RCR Racing - News

Mama Lucia Meatballs Partners with RCR's No. 22 NASCAR CWTS Team

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

WELCOME, N.C. (February 22, 2012) – Quaker Maid Meats®, a leading supplier of frozen meat products, has reached a partnership agreement with Richard Childress Racing for the company’s Mama Lucia Meatballs brand to be the primary sponsor of the February 24 race at Daytona International Speedway with RCR's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series No. 22 team driven by 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Joey Coulter.

“NASCAR races have provided strong visibility for our brand in the past and continue to be a linchpin in our marketing efforts,” said Sergei Szortyka, President of Quaker Maid Meats. “Being aligned with the Rookie of the Year will draw even more attention to the Mama Lucia name because so many eyes will be on Joey Coulter to see how he performs.”

Mama Lucia Meatballs – available in beef and turkey varieties – are frozen heat-and-serve meatballs that come fully cooked, can be used whole or sliced, and can go directly from freezer to stove. They can be cooked with or without sauce on the stovetop, oven or microwave, and in virtually any recipe that calls for meatballs – from pasta, pizza and party dishes to sandwiches, soups, stews, salads, omelets and beyond. They will also absorb the character of any cuisine or sauce, and save time because there is no need to buy, handle, season, roll or cook raw meat.

“RCR is proud to have Quaker Maid Meats join our family of partners through their Mama Lucia Meatballs brand,” said Ben Schlosser, chief marketing officer for Richard Childress Racing. “We are thrilled to have Joey Coulter representing their brand and think he will do a terrific job for them at Daytona.”

Coulter returns to RCR for the second consecutive NCWTS season as the pilot of the No. 22 Chevrolet. The Miami Springs, Fla. native finished seventh in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series driver point standings on the heels of five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.

“Having Mama Lucia Meatballs on the truck for Daytona is absolutely awesome,” said Coulter. “I can't thank them enough for trusting me and my team to carry the flag for their organizations. We look forward to meeting and exceeding their expectations this year and hopefully in the future.”

For additional information on today's announcement, and all that's happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.

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About Quaker Maid Meats

Quaker Maid Meats is a leading supplier of frozen meat products for school, retail, club and convenience store channels. The company makes and distributes a full line of fully cooked frozen meatballs and Philly-style steaks known for their quick and easy preparation and nutritious value. Quaker Maid Meats operates out of three facilities totaling over 110,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity. For more information, visit www.quakermaidmeats.com

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John's Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Menard (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin'/ Chevrolet). Tim George Jr., Gaughan and Harvick (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

DILLON DOUBLE: Ty Wins Title, Austin Wins UMP Modified Finale

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 21, 2012 – A lot of racing families dream of the success the Dillon family experienced Tuesday night at Volusia Speedway Park as Austin Dillon raced to a Triple 20 feature victory and younger brother Ty claimed the overall UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment DIRTcar UMP Modified points championship.

“It feels great,” said Ty Dillon, the 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress. “Me and Austin and Team Dillon Racing have been coming down here for quite a few years in our young racing career. We fought so hard. We’ve won a couple of races. This year it finally paid off. Me and Austin got a win and we finally got the Gator championship.”

Ty, last year’s “Gator Championship” race winner, earned his first overall UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit points title on the strength of seven top-10 finishes – four of which saw him finish inside the top three. Ty Dillon’s victory came during the Friday makeup race, which was held Sunday afternoon during the first week of competition.

“It’s tough,” he said. “There are some awesome racers out here and the level of competition gets harder and harder every year we come back. We didn’t run as good as we wanted to at the beginning of the week, but we worked hard, we didn’t have any DNFs and we finished out races. Our worst finish (in seven events) was seventh. We were solid every night.”

Older Brother Austin started the final event a row in front of his brother and made quick work of Kyle Bronson and Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Penn. Dillon broke into the top three on the fifth lap of the main event and reeled in leader Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind., making the winning pass just before the midpoint. Ty worked past Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., on lap 18 and then swept past Gilpin on the final lap to earn runner-up honors. Gilpin finished third, Bronson crossed the line fourth and NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader rounded out the top five.

“It was cool because it was the top 20 in points in that race,” said Austin Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion. “That was the toughest competition out here. Starting eighth it makes it even better. We were really able to drive up through there and was able to move around. We gained constantly all week on the car and how it drove. Tonight it really showed. I think going into next year we got something to go after these guys with.”

There were 42 DIRTcar UMP Modifieds on hand for the final night of competition. A total of 97 DIRTcar UMP Modified earned points toward the overall UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit UMP Modified Championship.

For more information, go to www.DIRTcarNationals.com. Follow the event on Twitter @DIRTcarNats and on Facebook at facebook.com/DIRTcarNationals.

For complete story as it appears on www.DIRTcarNationals.com, click here.

Paul Menard Event Preview: Daytona 500

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Paul Menard
No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet Impala

Event/Date:
Daytona 500
February 26, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's PEAK/Menards Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 338 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Daytona 500. This Chevrolet Impala was a new addition to the RCR fleet for the 2011 season and saw superspeedway competition as Menard's No. 27 in the Daytona 500, at Talladega Superspeedway in April and at Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400 in July. The car was last seen on track at Talladega in October, entered as the No. 33 Chevy 100 Years Chevrolet where the team started third and went on to claim RCR's 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory.

Change of Colors on the PEAK/Menards Chevrolet during Speedweeks ... The No. 27 PEAK/Menards Chevrolet will carry a special paint scheme during Speedweeks at Daytona. "PEAK blue" and "Menards yellow" will don the Impala as the Sprint Cup Series kicks off the 2012 season.

Time to Duel ... The Duels at Daytona features two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the 54th running of the Daytona 500. On Thursday, Feb. 23 Menard will join RCR teammates Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick in the first of the two qualifying shootouts and will start the 75-lap sprint from the eighth position.

New Faces on the No. 27 team ... Some new faces will sport the signature neon yellow this season, including Blythe, Calif., native Clint Almquist who was a member of the No. 29 RCR team in 2011. He joins the No. 27 crew as a road mechanic and works in RCR's fabricator shop during the week. Statesville, N.C.'s Josh Threatte joins the Slugger Labbe-led crew as an engineer. When he's not crunching numbers you can find this extreme athlete sky diving, rock climbing and mountain biking. On race day, newcomer Matt Kreuter will fuel the No. 27 Chevrolet Impala. Kreuter comes from the No. 33 RCR team and was named NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Rear Tire Carrier Individual Champion in both 2010 and 2011. Tuning the ECR power under the hood of the PEAK/Menards machine this year is John Goodwin, who was on the No. 31 RCR team in 2011.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines! ... The 54th Daytona 500 will mark Menard's 184th career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This will be his fifth consecutive run in the "Great American Race" and his 10th appearance at the 2.5-mile speedway.

Starting up Front at Daytona ... Menard earned his lone NSCS pole position at Daytona International Speedway. In 2008, he claimed the pole award for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (July). The following year, he started the Budweiser Shootout from the pole position when he drew the top spot during Budweiser's annual Shootout Draw Party.

Daytona Tidbits ... At a track that is notorious for the field-reducing 'Big One,' Menard has completed an impressive 99.1% of his laps (1,571 of 1,586) in nine previous starts. He has an average starting position of 22.1 and an average finishing position of 18.6, with his best finish of eighth coming in the 2011 Coke Zero 400 in July. He has led for 35 laps.

When You PEAK, You Win. ... When you want maximum protection for your car, you want to reach for PEAK Performance products. Whatever you drive, PEAK can take it on. PEAKS offers products for all of your needs under the hood, as well as products to clean, dry and polish your vehicle. From antifreeze, to motor oil, to truck bed liners, PEAK has you covered.

Paul Menard LIVE for Chevy Q&A ... Fans can participate in a question-and-answer session with Menard on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. EST on the Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside turn four.

Race Rewind ... One year ago, RCR's newest team showcased their talents at Daytona and proved they were a force to be reckoned with by starting from the 19th position and demonstrating a solid performance to bring home a ninth-place finish in the 2011 Daytona 500.

In the Rearview Mirror: Budweiser Shootout ... Menard and the PEAK/Menards team quickly catapulted from their 24th-place starting position into the top-10, only to be collected in the first multi-car accident when the bright blue and yellow No. 27 Chevrolet was turned from behind and into the outside retaining wall, ending their night early with a 23rd-place result.

PAUL MENARD QUOTES:

Were you comfortable with the two-car drafting? There's no arguing that it increased lead changes. What did you think of it?
"We set records for lead changes and for the number of different leaders with the two-car draft. We had close finishes and I think it's safer. Honestly, I didn't see anything wrong with it. What's racing when you think about it? Lead changes, different leaders, close finishes and safety - we had all that covered. Also, there was enough of a gap that if two cars got into each other, they didn't collect everyone else."

Are the Duel 150's nerve-wracking in the sense that you're trying to accomplish two things: You want to see what your car can do in preparation for the Daytona 500, but you also want to take care of your primary car.
"It is, especially if you don't qualify on the front row with the single-car qualifying. The biggest thing is to keep your primary car intact for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. To win a Duel 150 would be a huge deal. Even though we say that starting position isn't as important at a superspeedway, pit stall selection does mean a lot. Also, with starting up front you can dictate what you want to do a little bit more. So obviously we do want to finish well in the 150's but the biggest thing is to keep your car in one piece for the Daytona 500. You want to bring your fastest car to the race, and the race that counts is the one on Sunday."

You finished ninth last year in the Daytona 500. Before the race was over, you knew that Harvick and Burton had fast cars and they were out of the race with issues. When that happens, do you have to work to push those thoughts out of your mind so you can finish your race?
"That was when the tandem drafting just started. We had a water temperature number that we said 'alright, don't get above this' and then when we saw that happen with Kevin and Jeff, we lowered that number and played it a lot more conservative trying to keep the motor cool. Honestly, I wasn't that worried. It's out of your control. If it happens, it happens. I knew that if we just kept it to the altered temperatures, we'd be just fine."

You finished in the top 10 in both races at Daytona International Speedway last year. Do you feel that you have a good shot at the Daytona 500 win this year?
"The great thing about plate racing is that it's really anyone's game. David Gilliland ran third in the (Daytona) 500 last year and Dave Blaney had a top five at Talladega Superspeedway. It opens the door for a lot of guys and levels the playing field. It's a lot of fun from that perspective. We are coming off a great test at Daytona and two top 10s there, I think we have a great chance to be up front."

How big of a race is the Daytona 500 to you? With your family's history at the race track, you are one of the few drivers who can say that winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is bigger than winning at Daytona (International Speedway). Where does winning at Daytona fall for you?
"If Indianapolis is number one, winning the Daytona 500 is definitely number two. My history with Indianapolis goes beyond Indy cars versus stock cars. It's a place that is almost like home to me. When you think of stock cars you think of Daytona, and we race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This is the biggest race of the year for our series and would be huge to win."

Kevin Harvick Event Preview: Daytona 500

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet

Event/Date:
Daytona 500
February 26, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … The No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team will utilize Chassis No. 387 from the Richard Childress Racing stable for this weekend’s Daytona 500. This is a brand new race car that saw its first on-track activity at DIS during preseason testing in January.

Statistically Speaking… Harvick has 21 prior starts at DIS, including 10 in the Daytona 500. In that time, he has scored two wins, highlighted by the 2007 Daytona 500 victory, and accumulated five top-five and nine top-10 finishes at the superspeedway. Harvick has led 178 laps at DIS and holds an average starting position of 16.1 and an average finish of 15.4. He has also completed 93 percent of the laps run in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition at DIS since July 2001 (3,407 of 3,663).

Dueling for a Spot… Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team posted the 20th-fastest lap in the Daytona 500 qualifying session on Sunday, earning the team a 12th-place starting spot in the first Duel 150 race on Thursday. SPEED will provide live television coverage of the twin qualifying races starting at 2 p.m. EST.

Loop Data… Harvick holds several impressive Loop Data statistics at DIS, including: second in fastest laps run (67 laps); sixth in green-flag passes (2,732); eighth in closers; eighth in laps led (100); 10th in driver rating (86.3).

Last Time Around … In last year’s Daytona 500, Harvick started the race from the seventh position and led five laps before retiring from the race due to engine failure at lap 22.

The Big Time… The sixth episode of Bud United presents: The Big Time, airing Saturday, February 25, on ABC, will feature three aspiring race car drivers vying for the chance to meet and learn from Richard Childress and compete against Harvick, Austin Dillon and Ron Hornaday. In addition to what they will see in the show, fans may view exclusive behind-the-scenes clips of the contestants and hear real-world racing tips from NASCAR legends on The Big Time’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/budunited) and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/bigtime). More information about the series is available online at http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2012/anheuser-busch/bud_united/index.html.

It’s a Boy… Harvick and his wife, DeLana, announced last week that they are expecting a baby boy in July. While the couple is keeping the baby’s name under wraps until he arrives, DeLana is sharing her experience with fans through a weekly baby blog on www.KevinHarvick.com.

Media availability… Harvick will be available to members of the media inside the DIS infield media center at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24.

Kevin Harvick Quotes:

You’re locked into the field for the Daytona 500. Looking at the Duel 150 qualifying race, is it nerve wracking in the sense that you want to see what you can do, but also want to make sure that your primary car is in one piece?
“We approach those races the same way that we approach just about every other race. We try to win them and if you get tore up doing it, then that’s just the way it goes. You want the best starting spot that you can get but anything can happen. It’s another step in the process heading up to the Daytona 500. It’s a unique process the whole week starting off with the Budweiser Shootout and qualifying. There are just so many things that usually happen during the week. Sometimes, there are some rule changes and plate changes. You have to be ready for anything. It’s like your whole season all in one week. You can’t let the highs be too high and the lows be too low. You have to stay very level minded about everything, let the week play out and be ready for the (Daytona) 500.”

How do you think the Daytona 500 will play out?
“(The Daytona 500) is just a wide open race. There is a lot of anticipation, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of hype and build up and, usually, you see something crazy happen at the beginning of these races. You want to make it through the first part of the race and try to keep yourself from getting torn up. I think we made it 23 laps last year and had an engine failure. You never know what is going to happen.”

Is preserving equipment paramount this week with all the carnage in the Budweiser Shootout?
“I think so. I think (the Budweiser Shootout) was definitely an eye-opener as to who you want to race around and how you want to approach things. So, it’s definitely something that you’ve got to think about.”

Will there be a lot of discussions in the garage about who you want to run with and who you don’t?
“I think all the guys you don’t want to run with will most likely eliminate themselves before you get to the end of the race. So, hopefully, it has a self-cleansing type of atmosphere on Sunday.”

When you won the Daytona 500, how did that moment mesh with what you had been dreaming of?
“When you are standing in Victory Lane and you look at that Harley J. Earl trophy and you see the names on that trophy, you start to see the recognition and the list of people you put yourself on there with. It is something that is pretty special. This is our sport’s biggest race and everybody puts their biggest effort into this race because you have the most time. It has the most hype and it pays the most money. It has the most prestigious trophy and there is nothing about this race that is not the biggest or the best.”

Jeff Burton Event Preview: Daytona 500

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Jeff Burton
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

Event/Date:
Daytona 500
February 26, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's Caterpillar Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Jeff Burton will race Chassis No. 296 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Daytona 500. This chassis, built in 2010 for RCR's No. 33 entry, competed in two superspeedway events in 2010 including the Talladega Superspeedway race in April (started-14th, finished-seventh) and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July (started-15th, finished-17th).

Career Daytona Stats ... The Daytona 500 marks Burton's 36th start at the "World Center of Racing" and 620th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry. He has amassed one win, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes along with one pole award at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

Getting Loopy in the "Sunshine State" ... Burton has garnered some impressive NASCAR Loop Data statistics at Daytona International Speedway. Of all drivers entering the 54th annual Daytona 500, he has the second most green flag passes (2,927), the fifth most quality passes (1,722), the 10th best average running position (16.2) and spent 1,350 laps in the top 15, that ranks him 10th amongst his competitors

No Stranger to Victory Lane ... Although he has yet to capture a victory in the "Great American Race," the South Boston, Va., native has two Daytona race trophies on his mantle. The first is from the 2000 Coke Zero 400 and most recently from last season's Duel 150 qualifying race.

Welcome Drew Blick ... During the offseason, RCR named Drew Blickensderfer as the crew chief on the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season. Blickensderfer spent the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season as crew chief of Roush Fenway Racing's flagship No. 6 team with driver David Ragan, winning two pole awards and bringing home the checkered flag in the Coke Zero 400 at DIS in July. The 35-year-old Decatur, Ill.native is best known for kicking off his Sprint Cup Series crew chief career in grand fashion in 2009 winning his first outing in the Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team. The duo also won the following weekend at Auto Cub Speedway making Blickensderfer one of the only crew chiefs in history to win his first two races in NASCAR's elite division. Blickensderfer also enjoyed success in Roush Fenway's NASCAR Nationwide Series program with such drivers as: Carl Edwards, Danny O'Quinn and Kenseth.

Honoring a Friend ... The Nos. 31 and 33 Chevrolets driven in this week's events by Burton and Elliott Sadler will carry a special decal honoring Donald E. Becker, an executive vice president of The Kroger Co. and friend of the General Mills motorsports family who passed away last year during Speedweeks. During Becker's career, he held a number of leadership positions at Kroger, including Vice President of the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio Division and President of the Central Division. Becker joined Kroger in 1969 as a clerk in the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio Division. He helped Kroger strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers alike and was also an avid supporter of the Darwin T. Turner Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati Boy Scouts of America, Crayons to Computers, the Easter Seals Work Resource Center and St. Michael's Center. He earned an undergraduate degree from Central State University, graduating first in his Army ROTC Honors program and retired from his military service with the rank of Captain.

Featured Cat Dealers ... Ring Power and Louisiana Cat will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for all Speedweeks 2012 events at Daytona International Speedway.

Ring Power: Ring Power is the Central and Northeast Florida Caterpillar dealer, headquartered in St. Augustine, Fla. Ring Power is comprised of eight divisions and has 50 years of experience selling, servicing and supporting Caterpillar and allied equipment. Additional information about the Ring Power organization, its products, services and employment opportunities can be found on the internet at www.ringpower.com.

Louisiana Cat: For nearly 80 years, Louisiana Cat has served the area with sales and service of Cat equipment. With 21 locations across the "Pelican State," Louisiana Cat provides an extensive line of equipment, engines and power systems, work tools, vocational trucks and more. In addition, they carry a large stock of used Caterpillar equipment, and with Caterpillar's extensive dealer network, Louisiana Cat has access to used equipment on a global scale. Louisiana Cat's parts and service departments provide the reliability and availability you have come to expect from your Caterpillar dealership. Louisiana Rents is your single resource for high quality, low-hour Cat and top brands construction equipment and attachment rentals. Louisiana Rents locations also sell new equipment from Caterpillar's brand allied vendors. Daily, weekly, monthly or longer rentals are available. To ensure that the equipment is ready to work when you are, all machines are serviced and maintained by factory trained technicians. Big or small, Louisiana Rents rents it all.

Calling all Burton Fans ... Burton will be making two public appearances during Speedweeks 2012. The first is an autograph session on behalf of Coca-Cola at the Walmart on 1101 Beville Road in Daytona Beach on Friday, Feb. 24th at 3 p.m. and the second is a question-and-answer session at the Chevy stage in the Daytona International Speedway turn-four display area on Sunday, Feb. 26th at 8: 45 a.m.

Rewind to Last Week ... After drawing the 12th-place starting position at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party, Burton ran in the top 10 until he was involved in a multi-car accident on lap 10. The No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team's "never-give-up" attitude paid off and resulted in an 11th-place finish in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

JEFF BURTON QUOTES:

Everything seemed to go right in the Duel 150 qualifying race last season.
"Yes, we won last year's Duel 150 race. As close as we lost at Talladega Superspeedway to (Clint) Bowyer, we won it against him in the Duel 150 race by that same amount."

What was the feeling that day? Did it seem like Speedweeks 2011 had potential to be great?
"We ran really fast in the Budweiser Shootout last year and ended up getting mixed up. Bowyer and I didn't draft well together in that race. (Kevin) Harvick and I didn't draft well together either. Clint and I sat down and had a long conversation about what we were doing wrong and how to fix it. We went out and applied that in the Duel 150 and won that race. That was really gratifying that we learned quickly and were able to adapt. Then in the Daytona 500, we were running well and lost an engine. I've paid close attention and a lot of guys who won the Duel 150 qualifying race have terrible years. Honestly, when we won the Duel 150 qualifying race, I crossed the finish line and thought, 'no one ever has a good season after they win this race.' Superstition, I guess."

Is the Duel 150 qualifying race nerve-racking because you want to see what you can do, but at the same time you don't want to screw up your primary race car?
"It's a hard race because you want to take that primary car into the Daytona 500 and apply everything that you learned in the week leading up to it. Practice is stressful enough on Friday and Saturday because you put so much effort and energy into that one car. You want to race like there is no tomorrow, but you know that's not the smartest thing to do."

When you ran in the Daytona 500 last season, did you feel like you had a car to win it all?
"We definitely had a car good enough to win. We were really fast, led a lot of laps and had a car fast enough to win. We had a car fast enough to win at every restrictor-plate race last season. We won the Duel 150 qualifying race, finished second at Talladega Superspeedway, but had fast enough cars to win at every one of those races."

Was the way the Daytona 500 ended indicative of how the season would go?
"It immediately put us behind the eight ball. We knew we could recover from it, but we were afforded less mistakes. We also ran well the next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway and had the big wreck on the backstretch. I think there were 10 cars in it. So we had DNFs in the first two races and you're already playing catch up."

You have been running in the Daytona 500 since 1994. Does it frustrate you that you haven't won it yet?
"Every year is a new year. Yes, of course, I do want to win the Daytona 500, but we haven't won for various reasons so we will go down there and try to learn from the mistakes we made and apply the things we've learned and move on."

Elliott Sadler Event Preview: Daytona 500

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Elliott Sadler
No. 33 General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet

Event/Date:
Daytona 500
February 26, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week’s General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Elliott Sadler will pilot Chassis No. 238 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This former No. 31 racer received a new body over the season after competing in the 2010 and 2011 Budweiser Shootouts with driver Jeff Burton, posting 12th and eighth-place finishes, respectively.

Start Your Engine … The 54th Daytona 500 will mark Sadler’s 430th career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Of his 429 starts in NASCAR’s premier division, Sadler has competed 24 times at Daytona International Speedway, accumulating four top-five and nine top-10 finishes, leading a total of 58 laps and completing 97 percent of the laps contested.

Daytona 500 Details … After competing in the ‘Great American Race’ 12 consecutive times from 1999 – 2010, the Emporia, Va., native returns to Sprint Cup Series competition for the 2012 Daytona 500. With a secured a starting spot in the 43-car field at the ‘World Center of Racing,’ Sadler will look to add to his three top-five and six top-10 Daytona 500 finishes. His best finish of second came in 2002 before posting four consecutive top-six results from 2006 – 2009.

Calling the Shots … Long-time RCR crew chief and Nationwide Series General Manager Gil Martin will call the shots for Sadler and the No. 33 General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet team in this weekend’s 500-mile showdown. Martin has three restrictor-plate victories on his Sprint Cup Series resume with all of them coming in 2010 – Budweiser Shootout in February, Talladega Superspeedway in April and Daytona International Speedway in July.

Seeing Pink… Sadler will have a little more color to his outfit on race days. The Emporia, Va., native will sport pink driving shoes throughout the 2012 season, showing support for Breast Cancer Awareness. Sadler’s mother, Bell, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and is now a survivor.

And, Now a Word From Our Sponsors … Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 338,000 associates who serve customers in 2,439 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 796 convenience stores, 363 fine jewelry stores, 1,067 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Kroger was recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in the U.S. The company focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 125 million meals a year through its partnership with more than 80 Feeding America food banks. General Mills, who is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., is one of the world's leading food companies, operating in more than 100 countries. Its consumer brands include Cheerios, Fiber One, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant and Old El Paso. And, lastly, HendrickCars.com is the fastest way to research and purchase nearly 20,000 new and used cars, classic cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles from the inventory of Hendrick Automotive Group's more than 100 franchises.

Honoring a Friend … The Nos. 31 and 33 Chevrolets being driven in this week’s events by Jeff Burton and Sadler will carry a special decal honoring Donald E. Becker, an executive vice president of The Kroger Co. and friend of the General Mills motorsports family who passed away last year during Speedweeks. During Becker’s career, he held a number of leadership positions at Kroger, including Vice President of the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio Division and President of the Central Division. Becker joined Kroger in 1969 as a clerk in the Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio Division. He helped Kroger strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers alike and was also an avid supporter of the Darwin T. Turner Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati Boy Scouts of America, Crayons to Computers, the Easter Seals Work Resource Center and St. Michael’s Center. He earned an undergraduate degree from Central State University, graduating first in his Army ROTC Honors program and retired from his military service with the rank of Captain.

Elliott Sadler Live … Fans can see Sadler live on Saturday, February 25 from 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. on the Sprint Fan Zone stage, located in the infield between the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series garages and again on Sunday, February 26 from 9:40 – 9:55 a.m. at the same location. Sadler will be part of a question-and-answer session each day.

ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:
During the offseason, Richard Childress offered you the opportunity to run the Daytona 500. What were your thoughts?
“Richard calls me all the time. That’s one thing I have learned – that he communicates and keeps everyone up to speed on what’s going on. So, he called to see if I was interested in running in the Daytona 500. It was a really good phone call to get. I was excited but we knew we had to go to work and find partnership to make this work. I feel fortunate that everything came together.”

As with all restrictor-plate races, tandem racing and the draft requires assistance from others. Will you be gearing up with a teammate?
“A big reason we’re putting this car in the Daytona 500 is to have an even number of RCR cars in the race in case the tandem racing works out, especially in the closing laps of the race. My fellow Virginia native teammate Jeff Burton will most likely be my partner. We’ve already talked and discussed a plan so we’ll see how it goes.”

You have a pretty good average finish at Daytona International Speedway. Do you go into this race thinking that this track owes you a win?
“A track doesn’t owe you anything. But, I do feel like I let one slip away in 2009 when I should’ve won the (Daytona) 500. I led almost the entire last half of the race before losing the lead in turn one when the rain started coming down on the backstretch. That’s hard to swallow sometimes. I feel like I’ve been good there. I’m an under-the-radar restrictor-plate racer which is probably why my stats are good there. We’re taking a fast car to Daytona this weekend and with the ECR engine, good package and good team, I think we’ll be very competitive and my hope is finish strong.”

Elliott Sadler Event Preview: DRIVE4COPD 300

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Elliott Sadler
No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala

Event/Date:
DRIVE4COPD 300
February 25, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's OneMain Financial Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team will utilize Chassis No. 499 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series shop. Sadler drove this superspeedway chassis in 2011 at Kevin Harvick Inc., earning a pole award and fifth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway and an eighth-place finish in the July race at Daytona.

Fond Memories ... Sadler has competed at Daytona in the Nationwide Series five times with a best finish of eighth in July 2011 and has led 61 laps around the 2.5-mile track. He also has experience at the superspeedway across two other NASCAR series, making 24 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with four top-five and nine top-10 finishes. He also made two starts at the Daytona Beach, Fla., track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with one top-five finish and 56 laps led.

One Goal with OneMain Financial ... In 2011, Sadler claimed five poles, 12 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet for KHI but came up 45 points shy of winning the series driver's point championship. This season, Sadler returns to the cockpit once again with sponsorship from OneMain Financial, this time with his new team at RCR. It may be a new team, but the driver has the same goal in mind: to win the Nationwide Series championship.

New Faces ... Sadler joins the RCR stable as the new driver on the block, joining the organization after the 2011 merger with Kevin Harvick Inc. Luke Lambert will serve as the crew chief on the No. 2 Chevrolet, transitioning from the interim crew chief position on the No. 31 Sprint Cup Series team to serve on top of the OneMain Financial pit box.

Last Time By ... In the first event of the season at Daytona International Speedway in 2011, bad luck struck Sadler on lap 24 as his car sustained heavy front-end damage in a crash. The team was relegated to a 38th-place finish. Sadler returned to Daytona for the July event, leading 31 laps before a fiery incident on the last lap resulted in an eighth-place finish.

Top of the Board ... Daytona International Speedway is the location of Sadler's first-career Nationwide Series pole in 1997.

Double-Duty ... The Emporia, Va., native will be a busy man this weekend, competing in the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series events. Following the Nationwide Series event Saturday, Sadler will take the helm of RCR's No. 33 General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet for the 54th running of the Daytona 500.

Meet the Driver ... Sadler will make an appearance at the Sprint FanZone at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 9:30 a.m. Sadler will be part of a question-and-answer session hosted by the track.

ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTES:

What did you learn running for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship?
"I can tell you the first couple of weeks after Homestead, I was 'hungover' pretty bad as far as not winning the championship. That's what our goal was when we started the season. Now, I'm more into dissecting things that I can do better that I didn't do as well last year to give me a better chance of winning the championship this season."

What progress was made in the off-season at RCR?
"We kind of had an idea of where we needed to be and should be this off season as a race team, and we feel that we have made some gains this year with downforce, side force and the weight of the car. There are a lot of the little things that add up. I really feel like we have made big gains where we needed to this off season."

How important is it to get off on the right foot at Daytona?
"It seems like momentum feeds off Daytona. I think since you are down there for so long, up to two weeks, it adds to the anticipation. There is so much effort that goes into the off-season, so much wind tunnel time. If you get to Daytona and you don't have the start that you wanted, a little air goes out of your balloon. I think going to Daytona and getting started on the right foot means a lot to a race team and to a driver as far as his confidence. I feel as if I am a good restrictor-plate driver, so I am feeling good going into the race."

What does it mean to have Tony Stewart a as teammate at RCR for the race at Daytona?
"Tony Stewart is remarkable on restrictor plate races. I know that he has never won the Daytona 500, but he is so good there in the July races. People want to draft with him, and that's a big advantage when you are in the field and people are looking for you to draft. You 100 percent have a drafting partner to help. He's going to be the guy to beat. I know how fast his car is. I know what one he's got. He's got a good engine, plus, he's Tony Stewart."

Will you points race or race for the win at Daytona?
"That's a good question. I feel like I points raced too much last season. I raced to not lose a point rather than to try to gain an extra point. I'm going to Daytona, and I want to win the race. If it gets me in trouble, it gets me in trouble. We have the rest of the season to points race and make it back up."

Austin Dillon Event Preview: Drive4COPD 300

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Austin Dillon
No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet Impala

Event/Date:
DRIVE4COPD 300
February 25, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's AdvoCare Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 478 in the Drive 4COPD from the Richard Childress Racing Nationwide Series Stable. This former Kevin Harvick Inc. chassis was driven by Clint Bowyer at Daytona in Feb. 2011, where he earned the pole and finished second, and at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2011, where he started second but finished 22nd after being involved in a multi-car incident.

Dillon at Daytona ... Dillon has had unfavorable results at Daytona International Speedway despite running well. One year ago at the World Center of Racing he earned the pole award and spent much of the 250-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race running in the top-three but posted a disappointing 20th-place finish after a multi-truck incident while running third with just two laps remaining took him out of contention early. In 2010, Dillon made his first-career start at Daytona, where a lap-one incident left the team playing catch up for the duration of the race, resulting in a 26th-place finish after starting third. This weekend's Drive 4COPD will mark his first restrictor-plate race in the Nationwide Series.

Spark your Engines ... Dillon debuts RCR's partnership with award-winning premier health and wellness company AdvoCare on the No. 3 Chevrolet this weekend. AdvoCare offers nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance products of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Dillon has trained with AdvoCare products all winter long, gaining 10 lbs of muscle mass and recently became a distributor of AdvoCare products. Dillon's favorite products include Spark, Rehydrate, meal replacement bars and Post-Workout Recovery.

#GetLike3 ... Dillon is making the move to fulltime competition in the Nationwide Series with several members of his championship-winning NCWTS team, including crew chief Danny Stockman (@dstockman3), car chief Robert Strmiska (@junebug_90), engineer Ryan Sparks (@R_Sparks_3), spotter Andy Houston (@ahouston95), truck driver Franky Nester, front tire changer Phillip Norris (@norristown_3), front tire carrier Dustin Keath (@thehandler3) and jackman Sam Abney. New members of the No. 3 team include mechanic Jason Meeks (@jmeeks55), who joins the team after spending last year working on Joey Coulter's NCWTS program at RCR, rear tire changer Jeremy West, who changed tires for Jeff Burton in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last season (@west_jeremy), shock specialist Wayne Smith, a long-time RCR employee, and Earnhardt-Childress Racing engine tuner Brian Englehart, a long-time ECR employee. Former Kevin Harvick, inc. employees who have joined the team include mechanic Ben Bowden, rear tire carrier Josh Sobecki and fueler Harley Rauch. The team is using the Twitter hash tag #getlike3 as they tweet from the shop and from the race track this season.

Hive-Five, Grandma ... Dillon and fellow Nationwide Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier star in a commercial that debuted this week across all ESPN networks to promote the Nationwide Driver Pick' em fantasy racing game. In the 30-second spot, each driver is featured celebrating in Victory Lane with a race fan. In Dillon's case, the fan is an elderly woman who chest bumps the driver in excitement after he wins a race. The Nationwide Driver Pick 'em game is free of charge and allows fans to predict Nationwide Series race winners for a chance at a $500 weekly prize and an end-of-season grand prize of $25,000. To play, go to espn.com and enter the keyword Nationwide.

The Big Time ... Dillon and fellow RCR personalities, including Richard Childress and Kevin Harvick, will appear in a racing-themed episode of "Bud United Presents: The Big Time!" on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The Big Time is the world's first social reality show and in the episode that Dillon appears in three aspiring racecar drivers vie for a chance to meet Childress and race against Harvick, Dillon and other drivers. The contestants, Katie Hagar, 25, of Mooresville, NC, Mike Mulhall, 30, of Los Angeles, Calif. and Eric Purcell, 26, of Shreveport, La, were cast via social media channels.

Know When to Hold 'Em ... Dillon will represent the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in the NASCAR Foundation's High Speed Hold 'Em On the Halifax event on Feb. 22 at the new clubhouse of MG on the Halifax. The event pits drivers, celebrities, poker pros and one lucky fan against each other in a Pro-Am Texas Hold 'Em Style Poker Tournament with proceeds benefitting the NASCAR Foundation and Speediatrics. Race fans can win a chance to go "All In" and play with the pros. For details, go to www.EventsatMGontheHalifax.com.

Dirt Tracking ... Dillon's 2011 Speedweeks actually started on Feb. 14 at Volusia Speedway Park, where he and his brother, Ty, raced dirt Modifieds as part of the 41st annual DIRTCar Nationals.

Meet Dillon ... Dillon and his brother, NCWTS championship contender Ty Dillon, will make an appearance at the Chevrolet Stage at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 24 at 12 noon. Dillon will also appear at the Nationwide Display on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

The guys in the shop at RCR have been working hard all winter and it seems like they are ready to start racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
"All of the guys are ready to get to the track. Everybody is looking forward to getting to Daytona and to get the first race behind us. Once we get the first race behind us we have three races in a row, so that's something new for me. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series you get a month off, but in the Nationwide Series we are going racing. It will be fun. We're prepared and ready to go."

How has racing at Volusia Speedway Park helped you prepare for the Nationwide Series at Daytona?
"My brother Ty and I have been racing in the DirtCar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park since the 14th. We race every night. We will each take one night off and then we finish up on Tuesday night before heading to the big track. Racing dirt is huge for us. It's about getting your confidence up and getting in shape. I saw Tony Stewart out there practicing his Sprint car and I think racing dirt is helpful to a lot of guys. That's what we love about it. You go night-to-night and day-to-day and it keeps you focused. But, we know what our ultimate goal is and that's running good in the Nationwide car. It's just a fun time of year to come out here and run, especially when the weather is nice. The track has been really good, also."

Does your grandfather, Richard Childress, come out to watch you at the dirt track?
"Pop Pop and Nana both come. Of course, my parents are there every night. It's my favorite time of the year. It's so much fun. When you come out there you realize how much fun everybody is having. It's a huge family of dirt racers and its so much fun to hang out after the races and talk about racing with all of those racers. I saw Kenny Schrader there and Kenny Wallace was there, too. It's just a blast and to me it reminds me of the old days and how people helped each other out and raced against each other. It's just fun."

Tony Stewart Event Preview: Drive4COPD 300

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Tony Stewart
No. 33 Oreo 100th Birthday/Ritz Crackers Chevrolet Impala

Event/Date:
DRIVE4COPD 300
February 25, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Tony Stewart will pilot Chassis No. 520 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. This is a brand new racer that will be put through its first competitive pace in this weekend's DRIVE4COPD 300.

Daytona Nuggets ... Stewart has competed at Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR's junior division 12 times and boasts six wins, seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes. The defending race winner has also led 184 laps, completed 99.1 percent of laps contested and has been running at the end of every race with the lone exception being the event in Feb. 1998.

Going for Five ... The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will try to score his fifth consecutive Nationwide Series victory at DIS when he takes the green flag on Saturday. The defending race winner also scored back-to-back wins at DIS in 2005 and 2006.

Tying a Legend ... The Columbus, Ind., native could tie NASCAR legendary driver Dale Earnhardt's Nationwide Series win record this weekend should he take the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt is the Nationwide Series' winningest driver with seven victories at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway - Feb. 1982, 1986, 1990 through 1994.

In-Race Reporters ... Stewart will be ESPN's in-race reporter for the 120-lap feature. In addition, front-tire carrier J.D. Holcomb will wear the crew cam during pit stops.

Happy Birthday, Oreo ... A special paint scheme honoring Oreo's 100th birthday will adorn on the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend. On March 6, 1912, the first Oreo rolled off the line at the Chelsea Market bakery in Manhattan and has since then become a household name. In honor of their milestone, Birthday Cake Oreos are now on the shelves of convenience stores so that fans across the country can help celebrate this occasion. Visit www.oreo.com to share in the moment.

Come Celebrate with Tony and Oreo ... Stewart will kick off the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series race season by hosting a "Pre-Season Pre-Party" in honor of OREO cookies' 100th birthday celebration. Stewart will host a "cookie-cake" cutting ceremony for media, unveil the OREO 100th birthday paint scheme and lead a group TWIST, LICK AND DUNK with the new Birthday Cake OREO cookie and a glass of milk. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. inside the press conference room at DIS.

TONY STEWART QUOTES:

You've won the first race of the Nationwide Series season six times, including the last four. How nice is it to start the year with a win, and how much confidence does it give you going into the Daytona 500?
"The good thing is I'm probably the happiest guy going into the Daytona 500 if we get a win on Saturday. It shows that we can win, and it's just a matter of whether the cards play out for you on Sunday. It's always a bonus when you can win on Saturday before going into the biggest race of the year on Sunday. Getting a Nationwide win there, that's how you like to go to bed the night before the Daytona 500, knowing that you've got that trophy sitting out there on your desk from what you did Saturday afternoon."

This season, you are running the Nationwide Series race with a different car owner - Richard Childress Racing. What kind of difference does that make?
"There's really no difference. In fact, a lot of the guys on the team are the same guys who had worked on my KHI cars that I have run in the past since Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) essentially sold their team to Richard (Childress). So, I already have a comfort level and a relationship with the guys. Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and I have worked together in the past, too, so that's a plus because we already are familiar with each other. As for driving my first race for Richard (Childress), I'm pretty pumped about that. Richard is an icon in our sport and someone I have admired. It's definitely an honor to be on his team at Daytona. When you think of Daytona, I think people automatically think of Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt. Hopefully, I can add to Richard's list of accomplishments in Daytona."

Speaking of Dale Earnhardt, should you win the race on Saturday, you would tie his record for most wins in the Nationwide Series at Daytona with seven. What would being tied with Earnhardt for the record mean to you?
"That's a pretty cool feeling to know we've closed in on something he's done at Daytona. To me, that was his playground. You just watched him play with the guys here. He was the best at that place. To even be remotely close to him in the record books, in anything at Daytona, is very humbling."

How difficult is it to win one race at Daytona, never mind five in a row?
"Restrictor-plate races at Daytona are always a wild-card race. You never know who's going to win. We were fortunate enough to win one and then back it up the next year. To do it back-to-back-to-back-to-back is something we're really proud of. We've won six out of the last seven here, and none of them have been the same. It's been different cars, different teams and different pavement. There wasn't one of the six in that scenario that have been even remotely been close to the same. To me, that's the part that's ironic. You think, 'Man, the scenario has to double up, eventually.' Six wins here and none of them have been alike. It really shows that you can't predict what's going to happen. It's impossible to even try to do that."

What makes you so successful at Daytona, particularly in the season-opening Nationwide Series race?
"I don't know. I've had a lot of luck there. A lot of it has just been being at the right place at the right time, and making calls that were a little edgy on pit strategy to put ourselves in position at the end. I've had great cars to drive every time there. We've just been one of those guys everybody knows that when we're out there, we're a threat in that division. So, when it comes to the end of it, we've had some pretty good help."

What does it mean to you to represent Oreo, especially with a car celebrating Oreo's 100th birthday?
"It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that I have always been a big Oreo fan. I remember eating Oreo cookies after school as a kid, and I'm proud to represent them as an adult on the racetrack. Since I'm a big kid, I guess you could say we're a pretty good fit for each other because Oreo cookies definitely bring out the kid in everyone. Turning 100 is a pretty big deal, so to honor that with a special racecar, celebrating their birthday, is pretty cool. And, I can't think of a better way to help them celebrate such a big birthday than to get a big win at Daytona on Saturday."

Brendan Gaughan: NextEra Energy Resources 250

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Brendan Gaughan
No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado

Event/Date:
NextEra Energy Resources 250
February 24, 2012

Venue:
Daytona International Speedway

Race Notes and Quotes:

This Week's South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway ... Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 053 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable. A former Kevin Harvick Inc. racer, this chassis was built new last season and competed at Daytona International Speedway in February where Elliott Sadler started sixth and finished second before Ron Hornaday Jr. drove it to a runner-up finish at Talladega Superspeedway in October after starting fifth.

Start Your Engine ... This weekend's 250-mile event will mark the Las Vegas native's 188th career Truck Series start. In more than 12 years of competing in NASCAR's truck division, Gaughan has added eight wins, three poles, 33 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes to his racing resume. He has also led a total of 872 laps and scored his highest season point standing position of fourth in 2003.

Daytona Details ... In seven Truck Series starts at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway, Gaughan has notched one top-10 and two top-15 finishes with his best finish of 10th coming in February 2003. He also competed in four NASCAR Nationwide Series races and two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the 'World Center of Racing,' running at the end of those six races (lone exception being the Nationwide Series race in February 2010) and completing 93.3 percent of the laps contested.

Please Sign Here ... Gaughan is scheduled to participate in a NASCAR autograph session on Friday, Feb. 24 from 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. at the Sprint FanZone. Fans with access to the Sprint FanZone can attend the session free of charge.

A Little Racing Background ... The 2000 and 2001 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion made his Camping World Truck Series debut in 1997 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and completed a partial schedule in the series from 1997 through 2001 before competing fulltime from 2002 through 2008, and again in 2011. He holds a two-year unbeaten streak of four consecutive Truck Series victories at Texas Motor Speedway and currently ranks 12th on the all-time Truck Series career starts list with 187 while his eight Truck Series victories ranks him 15th on the all-time wins list.

What's in Store for 2012 ... Gaughan will compete in four Sprint Cup Series, 10 Nationwide Series races and eight Camping World Truck Series races for RCR in 2012. The Las Vegas native will compete in NASCAR's premier division in its second through fifth race of the season. He will share the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala in Nationwide Series competition alongside teammates Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard, Tony Stewart and Max Papis with Ernie Cope serving as crew chief. The 36-year-old driver will also pilot the No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series with fellow teammates Harvick and Tim George Jr. with RCR newcomer Marcus Richmond atop the pit box.

Did You Know? ... Gaughan is a graduate of Georgetown University and played collegiate basketball as a walk-on for the Hoyas. He was also a member of Georgetown's NCAA Divison I-AA football team where he earned All-Conference honors as a placekicker. Best known as an extra point specialist, Gaughan converted 39 of 40 extra point attempts in the 1994 season that produced the highest extra point percentage in Hoya history.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:

You'll be making your career debut with Richard Childress Racing on Friday. Talk about your new adventure and your thoughts heading into the 2012 season.
"I can't tell you how excited I am. The opportunity to run for a man who is such an iconic figure in our sport is just amazing. The equipment and employees at RCR are top notch. I've been to the shop a lot over the off season and to see all the hard work and the thought process that goes into each truck and car is second to none. I'm itching to get started and look forward to being competitive every time I'm in the truck."

Racing at Daytona is always an adventure in itself. Do you have a game plan set in your head by the time the green flag waves on Friday night?
"We'll utilize Thursday's practice sessions to get the truck balanced right to where it performs its best. I'm fortunate to have Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter as my teammates so I'm sure we'll talk before the race about what each other is thinking since the draft is important at Daytona. My goal is to stay out of trouble and be up front at the end."

You'll be running in both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series this season on a part-time basis. Is it going to be difficult to switch from racing a car to a truck every weekend?
"I have always steered away from switching to a part-time schedule in the past but I had to look at where I would have the best opportunity to win races again and the opportunity to race for Richard Childress is one I couldn't pass up. By sharing the Nationwide Series seat with RCR's Sprint Cup Series drivers, I know I'm going to be in the best equipment in the garage and have the best opportunity to win races to get myself back to where I want to be and that is to compete fulltime again."