Category: XFINITY Series

WELCOME, N.C. (Sept. 7, 2011) — Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick Incorporated have reached agreement on a collaborative effort that will have KHI’s current NASCAR Nationwide Series program merge with RCR beginning in 2012.

[media-credit name=”RCR” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]The decision is the coming together of the best of the two organizations. KHI will continue to be involved on the business and competition sides with RCR and KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick will still be very active in the Nationwide Series program. The No. 2 and No. 33 teams will continue with drivers Elliott Sadler (No. 2 Chevrolet) and a combination of RCR’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers in the No. 33 Chevrolet. The merger will benefit KHI’s current sponsors with increased resources and business-to-business opportunities.

“KHI and RCR have worked together very closely over the last several years,” said Kevin Harvick. “DeLana and I are fortunate that Richard has always been supportive of KHI over the last 10 years. We feel like this merger will benefit our on-track performance as well as provide our sponsors with more opportunity off track. We will still be very involved and are excited about the Nationwide team’s new direction.”

RCR and KHI have enjoyed more than a decade of success in the Nationwide Series. RCR earned 55 victories and five championships from 1999 to 2010, with Harvick responsible for 32 victories and three championships (overall in 2001 and 2006, owner-only in 2003 with co-driver Johnny Sauter). KHI has earned 10 victories since beginning its program in 2004.

“A few years ago, Richard Childress Racing moved its NASCAR Nationwide Series efforts to Kevin Harvick Incorporated to assist KHI in strengthening its overall program,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “When Kevin and DeLana decided they were interested in consolidating operations, it made sense to merge our efforts. RCR is committed to the Nationwide Series as part of our overall team and driver development efforts. This move will continue the close collaborative effort RCR and KHI have enjoyed for the past 10 years.”

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About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No. 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

About Kevin Harvick Inc.

Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) enters 2011 celebrating 10 years of NASCAR racing. From the start, co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick set a goal to become leaders within the industry. With two Truck Series championships to their credit, the organization has built a reputation of integrity and competitiveness within the NASCAR community. KHI is housed in an over 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. This season, the organization will field three full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams and two full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series teams, competing for the drivers and owners championships in each series. With a roster comprised of both up-and-coming and veteran championship-caliber drivers, KHI continues to establish itself as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

RaceCash.com Partners with Rick Ware Racing to Bring NASCAR Sponsorship Online

CHARLOTTE, NC – Today, RaceCash.com unveiled a unique motorsports advertisement program tailored to small businesses and individuals who would like to sponsor a NASCAR race car at an easily affordable price.

For as little as $50, you can place your name, message or company’s logo on one of Rick Ware Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series cars with only a few clicks. Utilizing an easy-to-use web marketplace, RaceCash allows its members to simply select their desired sponsorship spot and pay for their order through a secure checkout process.

Founded by 20-year-old internet entrepreneur and race car driver, Trevor Farbo, RaceCash aims to revolutionize the way advertisers look at the previously hit-or-miss concept of motorsports marketing.

“We understand that race teams are in need of funding to keep their cars on the race track,” said Farbo. “We also understand that advertisers are in need of affordable marketing opportunities that achieve results relative to their monetary investment. With RaceCash, we are able to exceed return on investment expectations for advertisers while still keeping race teams on the race track. This promotes a healthy and productive marketing platform that works well for both parties.”

Coined as “The Biggest Little Team in MotorsportsT” and known for their cutting-edge innovation of motorsports sponsorship, Rick Ware Racing continues to shape the future of efficient race team operations with the addition of RaceCash.com as their newest marketing partner.

“We are extremely excited to be working with Rick Ware Racing for the 2011 racing season and beyond,” exclaimed Farbo. “This will be our product’s maiden voyage, and we can’t wait to see the fans’ response not only at the race track, but also at RaceCash.com!”

Are you ready to sponsor a race car? Click over to RaceCash.com and take a look! Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, a small business owner or just a race fan, RaceCash has a sponsorship package available to suit your budget!

Start today at www.racecash.com

JUSTIN ALLGAIER QUICK FACTS

No. 31 Dollar General Chevrolet

Virginia 529 College Savings 250

Richmond International Raceway

September 9, 2011

No. 31 Dollar General News and Notes

. Allgaier Heads to Richmond Fifth in Points… Allgaier heads to Richmond in fifth-place in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship point standings after his sixth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He is 69 points behind leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. All three championship-contending Turner Motorsports drivers are currently in the top-10, with Reed Sorenson in third and Jason Leffler in sixth-place.

. Richmond International Raceway by the Numbers… The 25-year-old Turner Motorsports Chevy driver has five NNS starts at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) with one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He is credited a best start of fifth and best finish of third coming in the spring of this year.

. This Week’s Impala… The No. 31Dollar General Chevy team will hit the track with chassis TMS-132 this Friday evening under the lights at RIR for the Virginia 529 College Savings 250. This chassis last saw track action at Iowa Speedway where Allgaier started sixth and finished 29th after cutting down a tire. Earlier this season this chassis was run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where Allgaier started eighth & finished 10th.

. In the Loop… Thus far in 2011, Allgaier ranks among the top-10 in several of NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics: Quality Passes (3rd), Fastest on Restarts (6th), Laps in the Top-15 (6th), Average Running Position (8th), Percentage of Laps Run on the Lead Lap (8th), Fastest Speed in Traffic (9th), Fastest Early in the Run (10th) and Fastest Late in the Run (10th).

. Turner Motorsports In the Hunt… In 26 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 20 top-five and 51 top-10 finishes.

Justin Allgaier on Richmond International Raceway:

“Richmond is always a track that is different with each race we run there. It’s a short track with little banking in the corners so you need to have the speed to carry through the corner and make the car stick to gain off the turn. You never know how the race will shape out. In the spring it turned into a fuel mileage race, which worked out pretty well in our favor,” said Allgaier. “I’m excited to have the Dollar General colors on the No. 31 this weekend. They are a great partner of Turner Motorsports and we hope to give them a strong finish at the end of the night.”

Follow the No. 31 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No31TurnerNNS

Follow Justin Allgaier on Twitter!Twitter.com/J_Allgaier

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Michael Annett Richmond 2 News and Notes

Notes and Quotes:

Freightliner Trucks Sponsors No. 62 Entry for Richmond: Rusty Wallace Racing partner, Freightliner Trucks, will be the primary sponsor of Michael Annett’s No. 62 Toyota Camry for Friday night’s Nationwide Series event at Richmond International Raceway. Freightliner has a longstanding relationship with Rusty Wallace Racing and is the sponsor and supplier of the team’s hauler vehicles. Pilot Flying J will be an associate sponsor on the No. 62 entry for Richmond’s 250 lap event.

Michael Annett in 2011: Heading into race 27 out of 34, Annett ranks 10th in the Nationwide Series championship point standings. He has claimed six top-10 finishes and 11 top-15 finishes under the Rusty Wallace Racing banner in 2011. The 25-year-old driver has only three DNF’s in 26 races and has completed 95.6 percent (4,536 of 4,747) of the laps contested so far this season.

Winner’s Circle Home to Wallace at Richmond: A 55-time winner in NASCAR’s premier racing series, team owner Rusty Wallace achieved six of his Sprint Cup Series victories at Richmond International Raceway. No. 62 crew chief Rick Viers has also visited Victory Lane at Richmond with driver Kevin Harvick where they led 149 of 253 laps en route to their third win together in 2005.

Rusty Wallace Racing at Richmond: As an organization, Rusty Wallace Racing has five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes on Richmond International Raceway’s .75 mile oval with only one DNF in 27 total starts. Additionally, Rusty Wallace Racing entries have led 53 laps of competition and have completed 6,284 of the 6,420 (97.9 percent) laps contested in those events.

Rusty Wallace Racing’s Short Track Stats: In 143 total short track starts, Rusty Wallace Racing has accumulated two wins, 23 top-five finishes, 64 top-10 finishes and six poles. The Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has led 1079 laps of competition on NASCAR sanctioned short tracks.

Meet Michael: Annett and several of his fellow NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will be signing autographs for race fans at the track on Friday from 2-3 p.m. ET in the Richmond International Raceway Amphitheater.

Cast Your Vote: Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver voting has returned for the fourth consecutive year in 2011 and is underway on NASCAR.com. Fans can cast their vote for Michael Annett once per day by visiting www.NASCAR.com/nnsmpd. Voting runs from now until November 17. The winner of the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award will be announced at the year-end banquet on November 21.

For the latest updates on Michael Annett, visit www.michaelannett.com.

Stacey Premo, Motorsports Marketing Manager, Freightliner Trucks on sponsoring the No. 62 car:

“Freightliner Trucks is excited to team with Rusty Wallace Racing, the No. 62 car and Michael Annett this weekend for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond. Rusty Wallace Racing has been a wonderful partner, and we know that Michael will give us a great finish.”

Michael Annett on this weekend’s race at Richmond:

“We’re really excited to have Freightliner on the car this week for Richmond. We’ve got a great lineup of dedicated sponsors at Rusty Wallace Racing, and we’re excited to showcase the Freightliner Trucks brand on our No. 62 Toyota Camry. We’re looking forward to giving them a top notch performance under the lights at Richmond on Friday.”

The Machines:

Team 62 Primary: RWR-055 – In 2011, Rusty Wallace Racing’s No. 62 team has raced with this car at Phoenix International Raceway, Richmond International Raceway in April and at Iowa Speedway in May where they finished 13th.

Team 62 Back-Up: RWR-051 – The No. 62 Pilot Flying J team’s last race competing with this chassis was at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.

About Freightliner Trucks:

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. For more information on Freightliner Trucks, go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com.

Pilot Flying J Locations on Your Way:

Pilot Flying J provides 12 Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations along the roads of the state of Virginia. Six of these locations are conveniently positioned within a 100 mile radius of Richmond International Raceway. For more information on Pilot Flying J and to map their nearest locations along your route, please visit www.pilotflyingj.com.

Pilot Travel Center

I-95 Exit 58

2126 Ruffin Mill Road

Colonial Heights, VA 23834

Flying J

I-95 Exit 104

24279 Rogers Clark Blvd.

Carmel Church, VA 22526

Flying J

I-95 Exit 104

23866 Rogers Clark Blvd.

Ruther Glen, VA 22546

Pilot Travel Center

I-64 Exit 211

6721 Emmaus Church Road

Providence Forge, VA 23140

Pilot Travel Center

I-95 Exit 11 (Hwy 58)

918 West Atlantic

Emporia, VA 23847

Pilot Travel Center

I-85 Exit 12 (Hwy 58)

1011 E. Atlantic Street

South Hill, VA 23970

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America. Follow Pilot Flying J on Twitter at @pilottravel.

Broadcast Info:

Qualifying

Friday, September 9, 4 p.m. ET

ESPN2

Virginia 529 College Savings 250

Friday, September 9, 7:30 p.m. ET

ESPN2

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW

No. 88 AdvoCare  Chevrolet / No. 7 GoDaddy.com/Get Your.NET Chevrolet

EVENT – Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles) TRACK – Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile D-shaped oval) DATE – Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 7:15 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola No. 88 AdvoCare Chevrolet

“When our AdvoCare team walks back into the tunnel at Richmond, we’re going in there knowing we have a shot to win. We had one of our best races of the season there in the spring. I know we’ll have a good AdvoCare Chevrolet. We’re running the same chassis we took there in the spring, so we’ll unload with speed. The race in April was proof of that. We led laps and ran in the top-three for most of the night. Things just didn’t go our way toward the end. Somehow we ended up running out of fuel, and then we were penalized on pit road. It wasn’t how we were looking to end that race. I’m confident we can do much better this time around.”

Danica Patrick No. 7 GoDaddy.com/Get Your.NET Chevrolet

“This truly is a weekend of remembrance for Americans everywhere. I think a lot of people will remember this anniversary in their own way, but for me, it’s an absolute privilege to be part of the Honoring our Heroes program this weekend. It’s a testament to the entire NASCAR community that so many drivers and teams have embraced the importance of this program. Go Daddy has done a great thing by putting a special paint scheme on our No. 7 car, and it looks quite different than the Go Daddy green we’re used to. It’s a fitting tribute. I don’t know how many people know this, but Bob (Parsons, Go Daddy Founder and CEO) took the time to design this paint scheme himself. Bob is a veteran of the Vietnam War, so this is something that he was very passionate about. Every star you see on the car is meant to serve as a memorial for each life lost on 9/11. I think there are 2,976 stars in all. Looking at all those stars covering the car really puts the magnitude of what we lost that day into perspective.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

REMEMBERING SEPT. 11, 2001 – This weekend the entire NASCAR community, along with NASCAR Lionel Collectibles, will pay tribute to the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with multiple NASCAR drivers piloting special “Honoring our Heroes” paint schemes. In part of the remembrance, Danica Patrick will drive a unique version of the No. 7 Go Daddy.com/Get Your.NET Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. Patrick’s Chevrolet features a black paint-out that is blanketed with a star-covered design. A patriotic ribbon with the words “Remembering 9/11” also graces the hood. Each star integrated into the paint scheme represents a life lost during the attacks. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charitable organization founded in 2001 by the family of Stephen Siller –an FDNY firefighter who lost his life in the attacks, will have its logo on the C-post of the No. 7 Chevrolet. The “Honoring our Heroes” program is designed to help raise funds to build homes for the only three surviving quadruple amputees of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – United States Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco, United States Marine Corps Corporal Todd Nicely and United States Marine Corps Corporal John Peck.

PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media on Friday, Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. EST in the infield media center.

PATRICK TO ATTEND LIONEL NASCAR COLLECTIBLES PRESS CONFERENCE AT RIR – Patrick will participate in the Lionel NASCAR Collectibles press conference in the Richmond International Raceway media center on Friday, Sept. 9 at 3:45 p.m. EST. Patrick joins several other NASCAR drivers, along with Howard Hitchcock, Vice President of Lionel NASCAR® Collectables for a special check presentation benefitting the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Please note, questions during the press conference should be limited to the “Honoring our Heroes” program. Additional competition-related questions may be addressed during Patrick’s media availability scheduled for Friday, Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. EST in the infield media center.

DANICA’S SEASON TOTALS – In seven races this season, Patrick holds one top-five and three top-10 finishes, two of which came in her last three starts. She has led 14 laps and earned an average finish of 16.0. Following the Richmond event, Patrick will be back with the No. 7 GoDaddy.com / Get Your.NET team in races at Kansas Speedway (Oct. 8), Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 5), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 12) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 19) before running the fulltime Nationwide Series schedule in 2012.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 12th position in owner points.

ADVOCARE DEBUT – JR Motorsports welcomes AdvoCare as primary sponsor of the organization’s flagship No. 88 Chevrolet with driver Aric Almirola. AdvoCare, a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products, will also see action with the No. 88 team at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 14.  They will continue to serve as an associate sponsor with for the entirety of the 2011 season.

ALMIROLA AT RICHMOND – Almirola made his first career Nationwide Series start at Richmond in 2006, and has competed at Richmond three times since. Driving for JRM behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet, he earned his best finish of 11th last fall. It marked the first and only time he has driven the No. 7 Chevrolet for JRM.

SHORT TRACK SEASON STATS – In eight short track races this season, Almirola holds three top-five and five top-10 finishes. He scored those finishes in races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Raceway, Iowa Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

MOUNTING SUCCESS FOR ALMIROLA – In their last 10 starts, Almirola and the No. 88 AdvoCare team have secured five top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Almirola has scored more points than any other Nationwide Series regular during that span, earning a total of 352 points and averaging 35.2 points per race.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The AdvoCare team’s season tally now stands at six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. They are ranked eighth in owner points

ALMIROLA AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Aric Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Friday, Sept. 9, from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.

JR NATION GREAT GIVEWAY – From Aug. 28 to Oct. 16, 2011, the JR Nation web site, the official fan club site for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports, is giving away a prize a day for 50 days to both new and existing fan club members. All fans must do is log on to www.jrnation.com and click on the register now banner. In addition to the 50 daily prizes, JR Nation is offering a grand prize of an $888 gift card for use in the JR Nation online store. 10 second-place winners will receive an $88 gift card also for use in the JR Nation online store. Daily prizes include autographed memorabilia from Aric Almirola, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Josh Wise.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

Almirola to drive No. 88 AdvoCare Chevrolet this weekend at Richmond

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 7, 2011) – JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today the addition of AdvoCare as a primary partner on board its No. 88 Chevrolet with driver Aric Almirola.

AdvoCare, a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition and sports performance products, will be featured as the primary sponsor in races at Richmond International Raceway (Sept. 9) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 14), and will also serve as an associate partner for the remainder of the 2011 season.

“We feel fortunate to be aligned with such a distinguished company as AdvoCare,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “The race under the lights at Richmond is always entertaining, and it’s a great place for AdvoCare to makes its debut with JR Motorsports. With the way Aric and the 88 team competed at Richmond in the spring, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the AdvoCare Chevrolet in victory lane.”

Almirola and the No. 88 AdvoCare team have hit their stride over the last two months. The team has scored eight top-10 finishes in the past 10 weeks and earned more championship points (352) than any Nationwide Series “regular” during that time. Currently, Almirola is fourth in championship points (-64). The AdvoCare team looks to continue its success at Richmond this weekend.

“We are excited about our partnership with JR Motorsports and the No. 88 team,” said Rob Graf, Director of Endorsements for AdvoCare. “Aric Almirola is an outstanding driver who will do an excellent job in promoting the AdvoCare brand for the company and its independent distributors across the country.”

About AdvoCare AdvoCare International, LP is an award-winning, premier health and wellness company headquartered in Plano, Texas, that offers more than 70 products and a business opportunity that empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. Since 1993, AdvoCare has offered nutritional supplements and vitamins of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific & Medical Advisory Board. For more information on AdvoCare, visit www.advocare.com or call 800-542-4800.

About JR Motorsports JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s eight-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series; however the Dale Jr. business model extends well beyond the race track and includes multiple business ventures. Among those entities is the full-service production company Hammerhead Entertainment (www.hammerheadent.com), JR Nation Retail Store (www.ShopJrNation.com), The Dale Jr. Foundation (www.thedalejrfoundation.org), and Whisky River (www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com), the bar and nightclub located in the uptown Charlotte Epicentre.

On the DG Chevy this week: Slim Jim, Energizer, Reese’s, Gildan, Pine-Sol, Fanta, Cheez-it REED SORENSON QUICK FACTS No. 32 Dollar General Chevy Richmond International Raceway Virginia 529 College Savings 250 September 9, 2011   No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet News and Notes With Eight To Go, There’s Ground to Make Up – After a disappointing 32nd-place finish in Atlanta last weekend, Reed Sorenson and his Dollar General team know they have work to do in order to get back in contention in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship hunt. While he still occupies the third spot in the standings, Sorenson is 40 points out of the lead. While the total seems potentially insurmountable, teammate James Buescher overcame a 42-point deficit in five races to overtake the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points lead after the race at Atlanta.   The Dollar General Double – This weekend Turner Motorsports will field two Dollar General Chevys at Richmond International Raceway. Sorenson will pilot the flagship No. 32 and teammate Justin Allgaier will be in a second, No. 31 Dollar General Chevy. The two cars will differ only in number and roof number color.   Sorenson at Richmond – Sorenson will make his ninth start at the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway this weekend. In his eight previous starts, Sorenson owns two top-fives, five top-10s and four laps led. He has an average starting spot of 10.9 and an average finish of 14.0. In the spring race, Sorenson started 15th and finished 12th.   Looking to go Three-for-Three for $100K – This weekend’s race at Richmond International Raceway is the third of four in the Nationwide Series Dash 4 Cash program, where four NNS drivers compete for $100,000. In the first two races, Sorenson came away with the money and as a result, is the only driver eligible for the one million dollar award possible at the program’s conclusion at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   Teeing Off for Literacy – When he gets home from Richmond, Sorenson will join crew chief Trent Owens in attending the 19th Annual Dollar General Literacy Foundation Golf Classic in Nashville, Tenn. Both avid golfers, Sorenson and Owens are looking forward to the opportunity. Dollar General believes learning to read, receiving a GED or learning the English language is an investment that opens doorways for personal, professional and economic growth which is why their commitment to literacy remains strong.   Fans Can Win Big with Dollar General – Dollar General, an Official Partner of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ is offering customers the chance to win more than 9,000 prizes including free gas for a year, a trip for two to Las Vegas for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™ and $250,000. The “Race in to Win” sweepstakes officially launched Aug. 28 and runs through November 12, 2011. When customers purchase qualifying items from DG, they are given a code on their receipt to enter online at dollargeneral.com.  It is the first-ever national retail program around the Chase, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs.   This Week’s Impala – This weekend, Sorenson will pilot TMS-126 in the Virginia 429 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. This car was previously run by Sorenson at Iowa Speedway (sixth), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (15th) and was brand new at Dover International Speedway where he finished third.   Sorenson on heading back to the short track of Richmond: “I really like going to Richmond as it’s a track I have done pretty well at and I just enjoy racing there. This Dollar General team understands the task we have at hand here and what we need to do to get back in contention for this championship. We just want to focus on playing up our strengths and minimizing the weaknesses. It’s also fun for us to be racing for the Nationwide Dash 4 Cash money again, although I understand the competition is going to be tight for it. It’s a really great program and we will definitely know where all the other guys are on the track all night. I think the Dollar General team is up to the challenge we know lies ahead and there are good things in store for us as we get closer and closer to the end of the season.”

RICKY CARMICHAEL QUICK FACTS                                                                        

No. 30 Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala                                

Virginia 529 College Savings 250                                                   

Richmond International Raceway

September 9, 2011

No. 30 Monster Energy Chevrolet News and Notes

• Welcoming ‘the Goat’ back… Ricky Carmichael will return to the seat of the No. 30 Monster Energy Impala this weekend at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) for his third NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start of 2011. In his two previous starts this season he brought home a career-best ninth-place finish at Road America. Carmichael is set to make his final NNS start of the season at Phoenix International Raceway in November.

• On a roll… Carmichael is coming off a great weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his No. 4 Monster Energy Silverado. He captured his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Pole Award and after a strong showing in the Good Sam Club 200, he brought his truck home in the ninth position for his fourth top-10 finish of the season.

• Rookie at RIR… Though he is no stranger to racing competition, the 15-time AMA champion is a rookie at RIR having never made a start at the .75-mile D-shaped oval.

• This week’s Impala… The No. 30 Monster Energy team will hit the track with chassis TMS-119 this weekend at RIR. This chassis has seen track action several times this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Iowa Speedway with both Reed Sorenson and Mikey Kile.

• Turner Motorsports: In the hunt… In 26 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 20 top-five and 51 top-10 finishes. All three of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-six in the driver point standings with Reed Sorenson in third, Justin Allgaier in fifth and Jason Leffler in sixth.

• Make it 100… Carmichael made his 100th-career start on four wheels last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After retiring from Motocross and Supercross full time in 2007, the 31-year-old driver made 14 starts in late model stock car competition at New Smyrna Speedway before moving to Ken Schrader Racing in 2008 where making 13 starts in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East Division where he finished sixth in points on the strength of three top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He was also named the series’ Most Popular Driver. Carmichael moved to the NCWTS the following year where he was once again dubbed the division’s Most Popular Driver. The 2011 season marks Carmichael’s second year competing on a full-time basis and third year overall in the NCWTS. Since making his series debut 60 races ago, the father of twins has gone on to earn one pole, three top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. Over those same 60 races, the motocross legend has logged a 15.1 average start, a 17.0 average finish, led 39 laps, completed 91.1 percent of the laps run and earned just over of $768,000 in purse money. Meanwhile, the Tallahassee, Fla., resident has made six NASCAR Nationwide Series starts where he’s notched one top 10 and seven starts in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards where he’s recorded one top five and a pair of top-10 showings.

• AN event for ECHO… On Monday, Sept. 12, Carmichael will host the Ricky Carmichael & Friends for ECHO charity golf tournament at Southwood Golf Club in Tallahassee. The Emergency Care Help Organization, Inc. (ECHO) was founded in 1981 by a group of Tallahassee churches and concerned citizens who realized a need for a central location to help individuals and families in crisis. Having served the Leon County community for over 27 years, ECHO is the largest faith-based human services organization in the Tallahassee community. ECHO puts faith into action by serving people in crisis and poverty, and restoring individual and family self-sufficiency and feelings of self-worth. ECHO provides assistance for those most in need and offers food, clothing, household items, furniture, and weekend meals for those who are hungry or homeless. The organization is also Tallahassee’s premier job program helping the chronically unemployed and underemployed find and keep employment. This program prepares eager, capable job applicants to meet the needs of local employers, and continues to coach and mentor those newly employed for up to a year. ECHO also provides emergency short-term shelter for families in a housing crisis. This program provides case management and other assistance geared to help families become self-sufficient and attain permanent housing. Children (from newborn to 17 years) make up the largest population in ECHO’s Family Services Program. For more information, contact the ECHO office at (850) 224-ECHO or visit  www.echotally.org.

• Welcome aboard Fas Mart… Fas Mart Shore Stop operates over 200 convenience stores in eight different states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. Fas Mart and Shore Stop are members of the GPM family of convenience stores and offer award-winning fried chicken, fresh dairy products, brand-name snacks, quality gasoline and more.

• Catch the race…The Virginia 529 College Savings 250 will be broadcast live on Friday, September 9th on ESPN2 and MRN Radio Affiliates with the green flag scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. EDT.

Carmichael Quotes

You’re making your third Nationwide Series start of 2011 at Richmond this weekend. Talk a little about that.

“I’m definitely looking forward to another opportunity to drive one of Turner Motorsports’ Nationwide Series cars. I’ve never had a chance to race at Richmond. It’s one of the very few tracks where I haven’t had a chance to race over the least three years, so this will be a first for me. It’s going to be a really busy weekend for a lot of reasons. I’ve never been to Richmond, it’s a one day show and I’ll be driving a car that I don’t have a lot of experience in. I’m excited for the opportunity and hoping to make the best out of it.”

Considering you don’t have any experience at Richmond, have you talked to anyone about the track to try and get some advice?

“I’ve talked to a few people about Richmond to try and get some information and digest as much as I can before I get there. At the same time, it’s hard to put that information to good use until you get a chance to get out there and make some laps.”

You’ve got your annual charity golf outing on Monday so you weren’t kidding when you said you are going to be busy this week.

“We’re hosting our charity golf tournament in Tallahassee (Fla.) on Monday and that’s always a lot of fun. We’ll have a lot of participants and supporters from both NASCAR and the Motocross and Supercross worlds. It’s a great event and all the proceeds go to support the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO). ECHO provides job assistance and helps feed families here in Tallahassee. It’s a great organization that helps people who have lost their jobs and homes and gives them temporary housing and helps with job assistance and placement. It’s an honor for me to be able help such an important local charity.”

You made your 100th-career start in four-wheel competition last weekend in Atlanta. Can you put that into perspective?

“I was really able to reflect on it after the Atlanta race. It was my 100th start on four wheels and for it to come at Atlanta and be able to sit on the pole and run up front all night made it really special. I’ve had a lot of great times in Atlanta in both Supercross and now in NASCAR. That town has just always been really good to me, statistically. It’s pretty cool to be able to look at my first pole award flag and know it came in my 100th four-wheel start and at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’s pretty special.”

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