Category: XFINITY Series

[media-credit name=”Auto Club Speedway” align=”alignright” width=”245″][/media-credit]SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (March 26, 2011) – A risky pit decision paid off for Kyle Busch and his No. 18 Z-Line Designs Toyota on Saturday during the Royal Purple 300 NASCAR NNS race at the Auto Club Speedway as Busch finished victorious by .713 seconds for the third consecutive race and fifth time in six starts.

Busch spoiled the day for pole-sitter Carl Edwards (No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford) and Kevin Harvick (No. 33 Rheem Pool and Spa Heaters Chevrolet), who battled all day and led for a combined 112 of 150 laps of the race and finished second and third, respectively.

Both Edwards and Harvick elected to get four tires on their final stop with less than 20 laps left while Busch’s crew chief Jason Ratcliff insisted on just two tires giving him the extra margin he would need for the win.

“I thought that was a great way to win the race,” said Busch, who led for just 18 laps of the race. “I can’t thank Jason (Ratcliff) enough. He won the race today. We stole this one. It wasn’t ours. We were a third or fourth place car, fourth place definitely on the short run, good third place car on the long runs. The Z-Lines Designs Toyota Camry really came to life there late in the runs.”

Busch, who won at Bristol last week, survived a scare on the last lap as he bumped the wall coming out of Turn 2 but straightened out to take the checkered.

“I just got loose,” he said of that last-lap mishap. “I got up in the marbles too high in Turn 2. Got loose and that was it.”

Ratcliff said he couldn’t believe his strategy paid off in the end. “You think about things like that when you’re sitting on the couch and thinking if I was that guy I’d do this,” he said. “It was a good opportunity for us. We weren’t going to win it by taking four tires. I was really surprised to be the only ones to do the right sides like that. We had to wait and see what the 60 and 33 were going to do. It worked out. It’s fun to win one like that.”

Edwards was second, posting his 14th top-10 finish in 13 races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2011.

“We focused on the wrong car, I guess,” Edwards said. “We were focused on the 33 and my crew chief said the 18 is the leader and I thought, ‘Oh he hadn’t pitted yet.’ But he had pitted and took two tires. He was really in the best position being back there watching what we were going to do and then doing the opposite. It didn’t work out the way we thought it was going to. It was pretty fun racing out there today.”

Harvick posted his 14th top-10 finish in 17 races at Auto Club Speedway.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush Fenway Racing Ford) leads the point standings by six points over Jason Leffler. Ryan Truex (Pastrana Waltrip Racing Toyota) finished 17th and was the highest finishing rookie.

Joe Gibbs Racing has now won seven consecutive races at Auto Club Speedway – five by Busch, one each by Tony Stewart and Joey Logano. This is most consecutive wins by a Nationwide Series owner at a currently scheduled track.

To purchase tickets to the Auto Club Speedway race weekend call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.

Camry driver Kyle Busch won Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Auto Club Speedway.

The victory was his third of the 2011 season, his 35th driving a Toyota, and his 46th career NNS win.

The win was also Busch’s fifth NNS at the 2-mile track, and the seventh consecutive victory for Joe Gibbs Racing at the track.

Camry driver Joey Logano (seventh) also had a top-10 finish in the race.

Camry drivers Brian Scott (13th), Kenny Wallace (15th), Ryan Truex (17th), Michael Annett (18th), Kevin Conway (22nd) and Steve Wallace (27th) were also in the 150-lap race at the Southern California track.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Z-Line Designs Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 1st Were you okay taking two tires on the last pit stop? “I was good with it man. I thought that was a great way to win the race. These guys do such a great job. I can’t thank Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) enough

CARL EDWARDS PRESS CONFERENCE HOW DID YOU SEE IT OUT THERE TODAY? “We were focused on the wrong car I guess. I thought we were racing the 33 and my crew chief said that the 18 was the leader and I thought he hadn’t pitted yet but he had and took two tires. That was the call that won the race. He was in the best position being back there watching what we were going to do and then doing the opposite. It didn’t work out the way we wanted to. I had a lot of fun racing with Kevin and Kyle and Stenhouse. It was pretty fun racing out there today.”

DID YOU CONSIDER TWO TIRES AT ALL AND IS IT SHAME THAT A RACE LIKE THAT WITH SUCH GOOD RACING ENDED WITH A PIT STRATEGY CALL? “I did not think of two tires until we were jacking up the left side of the car. I wondered being so close to the end if someone would take two but I didn’t think about it more than that. I guess it is a little bit of a shame it didn’t come down to a battle at the end. It could have though. A little slower stop on Kyle’s car or a caution would have made it an insane finish.”

HOW DOES RACING HERE SATURDAY HELP ON SUNDAY? “I think getting on pit road and stuff like that it helps you a little bit. It really is just fun. What are we going to do, sit around? I can’t think of something better to do on Saturday than to race out here. It is really a blast.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEW FORMAT AND WITH RICKY BEING THE LEADER NOW IN POINTS? “I don’t know about the format, it remains to be seen how the season will end up but man Ricky was driving the wheels off that car. If I wanted to run into his back bumper going around the corner I couldn’t have. He beat me by 20 car lengths in the center of the corner, or at least that is what it felt like. I think that showed not only how good Ricky is but how good of a team we are compared to a year ago. Our Nationwide program is way better and it is fun to be able to race up there with my teammate.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR. POINTS LEADER PRESS CONFERENCE YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT YOU OUT HERE TODAY, TALK ABOUT HOW THINGS WENT FOR YOU. “That is good because I think last time I was here they were talking about me for a different reason. It is good to be up front and leading. These guys work hard every week. Our Mustangs have been fast. We finally got the finish we deserved this week. We feel like we have had top five’s the first four races here and let it slip away with mistakes we made or just the way it worked out with fuel or cautions. It was a good day for us and we will carry this momentum into Texas. I wasn’t looking forward to California because I hadn’t been good here the last two races. We are definitely looking forward to going to Texas.”

WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU SO FAST ON THE SHORT RUN AND IS THIS THE KIND OF PERFORMANCE YOU NEED TO GET A SPONSOR ON THE HOOD? “We need a sponsor on the hood that is for sure. We have Black Angus Beef and they have been a great sponsor and we’ve got EZ Feed which I think will do a couple more here with us. Hopefully we can muster up some money for our car. On the short run we were really fast. I might have ran it too hard getting to the lead and trying to run away from Carl instead of backing up and being cautious. I was probably running to hard. I don’t get the lead too often so it was cool to get up there and lead. I probably wore the tires out too quick. I still don’t think we would have had anything for him even if I had slowed down. They were really good at the end of the run.”

DID YOU THINK ABOUT TAKING TWO TIRES? “I was getting ready to go over the radio and say something. We never said anything. I guess the crew chief and engineer were talking about it but we didn’t want to get stuck out there on caution on two tires. We had fourth locked down taking four and that was our goal there.”

DO YOU FIND YOURSELF LOOKING AROUND AT THE POINTS GUYS AS OPPOSED TO RACING THE RACE OR THE CUP GUYS? “I definitely look around. All of this is not as critical now as it is 30 races from now. I do look around but I definitely worry about our car and try to get our car as fast as it can. I feel like if we get our car as fast as we can get it then we will be in front of those guys. I feel our program is really strong right now. I pay attention to where they are but don’t let it get to me.”

TALK ABOUT THIS NEW CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS FORMAT AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU. “The Championship format I like it. I think Nationwide Insurance has done an awesome job of making our own identity. I feel like looking at the races, I don’t know if it is the new points system getting in our minds that a Nationwide regular is going to win the championship, but it seems like the regulars have been in the top five and running strong. I think it has upped the competition and everyone is trying a little harder.”

HOW DOES GOING AGAINST THE CUP GUYS UP YOUR GAME? “It definitely ups it. I like running with them. I think it really helps me to learn as a race car driver things to do and not to do. They are good. You have to be on your game to win one of these races. I think it just ups the competition level of everybody out there and makes me drive harder to beat them because if they aren’t out there I wouldn’t have to drive as hard to win the race. I think overall everybody drives harder because they are there and they set the bar a lot higher than what the bar would probably be set at. I like racing with them. I feel like if we can run with them every week, if I do give the opportunity to race on Sunday, I will be a little more ready for it.”

HOW DO YOU GO FROM WHERE YOU WERE LAST YEAR ON THIS TRACK TO THIS YEAR? “It is a new car and it fit my driving style. I feel like the four races we ran last year with our Mustang were some of my best races. We had a couple top five’s with it and we were fast on the 1.5 miles but didn’t get the finishes we needed in the four Mustang races. It is a combination of everything. The new FR9 motors and Roush Yates has done an awesome job with those. We have new cars and engineering with the Cup cars which are running good also. We have the same team as last year which helps and I think I am just more focused than I was last year.”

HOW NICE IS IT TO BE THE POINTS LEADER GOING INTO A WEEK OFF? “I get it for two weeks at least. That is cool. I have always wanted to lead the points. Since we started this deal this year at Daytona I felt like we had the car and team to do it. I feel like I have the capability of putting it up front and taking the points lead. It is a little slower than I wanted getting there but I am glad we have it now and hope we keep it and open it up a little bit.”

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Dodge Motorsports PR

Auto Club Speedway

Royal Purple 300 Post-Race Quotes NASCAR Nationwide Series http://twitter.com/teamdodge www.media.chrysler.com

BRAD KESELOWSKI (No. 22 America’s Tire Dodge Challenger R/T) Finished 10th “We just didn’t unload our America’s Tire Dodge Challenger like we needed to and got behind early on in the weekend. We worked on it and made the car a little bit better. We started to make a move late in the race and worked our way up to fifth, but just stalled. I’m not sure what we were missing; just a little bit frustrated. I fought hard. My team fought hard. We just have to get our cars better.”

YOU WORKED YOUR WAY UP TO FIFTH AND THEN SLID BACK LATE IN THE RACE. WAS IT A MATTER OF JUST RUNNING THE TIRES OFF THE CAR? “It was just a matter of me driving 20 times over my head trying to get track position back. You just can’t ask the car to run that hard and expect the tires to stay on the thing. I had to take a shot and get some track position back and we didn’t catch a caution at the right time.”

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS TRICKY TRACK? “It’s tough right now. Trying to work your way over these bumps and over the seams is tough. We’re just trying to understand this tire a little bit better. I think I learned some things about what lines to run and not run for tomorrow. It’s certainly not an easy place to get around, that’s for sure.”

TODD GORDON, (Crew Chief, No. 22 America’s Tire Dodge Challenger) “A bit of a struggle for us today with our America’s Tire Dodge Challenger. The bumps here are really tough to get through. I just felt like we didn’t find the balance that we needed to be faster. It was a step in the right direction. We’ve been conservative on some things, but I think today was a positive for this team. With some of the bad luck that we’ve had this year, it’s nice to get a top-10 finish. We’re just trying to build off of what we learn every week and apply (it) to the next race.”

CARL EDWARDS – Roush Fenway Racing Ford (Finished 2nd) “That 18 car was fast. He did a good job. We just didn’t win the race. Gosh we were in a fast race car though and man was it fun to drive. We had a really fast race car and we were competitive with everyone all day. Those guys took two tires and that was the right call. We could not catch them. I didn’t think about taking two tires. Mike Beam did a good job. We made the calls we needed to make to be the best we could be. It just didn’t work out.”

WHEN YOU SAY THE 18 TAKE TWO, DID YOU KNOW RIGHT AWAY YOU WERE IN TROUBLE OR DID YOU THINK YOU COULD HUNT HIM DOWN STILL? “I was certain we still had a chance and if we would have gotten a caution we would have been in great shape.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – Roush Fenway Racing Ford (Finished 4th) YOU ARE UNOFFICIALLY THE POINTS LEADER NOW. HOW ABOUT THAT? “That is pretty cool to say you are the points leader but hopefully we can say that at the end of the year. We have been really consistent all year and have had really fast cars. We finally got the finish we felt like we deserved. We felt like we gave a few away earlier in the season. If we can keep this momentum going I think we will be there in the end. This Mustang was fast all day.”

WHAT KIND OF ADJUSTMENTS DID YOU MAKE DURING THE DAY? “We actually didn’t change too much. We did a little track bar adjustment one time. I couldn’t tell my crew chief exactly what I wanted to for us to be any faster. We got a good restart there and got to lead some laps and I thought that was good for us, just not good enough at the end.”

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (March 25, 2011) – Actress Molly Ringwald will serve as Honorary Starter for the Royal Purple 300 NNS race at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 26.

As Honorary Starter, Ringwald will wave the green flag to get the Royal Purple 300 underway. The event will be televised at 2:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.

Race fans can also watch Ringwald on the breakout hit “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”, which airs on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family.

Ringwald began her acting career at age 13 when she starred in Paul Mazursky’s “The Tempest” and received a Golden Globe nomination for her role. She also lent her talent to the theatrical stage, where she starred in the plays “Cabaret,” and “When Harry Met Sally. Ringwald is best known for the now-iconic coming-of-age movies “Sixteen Candles”, “The Breakfast Club”, and “Pretty in Pink”.

On April 26, 2011, Ringwald will release the paperback version of her bestselling book Getting The Pretty Back: Friendship, Family, and Finding the Perfect Lipstick. Originally released as a hardback in April 2010, the book (which was her first venture as an author) hit both the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times’ Bestseller Lists. Part memoir, part girlfriend’s style guide, it explores subjects as diverse as romance, motherhood, hair & make-up, fitness, food and music – it’s about being an “It Woman” rather than an “It-Girl”.

In addition to being an actress and author, Ringwald recently finished recording her first album with her jazz band which they hope to release in 2011.

To see Molly Ringwald get racing underway at Auto Club Speedway or to purchase tickets to the Auto Club Speedway race weekend call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.

About Auto Club Speedway

Look for some amazing racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400 on March 27. After October’s NSCS race, drivers, media and spectators proclaimed that race as possibly the best ever at Auto Club Speedway- five-wide racing at over 200 mph on the NASCAR circuit!

Free parking, unbelievable menu items and a full weekend of entertainment, live music and fun await fans in the Speedway’s DiscoverIE FanZone.

Auto Club 400 tickets start at $35 and AAA members receive Show Your Card & Save discounts, including a special section with half-priced tickets for kids 12 and under. And don’t forget children 12 and under can sign up for the FREE Auto Club Speedway Lefty’s Kids Club membership to receive FREE admission on Friday and Saturday.

For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.

Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is proud to announce that Greeting Express has returned again as a primary sponsor for the organization for the Royal Purple 300 with driver Jennifer Jo Cobb at Auto Club Speedway this weekend.

“We are so blessed with the drivers RWR has provided for us over the past two years. Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Carl Long are great ambassadors for our brand and now with Jennifer Jo Cobb, it’s great to have a strong, beautiful woman to market with as well,” stated Kate Sessoms of Greeting Express.

Greeting Express, Inc., a custom web-to-print company offering everything from business cards to high-end photo books based in Durham, NC, is proud to announce the next chapter in its relationship with Rick Ware Racing as a primary sponsor. The multi-race deal will kicked off in Bristol, TN last weekend with greetingexpress.com #41 Nationwide Ford Mustang driven by Carl Long. Cobb will now pilot the entry.

“I am so happy to drive the #41 Greeting Express Ford for Rick Ware Racing. The organization and Greeting Express value commitment, service and quality, all the things customers and NASCAR fans are looking for today!” stated Cobb.

Greetingexpress.com decided to return for the 2011 season because of the positive feelings surrounding their NASCAR debut, and the treatment they received as a sponsor with Rick Ware Racing. Founding President of Greeting Express, Inc. Kate Sessoms said, “bringing back our sponsorship for the race at Bristol is an opportune time for us as we are live launching our custom design studio and going full web to print the week leading up to the race. We are confident in not only the abilities of Rick Ware Racing from a sponsor point of view, but also appreciate how their close knit family mentality fits in with our own”.

“We are really excited that Greeting Express joined us with Jennifer,” stated Rick Ware. “Our organization has been getting stronger each year and with Greeting Express coming aboard, we know we can driver their message to the front with Jennifer.

Greeting Express, Inc. is thrilled for this next chapter with “the biggest little team in motorsports”, and is hopeful to build a lasting relationship with the dedicated team.

Be sure to visit www.greetingexpress.com or find them on facebook, and follow all of the exciting new features coming soon on and off the track!

Dave Mitchell Vice President Rick Ware Racing 111 Sunrise Center Drive Thomasville, NC 27360 336-476-5279 Office 336-425-4470 Cell

“Failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success, then turned and walked away!”

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif.  (March 24, 2011) – Auto Club Speedway announced today that American Idol Season 7 finalist David Archuleta will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the Royal Purple 300 NNS race atAuto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 26. 

Archuleta’s rendition of the National Anthem and the Royal Purple 300 will broadcast live on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. PT.  

Following American Idol, Archuleta released “Crush,” the first single from his self-titled debut album, which charted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of its 2008 release and has since sold over two million downloads.  In 2009, Archuleta released “Christmas from the Heart” which debuted at No.2 on the seasonal chart behind Bob Dylan.  His highly anticipated sophomore album “The Other Side of Down” was released in October 2010.  

To see David Archuleta live at Auto Club Speedway, tickets to the Royal Purple 300 NNS race on Saturday, March 26 start as low as $30 and AAA members receive Show Your Card & Save discounts.  For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com visit the Auto Club Speedway ticket office.    

About Auto Club Speedway Look for some amazing racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400 on March 27.  After October’s NSCS race, drivers, media and spectators proclaimed that race as possibly the best ever at Auto Club Speedway- five-wide racing at over 200 mph on the NASCAR circuit! 

Free parking, unbelievable menu items and a full weekend of entertainment, live music and fun await fans in the Speedway’s DiscoverIE FanZone. 

Auto Club 400 tickets start at $35 and AAA members receive Show Your Card & Save discounts, including a special section with half-priced tickets for kids 12 and under.  And don’t forget children 12 and under can sign up for the FREE Auto Club Speedway Lefty’s Kids Club membership to receive FREE admission on Friday and Saturday.   

For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.