Catchfence

Austin Dillon

No. 31 RCR Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

ARCA RE/MAX Series Event Preview

Event: Racing for Wildlife 200 – June 12, 2009

Venue: Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, Mich.

• This weekend’s RCR Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS at Michigan International Speedway … Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 120, the same Monte Carlo SS he drove to a 15th-place finish at Kentucky Speedway last month. This chassis was a former No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet that was modified to fit 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series specifications. 
• First Timer … Dillon will make his first ARCA start at Michigan International Speedway in this weekend’s Racing for Wildlife 200. It is also the 19-year old driver’s first-career race on a two-mile oval.
• Looking Back at ARCA Debut … The Lewisville, N.C., native made his RE/MAX Series debut last May at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway where he started 10th and finished seventh.
• Statistically Speaking … In two previous ARCA Series starts, Dillon has earned one top-10 and two top-15 finishes. He boasts an 11th-place average finish and has completed all but one lap of competition (411 of 412 laps).
• Testing 1, 2, 3 … Dillon & Co. tested at MIS on May 27th in preparation for this weekend’s 100-lap feature.
• Championship Crew Chief… Dan Deeringhoff will spearhead Dillon’s efforts for the first time since being named crew chief to RCR’s driver development program last month. Deeringhoff led Clint Bowyer to the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and, before taking over his new role, was the crew chief for RCR’s No. 29 Holiday Inn Racing Chevrolet this season.
• Gearing Up for MIS’s NNS Race … Dillon & Co. will use this weekend’s ARCA Series race at MIS to get the 2008 NASCAR Camping World East Series Rookie of the Year acclimated with the two-mile oval before he competes in the August 15th Nationwide Series race at the famed Irish Hills speedway.

AUSTIN DILLON Quote:

”This is my first race on a two-mile track and I’m really excited about it. Michigan is a fast race track and, as a driver, there are so many options. Depending on how the car is handling, you can run on the bottom or all the way at the top. We had a great test session and will use the information we gained from that for the race. Dan (Deeringhoff) has played a big role in helping me learn the larger tracks and we’re hoping to have a solid finish this weekend. The biggest thing for me is to learn all I can in race conditions before we come back to Michigan for the Nationwide Series race.”

DAN DEERINGHOFF (crew chief) Quote:

“The most important thing heading into Michigan is speed. When we tested here last month, we found the speed we were looking for, but the car was too tight. We’ve worked on it back at the shop and will return with a better set up. We’re using to prepare for our Nationwide race in August and the more seat time Austin gets, the better he will be for that race. Austin is a hard racer and with a competitive car, we hope to finish well inside the top 15.”

- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release