Category Archives: RCR

Joe Graf Jr. Joins Richard Childress Racing’s 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Program

Joe Graf Jr. Joins Richard Childress Racing’s 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Program
Graf Jr. to Make Select Starts in No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, While Also Serving as Team’s Marketing and Communications Intern

WELCOME, N.C. (April 26, 2019) – Richard Childress Racing welcomes Joe Graf Jr. to its NASCAR Xfinity Series program, as well as its marketing and communications team. Graf Jr., who will pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro in select races this year, is a freshman at New York University. He will also learn the business side of the sport by serving as a marketing and communications intern for the team. The 20-year-old’s first race will be at Michigan International Speedway this June. Continue reading Joe Graf Jr. Joins Richard Childress Racing’s 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Program

RCR Event Preview – Talladega Superspeedway

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Talladega Superspeedway … Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and is in a tie for the most all-time car owner victories at the storied Alabama-based racetrack with 12 wins. Dale Earnhardt visited Victory Lane nine times, while Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer swept the 2010 events at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Bowyer added to the Welcome, N.C.-based organization’s total by claiming RCR’s 100th Cup Series win when NASCAR’s senior series visited the facility in October 2011. In 176 starts, RCR also has four pole awards, 42 top-five, 70 top-10 finishes and has led 1,843 laps of competition.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,938 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,108 wins, 488 top-five finishes and 1,069 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR 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 Menards Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

#RCR50 … Richard Childress Racing celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary in 2019. Follow our social channels season-long to join in the celebration.

Catch the Action … The Alabama 500 will be televised live Sunday, April 28 beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week’s Dow Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Talladega Superspeedway … In 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega, Dillon earned his best finish at the 2.66-mile track in April 2016 when he finished third. His best finish in four NASCAR Xfinity Series Starts was also third. He has two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning a best finish of seventh in October 2011.

Dow brings a science and engineering crew who is driven by limitless curiosity to the RCR Team … Austin Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by recreating in the lab one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack. After 5 years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports and follow us on Twitter @DowRacing, @DowSports & @DowChemical.

Play Ball … Following final practice on Friday, Dillon is scheduled to travel from Talladega Superspeedway to Atlanta, Georgia for NASCAR Night at SunTrust Park. Dillon is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the Braves game on behalf of Coca-Cola, and his No. 3 Dow Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will also be on display at the game. A special $80 joint ticket offer that includes both a ticket to the Talladega Superspeedway Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on April 28 and a ticket to a Braves game in 2019 is available by visiting braves.com/Talladega.

Birthday Wishes … Dillon celebrates his 29th birthday on Saturday, April 27.

Cheering for Dillon … If you’re at Talladega Superspeedway, come shop the all-new Austin Dillon merchandise available track-side by visiting the RCR souvenir trailer in the fan midway.

Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in a Q & A on the Team Chevy Stage in the Talladega Superspeedway fan midway area on Sunday, April 28 at 9:45 a.m. CT.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
We are running a much bigger spoiler at Talladega Superspeedway this year. What do you think about that?
“I think everybody is looking forward to something a little bit different in speedway racing. Something to change it up. This should definitely do that. When you get to Talladega Superspeedway there will be a big pack and being able to maneuver through that pack will be everybody’s focus. The handling of the car shouldn’t be as much of a focus as just being able to move through the field the fastest and trying to keep the lead the longest.”

You’ve had a lot of success at superspeedways. When you go there do you have certain guys that you like to work with and ones you don’t so much or is it more dictated by circumstances?
“Sometimes you’re put in situations where you have to work with whoever is around in order to help yourself, but there are definitely guys that I see out there that put themselves in better positions throughout the race than others. There’s some that you just don’t like being around because you feel uncomfortable. Trying to stay with those guys that put you in good positions and knowing how to get to the front are the ones I try to stay around.”

Have you been keeping up with all of the fan improvements coming at Talladega Superspeedway?
“I was at Talladega Superspeedway for the announcement when they announced the changes, and it’s really cool to see all of our tracks and our venues growing and moving into the future. It’s great for our fans and they should be proud of what they’re doing at Talladega Superspeedway.”

Daniel Hemric and the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Talladega Superspeedway … Hemric be making his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway in this weekend’s 500-mile event. The Kannapolis, North Carolina, native recorded an average start of 2.0 in his two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. He also made two NASCAR Truck Series starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, earning a best-finish of 11th.

About Thompson Tractor Company … Thompson Tractor Company, Inc. is the full-line Caterpillar dealer for Alabama and northwest Florida and the Hyundai lift truck dealer for most of Georgia. The company specializes in the sales and service of Caterpillar products, including earthmoving, construction, forestry and material handling equipment, as well as diesel engines used for electric power generation, on-highway and marine propulsion applications. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, Thompson Tractor provides a diverse array of solutions to their customers in its service territory through four divisions: Thompson Tractor Company, Thompson Power Systems, Thompson Lift Truck Company, and The Thompson Cat Rental Store. Thompson has 25 locations and the South’s largest fleet of field service vehicles to best serve their customers. For all your equipment and product support needs, please visit www.thompsontractor.com or stop by your nearest Thompson location.

Meet the Driver … Fans will have the opportunity to meet the driver of the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet at the RCR merchandise hauler in the Talladega Superspeedway fan midway on Saturday, April 27, starting at 11 a.m. local time.

Meet the Press … Hemric is scheduled to meet with members of the NASCAR media corps during an availability rotation on Friday, April 26, starting at 2:30 p.m. local time.

DANIEL HEMRIC QUOTE:
Is there anything you and the team learned in the February test at Daytona International Speedway that can be applied to this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway?
“We were fortunate enough to take part in the test in Daytona in February, but there were only four cars total in that test session. With so few cars, it is hard to know what to expect when the entire field is out there this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway racing for the win. There are so many unknowns whenever you go to Talladega, so we will try to keep the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet out of trouble, have a solid day and make the most of the opportunities that come our way.”

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway … In 48 Series starts at the 2.66-mile speedway, RCR has accumulated five pole awards, nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, led 257 laps and averages a starting position of 8.0 and finishing position of 19.4. RCR has completed 4,613 laps of the 5,576 (82.7 percent) that they have competed.

Richmond Review … Tyler Reddick secured his fifth-consecutive top-five finish when he placed fourth during the most recent Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway. Kaz Grala had a strong showing in the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, capturing his first top-15 finish with RCR at Richmond.

Dash 4 Cash … The NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash is back. The top-four finishing Xfinity Series regulars from Richmond Raceway will compete for a $100,000 bonus at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Tyler Reddick qualified for this segment of Dash 4 Cash with his fourth-place finish at Richmond.

The Points …Tyler Reddick remains the current Xfinity Series points leader.

Social Media … To keep up with the latest updates from RCR’s Xfinity Series teams, follow @RCRracing and @RCRNXS on Twitter. Updates can also be found via RCR’s Facebook Page and Instagram (@RCRracing).

Catch the Action … Coverage of this week’s Alabama 300 at Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on Saturday, April 27, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on FS1. It will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.

Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Roland Chevrolet Camaro at Talladega Superspeedway … Tyler Reddick has two previous NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, with his best finish of eighth coming during last year’s event. Reddick also has one pole award and two top-10 finishes at the 2.66-mile track in the NASCAR Truck Series.

About Roland … Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales, distribution and service arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, personalization and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, giftware and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for the dental CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and medical industries. For more information, visit rolanddga.com.

Dash 4 Cash … Reddick qualified for this week’s Xfinity Racing Dash 4 Cash bonus after placing fourth and being among the top-four finishing Xfinity Series regulars during the race at Richmond Raceway. He will compete against Justin Allgaier, Austin Cindric, and Cole Custer for the $100,000 bonus at Talladega Superspeedway.

Meet Reddick … Fans have their chance to meet Reddick during Friday night’s “Big One on the Boulevard” event at Talladega Superspeedway. Reddick will be among the featured drivers on the float that takes off down the boulevard at 7:30 p.m. local time on April 26. Reddick will also be available for autographs in front of his No. 2 hauler during the Xfinity Series’ Open Garage on Saturday morning, April 27, beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway can be two very different restrictor-plate races. What are the differences that stand out to you?
“At Talladega Superspeedway, you can be a little bit more aggressive with your speed since handling doesn’t come into play for your car as much as it does at Daytona International Speedway. Part of that is due to the track layout and wider corners that you have at Talladega. If our No. 2 Roland Chevrolet Camaro is as fast as the one we had at Daytona earlier this year, with some added tweaks to it we should be right there for the pole again. Our Camaro was just so good at Daytona and handled so well in the draft that we should be able to cushion it a little more at Talladega, make it a little faster and keep it handling just fine.”

How do you handle that close-quarter, fragile type of racing we see at Talladega?
“It’s not too bad, honestly. At least, it’s not too bad when you’re racing around a bunch of really good drivers. It’s when two drivers have a disagreement on where they want to be on the racetrack that makes it tricky. Whenever we’re riding out there and you’re giving and taking equally, it’s not bad. But when it gets down to the end and you’re trying to get to the front and someone disagrees with you, that’s when the wrecks happen.”

It’s also another Dash 4 Cash race for you. Does that extra incentive change your mindset at all?
“Yeah, it’s definitely something you think about. Maybe you race the other three Dash 4 Cash drivers a little harder so you can lift that check in the end. That’s not necessarily our game plan right from the start, but you definitely have to be a little smarter about it at Talladega than anywhere else we have a Dash 4 Cash race. It’s tough. You have to decide if it’s worth the risk to push and go to the front to work in a pack. Or do you wait for that pile-up to happen first so you hopefully can stay out of it? You have to weigh your options.”

Richard Childress Racing–First Data 500–Advance

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Martinsville Speedway … In 162 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has earned four pole awards and posted seven victories with drivers Dale Earnhardt (five times), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Kevin Harvick (2011). RCR Chevrolet teams have earned 30 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes at Martinsville dating back to the team’s first start there on April 10, 1972. Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed four of those top-10 finishes from 1976-1978. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–First Data 500–Advance

Ryan Newman Cuts Down Right-Front Tire Costing Caterpillar/Grainger Team a Transfer Spot in Final Stage of the All-Star Race

Ryan Newman Cuts Down Right-Front Tire Costing Caterpillar/Grainger Team a Transfer Spot in Final Stage of the All-Star Race

“It was a mixed bag for us tonight in the Caterpillar/Grainger Chevrolet. In the first stage, I was making my way up through the field when I messed up a lap and it cost us a few spots. We needed to start making a move to the front in Stage 2 to help our chances of making it into the final stage 10-car shootout. We were once again moving up in Stage 3 and I thought we’d have a chance to make it in when we cut down a right-front tire with just a few laps to go. It ended our night. I hate it for this Caterpillar/Grainger Chevrolet team. I think we learned a few things tonight so I hope it will help us next week in the Coca-Cola 600.”

– Ryan Newman

Menards Enters Fifth Year of Partnership with Richard Childress Racing NASCAR XFINITY Series Program Paul Menard, Brandon Jones and Ben Kennedy to pilot Menards Chevrolet Camaros during 2017 season

Menards Enters Fifth Year of Partnership with Richard Childress Racing NASCAR XFINITY Series Program
Paul Menard, Brandon Jones and Ben Kennedy to pilot Menards Chevrolet Camaros during 2017 season

WELCOME, N.C. (February 21, 2017) – Looking to continue building success both on and off the track, Menards has renewed its partnership with Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR XFINITY Series program for a fifth year. Menards will serve as a primary sponsor for select races throughout the 2017 season with Paul Menard and Ben Kennedy driving the No. 2 Chevrolet and Brandon Jones in the No. 33 Chevrolet. Continue reading Menards Enters Fifth Year of Partnership with Richard Childress Racing NASCAR XFINITY Series Program Paul Menard, Brandon Jones and Ben Kennedy to pilot Menards Chevrolet Camaros during 2017 season

Eight Clash Wins for Richard Childress Racing … RCR has earned eight checkered flags in the Advance Auto Parts Clash

Eight Clash Wins for Richard Childress Racing … RCR has earned eight checkered flags in the Advance Auto Parts Clash (1986, 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 with driver Dale Earnhardt and 2009, 2010 and 2013 with Kevin Harvick).

Welcome, Dillon … Austin Dillon is scheduled to compete in this year’s exhibition event for RCR. Dillon earned a berth by virtue of winning a pole in 2016. This is the 31st season that the Welcome, N.C.-based organization has fielded an entry in the 38-race history of the Advance Auto Parts Clash. Continue reading Eight Clash Wins for Richard Childress Racing … RCR has earned eight checkered flags in the Advance Auto Parts Clash

Team Owner Richard Childress Named to 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

Team Owner Richard Childress Named to 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

WELCOME, N.C. (May 25, 2016) – The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Committee met today in Charlotte, North Carolina and named team owner Richard Childress to the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

Prior to calling Childress’ name, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France described the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class as “the greatest class yet” to be inducted. Childress will be joined by Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons.
Continue reading Team Owner Richard Childress Named to 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

NASCAR DRIVER TY DILLON TO RACE NO. 33 PLANKTON CHEVROLET SS IN SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 400

NASCAR DRIVER TY DILLON TO RACE
NO. 33 PLANKTON CHEVROLET SS IN SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 400
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY, MAY 9

NEW YORK – May 5, 2015 – The SpongeBob SquarePants team just welcomed another of its friends to the field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on May 9, 2015, — with NASCAR young star Ty Dillon set to drive the No. 33 Plankton Chevrolet SS.

Dillon’s No. 33 Chevrolet, campaigned by Circle Sport Racing, will feature Plankton, the show’s pint-sized microbe with an evil plan… to steal the Krusty Krabs’ secret Krabby Patty recipe! But Dillon has designs on stealing the coveted SpongeBob SquarePants 400 trophy instead. Continue reading NASCAR DRIVER TY DILLON TO RACE NO. 33 PLANKTON CHEVROLET SS IN SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 400

RCR Racing–RCR Names Ahnna Parkhurst to Driver Development Program

RCR Names Ahnna Parkhurst to Driver Development Program
Teen Driver to be part of RCR and Team Dillon Racing Effort

WELCOME, N.C. (January 29, 2015) — Richard Childress Racing and Team Dillon Racing have named Ahnna Parkhurst as one of two female drivers in their development program for the 2015 season. The other driver joining the program is 17-year-old Kate Dallenbach. Continue reading RCR Racing–RCR Names Ahnna Parkhurst to Driver Development Program

RCR Racing–RCR Names Kate Dallenbach to Driver Development Program

RCR Names Kate Dallenbach to Driver Development Program
Third-Generation Driver to be part of RCR and Team Dillon Racing Effort

Welcome, N.C. (January 29, 2015) – Richard Childress Racing and Team Dillon Racing have named Kate Dallenbach as one of two female drivers in their development program for the 2015 season. The other driver joining the program is 14 year-old Ahnna Parkhurst.

Dallenbach, 17, is the daughter of Wally, Jr., NASCAR driver-turned-broadcaster, and Robin Dallenbach, a former driver herself with two starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Her grandfather, Wally Dallenbach, Sr., was a successful Indy car driver and Chief Steward. Continue reading RCR Racing–RCR Names Kate Dallenbach to Driver Development Program

Richard Childress Racing–Buckle Up 200

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It Or Ticket
Dover International Speedway
Saturday, May 31, 2014
 
Race Highlights:
Brian Scott qualified third and was the top Richard Childress Racing starter for the Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway. Brendan Gaughan qualified 10th, Ty Dillon 12th and Cale Conley started 18th.      
Brian Scott earned a seventh-place finish, with Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan and Cale Conley finishing eighth, 12th and 31st, respectively.
Ty Dillon currently leads the RCR teams in the Nationwide Series driver point standings in fifth, Brian Scott is sixth and Brendan Gaughan seventh.
Next up for the Nationwide Series is the Michigan 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Catch all the action live on Saturday, June 14th at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
 
   
 
Brian Scott Finishes Seventh at The Monster Mile of Dover
 
Brian Scott followed up two great practice sessions on Friday with a third-place qualifying effort on Saturday prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway later that afternoon. When the green flag waved, Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet lined up in the third position and quickly took advantage of being up front by running in the top-five through the first 75, of 200, laps. During the team’s three pit stops, all under caution, the Phil Gould-led team made several adjustments to help alleviate a tight-handling condition around the one-mile oval. After dropping to seventh during a lap 79 restart, Scott would remain in the top-10 to finish in seventh place. As a result, he and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet team remain sixth in the driver point standings.
 
            Start – 3rd        Finish – 7th                  Laps Led – 0              Points – 6th
 
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
“We had two great practice sessions and did pretty well in qualifying to start third. Once the race started, we ran in the top-five for the early part of the race. We kind of got screwed up there on that one restart and it cost us some positions, be we managed to remain in the top-10 until the checkered flag waved. We should have, and could have, had a better finish at Dover, but we’ll take another top-10 and maintain our points position.”
 
 
 
Ty Dillon Finishes Eighth in the Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway
 
Ty Dillon drove the No. 3 Airgas/Bulwark Chevrolet Camaro to an eighth-place finish Saturday afternoon at the Monster Mile, recording the team’s ninth top-10 finish of the season. Dillon, who qualified 11th earlier in the day, nestled in the top-10 on the race’s green flag and remained there for the remainder of the 200-lap race. Crew chief Danny Stockman and the 22-year-old rookie driver discussed necessary adjustments to the No. 3 Airgas/Bulwark Camaro as Dillon reported a tight-handling race car while exiting the corners. The No. 3 team came in four times for near flawless pit stops, improving the car’s handling and putting on four new Goodyear tires. The final restart came on lap 159 and Dillon held on to eighth place. He was the second Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate to cross the finish line and remained fifth in the driver point standings.
 
Start – 12th    Finish – 8th   Laps Led – 0      Points -5th
 
TY DILLON QUOTE:
“I thought we had a pretty good day today. The guys made four really good pit stops, Danny made the right calls on our adjustments, and I think we are all getting comfortable with one another on this No. 3 team. I can’t thank Airgas, Bulwark, and VF Imagewear enough, they have been a great partner to this team.”
 
 
 
 

Late Race Incident Ends Cale Conley’s Day Early at Dover International Speedway, Finishes 31st
 
Cale Conley was on tap for a solid finish at Dover International Speedway until a late-race accident ended his day in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200. Conley took the green flag from the 18th-position and used the opening segment to get into his rhythm. The first caution flag of the day flew on lap 17, Conley reported to crew chief Nick Harrison he was extremely free into the corner. The crew went to work on pit road changing four tires, fuel and making a chassis adjustment. On the ensuing run, Conley worked various grooves to move forward. Trouble came on lap 148 as two competitors got together and tagged the West Virginia native sending him into the wall and relegating his run to a 31st-place-finish.
 
Start: 18th        Finish: 31st      Laps Led: 0      Points: N/A
 
CALE CONLEY QUOTE:
“It was definitely a tough day, we just kind of tried to chip our way through the field. We had really strong speed on the long runs. I tried to go low to miss the wreck and kind of got into it trying to get by them. Nick Harrison and the crew worked hard all weekend in the garage and on pit road. I want to thank IAVA for being on board, we’ll come back strong.”
 
 

 
 
Brendan Gaughan Finishes 12th in the Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway
 
Brendan Gaughan and the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino team qualified 10th for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Raceway on Saturday. When the first caution fell on lap 17, Gaughan reported his Chevrolet Camaro was free on entry. On the exit of the first pit stop, the No. 62 Chevrolet made contact with another car that was entering their pit stall, causing damage to the right front fender. Crew chief Shane Wilson called Gaughan back to pit road to repair any damage, restarting the Las Vegas-native in the 28th position. Gaughan and the No. 62 RCR team used the remainder of the race to gain as many track positions as possible to finish 12th at the Monster Mile. The South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro remains seventh in the driver point standings.
 
Start – 10th       Finish – 12th    Laps Led – 0     Points – 7th
                                                  
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
“Richard Childress Racing gave me a great car today. It is a shame we had a little contact on pit road with the No. 44, but that is racing. The No. 62 guys and I did all we could to work back through the field and gain as much track position possible. I am proud of my team and everything they do.”
 

Richard Childress Racing–Daytona 500

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona 500  
Daytona International Speedway     
Sunday, February 23, 2014
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished ninth (Austin Dillon), 22nd (Ryan Newman) and 32nd (Paul Menard).
Dillon ranks ninth in the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings, trailing current leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 12 points, while Ryan Newman ranks 21st and Paul Menard ranks 30th.
The No. 3 Chevrolet team ranks ninth in the Sprint Cup Series owner championship point standings, with the No. 31 team 22nd in the standings and the No. 27 team 32nd.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. earned his second Daytona 500 victory and was followed to the finish line by Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
The next Sprint Cup Series race is The Profit on CNBC 500 presented by Small Business Fueling America at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 2. The second race of the 2014 season is scheduled to be televised live on FOX beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
 
 
Austin Dillon Earns Ninth-Place Finish in 56th  Running of the Daytona 500
 
Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS to a ninth-place finish in front of a prime time audience of Fox viewers on Sunday evening. The Welcome, N.C., driver kicked off his inaugural season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in spectacular fashion by earning the pole award for the Great American Race. At 23 years, 9 months and 20 days, Dillon is the youngest pole sitter in Daytona International Speedway Sprint Cup Series history, eclipsing a record previously held by Jeff Gordon. After leading lap one, the third-generation racer dropped towards the rear of the field in order to abide by the Gil Martin-led team’s conservative race strategy for the start of the 200-lap affair. He was scored in the 10th position when a storm system caused NASCAR officials to stage the 43-car field on pit road and display the red flag, delaying on-track activity for 6 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds until the rain subsided. Green-flag racing continued on lap 47 and Dillon continued to play a conservative strategy around the 2.5-mile superspeedway, making routine pit stops for tires and fuel when directed by his RCR team. On lap 145, Dillon was punted from behind and spun across the track but avoided major damage to the black, white and red No. 3 machine. He made multiple trips down pit road for repairs and was able to rejoin the field in the 19th spot when racing resumed on lap 153. Dillon avoided major mechanical damage during additional on-track incidents to eventually post an ninth-place finish in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet.
 
Start – 1           Finish – 9         Laps Led – 1    Points – 9       
                                                  
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“I think the yellow rookie stripes on the bumper of my Dow Chevrolet showed a little bit tonight, but we made it through it. It was fun and I had a blast.  The car was fast.  After we got in the wreck, I don’t know how we didn’t hit the wall.  We had a little damage, but mainly the car was just a lot freer after the incident.  Our car was still fast, just a little loose. I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on his win tonight. He has been so supportive of me bringing back the No. 3 into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  I’ve gone to him for a lot of advice lately.  I can’t thank him enough.  He’s been awesome to me.  It made this whole transition a lot easier.  If we didn’t have him on-board, it would have definitely been tough to do this, so I want to thank him and congratulate him.”
 
 
 
2011 CC Team Icon 27 NSCS Menards
 
Paul Menard Has Great Daytona 500 Run Thwarted by Multi-Car Wreck
Paul Menard and the No. 27 Peak/Menards Chevrolet SS team started the 56th running of the Daytona 500 in 10th place at Daytona International Speedway. After the green flag waved under overcast skies, Menard quickly worked his way into the top five and remained there, and the top-10, for much of the early going. Even a six hour and 22 minute rain delay that started on lap 38 didn’t dampen their determination to have a great race as he led three time for 29 laps. The impressive run was cut short after the team’s third stop taking on right side tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. While running 17th on lap 145, he was caught up in a multi-car wreck that caused damage to the left-front fender and nose of the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. After a quick stop on pit road to check out what needed to be repaired, crew chief Slugger Labbe determined they had to go to the garage to replace the radiator and make other repairs to the left front. Paul returned to action 14 laps later and managed to gain three positions to finish 32nd when the checkered flag waved.
 
            Start – 10                 Finish – 32             Laps Led – 29            Points  30
 
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
“We had a really fast car for this race, we could run the bottom better than the top, but were fast in both lanes. I would like to thank everyone at RCR and ECR (ECR Engines) for all the work they put into this Peak/Menards Chevrolet. We led some laps and then got caught up in that wreck towards the middle of the pack. It’s typical Daytona, but it felt good to lead laps and know we brought a good car here. I wish the ending was a little different for us, but it wasn’t meant to be this time.”
 
   2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 31 CAT
Ryan Newman Manages 22nd-place Finish at Daytona International Speedway After Damage to Caterpillar Chevrolet in Two Accidents

Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet driver Ryan Newman finished 22nd in Sunday night’s rain-delayed Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The result was impressive considering the No. 31 Chevrolet sustained damage in two multi-car accidents. Newman started 19th and drove conservatively until Mother Nature put a halt to the Great American Race on lap 37 for over six hours. Fortunately, there was a break in the weather and NASCAR ordered drivers to re-fire their engines at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.  At the race’s halfway point, Newman drove as high as the fourth position and was on mark to contend for a second Daytona 500 victory, but lost significant track position after being collected in two multi-car accidents on laps 161 and 194. The CAT Racing team led by Luke Lambert made the appropriate repairs on pit road to enable Newman to finish the race in 22nd place. Next Sunday, the No. 31 team will be back in action at Phoenix International Raceway for the second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season.
 
Start – 19         Finish – 22        Laps Led – 0         Points – 21
 
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTE:
“I honestly don’t know what I could have done differently. I guess we could have taken a risk and raced to the front and led some laps. But it’s all a matter of luck. It is what it is. This is restrictor-plate racing. I am looking forward to getting back on track and racing at Phoenix. I’ve won there so I am looking forward to
seeing what this RCR team can do there.”
 

Dakoda Armstrong to Drive Limited NNS Schedule for RCR

Dakoda Armstrong to Drive Limited NNS Schedule for RCR
Young gun to compete in five Nationwide Series races
 
WELCOME, N.C. (February 8, 2013) – Richard Childress Racing has signed 21-year-old Dakoda Armstrong to drive in five races during the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.
 
Armstrong is scheduled to pilot RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro at Auto Club Speedway (March 23). He will then drive the No. 21 Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 25), Chicagoland Speedway (July 21), Kentucky Speedway (September 21) and a fifth race to be named later. The New Castle, Ind., native has one previous start in the Nationwide Series, qualifying 19th and finishing 25th in the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
 
“I’m really looking forward to driving for a proven winner such as Richard Childress Racing,” said Armstrong. “We feel NASCAR’s American Ethanol partnership through RCR and my family’s extensive farming background makes a great fit. We are excited to show how a fourth generation farmer can activate a great marketing strategy to the agricultural industry to help grow their business.”
 
Armstrong won three races and earned one pole in 33 starts in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards from 2009 to 2011. He raced the full ARCA Series schedule in 2010, finished seventh in the point standings and earned rookie of the year honors. In 2004, at just 13 and in his rookie season, he was crowned the youngest USAC Kenyon Midget Series champion.
 
“Dakoda is a great talent with a lot of potential and will be a solid addition to our line-up of young drivers,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Our expectations for him are high, just as they are for all of our drivers. The tracks we’ve chosen for Dakoda to compete will give him the opportunity to show his talent behind the wheel and his potential to take his career to the next level.”
 

RCR Racing– Homestead Post Race

RCR Post Race Report  
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Homestead-Miami 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway     
 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Homestead-Miami 400
Homestead-Miami Speedway
November 18, 2012  
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished eighth (Kevin Harvick), 11th (Paul Menard) and 19th (Jeff Burton).
Harvick closed out the 2012 season ranked eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 79 points shy of champion Brad Keselowski, while Menard ranked 16th in the standings and Burton held finished in the 19th position.
Harvick completed 88 Green Flag Passes, 32 of which came while running in the top 15 (Quality Passes).
According to NASCAR’s Post-Race Loop Data Statistics, Menard ranked third in the Closers category gaining seven positions in the final 10 percent of the race, while Harvick ranked fourth gaining five positions and Burton ranked seventh while progressing three spots in the closing 27 laps.
Menard made the seventh-most Green Flag Passes (109) and spent 126 laps competing in the top 15.
Burton made 98 Green Flag Passes during the 267-lap race.
Jeff Gordon earned his second Sprint Cup Series victory, crossing the finish line ahead of Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle.
The annual Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 30. SPEED will broadcast the banquet beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

RCR Racing–NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NASCAR 200

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
NASCAR 200      
Homestead-Miami Speedway 
November 16, 2012
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished third (Joey Coulter), 18th (Tim George Jr.) and 25th (Ty Dillon).
Coulter finished third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point battle, while Dillon ranked fourth in the standings.
The No. 22 Chevrolet team finished third in the Camping World Truck Series owner championship point standings, the No. 3 team finished fourth in the standings and the No. 2 team 14th.
Dillon earned the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, marking the third-consecutive award for RCR.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Coulter earned the eighth-highest Driver Rating (97.2), while Dillon ranked ninth with a rating of 89.1.
RCR drivers made a total of 125 Green Flag Passes during the 134-lap event with George earning 48 passes, Dillon with 41, and Coulter with 36 passes.
Dillon scored the seventh-highest Average Running Position of 7.336, while Coulter ranked ninth with a 9.721.
Dillon was the fourth-Fastest Driver on Restarts, and Coulter ranked eighth-fastest in Friday’s affair.
Coulter ranked fourth in the Closers category for the 134-lap event.
Dillon earned the fifth-Fastest Driver Early in a Run, while Coulter was the ninth-quickest and George ranked 21st.
Coulter spent 100 percent of the event in the top 15 ranking him first amongst the rest of the field, while Dillon ranked 12th (92.1 percent).
Cale Gale won his career-first Camping World Truck Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was followed to the line by Kyle Busch, Coulter, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo.
The Camping World Truck Series Awards Ceremony is scheduled to be broadcast on SPEED beginning at 8 p.m. ET. on Thursday, Nov. 30.    

RCR Racing–Ty Dillon Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year

Ty Dillon Clinches NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year Honors
Richard Childress Racing Claims Third Consecutive Rookie of the Year Award
 
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (November 16, 2012) – Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon was officially named the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
 
The 20-year-old grandson of Richard Childress claimed the Sunoco rookie honors with his 25-place finish at the Homestead, Fla., facility following a season-long battle with two other drivers. Dillon entered the season finale race at Homestead with a 74-point lead in the rookie standings over Cale Gale and Ross Chastain.
 
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year award is calculated using a driver’s 14-best finishes and a vote by a Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year panel that considers a driver’s competitive abilities and interaction with other drivers and the media.
 
“This is awesome,” said Dillon. “I’m so proud of this entire No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team. They did a great job all year and because of all of their hard work, we won the 2012 Rookie of the Year. We made goals in the beginning of the year, and this was one of them. I’m excited to be able to keep this award in the RCR family another year and win it just like my brother did back in 2010.”
 
It is the third consecutive year that RCR has earned the year-end rookie award. Joey Coulter earned the 2011 Rookie of the Year award for RCR, and Ty’s older brother, Austin Dillon, claimed the honors in 2010 prior to winning the championship last year. RCR is the only team to win three consecutive Rookie of the Year awards in the Camping World Truck Series.
 
“For Ty to have won a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in his rookie year and come down to Homestead with a chance to win the championship are great accomplishments in his rookie season,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s continued the success he had last year after winning the ARCA Racing Series championship and, If not for some misfortune, he would be in an even better position for this year’s championship. But for him to win the rookie of the year in the Truck Series, after Joey Coulter did it last year and Austin did it in 2010, is a pretty cool deal for RCR, ECR and our family.”
 
Driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for his first full season of competition in a NASCAR series, Dillon finished fourth in the championship point standings on the strength of one victory, three pole awards, seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C., native also added the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship to his resume last season.
 
“I’m really proud of Ty and the whole No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team for all their hard work this season,” said crew chief Marcus Richmond. “It’s an honor to be part of such a great team and family like RCR.”
 
Dillon joins a list of former Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year winners that include his brother, Austin, and RCR teammates Coulter and Brendan Gaughan, in addition to Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Johnny Sauter and David Reutimann, among others.
 
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year award is presented at the annual NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday, Nov. 19. SPEED will broadcast the banquet on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 8-10 p.m. Eastern Time.

RCR Post Race Report NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway

RCR Post Race Report 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway   
 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
AdvoCare 500      
Phoenix International Raceway
November 11, 2012
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished first (Kevin Harvick), ninth (Paul Menard) and 13th (Jeff Burton).
Harvick ranks eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 86 points shy of Brad Keselowski’s lead, while Menard sits 16th in the standings and Burton holds onto the 19th position.
Kevin Harvick led 15 laps, the third-most of seven different drivers, en-route to his first victory of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
According to NASCAR’s Post-Race Loop Data Statistics, Harvick was the Fastest Driver Late In a Run (131.746 mph) and was the fifth-Fastest on Restarts (127.493 mph).
Menard ranked second in the Closers category gaining seven positions in the final 10 percent of the race, maintained the fifth-best Average Running Position (7.379) and was awarded the sixth-best Driver Rating (106.8).
Menard spent 92.5 percent of the race running Laps in the Top 15, ranking him seventh amongst his competitors.
Burton made 76 Green Flag Passes during the 319-lap race, the most of any driver entered in the event.
Each of the RCR drivers turned Fastest Laps Run during the 319-lap race with Harvick contributing 14, and Burton and Menard each adding five.
Harvick broke a 44-race winless streak, crossing the finish line ahead of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman.
The next scheduled Sprint Cup Series race is the Homestead 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 18. The 36th and final race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on Motor Racing Network.

RCR Post Race Report NASCAR Nationwide Series Great Clips 200 at Phoenix International Raceway

RCR Post Race Report 
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Great Clips 200 at Phoenix International Raceway   
 
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Great Clips 200      
Phoenix International Raceway
November 10, 2012
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished sixth (Austin Dillon), 22nd (Elliott Sadler) and 26th (Brendan Gaughan).
Sadler ranks second in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, 20 points shy of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s lead, while Dillon ranks third in the standings, 25 markers behind the leader.
The No. 2 team is third in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, trailing the No. 18 team by 53 points, with the No. 3 team fourth in the standings and the No. 33 team fifth. 
Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Cole Whitt.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon ranked fourth in the Closers category, advancing six positions in the last 10 percent of the race, and ranked fourth in Quality Passes with 33.
Sadler ranked fifth in Green Flag Passes with 45.
Gaughan posted the Fastest Lap of the Race for five circuits and spent 83.3 percent of the race running in the top 15.
Joey Logano earned his ninth Nationwide Series victory of 2012, crossing the finish line ahead of Brian Vickers, Stenhouse, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne.
The next scheduled Nationwide Series race is the Nationwide Series 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 17. The 33rd and final race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on Motor Racing Network.

RCR Post Race Report NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway

RCR Post Race Report 
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway 
 
 
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Lucas Oil 150     
Phoenix International Raceway
November 9, 2012
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished third (Joey Coulter), 15th (Ty Dillon) and 23rd (Brendan Gaughan).
Dillon is third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point battle, 12 markers behind the leader; while Coulter ranks fourth in the standings.
The No. 3 Chevrolet team is third in the Camping World Truck Series owner championship point standings, with the No. 22 team fourth in the standings and the No. 2 team 14th.
Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings ahead of Cale Gale.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Coulter scored a 101.1 Driver Rating, to rank him fifth best in the 36-truck field. 
Dillon ranked third in the Closers category, improving two positions in the last 10 percent (15 laps) of the event, while Coulter ranked fifth gaining one spot.
RCR drivers made a total of 67 Green Flag Passes during the 153-lap event with Coulter and Dillon each earning 23, the second-most of all drivers, and Gaughan making 21 passes, the ninth-best amongst all competitors.
Coulter ranked first in the Quality Passes category, making 19 while running in the top 15, with Gaughan ranking seventh (15) and Dillon ninth (14).
Coulter scored the eighth-highest Average Running Position of 9.680, while Dillon ranked 10th with a 10.451 and Gaughan ranked 14th with a 14.026.
Coulter was the fifth-Fastest Driver on Restarts, while Dillon ranked eighth-fastest and Gaughan ranked 10th in the Friday night affair.
Combined, RCR drivers ran the Fastest Laps for 12 laps. Coulter scored six of those circuits, with Dillon earning five, and Gaughan adding one lap.
Coulter maintained the fifth-fastest Speed in Traffic (127.244 mph).
Coulter spent 93.5 percent of the event (143 laps) in the top 15 ranking him fifth amongst the rest of the field, while Dillon ranked 12th (101 laps) and Gaughan was scored in the top 15 for 77 laps, ranking him 15th in the category.
Brian Scott won the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway followed to the line by Kyle Larson, Coulter, Timothy Peters and Ryan Blaney.
The final Camping World Truck Series race is the Miami 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, Nov. 16. The season finale race is scheduled to be televised live on SPEED beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on Motor Racing Network beginning at 7:45 p.m

RCR Post Race Report AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

RCR Post Race Report 
AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway  
 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
AAA Texas 500     
Texas Motor Speedway
November 4, 2012
 
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished ninth (Kevin Harvick), 19th (Jeff Burton) and 27th (Paul Menard). 
Harvick completed 112 Green Flag Passes, positioning him fourth amongst his fellow competitors, and 40 Quality Passes according to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics. 
Burton gained seven positions during the final 10 percent (34 laps) of the AAA Texas 500, ranking him second in the Post-Race Loop Data category of Closers, while Harvick improved four positions to rank sixth and Menard gained two to rank 10th.
Burton made 80 Green Flag Passes during the 335-lap race and Menard logged 36.
Jimmie Johnson captured his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win of the 2012 season and was followed to the finish line by Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart.
The next scheduled Sprint Cup Series race is the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 11. The race is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.    

Paul Menard Finishes 27th at Texas Motor Speedway
 
Paul Menard and the No. 27 Quaker State/Menards team earned a 27th-place finish in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500. The Eau Claire, Wis., native started the 34th points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of the 2012 season from the 27th position and immediately reported a loose-handling condition on the neon yellow and green machine. The 100-lap green-flag run that kicked off the 335-lap race proved costly as the No. 27 team became trapped multiple laps down to the leader while Menard battled an ill-handling Chevrolet. The Slugger Labbe-led team took every possible opportunity during green and yellow-flag pit stops throughout the 502.5-mile affair to make aggressive air pressure and chassis adjustments to the Richard Childress Racing entry in hopes of improving the car’s balance. Menard continued to wrestle the Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet around the 1.5-mile Fort Worth, Texas-based speedway, ultimately taking the checkered flag in the 27th position.

Start – 27                    Finish – 27                Laps Led – 0              Points – 16
 
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:    
“This was not the finish we had hoped to leave Texas with today. It’s hard to believe that this is the same car we finished third with at Kansas Speedway just a couple of weeks ago. We struggled from the time we unloaded on Friday morning and just never could pinpoint the issue. The Quaker State/Menards team never gave up, though. We tried every possible adjustment you can make on a race car and the pit crew was on their game as they are every week. We’ll put this behind us and look ahead to Phoenix (International Raceway).” 
 
 
 
 
     
Kevin Harvick and the Rheem Team Salvage a Ninth-Place Finish 
at Texas Motor Speedway
 
Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Rheem team salvaged a ninth-place finish in the AAA Texas 500 Sunday afternoon after battling handling issues for the majority of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. The Richard Childress Racing driver started the scheduled 334-lap event from the 23rd position before alerting crew chief Gil Martin that the black and red Chevrolet had an extremely tight-handling condition. The pit crew made multiple adjustments during four-tire pit stops throughout the 502.5-mile affair to alleviate the handling issues Harvick was battling. As the race progressed, and the sun set over the 1.5-mile facility, the car transitioned from a tight to loose-handling condition as Harvick maneuvered into the top 15 in the running order. The Rheem pit crew continued to make adjustments that helped to improve the handling of the No. 29 Chevrolet allowing Harvick to break into the top 10 during the final laps, ultimately crossing the finish line in the ninth position. Harvick remains 11th in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, 101 points out of the lead. 

Start – 23               Finish – 9               Laps Led – 0              Points – 11 
 
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
“The team did a great job keeping us in the game today. We had a tough time making the right adjustments to get the Rheem Chevrolet handling the way I needed it to be, but the pit crew was solid today and I have to thank them for all their hard work this weekend.”
 
 
  
          
Jeff Burton Finishes 19th at Texas Motor Speedway
 
Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team battled back to finish 19th at Texas Motor Speedway after untimely caution-flag periods trapped them multiple laps down to the leader. Starting the 335-lap event from the 22nd position, the 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner worked his way into the top 15 by lap 25 and during the first long green-flag run of the afternoon, he reported to crew chief Shane Wilson that the No. 31 Chevrolet had developed a loose-handling condition. After pitting for fresh tires, Sunoco E15 fuel, chassis and air pressure adjustments on lap 86 under green-flag conditions, the South Boston, Va., native was trapped a lap down to the leader in the 26th position when the caution flag was displayed shortly after the pit stop. As the loose-handling condition persisted throughout the race, Burton would struggle with ill-timed caution-flag periods as opportunities to return to the lead lap via the “lucky dog” award eluded him. The Caterpillar team didn’t give up throughout the race, making several chassis adjustments to remedy the loose-handling condition, but eventually fell to the 26th position, two laps down to the leader. The Richard Childress Racing driver was finally dealt good luck with fewer than 25 laps to go when he was able to receive the “lucky dog” award on back-to-back caution-flag periods allowing him to return to the lead lap. The fortunate turn of events gave Burton the opportunity to gain seven positions and bring home a 19th-place finish for the Caterpillar team. Burton remains 19th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings.
 
Start – 22                Finish – 19               Laps Led – 0                Points – 19
 
JEFF BURTON QUOTE:  
“Everyone on this Caterpillar Chevrolet team put in a solid effort all weekend. I just got crazy loose there towards the middle part of the race and we couldn’t catch a break until it was too late. Shane (Wilson, crew chief) did a great job during his first weekend on top of the box and we hope to run strong again at Phoenix (International Raceway) next week.”