Catchfence

No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Rockingham Speedway … Ty Dillon will pilot chassis No. 005 from the Richard Childress Racing stable in Sunday’s Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 at Rockingham Speedway. Dillon made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in this Chevrolet Silverado at Kentucky Speedway last October, finishing 18th after starting 15th. The 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion also piloted this entry when he earned his first top-five finish in only his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Texas Motor Speedway last November. Following his top-five showing at Texas, Dillon qualified this Chevrolet Silverado second at the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and earning a top-10 result. Prior to a makeover last September, this truck was used frequently by Dillon’s older brother, Austin. The elder Dillon won his first Camping World Truck Series race with this Chevrolet Silverado at Iowa Speedway in July 2010. Accompanying the win, Austin earned six top-five finishes in 10 starts with this truck.

Winner, Winner … Dillon is no stranger to the one-mile race track earning a win in 2010 at the Rockingham, N.C., speedway in ARCA Racing Series. The 20-year-old racer started from the sixth position and leading 41 laps before taking the checkered flag for the second time in his third appearance in the ARCA Racing Series.

Martinsville Speedway Recap … Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team proved their debut at Martinsville Speedway was a learning experience. Struggling with the handling of the Chevrolet Silverado during the two practice session at the half-mile race track, the team worked through adversity to qualify the black No. 3 on the outside pole for the 250-lap affair. Working with RCR teammate Kevin Harvick, the duo led all of the contested laps at the short track and Dillon earned the runner up position when the checkered flag was displayed.

Points Racing … After Dillon’s second-place showing at Martinsville Speedway, he currently sits fourth in the Camping World Truck Series driver’s championship point standings just four markers behind the leader.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update … Dillon is tied for the lead with John King for the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. The two drivers have a total of 32 points after two races on the Camping World Truck Series schedule.

Welcome Home … Marty Houston, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops truck chief hails from Hickory, N.C., a town 139 miles from Rockingham Speedway. Houston, a former racer, was the car chief on Dillon’s No. 41 Chevrolet in 2011 when he won the ARCA Racing Series championship. This year marks the Houston’s third season with the Welcome, N.C.-based organization.

Can I Have Your Autograph? … Dillon is scheduled to participate in Camping World Truck Series autograph sessionfor Rockingham Speedway on April 13.He will sign for gathered fans beginning at 7 p.m. on the Harrington Square located in downtown Rockingham.Prior to the autograph session, fans can participate in the 2012 Rockingham Thunder Fest. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday. Dillon is also scheduled to participate in a Rheem® autograph session on Saturday, April 14 at 12:30 p.m. in the Fan Zone at Rockingham Speedway.

Ty Dillon - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

Before you ever became a race car driver, did you ever go to Rockingham Speedway to watch races? Do you remember anything about the track or is it all new to you?

“I was able to go a lot when I was younger with my grandfather. I was probably six or seven years old. From then on, I would always ride up there with him in his Corvette, and we’d go up there and spend the whole weekend up there. It was kind of a cool deal for me, because it was the time that I would go to the race track with just my grandfather, and we would hang out all weekend. I think it’s a really cool track. I’ve been there a lot. Most of the races that we ran there, I was at them. It’s really cool to be able to go back for the second time and be able to race again.”

You won there in the ARCA Racing Series at Rockingham Speedway. Do you feel like that is an advantage for you at all going into this weekend?

“I feel like it’s a huge advantage. I’m the last race winner there as far as a NASCAR style race car. I feel like I’ve got a really big advantage. My team has a good set-up, I believe, going there. It’s going to be tough to dial in a truck compared to an ARCA car, but I feel like I’ve got a good understanding of the race track. It will be somewhat of an equal playing ground for the only time this year, everybody’s going there for the first time in a long time. We’ve been there earlier than anybody else has, so I feel like we might have a little bit of an advantage.”

With your background and your family, could you talk about how cool it is to be able to race in at place like Rockingham Speedway with so much history? I’m sure you felt that way when you were there in the ARCA car, but this is a little bit different with NASCAR making the return there.

“It’s going to be really special. I know when I won the ARCA Racing Series race, they still gave out the old style Rockingham trophy, the old wooden one. That was really cool. Just the history that goes into that place, the race track is worn out, it’s going to be great racing. These trucks have great races anyway. You can go out two or three-wide on that track, so I can’t wait. All the history that goes into a place like this, it’s almost like if you can get a win, it’s like winning at Martinsville Speedway or Daytona International Speedway or the tracks that have been around for a very long time.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release