KANSAS SPEEDWAY
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Race: STP 400
Date: April 21, 2013
Location: Kansas Speedway
RCR at Kansas … In 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. RCR’s best finish at Kansas was second in 2007 with Clint Bowyer. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization holds an average starting position of 21.2, a 16th-place average finishing position, has completed 11,407 of the 11,597 contested laps (98.4 percent) and has collectively led for 136 laps around the 1.5-mile race track.
Missing on the Shelf … Kansas Speedway is one of four race tracks on the current Sprint Cup Series schedule where RCR hasn’t gone to Victory Lane. The other three on the list are Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,294 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 101 wins, 42 pole awards, 435 top-five finishes and 915 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.9 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned 14 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90,’91, ’93 and ’94, five NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
RCR Texas Rewind … In the Sprint Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend, RCR teammates finished 13th (Kevin Harvick), 17th (Paul Menard) and 23rd (Jeff Burton).
The Collective RCR … Throughout the season’s first seven races, RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entries have notched five top-10 finishes and completed 6,904 of 7,151 total laps (96 percent) with drivers Burton, Austin Dillon, Harvick and Menard. RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 10th (Menard), 12th (Harvick) and 23rd (Burton) in the driver championship point standings.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR27PMenard, @RCR29KHarvick, @RCR31JeffBurton and driver Twitter page @KevinHarvick. Information about the 14-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27, www.facebook.com/OfficialKevinHarvick and www.facebook.com/OfficialJeffBurton.
Catch the Action … Live coverage of the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway will be televised on FOX Sunday, April 21, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Paul Menard
No. 27 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 403 at Kansas Speedway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS ran previously this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway finishing 10th.
Menard at Kansas Speedway … Menard has 14 starts at Kansas Speedway. His best start of second came in 2010 and best finish of third came in 2012. The Wisconsin native has completed 2,079 of 2,084 laps attempted (99.8 percent) at the 1.5-mile oval, leading 17 of them.
About Pittsburgh Paints … PPG Pittsburgh® Paints is a nationally recognized brand trusted by painting contractors, building owners, architects, designers, and homeowners for over 100 years. Products include interior/exterior paints and interior/exterior stains. For additional information, please visit www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com.
100 Percent of Laps Completed … After the first seven races this year, Menard is one of only three drivers to have completed 100 percent of laps (2,317) attempted this season. Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski also join him in this category.
Race Rewind … In this race last year at Kansas Speedway, Menard started 19th in the No. 27 Chevrolet and fought handling issues during the 400-mile event, eventually finishing 18th.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
Menard’s Thoughts on Racing at Kansas Speedway: “We had a good run the last time we were at Kansas Speedway, finishing third. Our Menards Chevrolet was really fast and we stayed in the top five for most of the race. We had a good solid car and the race was pretty uneventful for us. With the repave last year, the racing groove has mostly been on the bottom of the track. As the track wears during the hot Kansas summers, the groove will spread out. I don’t expect to see it as much this spring, but when we come back in the fall I expect the groove to widen even more. Hopefully, we can build off of what we learned last fall and bring home another solid finish this weekend.”
Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 373 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the STP 400. The No. 29 team utilized this Chevrolet once during the 2012 season, where Harvick picked up an eighth-place finish in May at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Sunflower State Stats … Since 2001, Harvick has made 14 Sprint Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, collecting one top-five and six top-10 finishes. The California native holds a 19.9 average starting position coupled with a 12.9 average finishing position, has completed 97 percent (3,576 of 3,686) of the laps contested, with 83 laps led.
Bad Boy Buggies… Bad Boy Buggies is a leader in off-road utility vehicles for hunting and outdoor lifestyles. Bad Boy Buggies pioneered the category of electrically powered 4×4 vehicles, ideal for hunting and outdoor recreation due to their silent, odorless operation and environmentally friendly, emissions-free drivetrains. In 2010, the Bad Boy Buggies brand and product line were acquired by E-Z-GO, a business unit of Textron Inc. For more information about Bad Boy Buggies and their product line, visit their website at www.badboybuggies.com.
Hangin’ at the Team Chevy Stage … Race fans can stop by and see Harvick at the Team Chevy Stage at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, April 21 from 9:15-9:30 a.m. Central Time (10:15-10:30 a.m. Eastern Time) as the RCR driver participates in a fan question-and-answer session.
Leading his Team … Harvick will serve as captain for Team Pocono during the second annual Pocono Raceway vs. Dover International Speedway softball tournament on Wednesday, April 24. The celebrity event will take place at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, Pa., with gates opening at 4 p.m. ET. For more information about the event, visit www.poconoraceway.com.
2012 Race Rewind … Harvick and the No. 29 Rheem crew captured a sixth-place finish in the 2012 STP 400 at Kansas Speedway after running out of fuel under green-flag conditions and battling a tight handling car throughout the race.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
How do you think this year’s race at Kansas Speedway will differ compared to last season following the repave?
“I don’t remember exactly how we ran last year, but anytime you see new pavement as a driver you kind of cringe. They obviously did a great job repaving the track, but sometimes a great job doesn’t result in a great race. I remember the race being fairly good last year for a newly paved race track. It will be interesting to see how much grip the pavement has lost when we go back to race there this year because they have such rough winters and you have no idea how the track will react. As the race track ages, I think the racing will get better. With the surface being fairly new a lot of strategy, two tires or no tires, will be a factor in order to keep track position.”
Jeff Burton
No. 31 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This week’s No. 31 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS at Kansas Speedway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 393 this weekend at Kansas Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet was utilized five times during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Auto Club Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kansas. Burton also piloted this machine to a 26th-place finish earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Burton in the Sunflower State … Burton has 14 starts at the Kansas City, Kan.-based facility with one top-five and two top-10 finishes. His best start of 10th and best finish of fifth both came in the 2006 event. The South Boston, Va., native has completed 3,570 of 3,686 laps attempted (96.9 percent) at the 1.5-mile oval, leading seven of them.
About American Ethanol … Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Kansas Speedway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Led by Growth Energy, in Partnership with the National Corn Growers, more than 100 different entities from farmers and state corn growing boards to ethanol producers and biotech companies, are working with NASCAR to introduce a cleaner-burning fuel to America. The partnership with American Ethanol takes NASCAR’s environmental commitment to the next level.
Sprint Fan Vote. Vote Now, Vote Often … Fans have the opportunity to vote Burton into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 18 with the Sprint Fan Vote. The Sprint Fan Vote was launched in 2004 as a way to bring one more deserving driver into the Sprint All-Star Race to compete for the $1 million payout. There are three ways you can vote for Burton.
Mobile Handsets
Use the NASCAR Mobile ‘2013 application
Votes from the application count double (x2)
www.NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote
Voting on handsets is unlimited
Online
NASCAR.COM http://www.nascar.com/SprintFanVote
Voting is unlimited
The Sprint Experience
Voting stations will be set up in the Sprint Experience mobile display each race weekend
Race Rewind 2012 … Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team battled handling issues and finished 22nd in the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway.
JEFF BURTON QUOTE:
What are your thoughts heading into Kansas Speedway this weekend?
“With the new pavement at Kansas Speedway, everything changed quite a bit. I am looking forward to going back there this weekend. We didn’t do so great there last year, but improving on the 1.5-mile tracks has become a major focus for the No. 31 team. I think we’ve done that with offseason testing. This will be the first smooth 1.5-mile track we’ve raced on with this new Gen-6 car. I think we are going to have to change things up with our setup leading into the weekend.”
Richard Childress Racing
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Race: SFP 250
Date: April 20, 2013
Location: Kansas Speedway
Richard Childress Racing’s Camping World Truck Series History … In 280 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, RCR has earned 27 wins, 37 pole awards, 103 top-five finishes and 171 top-10 finishes. RCR also earned the inaugural series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner, and again with Austin Dillon in 2011. The organization has an average starting position of 9.6 and an average finishing position of 10.3.
RCR at Kansas Speedway … Richard Childress Racing has six previous Camping World Truck Series starts at Kansas Speedway collecting two pole awards, one top-five and three top-10. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization holds a 4.5 average starting position coupled with a 10.5 average finishing position and completed 99.8 percent (1,000 of 1,002) of laps contested.
Points Racin’ … With three Camping World Truck Series races completed in 2013, Dillon is tied for sixth in the driver championship point standings, trailing the leader by 37 markers, while Brendan Gaughan is 12th in the standings, 47 points outside the top spot. The No. 3 team is seventh in the owner championship point standings and the No. 62 team is in the 19th position.
Social Media …To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and view exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3TDillon and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s Camping World Truck Series driver Twitter pages – @tydillon and @Brendan62.
Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway is scheduled to be televised live on Saturday, April 20 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on SPEED and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Ty Dillon
No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 026 from the Richard Childress Racing stable in Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway. This is the same chassis Dillon drove to his first Camping World Truck Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in August 2012. He also collected two top-five finishes at Kentucky Speedway (September) and Texas Motor Speedway (November).
Kansas Nuggets … This weekend’s 167-lap event marks Dillon’s fourth appearance at the 1.5-mile facility. Dillon made his first Kansas Speedway start in the Camping World Truck Series last year and earned a ninth-place finish. He also has two ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards starts, garnering a victory and two top-10 finishes.
Celebrating Earth Day … With the help of Drive4COPD, Dillon and his older brother Austin are taking part in NASCAR’s Race to Green campaign, a fully-integrated and massive national tree planting initiative designed to engage the NASCAR industry and excite fans. The month-long initiative focuses heavily on sustainability programs that NASCAR, the industry and a wide range of partners have in place to help reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. COPD is helping to reduce the sport’s footprint by donating five trees for each lap the Dillon brothers lead during the month of April.
10th Anniversary … Join Dillon in celebrating 10 years of NASCAR Day by picking up a limited edition collectable pin designed by NASCAR artist Sam Bass. Fans can purchase a NASCAR Day pin for a $10 donation to the NASCAR Foundation at a local Camping World SuperCenter or online at NASCAR.com/foundation. Donations from the pins will help children across the country live happier, healthier lives.
Meet the Driver … Fans will have the opportunity to meet Dillon this Thursday, April 18 at the Bass Pro Shops located at 18001 Bass Pro Drive in Independence, Mo. at 6 p.m. Central Time. Dillon will also participate in a question-and-answer session at the Team Chevy stage at Kansas Speedway on Friday, April 19 at 3:45 p.m. CT.
Race Rewind: Rockingham … The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team ran as high as second in the Sunday afternoon spectacle at “The Rock.” But, when a late-race caution set the field for a green-white-checkered finish, Dillon was shuffled back in the running order and crossed the finish line in the 12th position.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
Looking ahead to Kansas Speedway, talk about your expectations for this weekend?
“Our intermediate track program has made a lot of progress this year. I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of the season and seeing what we can do this weekend in Kansas. We’re hoping to turn our season around with a solid finish and keep the momentum going into May.”
Brendan Gaughan
No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 024 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stable in the SFP 250. This former No. 22 machine was raced five times during the 2012 season: Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Texas Motor Speedway in June and November, Chicagoland Speedway in July and Kentucky Speedway in September.
Racing in the Heartland … Gaughan will make his ninth Camping World Truck Series start at the 1.5-mile track on Saturday afternoon. Since 2001, the veteran driver has collected one top-five and five top-10 finishes at the Kansas City, Kan.-based facility. Gaughan holds a 21.6 average starting position coupled with an average finishing position of 12.2, has completed 88.9 percent (1,190 of 1,339) of the laps contested and led 17 laps.
South Point Hotel & Casino … Opened in December of 2005, the South Point resort was the first megaresort located south of McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. The facility consists of a 25 story hotel tower and 90,000 square feet convention center located on a 60 acre site along Las Vegas Boulevard in Enterprise, Nevada. South Point Hotel offers a total of 2,163 rooms and 160,000 sq. ft. meeting and convention space; the largest of any hotel in Las Vegas that is not on the Strip. For more information, visit www.southpointcasino.com or call 1-866-796-7111.
Not Just for Horses … The South Point Arena & Equestrian Center once held 700,000 gallons of water for a Jet Ski Race.
Professor for a Day … On Monday, April 15, Gaughan took on a new role as interim college professor at Elon University in Elon, N.C. The two-time championship driver participated in a lecture focused on all things NASCAR. Gaughan shared his insights and experiences from his years of being involved in the racing industry.
Reality TV Star … Gaughan will appear in an episode of the USA Network’s “The Moment” on Thursday, April 18 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. The Las Vegas native acts as mentor for one man whose dream is to become a professional race car driver. The new series features host Kurt Warner, who seeks out individuals that deserve a second chance at living out their dreams.
Live on the Main Stage … Fans can join Gaughan at the Team Chevy Stage located in the Kansas Speedway fan display for a question-and-answer session from 3:45-4 p.m. Central Time (4:45-5 ET) on Friday, April 19.
Race Rewind: “The Rock” … Gaughan and the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet crossed the finish line third in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Rockingham Speedway Sunday afternoon, earning his first top-five finish of the season.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
Share your thoughts on racing at Kansas Speedway?
“Mile-and-a-half tracks have always been my forte. I didn’t get to run this race last year, so this will be my first race at Kansas Speedway since they repaved it. I’ve been told that the track is smooth and it has a progressive banking, which makes it similar to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I love racing these fast 1.5-mile tracks. This will be my first 1.5-mile race back with Shane Wilson (crew chief), so I’m hoping we remember how to do this.”
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