Category: XFINITY Series

Clint Bowyer

No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala

NASCAR Nationwide Series Race 17 of 34 – Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA, ROUND TWO: Clint Bowyer returns to the driver’s seat of the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala this weekend for the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Bowyer and the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team started the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season together at Daytona in February. The Emporia, Kan., native collected the team’s first pole this season and finished a close second to teammate Tony Stewart in the No. 4 KHI Chevrolet. The KHI one-two finish, which was the third for the company in Nationwide Series competition, also landed in the record books. Stewart edged the No. 33 by 0.007 seconds, the closest finish in the Nationwide Series at Daytona and the third closest in series’ history.

PROVEN RECORD: In February of 2005, Tony Stewart grabbed KHI’s first win in the Nationwide Series behind the wheel of the No. 33 car. The following year, Stewart not only claimed victory again in the season opener but also gave KHI its first one-two finish as the No. 77 KHI Chevrolet Impala came in second behind the No. 33. Since 2005,KHI has recorded three additional wins, two poles, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes and led 194 laps at Daytona.

Bowyer also carries a proven record at the Daytona Beach, Fla., facility. The driver started from the pole and led 48 laps en route to winning the July Nationwide Series event in 2009. In addition to a win, he has collected eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes at Daytona. Bowyer has completed 99.9 percent of laps attempted and has an average finishing position of 6.3.

KHI’S FOUR HORSEMEN: KHI will field four entries in Friday night’s race with Bowyer, Stewart in the No. 9 TapouT Chevrolet Impala, Nationwide Series championship contender Elliott Sadler in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala and KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 Chevrolet Impala which will run a second OneMain Financial paint scheme. These four powerhouse drivers have compiled an impressive set of series stats including 44 starts, seven poles, eight wins, 26 top-five finishes, 31 top-10 finishes and have led 542 laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Max Papis piloted the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet Impala last weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Papis qualified on the outside pole for the 50-lap event, the first of three road course races for the Nationwide Series this season, but a late-race accident left the team with a disappointing 23rd-place finish.

CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief David Hyder and the No. 33 Menards crew will unload chassis No. 067 at Daytona. This is the same chassis Bowyer put on the pole and finished second with at Daytona in February. The driver also piloted chassis No. 067 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April. Bowyer started the event from the second position but fell victim to the notorious “big one” at the 2.66-mile track. The KHI team ultimately brought home a 22nd-place finish.

THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: CLINT BOWYER

What are your thoughts as you look ahead to this weekend at Daytona?

“Daytona is what NASCAR is all about. It started there, and it means so much to be able to go and compete and it’s just such an awesome race track. We were so close to winning in February with this No. 33 KHI team. We had some tough breaks and got involved in accidents while running up front at Talladega [Superspeedway] in April, and then at Dover [International Speedway] in May. I’m looking forward to being back with the KHI guys, and I really want to get this Menards Chevy in victory lane and get another win at Daytona.”

About Menards:

With 263 stores in 13 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.

Harmon, independent owner/racer and long time veteran of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series announced today that he has teamed up with Troy Welker and IPT Pellet Grills of Kennesaw, Georgia for the upcoming race at Daytona on July 1st.

“I’m real happy for this opportunity to work with Troy and IPT Pellet Grills which allows us to run the entire race at Daytona.” Harmon said. “We missed the 1st race this year and we didn’t have enough sponsorship to run the entire race at Talladega and that was really disheartening to miss racing at 2 of my favorite tracks so I really appreciate Troy stepping up and helping us out. He understands that and has done what he said he would do. That’s the kind of people I like to surround myself with and we share the same type of values. For those who will be around the garage area they can see this grill at my hauler. It is fantastic.”  

Welker offered this, “I am proud to be a part of this effort with Mike. I met Mike just prior to Talladega last April and having been a police officer for many years and a pretty good judge of character I saw a lot of qualities in Mike that I admire and share. I like his work ethic mixed with old school ways, but more importantly I like his honesty. He’s a stand up guy and a truly genuine guy who has a passion for what he is doing. I respect that. We’re together for this race, rain or shine, and I’ll do the best I can for him and he’ll do the same for me. I believe he deserves the same opportunities to be racing as anyone else and this is a great demographic for IPT Pellet Grills.”  

IPT Pellet Grills will very soon become the way of the future in barbecuing. Other pellet grills exist but IPT Pellet Grills are unique with many extras. They use various flavored wood pellets whether it be apple, mesquite, oak, pecan or hickory that are 99% consumed during the cooking process. An electric motor turns on the auger, another turns on the igniter and a fan starts the combustion of the wood pellets resulting in open flame wood grilling. A preset thermometer maintains the temperature while the fan turns the whole process in to a convection oven providing even cooking throughout while keeping all meats, fruits and vegetables moist and tender. A heat shield on the top provides safety and a grease tray eliminates fire flare ups. The grill does all the work, one or two turns will yield delicious food with real wood flavor prepared by an environmentally safe and friendly “green” machine.

IPT Pellet Grills are sold online through their website at www.iptpelletgrills.com however dealerships are being set up currently. Be sure to check out this amazing cutting edge eco-friendly way to enjoy delicious food. For questions or further information call 1-877-693-2518.

And for more information or contact information on Mike Harmon check out his new website at www.mikeharmonracing.com

CHINA GROVE, N.C. (June 26, 2011) – After three Green/White/Checkered finishes, seven laps of overtime and a finish so wild even NASCAR needed time to figure out whom won – Alex Kennedy is shown in 21st place after Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America.

However, the 19-year old driver from Aztec, N.M. was running ahead of that in his No. 23 St. Baldrick’s/Media Master Dodge on the four-plus mile, 14-turn layout throughout much of the day. After a sway bar arm came loose during qualifying, Kennedy had to sacrifice his 19th-place qualifying effort after repairs were made for the race.

NASCAR rules mandate any work done to the car after qualifying will be sent to the rear for unapproved changes. So, when the green flag waved, Kennedy did what he does best when racing – he started moving to the front.

Just two laps in is all it took Kennedy to race from the back of the pack to 30th place. By lap three, crew chief Walter Giles called Kennedy in for a fuel only stop to start the pre-planned pit strategy.  This would set-up the No. 23 Dodge right where it was needed for future stops.

After the first caution waved on lap six, the call to stay out moved him up to 22nd for the lap-nine restart. Pitting on lap 18 for fuel, tires and no adjustments had Kennedy poised perfectly when the caution waved again on lap 22.

Having already received new Goodyear tires, and filling up with fuel, earlier kept him from hitting pit road like many cars in front of him on the scoring pylon. So, when the race restarted on lap 24, Kid Kennedy was lined up 12th on the grid.

He would run in the top-15 until lap 34 when he broke into the top-10 positions. From there, it was up to sixth on lap 35 before pitting on lap 37 for fuel, tires and air pressure adjustment to help him in the middle of the turns.

Returning to action in 21st place, he would race back into the top-20 just two laps later and by lap 39 through 45 he was turning his fastest laps of the race. This was being done despite a declining loss of electrical power because of a broken lead alternator cable; which forced him to turn off all fans, his AC and switch between the two ignitions to keep going.

With five laps remaining, Kennedy and the No. 23 St. Baldrick’s/Media Master Dodge were in 18th place. A caution on lap 46 allowed him a trip to pit road where the R3 Motorsports crew leapt into action and quickly changed out batteries.

This cost them five spots, but they were still on the lead lap, when the race restarted on lap 49.

A big wreck occurred as the field dove into Turn 1 moving Kennedy up to 17th place and brought out the caution on lap 50, which was the scheduled distance of the race. The green/white/checker rule was put into place lining him up 17th for the for the lap-52 restart.

It was on this restart where the fate of the race changed for the No. 23 Dodge team.

As cars dove into the turns, several went spinning off the racing surface and others were shoved around as drivers jockeyed for position. Kennedy got caught up in that ruckus and was forced off the racing surface, through a large gravel pit backwards coming to rest right at the edge.

Stuck there, he had to wait for a push from the tow truck – despite the efforts of four corner workers who tried to physically assist him out – before getting back on the racing surface.

The car was not damaged, but he went a lap down and was dropped to 24th in the running order. The third, and final, GWC took place on lap 56 and more cars went spinning off the track, into the walls and gravel pits.

On lap 56, the caution waved again and Kennedy was left with an undeserving 21st-place finish. This was after NASCAR took several minutes to decide who actually won the race, and who finished where, because of the last-lap mayhem.

Kennedy returns to action for R3 Motorsports at Watkins Glen and Montreal in August.

Alex Kennedy Quotes:“I am just very frustrated our finish on paper is nowhere near what this car and team had going on at Road America. We raced our way from the back to the top-15 then top-10 out there. We were solidly running in the top-15 and had ourselves set up to be a top-10 contender.

“The crew did a great job all day and were awesome when it came time to switch batteries on that one stop. But, like most of these road races, we got caught up in some guys trying to get good finishes at the end by being aggressive and I got pushed off in the gravel.

“If I could have gotten out of there before the field came by, we would have stayed on the lead lap and come out of here with a better finish. But, I know one thing for sure. When we get to Watkins Glen, we’re going to be ready for a much better finish than what we showed today.”

Michael Annett Top RWR Finisher at Road America with Seventh Place Finish  

Elkhart Lake, Wis. (June 26, 2011) – Des Moines, Iowa’s Michael Annett and the No. 62 Pilot Flying J team scored a seventh place finish on Road America’s 4.048 mile road course on Saturday, earning their second top-10 finish of the year. Just two days after his 25th birthday, Midwest native Annett’s seventh place finish was his best of the 2011 season.  

“I definitely don’t consider myself a road course racer, but pit strategy and steering clear of trouble on the track brought us to another well-deserved top-10 finish,” said Annett, “My crew chief, Rick Viers, made some great calls, and working our way around the mayhem during the three attempts at a green, white, checkered there at the end was to our benefit.”  

The highest finisher of the three-car Rusty Wallace Racing team, Annett tallied the organization’s fifth top-10 in 2011 this weekend at Road America.  

“We’ve got a great group of guys assembled for our No. 62 team, and their hard work really paid off this weekend. We made smart moves throughout the race, and bringing home a car with no damage and a seventh place finish is pretty awesome. I’m excited to give Pilot Flying J and Rusty Wallace Racing another top-10,” said Annett.  

Annett remains 10th in the Nationwide Series championship point standings heading into next week’s race at Daytona International Speedway. A former Daytona winner in the ARCA Racing Series, Annett looks to earn another strong finish in Friday’s Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250. Watch and listen live at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and MRN Radio.  

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

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.

–5-Hour Energy Pilot Carries Banner for Nationwide Series Drivers in Final Practice–

ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 24, 2011)-Among the top-five in today’s final practice for Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 at Road America were two Formula One veterans, a champion of the 24 Hours of LeMans, a Rolex Series winner and Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace (No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry).

Wallace’s best lap of 135.117 seconds (107.853 MPH) around the 4.048-mile circuit placed him the fastest of the Nationwide Series regulars in final practice and fifth-fastest overall.

While his performance may surprise some, Wallace has quietly developed into one of the preeminent road racers among Nationwide Series regulars. The driver of the 5-Hour Energy Toyota enters Road America with two top-ten finishes in the last three NNS road course events. Only a hit from Ron Fellows last year at Montreal kept Wallace from three straight top-tens in last year’s road course races. Heading into tomorrow’s 202.4-mile affair, Wallace has the highest driver rating at Road America of all NNS regulars.

Noted Wallace, “I’m looking forward to the race; I feel like we have a strong 5-Hour Energy Toyota for tomorrow. This is a track that can really test every part of the team, the car and the driver, though, so it’ll take more than a strong car to finish up front. Hopefully, we can have good pit stops, good strategy and the driver can keep the car on course all day.

“If we can do that, you never know what will happen in these road course races. Growing up, I never thought that my first Nationwide win would come on a road course, but who knows, much stranger things have happened.”

Tomorrow afternoon’s Bucyrus 200 is set for a 5:30 PM ET start from historic Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The event features live television coverage by ESPN, beginning at 5:00 PM ET with NASCAR Countdown, featuring RWR’s own Rusty Wallace.

# # #

About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC

North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary racing history of its founder, Rusty Wallace. The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys-driven by Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively-in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. RWR will also campaign the No. 64 Camry in select 2011 events. RWR entries have finished among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series driver or owner standings in each of the last three seasons. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.

About Living Essentials, LLC

Farmington Hills, MI-based Living Essentials, LLC, is the maker of 5-Hour Energy, the category leader in two-ounce liquid energy shots. 5-Hour Energy is available nationwide at major retailers in the Grocery, Drug Store, Mass.

Johnson leads Road America practice; looks for strong run in Saturday’s race

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 24, 2011) – Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Billy Johnson, who led the first practice session on Friday at Road America, will drive the No. 60 Fastenal Mustang in Saturday’s Bucyrus 200 Nationwide Series road course race.

Carl Edwards, who was originally slated to drive the car at Road America, will remain in Sonoma, Calif. and concentrate on his Sprint Cup effort.

“I think Billy will do a great job,” said Edwards, who leads the Sprint Cup point standings. “In the end, this puts us in the best position with both teams to perform well, so I’m grateful to be able to make the change and I feel like we are doing the right thing.”

“I think this shows you just how much our sponsors and our team are able to work together and change things on the fly,” added Edwards. “The original plan was for me to miss all of practice in our Sprint Cup car in Sonoma on Saturday, but literally as we finished practice today we found out that Billy Johnson was P1 in the Fastenal Ford Mustang at Road America.

“We also felt like as a team that we needed more practice on the Cup side, so I called the (President and) CEO of Fastenal – Will Oberton – and without any hesitation, he said do what you need to do to have the best result and we are behind you 100 percent. It just shows that Fastenal is truly behind our whole Roush Fenway team, and we have a great relationship to be able to make this change.”

Saturday’s race is set for 5:30 p.m. EDT and will be televised live on ESPN.