TEAM CHEVY IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – 2009
Chevrolet clinched the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup (NSCS) Manufacturers’ Cup after 29 races for the 33rd time
Team Chevy drivers have collected the coveted NSCS driver's championship 25 times
Team Chevy drivers have won 18 races in ’09, more than any other manufacturer
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Impala SS, is poised to win his historic fourth consecutive NSCS drivers championship with a finish of 25th or better
Team Chevy drivers have led the most laps in ’09 – 5,413 of 10,225 (53% of all laps raced)
Team Chevy drivers have had more top-five (5) finishes in ’09 – 88 total – more than any other manufacturer
Team Chevy drivers have had more top-10 finishes than any other manufacturer in ’09 – 176 total
The Bowtie Brigade has won a total of 651 races in NSCS competition
TEAM CHEVY IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP:
A Chevrolet driver has won 36 of the 59 races held in the history of the Chase (’04 – to-date in ’09)
Team Chevy has six drivers in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, more than any other manufacturer. Currently the top-three Chase point positions are held by Team Chevy drivers. With one remaining, Team Chevy drivers rank as follows with Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS) stats:
Jimmie Johnson, No 48 Lowe’s Impala SS, is the points leader with seven (7) wins to-date in 2009 and a 108-point lead
In eight (8) HMS starts, Johnson two (2) top-five and five (5) top-10 finishes with one pole
Mark Martin, No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Impala SS, is second (2nd) in the Chase standings with five (5) wins to-date in 2009
In nine (9) previous HMS starts, Martin has four (4) top-five and five (5) top-10 finishes
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Impala SS, is currently third (3rd) in the Chase standings with one (1) win to-date in 2009
In 10 starts at HMS, Gordon has five (5) top-5 and eight (8) top-10 finishes
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Office Depot// Old Spice Impala SS is fifth (5th) in the Chase points order with four (4) wins to-date in 2009
In 10 HMS starts, Stewart has two (2) wins, three (3) top-five and five (5) top-10 finishes
Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Impala SS, is sixth (6th) in the standings after nine Chase races
Has five (3) previous starts at HMS
Ryan Newman, No. 39 US Army/Haas Automation Impala SS, is ninth (9th) in the 2009 Chase standings
In seven (7) HMS starts, Newman has two (2) top-10 finishes
IMPALA SS ON THE TRACK: HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
Team Chevy has one win in the in the 10 previous NSCS races at HMS – Bobby Labonte, 2003
Tony Stewart , No 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Impala SS, has two HMS victories-both in Pontiac
TEAM CHEVY INSIDE THE GARAGE AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY – PAT SUHY, GM RACING NASCAR GROUP MANAGER:
"With Phoenix behind us, there’s just one race left to decide which of two very deserving Team Chevy drivers will be crowned the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers Champion. Both Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin have had great seasons in the Cup Series, as did all the Team Chevy drivers who started the Chase with a chance to win the championship.
"We earned our 33rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Manufacturers' Championship in September, and Ron Hornaday clinched his historic 4th driver's championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last Friday. Considering the uncertainty we all faced at the beginning of the season it’s pretty amazing to be in this position.
"In addition to the 'clinched' championships mentioned above, there are still several things that need to be wrapped up this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin have a little business to finish on the race track Sunday to see who will bring home the big trophy. Jeff Gordon will be fighting to stay ahead of 4th place Kurt Busch to give Rick Hendrick the top three drivers in the Sprint Cup drivers standings, a feat that’s never been realized in NASCAR's three premier divisions. In the Camping World Truck Series, Ron Hornaday can clinch the Owners Championship for Kevin and DeLana Harvick by finishing 9th or better on Friday night.
"Whatever happens in Homestead, it’s been a great year for Chevy on the race track. Through all of the challenges, the professional men and women at GM Racing stayed focused on things that they could control by delivering the best technical support in the industry. Our teams remained focused on their goals or winning races and championships and were supportive of Chevrolet and GM through all of it.
"I would like to thank everyone for their outstanding teamwork, dedication, and continued commitment to winning."
Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Drivers Championships
Total (1949 – 2008): 25
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 6 (1993 – 98)
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Manufacturers Championships
Total (1949 – 2009): 33
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 9 (1983 – 91)
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Event Victories
2009 Race Wins: 18
Total Chevrolet race wins (1949 – 2009): 651
Record for total race wins: 26 (2007 – 13 Impala SS, 13 Monte Carlo SS)
Total NASCAR Cup wins by Corporation, 1949 – To-Date
GM: 986
Chevrolet: 651
Pontiac: 155
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 695
Ford: 595
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Chrysler: 454
Dodge: 205
Plymouth: 190
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 20
About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 209,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.