TEAM REPORTS (FONTANA, CA.) - RCR/JEFF BURTON PRE-CALIFORNIA NOTES

NOTES:

· This Week’s Holiday Inn Chevrolet at California Speedway … Jeff Burton will pilot Chassis No. 050 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable in this weekend’s Stater Bros. 300. Built new in 2006 and ran as the No. 2 machine, Clint Bowyer drove this chassis in 2006 in February at California (St. 14, Fn. 16), in May at Charlotte (St. 17, Fn. 36), in September at California (St. 1, Fn. 13) and in October at Charlotte (St. 24, Fn. 7). In 2007, this chassis ran as the No. 29 Chevrolet where Scott Wimmer drove this chassis to a third-place finish at Kentucky after starting 25th and finished 29th in September at Dover after being involved in an incident of another driver’s making. Since then, this Holiday Inn Chevrolet has received all the required 2008 updates.

· Burton in the Loop …

o Stat Facts … In eight NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts at California Speedway, Burton has posted one win (September 2007), four top-five and five top-10 finishes and led 165 laps and completed all 1,200 laps contested.

o Smokin’ Fast … Burton leads all drivers in the Green Flag Speed category. The 27-time Nationwide Series winner posted a fast lap of 169.744 mph at the last California race on Sept. 1, 2007.

o Speaking of Stats … Burton is ranked second in the Nationwide Series Average Running Position category (5.0) and is currently the series’ fifth-best Quality Passer (151) – a statistic derived from the number of positions improved while running in the top-15 during green-flag conditions. He is second in the Driver Rating category (123.1). The Driver Rating is a formula that combines the following categories: wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum points a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The Driver Rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.

· RCR at California … In 26 NNS starts at the two-mile D-shaped oval, RCR has earned one win (Burton, September 2007), three poles (Kevin Harvick, April 2003; Bowyer, September 2005 and 2006), 12 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. RCR cars have also led 246 laps at the track outside the City of Angels.

· For the Record … 2008 marks Jeff Burton’s 19th season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with 280 starts, 27 wins, 11 poles, and 84 top-five and 136 top-10 finishes.

· Let’s Break Things Down … The 2008 season will once again feature Wimmer and Burton as co-pilots of the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, with Wimmer behind the wheel for 23 races and Burton the remainder of the 35-race schedule.

· Three to Go … RCR has earned a Nationwide Series victory at 23 of the 26 tracks on the 2008 schedule. With Burton’s win last fall at California Speedway, the only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn’t earned wins are Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

· Double Duty at California … In addition to his driving duties with the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, Burton, a 19-time race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, will drive RCR’s No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet in the February 24 Auto Club 500. The race will air live on FOX beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and can also be heard on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

· Meet the Press … Burton will be available outside the No. 31 AT&T transporter to field questions from the gathered media Friday, February 22 at 8:50 a.m.

· Up to Speed Challenge … Nationwide Insurance announced the launch of The Up To Speed Challenge, a new, free on-line fantasy contest, on ESPN.com. The NASCAR Nationwide Series first-of-its kind, on-line fantasy contest offers fans a chance to win $100,000 and other great prizes throughout the season. In addition, the contest keeps fans in the driver’s seat for all the latest NASCAR Nationwide Series action. Fans can participate by logging onto ESPN.com and searching keyword “Nationwide Insurance.”

· Catch the Action … The Stater Bros. 300 at California Speedway will be televised live on ESPN2 on Saturday, February 23 beginning at 7 p.m. EST. The race will also be broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 2nd of 35 races on the 2007 Nationwide Series calendar will air live the same day on SPEED at 12:30 p.m. EST.

JEFF BURTON QUOTES:

How strong are Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide Series cars at California?

“Richard Childress Racing was incredible last fall at California. We were unbelievably fast. I love this race track and it is a lot of fun to race, especially the Nationwide cars. With the low engine power, we are going to be wicked fast. It is much slower down the straightaways but that just means that you are going to be faster in the corners. It is going to be an interesting race but hopefully the Holiday Inn Chevy comes out on top.”

What is the key to a strong finish at California Speedway?

“Really, it’s kind of the same at every race track we go to. First and foremost, you have to have a fast car. Then, you can’t make mistakes out on the race track or in the pits. NASCAR racing is so competitive that there can not be mistakes made anywhere in order to have a good finish because the competition is just so strong.”