Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Auto Club Speedway ... In 72 overall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway, RCR Chevrolet teams have earned one win (Kevin Harvick - 2011), one pole award (Mike Skinner - April 2000), 10 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes. RCR has a 20.3 average starting position, a 16.4 average finishing position and has completed 16,743 of the 17,031 laps (98.3 percent) contested at the moderately-banked, D-shaped race track.
RCR in the NSCS ... In 2,393 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 44 pole awards,105 wins, 450 top-five finishes and 950 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.8 and an average finishing position of 15.8. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Sprint Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, '87, '90,'91, '93 and '94, six NASCAR Nationwide Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR's three national series.
Save Kids' Lives by Joining the Childress Champions ... Help support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma by selecting your favorite driver when making a bronze level donation of $33 (Austin Dillon), $27 (Paul Menard) or $31 (Ryan Newman) to CIPT. To make a tax deductable donation, visit: https://www.wakehealth.edu/OnlineGift.htm?fid=45. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma invests resources in research, education and awareness to improve the treatment for critically injured children in the U.S. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was established through the generosity of Richard and Judy Childress. For more information, please visit www.InjuredKids.org.
Interactive RCR ... For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR's Twitter page - @RCRracing - along with the RCR Sprint Cup Series team Twitter pages - @RCR3ADillon, @RCR27PMenard, @RCR31RNewman, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @RyanJNewman. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages - www.facebook.com/austindillon3 , www.facebook.com/PaulMenard27 and www.facebook.com/RyanNewmanNASCAR.
Catch the Action ... The Auto Club 400 will be televised live Sunday, March 23 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Austin Dillon
No. 3 Cheerios Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week's Cheerios Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway ... Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 457 in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. This is a new Chevrolet SS that will be utilized for the first time under race conditions this weekend.
Dillon at Auto Club Speedway ... Although Dillon will make his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway this weekend, he has made two previous starts at the two-mile track in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, earning a pair of fifth-place finishes (2012 and 2013).
#CheerThe3 ... Limited edition Cheerios boxes that commemorate the return of the No. 3 to NASCAR's premier series with NASCAR champion Austin Dillon are available to shoppers exclusively at The Kroger Co. Family of Stores nationwide. The collectible Cheerios box, which required rare brand approval to replace the traditional red heart with the iconic No. 3, also features historic photos and facts about the legendary number. Fans can interact and receive unique content about Austin Dillon and the No. 3 race team throughout the 2014 season by visiting the "Cheer the 3" social media communities on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/Cheerthe3) and Twitter @Cheerthe3.
Get to the Points ... Dillon ranks 13th in the championship driver point standings entering this weekend's race at Auto Club Speedway.
The Season So Far ... Dillon started off his rookie campaign in the Sprint Cup Series with a pole award in the 56th running of the Daytona 500, making him the youngest polesitter in Daytona International Speedway history in the Sprint Cup Series. He earned a ninth-place finish in the "Great American Race." From there, the series traveled to Phoenix International Raceway where Dillon finished 24th, and then Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he posted a 16th-place finish. In the series most recent event, Dillon earned an 11th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#ALLin♠Challenge ... Dillon is asking fans whether they are #ALLin♠ for a new and exciting challenge every Wednesday on his Twitter account, @austindillon3. From capturing an "awkward hug" via video to submitting your best "poker face" photo to helping crew chief Gil Martin's son Ford find a date for his upcoming prom, each challenge is unique and the winner, as voted on by Austin, wins race tickets or unique memorabilia. Follow @austindillon3 on Twitter every Wednesday for the #ALLin♠ Challenge.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE: Is Auto Club Speedway a fun place for you to race because there are so many different lines to drive?
"Auto Club Speedway is definitely a fun place, there are a lot of options. You can race hard and the track is just getting better and better. I think you see the groove come and go. The top of the race track right up by the wall might be as fast as the very bottom. It was a heck of a race last year between Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. Hopefully, we can go in there and slice and dice a little bit."
Paul Menard
No. 27 Duracell/Menards Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week's Duracell/Menards Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway ... Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 461 in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS is new to the RCR fleet and will make its first laps this weekend at ACS.
Menard to Date ... Menard is making his 260th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this Sunday. During that span, the native of Eau Claire, Wisc., has one victory, one pole, 11 top-five and 35 top-10 finishes while leading 272 circuits.
Fontana by the Numbers ... At the two-mile oval of Auto Club Speedway, Menard has 11 previous starts with one top-10 finish. His best start of 15th took place in 2011 and best finish of eighth took place in this race last year. His average start is 27th and average finish is 23.2 at the southern California oval. Menard has completed 2,441 of 2,479 laps attempted (98.5 percent) and led three laps.
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Race Rewind ... In this race last year at Auto Club Speedway, Menard started the No. 27 Chevrolet SS from 27th place and raced his way to an impressive eighth-place finish for his first top-10 at the track.
One Week Ago ... Last Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, Menard started 28th and finished 21st in the event twice delayed by rain. As a result, he currently sits 17th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points standings heading into the fifth race of the 2014 season.
PAUL MENARD QUOTE: What are your thoughts on racing at Auto Club Speedway? "Auto Club Speedway is a track where you need to have a good motor package because of its size. The speeds we reach going into turn 3 seem to be creeping up there higher and higher, which puts more demand on our ECR Engines. With the way the bumps are, you need to put a good enough set-up in the car to either race through them or around them. It will be interesting to see what changes we need to make to keep up with the track's changes since the last time we've been there."
Ryan Newman
No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet
This Week's Caterpillar Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway ... Ryan Newman will drive chassis No. 462 in Sunday's Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet SS is brand new in competition and will make its debut at the track for the first time during Friday's practice and qualifying activities.
Newman at Cali ... In 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Auto Club Speedway, Newman owns one pole and has earned four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. His best result of third place was in the May 2004 race. The South Bend, Ind., native has an average start of 14th and average finish of 17th. When calculating points earned through the last four races at the two-mile, D-shaped oval, Newman has collected the third most amount of points as a result of four-straight top-10 finishes.
Partnership Continues ... Kwikset®, a leading brand of the Hardware and Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands Holdings continues to engage with consumers through strategic partnerships by sponsoring Richard Childress Racing and driver Ryan Newman during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. As part of the partnership, Kwikset will be the primary sponsor and paint scheme for Newman's car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas race in Kansas City on May 10, and will have its logo on Newman's No. 31 car for every race during the 2014 Sprint Cup Series in an associate capacity. As a leader in innovation and home security, the company views NASCAR as a sport that aligns with its values and serves as a natural way to reach its passionate fan base. Kwikset had a similar partnership with RCR in 2013. This is the first year Kwikset will work with Newman.
Featured Caterpillar Dealer ... Johnson Machinery will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Johnson Machinery is Caterpillar's only Platinum level dealer, and has served Riverside and San Bernardino counties since 1940. Johnson offers the complete line of Caterpillar construction equipment products, new and used parts, service and rentals. Headquartered in Riverside, they have locations in Indio, Victorville, and Temecula.
Build a Bracket. Win a Billion ... Quicken Loans is hosting the Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge. The Detroit-based mortgage lender is offering a chance to win a billion dollars to any eligible participant who enters the contest and predicts the winners of every game in this March's men's college basketball championship. Plus, Quicken Loans will be awarding a total of $2 million dollars for the 20 best "imperfect" brackets. The entry period for the contest is now through March 20th. For more information, and to register, visit: www.quickenloansbracket.com.
Point of Interest ... Newman ranks ninth in the driver championship point standings entering the fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event of 2014.
Media Availability ... Newman will be accessible to media in attendance at Auto Club Speedway on Friday at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time. The media availability will be held outside the No. 31 hauler in the NSCS garage.
Fontana Public Appearances ... Newman is scheduled to participate in two question and answer sessions at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday. The first will take place at the Sprint Experience at 8:10 a.m. PT and the second at the Team Chevy Stage at 9:15 a.m. located in the midway.
Race Rewind ... Last season, Newman started 20th and overcame a pit road penalty to finish 10th.
RYAN NEWMAN QUOTE: What are your thoughts on Auto Club Speedway?
"California is the flip-flop race on our schedule. It used to be the new asphalt track with one groove. Now if you look at the way everything has been repaved, Auto Club Speedway is one of the oldest tracks on the schedule where you can sometimes see four- and five-wide racing on the straightaway. I look forward to it. It's a fun place to race. It is a lot more fun to race now in comparison to the way it used to be because of the age of the asphalt. It's built on an old steel mill, so I never expected the racetrack to stay smooth. There are bumps and they are going to impact the way we set our cars up, especially with the new changes to our cars in respect to ride heights. Most of the bumps are in the straightaways and primarily in the backstretch, so that will be one of the challenges as to who has the fastest race car and who has a splitter at the end."
