No. 10 Valvoline Dodge Charger

Daytona International Speedway Preview

Please visit www.gillettevernhammedia.com for all Gillett Evernham Motorsports news releases, downloadable digital images and information on co-owners George Gillett, Ray Evernham and GEM drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Patrick Carpentier, and Chase Miller plus their race teams.

Five months ago, Patrick Carpentier began his rookie season at Daytona International Speedway. The Quebec native knew the challenges he faced. Visiting tracks for the first time, making every race on qualifying time plus learning the intricacies of his Dodge while racing against drivers with vastly more experience were just some of the hurdles he faced. 

The driver who bought a book to learn NASCAR before the season has performed respectably in his first 17 races making all but one race where he has had a chance to qualify, earning two top-25 finishes, rookie of the race honors, and earning his first Sprint Cup pole at Loudon last weekend.

With this weekend’s 400-mile race at Daytona, Carpentier gets a chance to race at a track for the second time in 2008 – something that should speed his progress along the learning curve.

“The pole last week was a great shot in the arm for this team,” Carpentier said. “This is exactly what this team has been waiting for. But now it’s time to put that behind us and look ahead.

“The tracks are so diverse in this sport. From one week to the next it’s a different type of track. It’s hard for me sometimes, because just when I start understanding a track a little better it’s time to pack up and head off to the next race. That’s why I’m so excited to start heading back to tracks for the second time.”

Since missing the Daytona 500 Carpentier has qualified on time for 12 consecutive races.

TV and Radio Times: Qualifying is set for Friday at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on SPEED TV and MRN Radio. Race time on Saturday is 8:00 p.m. (ET) on TNT and PRN Radio.

DRIVER PATRICK CARPENTIER QUOTES:

“I’ve learned a lot about the drafting since we last visited Daytona. I think I can credit the Talladega race weekend for that. I ran both the Cup and Nationwide races. Even though the cars differ a little bit in how they handle in the draft, there’s a lot you can take between the two series.

“I was able to sit back and watch some of the best drafters in the series. I watched a lot of how Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon handled themselves in the draft and I tried to make mental notes of that.

“My teammate, Elliott Sadler has been a great help to me as well. He’s always coming over to give me advice or just sitting me down and explaining things to me. He’s been a huge help in making this difficult transition this year, especially regarding the draft.

“The tracks are so diverse in this sport. From one week to the next it’s a different type of track. It’s hard for me sometimes, because just when I start understanding a track a little better it’s time to pack up and head off to the next race. That’s why I’m so excited to start heading back to tracks for the second time.

For a behind the scenes look at Patrick Carpentier visit http://www.patcarpentier.ca/

NOTES

Daytona Speedway

• Carpentier qualified 11th for the 150’s in the spring. He was the highest qualifying Dodge and rookie for the twin 150’s.

• A blown tire during the 150’s ended his quest for his first Daytona start.

2008 Season

• Carpentier earned his first career pole at New Hampshire Speedway in June becoming the second foreign born driver to win a Sprint Cup pole. Fellow Canadian Lloyd Shaw won the other pole award in 1953. It was also the first time a rookie has ever earned a pole in the Cup Series at Loudon.

• At Michigan in June Carpentier earned the "Improving the Finish" award after starting 43rd and finishing 24th. The award honors the driver who best improves his finish from the green flag to the checkered flag.

•  Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Mike Joy gave Carpentier an “A” in his 2008 Fox Sports report card for his superb qualifying efforts in 2008.

•  The Quebec-native led four laps at Darlington and four laps at New Hampshire. It was the first time a rookie has led at Darlington since 2004.

• Carpentier has started every race that he has had a chance to qualify for except the Daytona 500.

History

• Carpentier began his career with Gillett Evernham Motorsports at Watkins Glen in 2007.

• Carpentier’s accomplishments outside of NASCAR include two Champ Car World Series wins, three CART victories and a Toyota Atlantic Championship.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports

• Best Buy Reward Zone Members who are also members of the racing club will enjoy triple reward zone points for each dollar spent this week because of Carpentier’s teammate Elliott Sadler who finished fifth last week at New Hampshire. Sign up this week for the rewards zone then sign up for the racing club and earn bonus points with top finishes by Gillett Evernham Motorsports drivers Sadler, Kasey Kahne and Carpentier. For more information go to www.myrewardzone.com.

•  Ray Evernham served as Jeff Gordon’s crew chief from 1992-’99 winning 47 races and three Cup championships.

• Evernham founded Evernham Motorsports in 2000 and began first full season of competition in 2001 serving as the cornerstone of Dodge’s return to NASCAR.

• George Gillett Jr. became co-owner with Evernham in October 2007. Gillett also owns the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL and the Liverpool soccer team in the English Premier League.

• Gillett Evernham Motorsports campaigns Kasey Kahne in the No. 9, Patrick Carpentier in the No. 10, and Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.

• The organization also fields the No. 9 in NASCAR Nationwide Series races with its Sprint Cup drivers plus rookie Chase Miller.

• Gillett Evernham Motorsports owns 15 victories and 27 poles.