Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge Infineon Advance...
Media Contact: Patrick Rogers, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, 704-662-9642, progers@ganassi.com Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Target Dodge Dodge/Save Mart 350 - Infineon Raceway Advance - 6/25/06 To view the 2006 Target Racing Media Guide, please visit www.target.com/pressroom Target Team Fast Facts: Leader of the Pack: Sorenson led his first career laps in NEXTEL Cup competition, holding the point from lap 114-116 in the last event at Michigan International Speedway. Getting To Know You: Sorenson tested a Busch car on June 6 and 7 and Infineon Raceway in preparation for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup Series event at the 1.99-mile road course. The 20-year old driver has never competed at the track. Road Course Results: Sorenson has three road course starts in Busch Series competition, two at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City (14th and 36th) and one at Watkins Glen (41st). He suffered from engine problems in both finishes outside of the top 15. Stremme Stepping In: Sorenson's Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) teammate David Stremme, primary driver of the No. 40 Coors Light and Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Dodges, will step in to drive the No. 41 Discount Tire Dodge in this weekend's Busch Series event at The Milwaukee Mile. Chip Ganassi Racing road-course ace Scott Pruett will be driving the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge at Infineon, allowing Stremme to compete at Milwaukee. Both Stremme and Sorenson will resume driving duties in the No. 40 Dodge and No. 41 Busch Series entry next week at Daytona International Speedway. Chassis: Crew Chief Jimmy Elledge and the Target Team have selected chassis #410 for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup Series race. This is the same car the team used at the 2005 Watkins Glen race with driver Casey Mears (23rd-place finish). Golden State Natives: Two members of the Target team hail from California. Crew chief Jimmy Elledge (Redding, Calif.) and shock specialists Roger Parkinson (San Diego). NEXTEL Cup Points Report: Sorenson and the Target team moved up four positions to 20th in the overall standings with their fifth-place performance at Michigan. The team is 116 points out of 15th and 299 points out of the top 10. Rookie Round Up: Sorenson is currently third in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings with 136 points. He trails leader Denny Hamlin by 38 points. Sorenson has captured rookie of the race honors in three of the 15 races run thus far in '06 (Atlanta - 10th-place finish, Martinsville - 12th, Michigan - fifth). Busch Series Update: Sorenson is 12th in the overall Busch Series driver standings and he is 98 points out of 10th place. He will be skipping this weekend's event in Milwaukee to focus on his NEXTEL Cup efforts at Infineon. Reed Sorenson on Infineon and road course racing... "I'd never been on the track before we tested the Busch car out there a couple of weeks ago. I had to get some laps in there and we couldn't test in a Cup car so the next logical thing to do was take the Busch car. Now, when I get out there this weekend in a Cup car I'll know my shifting and braking points, and should be comfortable my first laps on the track. I've still got a lot to learn, but at least I'll be familiar with the track and know what I need to do. We just couldn't afford to show up without some sort of test and spend the whole practice session just learning how to get around the place. "I like road racing although we don't have the results to show for it in the races I've run in the Busch Series. We've had good runs going at times, but had mechanical failure take us out of contention in a couple of races. We're coming off a strong finish last weekend in Michigan and I'd like to keep that momentum going this weekend. Ultimately my goal is to complete all of the laps and keep the Target Dodge on the track. If I can accomplish that I think we'll have a successful day." Sorenson on Skipping the Busch Race in Milwaukee... "If we were a little better off in the point standings I would more than likely be making the trip to Milwaukee. Since we're not though, we all thought it would be better to focus all of my attention on the Infineon race. I've never raced at the track and don't have a ton of road course experience. I know David (Stremme) will do a great job in the car at Milwaukee and I look forward to getting back into the Discount Tire Dodge in Daytona." Sorenson's Infineon Stats (1.99-mile road course) Date Series Race Start Finish Laps Status Winnings *No Prior Starts 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Results Date Race Start Finish Winnings Pts. Pos. Date Race Start Finish Winnings Pts. Pos Feb. 19 Daytona 22 29 $262,908 29th July 16 New Hamp. Feb. 26 California 29 21 $97,875 24th July 23 Pocono Mar. 12 Las Vegas 36 40 $85,300 32nd Aug. 6 Indianapolis Mar. 19 Atlanta 15 10 $89,225 25th Aug. 13 Watkins Glen Mar. 26 Bristol 22 22 $92,450 27th Aug. 20 Michigan Apr. 2 Martinsville 25 12 $85,925 24th Aug. 26 Bristol Apr. 9 Texas 13 13 $126,675 19th Sept. 3 California Apr.22 Phoenix 34 40 $68,700 24th Sept. 9 Richmond Apr. 30 Talladega 41 26 $89,825 24th Sept. 17 New Hamp. May 6 Richmond 24 23 $77,025 26th Sept. 24 Dover May 13 Darlington 16 11 $94,375 24th Oct. 1 Talladega May 28 Charlotte 23 10 $119,275 20th Oct. 8 Kansas June 4 Dover 39 19 $91,600 21st Oct. 14 Charlotte June 11 Pocono 35 36 $68,750 24th Oct. 22 Martinsville June 18 Michigan 25 5 $98,350 20th Oct. 29 Atlanta June 25 Infineon Nov. 5 Texas July 1 Daytona Nov. 12 Phoenix July 9 Chicago Nov. 19 Homestead Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Winnings 15 0 1 3 0 $1,579,292 Last updated 6/19/06 Sorenson's Cumulative NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Stats: Starts Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Winnings 17 0 1 3 0 $ 1,685,833 Sorenson's Career Highlights -First NEXTEL Cup Series Top Five (Michigan, June 18, 2006) -First NEXTEL Cup Series Start (Atlanta, Oct. 30, 2005) -First Busch Series Win (Nashville, Mar. 26, 2005) -First Busch Series Pole (Nashville, Mar. 26, 2005) -First ARCA win (Michigan, June 2004) -2003 ASA Rookie of the Year -1998-2002 Legends Cars: 84 wins, 152 top fives and 166 top-10 finishes in 183 starts -1997 Quarter Midgets National Champion Target Crew: Name Crew position Hometown Name Crew position Hometown Jimmy Elledge Crew Chief Redding, Calif. Doug Spees Tire Specialist Toledo, Oh. Tony Glover Team Manager Kingsport, Tenn. Jesse Sanders Pit Support Coupeville, Wash. Jeff Vandermoss Car Chief Green Bay, Wis. Lorin Ranier Spotter Prestonsburg, Ky. Bobby Burrell Front Tire Changer Huntersville, N.C. Travis Alexander Engine Specialist Walla Walla, Wash. Marty Forcier Front Tire Carrier Superior, Mich. Tim Smith Engineer Cope, S.C. Jason Sheets Rear Tire Changer Indianapolis, Ind. Roger Parkinson Pit Support San Diego, Calif. Alex Yonchok Rear Tire Carrier Syracuse, N.Y. Rod Bussard Transport Driver Everett, Penn. Shaun Peet Jack Man Nanaimo, B.C Mark Miller Transport Driver Randy Hildreth Gas Man Charlotte, N.C. Jeremy Crosby Pit Support Hickory, N.C. Eric Hoyle Catch Can Man Asheville, N.C. Mike Chance Pit Support Please visit www.chipganassiracing.com <http://www.chipganassiracing.com/>