Kentucky 300
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Kentucky Speedway
September 21, 2013
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished second (Austin Dillon), third (Matt Crafton), 11th (Brian Scott) and 13th (Dakoda Armstrong).
Dillon is second in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing leader Sam Hornish, Jr. by 15 points, while Scott is seventh in the standings, 79 points behind the leader.
The No. 3 Chevrolet team ranks fourth in the Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, with the No. 2 team ninth in the standings and the No. 33 team 10th.
According to NASCAR’s Post Race Loop Data Statistics, Dillon ranked second in Average Running Position (3.230), maintained the second-best Driver Rating (126.6), had the second-best Green-Flag Speed (172.496 mph), was the second-Fastest Driver Late in a Run (171.003 mph) and spent 100 percent of his laps running in the top-15.
Crafton ranked fourth in Green-Flag Passes (48).
Scott led the Closers category, advancing eight positions in the final 10 percent of the race, was fourth-Fastest on Restarts (166.486 mph) and ranked fifth in the Driver Rating category (107.8).
Armstrong made 12 Quality Passes.
Combined, the RCR drivers posted the Fastest Laps for 31 circuits with Dillon (25 laps), Crafton (4 laps) and Scott (2 laps).
Ryan Blaney earned his first career Nationwide Series victory and was followed to the finish line by Dillon, Crafton, Hornish and Alex Bowman.
The next Nationwide Series race is the Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 28. The 28th race of the 2013 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN2 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio channel 90.
Brian Scott Earns 11th-Place Finish at Kentucky Speedway Despite Penalty
Brian Scott and Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet team battled among the top-five for a majority of the 200-lap affair at Kentucky Speedway for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in the Bluegrass State, but a pit road penalty relegated the team to an 11th-place finish. Scott took the green flag from the fourth position and quickly advanced into the second spot, despite reporting to crew chief Phil Gould that he was tight through the center of the corners. NASCAR displayed the yellow flag on lap 25 for a competition caution, which allowed Scott to visit pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. He restarted 12th after several other competitors opted to make a two-tire pit stop. The 25-year old competitor drove up to the third spot by lap 47. Scott remained among the top three until visiting pit road under green-flag conditions for routine service on lap 164. NASCAR relayed to the team that Scott was too fast exiting pit road as the caution-flag was displayed. The Boise, Idaho-native restarted from the rear of the field but was able to advance to 11th, where he took the checkered flag.
Start: 4 Finish: 11 Laps Led: 1 Points: 7th
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
“We had such a strong Shore Lodge Camaro tonight. Phil (Gould) and the guys were strong once again on pit road and we were able to run up front all night. Unfortunately, we got caught speeding and ran out of time to get back up to the front. I’m proud of the crew and looking forward to Dover next week.”
Austin Dillon Scores Second-Place Finish in Kentucky 300
Austin Dillon drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet to a second-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday evening and remains second in the driver championship point standings, 15 markers behind current leader Sam Hornish, Jr., with six races remaining in the season. After starting the 200-lap race from the third position, Dillon noted a tight-handling condition in the center of the corners during the early stages of the 300-mile event. Crew chief Danny Stockman called for a series of adjustments during a competition caution on lap 25, including air pressure and track bar adjustments during a four-tire and fuel pit stop. With several teams opting to take two tires only, Dillon lost 11 positions on pit road and restarted 13th when green-flag racing resumed on lap 30. Although the team continued to struggle finding the right balance on the No. 3 car during ensuing runs, they gained track position during a two-tire pit stop under caution on lap 62 which positioned Dillon in the third spot for a lap 68 restart. He took control of the race on lap 69, gaining a valuable championship bonus point, then fell to second as a dominate No. 22 entry took the race lead. Dillon challenged to retake the lead during several late-race cautions, but could not put a complete pass together. When the checkered flag waved, Dillon took second in the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet.
Start – 3 Finish – 2 Laps Led – 32 Points – 2 nd
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“We had a second-place car today. I want to congratulate Ryan Blaney and the No. 22 team. They had a really strong car and put an amazing race together. We had a great car. I am really proud of Danny Stockman and all of the guys, especially the over- the-wall pit crew. They were really fast tonight. As strong as we were, the 22 car was just a tiny bit better and, at the end of the night, that is what made the difference.”
Matt Crafton Earns Third-Place Finish in NASCAR Nationwide Series Event at Kentucky Speedway
In his third and final scheduled 2013 appearance in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Rheem/Menards entry, Matt Crafton earned a third-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Kentucky 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday evening. Crafton qualified the No. 33 car fifth, but dropped to the rear of the field at the start of the 200-lap race to serve a NASCAR-issued penalty for changing a radiator after qualifying. The Tulare, Calif., native quickly advanced his running position, working his way into the 18th spot before the yellow flag was displayed for a NASCAR-mandated competition caution on lap 25. During the caution period, crew chief Ernie Cope directed Crafton down pit road so the RCR crew could service his machine with right-side tires and fuel. Quick work by the team positioned him ninth for the restart on lap 30. The veteran NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver remained in the top-10 for the rest of the race, breaking into the top five at the halfway mark. Routine pit stops under caution flag conditions on laps 63, 108 and 167 helped Cope keep the car’s balance to the driver’s liking allowing Crafton to ultimately post a third-place finish.
Start – 5 Finish – 3 Laps Led – 0 Owner’s Points – 10th
MATT CRAFTON QUOTE:
“I have had a blast these past three races with the No. 33 Rheem/Menards team. We definitely had a car capable of winning tonight. These race cars are second-to-none and I look forward to hopefully doing this again next year.”
Dakoda Armstrong Secures Career-Best NASCAR Nationwide Series Finish with RCR
Dakoda Armstrong drove the No. 21 WinField Chevrolet to a career-best 13th-place finish at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday evening, marking h
is fourth of five scheduled NASCAR Nationwide Series starts with Richard Childress Racing. The 22-year-old driver took the green flag from the 21st position and climbed inside the top-20 during the early stages of the event, but reported to crew chief Marcus Richmond he was tight through the corners during his initial run. NASCAR displayed the yellow flag for a competition caution on lap 25, providing Armstrong & Co. an opportunity to bring their Camaro down pit road for two tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. When green-flag racing resumed on lap 30, the New Castle, Ind., native restarted in the 15th position. He reported the changes helped the handling and the car was coming to him as he worked to find the best line through each corner. As the crew continued to improve the handling to his liking throughout the evening, he found himself solidly inside the top-15 in the closing laps. When the checkered flag was displayed he crossed the line in the 13th spot, earning a career-best Nationwide Series finish.
Start: 21 Finish: 13 Laps Led: 0 Owners Points :N/A
DAKODA ARMSTRONG QUOTE:
“We kept improving all night and I think if we could’ve just had one more adjustment to help me turn off the corners, we could’ve easily gotten into the top-10. This RCR crew did a great job on pit road all night and we had a competitive WinField Camaro. I can’t complain about a 13th-place finish.”