UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT
All of the following is from Robert's NASCAR Notes.
DETROIT – (Aug. 19, 2015) – Electric, intense, exciting – all adjectives Team Chevy drivers use to describe the action and atmosphere at Bristol Motor Speedway during 500 laps of racing under the lights at the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’.
Saturday night under the thick, humid, night air in the Tennessee Mountains, 23 Chevrolet SS drivers will suit up for battle around the 0.533-mile concrete coliseum. They will all compete against the world’s toughest drivers in an effort to take the most successful manufacturer in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to victory lane at one of NASCAR’s most popular venues for the 44th time in series history.
If successful, one driver will add his or her name to the Chevrolet history books by recording yet another milestone for the Bowtie Brand in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition: Chevrolet’s 750th series win.
History is not the only thing drivers will compete for Saturday night. With only three races remaining until the Chase cutoff race in Richmond, Virginia, drivers without a win this season will be extra aggressive if they are in a position to earn a victory Saturday night. Not only does every driver who takes the green flag want to win at Bristol, considered one of the sports crown jewel races, but they all want to earn a spot in this season’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
As the lights go up and the intensity ratchets up, drivers will be seeing all black. This weekend Chevrolet is encouraging everyone to join in the ‘Bristol Blackout’ powered by Chevrolet. Fans are asked to wear their favorite driver’s t-shirt in black, while drivers will be taken on a parade lap around the 36-degree banking in Midnight Black Chevrolet Silverados. At the Team Chevy display all the cars, trucks and SUV’s will be black.
As fans wait to take their seats to watch 500 laps of intense racing at the ‘last great coliseum’, they are encouraged to take in everything happening at the Team Chevy display. The Team Chevy stage will be bustle of activity starting when the display opens at noon Wednesday.
Throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to visit the Team Chevy display to check out the great lineup of Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs on exhibit in the midway. Fans can ask questions of their favorite drivers while at the Team Chevy stage. Brandon Jones, Spencer Gallagher, Ray Black, Jr., John Hunter Nemechek, Jamie McMurray and Justin Allgaier will all be on stage visiting with fans throughout the weekend.
The 500-lap/266.5-mile Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday Aug. 22. Live coverage will be available on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.
TEAM CHEVY IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (NSCS) COMPETITION:
Chevrolet has won 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Manufacturers’ Championships
Team Chevy drivers have scored 749 wins and 676 poles in NSCS competition
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
Chevrolet drivers have won 43 of 109 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Victories by current Team Chevy drivers are:
Kurt Busch, No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, has five (5) wins at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) (’02, ’03 – TWICE, ’04 & ’06)
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 3M Chevrolet SS, has five (5) victories at BMS (’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98 & ‘02)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Mountain Dew Dewshine Chevrolet SS, has visited Victory Lane at BMS once (1) (’04)
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet SS, has one (1) trophy from BMS (’05)
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, has made one (1) trip to Winner’s Circle at BMS (’10)
Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS, has recorded one (1) victory at BMS (’13)
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS, has one (1) win at BMS (’01)
A Chevrolet driver has won one of the last five races at Bristol Motor Speedway
A Chevrolet driver has sat on the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway 37 times
Team Chevy drivers have scored 198 top-five and 406 top-10 finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway
A Chevrolet has led 22,821 laps (42.0% of possible 54,300 laps) at Bristol Motor Speedway
TEAM CHEVY FOR THE FANS AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
Fans can check out great Chevrolet vehicles including: Chevrolet SS, 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year – Chevrolet Colorado complete with accessories, Impala, 2016 Corvette Stingray, Malibu, Camaro, Equinox, Traverse, Suburban, Silverado 2500 and Silverado Midnight Edition
At the display fans can see a variety of show cars including: Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet SS and Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS.
Other activities at the Team Chevy Racing Display include a variety of interactive games for adults and kids
Fans can see a sample of engines, parts and accessories in the Team Chevy Display available for purchase from Chevrolet at their local Chevrolet dealer
DID YOU KNOW? On the street or on the trail, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado’s Midnight Edition and Z71 Trail Boss bring bolder choices to customers looking to make a visual statement with their truck.
The special editions roll into Chevrolet dealerships this fall, with distinctly tailored appearances that blend custom design cues with Colorado’s popular options and accessories. The Midnight Edition evokes the aesthetic of an urban tuner vehicle, while the Z71 Trail Boss is designed for terrain where the pavement ends.
ENGINEER EXPERTISE FROM THE GARAGE AREA – ALBA COLON, CHEVROLET RACING PROGRAM MANAGER – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES:
“This weekend NASCAR’s three premier racing series head to Bristol Motor Speedway. Action starts on Wednesday with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, continues on Friday evening with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and we will cap off a great racing weekend with the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Saturday night. There is nothing like short track racing at night. For sure, these are some of fans favorite races during the year!! Bristol night races never disappoint.
“With just three races left to go before the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series begins, the pressure is really on the teams that haven’t won a race yet or very close from the cut off line of the top 16 positions. For sure not all the positions will be decided until the last lap at the Richmond race. Every lap, every win, and every position counts more than ever. Team Chevy has nine drivers in the top 16 positions; and several drivers very close to make the grid too. Our main goals the next three weeks are to win races and to continue to work hard to secure as many drivers as we can for the final 10-race run for the championship.
“For sure this high-speed half-mile track offers its own set of unique challenges. To be successful at this race, it is extremely important to have a well-balanced car and staying out of trouble. This place is very demanding on drivers, teams and equipment. A great handling car is necessary to survive and make it in the top 10 at the end of the race. The teams will have to work their magic while they practice and qualify in the heat of the day, but race in cooler temperatures at night.
“After the last several races, we all welcome some traditional short track racing. Team Chevy is looking forward to a very successful weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.”
TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT:
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 BUDWEISER/JIMMY JOHN’S CHEVROLET SS – POINTS LEADER
“The Bristol night race is one that has always been circled on everybody’s list as a race that they want to win. I think when you look at Bristol it’s probably become harder than it used to be to pass just for the fact that you run up against the wall. Plus, you add that short track element, it’s hot and it’s frustrating as well just because it’s hard to pass and you know that you have to make time. In the end it usually ends up that you have guys that run into each other and then we all get mad. It can definitely be a place where the tempers flare.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – 3RD IN STANDINGS
“I love racing at Bristol. I always look forward to racing there. This weekend’s race is the one of the best tickets on the schedule. There is just no other track like it.”
MARTIN TRUEX, JR., NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/VISSER PRECISION CHEVROLET SS – 4TH IN STANDINGS
“The first thing that strikes me about the Bristol night race is the electric prerace show — the colosseum-type atmosphere, the national anthem and the flyover. You feel the energy around you that is different from any place we go to. But it’s a tough little racetrack. The biggest thing that stands out to me is that when you get there and make those first couple of laps it takes you a minute just to catch your breath and really think about what did the car actually do and what do I need to work on because it’s just so fast and so breathtaking. It’s a neat racetrack, but also a tough one for me. It’s been an up-and-down career at Bristol over the years. I’ve had a lot of good runs there and also had a lot of trouble. We weren’t that good at the first Bristol race this year so we have a little work to do.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PRO SERVICES CHEVROLET SS – 6TH IN STANDINGS
“Michigan was a tough race for us. We had a fast Lowe’s Chevy and just had some things go wrong and chased it all day. We were so, so loose. You have to put the bad races out of your mind and focus forward – Bristol should be a great race for us – we had a good one in the spring.”
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – 8TH IN STANDINGS
“The Bristol night race it’s the electricity, the excitement, the hot summer evening at a short track. All of us grew up on short tracks and that atmosphere there it really brings us right back to where we started. That energy and electricity from a Saturday night Bristol race I think everybody looks forward to it. It’s almost like the official stamp of summer we have to go back to that short track on Saturday night.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S/CESSNA CHEVROLET SS – 10TH IN STANDINGS
“We tested at Bristol a week ago and I thought we had a really good test. It took a while to get that top groove going, but it is just incredible once you get that worked in, how much faster the lap times are. I’m a fan of that top groove as opposed to the way the track used to be, just trying to move a guy and pass on the bottom. Instead of working a car off the bottom of the track you try getting on the outside, or try to work the bottom and hopefully pin somebody in lap traffic. Bristol is a really demanding track in the sense that you have to maintain your focus because things happen really fast, but it is super fun when you have a good car.”
PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 KNAUF/MENARDS CHEVROLET SS – 11TH IN STANDINGS
“We worked on some ideas at the test recently that we normally wouldn’t have the time to try out in a short practice session, so I’d say it was beneficial. We’ll approach this race just as any other, try to maximize points, whether it is an educated gamble on mileage or just bolt on four tires and go. We’ll see how the race plays out and execute accordingly.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – 12TH IN STANDINGS
*Making his 500th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at BMS
“It seems to depend on the tire we have and how the racing is going to be. There are times where qualifying is super important and there are times where track is three or four lanes wide where we can just have a great race. It really all depends on the tire which I think is the same. We’ll just have to see. Qualifying is always important at Bristol.”
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS – 13TH IN STANDINGS
“When you have high-banked, very fast short track in this stadium – in this “colosseum” – surrounded by the most avid NASCAR fans, the energy in the stands and on the track is electrifying. It just makes for a great event.
“I have a lot of great memories with this rainbow paint scheme. What I love is this paint scheme is for the fans. The fans wanted us to run this scheme again during my final season, and this Axalta Chevy SS definitely stands out. You’re not going to miss it.”
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS – 17TH IN STANDINGS
“My first thought was, ‘It’s Bristol baby’! What a great feeling walking out of Thunder Valley with the W. I had always dreamed about winning a Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and that night we did it. Bristol is one of those tracks you really feel like you need to win. It’s such a tough track. My first race here in 2002 was just something I couldn’t believe – the way that you drove, as hard as you drove here, the way things happen so quickly. There are just so many things that are thrown at you. It’s a big confidence builder to win at Bristol. When I got home I set the trophy on my coffee table and used it as a new centerpiece for a while.”
KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – 19TH IN STANDINGS
“Bristol is one of my favorite tracks, and the night race there is something I really look forward to each year. We’ve had some good races at Bristol, and led a lot of laps in the Target Chevy earlier in the season, so we’re hoping for another strong run. I’m headed up for the modified and truck races before we get started, so looking forward to a good weekend.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CHEVROLET SS – 20TH IN STANDINGS
“I look forward to going to Bristol Motor Speedway. I think we’ve got a great shot there. If you don’t have a car that handles well it equates to a bad day at Bristol because you can’t get out of the way because everything flows to the top. You can really be aggressive at Bristol, and it’s a track where you are rewarded for being aggressive. It’s one of those places that is a physical track. When it’s all said and done you see drivers really spent after the race.”
DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CHEVROLET SS – 21ST IN STANDINGS
“I like Bristol. Obviously can be a little bit…the cars definitely got in a train last time we were here. It was tough. It was a little bit hard to pass. But like I said, that is why the bottom becomes important because if you get stuck, or even if you start on the bottom on a restart. If your car is turning, you can make that work I think for a little while. I think qualifying is going to be really important, so definitely going to find myself doing a lot more qualifying runs…as many as possible before qualifying in the afternoon. But, I’ve liked Bristol since the first time I came here.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 BUSH’S GRILLIN BEANS CHEVROLET SS – 22ND IN STANDINGS
“When you get strapped in, you know it’s going to be a battle for 500 laps. Whether your car is amazing or no good, it’s a battle for 500 laps. This race especially I get in and my heart is beating a little bit quicker and a little bit harder than usual. You roll out and those three or four pace laps seem like they go by so fast. It’s a cool feeling. I get really amped up. It’s one of those things where you are trying to stay calm because you know for 500 laps the 42 other crazy people are on the racetrack besides the normal one are here to really make you mad. That’s what it all comes down to. You’re like, ‘Okay, try to stay calm’ and that’s what it’s all about. They drop the green and somebody usually runs into the back of you into Turn 1 and your just ticked off at that point until the end. It’s just a battle and that’s the best way to explain it. 500 laps is mentally and physically grueling, but hopefully when you get done, you’ve run all 500 laps. If you’ve done that, it’s a big accomplishment.”
CASEY MEARS, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS – 23RD IN STANDINGS
“Bristol Motor Speedway is definitely one of the more fun places we go to all year. Racing is fast and tight and a lot of fun. Definitely I look forward to going back to Bristol every chance I get. It’s one of those race tracks where you can be fast and good and obviously staying out of trouble is the big goal. You have to keep the fenders on it and that means being patient and aggressive at the right times to try to have an issue-free race. Typically, our GEICO Chevrolet SS is pretty good at Bristol, so I’m looking forward to getting there.”
TONY STEWART, NO. 14 BASS PRO SHOPS/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET SS – 26TH IN STANDINGS
“Bristol is one of those places where you’ve got to have everything kind of go your way. If you have one hiccup, it’s hard to recover from it. We’ve only won one race there and we’ve kind of been all over the board. It’s been feast or famine for us. It’s like if you have one problem in the first half of the race, it’s hard to recover from it. It makes for a very long day. We’ve had more long days than good days.”
JUSTIN ALLGAIER, NO. 51 BRANDT CHEVROLET SS – 30TH IN STANDINGS
“I’d say Bristol [Motor Speedway] is my favorite track that we race on. I have a lot of good memories from this year’s Spring race at the track. It felt really good to finish eighth and I think we can have an even better finish than that this weekend. It’s certainly one of the most challenging tracks because it is a short-track. One wrong move and you can lose 10 spots before you blink. Pit road is also unique there because there’s stalls on both sides of the track. There’s different rules for how you get to your stall if you are under the green flag versus the yellow flag. That’s not something we are used to every week. Bristol and Chevy have also teamed up for the Bristol Blackout, which is a really cool promotion for the fans. It’ll be neat to see a sea of black in the grandstands.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturers Championships
Total (1949 – 2014): 38
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 12 (2003-2014)
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Chevrolet Drivers Championships
Total (1949 – 2014): 30
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005 – ’11)
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Chevrolet Event Victories
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 – (in 2007)
2015 STATISTICS:
Wins: 11
Poles: 10
Laps led: 3744
Top-five finishes: 67
Top-10 finishes: 137
CHEVROLET IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 749 (1949 – to date); (2,438 possible = 30.0%)
Poles Won to Date: 676
Laps Lead to Date: 223,555
Top-Five Finishes to Date: 3,776
Top-10 Finishes to Date: 7,713
Total NASCAR Cup wins by Corporation, 1949 – To-DateGM: 1,084
Chevrolet: 749
Pontiac: 155
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 735
Ford: 635
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Chrysler: 466
Dodge: 217
Plymouth: 190
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 74
About Chevrolet:
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
- Team Chevy
All of the following is from Robert's NASCAR Notes.
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| Jeff Gordon, in his No. 24 Chevrolet, races at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2014. |
Saturday night under the thick, humid, night air in the Tennessee Mountains, 23 Chevrolet SS drivers will suit up for battle around the 0.533-mile concrete coliseum. They will all compete against the world’s toughest drivers in an effort to take the most successful manufacturer in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to victory lane at one of NASCAR’s most popular venues for the 44th time in series history.
If successful, one driver will add his or her name to the Chevrolet history books by recording yet another milestone for the Bowtie Brand in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition: Chevrolet’s 750th series win.
History is not the only thing drivers will compete for Saturday night. With only three races remaining until the Chase cutoff race in Richmond, Virginia, drivers without a win this season will be extra aggressive if they are in a position to earn a victory Saturday night. Not only does every driver who takes the green flag want to win at Bristol, considered one of the sports crown jewel races, but they all want to earn a spot in this season’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
As the lights go up and the intensity ratchets up, drivers will be seeing all black. This weekend Chevrolet is encouraging everyone to join in the ‘Bristol Blackout’ powered by Chevrolet. Fans are asked to wear their favorite driver’s t-shirt in black, while drivers will be taken on a parade lap around the 36-degree banking in Midnight Black Chevrolet Silverados. At the Team Chevy display all the cars, trucks and SUV’s will be black.
As fans wait to take their seats to watch 500 laps of intense racing at the ‘last great coliseum’, they are encouraged to take in everything happening at the Team Chevy display. The Team Chevy stage will be bustle of activity starting when the display opens at noon Wednesday.
Throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to visit the Team Chevy display to check out the great lineup of Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs on exhibit in the midway. Fans can ask questions of their favorite drivers while at the Team Chevy stage. Brandon Jones, Spencer Gallagher, Ray Black, Jr., John Hunter Nemechek, Jamie McMurray and Justin Allgaier will all be on stage visiting with fans throughout the weekend.
The 500-lap/266.5-mile Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday Aug. 22. Live coverage will be available on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.
TEAM CHEVY IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (NSCS) COMPETITION:
Chevrolet has won 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Manufacturers’ Championships
Team Chevy drivers have scored 749 wins and 676 poles in NSCS competition
CHEVROLET ON THE TRACK—BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
Chevrolet drivers have won 43 of 109 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Victories by current Team Chevy drivers are:
Kurt Busch, No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, has five (5) wins at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) (’02, ’03 – TWICE, ’04 & ’06)
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 3M Chevrolet SS, has five (5) victories at BMS (’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98 & ‘02)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Mountain Dew Dewshine Chevrolet SS, has visited Victory Lane at BMS once (1) (’04)
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet SS, has one (1) trophy from BMS (’05)
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS, has made one (1) trip to Winner’s Circle at BMS (’10)
Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS, has recorded one (1) victory at BMS (’13)
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS, has one (1) win at BMS (’01)
A Chevrolet driver has won one of the last five races at Bristol Motor Speedway
A Chevrolet driver has sat on the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway 37 times
Team Chevy drivers have scored 198 top-five and 406 top-10 finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway
A Chevrolet has led 22,821 laps (42.0% of possible 54,300 laps) at Bristol Motor Speedway
TEAM CHEVY FOR THE FANS AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
Fans can check out great Chevrolet vehicles including: Chevrolet SS, 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year – Chevrolet Colorado complete with accessories, Impala, 2016 Corvette Stingray, Malibu, Camaro, Equinox, Traverse, Suburban, Silverado 2500 and Silverado Midnight Edition
At the display fans can see a variety of show cars including: Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet SS and Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS.
Other activities at the Team Chevy Racing Display include a variety of interactive games for adults and kids
Fans can see a sample of engines, parts and accessories in the Team Chevy Display available for purchase from Chevrolet at their local Chevrolet dealer
DID YOU KNOW? On the street or on the trail, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado’s Midnight Edition and Z71 Trail Boss bring bolder choices to customers looking to make a visual statement with their truck.
The special editions roll into Chevrolet dealerships this fall, with distinctly tailored appearances that blend custom design cues with Colorado’s popular options and accessories. The Midnight Edition evokes the aesthetic of an urban tuner vehicle, while the Z71 Trail Boss is designed for terrain where the pavement ends.
ENGINEER EXPERTISE FROM THE GARAGE AREA – ALBA COLON, CHEVROLET RACING PROGRAM MANAGER – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES:
“This weekend NASCAR’s three premier racing series head to Bristol Motor Speedway. Action starts on Wednesday with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, continues on Friday evening with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and we will cap off a great racing weekend with the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Saturday night. There is nothing like short track racing at night. For sure, these are some of fans favorite races during the year!! Bristol night races never disappoint.
“With just three races left to go before the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series begins, the pressure is really on the teams that haven’t won a race yet or very close from the cut off line of the top 16 positions. For sure not all the positions will be decided until the last lap at the Richmond race. Every lap, every win, and every position counts more than ever. Team Chevy has nine drivers in the top 16 positions; and several drivers very close to make the grid too. Our main goals the next three weeks are to win races and to continue to work hard to secure as many drivers as we can for the final 10-race run for the championship.
“For sure this high-speed half-mile track offers its own set of unique challenges. To be successful at this race, it is extremely important to have a well-balanced car and staying out of trouble. This place is very demanding on drivers, teams and equipment. A great handling car is necessary to survive and make it in the top 10 at the end of the race. The teams will have to work their magic while they practice and qualify in the heat of the day, but race in cooler temperatures at night.
“After the last several races, we all welcome some traditional short track racing. Team Chevy is looking forward to a very successful weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.”
TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT:
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 BUDWEISER/JIMMY JOHN’S CHEVROLET SS – POINTS LEADER
“The Bristol night race is one that has always been circled on everybody’s list as a race that they want to win. I think when you look at Bristol it’s probably become harder than it used to be to pass just for the fact that you run up against the wall. Plus, you add that short track element, it’s hot and it’s frustrating as well just because it’s hard to pass and you know that you have to make time. In the end it usually ends up that you have guys that run into each other and then we all get mad. It can definitely be a place where the tempers flare.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – 3RD IN STANDINGS
“I love racing at Bristol. I always look forward to racing there. This weekend’s race is the one of the best tickets on the schedule. There is just no other track like it.”
MARTIN TRUEX, JR., NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/VISSER PRECISION CHEVROLET SS – 4TH IN STANDINGS
“The first thing that strikes me about the Bristol night race is the electric prerace show — the colosseum-type atmosphere, the national anthem and the flyover. You feel the energy around you that is different from any place we go to. But it’s a tough little racetrack. The biggest thing that stands out to me is that when you get there and make those first couple of laps it takes you a minute just to catch your breath and really think about what did the car actually do and what do I need to work on because it’s just so fast and so breathtaking. It’s a neat racetrack, but also a tough one for me. It’s been an up-and-down career at Bristol over the years. I’ve had a lot of good runs there and also had a lot of trouble. We weren’t that good at the first Bristol race this year so we have a little work to do.”
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PRO SERVICES CHEVROLET SS – 6TH IN STANDINGS
“Michigan was a tough race for us. We had a fast Lowe’s Chevy and just had some things go wrong and chased it all day. We were so, so loose. You have to put the bad races out of your mind and focus forward – Bristol should be a great race for us – we had a good one in the spring.”
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – 8TH IN STANDINGS
“The Bristol night race it’s the electricity, the excitement, the hot summer evening at a short track. All of us grew up on short tracks and that atmosphere there it really brings us right back to where we started. That energy and electricity from a Saturday night Bristol race I think everybody looks forward to it. It’s almost like the official stamp of summer we have to go back to that short track on Saturday night.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S/CESSNA CHEVROLET SS – 10TH IN STANDINGS
“We tested at Bristol a week ago and I thought we had a really good test. It took a while to get that top groove going, but it is just incredible once you get that worked in, how much faster the lap times are. I’m a fan of that top groove as opposed to the way the track used to be, just trying to move a guy and pass on the bottom. Instead of working a car off the bottom of the track you try getting on the outside, or try to work the bottom and hopefully pin somebody in lap traffic. Bristol is a really demanding track in the sense that you have to maintain your focus because things happen really fast, but it is super fun when you have a good car.”
PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 KNAUF/MENARDS CHEVROLET SS – 11TH IN STANDINGS
“We worked on some ideas at the test recently that we normally wouldn’t have the time to try out in a short practice session, so I’d say it was beneficial. We’ll approach this race just as any other, try to maximize points, whether it is an educated gamble on mileage or just bolt on four tires and go. We’ll see how the race plays out and execute accordingly.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – 12TH IN STANDINGS
*Making his 500th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at BMS
“It seems to depend on the tire we have and how the racing is going to be. There are times where qualifying is super important and there are times where track is three or four lanes wide where we can just have a great race. It really all depends on the tire which I think is the same. We’ll just have to see. Qualifying is always important at Bristol.”
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS – 13TH IN STANDINGS
“When you have high-banked, very fast short track in this stadium – in this “colosseum” – surrounded by the most avid NASCAR fans, the energy in the stands and on the track is electrifying. It just makes for a great event.
“I have a lot of great memories with this rainbow paint scheme. What I love is this paint scheme is for the fans. The fans wanted us to run this scheme again during my final season, and this Axalta Chevy SS definitely stands out. You’re not going to miss it.”
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS – 17TH IN STANDINGS
“My first thought was, ‘It’s Bristol baby’! What a great feeling walking out of Thunder Valley with the W. I had always dreamed about winning a Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and that night we did it. Bristol is one of those tracks you really feel like you need to win. It’s such a tough track. My first race here in 2002 was just something I couldn’t believe – the way that you drove, as hard as you drove here, the way things happen so quickly. There are just so many things that are thrown at you. It’s a big confidence builder to win at Bristol. When I got home I set the trophy on my coffee table and used it as a new centerpiece for a while.”
KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – 19TH IN STANDINGS
“Bristol is one of my favorite tracks, and the night race there is something I really look forward to each year. We’ve had some good races at Bristol, and led a lot of laps in the Target Chevy earlier in the season, so we’re hoping for another strong run. I’m headed up for the modified and truck races before we get started, so looking forward to a good weekend.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CHEVROLET SS – 20TH IN STANDINGS
“I look forward to going to Bristol Motor Speedway. I think we’ve got a great shot there. If you don’t have a car that handles well it equates to a bad day at Bristol because you can’t get out of the way because everything flows to the top. You can really be aggressive at Bristol, and it’s a track where you are rewarded for being aggressive. It’s one of those places that is a physical track. When it’s all said and done you see drivers really spent after the race.”
DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CHEVROLET SS – 21ST IN STANDINGS
“I like Bristol. Obviously can be a little bit…the cars definitely got in a train last time we were here. It was tough. It was a little bit hard to pass. But like I said, that is why the bottom becomes important because if you get stuck, or even if you start on the bottom on a restart. If your car is turning, you can make that work I think for a little while. I think qualifying is going to be really important, so definitely going to find myself doing a lot more qualifying runs…as many as possible before qualifying in the afternoon. But, I’ve liked Bristol since the first time I came here.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 BUSH’S GRILLIN BEANS CHEVROLET SS – 22ND IN STANDINGS
“When you get strapped in, you know it’s going to be a battle for 500 laps. Whether your car is amazing or no good, it’s a battle for 500 laps. This race especially I get in and my heart is beating a little bit quicker and a little bit harder than usual. You roll out and those three or four pace laps seem like they go by so fast. It’s a cool feeling. I get really amped up. It’s one of those things where you are trying to stay calm because you know for 500 laps the 42 other crazy people are on the racetrack besides the normal one are here to really make you mad. That’s what it all comes down to. You’re like, ‘Okay, try to stay calm’ and that’s what it’s all about. They drop the green and somebody usually runs into the back of you into Turn 1 and your just ticked off at that point until the end. It’s just a battle and that’s the best way to explain it. 500 laps is mentally and physically grueling, but hopefully when you get done, you’ve run all 500 laps. If you’ve done that, it’s a big accomplishment.”
CASEY MEARS, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS – 23RD IN STANDINGS
“Bristol Motor Speedway is definitely one of the more fun places we go to all year. Racing is fast and tight and a lot of fun. Definitely I look forward to going back to Bristol every chance I get. It’s one of those race tracks where you can be fast and good and obviously staying out of trouble is the big goal. You have to keep the fenders on it and that means being patient and aggressive at the right times to try to have an issue-free race. Typically, our GEICO Chevrolet SS is pretty good at Bristol, so I’m looking forward to getting there.”
TONY STEWART, NO. 14 BASS PRO SHOPS/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET SS – 26TH IN STANDINGS
“Bristol is one of those places where you’ve got to have everything kind of go your way. If you have one hiccup, it’s hard to recover from it. We’ve only won one race there and we’ve kind of been all over the board. It’s been feast or famine for us. It’s like if you have one problem in the first half of the race, it’s hard to recover from it. It makes for a very long day. We’ve had more long days than good days.”
JUSTIN ALLGAIER, NO. 51 BRANDT CHEVROLET SS – 30TH IN STANDINGS
“I’d say Bristol [Motor Speedway] is my favorite track that we race on. I have a lot of good memories from this year’s Spring race at the track. It felt really good to finish eighth and I think we can have an even better finish than that this weekend. It’s certainly one of the most challenging tracks because it is a short-track. One wrong move and you can lose 10 spots before you blink. Pit road is also unique there because there’s stalls on both sides of the track. There’s different rules for how you get to your stall if you are under the green flag versus the yellow flag. That’s not something we are used to every week. Bristol and Chevy have also teamed up for the Bristol Blackout, which is a really cool promotion for the fans. It’ll be neat to see a sea of black in the grandstands.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturers Championships
Total (1949 – 2014): 38
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 12 (2003-2014)
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Chevrolet Drivers Championships
Total (1949 – 2014): 30
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005 – ’11)
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Chevrolet Event Victories
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 – (in 2007)
2015 STATISTICS:
Wins: 11
Poles: 10
Laps led: 3744
Top-five finishes: 67
Top-10 finishes: 137
CHEVROLET IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 749 (1949 – to date); (2,438 possible = 30.0%)
Poles Won to Date: 676
Laps Lead to Date: 223,555
Top-Five Finishes to Date: 3,776
Top-10 Finishes to Date: 7,713
Total NASCAR Cup wins by Corporation, 1949 – To-DateGM: 1,084
Chevrolet: 749
Pontiac: 155
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 735
Ford: 635
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Chrysler: 466
Dodge: 217
Plymouth: 190
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 74
About Chevrolet:
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
- Team Chevy
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