Category: XFINITY Series

Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes

NNS Race Advance Great Clips 300 Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011

BRAD KESELOWSKI RETURNS TO NNS Dodge’s Brad Keselowski will return to the seat of the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  The reigning 2010 NNS champion has been sidelined since suffering a broken left ankle sustained during a testing accident at Road America.  Drivers filling in for the 2010 Nationwide Series champion the last four weeks include Sam Hornish Jr. at Iowa, Kurt Busch at Watkins Glen Jacques Villeneuve at Montreal and Parker Kligerman at Bristol Motor Speedway.  The four drivers combined for one win, two poles and two top-10 finishes.

DODGE NEWS AND NOTES ·  Dodge is seeking its first Nationwide Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. ·  Dodge’s last Nationwide Series win came three weeks ago at Watkins Glen when Keselowski’s teammate Kurt Busch drove his Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger to victory. ·  Jacques Villeneuve earned Dodge its last Nationwide Series pole at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.  Penske teammate Alex Tagliani started second making it an all-Dodge front row.

DODGE IN THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES ·  Dodge is fielding two entries in the Nationwide Series this year from the Penske Racing stable.  Sam Hornish Jr. joined teammate Brad Keselowski for a limited race schedule.  Hornish has made eight starts this season.  His best finish of sixth came at Nashville.

BRAD KESELOWSKI AT ATLANTA ·  Brad Keselowski will be making his fifth career NASCAR Nationwide start at AMS.  His fourth-place finish at the fall event in 2009 is a career best at AMS.

BRAD KESELOWSKI– No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T Career Stats (Atlanta): Starts:                          4 Wins:                            0 Top Fives:                    1 Top 10s:                        2 Poles:                            0 Laps Led:                      5 Average Start:                21.0 Average Finish:              11.75

KESELOWSKI ON RACING AT ATLANTA “Atlanta is a place I knew I would like after my first lap on the track.  The sensation of speed you get through the corner in a Nationwide Series car is pretty unbelievable.  That’s one thing that amazes people every time I tell them that a Nationwide Series car – through the corners – is faster than a Cup Series car.  Whether you are running the top, the bottom or the middle, Atlanta is all about speed.”

FAST FACTS ·  Brad Keselowski has two wins in his last four NASCAR Nationwide Series starts.  The wins came at Kentucky and Lucas Oil Raceway (Indy). ·  In 159 career Nationwide starts, Keselowski has 14 wins, 67 top fives, 95 top 10s, and 10 poles. ·  Dodge has 37 wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

FROM THE DRIVER “It was really important for me to return to the Nationwide Series this season.  I know there are a lot of people who think it may be a bad idea, but I am a man of my word.  I made a promise to everyone on my team that I would be behind the wheel of the Discount Tire Dodge.  We’re in a pretty good spot as far as the Chase is concerned so this is a good time to go back to the Nationwide Series.  My injuries are feeling better every day and the extra seat time should benefit both teams.” Brad Keselowski, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T

FROM THE CREW CHIEF “These last four weeks have been very interesting for me.  On one hand, my driver was on the sidelines with an injury and my thoughts were with him, as much as they could be.  On the other hand, I had the opportunity to work with four outstanding race car drivers.  I feel that’s made me a better, more well-rounded crew chief.  I appreciate Kurt (Busch), Sam (Hornish Jr.), Jacques (Villeneuve) and Parker (Kligerman) filling in.  We had some strong runs with those guys and I think Brad can come back this weekend and put the Discount Tire machine in Victory Lane.” Todd Gordon, crew chief, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T

JUSTIN ALLGAIER QUICK FACTS

No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet

Great Clips 300

Atlanta Motor Speedway

September 3, 2011

No. 31 BRANDT News and Notes

. 100th NASCAR Nationwide Series Start… This Saturday evening will mark Justin Allgaier’s 100th career NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start. He made his NNS debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10th, 2008. In his first 99 starts, he has claimed two wins, three poles, 17 top-five, 44 top-10 finishes and has logged 23498.9 competition miles. He has not finished outside the top-six in the championship point standings in his two full-years of NNS competition.

. Allgaier Heads to Atlanta Fifth in Points… Allgaier heads to Atlanta in fifth-place in the NNS championship point standings after his 15th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. He is 66 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.

. Atlanta Motor Speedway by the Numbers… The 25-year-old Turner Motorsports Chevy driver has two NNS starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). He is credited a best start of 20th and best finish of 13th coming in the fall of 2010.

. Bristol to Indy for MotoGP… After completing 250 laps under the lights at Bristol on Friday night, Allgaier headed up to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday morning to take in MotoGP action at the iconic track. While there he tweeted, “Had an awesome time at #IMS today for #MotoGP What a race!”

. This Week’s Impala… The No. 31 BRANDT Chevy team will hit the track with chassis TMS-308 this Saturday evening under the lights at AMS for the Great Clips 300. This chassis last saw track action at Nashville Superspeedway where Allgaier started 16th and finished fourth.

. In the Loop… Thus far in 2011, Allgaier ranks among the top-10 in several of NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics: Quality Passes (4th), 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 25 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 19 top-five and 48 top-10 finishes.

Justin Allgaier on Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“Atlanta is one of the fastest mile & half tracks we race at on the Nationwide circuit. In order to be successful it’s important to anticipate the way the track will change and make sure you adapt and find your groove to contend for the win. Once you find your groove through the corner you can gain a lot of speed down the straightaway,” said Allgaier. “We hope to give the BRANDT Chevy a strong run this Saturday evening especially since it’s the Great Clips 300. They have been a great partner for Turner Motorsports and are a staple in the garage, and it will be great to see myself or one my teammates in victory lane 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

On the DG Chevy this week: Rice Krispies Treats, Reese’s, Energizer, Pine-Sol, Sprite, Pull-Ups, Slim Jim, Gildan

REED SORENSON QUICK FACTS

No. 32 Dollar General Chevy

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Great Clips 300

September 3, 2011

No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet News and Notes

. Sorenson’s Season in Review – In 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts this season, Sorenson has notched one win, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. The Georgia native has an average start of 12.1 coupled with an average finish of 10.0 along with 85 laps led. After his 12th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Sorenson is third in the NNS championship point standings, just 10 markers behind the leader.

. Falcons Fan’s Dream Come True – This week, Sorenson has been given an opportunity not many football fans ever receive. On Tuesday, the long-time Falcons fan will attend a team practice as well as join General Manager Thomas Dimitroff in watching the team’s fourth preseason game on Thursday night. Crew chief Trent Owens and car chief Shannon Rursch will also join Sorenson at the Georgia Dome for the game.

. Falcons Invade Atlanta Motor Speedway – After Sorenson spends time on their turf, three Falcons players have been invited to be guests of the Dollar General team at the Great Clips 300 on Saturday night. Pro-Bowlers Ovie Mughelli, Michael Turner and Roddy White are scheduled to join the team to watch Sorenson in action.

. Sorenson at Atlanta – In six NNS starts at the 1.54-mile track, Sorenson has one top-10 finish with 49 laps led, along with a 16.5 average starting position and 28.8 finishing position. In last season’s race, Sorenson started from the third position, but was involved in a late-race accident which relegated him to a 34th-place finish.

. Sorenson Annual Golf Classic – On Thursday, Sorenson is hosting his annual golf tournament at Crystal Lake Golf Club to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities. Fellow drivers Justin Allgaier, James Buescher, Michael Annette, Brian Scott, Steven Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Scott Speed have made plans to attend the event as well.

. Fans Can Win Big with Dollar General – Dollar General, an Official Partner of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint CupT 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 WeekT 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-130 in the Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This car was previously run by Mark Martin at both Kentucky Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, finishing 14th and seventh respectively.

. The Great Clips 300 – Longtime Turner Motorsports partner Great Clips, Inc., will serve as primary sponsor of this weekend’s race at AMS. This is the second consecutive running of the Great Clips 300 at AMS with Jamie McMurray taking home the trophy in 2010.

Sorenson on his big week in Atlanta:

“I haven’t been home in a while so it’s exciting for me to be able to get back to the Atlanta area for a few days before the race on Saturday night. I’ve got a lot going on between the stuff with the Falcons and my golf tournament. I’m really thrilled to be able to meet some of the Falcons players and see how they prepare for their games and then in turn, have them come and see how we get things done on the racing side. I’m hoping they will leave the race Saturday night as race fans.”

“This Dollar General team continues to work hard every week as we know there aren’t that many races left before this championship is decided. It’s obvious that our competitors know this too. I would love nothing more than to get a great finish in my hometown this weekend which would do great things for us in the points battle as well.”

Follow the No. 32 team on Twitter! @No32TurnerNNS

Follow Dollar General on Twitter! @DollarGeneral

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

TREVOR BAYNE

Race: Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (195 laps 300 miles)

Team: No. 16 Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Chad Norris

Chassis: RK-633-Last ran at Charlotte, May 2011, Finished 1st w/Matt Kenseth

Broadcast Information: Saturday, September 3, 2011- 7:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN2 and 7:00 p.m. on PRN radio affiliates and Sirius channel 90

FAST FACTS

* TREVOR BAYNE will make his 21st start of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway

* TREVOR BAYNE at Atlanta Motor Speedway… Bayne has two starts in Nationwide Series competition

QUOTES

Trevor Bayne on racing at Atlanta: “Atlanta is a fast track that has a unique racing surface. The surface is a bit worn, so it presents certain challenges. If we can unload fast and dial in our car setup during practice, I believe we have a legit shot at a win this weekend. I have a great crew behind me and awesome teammates that bring a lot of knowledge to the table. I will be ready to do work on Saturday night.”

Crew chief Chad Norris on racing at Atlanta: “Trevor and I worked well together last week. Our finish did not show it, but we communicated well and I think we were as competitive as the top teams in the field. This weekend will be a true test for us. Our mile and a half program has been solid this year and our Fords are very fast. I have to make the right adjustments on the car and our pit stops have to be good to compete for a win. I am ready to do whatever it takes to bring home a win this weekend.”

Team:           No. 6 Blackwell Angus Ford Mustang

Crew Chief:  Mike Kelley

Chassis:       RK-670 – primary – last ran at Dover- finished 4th.

RK–608 – backup – New Nationwide Chassis

Stenhouse, Jr –  Atlanta Motor Speedway:

QUOTES

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“It has been awhile since we have been to a mile-and-a-half track, so I am really excited about racing in Atlanta. I struggled there the first time I went there, but I feel like I have a much better knowledge of the track now. This track is fun to race at because it is super fast. Hopefully we can get this Blackwell Angus Ford back to Victory lane.”

Crew chief Mike Kelley on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“We have two wins this year at mile-and-a-half tracks so the entire team is eager to go to Atlanta.  The key is to have a good handling race car on entry and exit of the corners. This is a big race for Blackwell Angus and I feel that we can get this No. 6 Mustang back into Victory Lane.”

FAST FACTS

Stenhouse has an average starting position of 13.0 and average finish of 10.0 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. So far in 2011, Stenhouse, Jr. has two wins, 10 top-fives, 17 top-tens, and three poles. Stenhouse, Jr. is the current Nationwide Series points leader with a five point lead over Elliot Sadler.

CHINA GROVE, N.C. (August 30, 2011) – This weekend, the No. 23 North Texas Pipe Chevrolet of R3 Motorsports will have a familiar name above the door when Robert Richardson, Jr. climbs into the seat.

After an on-again-off-again schedule for the McKinney, Texas native; it looks like his schedule will pick up again as the season draws toward a close. He’s slated to drive Richmond International Raceway the following weekend, as well more races in the near future.

The team is still seeking primary and associate marketing partners to round out the season; like many teams. But, they are committed to see this season out and then get ready for 2012.

Until then, it’s time to fire up the engines and flip on the lights of the 1.5-mile oval of AMS for some Saturday night racing on Labor Day Weekend.

Fast Facts: This will be the 86th NNS start of the 29-year old driver’s career. During that time, he’s earned a best finish of 15th at the short track of Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. This will be his 17th start of the 2011 season where his best finish of 20th took place at Richmond in the spring. His best start of 23rd came about at Iowa Speedway during the second NNS visit.

Track Facts: During the three previous starts at AMS, Richardson has a best start of 21st in 2008 and backed that up with a 22nd place finish the following year. He’s completed a commendable 546 of 588 laps contested (92.9 percent) during that time, as well.

Tune in for the Win: It’s an early start with the 11 a.m. ET showing of practice on Saturday on SPEED TV with qualifying later at 3:30 p.m. Get out the remote to switch over to ESPN2 for the 7:30 p.m. race time for all 195 laps, which can also be heard on PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90.

Robert Richardson, Jr. Quotes: “I’m looking forward to getting back in the No. 23 Chevrolet this weekend for my team. And, to do it at a fast track like Atlanta makes it even better. I like how that place is laid out and the challenges you face. And, we get to do it all under the lights, too.

“The car has to be set up to make it out of Turn 2 more than anything. If you don’t have it right, it will goof you up for the rest of the lap because of it’s the sharpest turn on the track. When you come out of Turn 4, you have a dog leg there on the fronstretch so the transition isn’t as bad.

“We’ll do what we have to in the practice sessions to see where we are, but it’s going to be tough because we practice in the morning, qualify in the afternoon and race at night. But, we’ll do our best to get it right.

“Once the race starts, it’s all about being there at the end and keeping the car in one piece. I’m ready for a good run with my team.”

KASEY KAHNE QUICK FACTS

No. 38 Great Clips Impala

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Great Clips 300

September 3, 2011

No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes

Kahne back in the seat of the No. 38 Great Clips Chevy at Atlanta… This weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) for the second running of the Great Clips 300, Kahne will make his sixth start of the season behind the wheel of the No. 38 Great Clips Chevy and seventh start for Turner Motorsports.

Kahne proves impressive at Atlanta… In nine NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts at AMS, Kahne has three top-five and six top-10 finishes to his credit. He has led a cumulative 71 laps at the famed 1.54-mile quad-oval track and has an average start of 11.7 and an average finish of 9.3. His best performance came in 2006 when he finished second after starting from the 17th position. One year ago, Kahne sat on the pole for the first running of the Great Clips 300.

Kahne’s success at AMS in not limited to his NNS performances. In 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Kahne has posted two wins, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes with a total of 313 laps led.

Double Vision… Jason Leffler will join Kahne this weekend in representing Great Clips in the Great Clips 300. Leffler’s No. 30 Impala will feature the traditional red and black paint scheme while Kahne’s No. 38 machine will carry the new “Online Check-in: paint scheme.

Batter up!  On Thursday, September 1st, just two days before the Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kahne will throw out the first pitch at the Atlanta Braves game as they go up against the Washington Nationals. Look for the Great Clips showcar out at the main entrance to Turner Field.

“Grand Marshall” for a day… Great Clips, Inc. CEO, Rhoda Olsen, will serve as Grand Marshall for Saturday evening’s Great Clips 300. Minneapolis-based, Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 and today has more than 3,000 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world’s largest salon brand. Great Clips salons employ nearly 25,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends.

This week’s Impala… The No. 38 Great Clips team will hit the track with chassis TMS-310 in this weekend’s Great Clips 300. This is a brand new chassis in the Turner Motorsports stable.

Who’s on the pit box?  Stewart Cooper will call the shots for Kahne and serve as crew chief for the No. 38 Great Clips team in the eight races that he is behind the wheel.

New look for the Great Clips machine… For the remainder of the 2011 season, the No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet will feature a new look with a special “Online Check-in” paint scheme. Recently, Great Clips launched the salon industry’s first-ever Online Check-In system which allows customers to remotely log in from a computer or smart phone and view the estimated wait time at surrounding salons. Consumers can click the “check-in” icon to add their name to the list at the Great Clips salon of their choice and, by the time they arrive, they are likely next or almost next in line-saving precious time they might have spent waiting in the lobby for their haircut.

Kahne brought Great Clips their first win! From 2003-2005, Kahne and his sponsor, Great Clips, Inc., reached momentous milestones together, including Kahne capturing his first career Nationwide Series victory in 2003 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also Great Clips’ first win as a primary sponsor in the series.

Turner Motorsports: In the hunt… In 25 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 19 top-five and 48 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.

Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Great Clips… This season marks Great Clips’ 10-year anniversary as a primary sponsor in the NNS. The Minneapolis-based Great Clips, Inc., which is currently the longest-running primary sponsor in the series, came onto the scene in 2001 as a primary sponsor of Akins Motorsports No. 38 entry, then driven by Christian Elder.

Kasey Kahne on his long-tenured partnership with Great Clips

“This is another big weekend for Great Clips and I’m happy to be able to represent them in the second running of the Great Clips 300. It’s been really great to be able to partner up with Great Clips again. I got my start with them as my sponsor back in 2003, and that’s something I have never forgotten. We are not running for a championship so my ultimate goal for the season has been to take this Great Clips team back to victory lane. To do it here at Atlanta in the Great Clips 300 would be really special.”

Follow the No. 38 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS

Follow KaseyKahne on Twitter! Twitter.com/Kasey Kahne

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas-native, Steve Turner, the racing organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series.  Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will house three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Brad Sweet.  The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, who will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com

Carl Edwards–Great Clips 300

Team:           No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang

Crew Chief:  Mike Beam

Chassis:       RK-639 – primary – last ran at Nashville- finished 1st.

RK–596 – backup – New Nationwide Chassis

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:   “ Atlanta is always really special to me and to our team since I got my first Nationwide win there. We have run well there and had a lot of really great days there. Atlanta will be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to that one. Hopefully we can get this Fastenal Ford back to victory lane. That would be great.”

Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:   “We have had a lot of success at mile-and-a-half tracks so far this year so I’m eager to get to Atlanta.  We focus on making sure that our car isn’t loose on entry into the turns because Atlanta is high banked and fast. We are bringing the same chassis that we won with in Nashville so hopefully we can get this No. 60 Fastenal Ford back to victory lane.”

FAST FACTS

* So far in 2011, Edwards has five wins, 14 top-fives, and 18 top-10s

* Edwards’ captured his 34th career NASCAR Nationwide win at Nashville Superspeedway.

* The No. 60 Ford is currently second in the Owner’s points. 50 points behind first place.

* Edwards has an average starting position of 5.2 and average finish of 7.2 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

* Atlanta Motor Speedway is where Edwards captured his first Nationwide Win.