XFINITY Series rolls into Chicago
Race: Chicagoland 300
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2015
Location: Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Ill.
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Chicagoland Speedway … In 41 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, the Welcome, N.C. organization has visited Victory Lane on four occasions (Johnny Sauter – 2002, Kevin Harvick – 2005 & 2007, Elliott Sadler – 2012) and also earned back-to-back pole awards last season with Brian Scott. RCR has also accumulated 14 top-five finishes, 27 top-10 finishes, led 369 laps, completed 7969 of the 8203 they have competed (97.1 percent) with an average starting position of 9.8 and a finishing position of 9.4.
Michigan Recap … In the Great Clips 250 Benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America, Brian Scott was the highest finishing RCR driver, posting a ninth-place finish. Brendan Gaughan, Ty Dillon and Paul Menard posted, 12th, 13th and 18th place finishes, respectively.
The Points … Ty Dillon remains second in the driver point standings, Brian Scott seventh and Brendan Gaughan is tied for eighth. The No. 33 RCR team is currently sixth in the owners point standings.
2015 Season, So Far … RCR has made 52 XFINITY Series starts so far this season. In those starts, Austin Dillon has won four pole awards, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway where he went on to win both events in the No. 33 Chevrolet. Between drivers Brian Scott, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Austin Dillon, Paul Menard and Brandon Jones they have accumulated 13 top-five finishes, 34 top-10 finishes, led 469 laps and average a starting position of 8.4 and finishing position of 11.6.
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 SaveInjuredKids.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter to learn more.
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, @RCR33NNS 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 … Coverage for the XFINITY Series stand-alone event at Chicagoland Speedway will begin with both practice sessions on Friday, June 19 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Fox Sports 2. Qualifying will also be showcased live on Fox Sports 2 on Saturday, June 20, at 5 p.m. ET and race coverage will begin at 9:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 1. It will also be broadcast live on MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott, No. 2 Jewel-Osco/Kraft Singles Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Jewel-Osco/Kraft Singles Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 161 in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Chicagoland 300. This chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable made its debut at Phoenix International Raceway in March where Scott qualified 12th and finished 10th.
Scott at Chicagoland … In 10 XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile paved speedway, Scott has an average starting position of 11.7 and an average finish of 9.3. Scott has earned three pole positions, including back-to-back poles in both visits to the track last season. In addition, Scott has two top-five and five top-10 finishes with 31 laps led and 1803 of 1804 laps completed. In addition to his XFINITY Series races, Scott has one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.
2015 Rewind … After 13 XFINITY Series races this season, Scott has captured two top-five and nine top-10 finishes, sits seventh in the driver point standings and has led 37 laps with an average starting position of 5.0 and an average finish of 14.0.
Jewel-Osco and Kraft Singles … This weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, the No. 2 XFINITY Series team welcomes back their partner, Albertsons. Albertsons and the Safeway family of stores, the second-largest supermarket chain in North America, has partnered with RCR, Scott and the No. 2 XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2015. RCR also welcomes Albertsons’ supporting partners Kraft, Reser’s Fine Foods and Sanderson Farms. Albertsons Safeway stores operate under store banners Albertsons, ACME, Shaw’s, Star Markets, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, Randalls, VONS, Pavilions, Carrs and Safeway. With more than 2,200 stores, 250,000 employees and 27 distribution centers across 34 states, Albertsons rich legacy in the grocery business synchronizes with the roots of NASCAR and RCR. Additional information on "Your favorite local supermarket™" and Brian Scott can be found online.
Michigan International Speedway Race Rewind … Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet qualified second, for the fourth time this season, on Saturday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. Scott took over the XFINITY Series race lead early on, leading 10 laps within the first 30 laps of competition. Strategy was the name of the game for the 125-lap race at the two-mile track. After multiple caution periods within the last 40 laps and a red flag with 13 laps to go, Scott remained inside the top 10 and went on to finish ninth.
Last Time at Chicagoland … Scott and the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro team collected their second-consecutive pole position at Chicagoland Speedway for the Jimmy John’s 300 powered by Coca-Cola. Scott led the field to the green and was out in front for the first five laps of competition. He battled a tight-handling Camaro and maintained a top-10 running position for a majority of the race to bring home a ninth-place finish.
Meet Scott … On Friday, June 19, Scott is scheduled to participate in a shopping spree at Jewel-Osco (1401 Jefferson Street, Joliet, Ill.) at 11 a.m. Central Time with a lucky contestant, in addition to signing autographs. The @RCR2BScott twitter account will Periscope live from the event. Saturday, June 20, Scott is scheduled to sign autographs with fellow XFINITY Series drivers at Chicagoland Speedway from 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. CT. Autograph session will take place in the Infield Fan Zone and wristbands will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on racing at Chicagoland Speedway?
"Chicagoland Speedway has been a great track for me in the XFINITY Series. We swept both poles there last year, so qualifying has been good for us. We’ve been able to lead laps at Chicagoland. We just need to finish the deal. We’ve been able to do everything else at Chicago, except take home the trophy. Hopefully with my new team and Mike Hillman Jr. leading this thing, we can make a couple adjustments and be better at the end of the race and go to Victory Lane."
Ty Dillon, No. 3 WESCO Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s WESCO Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 159 for this weekend’s Chicagoland 300. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro made its debut earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where Dillon qualified 20th and finished eighth. Dillon also drove chassis No. 159 to a 12th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
Dillon at Chicagoland Speedway… In two career NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, Dillon has recorded two top-10 finishes and one top-five finish. Additionally, in two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon has recorded one top-five finish. He recorded a victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards on June 4, 2011.
Welcome back, WESCO … WESCO International, Inc. will return for its fourth season as a primary sponsor on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro. WESCO, a leading provider in electrical, industrial and communication supply, began its relationship with RCR in 2012. WESCO employs approximately 9,400 people, maintains relationships with over 18,000 suppliers, and serves over 65,000 active customers worldwide. Its 2014 annual sales were approximately $7.9 billion.
Race Rewind … Last week and Michigan International Speedway, Dillon drove the No. 3 Red Kap/Arrow Uniform Chevrolet Camaro to a 13th-place finish.
To the points … Dillon remains second in the XFINITY Series driver point standings, trailing the leader by 25 points. To date, Dillon leads all XFINITY Series drivers in total laps completed (2477), ranks second in average finish (8.5) and second in green-flag passes.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in the XFINITY Series autograph session on Saturday, June 20 at 2:30 p.m. Central Time. The autograph session will take place in the Infield Fan Zone and 200 wristbands will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
TY DILLON QUOTE:
How will the No. 3 team do this weekend in Chicago?
"We’re looking to rebound from last weekend, where I don’t think we finished as well as we could have. Last season we had two strong outings at Chicagoland, but obviously want more. Our 1.5-mile program is second-to-none in the XFINITY Series. I expect our team to qualify well, lead laps and compete for a win. We need a win to stay strong in this driver points battle."
Austin Dillon, No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 160 in the Chicagoland 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro is new for the 2015 season and has earned the pole award and been driven to victory lane by Dillon on two occasions this year, doing so at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chassis No. 160 also earned a fifth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
Windy City Nuggets … The Welcome, N.C., native driver has made four NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, collecting three top-five and four top-10 finishes. Dillon holds an average starting position of 2.2 and an average finishing position of 4.0 with 77 laps led.
Performance Counts . . . RCR and Rheem understand that winning is the result of a commitment to unparalleled achievement and continuous improvement. Rheem, a global leader in heating, cooling and water heating products is dedicated to keeping families and businesses comfortable through reliable, energy efficient products and systems customized to any lifestyle and budget. As at RCR, Rheem invests in talented professionals, advanced technology, R&D and world-class facilities that deliver Victory Lane performance. Rheem is . . . The New Degree of Comfort.
33 Team by the Numbers … So far this season, the No. 33 team has accumulated impressive stats with Dillon, Paul Menard and Brandon Jones. In 13 races, the RCR team has garnered two wins, four pole awards, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with 374 laps led.
Getting Loopy in 2015 … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon holds some notable stats so far in the 2015 season. The 25-year-old driver ranks first in the following categories: driver rating (112.1), drivers fastest late in a run, fastest driver on restarts, green-flag speed and speed by quarter. Dillon is second amongst his competitors in closers, drivers fastest early in a run, fastest laps run (236), laps led (369), average running position, speed in traffic and mile leaders.
Season in Review … So far this season, Dillon has entered 10 XFINITY Series events collecting two victories, seven top-five finishes, eight top-10 finishes and four pole awards. Dillon has led a total of 369 laps with an average starting position of 4.3 coupled with an average finishing position of 8.4.
Looking Ahead … Following the Series’ off-weekend after Chicago, Dillon will pilot the No. 33 machine at Daytona International Speedway for the July 4 event.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What can you take away from this weekend’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway that you can use later in the year?
"I love Chicago. It’s one of the coolest tracks we go to because of how many grooves there are. You can run all over that track and gain speed. I’m excited to get there. I’ve had a lot of fun driving the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet this year in the XFINITY Series, hopefully we can grab another win."
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 Chicagoland Speedway … Brendan Gaughan will utilize chassis No. 166 this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Chassis No. 166 is a new addition to the RCR stable and will make the first competitive laps on Friday afternoon during practice.
Gaughan’s Chicagoland Stats … In five NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval speedway, Gaughan has completed 994 of the 1004 (99.0 percent) laps he has competed. The Las Vegas native also has three starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Chicagoland, accumulating one top-five finish, one top-10 finish and averaging a starting position of 9.3 and finishing position of 13.7.
Last Time in the Windy City … Gaughan qualified 13th for the XFINITY Series Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 powered by Coca-Cola. The Las Vegas-native began reporting loose conditions early in the 200-lap event. Gaughan raced in the top-15 for the majority of the event. With less than 40 laps remaining, the 39-year-old driver made an incredible save after making contact with the No. 31 car. Gaughan fought to make his way back through the field, but ran out of laps and crossed the finish line 13th.
In the Rearview Mirror: Michigan International Speedway … The No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet started in the sixth position for Saturday afternoon’s XFINITY Series Great Clips 250 at MIS. The RCR team began battling loose-handling conditions early in the run at the two-mile speedway. The competition caution fell on lap 25, giving the Shane Wilson-led team the opportunity to make adjustments. During Gaughan’s green-flag pit stop on lap 87, the team received a penalty for being too fast exiting pit road. After serving the drive-thru penalty, the team was able to battle through the field and receive the lucky dog. The No. 62 RCR team crossed the finish line in the 12th position.
To the Points … Heading into the XFINITY Series stand-alone event at Chicagoland Speedway, Gaughan is currently tied for eighth in the driver point standings.
Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con … The Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con is kicking off the summer from June 19 to 21 at South Point. Sunday, June 21 is Kid’s Day, there will be Disney Animators, Adventure Time creators and My Little Pony artists sketching. The event will also feature a giant video game arena with all the favorites from Mario Bros to Call of Duty to Mortal Kombat X and many more. It wouldn’t be the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con without a costume contest. Kids 10 and under get in FREE with a paid adult. For more information and details on VIP packages visit southpointarena.com.
Meet Gaughan … Gaughan is scheduled to participate in the XFINITY Series autograph session on Saturday, June 20 at 2:30 p.m. Central Time, which will take place in the Infield Fan Zone. There will be 200 wristbands given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Series stand-alone events?
"I love any race, but with the stand-alone events you don’t always have the Brad Keselowski or the Kevin Harvick’s in the races, but as a driver, I like to win when they are there and I like to win when they aren’t. Real competitors just like to win, and they will welcome any and all competition. In my book, a "W" is a "W" regardless of who you are racing. There are a lot of really strong teams right now, so we have to stay on top of the game and work harder than ever to bring the best equipment to the track."
What are your thoughts about racing at Chicagoland Speedway?
"Chicagoland is 1.5-mile race track and it is in my wheelhouse of the style track I really enjoy racing. It is one of those places in the group of Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway that really fit my style."