Earnhardt Ganassi Racing/Auto Club Speedway Advance Notes
NEWS RELEASE Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates 8500 Westmoreland Drive * Concord, NC 28027 USA Phone (704) 662-9642 www.earnhardtganassi.com <http://www.earnhardtganassi.com> Auto Club Speedway Advance Notes Race: Auto Club 500 on Sunday, February 21 Track: Auto Club Speedway (2 miles) Location: Fontana, Calif. Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at Auto Club Speedway: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Jarrod England No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet NOTES Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops(r)/Tracker Boats Team MEDIA ALERT: Jamie McMurray will be available in the driver's meeting room for a brief media Q&A session on Friday, Feb. 19 at 2:15 p.m. ET Daytona 500 Winner: Jamie McMurray is fresh off the biggest win of his career, the world renowned Daytona 500. McMurray led the final two laps in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet holding off a late race charge from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to cross the start/finish line in first. The win came in McMurray's first race back with owners Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates, making Ganassi the only team owner besides Roger Penske to win the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona. In addition it becomes the fourth Daytona 500 win for the Dale Earnhardt organization which also captured victories with Michael Waltrip in 2001 and 2003 and with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2004. California History: McMurray will be making his 14th NSCS start at the Auto Club Speedway. He has a best start of third just last year in the spring race. His best finish of fourth (twice) came in 2004 and 2005 when he previously raced for Chip Ganassi. He has also led 43 laps at the two-mile oval. Bass Pro Shopping: In honor of the Daytona 500 victory, Bass Pro Shops is offering special shipping for their online shoppers this week. For any purchase over $100 shipping will be only $1. Outdoor enthusiasts can also find Bass Pro Shops close to Auto Club Speedway in Manteca, California, as well as the nearby city of Rancho Cucamonga. A third store is currently under construction in Bakersfield, with a grand opening date to be announced later in the year. Making Appearances: Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray will be making some appearances while out on the west coast this weekend. He will be at the Bass Pro Shops location in Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday, February 18th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and at the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing merchandise trailer at-track on Sunday, February 21st from 8:30 - 9:00 am signing autographs. West-Coast Native: Mechanic Sammy Gonzales grew up in Mission Hills, California just 70 miles east of Auto Club Speedway. Haiti Relief: Before the Daytona 500, Jamie McMurray announced the auctioning of 10 driver firesuits signed by him with all proceeds going towards Haiti Relief. Bidding will end this Thursday February 18th. For more information please visit www.nascar.com/foundation Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team MEDIA ALERT: Juan Pablo Montoya will be available in the driver's meeting room for a brief media Q&A session on Friday, Feb. 19 at 10:45 a.m. ET California History: Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his seventh NSCS start at the Auto Club Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Montoya is coming off a track-best finish from the final visit in 2009 where he started fourth and led for 78 laps before finishing third. He had previously only led for one lap with a best finish of 11th in the first event of 2009. Last week in Daytona: After a strong performance in the Gatorade Dual, Montoya placed the No. 42 Target machine in the eighth position for the start of the Daytona 500. He would go on to lead two laps and run up in the top-10 for the majority of the 200 lap race. In a wild green/white/checker finish, the Target Chevrolet would finish the day in the 10th position. Ticket Package: Auto Club Speedway and Montoya have teamed up for a special ticket package for the Auto Club 500 race. In honor of Juan's foundation, $42 will go toward Formula Smiles. For $142, the package includes a ticket to the race on Sunday, pre-race pit pass, a Montoya gift and an exclusive Q&A session with the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet. For more information go to www.autoclubspeedway.com/juanpablo Team Recognition: Juan Pablo Montoya's over-the-wall crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award after the Daytona 500. Montoya's No. 42 Target Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road at Daytona International Speedway. The outstanding effort contributed to Montoya's top-10 finish in the Sprint Cup season-opener. West-Coast Natives: One member of the Target team calls California his home state. Mechanic J.D. Frey grew up in Ferndale, (260 miles north of San Francisco) and has been involved in racing for the last 12 years. Special Guests: Extreme Makeover - Home Edition cast members John Littlefield and Ed Sanders will get some track time this weekend as they will be guests of the No. 42 Target team. CHASSIS INFO No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #31 Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats team are bringing chassis #31 to Auto Club Speedway this weekend. This is a brand new chassis. No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #906 Pattie and the No. 42 Target team are bringing chassis #906 Auto Club Speedway this weekend. This is a brand new chassis. 2010 STATS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./(Prev) Jamie McMurray 1 1 - 1 1 13 1 1/NA Juan Pablo Montoya 1 - - - 1 8 10 9/NA CAREER STATS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Jamie McMurray 259 4 3 31 81 20.4 19.3 Juan Pablo Montoya 110 1 2 12 28 19.2 20.3 TEAM ROSTERS Tony Glover - Team Manager Steve Hmiel - Director of Competition No. 1 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown Crew Chief: Kevin Manion Boylston, MA Rear Tire Changer: Chris Taylor West Plains, MO Chief Mechanic: Gary Putnam Vernon, CT Rear Tire Carrier: Adam Mosher Fort Mill, SC Front Tire Changer: Cory DeMarco St. Louis, MO Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs Richmond, VA Front Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe Danbury, CT Catch Can: Eric Hoyle Asheville, NC Jack Man: Tracy Duncan Lincolnton, NC Spotter: Keith Barnwell Hudson, NC No. 42 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown Crew Chief: Brian Pattie Zephyrhills, FL Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen Troutman, NC Chief Mechanic: Heath Silver Asheville, NC Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode Statesville, NC Front Tire Changer: Trevor Lysne Fergus Falls, MN Gas Man: Mike Bodick Norwalk, CT Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu Waterford, MI Catch Can: Heath Silver Asheville, NC Jack Man: TJ Ford Charlotte, NC Spotter: Tab Boyd Pensacola, FL