Event Preview – Pocono 400 – NSCS – June 5, 2016 – Pocono Raceway
Richard Childress Racing at Pocono Raceway … In 145 starts at Pocono Raceway, RCR team owner Richard Childress has two wins, both with Dale Earnhardt, who won on July 19, 1987 and July 18, 1993. Additionally, RCR has earned one pole award, 16 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes with 604 laps led at the uniquely-shaped three-turn track. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed two of those top-10 finishes under the RCR banner.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,669 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 471 top-five finishes and 1,015 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.0. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
The Collective RCR … RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 12th (Dillon), 16th (Newman) and 22nd (Menard) in the driver championship point standings.
Save the Lives of Injured Kids … Do you know an EMT or paramedic? Sign them up for free admission and $1,500 of travel expenses to EMS World Expo in New Orleans, La. on October 3-7. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Scholarship funds continuing medical education to help save the lives of injured kids around the world. Nomination deadline is June 30, 2016. Submit your application on EMSWorld.com.
Catch the Action … The Pocono 400 is scheduled to be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
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Austin Dillon:
This Week’s Dow STEM Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Austin Dillon will pilot chassis No. 485 in the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway. Dillon drove this Chevrolet to a 12th-place finish at Dover International Speedway in May.
Dillon at Pocono Raceway … Dillon has made four Sprint Cup Series starts at Pocono Raceway, earning his best finish of 13th and best starting position of fourth at the track in his most recent appearance (August 2015). He has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the triangle-shaped track, finishing seventh in 2010, fifth in 2011 and posting a win in 2014.
Dow Collaborates to Build the STEM Workforce of Tomorrow … Through its global citizenship commitment to supporting Sustainable Communities, Dow strives to get students excited about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects, supporting educators, and creating career advancement pathways. The company is excited to partner with Richard Childress Racing to develop a hands-on activity that allows students to explore the science behind NASCAR racing.
Austin Dillon Quotes:
With this new lower downforce aero package what do you expect?
“Pocono Raceway has been pretty good to me the last couple of races. We’re bringing a new Goodyear tire, which is always interesting to work with in terms of the changes that it brings to the race. You saw at Charlotte Motor Speedway the changes that it brought to the race. I think the tire changes have been positive this year. We’re looking forward to Pocono.”
A lot of people say that you need to be good in at least two of the corners in order to be good at Pocono Raceway. What two corners do you think you need to be good in to make Pocono Raceway work for you?
“I think you need to be good off of Turn 1 and off of Turn 3. If you can make it somewhat down Turn 2 it will make it, but truthfully you’ve got to be pretty good in all of them. I’ve been bad in one of the turns and it hurt me, so I think you’ve got to be pretty good in all of them.
What went through your mind when you heard the news that your grandfather made it into the NASCAR Hall of Fame?
“I was actually at an appearance for Coca-Cola when I found out and I was so excited for him. I know he won’t say it, but that meant a lot to him. He missed making it into the NASCAR Hall of Fame a few times and he’s a competitive person so he wants to be in there. When he was nominated it was a huge deal, and then getting in is even bigger, so I’m just happy for him. I’m proud of him. He’s put his whole life into this sport so an honor like the NASCAR Hall of Fame goes a long way.”
Paul Menard:
This Week’s Richmond / Menards Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … The Richard Childress Racing team will bring chassis No. 550 for this weekend’s 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event in Pocono. This is the same Chevrolet SS that Menard piloted last weekend to a 17th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Pocono Stats … Menard will be making his 19th Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at the 2.5-mile track. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native has garnered three top-three and five top-10 starting positions along with six top-15 finishes at Pocono Raceway.
About Richmond … Richmond®, a member of the Rheem family of quality brands, is committed to offering exceptional value and performance with a complete line of water heating products for residential environments. Known as, “the water heater experts,” Richmond is the go-to brand for value-conscious buyers. Innovations including “Fast Recovery” technology for peak-time water use and EverKleenâ„¢ Self-Cleaning tanks make choosing Richmond products easy. Richmond water heating products are available in Menards® stores throughout the Midwest. For more information, visit richmondwaterheaters.com.
Paul Menard Quotes:
Which turn do you like the setup of your car to be comfortable in at Pocono Raceway?
“You’re never good in all three turns at Pocono, so it’s always a compromise. Turn 3 is probably the most important because it leads to a long straightaway. Turn 1 is probably the easiest corner because it has more banking and you can kind of run the bottom to middle so you can still get a launch off of that corner. Turn 2 is probably the least important but definitely the trickiest corner. So, I would have to say Turn 3 is where I want the car to be setup to run its best.”
Obviously there will be less downforce since the last time you raced in Pocono. How do you think that will change things with three relatively flat corners?
“I don’t think it’s going to change a whole lot. Straight-line speed is going to be a little bit greater than last year. The draft will still be in effect on the frontstretch, probably not as much as in the past. Corner speed is going to be lower as well. It’s not going to be that much of a difference though.”
Ryan Newman:
This Week’s Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Chevrolet SS at Pocono Raceway … Ryan Newman will pilot car No. 507 in the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway. This car competed earlier this season at Auto Club Speedway as a No. 27 entry. Driver Paul Menard started 13th and finished 15th.
Newman at the Tricky Triangle … Newman will make his 526th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the Series returns to the 2.5-mile raceway this weekend. In 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Pocono, Newman drove to victory lane in the second summer event of 2003. The “Rocket Man” also owns two pole awards. In total, he’s recorded nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He has led 184 laps in competition. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 10.9 and average finish of 12.8. In the last 10 races at the Pennsylvania track, the Richard Childress Racing driver ranks fifth in most points earned.
Welcome Aboard … RCR welcomes Kalahari Resorts & Conventions to the No. 31 family of primary partners for this weekend’s Pocono 400. Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Sandusky, Ohio, and the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, deliver a “world-away” waterpark resort and conference experience beyond expectations. The authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts, privately owned by the Nelson family, are home to America’s largest indoor waterparks. All Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guestrooms, full-service Spa Kalahari, a fully equipped fitness center, on-site restaurants, unique retail shops, and a state-of-the-art conference center. Kalahari Resorts and Convention Centers frequently receive awards and accolades for our guest and convention services. Recent recognition includes: Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 World’s Coolest Indoor Waterparks, 2015 Reader’s Choice USA Today’s 10 Best Indoor Waterparks,TripAdvisors’ 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards, Silver Star recognition for Best Family-Friendly Meeting Hotel and Resort in Smart Meeting’s 2014 Smart Stars Awards, Clean the World’s Top 50 Hot Properties in 2013, January 2015 OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice Award for Double Cut Grill’s signature dining experience for the second consecutive year, the Daily Herald’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Indoor Waterpark, selection as one of the nation’s Top Family Resorts by Family Fun magazine for 2013, being named the Best Conference Center in the state by the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association, and selection as the Corporate Meeting Destination of the Year by Cleveland Business Connects magazine. For reservation and guest information, call 1-877-KALAHARI (525-2427) or visit: KalahariResorts.com. To learn more about Kalahari Resorts, members of the media are encouraged to visit KalahariMedia.com.
Ryan Newman Quotes:
What is the key to Pocono Raceway?
“It’s just really about getting a good balance in all three corners of the track. Another key is getting off the corners. It’s probably more important than getting into the corner because the straightaways are so long. There is more to be gained distance wise on the straightaway but just having a good balance and getting your shifting points right is also important in managing all three corners.”
What’s the hardest part of the track to figure out?
“It all depends. A lot of times it is the tunnel bump. Sometimes it could be just getting loose into Turn 1. It all depends on how your car is handling. I’ve had cars there that are still fast, but a handful to drive. You want it to be good and relaxed because you have long straightaways but it is a very demanding track. You think with the long straightaways you would be relaxed at the end of the race, but it’s actually one of the most physically demanding places to drive.”
Which turn is the most important one to get right?
“Turn 3 is the most important because of the front straightaway being the longest. There is more to gain and lose there. Turn 3 exit is super important.”
What are the starts and restarts like at Pocono Raceway?
“We can go five wide on the front straightaway on the restart but we do not go five wide into Turn 1. It just never works. Three wide is usually a question mark and two wide is sometimes a challenge in itself. There is a lot of give and take that has to be done in order to make a restart not trigger another restart, if you know what I mean.”
Event Preview – Pocono Green 250 – XFINITY Series – June 4, 2016 – Pocono Raceway:
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Pocono Raceway… This weekend’s 250-mile XFINITY Series event at Pocono Raceway marks the first for the Long Pond, Pa.-based track. Although RCR has yet to make any competitive laps at Pocono Raceway in the XFINITY Series, the organization has 216 starts on tracks larger than two miles in length. In those starts, RCR has accumulated 11 victories, 13 pole awards, 70 top-five and 123 top-10 finishes.
Charlotte Review… Austin Dillon was the highest RCR finisher in second, Brandon Jones seventh, Ty Dillon eighth and Brendan Gaughan 10th, respectively, in the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Points… All three RCR XFINITY Series full-time drivers remain in the top 10 of the driver point standings as the Series heads to Pocono Raceway for the 12th event of the season. Ty Dillon is currently fourth, Brendan Gaughan is fifth and Brandon Jones is sixth. The No. 2 RCR team is third in the owner point standings. Brandon Jones is currently second in the XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings.
Catch the Action… Coverage of this week’s Pocono Green 250 at Pocono Raceway will be televised live on Saturday, June 4, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on FOX. It will also be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.
Paul Menard:
This Week’s Richmond / Menards Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 163 in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Pocono Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet has garnered an average starting position of 7.6 and an average finishing position of 7.3.
Pocono Nuggets … With the XFINITY Series heading to Pocono Raceway for the first time in Series’ history, Menard will make his first competitive laps in the No. 2 Richmond / Menards Chevrolet in practice on Thursday. However, Menard has 36 XFINITY Series starts on tracks larger than two miles in length to his credit collecting one victory, two pole awards, six top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.
Richmond on Board … Richmond®, a member of the Rheem family of quality brands, is committed to offering exceptional value and performance with a complete line of water heating products for residential environments. Known as, “the water heater experts,” Richmond is the go-to brand for value-conscious buyers. Innovations including “Fast Recovery” technology for peak-time water use and EverKleenâ„¢ Self-Cleaning tanks make choosing Richmond products easy. Richmond water heating products are available in Menards® stores throughout the Midwest. For more information, visit richmondwaterheaters.com.
No. 2 Team by the Numbers … With 11 XFINITY Series events complete in 2016, the No. 2 team has one victory, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with 13 laps led to their credit. Menard is scheduled to drive the No. 2 Chevrolet next weekend at Michigan International Speedway for the Menards 250.
Paul Menard Quote:
What are you hoping to learn from running the XFINITY race that could apply to Sunday?
“The biggest thing to learn that can translate to Sunday’s race, I think is how hard to charge each of the corners. We can learn either how much of a payoff or disadvantage driving in hard versus lifting early means on those long straightaways. That’s always a constant struggle in Pocono. I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of our No. 2 Richmond / Menards Chevy. It should be fun to race in the inaugural XFINITY Series event in Pocono.”
Ty Dillon:
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 182 for this weekend’s Pocono Green 250 at Pocono Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is new to the RCR stable and will make its first competitive laps on Thursday during NASCAR XFINITY Series practice.
Dillon at Pocono Raceway … Dillon is scheduled to make his XFINITY Series debut at Pocono Raceway this weekend, but has raced at the Long Pond, Pa. track several times before. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Dillon has one top-10 finish. Dillon finished 18th last June in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway and scored a victory in the ARCA Racing Series on Aug. 7, 2011.
No. 3 team season-to-date … Through 11 races in the 2016 XFINITY Series schedule, Dillon and the No. 3 team are currently fourth in the driver championship point standings. Dillon has three top-five finishes, seven top-10 finishes and one pole award (Daytona International Raceway).
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Ty Dillon Quote:
Are you excited to race at Pocono Raceway?
“I think it’s great that Pocono Raceway was added to the XFINITY Series schedule. I love this race track and have had the opportunity to race there in several other racing series, and even winning a race in the ARCA Series. I really like tracks that are unique, like Pocono Raceway with three turns that are all different, Indianapolis and Darlington. I think it plays into my racing style. Overall, Pocono is one of the best tracks on the circuit; I’ve been able to become close friends with a lot of the people who operate the track, including the Igdalsky family. This should be a fun race.”
Brandon Jones:
This Week’s Cometic Chevrolet Camaro at Pocono Raceway … Brandon Jones will pilot chassis No. 169 this weekend at Pocono Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was driven by Jones at Atlanta Motor Speedway where it started 19th and finished 11th, as well as at Bristol Motor Speedway where it started fourth and finished seventh.
Pocono Nuggets … Like much of the field, Jones will be making his first XFINITY Series start this weekend at Pocono Raceway. He has yet to compete at the ‘Tricky Triangle,’ but is running this weekend’s ARCA Racing Series event to help get acclimated to the racetrack.
Meet Brandon Jones … Jones is scheduled to appear at the XFINITY Series autograph session behind the Victory Lane Building starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 3. Wristbands will be given out behind the Victory Lane Building starting at 12 p.m. ET on June 3.
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Rearview Mirror: Charlotte … Jones and the No. 33 team had an up-and-down day last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but overcame adversity to finish seventh, his fifth top-10 finish of the 2016 season. Starting in the 12th spot, Jones raced his way into the top 10, but fell back when the car fell off the jack during two different pit stops. Despite the setback, Jones kept his cool and raced his way to a seventh-place finish on the final green-white-checkered restart. With the top-10 finish, Jones moved to sixth in the championship driver standings and was named the Sunoco Rookie of the Race.
Brandon Jones Quotes:
What is that first practice going to be like trying to figure out what Pocono Raceway is like in an XFINITY Series car?
“I’m actually going to get some test time by driving the ARCA Racing Series car and that’s big because I’ll just get some extra track time, which will help since I’ve never been to this track before. We can play around a little bit in that first practice session and that’s going to help a lot. I don’t even know what to expect. I was able to run a couple laps around Pocono on a simulation, but that was on the old pavement. It’s going to be cool, though. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
How will running the ARCA race on Friday help your efforts in the XFINITY Series race on Saturday?
“That’s going to be key. Running that race before the XFINITY race and getting some laps under our belt will be crucial. Hopefully we can run out front in that race and lead some laps to provide a bit of a confidence booster for the XFINITY Series race.”
How much are you going to rely on your Richard Childress Racing teammates that have raced at Pocono before?
“That’s going to be a lot of help for sure. Austin and Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, all of those guys have helped me already with some of the places we’ve gone where I have never raced before. They’ve helped me a ton when we unload at those places. When I have a little bit more laps on the track, plus their knowledge, I think we’ll be right where we need to be with the No. 33 Cometic Chevrolet.”
Brendan Gaughan:
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 165 this weekend at the ‘Tricky Triangle.’ This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet was last utilized in competition at Texas Motor Speedway. Chassis No. 165 has an average starting position of 8.75 and an average finishing position of 13.5.
Tricky Triangle Stats …The Las Vegas native has five NASCAR Series starts at Pocono Raceway, including two Camping World Truck Series races where Gaughan accumulated one top-10 finish and averages a starting position of 11.5, coupled with a finishing position of 15.5. Gaughan also has three Sprint Cup Series starts at the 2.5-mile raceway.
This Week at The South Point … The South Point Hotel & Casino will host the National Barrel Horse Association Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show this week June 2-5. The show will feature top vendors and professionals from the industry and will be held in the South Point Equestrian Center in the arena concourse.
Getting Loopy … According to NASCAR’s 2016 loop data statistics, Gaughan currently ranks sixth in quality passes with 378. The 40-year-old driver is ranked seventh in average running position with an average place of 12.118 after 11 races.
Meet Brendan Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to sign autographs for fans during the XFINITY Series autograph session Friday, June 3, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. The session will be located in the infield behind victory lane, wristbands will be distributed at the location beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET
Brendan Gaughan Quote:
How narrow does the frontstretch get at Pocono Raceway and which turn is your favorite?
“The Turn 1 corner is a wide corner, but the exit is where it narrows up. Restarts here have been the most spectacular in our sport. People can say what they want about Pocono (Raceway), but this place is unreal on restarts. That’s when you have your chance to take advantage and run to the front then it narrows. It’s a fun place. I like Pocono, it’s very technical. My favorite turn is the Tunnel Turn, it is the ‘Man’s, Man’ turn of our sport, and it takes a lot of guts to drive it in there.”
