What Happens In Vegas…Sprint Cup Preivew
Race: Las Vegas 400
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2015
Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … In 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets have earned eight top-five and 18 top-10 finishes with seven different drivers – Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Paul Menard and Mike Skinner.
RCR in the NSCS … In 2,510 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 46 pole awards, 105 wins, 460 top-five finishes and 980 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.9. 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 …RCR’s three full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers rank 17th (Menard), 21st (Newman) and 25th (Dillon) in the driver championship point standings.
RCR Atlanta Rewind … In the Sprint Cup Series’ second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend, teammates Newman, Menard and Austin Dillon finished 10th, 13th and 39th, respectively.
Did You Know … Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. Nearly 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries, and many more are treated in the emergency room. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. Visit http://ift.tt/1DSVN4y or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages – @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at http://ift.tt/1EM9Ri0 and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages – http://ift.tt/1EM9Ri3 , http://ift.tt/1EM9ST4 and http://ift.tt/1EM9Ryk.
Catch the Action … The Las Vegas 400 will be televised live Sunday, March 8 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Dow Energy & Water Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Dow Energy & Water Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 477 in the Las Vegas 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2014, Dillon raced this Chevrolet SS to a 24th-place finish at Dover International Raceway in September, a 20th-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in September and a 14th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
Dillon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Dillon has made two previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, posting a 16th-place finish in 2014 and a 21st-place finish in 2013. In two NASCAR XFINITY Series appearances at the track, he has posted a pair of top-10 finishes (sixth after starting fourth in March 2013, and seventh after starting third in March 2012). He has two starts at the 1.5-mile oval in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with one pole award and one race win to his credit (September 2010). In his 2011 Camping World Truck Series appearance at the track, Dillon started second and battled back from a lap-three accident to finish 17th.
Welcome, Dow … Returning primary sponsor of the No.3 Chevrolet SS, Dow enters its second season with RCR and driver Austin Dillon. Together, both teams embrace the power of science, technology and safety as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. Dow also drives innovation to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, bringing a broad range of sustainable products and solutions to customers in nearly 180 countries with more than 6,000 products manufactured across the globe. See our YouTube video "Dawn to Dusk" to see how Dow products touch the lives of everyone…from dawn to dusk (http://ift.tt/1DSVNkS). More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Dow Energy & Water … The Dow Energy and Water Solutions businesses are uniquely positioned to solve the increasing industry challenges created by the convergence of the water-energy nexus across the value chain. Dow provides superior solutions by combining chemistry, physics, materials science and biology. As an innovative purification and separation leader, Dow is improving the quality of water, food and pharmaceuticals and industrial efficiencies. Dow works collaboratively to develop solutions that make traditional energy sources more efficient and environmentally friendly while also providing solutions that support new efficient, clean energy use all over the world. From lighter, more aerodynamic materials that improve the performance for cars, trains, and wind turbines to materials that utilize renewable energy to more efficiently power homes and trucks, Dow is helping make the future brighter for everyone.
RCR Salutes … The No. 3 Dow Chevrolet team pit box sports a patriotic theme this season in homage to the United States military, current service members and the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. On Sunday, the team honors NASCAR Troops to the Track airmen from Nellis AFB and Creech AFB. The service members are representing the 820th Red Horse Squadron, the 823rd Maintenance Squadron, the 99th Medical Group, 99th Mission Support Group and the 99th ABG.
One Year Ago … In his most recent appearance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dillon started fourth and maintained a top-10 running position in the beginning of the race, but developed a tight-handling condition in the middle portion losing track position and ultimately finishing 16th.
Double Duty … Dillon is double-duty this weekend, competing in the XFINITY Series in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet on Saturday and the Sprint Cup Series in the No. 3 Dow Energy & Water Chevrolet on Sunday. Saturday’s XFINITY Series race is live on FOX Sports 1 at 4 p.m. ET, while Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race is live on FOX beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Meet Dillon … Dillon and his fellow Richard Childress Racing teammates are scheduled to sign autographs at the South Point Hotel & Casino on Thursday, March 5 at 8 p.m. Local Time.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
How do you like racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
"I love Las Vegas. I love the atmosphere, I love the speed of the track and I love the bumps. I’ve won a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas, so I like going there. We did qualify well there last year and that was my first 1.5-mile track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with this team, so I think it was a solid run. We backed up a little bit from where we qualified, but if we can have another good qualifying run like we did last year and maintain our speed throughout the race it will be good. I remember Paul Menard was really fast at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last year for RCR, so we have some things we can build on for sure."
Do you like to gamble?
"I do like to play a little bit of black jack. I plan to hang out at the South Point Hotel & Casino and you should all come join me."
Paul Menard, No. 27 Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Quaker State / Menards Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 480 for this weekend’s 267-lap event at the 1.5-mile track in Las Vegas. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS has four previous starts from the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Vegas Odds … The Eau Claire, Wisc. driver has eight Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His best start of 17th came in 2013 and best finish of third came in 2014. Menard has one top-five and three top-10 finishes and has completed 2,133 of 2,154 laps (99 percent) of racing, nine of which he’s led.
About Quaker State … Quaker State® motor oil has a 70-year history as a leader in consumer automotive products and vehicle care. Quaker State is among the industry’s most innovative motor oil brands and offers a full line of products to meet every type of vehicle engine need. Quaker State is one of the first brands to develop high mileage engine motor oil. For more information about the full line of Quaker State products, visit www.quakerstate.com.
Where Do You Stand … Menard currently sits 17th in the Sprint Cup Series driver point’s standings after finishing 13th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
What Happens in Vegas … The Wisconsin native scored his best finish of the 2014 season during NASCAR’s last visit to the 1.5-mile track. Menard started 21st and patiently worked his way through the field to cross the finish line third.
Meet The RCR Drivers … Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Brian Scott and Ty Dillon will be holding an hour-long autograph session at the South Point Hotel & Casino on Thursday, March 5 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. PT. Wristbands for the event will be given to the first 200 fans starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Grandview Lounge.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE:
Is there anything you can learn from Atlanta Motor Speedway and take to Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
"They’re pretty similar in how the bumps are on the track and are both pretty rough tracks. Vegas is not nearly as abrasive, but it does have some fall off with the tires. We definitely take away some things from Atlanta to Vegas but they’re pretty different tracks in some aspects. They’re both fast mile-and-a-half tracks, so qualifying is going to be balls to the wall and the race is going to be pretty crazy."
Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 491 in Sunday’s Las Vegas 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet SS is a brand new car and will take to the track for the first time on Friday when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams practice and qualify at the 1.5-mile speedway.
Newman in Sin City … In 14 Sprint Cup Series events, Newman owns one pole award (2005) along with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. His best result of fourth place came in 2012 and 2002. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 12th and average finish of 17th. He’s led a total of 98 laps in competition.
Get to the Points … Newman ranks 21st in the championship point standings entering this weekend’s race event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Media Availability … Newman will be accessible to media in attendance at LVMS on Friday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. The media availability will be held outside the No. 31 hauler in the NSCS garage.
Meet Newman … Newman is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at the South Point Hotel & Casino on Thursday at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. On Saturday, he’s scheduled to stop by the Neon Garage stage courtesy of Coca-Cola at 10:30 a.m. PT for a question and answer session.
Featured Caterpillar Dealers … Wyoming Machinery Company will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS this weekend in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway 400. Wyoming Machinery Company supports three of Wyoming’s major industries – mining, construction, and oil & gas – in addition to many others. Each of our five branches focuses on one or more of these major industries. The Casper branch serves the markets for mining, petroleum, on-highway trucks, construction, and governmental business. At the Cheyenne branch, the focus is on-highway trucks and general construction. The Rock Springs branch is similar to our Cheyenne branch with the addition of serving the oil & gas customers in southwest Wyoming. We now have two branches in Gillette serving the mining industry, as well as the oil & gas and heavy construction industries. For more information, visit www.wyomingcat.com.
About Caterpillar … For nearly 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2013 sales and revenues of $55.656 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Resource Industries, Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit http://ift.tt/1ojcFNa.
Race Rewind … Last season, Newman started fourth. During the event’s second and final green-white-checkered-flag restart, Newman raced the Caterpillar Chevrolet from eighth to a seventh-place finish. It was the team’s second-straight top-10 finish of the season. In total, the No. 31 team earned 16 top 10s in 2014.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTES:
What are the keys to getting around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
"In Vegas the bumps in turns one and two really dictate your lap speed and how much speed you can carry off Turn 2 down the back straightaway, which is significant. I believe the key is to just have a car that rides good over those bumps, which I assume have only gotten worse not better."
"In Vegas the bumps in turns one and two really dictate your lap speed and how much speed you can carry off Turn 2 down the back straightaway, which is significant. I believe the key is to just have a car that rides good over those bumps, which I assume have only gotten worse not better."
You mentioned the bumps, is that the hardest part to figure out?
"It dictates your straightaway speed on the backstretch and that is a big part of it. Keeping yourself in contention to be able to pass somebody in turns three and four is a big part of it."
Do you have any plans to visit anything? What is your favorite thing to visit out in Vegas?
"Usually for me it’s just good food, good people. I have some friends out there. I’m not a gambler."
Do you have any plans to stay out West?
"The only plan I have is between Phoenix and Vegas. I’m going to go snowmobiling in Utah, that’s it."
Are you ready for three weeks out West?
"I don’t know that it is guaranteed to be warm out there, but yeah something warmer than 45 degrees would be nice."