5-Hour Energy Team News and Notes
. This Week’s 5 Hour Energy Toyota … Steve Wallace will pilot Rusty Wallace Racing chassis RWR-068 in Saturday afternoon’s Dollar General 300. This is a brand new 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry that will be put through its first paces this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
. Through 27 Races … With 27 races of the 2011 season in the record books, Wallace has accumulated two top-five, five top 10 and 14 top-15 finishes, an average starting position of 13.2 and an average finish of 15.7. Wallace has completed 98 percent of the laps contested (4,897 of 4,997) thus far.
. Get to the Points … Wallace continues to maintain the eighth position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. With seven races remaining in the 2011 season, Wallace trails seventh-place driver Kenny Wallace by 21 markers, and holds a 21-point cushion over eighth-place contender and Rusty Wallace Racing teammate, Michael Annett.
. Wallace at Chicagoland … In five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, Wallace has recorded three top-20 finishes. His best finish at the 1.5-mile, D-shaped tri-oval is 12th, where he has finished twice. Additionally, the 24-year-old driver has has completed 98.9 percent of the laps contested (992 of 1,003) and has been atop the leaderboard for two laps.
. Former Winner … While Wallace has not yet won at Chicagoland Speedway in Nationwide Series competition, he has visited Victory Lane there once before. Driving the No. 61 machine for Rusty Wallace Racing, Wallace won the sixth running of the ARCA Series race from the pole in 2006.
. Intermediate Averages … In 102 NASCAR Nationwide Series intermediate track starts, Wallace has accrued one pole, three top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, and has led 12 laps.
. Welcome Aboard … 5-Hour Energy Racing welcomes Dominick’s and Casey’s as partners for this weekend’s race at Chicagoland Speedway. Dominick’s branding will adorn the TV panel of Wallace’s No. 66 Toyota in Saturday afternoon’s race, while Casey’s logos will be displayed on the lower rear quarter panels.
. Last Time Out … Wallace appeared to have a top-five finish in his sights last Friday night at Richmond International Raceway, but a flat right rear tire two-thirds of the way through the event relegated the 24-year-old driver to a 16th-place finish.
. Rusty Wallace Racing at Chicagoland … Chicagoland Speedway hasn’t been kind to Rusty Wallace Racing over the years. In 12 combined NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, Rusty Wallace Racing has earned just one top-10 finish, coming in June 2011 when Michael Annett drove the No. 62Toyota to a ninth-place finish in theSTP 300. Rusty Wallace Racing entries have led three laps of competition and have completed 2,129 of the 2,406 (88.5 percent) laps contested in those events.
. Rusty Wallace Racing in 2011 … With 27 of 34 races completed thus far in the 2011 season, Rusty Wallace Racing’s three NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded a combined three top-five, 12 top 10 and 29 top-15 finishes. Rusty Wallace Racing Toyotas have completed 10,581 of 11,219 laps attempted, and have been atop the leaderboard for 19 laps with drivers Michael Annett, Jason Bowles, David Reutimann and Steve Wallace.
. The Battle For Best in Class … Rusty Wallace Racing’s 14th-place position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings is second-best among full-time, non-cup affiliated teams. Wallace’s No. 66 entry trails Robby Benton, currently ranked 13th, by 21 points.
. Cast Your Vote … Voting has begun for the Most Popular Driver of the Year award in the Nationwide Series. Fans are encouraged to log onto NASCAR.com to vote for their favorite driver from the series once per day until voting ends on Thursday, November 17.
“I’m looking forward to getting to Chicago this weekend. We’ve struggled on the mile-and-a-half tracks this year, but we’re bring a brand-new 5-Hour Energy Toyota, and we feel that we’ve made some gains. Heading back to a track where you’ve won, it always gives you a little extra confidence. We’ve had some good runs over the last several weeks, and we’ll look to do the same this weekend.” – Steve Wallace on racing at Chicagoland Speedway
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About Living Essentials, LLC
Farmington Hills, MI-based Living Essentials, LLC, is the maker of 5-Hour Energy, the category leader in 2 oz. liquid energy shots. 5-Hour Energy is available nationwide at major retailers in the Grocery, Drug Store, Mass Merchant, Warehouse and Convenience Store classes of trade. Living Essentials sells over seven million bottles of 5-Hour Energy per week. For more information, please visit 5hourenergy.com.
About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC
North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary racing history of its founder, Rusty Wallace. The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys-driven by Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively-in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. RWR will also campaign the No. 64 Camry in select 2011 events. RWR entries have finished among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series driver or owner standings in each of the last three seasons. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.
