XFINITY Teams Head to Phoenix For Part 2 of #NASCARGoesWest
Event: Phoenix 200
Date: March 14, 2015
Venue: Phoenix International Raceway – Avondale, Ariz.
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Phoenix International Raceway … In 52 XFINITY Series starts at Phoenix International Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has visited victory lane on three separate occasions; once with Kevin Harvick in 2006, Clint Bowyer in 2007 and again in 2012 with Elliott Sadler. The Welcome, N.C., organization has earned 21 top-five finishes at the one-mile track, along with 31 top-10 finishes. RCR has led 539 laps, averages a starting position of 11.9 and finishing position of 11.7.
Recap of Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon won in a dominating fashion at LVMS, earning the pole award, leading 183 laps and going on to win the 200-lap event. Brendan Gaughan, Ty Dillon and Brian Scott earned sixth, eighth and 38th-place finishes, respectively, in the XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The Points … After the first three XFINITY Series races of the season, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan and Brian Scott are currently first, seventh and 17th in the driver point standings, respectively. The No. 33 RCR entry is currently leading the Series owner point standings.
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, @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 … Coverage of this weekend’s Phoenix 200 at Phoenix International Raceway will be televised live on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 4 p.m. ET on FOX and broadcast live on the MRN and SiriusXM channel 90.
Brian Scott, No. 2 Albertsons/Sanderson Farms Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Albertsons / Sanderson Farms Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Brian Scott will pilot chassis No. 161 in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series Phoenix 200. This prepared chassis from the Richard Childress Racing stable is brand new to the fleet and will make its first laps during practice on Friday.
Phoenix History … Scott will be making his 12th XFINITY Series start at the one-mile track on Saturday. In 11 starts at PIR, the 27-year-old has collected four top-10 finishes. In 2012, Scott recorded a victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at PIR, his second in the series. In addition to the victory in four NCWTS starts, he has completed 100 percent of the laps raced with two top five and two top-10 finishes with 48 laps led. Last February, Scott made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at the one-mile track.
Albertsons on Board in 2015 … This weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, the No. 2 XFINITY Series team welcomes back their new partner, Albertsons. Albertsons and the Safeway family of stores, which combined is the second-largest supermarket chain in North America, has partnered with RCR, Scott and the No. 2 NASCAR XFINITY Series team in 2015. The stores operate under store banners Albertsons, ACME, Shaw’s, Star Markets, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, 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.
Race Rewind … Scott and the No. 2 Albertsons / Sanderson Farms Chevrolet Camaro qualified in the second position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 on Saturday afternoon. Scott reported a mechanical issue at the drop of the green flag. Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr., called his driver to the garage to diagnose the issue, but it could not be repaired. Scott finished in the 38th position.
Last Time at PIR … The No. 2 Whitetail Chevrolet Camaro team collected their 29th top-10 qualifying position of the season at Phoenix International Raceway starting in the ninth position. The 200-lap event only had five cautions and a green-white-checkered finish allowed Scott to move up on the final restart, finishing seventh.
Meet Brian Scott … Scott is scheduled to participate in the XFINITY Series autograph session beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time on Saturday morning at Phoenix International Raceway.
To The Points … Brian Scott is currently 17th in the XFINITY Series driver point standings after the third of 33 races.
BRIAN SCOTT QUOTES:
You had two good finishes last year at Phoenix International Raceway. What will it take to close in on a victory?
"Phoenix has been a good short track for me. I won a Camping World Truck Series race there. Again, it’s a place where I feel like it’s one of my better tracks and the results last year I don’t really feel showed that. But I know that when we go there, we can have a good run.
How hard is it for you to go to a track that has made changes and adapt to them?
"As drivers we have to change and we have to develop. And, we have to be quick to do so or we aren’t going to be competitive. Phoenix’s change is more noticeable but doesn’t mean they are more severe than other places. Sometimes we go back to a place where the track hasn’t changed at all, but we are on a totally different tire and that changes how you drive it. Adaptations are part of being a driver, and I feel like I’ve adapted well to the new track."
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 Phoenix International Raceway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 145 for this weekend’s Phoenix 200. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro has six top-10 finishes, three top-five finishes, two pole awards (Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Speedway) and visited victory lane last season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Dillon in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Phoenix International Raceway … In two starts at the one-mile short track, Dillon recorded a 10th-place finish last spring and a fourth-place finish last fall. Dillon also made his second-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start last November at PIR in the No. 33 Chevrolet SS. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, Dillon has recorded one top-five finish.
Bass Pro Shops continues partnership with RCR … Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 90 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.
Race rewind … The No. 3 Prudential Overall Supply/Red Kap Chevrolet Camaro qualified 20th for the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but charged to the front in the race’s opening laps. By lap 16, Dillon found himself inside the top-five. For the remainder of the 200-lap race, the 23-year-old driver raced inside the top-10. In the end, Dillon crossed the finish line eighth recording the team’s third top-10 finish of the season.
Points update … With his third top-10 finish of the season, Dillon moved into sole possession of first place in the driver point standings.
Meet Ty Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to participate in the XFINITY Series autograph session located at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 8:30 a.m., local time.
TY DILLON QUOTES:
Phoenix International Raceway is the first one-mile race track on the schedule this year. What can we expect to see?
"I’ve always enjoyed Phoenix because I like racing short tracks. I grew up racing dirt late models on short tracks and always enjoy the opportunity to utilize my short track racing skills. Last year we found a lot of speed and had two solid finishes. We’re looking to build on our fourth place finish last November and hopefully get to the winner’s circle."
The NASCAR circuit is out West for three weeks. Do you enjoy the West Coast swing?
"I love the West Coast swing. We’re visiting three beautiful parts of the country and more importantly, three awesome race tracks that breed very competitive racing. The fans are very welcoming out here, there are some really neat places to visit and it’s always nice to race in beautiful weather. I am staying out here the entire three weeks to do some mountain biking with some guys on our team and do some sightseeing."
Austin Dillon, No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro
Race Notes and Quotes:
This Week’s Rheem Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 150 in the Phoenix 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet was utilized at the end of the 2014 season by Paul Menard and was rebuilt during the off season for this weekend’s event.
Dillon at Phoenix International Raceway … Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, has made five XFINITY Series appearances at Phoenix International Raceway, posting a pair of top-five, four top-10 finishes and completing 97 percent (977 of 1,007) of the contested laps.
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.
Off-Road Experience … During the week leading up to the Phoenix 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, Dillon and members of the RCR team plan to travel to Blythe, Calif., to Devils Bowl and go off-roading through the desert on all-terrain vehicles.
Race Rewind … Dillon drove the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet to Victory Lane in dominating fashion last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 24-year-old driver earned the pole award for the 200-lap event and led a total of 183 laps. Dillon was the first driver since 2002 to win the XFINITY Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from the pole position, and fourth overall.
Double Duty … In addition to Saturday’s Phoenix 200, watch Dillon in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS in CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which airs live on FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
After claiming the win last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, what are your thoughts heading into this weekend’s event at Phoenix International Raceway?
"The No. 33 Rheem team has put together a fleet of great race cars this season. We showed last weekend we can put together a good race. Just because we won doesn’t mean we can sit back and not try anything new. We always have to be working at figuring out how to make the cars go faster and drive better. I’m confident this team will be run up front this year."
What do you as a driver take away from driving double duty? Is it more for fun, or do you try to learn something about the track and what it’s doing that weekend?
"I think I’m definitely learning. The way the rule package is in the XFINITY Series, it’s very similar to the package for the Sprint Cup Series. There are some differences with the travels, but they drive about the same."
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 Phoenix International Raceway… Brendan Gaughan will utilize chassis No. 147 this weekend at PIR. This Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet Camaro was previously utilized at Michigan International Speedway by Gaughan in June of 2014.
Phoenix Stats … In seven NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at PIR, Gaughan has accumulated one top-five finish, three top-10 finishes and averages a starting position of 19.3 and a finishing position of 15.3. Gaughan also has 11 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the one-mile track, one top-five finish, two top-10 finishes and led nine laps.
Last year at PIR… Gaughan qualified in the 14th position for last year’s XFINITY Series at PIR in March. The No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro team battled a tight-handling car for a majority of the race. After passing halfway, the No. 62 team was penalized for speeding on pit road and served a pass-through penalty. Gaughan finished the rain-shortened day in the 16th position.
Double Duty … Along with Saturday’s XFINITY Series race, Gaughan is scheduled to make his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start of the 2015 season in the No. 62 Premium Motorsports entry.
In the Rearview Mirror: Las Vegas … The No. 62 RCR team qualified fifth for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Gaughan battled a tight-handling Chevrolet throughout the 200-lap event. Gaughan began working his way into the top five, where he raced for most of the day. The 39-year-old driver was shuffled back on the restart and finished the race in the sixth position.
To the Points … After a strong top-10 finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Gaughan is seventh in the driver point standings as the Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway.
BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Phoenix International Raceway?
"Phoenix is definitely turning into a fun place to race. That dog leg that we all looked at and scratched our heads about, we thought it was more of an accident than intentional. It is a ton of fun to watch and turns 3 and 4 are still flat and losing the grip a little bit, turn 1 and 2 are also starting to lose the grip. It is turning out to be one of the more exciting races to watch."