XFINITY Series set to tackle Talladega Superspeedway
Event: Talladega 300
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015
Venue: Talladega Superspeedway
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Talladega Superspeedway … In 32 Series starts at the 2.66-mile race track, RCR has led 129 laps, completed 3081 of the 3750 they have competed (82.2 percent) and earned five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C. organization averages a starting position of 9.0 and a finishing position of 20.1.
Richmond Recap … Brian Scott was the highest RCR finisher in seventh place, Austin Dillon eighth, Ty Dillon ninth and Brendan Gaughan 11th, respectively, in the XFINITY Series Richmond 250 at Richmond International Raceway.
The Points … After eight XFINITY Series events,Ty Dillon remains the point standings leader, Brendan Gaughan is now tied for sixth and Brian Scott is tied for eighth. The RCR No. 33 RCR entry currently remains seventh in the Series’ owner point standings.
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Social Media … To stay on track with the latest news and information and to view exclusive, behind the scenes content visit RCR’s Twitter account – @RCRracing, RCR’s NASCAR XFINITY Series team Twitter accounts – @RCR2BScott, @RCR3TDillon, @RCR33NXS and @RCR62BGaughan. RCR’s XFINITY Series driver Twitter accounts – @bscottracing, @tydillon, @austindillon3 and @Brendan62. For additional photos, news and video log on to rcrracing.com.
Catch the Action … XFINITY Series coverage from Talladega Superspeedway will begin with qualifying on Saturday, May 2 on FOX Sports 1 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time with qualifying. Live coverage of the Talladega 300 will begin at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. XFINITY Series coverage will also be broadcasted live on MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott, No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Shore Lodge Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 152 in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Talladega 300. This is a new chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable that was first raced earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway.
Talladega Statistics … Scott will be making his sixth XFINITY Series start at the 2.66-mile track where he has 13 laps led and one top-10 finish. In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Scott made his debut last spring at Talladega earning his first career Sprint Cup pole position in the No. 33 Circle Sport Racing entry.
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Race Rewind … Scott and the No. 2 Safeway / Reser’s Chevrolet qualified for the Richmond 250 at Richmond International Raceway in the fifth position for the Friday night’s NASCAR XFINITY Series feature. Early in the 250-lap event, Scott was battling loose conditions both in the entry and exit of the corners. With a great restart on lap 151, Scott led the field for one lap then moved into the second position for the next 30 laps. Green-flag stops began, and the Safeway/Reser’s crew made their four-tire stop on lap 233. The race continued under green-flag conditions, and the No. 2 team crossed the finish line seventh.
Last Time at Talladega … Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro qualified 10th for the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway. Scott and his RCR teammates worked together in the opening laps to secure their drafting positions. The Shore Lodge team led six different times for a total of 10 laps during the first 60 circuits before getting caught up in an on-track accident on lap 63. The No. 2 Camaro sustained sufficient damage and was unable to return to the track resulting in a 33rd-place finish.
To The Points … Scott is currently tied for eighth in the XFINITY Series driver point standings after the eighth of 33 races.
Double Duty … In addition to competing at Talladega Superspeedway in the XFINITY Series this weekend, Scott is scheduled to drive the No. 33 Shore Lodge Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. on FOX. The Talladega 300 is live on FOX at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
How do you feel about Superspeedway Racing?
"Superspeedway racing is Superspeedway racing. Those races were a thorn in our side last year and Daytona got started kind of the same way this year. I just can’t seem to be in the right place at the right time or get good finishes lately at superspeedways. Hopefully we can go and get the monkey off our back at Talladega and just get a top-10 finish. That’s all I really care for. NASCAR issued that qualifying procedures have changed so we can go back to a little bit of old school qualifying. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It seems like we were taking a lot of unnecessary risk and situations were happening when race cars were being tore up in qualifying and that doesn’t need to be the case at a place like Talladega. Talladega and Daytona they claim enough race cars as it is, you don’t want to add another event in the weekend that’s going to tear up more race cars. It will probably benefit us with getting a better starting position. Hopefully we can get the monkey off our back and get a decent finish."
You won the Sprint Cup Series pole there last year. You have some speed there, right?
"Yeah, being quick and surviving are two different elements to Talladega. Of course that’s just a race track where the competition is closer. You have more cars that are capable of winning with the draft being the great equalizer. It’s fun, its challenging. It’s going to be tough and it’s always just hard to just survive at those places. But that will be my number one goal; to survive."
Ty Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Boats Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … NASCAR XFINITY Series points leader Ty Dillon will race chassis No. 155 for this weekend’s Talladega 300. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro debuted earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway where Dillon recorded a third-place finish.
Dillon in the XFINITY Series Talladega Superspeedway … In two XFINITY Series races at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Dillon has finished 15th and 24th and has led four laps. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Dillon has recorded one top-five finish and one pole award.
Bass Pro Shops continues partnership with RCR … Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 92 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. For more information, and to shop online, visit basspro.com.
RCR & Bass Pro’s Grand Celebration … On Wednesday, April 29, Bass Pro Shops is opening its 72nd store in the iconic Memphis Pyramid. Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon and Richard Childress are scheduled to visit the brand-new, state-of-the-art store for an "Evening of Conservation" and ribbon cutting ceremony. Among other scheduled to attend: Johnny Morris, Founder of Bass Pro Shops, fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Tony Stewart, Bill Dance, Legendary Bass Angler and John Anderson, country music superstar. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., Central Time.
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Richmond Race rewind … Dillon qualified the No. 3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet Camaro 15th for the Richmond 250 and Richmond International Raceway. Better on long green-flag stretches, Dillon moved inside the top 10 midway through the race. In the end, the 23-year-old driver recorded his sixth top-10 finish of the season and extended his driver points lead to eight.
Points Leader … Dillon remains the XFINITY Series points leader for the seventh consecutive race weekend. To date, the Welcome, N.C. driver has three top-five finishes, six top-10 finishes, and leads the Series in total laps (1582) and average finishing position (7.5).
Meet Ty Dillon … Along with being a part of the Bass Pro Shops grand opening ceremonies in Memphis, Tenn. on Wednesday, Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala. on Thursday, April 30 beginning at 6:00 p.m., Central Time.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
After a few weeks of short-track racing, the Series goes to a completely different race track. What’s your mindset?
"The mindset is always to win. We came off a couple of decent races in Bristol and Richmond and we definitely learned a lot. This week is all about getting mentally prepared to superspeedway race for 300 miles. It’s mentally and physically draining to superspeedway race, but I love it. I’ve got the best spotter on the roof in Billy O’Dea, so it will be important to work with him, get to the front of the pack and notch our first win."
Off the race track, you’ve been busy with some outdoor activities. How’s that been?
"Well, with it being turkey hunting season in North Carolina, I spent some time in Wilkes County hunting turkeys with some folks from the National Wild Turkey Federation and Dead End Game Calls. Austin (Dillon) and I went out to Top of the Rock Golf Course in Ridgedale, Mo. last week to play in the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf celebrity pro-am, which was awesome. We got to see some legendary golfer like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw, and spend time with our great friends from Bass Pro. They really put on a very nice tournament and we were fortunate to be invited back again this year. And finally, this week, we’ll be in Branson, Mo. for some more turkey hunting, fishing and outdoor fun with Johnny (Morris, Bass Pro Shops founder) for their annual Cast & Blast event. So, it’s been a busy few weeks, but I love being outdoors and enjoying this time of year."
Austin Dillon, No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 154 in the Talladega 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is new for the 2015 season and made its debut at Daytona International Speedway in February where Dillon earned the pole award and finished fourth.
Talladega Nuggets … The Welcome, N.C., native driver has made two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, collecting one top-10 finish. Dillon holds an average starting position of 3.5 and an average finishing position of 13.5 with nine laps led.
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Getting Loopy in 2015 … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon holds some impressive stats so far in the 2015 season. The 25-year-old driver ranks first in speed by quarter.Dillon is second amongst his competitors indriver rating (105.6), fastest drivers on restarts and green-flag speed. He ranks third in mile leaders and fourth in the following categories: fastest drivers late in a run, fastest drivers early in a run, fastest laps run (131), laps led (189) and fastest speed in traffic.
Season in Review … So far this season, Dillon has been entered in seven XFINITY Series events, collecting one victory, four top-five finishes, five top-10 finishes and two pole awards. This weekend’s 300-mile event will mark Dillon’s last race in the No. 33 Chevrolet until he returns to the driver’s seat at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of May.
Looking Ahead … After the off weekend, the No. 33 team will welcome a new driver to the cockpit of their Chevrolet. Brandon Jones will pilot the RCR machine at Iowa Speedway in his XFINITY Series debut.
Double Duty … In addition to Saturday’s Talladega 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, watch Dillon in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega 500, which airs live on FOX Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What does it take to do well at the restrictor plate tracks?
"I feel like you can’t be conservative. You have to stay up front, you have to know what the car needs to stay up front. It’s all about being there for the white flag so you can try and win the race. I’m really looking forward to Talladega."
"I feel like you can’t be conservative. You have to stay up front, you have to know what the car needs to stay up front. It’s all about being there for the white flag so you can try and win the race. I’m really looking forward to Talladega."
Brendan Gaughan, No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Brendan Gaughan will pilot chassis No. 153 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was previously utilized this season at the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, qualifying fourth and ending the day early after being involved in an on-track incident, resulting in 29th-place finish.
Talladega Stats … Gaughan has made three XFINITY Series starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. The Las Vegas native also has five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Talladega, earning one top-five finish and averaging a starting position of 24.4 and finishing position of 13.4.
Last Time at Talladega … The South Point Chevrolet started from the 11th position and advanced to the third position by lap 58. Gaughan’s day ended early when he was involved in an incident on lap 63 that deemed the No. 62 Camaro beyond repair, forcing the team to take a 34th-place finish.
In the Rearview Mirror: Richmond … The No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet team qualified 16th for Friday night’s XFINITY Series Richmond 250 at Richmond International Raceway. The Las Vegas native remained in the top 15 for the first half of the 250-lap event at the 0.75-mile track. On lap 109, there was an incident on pit road and a brief fire broke out that was quickly doused by the Richmond International Raceway fire crew. As a result of the fire, two crew members from the No. 62 team were transported to the hospital to be evaluated. Gaughan continued to advance his position and earned an 11th-place finish at RIR.
Tough as Nails … Both crew members from the No. 62 XFINITY Series team have been released from a local Richmond, Va.-based hospital after Friday night’s pit road incident. Josh Wittman (gas man) was released Saturday after being kept for overnight observation. Anthony O’Brien (rear tire changer) was released Monday afternoon.
To the Points … Gaughan is currently tied for the sixth in the XFINITY Series driver point standings, only eight points from the fifth position.
Come See Gaughan … On Friday, May 1, Gaughan is scheduled to participate in the Race Fever event beginning at 5:15 p.m. Central Time. Also on Friday night, Gaughan will serve as a judge in Talladega Superspeedway’s Big One on the Blvd. beginning at 7:30 p.m. Central Time.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
"Talladega is Talladega. Everyone knows that anything can happen at this track, we all knowing when we come to Talladega that it is truly anybody’s race to win. With the equipment that RCR and ECR Engines give us, we are normally pretty strong. The biggest thing is just staying out of trouble and finding your teammates to work with."
What were you feeling last week when you left Richmond?
"Richmond has never been a great track for me, but we showed up wanting to have a good points day and that is what we did. None of us were able to enjoy it because of the circumstances, but it is such a relief knowing that Thor (Josh Wittman) and Fifty (Anthony O’Brien) are doing better. This just proves how tough these guys are. Don’t tell me these guys aren’t professional athletes. They all deal with more things on a weekly basis than other professional athletes ever will."