TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
COCA-COLA 600
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
MAY 28, 2017
BOWTIE BULLETS
CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE:
Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers with 23 victories in the annual Coca-Cola 600, one of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crown jewel races.
CHEVY HISTORY MINUTE:
Did you know Joe Lee Johnson, driving a Chevrolet Impala, won the inaugural World 600 on June 19, 1960? Chevrolet has won the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race with multiple models including Monte Carlo, Lumina, Monte Carlo SS, and most recently the Chevy SS.
LEADER OF THE PACK:
Career-long Chevrolet driver and seven-time Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, leads all active drivers with four 600-mile victories to his credit.
10 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND COUNTING:
The Chevrolet RO7 engine was introduced into use in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 10 years ago as it started making its gradual transition into competition at Texas Motor Speedway in 2007. The RO7 engine captured its points paying win with Casey Mears behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in the Coca-Cola 600. Since that race at Charlotte Motor Speedway the RO7 engine has powered Chevy drivers to 156 MENCS victories.
TUNE-IN:
The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 28 at 6 pm, ET. Live coverage can be found on FOX, PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Chevrolet has won 39 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships
Team Chevy drivers have scored 769 wins and 690 poles in MENCS competition
Chevrolet drivers have won 23 of 57 Coca-Cola 600 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Victories by current Team Chevy drivers are:
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, has four Coca-Cola 600 victories (’03,’04, ‘05 ‘& ’14)
Kasey Kahne, No. 5 LiftMaster Chevrolet SS, won the series longest race three times (’06, ’08 and ’12)
A Chevrolet driver has won three of the last five Coca-Cola 600’s
A Chevrolet driver has sat on the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 19 times
Team Chevy drivers have scored 143 top-five and 250 top-10 finishes in the Coca-Cola 600
FOR THE FANS:
Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Fans can check out great a great assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Malibu, Silverado 2500 High Country, Silverado 1500, Camaro SS Convertible, Equinox, Traverse, Corvette Grand Sport, Impala, Cruze, Colorado, SS and Volt
At the Chevrolet Display, fans can view the No, 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, No. 3 DOW Chevrolet SS and No. 7 Brandt Chevrolet Camaro Xfinity Series show cars
Also on display is a Chevrolet R07 racing engine complete with electronic fuel injection. Fans can also see a sample of engines, parts and accessories available for purchase from Chevrolet Performance at their local Chevrolet dealer
Other activities at the Team Chevy Racing Display include a variety of interactive games for adults and kids
TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:
Saturday, May 27th
9:00 a.m. – Ben Kennedy and Spencer Gallagher
9:15 a.m. – Brandon Jones
Sunday, May 28th
1:45 p.m. – Michael McDowell
2:30 p.m. – Kasey Kahne
Chevrolet Display Hours of operation: Thurs. May 25th – 3:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sat. May 27th – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Sun. May 28th – 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – POINTS LEADER
“I’m excited to see what we’ll have at the 600 this weekend. I feel like we’ve historically gone back and forth between the All-Star weekend and the 600, maybe having a good car at one race, but not the other. I think this year, though, we should be in for a good race. Our Target Chevy was really good at the All-Star Race, just had some bad luck at the end of the race to keep us out of really challenging for the win. This weekend’s race is a lot different, but it was great to see we had some speed at Charlotte last weekend. We just need to get a good starting position, and do what we can to stay up front and keep up with the track. With an added stage, Sunday’s race is a great opportunity for a really good points day.”
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS – 4TH IN STANDINGS
“The extra 100 miles is real. It is definitely the case. I think it’s really more stress on the components, driveline, engine, rear-end’s, hubs, an extra 100 miles on all the things and parts and pieces we have moving around is a lot. I think it really puts the stress on that stuff more than it does the drivers. It is 100 miles more, but it doesn’t seem much different or hasn’t my first two tries.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 GEARWRENCH CHEVROLET SS – 5TH IN STANDINGS
“After running in the All-Star Race last weekend I feel really good about the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. We had a really good car, especially on long runs, and I expect that we will have plenty of that on Sunday night. This is obviously a really long race so it is important to manage the equipment and try to maintain track position to be around at the end of the night. This is always a fun weekend full of racing. I wake up early on Sunday morning to watch the F1 race in Monaco, head to the race track, then we watch the Indy 500 before we get to work. It is also amazing to see the tributes that everyone in the industry does to celebrate Memorial Day and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – 8TH IN STANDINGS
“This weekend is special to me for so many reasons. To have SPC Rodriguez’s name on the car, having spent time with his family last week, they will be at the race with us so I want to make them proud. Being at Fort Bragg for the car unveil was a reminder that life is so precious and the men and women who fight for our freedom are true heroes. We were pretty fast at the All-Star race – it should be a great weekend all around.”
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 LIFTMASTER CHEVROLET SS – 16TH IN STANDINGS
“The 600 is a difficult race. So many things happen and change during a four- or five-hour race depending on cautions. It’s tough mentally and physically. It gets really hot in the car and with each pit stop you need to be able to get better. Being able to keep your momentum up is really one of the keys to the race.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 GRAINGER CHEVROLET SS – 17TH IN STANDINGS
“I’m not sure adding an extra stage will mean a whole lot. It is obviously going to add another caution to the mix which changes the race a little bit. If the extra stage caution would not have happened organically so-to-speak, I don’t know if it will make a difference. It’s a break that we know has been scheduled and we’ll take it when it comes.”
TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO MILITARY CHEVROLET SS – 21ST IN STANDINGS
ON ADAPTING TO EVER CHANGING TRACK CONDITIONS:
“You just kind of got to know what to expect and it definitely makes it tough being a rookie in the Monster Energy Series not racing here before at the highest level, but I’ve ran a lot of Xfinity races here and felt like I was starting to get a grip on the difference of the sun being on Turns 3 and 4 and not being there. It turns into two totally different corners depending on sunlight and what not. Running a race that runs through both versions of that race track is something that you’ve got to be prepared to adapt to and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 CHEVROLET SS – 22ND IN STANDINGS
“It’s a long day and you’ve really got to stay up to date with your car, be ahead of the adjustments. Six hundred miles anything can happen, so you are always in the race that is the good part of it. Stage racing should be fun and interesting there also.”
PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 MENARDS CHEVROLET SS – 24TH IN STANDINGS
“The biggest difference for the 600 is just to make sure you’re properly hydrated. The extra 45 minutes or so that you’re in the car does make a pretty big difference, especially if it is a hot weekend. Training wise nothing different, just hydration and maybe a little more food before the race starts. As far as the extra miles, it really goes by pretty fast. You don’t notice the difference much sitting in the car. However, the whole weekend is pretty fun because the crew members will bring some of their families and you get to see a lot of people who normally wouldn’t make it to a race. In the last few years, we’ve had special guests through the NASCAR Salutes program. It makes the weekend memorable when you can represent someone’s family like that. I hope Troy Tussey and his family have good time at the race. We certainly appreciate all they’ve been through to protect this country.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE PATRIOTIC CHEVROLET SS – 25TH IN STANDINGS
“Winning the 600 would be awesome. Charlotte is our home track and I haven’t won a points race there. So, I would like to win there, but there is a long list – any track that we haven’t won at would be great. Any win this year, right, would be good. But if I had to pick, winning the 600 would mean a lot. I always went to that race as a little kid, so I like to win at the places where I spent tons of time growing up and that was one of them.”
CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 KLEENEX/CARS3 CHEVROLET SS – 26TH IN STANDINGS
“You definitely have to realize that these stage points are adding up quickly this year. A large part of our racing and how it’s working right now. There’s an opportunity there. We have to do a little more research to see how it can play out with the added stage in the Coca-Cola 600.”
MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 95 WRL GENERAL CONTRACTORS CHEVROLET SS – 28TH IN STANDINGS
“The Monster Energy Open was a great test session for us to get our car close to what it needs to be, so that when we unload for the 600, we can be good in qualifying. The 600 is a long race, and a lot changes with the track. It’s also a home race for us. The speedway is right in our backyard. I am also honored to have Specialist Nick Newby’s name on our No. 95 WRL Chevy. This week is a big week, as we are remembering many fallen soldiers before Memorial Day. We are also honored to have his family with us this weekend.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 HARRIS TEETER EXPRESS LANE CHEVROLET SS – 30TH IN STANDINGS
“The Coca-Cola 600 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway is a different feel from the All-Star weekend because you know you are in for the longest race of the year and you mentally prepare yourself for that. We really used the All-Star race weekend to learn some things for the 600.”