“Lone Ranger” Austin Dillon Finds Track Position Despite Lack of Teammates in Clash
Driver of the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet Posts 12th-Place Finish After Last-Lap Wreck

“It’s hard to be the Lone Ranger out there. If you look at the race, the top five were all team cars and I didn’t have a teammate in the race or anybody to work with. I am really proud that I was able to run up there with those cars knowing how important it is to have help. I was involved in the wreck at the end so I ended up cutting the right-front tire and that caused us to limp home to a 12th-place finish. Overall, though, it was a good run. I learned a lot and I thought I drafted pretty well. This was a good start for our Dow Chevrolet team. We learned things that we can use during both the Duel’s and Sunday’s Daytona 500.”

Rheem, Menards and Richard Childress Racing Tap Young
Driver Ben Kennedy to Run Nine XFINITY Series Races
Kennedy will run select races with RCR’s No. 2 XFINITY Series team

WELCOME, N.C. (February 6, 2017) – Rheem, Menards and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) are committed to championing the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) charge to be the series where “names are made,” and each have long histories of supporting aspiring drivers from local short tracks to NASCAR’s feeder series.

Ben Kennedy will be the latest up-and-coming driver to be given that opportunity when he climbs into the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for nine NXS races, the first of which will be at Talladega Superspeedway this spring.
Kennedy has worked his way up through the NASCAR development ladder. In 2016, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and secured his first NASCAR national touring series win at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. He also finished 10th in his NXS debut last season at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 2 Ruud Chevrolet for RCR. Continue reading Rheem, Menards and Richard Childress Racing Tap Young Driver Ben Kennedy to Run Nine XFINITY Series Races →

Austin Dillon Closes Out 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season with 12th-Place Finish in Dow-Dow Corning Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway

“We had a really good Dow-Dow Corning Chevrolet today. I’m so proud of everyone at RCR for putting together a car that was so unbelievably fast. We worked as a team and used a lot of what we learned at the Homestead-Miami test a few weeks ago. At the beginning of the race, I thought we were going to drive to the lead. The race just didn’t play to our favor at the end. I want to thank all of the partners on the No. 3 car. We’ve had a great season making the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the last few weeks have shown what we are capable of.”

– Austin Dillon

Paul Menard and the No. 27 Richmond/Menards Team Produce 14th-Place Finish in Season Finale

“First, I’ve got to thank my team for all the hard work they put in this year. This schedule can be tough. The Richmond/Menards Chevy wasn’t handling like we had it during practice at the beginning of the race. We were good in the shade but handling went away in the sun. Once the sun went down, we were able to make adjustments in the right direction. The long green-flag runs didn’t do us any favors as we were caught a lap down more than once. We were able to race to the free pass position though, and started in the top 15 in the closing laps. It wasn’t the year we wanted. Luckily I have a team that doesn’t give up. We’ll regroup in the offseason and come back fresh in Daytona.”

– Paul Menard

Late-Race Accident Collects Ryan Newman and Ends Caterpillar Team’s Top-10 Bid at Homestead-Miami Speedway

“I hate it for the guys. Our Caterpillar Chevrolet struggled a bit today compared to Friday and Saturday, but Luke Lambert and the crew made our car better throughout the race to take an 11th-place car and put it into contention with 20 laps to go. I want to thank my Caterpillar pit crew for gaining me a bunch of spots on pit road. We gained track position after most, if not, every pit stop we made. Unfortunately we got caught up in the big wreck. We tried to do everything we could to stay out and limp home to the finish, but our Caterpillar Chevrolet was too damaged to complete the final few laps. I want to thank everyone at RCR for a solid season and look forward to returning in 2017 to compete for another championship. ”

– Ryan Newman

Austin Dillon Closes Out 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Season With Fifth-Place Finish in the Watts/Rheem Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway

“This was a really fun race to be a part of. I hope the fans had as much fun watching the Championship 4 contenders vying for a championship as I did racing alongside them. We were definitely in contention tonight. I wish we could have made a final run for the win but the Watts/Rheem Chevy was handling a little too tight. I want to thank Rheem and Ruud for everything this season. I’ve had fun in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and I appreciate the opportunity.”

– Austin Dillon

Ty Dillon Battles for the Win in Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Finishes Second in NASCAR XFINITY Series Season Finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway

“What an exciting race that came down to the final laps. I thought we may have been able to grab the win there at the end. We showed so much speed all weekend and the entire race, but probably needed two or three more laps to run down the 19 car. I’m proud of our effort tonight and appreciate the hard work all season by this team. We would obviously rather be racing for the championship at the end but things didn’t work out in this new Chase format. I want to thank Bass Pro Shops, Rheem, WESCO and VF Imagewear and all of our partners on this No. 3 team for all of the support this season. We’ll be back stronger than ever next year. I’m excited where our XFINITY Series program ended this season.”

– Ty Dillon

Brandon Jones Closes Out Rookie NASCAR XFINITY Series Season with 15th-Place Finish in Rain-X/Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet

“I felt like we had a pretty solid rookie season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. We always want to be better than we were the previous week, and tonight we should have been better. We had a fast Rain-X/Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet. Crew chief Nick Harrison and the entire No. 33 crew worked hard on this Chevy all week long. It was definitely one of our better 1.5-mile cars this year. This track is tough, but we have a really solid notebook for next season. We’re going to come back next year and be that much better. I can’t thank all of our partners enough for the support this season. They have been great to work with each and every week.”

– Brandon Jones

Brendan Gaughan Earns Eighth-Place Finish in the South Point Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway to Conclude 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Season with a Career-Best 16 Top-10 Finishes

“I’m always a guy that wants more. I wish we could have earned a top-five finish tonight but we fired off tight almost every restart. Our team kept digging, though, and by the end of the race we had a South Point Chevrolet that could have made it happen tonight. During the last pit stop we had a hiccup that made for a longer stop. When I mess up the crew makes up for me, and when they mess up I make up for them. We had a great restart at the end and I was able to pass eight cars. I can’t thank my crew chief, Shane Wilson, and everyone at RCR enough for all of the effort that went into the No. 62 program this year.”

– Brendan Gaughan

Promising Run Spoiled by Part Failure at Phoenix International Raceway for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol Team

“This is a difficult one to stomach. We had another fast American Ethanol Chevrolet today but, unfortunately, we had a part failure that shut the engine off. Everything seemed fine but when we restarted the race following a caution flag, the car just locked up and shut off. We ended up in the garage making several changes and were able to fix the problem and return to the race. It’s a bummer to run in the top-five and then finish 23 laps down. We only have one race left this season. I’m looking forward to Homestead-Miami Speedway and having the chance to finish the year off strong.” Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Phoenix →

Austin Dillon and the Rheem Chevrolet Team Earn Second-Place Finish at Phoenix International Raceway

“We had a really fast Rheem Chevrolet. We decided to take four tires trying to get off strategy. We just didn’t fire off good enough to run down the No. 18 car but a late caution would have put us in an interesting position. We were a little too tight to really gain speed but I could make up some ground in turns three and four. The guys did a great job giving us a fast car tonight and the pit crew was on it.” Continue reading Austin Dillon and the Rheem Chevrolet Team Earn Second-Place Finish at Phoenix International Raceway →

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Phoenix International Raceway … Team owner Richard Childress has five victories at Phoenix International Raceway, ranking him third on the all-time car owner victories list at the Avondale, Ariz. facility. This includes wins with Kevin Harvick in Nov. 2013, Nov. 2012 and March and Nov. 2006. Prior to that, Dale Earnhardt won the Checker 500 on Nov. 4, 1990. In 106 starts at PIR, the Welcome, North Carolina based organization boasts 18 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes.

RCR in the NSCS … In 2,730 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 474 top-five finishes and 1,029 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.7 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 … Dillon ranks 13th in the Chase standings, while Newman ranks 18th and Menard ranks 25th in the driver championship point standings.

Visiting Injured Kids … Austin Dillon has visited kids at hospitals across the country, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, to share a little cheer. A childhood injury doesn’t have to prevent them from living a full, productive life. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma provides funding and research so that children like the ones Austin visits can have a chance at a normal life, even after a traumatic injury. See the kids’ stories at https://saveinjuredkids.org/goldenhour/.

Catch the Action … The Phoenix 500 is scheduled to be televised live on NBC beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS at Phoenix International Raceway … Dillon has five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway to his credit, earning his best finish of ninth in April 2016.

Think Green … American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. NASCAR® drivers have run nearly 10 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15. At its core, American Ethanol is a green fuel for an increasingly environmentally-conscious America, and pairs perfectly with the naturally beautiful state of Arizona.

Questions, Please … Dillon and Richard Childress are scheduled to take questions in the Phoenix International Raceway Infield Media Center on Friday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. Local Time.

Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to greet race fans at multiple displays in the Phoenix International Speedway midway area several times throughout the race weekend. He’ll be at the Rheem Mobile display on Saturday 11:45 a.m. Local Time. He will also be at the American Ethanol BioFuels trailer on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Local Time.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Is there much you can bring back to Phoenix International Raceway from what you learned there in April that you can apply to the fall?
“I think so. We had a really good car there and ran solid the entire race. We have made gains from that point in time, so I’m excited to see our newest package there at Phoenix.”

How would your summarize your season?
“I think we have had a great season. We accomplished a lot. We made the Chase, we’ve run great in the Chase, just barely missed moving on at Talladega Superspeedway. We’ve got room to improve. I would give us a solid grade right now. I don’t know if I could characterize it until we get done with Homestead-Miami Speedway, but we are passing class I feel like.”

Paul Menard and the No. 27 Rust-Oleum RockSolid / Menards Chevrolet SS at Phoenix International Raceway … The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native has two top-10 finishes in 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the one-mile track. He has completed 96 percent of laps in competition with an average start of 17.8 and finish of 21.9.

About Rust-Oleum & RockSolid … For nearly a century, Rust-Oleum has been the global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike across categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high performance coatings and wood care.

Rust-Oleum’s RockSolid® brand delivers the latest in industrial-grade, high-performance coatings for garage and interior concrete floors. Beautiful and durable, RockSolid Polycuramine is 20 times stronger than traditional epoxy floor coatings. It comes in an easy-mix patented burst pouch, which eliminates mess and is also ready to drive on in 24 hours after application.

Meet Paul … Come to the Rheem display located in Phoenix International Raceway’s fan midway on Friday at 3 p.m. Local Time to meet Menard.

PAUL MENARD QUOTES:
Is there anything from Phoenix International Raceway that you were satisfied with or dissatisfied with from the spring?
“Our Chevrolet was really good in the spring at Phoenix. It was definitely a top-10 car. We just overheated the brakes and melted a bead which caused us to crash. We’re definitely going back with more brake cooling to keep the tires a little cooler. We have a pretty good starting point for practice.”

Do you think Phoenix is a speedway or a short track?
“I like to call it a hybrid. The old Phoenix when the asphalt was really wore out and you were sliding around, that made it feel like a short track. Now it almost has a video game feel to it. You have to be so precise with your line, especially in qualifying trim. You really have to hit your marks like you do at a speedway race. Keeping your momentum up is key. Once the race gets started, you slide around more and it begins to feel a little bit like a short track. Phoenix in the summer is 100 degrees so it takes a toll on the surface of the track. When we go back from the spring to the fall, the track’s characteristics change a lot by just sitting in the heat all summer long.”

Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Cat MineStar Chevrolet SS at Phoenix International Raceway … Newman will make his 547th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when the series embarks on its 35th event of the season. In 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, the South Bend, Indiana, native owns one victory at PIR. He won the spring event in 2010. When it comes to the last 10 events at the raceway, he ranks fifth in driver points earned. In total, Newman owns four pole awards, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. His average start is 13.3 and average finish is 17.9. He’s led 213 laps in competition.

About Cat MineStar … Caterpillar has spent over 90 years committed to innovation and technology that helps customers succeed. For any type of mine, any size of operation, any brand of equipment, there’s a mix of Cat® MineStar technologies and services to help customers get more out of their operations. More productivity. More efficiency. More profitability. For more information about Cat MineStar, visit cat.com/mining.

Age of Smart Iron … Caterpillar has spent over 90 years committed to innovation and technology that helps customers succeed. What was important then is even more important now, in an age when advancements come faster and more frequently than ever before. An age where connectivity drives productivity and industry evolves. This is the Age of Smart Iron. Watch this video. For more information about Caterpillar, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

Meet Ryan … Newman is scheduled to sign autographs at the Rheem Mobile display located in the Phoenix International Raceway fan midway on Friday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. Local Time.

RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What do the final two races really mean for you and your No. 31 team?
“When we are not in position to win the war and in this case, the Chase, we still want to win the battles even though they don’t seem to mean as much but in reality, they do for our partners and everybody else. The final two races are an opportunity for us to build at the end of the season and help us get a start on preparing for the biggest race of the season which is the Daytona 500. These races are important and we look forward to a little break in a few weeks and then we’ll jump back in and get ready for 2017. And I’m happy to say that I’m back for 2017. I feel like we have unfinished business. We didn’t put it all together this year so I’m looking forward to using these last two races to try and build towards getting our team back to contending for a Chase berth for our sponsors like Caterpillar, Grainger and WIX Filters.”

What is the key to a good finish at Phoenix International Raceway?
“Restarts are so critical at PIR especially when you consider the back dogleg, being doubled up and being able to pass two for one. To me, that’s one of the key times to be able to pass somebody. It’s so open there. It’s a pretty fast track especially since it’s been repaved. It’s super smooth.”

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Phoenix International Raceway … In 64 Series starts at the one-mile paved oval, RCR has captured three victories with drivers Kevin Harvick (2006), Clint Bowyer (2007) and Elliott Sadler (2012). The Welcome, North Carolina, organization has accumulated two pole awards, 23 top-five finishes, 38 top-10 finishes, led 554 laps and averages a starting position of 11.1 and finishing position of 11.2. RCR has completed 12,523 laps of the 12,747 (98.2 percent) that they have competed.

Texas Review … Austin Dillon was the highest RCR finisher in seventh, Brendan Gaughan 15th, Ty Dillon 16th and Brandon Jones 19th, respectively, at Texas Motor Speedway.

#OneGoal … This weekend’s 200-lap race at PIR marks the elimination race for the Round of 8. The four drivers that advance after Saturday night’s race will compete for the XFINITY Series driver’s championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Brendan Gaughan is currently seeded eighth on the Chase grid.

The Points … Ty Dillon and Brandon Jones were eliminated from the Chase after the first round and sit 10th and 11th, respectively in the point standings. The No. 2 RCR team is sixth in the owner point standings. Brandon Jones is currently third in the XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings.

Catch the Action … Coverage of this weekend’s Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway will be televised live on Saturday, Nov. 12, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. It will also be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro at Phoenix International Raceway … In eight previous NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Dillon has recorded three top-five and six top-10 finishes. He holds an average starting position of 8.5, coupled with an average finishing position of 9.8.

Rheem Technology Makes Living Smart and Easy … Download the Rheem App, a mobile-friendly tool to learn about home comfort systems offered by Rheem. The app also includes information about Rheem’s EcoNet system, a smart technology that gives homeowners the ability to control their air and water systems remotely through a free mobile app, saving energy and money on monthly utility bills. Rheem Econet connects your homes heating, cooling and water heating products to your home’s Wi-Fi so homeowners can be in control whenever and wherever they go. With Rheem Econet, consumers can save on average 100 dollars a year by using the smart controls feature on the EcoNet app. line. Live a greener life and save up to 30 percent on energy bills; now that’s an unbeatable combination. Rheem also recommends using the Vacation Mode feature available on the Rheem EcoNet system when leaving home for an extended time. The Vacation Mode setting can use 25 percent less energy. Check out all the cool technology and efficient new Rheem heating, cooling and water heating products at Rheem.com

No. 2 Team by the Numbers … With two races left in 2016, the No. 2 team has three victories, three pole awards, 16 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes,with 115 laps led to their credit. Austin Dillon is scheduled to pilot the No. 2 Chevrolet in the season-finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
How would you characterize Phoenix International Raceway? Would you say it’s a short track or speedway?
“I would say it’s a short track. The characteristics and how you drive the corner you have to drive like a short track. I would classify it as a short track in my opinion.”

Dillon and the No. 3 Red Kap/Prudential Overall Supply Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Statistically speaking, Phoenix International Raceway is one of Dillon’s most successful race tracks. In five career NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, Dillon has five top-10 and two top-five finishes. He averages a starting position of 7.0 and a finishing position of 6.2. Dillon finished sixth earlier this season at PIR in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro. Dillon is scheduled to make his 110th career XFINITY Series start this weekend.

VF Imagewear Partners with No. 3 Team … VF Imagewear, Inc., a leading manufacturer of workwear apparel and a division of VF Corporation, the world’s largest apparel company, returns for the third consecutive season as primary sponsor for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 XFINITY Series program and driver Ty Dillon. VF Imagewear’s brands, including Red Kap, Bulwark FR and Wrangler Workwear, will be featured as primary sponsors for select XFINITY Series races in 2016.

About Red Kap … Red Kap, the official work wear provider for RCR and ECR Engines employees, has been in business since 1923. Like RCR, Red Kap was started as a family company and today provides durable and dependable work wear. For more information go to redkapautomotive.com.

About Prudential Overall Supply … Since 1932, Prudential Overall Supply has provided best-in-class solutions for businesses with their uniform and textile programs. Prudential provides customers with the best possible products and services at a fair price, today and into the future. To learn more about Prudential Overall Supply, log on to prudentialuniforms.com.

Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to stop by the Team Chevy Stage located in the Fan Midway at PIR on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 12:45 p.m. local time for a question and answer session.

TY DILLON QUOTE:
You’ve had some success at PIR in the past few races. What’s your secret?
“I really enjoy short-track racing, it’s what I grew up doing with Team Dillon Racing. I think PIR really fits my style and our team really has been able to figure out the best race strategy. It starts with qualifying well and not having any mistakes throughout the day. Because it is a short race, there is not a lot of room for error. I love the intensity of every lap at PIR, fighting for every inch of track position and the wild restarts.”

Brandon Jones and the No. 33 Okuma Chevrolet Camaro at Phoenix International Raceway … Jones will be making his second NASCAR XFINITY Series start at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway. Jones started eighth and finished 11th at Phoenix earlier this year. He also has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts and one NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at PIR.

Okuma America … Okuma America Corporation is the U.S.-based sales and service affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in CNC (computer numeric control) machine tools, founded in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan. The company is the industry’s only single-source provider, with the CNC machine, drive, motors, encoders, and spindle all manufactured by Okuma. The company also designs their own CNC controls to integrate seamlessly with each machine tool’s functionality. In 2014 Okuma launched the Okuma App Store, the industry’s only centralized online marketplace for machine tool apps and related content. Along with its extensive distribution network (largest in the Americas), and Partners in THINC, Okuma is committed to helping users gain competitive advantage through the open possibilities of machine tools, today and into the future. For more information, visit okuma.com/americas or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @OkumaAmerica.

Rearview Mirror: Texas … Jones had an up-and-down day Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, driving the No. 33 South Point Chevrolet. Jones was hit from behind on the initial start of the race and forced to pit for repairs under the first caution. The XFINITY Series rookie raced his way back into the top-15, but fell multiple laps down when a caution flew right after Jones had completed a green flag stop. Unable to catch a break throughout the event, Jones finished the day in the 19th spot.

Meet the Driver … Jones is scheduled to appear at the Rheem Mobile Display in the Fan Zone on Friday, Nov. 11, starting at 12 p.m. local time. He is also slated to appear at the Chevrolet Stage on Saturday, Nov. 12, starting at 1 p.m. local time.

BRANDON JONES QUOTES:
You had an 11th-place run at Phoenix International Raceway earlier this year. How do you get your car to turn the center of the corner when your car is not handling as well as you would like?
“The toughest thing about Phoenix International Raceway is the track has two very different corners. Turns 1 and 2 are very, very tight and have a little bit more banking than Turns 3 and 4 do. Turn 3 and 4 are like a corner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, very wide and sweeping. You can usually get the car working well on one section of the track and it might be a little off on the other section. Trying to figure out where you can pass is how we’ll set the car up for the race. If you think you can be better getting off Turn 4, you’ll work on being better in Turn 3 and 4, and you may give something up at the other end of the track. I have always run well at Phoenix, and expect to do so again with the Okuma Chevrolet Camaro. It’s a fun track to go to and I love going to Arizona, it’s always a blast to be out there in the desert. I think we’ll be even better than we were in March.”

What do you like to do when you visit Arizona around the Phoenix track?
“I just like atmosphere in Arizona. I’m a big fan of the desert mountain ranges. I wish I had stayed out there a little longer earlier this year to spend time riding sand dunes and things like that. That would be a lot of fun. I have never really done anything like that, so maybe we can knock something off the bucket list this time.”

Brendan Gaughan and the South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … In 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at PIR, Gaughan has completed 1,970 of 1,981 (99.4 percent) of the laps he has competed. The Las Vegas native is credited with a 16.1average starting position and an average finishing position of 14.0. In 11 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Gaughan has led nine laps and averages a 14.6 finishing position.

Chase Cutoff … Gaughan is currently seeded eighth in the XFINITY Series Chase standings and is 23 points from the cutoff position. Gaughan and the No. 62 team will likely need to win in order to advance into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This Week at the South Point … South Point Hotel & Casino will host the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) Nov. 8 – 12. The INFR currently has 11 Regions within the United States and Canada with members ranging from eight years of age to 80. At the INFR, 350+ qualified contestants compete in the eight major events. There were 75 tribes represented at last year’s event.For more information, visit southpointcasino.com.

2016 by the Numbers … With 31 XFINITY Series events complete in 2016, Gaughan has four top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, with 36 laps led to his credit. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Gaughan ranks fourth in the Closers category with an average finish of 11.5. The 41-year-old driver also ranks fifth in Quality Passes, with 906 on the season.

Meet Brendan Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to appear at the Rheem Mobile display in the Fan Midway on Friday, Nov. 11, starting at 12 p.m. local time. On Saturday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m., local time, Gaughan is also scheduled to participate in a question and answer session with Richard Childress Racing teammate Brandon Jones at the Team Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What do you think your chances are for success at Phoenix International Raceway given the performance in the spring?
“This year we were not as good. We are going to try and go back to our notes from 2014 and 2015 and match some of those numbers. We had a good couple of years there with some of my best runs at PIR. It makes me happy going to the West Coast, I’m close to home. I always want to come out of there with a solid finish. Going into the elimination race, 23 points out of the cutoff, we have to win. We are going to be us, Shane (Wilson, crew chief) and I will not try to be someone we aren’t. We have one goal, to win.”

How risky is using that apron on the backstretch given that dive bomb move to get back in line?
“It’s not that it is that risky, it does some damage. It definitely takes a toll on the pieces and parts, especially the splitter and the body. It is such a hammer job when you fly down there. But, you almost have to do it at times because it gives you such a big run. Guys are able to pass three and four cars by going to the bottom. You have to take advantage of it when guys are battling two and three wide.”

Austin Dillon Captures Pole and Runs Top Five before Late-Race Incidents Derails Strong Finish at Texas Motor Speedway

“It was awesome to start the Bad Boy Off Road / Realtree Chevrolet on the pole. The weather delayed us a bit, but we had a fast car when the race finally got going. We battled a tight-handling condition, but Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and the No. 3 team did a good job on fixing us up. We were running in the top five and I was racing (Kevin) Harvick for third. He sucked down on my door all the way. I get it, you’ve got to hold a guy down, but he sucked down on my door and got me tight. That is the reason I slid up in front of him and then when he didn’t lift, he just turned me. We had a lot of damage and couldn’t get back out on track after that. We have two weeks left and we just want to come out and win a race.”

– Austin Dillon

Promising Day for Paul Menard Halted by Tire Issue

“We unloaded on Friday and had some work to do on this Schrock / Menards Chevy. By the end of first practice we had the car where we needed it and qualified sixth for today’s race. The rain from earlier cleaned off the track and there was no rubber at the beginning of the race. It took awhile for grip to come in, so we worked through that with adjustments on pit road. Danny (Stockman, crew chief) made good calls to get us where we needed to be but then we had a tire go down. That put us behind for the rest of the night. Proud of my team as always for not giving up.”

– Paul Menard

Grainger Racing with Ryan Newman Posts Top-10 Finish in Rain-Shortened Event at Texas Motor Speedway

“Our Grainger Chevrolet was a real challenge for us tonight. It pushed when I was in traffic and was loose off of Turn 4. We basically ran in the top 18 all day. Luke (Lambert, crew chief) made a series of calls and by halfway, our car ran the best in the high line and that’s pretty much where I raced. Then we heard weather was coming and when it did, we stayed out and got the top-10 finish. I’m proud of the guys on pit road for the solid performance. It was a long rain delay, but we all hung in there and got a good finish.”

– Ryan Newman

Austin Dillon Collects 14th Top-10 Finish of the Season

“The Emerson / Rheem team did a great job putting this car together. We had good practices and had a good package to start the race with. We fired off with good balance. We could run just about any line, but we were the best in the top groove. Towards the middle of the race, we started to get tight in the middle and lost our drive off. The tires fall off so quick here at Texas, you have to pit whenever you can to get fresh ones to keep your track position. We had a good car, we just didn’t have the one to win today.” Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Texas– →

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Texas Motor Speedway … In 94 starts at Texas Motor Speedway dating back to 1997, RCR has recorded one win (Jeff Burton, April 2007), eight top-five and 30 top-10 finishes with drivers Burton, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman. Prior to Texas Motor Speedway’s inaugural season in 1997, Richard Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, earned a pair of top-10 finishes at the now defunct Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. RCR NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams boast an average starting position of 19.6, an average finishing position of 16.6 and have completed 30,518 of the 31,468 contested laps (97 percent) with 140 laps led at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth-based racetrack. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Texas Motor Speedway →

Richard Childress Racing Names Matt Borland Crew Chief of No. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team

WELCOME, N.C. (November 2, 2016) – Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has named Matt Borland as crew chief for its No. 27 Menards NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program. Borland will begin his duties as crew chief at the conclusion of the 2016 season, replacing interim crew chief Danny Stockman. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing Names Matt Borland Crew Chief of No. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team →

Richard Childress Racing Names Matt Borland Crew Chief of No. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team

WELCOME, N.C. (November 2, 2016) – Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has named Matt Borland as crew chief for its No. 27 Menards NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program. Borland will begin his duties as crew chief at the conclusion of the 2016 season, replacing interim crew chief Danny Stockman. Continue reading Richard Childress Racing Names Matt Borland Crew Chief of No. 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team →

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow-Dow Corning Team Show Speed at Martinsville Speedway, Finish 17th

“We started the race with a challenge after we qualified 32nd on Friday but the entire Dow-Dow Corning team did a great job of giving me everything I needed to get the No. 3 Chevrolet up front. As we raced into the top-10, we were consistently clocked as one of the fastest cars. We were on the charge and made it as high as seventh before the caution was displayed in the middle of one of our fastest runs. As the race progressed, the track bar adjuster started to give us problems. It made it really difficult to work on the car’s handling and I wasn’t able to use it at all. Eventually, we were pinned a lap down. It’s a shame because we had a fast car all weekend.” Continue reading Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow-Dow Corning Team Show Speed at Martinsville Speedway, Finish 17th →

Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Talladega →

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Talladega Superspeedway … Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and leads team owners for the most all-time victories at the storied Alabama-based race track 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 Sprint Cup Series win when NASCAR’s senior series visited the facility in October 2011. In 163 starts, RCR also has four pole awards, 41 top-five, 66 top-10 finishes and has led 1,836 laps of competition.
Continue reading Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Talladega Superspeedway →

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow Coating Materials Team Finish Sixth at Kansas Speedway as They Continue NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase Run

“We wanted a top-five finish today and we missed it by one position, so overall we have to be pleased by our performance in the Dow Coating Materials Chevrolet. We left Kansas Speedway tied for a cutoff position in the Round of Eight and with a chance of making it into the next round of The Chase. We were running that No. 18 car down pretty hard at the end of the race. I’m proud of my guys. They brought me a really good race car. Our plan is to go to Talladega Superspeedway next week, have a good run and we don’t have anything to worry about. We just have to have a good run there. It will be tight all the way down to the wire, but I’m just proud to have this position going into Talladega.”

– Austin Dillon

Paul Menard Battles in FVP / Menards Chevrolet at
Kansas Speedway to Top-20 Finish

“We struggled early on restarts. The pressure in the tires took too long to build on the FVP / Menards Chevrolet and we were on the splitter. Crew Chief Danny Stockman made the correct adjustments and got us firing off better on restarts. The car was good balance-wise on the long run and showed some speed. The guys worked hard on pit road to make the adjustments. However, we never had the track position to make the gains we needed. This just wasn’t the day we wanted here at Kansas Speedway. We will regroup and move on to Talladega Superspeedway.”

– Paul Menard

Ryan Newman Gains Ground In Closing Laps to Record 12th-Place Finish at Kansas Speedway

“We gave it everything we had and got all we could. We had an issue that we had to deal with throughout the race and we dealt with it the best we could. Good news is we think we know what it is. I’m not sure there is a lot we can do about it, but Luke (crew chief – Lambert) and the Caterpillar crew did a nice job for me today. The pit crew was on it and gained me spots on pit road so I cannot thank them enough. It’s good to see Austin up there in the top-10 and contending for a transfer spot in the Chase. Next week is Talladega and we all know, anything can happen there.”

– Ryan Newman

Despite a Trying Day at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon and RCR’s Ruud Chevrolet Team Rallies to 17th Place Finish

“Truthfully, that was not the day we were hoping for but I am still proud of everyone on this Ruud team. We stayed focused and never gave up. We never had the best handling car today but we stayed on it and kept making adjustments. Even though we ended up three laps down when we had to pit for a broken sway bar, we were able to finish in the top-20. We are still focused on winning the Owner’s Championship and winning races. We’ll go back to the shop and evaluate how we can improve.”

– Austin Dillon

Late Race Contact Costs Ty Dillon and the Bass Pro Shops Team a Top-Five Finish at Kansas Speedway

“We took the lead late in the race and I thought we might have been able to hold on and win if the race stayed green. The 42 and 20 car made contact and unfortunately we were caught up and had damage to the right-side of our Bass Pro Shops Chevy. The guys did a good job keeping us on the lead lap and we were able to come home with a 12th-place finish. Thanks to our team as always for giving us a fast car and giving us an opportunity to win a race. We’ll shift our focus to the last stretch of the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule.”

– Ty Dillon

Brandon Jones Overcomes Adversity to Earn 12th Top-10 Finish of Rookie Season

“This Eljer/Menards Chevrolet Camaro was one of the best mile-and-a-half cars we’ve had all season. We put ourselves in a position multiple times to get inside the top 10, but it certainly wasn’t easy. I hate I got into the back of the No. 7 (Justin Allgaier) going into Turn 1, but they all checked up ahead of me as we entered into the corner. It’s just part of racing. We had to fight hard all day long to keep ourselves in the top 10, and I’m proud we ended the day eighth. I’m looking to going to Texas Motor Speedway in a couple of weeks, because that has always been one of our better tracks.”

– Brandon Jones

Contender Brendan Gaughan Still Has Championship Hopes After Battling to 31st-Place Finish Following Late Race Incident

“It wasn’t the points day that we had hoped for at Kansas Speedway. We just didn’t have the South Point Chevrolet we needed today. We battled a tight car and track position throughout the race. My guys were excellent on pit road, especially with all the changes that my crew chief, Shane Wilson, called for today. I’m bummed we got spun off Turn 4 with less than 30 laps to go. Everyone started checking up and I got pinned by the No. 4 car (Ross Chastain). I drove it hard but once the air was off the car I couldn’t save it. We have to get better going forward. We had a good shot at coming out of here with a good day in the championship standings until that late race incident. Shane and I know how to make it work and keep moving forward. This won’t be any different. We also know how to win at Texas Motor Speedway. The task now is to bring some speed and get it done.”

– Brendan Gaughan

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Kansas Speedway … In 68 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has one win, visiting victory lane in 2013 with Kevin Harvick, among five top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina-based organization holds an average starting position of 19.4, an average finishing position of 15.8, has completed 17,568 of the 18,018 contested laps (97.5 percent) and has collectively led for 288 laps around the 1.5-mile race track.

RCR in the NSCS … In 2,718 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards,105 wins, 474 top-five finishes and 1,026 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.7 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 … Dillon clinched a spot in the Round of 12 and ranks ninth on the Chase Grid heading into the sixth race of the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Newman ranks 18th and Menard ranks 25th in the driver championship point standings.

Wonder what researchers think about football? … Dr. Elizabeth Davenport from UT Southwestern Medical Center shares her story from working with youth football players and their families on the iTAKL head impact study for several years http://bit.ly/2e9qhLY. Thanks to pilot and continued funding by the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, the study is monitoring how kids’ brains are affected by contact sports.

Ryan Newman Extends Relationship with Richard Childress Racing

Welcome, N.C. (October 10, 2016) – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman has agreed to a multi-year agreement to remain with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet. The renewal marks Newman’s fourth year with RCR and 16th full season in NASCAR’s premier series.

“Ryan’s consistency on the track has been a benefit to our organization and this extension solidifies the future of our racing program,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR. “Ryan proved the first year he was here that we could contend for championships and with this continuation, I believe we can fulfill our commitment to winning races and a championship. Ryan has worked hard to represent many of our partners, especially the primary sponsors Caterpillar, Grainger and WIX Filters, helping them to get the most out of their respective racing programs.”
Continue reading Ryan Newman Extends Relationship with Richard Childress Racing →

Late-Race Incident Ends Austin Dillon’s Day Early at Charlotte Motor Speedway

“We felt taking two tires would help our track position. We had 14 laps on our lefts and I got through the gears well. We really struggled on pit road. We were just trying something to get track position and that is what you get. This entire Dow Coating Materials team will have to work hard the next two weeks to get the points back. I felt like I got to third gear pretty clean and then I felt contact, and then I am spinning through the grass. It’s part of it, and we took two tires there and you know the risks when you get into it. You just hope that doesn’t happen, obviously. There have been a lot of people that are in the Chase that have wrecked so far. We just have to do a lot; we have to win one of the next two races. I believe we can do just that.”

– Austin Dillon

Paul Menard’s Day Ends Early at Charlotte Motor Speedway as the Valvoline/Menards Chevrolet Involved in Wreck

“We got behind early and had just gotten back on the lead lap, making some gains with the No. 27 Valvoline/Menards Chevy. Then, that next restart, everybody just kind of checked up and I got pushed out to the outside wall and couldn’t see anything, I just ran into Chase (Elliott). I’m not sure what started it all. I guess some guys took two tires, probably spinning tires and bumping and shoving each other.”

– Paul Menard

Ryan Newman Brings Home Fourth Place Finish for Cat Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway

“We had a good Caterpillar Chevrolet, no doubt. It was especially good at the end of a run and up top. It was like that all day. We came up short there and I know some of the guys had issues, but we had a strong car. I want to thank all the fans who came back and I hope they enjoyed the race and will stay for the next show. We’ll keep digging. It’s all about building for the future and ending the season on a strong note.”

– Ryan Newman