SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAYTONA SWEEP THE GOAL FOR THE CHEVROLET SS
Chevy’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looks to be second Chevy driver to sweep Daytona
DETROIT – (July 1, 2014) – In 2013 Jimmie Johnson debuted the new Chevy SS at Daytona International Speedway in spectacular fashion winning the prestigious Daytona 500 in the SS’ first points paying race. Johnson followed up that success by completing the ‘Daytona Sweep’ winning the Coke Zero 400 in July at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. This season Chevrolet has the opportunity to do it again. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. piloting the No. 88 National Guard Chevy SS won the season opening Daytona 500 and is poised to complete the sweep by pulling into Victory Lane this weekend at Daytona. Earnhardt, Jr. a three-time Daytona winner is no stranger to success at restrictor-plate racing. Of his 21 career victories eight (8) (38.1%) of those have come at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway the two tracks on the circuit that feature large pack racing and depend on aerodynamic superiority as well as a set-up for handling conditions have been one of Earnhardt, Jr.’s career strong suits.
Over the years Chevrolet has been the most successful manufacturer at Daytona winning 18 races in July and 44 total at the birthplace of NASCAR, Daytona Beach, Florida. Chevrolet has won the last four races at Daytona. Since the beginning of racing at the superspeedway the Bowtie brand has swept Daytona 11 times beginning with the first sweep in 1986 when Geoff Bodine won the Daytona 500 and his teammate Tim Richmond followed up with a victory in the Firecracker 400. This weekend Chevrolet teams and drivers will once again compete under the lights over July 4th weekend celebrating the independence of the United States America and the freedom to compete in a sport built on heritage and history.
Not only will the drivers and teams be busy so will the staff at the Team Chevy display. Fans visiting Daytona International Speedway for the July 4th holiday weekend will have the opportunity to stop by the Team Chevy display located in the midway area. The display will feature a number of Chevrolet production cars including: Malibu, Impala, Traverse, Silverado Double Cab, Silverado HC, Camaro, Cruze, Silverado HD, Suburban and Equinox.
Several Team Chevy drivers will also make appearances at the Chevy display including: Reed Sorenson, Michael Annett, Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne. As a special treat this weekend the Chevrolet Florida Fishing Report team of Captain Rick Murphy and crew will be on site doing demonstrations and signing autographs at the Chevy display.
In support of NASCAR’s American Salute initiative Chevrolet has partnered with Tommy Baldwin racing writing letters to soldiers. Chevrolet has donated phone cars to mail with those letters so soldiers fighting overseas can call their families back home. This weekend is the last weekend fans can write letters to soldiers. There are letter bins located in the Team Chevy display where fans can drop of their letters this Fourth of July weekend.
A fun filled holiday weekend is in store for fans, drivers and teams alike. Chevrolet looks to sweep the races at Daytona for the 12th time in the manufacturers’ history. On both Friday and Saturday night the fields for both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be led down to the green flag by Chevrolet productions vehicles. The Chevrolet Camaro will lead the Nationwide field to the green flag and on Sunday the all-new Chevrolet SS will set the pace as the 18th race of the 2014 season gets underway. All of the Bowite branded drivers and teams will hope to beat the heat, miss the ‘big one’ and make their way to Victory Lane to celebrate under the lights at the historic Daytona International Speedway.