox and Kleenex products that will help you fight the flu this season,” Ambrose continued. “To make it a little easier on finding a Family Dollar, below are the store locations.”

10/27 20 N. Broadway Avenue, Sylacauga, Ala. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central

10/27 913 First Street, Childersburg, Ala. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central

10/28 103 17th Street, Talladega, Ala. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central

10/28 2122 Cogswell Avenue, Pell City Ala. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central

10/29 1722 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, Ala. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central

10/29 3228 McClellan Boulevard, Anniston, Ala. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central

Say “Boo!” to the Flu kicked off in September, and hosts more than 100 vaccination events across the country during the month of October. Families attending local Say “Boo!” to the Flu events can get vaccinated against seasonal flu and learn other important tips to help prevent the spread of seasonal flu. Visit www.SayBooToTheFlu.com to see if there is an event in your area.

“It’s ideal to get your family vaccinated and stock up on preventative products before the flu season peaks – – now is the time,” Ambrose said.

To coincide with bringing awareness to the program, Ambrose will have the logo of KLEENEX® Brand facial tissues on the hood of his No. 47 Toyota Camry and a Say “Boo!” to the Flu decal on the TV panel during race number 33 of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Talladega Superspeedway. Ambrose, whose best finish is fourth at the 2.66-mile tri-oval (4/26/09), is hoping to be there in the end mixing it up for a win.

“Talladega takes your breath away – – you have to remind yourself to breathe,” Ambrose said. “It’s action-packed from start to finish and the ending is nothing short of spectacular. Fans are always on their feet at that place because you never know what’s going to happen or who is going to win. You can’t blink your eye because you might miss something. It’s anybody’s race and on the last lap I hope it’s mine.”

Live coverage of the AMP Energy 500 begins on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET and will also air on MRN Radio.

About Family Dollar:

Beginning with one store in 1959 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Company currently operates more than 6,800 stores in 44 states. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is based in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte and is a publicly held company with common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDO. For more information, please visit www.familydollar.com.

About The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company is committed to helping families live happier, healthier lives. As part of this commitment, Clorox is honored to support the Say “Boo!” to the Flu program to educate parents about the importance of flu prevention and the role of disinfecting to help prevent the spread of surface germs that cause the flu. For more information, visit www.Clorox.com. For more information about the role of disinfecting to help prevent the spread of surface germs that cause the flu, visit www.SayBooToTheFlu.com.

About VNAA:

The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) is the national association that supports, promotes and advances nonprofit home health and hospice providers that care for all individuals regardless of the complexity of their illness or their ability to pay. The VNAA’s members make up the largest network of nonprofit community immunizers in the country and are committed to enhancing vaccination programs nationwide. Collectively, VNAA members administered more than 1.5 million doses of flu vaccine last year.

About Families Fighting Flu, Inc.:

Families Fighting Flu (FFF) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization established in 2004 that is made up of families and healthcare practitioners. Each family has experienced first-hand the death of a child due to the flu or has had a child experience severe medical complications from the flu. We are dedicated to educating people about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year. Through education and advocacy, we hope to improve the rates of childhood flu vaccinations and help reduce the number of childhood illnesses and deaths caused by the flu each year.

No. 18 team captures Tissot award in Martinsville

By winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Kyle Busch’s No. 18 crew moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Tissot season standings.

With four Sprint Cup races remaining in the 2010 season, the crews for Busch, Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray lead the Tissot standings with four wins each. The crews for Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer are tied for second with three wins.

In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings.

Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.

The No. 18 crew’s victory at Martinsville came as a result of Busch’s M&M’s Toyota spending the least amount of time on pit road – 280.163 seconds. The effort helped Busch post a strong fourth-place finish in the TUMS Fast Relief 500.

Busch’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers.

“I think that the M&M’s team is the best week in and week out on pit road,” said Busch. “They are fast. They don’t get the credit they deserve. Martinsville isn’t one of my favorite tracks and we didn’t qualify well on Friday, so our pit selection was limited. The guys really had to be on their game because of our pit stall. The guys gave me good stops all day long and helped us keep that track position. I’m really proud of the effort by Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and everyone on the M&M’s team. Those guys win me a lot of races and get me a lot of good finishes. Martinsville was another one of those days.”

2010 Tissot Pit Road Precision Award Standings

Pos Team No. Pit Crew For Wins Prize Money

T1 24 Jeff Gordon 4 $20,000

T1 1 Jamie McMurray 4 20,000

T1 18 Kyle Busch 4 20,000

T4 17 Matt Kenseth 3 15,000

T4 33 Clint Bowyer 3 15,000

T6 56 Martin Truex Jr. 2 10,000

T6 00 David Reutimann 2 10,000

T6 14 Tony Stewart 2 10,000

T9 42 Juan Pablo Montoya 1 5,000

T9 12 Brad Keselowski 1 5,000

T9 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 5,000

T9 39 Ryan Newman 1 5,000

T9 2 Kurt Busch 1 5,000

T9 26 Boris Said 1 5,000

T9 16 Greg Biffle 1 5,000

T9 29 Kevin Harvick 1 5,000

2010 Tissot Pit Road Precision Award Winners

Daytona, 2/14 Juan Pablo Montoya Team

Fontana, 2/21 Jeff Gordon Team

Las Vegas, 2/28 Martin Truex Jr. Team

Atlanta, 3/7 Martin Truex Jr. Team

Bristol, 3/21 Brad Keselowski Team

Martinsville, 3/29 Clint Bowyer Team

Phoenix, 4/10 Matt Kenseth Team

Texas, 4/19 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Team

Talladega 4/25 David Reutimann Team

Richmond, 5/1 Ryan Newman Team

Darlington, 5/8 Jamie McMurray Team

Dover, 5/16 Matt Kenseth Team

Charlotte, 5/30 Jeff Gordon Team

Pocono, 6/6 Kyle Busch Team

Michigan, 6/13 Kurt Busch Team

Sonoma, 6/20 Boris Said Team

Loudon, 6/27 Jeff Gordon Team

Daytona, 7/3 Jeff Gordon Team

Chicago, 7/10 Jamie McMurray Team

Indianapolis, 7/25 Jamie McMurray Team

Pocono, 8/1 Greg Biffle Team

Watkins Glen, 8/8 Kyle Busch Team

Michigan, 8/15 Tony Stewart Team

Bristol, 8/21 David Reutimann Team

Atlanta, 9/5 Tony Stewart Team

Richmond, 9/11 Matt Kenseth Team

Loudon, 9/19 Clint Bowyer Team

Dover, 9/26 Kyle Busch Team

Kansas, 10/3 Kevin Harvick Team

Fontana, 10/10 Clint Bowyer Team

Charlotte, 10/16 Jamie McMurray Team

Martinsville, 10/24 Kyle Busch’s Team

About Tissot

For Tissot, “In touch with your time” is far more than an advertising claim. This phrase expresses the brand’s DNA; its proven dedication to being perfectly in tune with the technology and tastes of each era. Tissot has been growing and developing its tradition of innovation since 1853. From the early days to the present, in its home in Le Locle in the Swiss Jura mountains, Tissot has translated craftsmanship and precision into stylish timepieces now sold in over 150 countries around the world. Special materials, advanced functionality and meticulous design detail join forces to create the luxury of accessibility. Today Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor of Swiss watches, as well as official timekeeper and partner of NASCAR®, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Australian Football League (AFL), Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), MotoGP and the World Championships of Cycling, Fencing and Ice hockey. The tradition of innovation lives on, keeping closely in touch with the times.

Talladega Superspeedway Advance Notes

Race: AMP Energy 500 on Sunday, Oct. 31

Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)

Location: Talladega, Ala.

Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at Talladega Superspeedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

Jarrod England No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Tribute Chevrolet

Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet

NOTES

Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Tribute Team

Talladega Review: McMurray and the No. 1 team will return to Superspeedway racing this weekend at Talladega. McMurray has won two of the last four restrictor-plate races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series having won the 2009 fall event at Talladega and the 2010 Daytona 500. His victory marked his best finish at Talladega where he has led 166 laps and has five top-five and six top-10 finishes in 16 starts. Outside of his 2009 victory, McMurray had his second best finish in the first 2010 NSCS event at Talladega coming home in the second-position. His best start was in the Fall of 2003 when he started on the outside pole.

Martinsville Recap: Consistency and hard work has continued to payoff for McMurray and his team in the Chase’s first six races, this includes their 11th-place finish at the bull ring that is Martinsville Speedway on Sunday afternoon, battling back from a pit road speeding penalty during the first round of pit stops, coming home 11th, with a car that resembled a vehicle from the movie Mad Max.

Bass Pro Shops Special Tribute to “The Intimidator”: The No. 1 Chevrolet will carry a special tribute paint scheme this weekend at Talladega. The paint scheme will be reminiscent of the black and gold Bass Pro Shops paint scheme that Dale Earnhardt ran in the 1998 All-Star race. The tribute is in honor of Dale Earnhardt being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. Talladega was selected as the venue to run the tribute paint scheme because it marks the 10th Anniversary of Dale’s 76th and final Cup victory. The only other time the special black and gold Bass Pro Shops paint scheme appeared on track was during the 1998 Sprint All-Star Race (then known as “The Winston”) on the No. 3 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt. The paint scheme was compliments of his longtime friend and fellow racing and fishing enthusiast, Johnny Morris, Founder/CEO of Bass Pro Shops.

Bass Pro Shops and Dale Earnhardt: The name Earnhardt and Bass Pro Shops have become synonymous in NASCAR racing circles over the last 15 years. The company, founded by Johnny Morris, joined forces with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the mid-eighties, the relationship continues to this day as Bass Pro Shops continues their partnership with the Earnhardt name through their sponsorship of the No.1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, driven by Jamie McMurray. McMurray, a native of Joplin, MO, has certainly brought an extra bit of pride to the Springfield, MO based company by winning the 2010 Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, and the Bank of America 500 with Bass Pro Shops as the primary sponsor.

Meet McMurray: 2010 Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, and Bank of America 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie Austin Dillon will be at the Bass Pro Shops located in Leeds, AL this Thursday, Oct. 28. The Bass Pro Shops drivers will be on-site signing autographs beginning at 5:30pm (CST). The Leeds, Al store is located at 5000 Bass Pro Blvd., along I-20 between Talladega Superspeedway and Birmingham, Al, approximately 30 minutes from Talladega Superspeedway. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and often, and will receive one autograph per person.

Continuing Consistency: The No. 1 Team’s has been on a hot streak over the last 14 races. The impressive record includes two victories (Indy & Charlotte), two poles (Chicago and Fontana), nine top-10 starting positions, five top-five, six top-10, and 10 top-15 finishes. The team also carries an average start of 11th and average finish of 10th after the last 14 races dating back to Chicagoland in mid-July. Since the mid-point of the season (Chicagoland) McMurray currently stacks up with the Chase contenders in the following statistics:

– Two victories (Indy & Charlotte) – (Tied for 1st)

– Two poles (Chicago & Fontana) – (Tied for 1st )

– Five top-five finishes – (Tied for 3rd)

– Six top-10 finishes – (Tied for 6th)

– 10 top-15 finishes – (Tied for 4th)

– Average start of 11th – (Tied for 3rd)

– Average Finish of 10th – (Tied for 2nd)

McMurray vs. the Chase: While not in the Chase, McMurray and the No. 1 team haven’t given up on being one of the most impressive race teams on the track. The team has been on a hot streak during the first six races of the Chase. Compared to the top-12 Chase drivers this is how McMurray and the No. 1 Team currently stack up:

– Average start of 11.6 – (Ranks 3rd)

– Average finish of 9th – (Ranks 4th)

– Ranks 4th for the most points gained in the chase with 866 points gained

Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team

Talladega History: Montoya will take the green flag for his eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. He has two top-five finishes at the Superspeedway, second in 2008 and third earlier this season. Montoya has completed 1315 of 1337 laps (98.4%), including all 579 laps for the last three events. Montoya also captured the pole at Talladega for the 2009 spring event.

About Martinsville: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returned to Martinsville Speedway for the final short track race of the 2010 season. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet qualified in the fifth position and ran as high as fourth before brake problems plagued Montoya. The Target team would finish out the 500-lap event in the 19th position.

Homestead-Miami Ticket Package: Race fans remember to purchase the Montoya ticket package for the NSCS season finale Ford 400. Juan Pablo Montoya and Homestead-Miami Speedway have once again partnered to offer fans a special “Race Day with Juan” ticket package to help support the Montoya’s foundation- Formula Smiles. The ticket package is available for $142, with $42 going towards Formula Smiles Foundation and includes the following:

– Race Ticket to NSCS finale Ford 400 located on the front-stretch West in rows 11-21- JPM Section

– Private pre-race meet-and-greet with Montoya in the infield Driver’s Meeting Room

– No. 42 Target Chevrolet commemorative hat

– Pre-Race Track Pass, providing access to the track’s front-stretch to take pictures, sign the start/finish line and enjoy autograph and Q&A sessions with NASCAR personalities

To purchase “Race Day with Juan” or to upgrade to this package if tickets already have been purchased please visit HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com/Montoya or call (866) 409-RACE.

Top-10 Rankings: Although Montoya and the No. 42 Target team are not Chase contenders, their 2010 statistics rank among the Chase contenders. So far this season Montoya has two pole awards, 22 top-10 starting positions, five top-five and 13 top-10 finishing positions. Along with the on-track success, Montoya currently ranks in the top-10 in the following performance generated categories:

– Average start of 10.6 (2nd)

– Fastest drivers early in a run (5th)

– Quality passes (5th)

– 379 Fastest laps run (6th)

– 6738 Laps in top-15 (6th)

– Fastest drivers on restarts (6th)

– Average running position (7th)

– 685.20 Miles led (7th)

– Driver rating of 92.6 (8th)

– Green flag speed (8th)

– 393 Laps led (8th)

Save at Target: This month Target has launched a new program for its consumers to save money each time purchases are made at the retail store or online. Consumers will save 5% off total purchases every time a Target Credit Card®, Target® Visa® Credit Card or Target Debit Card™ (each a “REDcard®) is used. For more details visit www.redcard.target.com/redcard

CHASSIS INFO

No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Tribute Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1009. Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has elected to bring chassis #1009 to Talladega this weekend, the same chassis that led 27 laps and finished second in the Spring Talladega event.

No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #902. The No. 42 Target team will bring chassis #902 to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. This chassis was used at the first Talladega and Daytona events this year as well as all four superspeedway events last season. Montoya captured the pole for the spring Talladega event last season and has started in the top-10 for four of the six events. He has three top-10 finishes with this chassis including third at the first 2010 Talladega event.