Richard Petty Motorsports

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, comes to Richard Petty Motorsports after spending last season at Rusty Wallace, Inc. He has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 105 Nationwide Series starts and drove to a ninth-place finish in the championship points standings last season.

“They say that when one door closes, another door opens, and that is most definitely true,” said Annett. “We were left scrambling a bit because of the situation with RWI and were unsure what the future held, but I couldn’t be happier with the way things have turned out. To have the chance to race for Richard Petty and to be under the RPM umbrella is amazing. It has all come together really quickly, but together with Pilot Flying J and Ford, this is the best opportunity I have ever had to race a Nationwide Series car. There’s a lot to be done before we get to Daytona in a few weeks and I can’t wait to dive in and get started.”

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to partner with a brand as prestigious as Pilot Flying J,” said team Co-owner Richard Petty. “We are happy to welcome them to the Richard Petty Motorsports family and to our partner family as well.

“This has been an exciting couple of months for Richard Petty Motorsports,” continued Petty. “We are looking forward to getting back into the Nationwide Series full time and seeing what Michael Annett can do in an RPM Ford Mustang. Michael has improved every season he has raced in the Nationwide Series and has the dedication and drive to be a success.”

“Pilot Flying J is excited for Michael and our new partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports,” stated Mark Hazelwood, Executive Vice President, Pilot Flying J. “PFJ has had a longstanding relationship with both Michael and the Petty family. Richard Petty is a NASCAR legend and this opportunity further extends our commitment to Michael and the sport. We look forward to a great partnership.”

Born into a family with a rich racing heritage, Annett began his own racing career in 2007 competing in the ARCA Series. In only his fourth start, Annett drove his Pilot Travel Centers machine to victory lane at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He drove to victory once again in the ARCA Series the next season at Daytona International Speedway and also piloted an entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in eight events that season. In 2009, he moved to the Nationwide Series with Germain Racing and posted four top-10 finishes en route to a 10th-place effort in the point standings. He remained at Germain through 2010 and in 2011 competed for RWI.

About Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J, the driver driven company, is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 retail locations across North America. Pilot Flying J is also one of the nation’s largest wholesale fuel providers, delivering over 500 million gallons of fuel to thousands of customers in 47 states and eight Canadian provinces. The company employs approximately 18,000 people and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America. Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information.

About Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty Motorsports (www.richardpettymotorsports.com), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with sponsorship from Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.

- Richard Petty Motorsports Press Release

Wauters Motorsports LLC.

Wauters’ career began at tracks around his hometown Green Bay, Wis. and quickly moved into the NASCAR Touring Series. Wauters crewed successful NASCAR Sprint Cup teams with drivers Kenny Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Robert Pressley and Jeff Green.

Wauters, in his tenure as a crew chief in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, led teams to 18 victories from 2004-2010 with drivers Shane Hmiel, Kyle Busch and Aric Almirola.

“It is something I thought about for awhile,” Richie Wauters said of his decision to become a team owner. “I had the opportunity to buy some trucks and have a great driver headlining the team. It hasn’t been a difficult transition so far and we are really excited about the season. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is very competitive and I’m certain Paulie and the guys on this team will be right in the thick of that competition.”

Paulie Harraka

Harraka is finishing up his final semester at Duke University, and his graduation will make him part of a very small group of NASCAR drivers with their college degrees. Harraka has focused his education on “anything that can help me in racing; engineering, leadership, finance, you name it. I’ve challenged myself at Duke to become a completely differentiated NASCAR driver.” Harraka said.

“Having the opportunity to jump into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is an opportunity I’ve worked for since I was 7 years old,” Harraka said. “I am fortunate to see it coming to fruition. To be doing so with a championship crew chief like Richie Wauters and with the team he’s assembled is exciting. I’m the kind of driver that will put in whatever time, effort or work that is needed to win races, and I know that Richie is the same kind of crew chief. Together, we’ll hold nothing back, and that makes me confident that we’ll find the winner’s circle in short order.”

The Wauters Motorsports F150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be utilizing Doug Yates and Roush Racing Engines in their debut at Daytona International Speedway for the running of the NEXTERA Energy Resources 250, Friday, Feb. 24th.

- Wauters Motorsports Press Release

Ford Racing

The morning session on day two of testing at Daytona saw the Ford contingent run mostly single car runs with the exception of the two Richard Petty Motorsports cars. The 43 of Aric Almirola and 9 of Marcos Ambrose teamed up for drafting practice and third and fourth quickest laps of the session. Both talked afterwards about how the test is going so far and what they expect going forward.

Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion – WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR DRAFTING SESSION THIS MORNING? “It feels very similar to last time. NASCAR changed the rules to try to make it harder for us but we are still doing it. The speeds are up and the restrictor plate is pretty open. It is a lot faster and drafting the way we are, the technique and everything hasn’t really changed that much.”

DO YOU NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM YOUR SEAT WITH THE FUEL INJECTION? “Not really. You run these things wide open when you are drafting anyway. The switch over has been very smooth though and I have been very impressed by how all the teams and manufacturers have been able to adapt to the new rules.”

WHAT IS THIS PACK RACING THIS AFTERNOON GOING TO BE LIKE? “It is going to be interesting. We have a meeting to find out how they want to conduct it. We will just have to see.”

YOU HAVE A NEW TEAMMATE THIS YEAR, HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR WORKING TOGETHER? “Aric is really great. We are working well and drafting with each other and we will just take it a day at a time here and build that relationship. I know that he really wants to do well for Richard Petty and his 43 team and I want to do the same.”

Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Foods Ford Fusion – HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR OUT HERE? “It is going well. Our Smithfield Ford is running pretty good. We have been working with Marcos this morning on drafting and that has gone really well. Our cars are drafting really well together and are really fast. They are really stable too which is important. I am gelling right along and it has been fun to work with Greg Irwin and all the guys on this team. Richard Petty Motorsports has a great group of guys. I have learned that in the two weeks I have been here. It has been good.”

YOU GUYS WERE THE FIRST TWO FORD CARS TO GO OUT AND DRAFT. WHAT DID YOU LEARN? “Well, our cars are fast and they are stable. I think that is the biggest thing, making sure that your car is stable now with this smaller rear spoiler and the softer rear springs. That is going to be the biggest thing, making sure you can hang on when you are being pushed at 200 miles per hour. I think that is the biggest thing.”

HOW LONG WERE YOU ABLE TO PUSH? “It felt like we could do it for quite awhile. I think everybody is a little different but I felt like we could go for a good five or six laps with no problem.”

YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GO OUT IN A BIG PACK THIS AFTERNOON. HOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT GOING? “I don’t know. I think it will be pretty calm to be honest. We are testing and nobody wants to tear their stuff up. I think it will be pretty calm. I think you will see some people come and go in the pack but for the most part it should be relatively calm. I am sure it will get three wide because it should be really easy to get three wide but I don’t know, it is a big unknown at this point.”

WHAT IS THE GOAL FOR YOU FOR THE REST OF TODAY? “Just to keep on working on speed. We have to keep working on getting speed out of our car and getting me and Marcos to keep switching. That is going to be important. If the rules stay the way they are we are going to be able to swap and be able to keep our engines cool. We are working on our switch and making sure we are very comfortable drafting together before we get back down here in February.”

Greg Biffle, who only participated in single car runs in the morning session, talked about what he has learned from the test thus far and how he anticipates the afternoon session will be.

Greg Biffle, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion – WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE FROM THIS BIG PACK RACING THIS AFTERNOON? “I anticipate somebody crashing. I don’t know who and I hope it isn’t us. We have to get out there and figure out what the car is going to do and we will be bumping and shoving a little bit and be in the big pack. We already saw in the two-car pack someone get turned around and some people squirrely. With the shorter spoiler and increased competition or whatever you want to say with the speed, we are going a lot faster and something is going to happen.”

HOW MUCH FASTER ARE YOU GOING TODAY WITH THIS NEW RESTRICTOR PLATE? “About six-tenths or something like that, so a bit faster. What is weird is that it doesn’t slow down in the corner as much as it did yesterday. Yesterday you would go 195 on the straightaway and 190 around the middle of the corner, 189 to 190. Now it goes 196 or 197 and then 195 in the corner. So the more power keeps it up against the aero. It is almost like the more plate you give it the constant the speed stays. It doesn’t slow down to speed up like a car normally does. It is interesting to see how the dynamics of the aero and the more power equate to each other.”

WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED WITH THE FUEL INJECTION? “The biggest thing I notice every time I have driven it is that it runs so good in the garage. Letting the clutch off, driving off, driving down pit road. I know it sounds stupid but that is part of it. My hat is off to these guys because these race engines don’t like to run below 4000 RPM and now they run below 4000 RPM really, really good. It is a matter of getting air and fuel right and with fuel injection you can do that.”

Source: PCGCampbell for Ford Racing Press Release

Aric Almirola - Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images for NASCAR

Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that Aric Almirola will drive the No. 43 Ford Fusion during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Almirola, along with RPM Chief Executive Officer Brian Moffitt, were part of a teleconference this afternoon to talk about the upcoming season.

ARIC ALMIROLA – No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion – “I’m very, very excited about this opportunity to not only drive the historic and iconic 43 car, but to work with all the people here at Richard Petty Motorsports. I had the privilege last year of sitting on the couch on Sundays and watching the races and I saw how competitive their race cars were on a weekly basis and that was a big factor in making the decision to come over here to Richard Petty Motorsports. Their competition on the race track was very, very high and that gives me an opportunity to get in a race car that I know is very competitive, and where I’ve just got to go out and do my job and the results will come. It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m a little bit sad leaving where I left. I had a good home there with Junior Motorsports, but it was important for me to have their support to come and do this. I talked with Dale and Kelley quite a bit throughout this whole process and they supported me 100 percent. Dale said that was the main reason for him having a Nationwide team was to get guys in the Nationwide car at his shop and to give them an opportunity to go and make a career out of racing in NASCAR. For me, that’s come true. He gave me a great opportunity to go there and drive the 88 car and that’s led to this opportunity here at RPM. Like he said, if anything, it gives JRM credibility as a Nationwide team that they can take not only Brad but now myself and move them into their program and out of their program and on to a Cup ride. I’m very thankful for everything Junior Motorsports has done for me in my career and I’m excited about my new adventure here at Richard Petty Motorsports.”

HOW LONG DID THIS PROCESS TAKE? “It was pretty quick, but I’d say it’s about a year-and-a-half in the making. I got the privilege to drive here at the end of 2010 when I ran five races in the 9 car and got to work with a lot of the people here at Richard Petty Motorsports then and had a lot of fun driving that car at that time and built a relationship with Brian and Robbie Loomis and Sammy Johns and RP and Dale Inman and all those people that were involved in Richard Petty Motorsports. I’d say that had a lot to do with it. Even though this process went rather quickly this time around, I’ve had a lot of experience working with these guys already in the past, so it didn’t seem as big of a whirlwind just because of the experience I already had working with them.”

WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH MARCOS AMBROSE? “That’s actually funny. Me and Marcos actually started racing in the Truck Series at the exact same time, so we’ve been friends on and off the race track through that. We talked a lot when we were racing in the Truck Series together. I’ve watched him go on to Cup racing and have kept up with him and see him throughout the garage. I’ve always had a friendly relationship with him and I respect him a lot as a race car driver, so I’m excited to be his teammate now.”

BRIAN MOFFITT, CEO, Richard Petty Motorsports – WHAT DID YOU SEE IN BRIAN IN 2010 THAT MADE YOU LOOK AT HIM FOR THIS RIDE AND WHAT’S THE SITUATION ON SPONSORSHIP FOR THE CAR? “We saw a lot of potential in Aric and have watched him closely at Junior Motorsports throughout. Richard always said if we had an opportunity that he was somebody he would like to be in the 43. We got everybody together here at Richard Petty Motorsports – Sammy, Todd Parrott, who is still with us, and, of course, Greg Erwin, and went down the list and Aric was the top choice for us. As far as sponsorship, we will be making announcements in the coming weeks for the 43. We’re poised for a two-car operation as Richard mentioned earlier and we’re real excited about having Aric pilot the 43 for us.”

ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR FUNDING OR ARE YOU ALL SET? “We do have some open inventory on the car, but we will be announcing some new partners in the coming weeks.”

ARIC ALMIROLA CONTINUED – HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE A FULL-TIME RIDE THAT IS AS STABLE AS ANYTHING YOU’VE HAD IN THE PAST? “Like I said, this is a great opportunity for me. You take the last couple of years, I felt like a few years ago I had the opportunity to go Cup racing, but it wasn’t at this level. There were a lot of moving parts going on and it didn’t end up working out, but I went back and went Truck racing and ran very competitive in the Truck Series and won two races and finished second in the points, and then that same year was the year I got to run five races in the 9 car and ran rather well for being, quite honestly, my first time at a lot of those race tracks in a Cup car. So taking all of that and then moving that to the Nationwide deal last year with Junior Motorsports, we didn’t run as great as we wanted to, but we ran good. I think we had eight top-fives and 17 or 18 top-10s and we finished fourth in the points, so we had a respectable year, and I think taking all of that knowledge and stuff I’ve learned over the last two or three years has done nothing but make me a better race car driver. So to have the opportunity to get in as good of equipment as I’m getting in now, I’m really excited about it. I feel like I’m a way better race car driver than I am now than I was three years ago, so I feel like I’ll be able to make the most of this opportunity.”

WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST THING ABOUT ADJUSTING TO A NEW TEAM? “I’m getting pretty good at it. That’s been the thing is I have been with quite a few teams, I’ve probably been with a handful of teams, and I think the biggest thing for me is I worked with Gibbs and I worked with DEI and now I’ve worked with Junior Motorsports and Hendrick collectively, and then now with Richard Petty Motorsports and obviously their affiliation with Roush Fenway. The biggest thing for me is I’ve been fortunate to work with really high quality teams. I’ve had the opportunity that most people would beg for and I’ve been very fortunate to get those opportunities. This is another one of those. I think even you guys in the media can’t discount what Marcos and AJ did last year. They were very competitive on the race track and ran in the top 10 a lot, the top-five a lot and Marcos went to Victory Lane. Me as a 27-year-old kid that grew up racing his whole life and wants to make a career out of this and do it at the highest level in the Sprint Cup Series, this is, by far, probably the best opportunity I’ve ever had to go and succeed at it and all the while doing it driving the 43 car is pretty special.”

TAMPA TO DAYTONA IS ONLY ABOUT 130 MILES, BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS HUGE LEAP? “Growing up in Tampa watching my grandfather race dirt sprint cars all around Florida and the southeast and then myself, I started racing go-karts when I was eight, so I’ve always been involved in racing. When I was racing go-karts we would go over to Daytona. Every year right after Christmas they would have kart weeks there and I would go and race my go-kart there at the municipal stadium on the dirt oval. Everytime we went we would go and watch the go-karts run on the road course over at the big track. I can remember being a little kid driving over from Tampa to Daytona the night of Christmas, because everything usually started in Daytona the day after Christmas, so usually we’d open up our presents and hang out and do whatever Christmas day and Christmas night we were driving to Daytona to go race. I remember being a kid and driving through that tunnel many a times wondering how cool it would be to get on that race track and race and not just to get on that race track and race, but to race in the Daytona 500. Now, I’ve had the opportunity to do that once already, but to have that opportunity now with a team that’s committed to run for a championship and to go and try to win races and for the Daytona 500 to be our first shot at it, and to be able to do that in the 43, I realize I make a lot of driving the 43, but, for me, it’s really special just because I remember growing up as a kid watching that and realizing how special that was to witness everything the King did in that car. So to have that opportunity is gonna be really neat to go down to Daytona and be able to race in the Daytona 500 in the 43 car.”

BRIAN MOFFITT CONTINUED — WHAT ARE YOUR REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS YEAR? “Our expectations and what we plan on moving forward with is Top 20 and making the Chase this year. We set our goals last year with Marcos and AJ to be in the Top 20 and hopefully one of them make the Chase or Top-15 and we actually hit that goal, and we expect the same with Aric and Marcos going into this year.”

ARIC ALMIROLA CONTINUED – “Obviously, it’s gonna be my first year running full-time in Cup, so there will be some growing pains. I realize that I’ve got a lot of learning to do. I don’t expect to just go out there and win six races and run for the championship, but I do expect to be competitive. I do expect to run really good on a regular basis. Their equipment is very capable of that. I feel like Greg Erwin is among the best in crew chiefs, so I don’t really see any major reasons on why we shouldn’t be competitive. Obviously, being a rookie I’ll probably make my share of mistakes, but I don’t think from a sense of speed and being competitive on the race track, I don’t see any reason why we won’t be. I feel very confident that we’ll be competitive and run up front and we’ll have some weekends that are great and some weekends that are just okay, but, at the end of the day, I feel like on a regular basis we should run competitively and wherever that shakes out I’d love for it to be in the Top 15 and have a shot at making the Chase, but the reality is that it is my first year and if I go out there and run competitive and run in the Top Five and do the things that I need to do as a driver and take care of my race car and I’m there at the end of the races, the points will take care of themselves. I can’t really control that, so if I run good and finish good, the results are gonna show for that. If I finish bad every weekend and crash and stuff, then I’m obviously not gonna be where I want to be in the points, but if I drive these cars the way they’re capable of running and finish where I feel like we’re capable of finishing as a race team, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be competitive and finish decent in the point standings. Like Brian said, Top 20, Top 15, and maybe even having a shot at getting in the Chase.”

HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RICHARD PETTY? “Richard is obviously always around the garage area, so I’ve seen him around the garage a lot. He’s always been very friendly to me. He’s always stopped and shook my hand and talked to me. My wife actually worked at Richard Petty Motorsports at one time, so I got to spend some time with him at that time and also with Brian and a lot of the people here at RPM, so I feel like over the last several years I’ve known Richard. I’ve been over to his motorhome a time or two and sat down and had discussions with him and when I got the opportunity to drive that 9 car for those five races he was always around and would always lend a hand as far as advice or tell me what he was thinking and also just being there helping out whatever way he can help out. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him as a car owner and obviously as a driver. He’s won over 200 races, so I have a lot of respect for any input that he has to give.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET TO THIS POSITION AFTER BEING IN AN EARLY DIVERSITY DRIVER PROGRAM? “It means a lot. And I say that honestly. It means a lot to me. I was just home for Christmas and got to see all my family and when I was over with my dad went and saw my grandparents on my dad’s side of the family and they are the family that came over from Cuba in ’66 on the freedom flights. When I was younger I didn’t really appreciate it. I didn’t really think it meant anything, but the older that I’ve gotten and to now pay my own bills and now that I’m married and possibly thinking about having a family, I understand a lot better what they went through when they gave up everything they had. They gave up their house, their cars. My grandmother gave up her wedding ring. They gave everything back to the Cuban government to come to America and to live the ‘American Dream’ and to create a better life not only for themselves, but for their family. So I get to be living proof of that. I get to drive a race car for a living, so that means a lot to me – coming from where my family has come from and the sacrifices that they have made to get to the U.S., to create a better life for themselves and their family, and then for me to be able to live out that dream that they had in 1966 when they decided to give everything back to the Cuban government, that means a lot to me. Like I said, I took that for granted when I was a kid growing up. I didn’t really think anything of it, but the older I get the more that sinks in and I realize what a huge sacrifice that was to leave everything that they knew to come here to America and start over.”

WILL YOU RUN ANY NATIONWIDE OR TRUCK RACES? “As of right now my sole focus is to strictly run that 43 Cup car and do the best job I can in that, so the answer to that would be ‘no’.

HOW WILL YOUR WORKOUT AND CONDITIONING CHANGE BASED ON THIS NEW RIDE WHERE THE RACES ARE LONGER? “Honestly, I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my whole life. Last year, being a part of Junior Motorsports, I worked out with the strength and conditioning coach at Hendrick Motorsports, so I’m gonna have to find a different plan now, but I worked out with a strength and conditioning coach down there, and I got a road bike and I’ve been riding my road bike two to three days a week and I run quite often, so I feel like I’m in the best shape that I’ve ever been in, and I stay in shape for me. I stay in shape because I want to be healthy and because I want to live a longer life and I think that will help me. And I feel better when I’m healthy, but I think Tony Stewart is a proven example that you don’t have to be in the best shape in the whole wide world to win races and win a championship, so I don’t think that’s gonna be a key factor. I realize that the races are longer and the season is longer, but being in shape is something that I do for me and I just enjoy working out, and I enjoy riding my road bike and stuff like that.”

DO YOU HAVE A TARGET DISTANCE OR WEIGHT THAT YOU LIFT? “Last year was probably my best year in the weight room. I worked out with weights three days a week and I did cardio either two or three days a week, plus the day in the race car I count as a cardio day, so I was doing cardio three days a week solidly and lifting weights three days a week solidly. Last year, I thought I was doing pretty well. I raised my bench max to the highest that I ever had. I think I benched 255 one time, which I only weigh 165 pounds, so they say that if you can bench your body weight that’s good, so I did a little bit more than my body weight, and I squatted 320, so from a workout standpoint I got a lot stronger last year than I ever have been. I put on five pounds. I was 165 pounds at the beginning of last year and I’m up to like 171 right now, and my body fat has stayed very similar to what it was going into last season, so that’s just six pounds of muscle. Basically, I’m a lean mean fighting machine (laughing).”

HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS THERE TO PERFORM RIGHT AWAY? “How many race car drivers have you ever asked that question to and any of them gave you the answer, ‘No, I don’t really feel that much pressure to perform.’ I’ve always put more pressure on myself than anybody else has ever put on me. I’m a very, very competitive person. I don’t like to lose a board game against my wife. I don’t like to lose playing cards and I don’t like to lose on the race track. My competitive spirit comes out when I’m on the race track and I don’t like to underperform by any means, so I put more pressure on myself than anybody else can put on me, so from that standpoint, I don’t feel like anybody at RPM or anybody else is putting any pressure on me to go out and do something that I don’t already put pressure on myself to go and do.”

EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE SET FOR THE YEAR, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN ALL THESE CUP RIDES CAME OPEN SO LATE? “I was content. I thought going into this year that over at Junior Motorsport after the year we had last year that we would be able to win some races and contend for a championship, but when this opportunity came up, like Brian said, they sat down here at RPM and thought of their list of drivers they were potentially looking at and my name was at the top of the list, so when they called I was dealt a dilemma to stay where I was at, where I was comfortable and where I felt like I had a home, or to take a chance and go and make a career in the Cup Series. Every race car driver, if they tell you differently, they’re lying to you, every race car driver wants to race in the Cup Series. That’s just the fact of the matter. Nobody wants to compete at a lower level. Everybody wants to compete at the highest level that they can possibly compete at and I’m the same way, I’m no different. I got offered the opportunity to compete at the highest level in NASCAR with a great team that has very competitive equipment, so that made the decision a lot easier. Obviously, there are probably opportunities out there that I would have gladly stayed at Junior Motorsports, but this opportunity with this competitive equipment and this group of people was too hard to turn down.”

- PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release

David Ragan

It seemed that Ragan had been in the hunt for a job with Penske Racing after the mutual seperation with the organization and Kurt Busch earlier in December. Though David Ragan, David Reutimann, and Brian Vickers were considered the top drivers still without rides for the 2012 season, Penske Racing decided to hire A.J. ALlmendinger. Allmendinger had been with Richard Petty Motorsports, but there was no sponsor for his No. 43 after Best Buy moved over to Roush-Fenway Racing. With no sponsor on the hood, Allmendinger looked elsewhere.

The open position with RPM is rumored to be going to Aric Almirola, a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. Though no sponsor has been officially announce, it is believed that the organization would announce the sponsor and the driver at the same time. If Almirola is leaving the Nationwide Series, then a spot at JR Motorsports will be open. Reports are the seat filling is between Ragan and Cole Whitt, a former Red Bull Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck series driver. With so few opportunies, Ragan is hoping that he will land in the drivers seat.

- Stock Car Spin

NASCAR Logo Large

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 24 and Austin Dillon, 21, officially were proclaimed champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Both were honored with their first NASCAR national series titles. Each became champion in the season following a rookie-of-the-year performance. Dillon becomes the youngest champion in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ 17-year history. Both champions won twice during the 2011 season.

Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford Mustang won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner Championship, as driver Carl Edwards won eight times. The title is the second in the series for Jack Roush, his previous owner championship coming in 2002. It also marked the first time that the same owner claimed both the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and owner titles with different teams.

Kevin Harvick Inc. claimed its third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner Championship. DeLana Harvick’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado posted seven victories with three different drivers in adding to KHI’s owner titles from 2007 and 2009.

Timmy Hill, an 18-year-old Maryland competitor, won NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors by a single point, tying the series’ closest decision for that award. Dillon’s Richard Childress Racing teammate Joey Coulter, 21, won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, the second time the same organization claimed both championship and rookie laurels.

Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola and Reed Sorenson finished second through fifth in the championship standings and were honored along with Stenhouse in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Johnny Sauter, James Buescher, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Timothy Peters were second through fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final points and joined Dillon on stage.

After a fan vote on NASCAR.com, in which more than 215,000 combined votes were cast, each series’ Most Popular Driver was revealed. Sadler and Dillon were chosen by the fans in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. Each was honored for the first time.

SPEED’s Rick Allen and Krista Voda hosted the event, which will air on Dec. 2 from 7-9 p.m. ET on SPEED, prior to the live telecast of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony from Las Vegas.

- NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications Press Release

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Ford 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 4 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet

“Homestead is a track that’s a lot of fun to race on. It has progressive banking through the corners. That’s why you see drivers go into the corner and move around a lot. Anytime you go somewhere that you can move around, it’s good. As a racecar driver, you want options on where you can run.

“I’m looking forward to a bit of a break following Homestead. But at the same time, when you’re running well and things are going your way, you can’t wait to get back to the racetrack. So at times, the few weeks we have off seem a lot longer.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

“I remember the car feeling really loose most of the time last year at Homestead. It’s a challenging track, even in IndyCar. I think we wasted a lot of good time during practice, because I was unfamiliar with how to drive the corners. Aric (Almirola, teammate) told me, ‘you’ve got to drive it in the corner, and you’ve got to get it on the right front.’ The corners are very tight compared to a lot of other mile-and-a-halfs. Toward the end of practice we got it better.

“I went into qualifying and surprised myself by qualifying fifth. I feel like I’m getting into the swing of qualifying a little bit more. More than anything, it will be nice to start off the weekend driving the track as it needs to be driven so we can work on the car, as opposed to figuring it out during the last part of practice.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

PATRICK SEES IMPROVEMENT THROUGH SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN – Danica Patrick will put an end to an eventful and noteworthy sophomore season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 11 starts this year, Patrick earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes. Her fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway rewrote the history books, making Patrick the highest finishing female in any NASCAR national touring series race. The effort bested the 62-year-old record of Sara Christian, who finished fifth at Heidlberg, Pa. on Oct. 2, 1949 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Patrick also has led a career-high 14 laps, 13 of which came in a dramatic finish at Daytona in July when she took the lead with two laps to go. Her victory chances were ruined by a multi-car accident within sight of the checkered flag. Patrick’s average finish this year is 16.1 as compared to 28.0 in her 13-race rookie season in 2010.

PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 10:45 a.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 18 in the Homestead-Miami Speedway media center deadline room.

MILE-AND-A-HALF STRENGTH – Patrick has not finished outside the top-15 in the four 1.5-mile races she’s competed in this season (Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas and Texas). The 29-year-old holds one top-five and two top-10s with an average finish of 10.0 at those facilities.

PATRICK AT HOMESTEAD – Patrick’s second-best qualifying effort of her short career came at Homestead last year with a fifth-place start. The mark was eclipsed only by a fourth-place starting spot at Daytona in February. She also led the first laps of her Nationwide Series career at Homestead in 2010, leading once for four laps.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise. The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points.

ALMIROLA WRAPS UP FIRST FULL SEASON WITH JRM – Despite owning 72 starts in Nationwide Series competition over the span of five years, the Homestead event concludes Almirola’s first full season with JR Motorsports. His season totals feature one pole (Phoenix 11/12), seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including a string of nine top-10s in a 10-week mid-summer stretch. Almirola has led 101 laps in 2011. He led 66 last week at Phoenix International Raceway. He has earned an average finish of 12.2. He enters the weekend fourth in championship points, trailing third-place Justin Allgaier by 15 points. The No. 88 Chevrolet is ninth in owner points.

ALMIROLA AT HOMESTEAD – Almirola has seven starts at Homestead across NASCAR’s top-three series, earning two top-five and two top-10 finishes. His best finish of fourth came during the Sprint Cup Series season finale last year. Almirola’s best finish in Nationwide Series competition is 18th.

QUALIFYING EFFORTS – JR Motorsports competed in its first Nationwide Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2005 with driver Mark McFarland. Statistically it is one of the organization’s best qualifying tracks. In nine starts there a JRM Chevrolet has qualified in top-10 six times.

ALMIROLA’S APPEARANCES IN HOMESTEAD – Almirola will attend the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Championship Drive event on Thursday, Nov. 17th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST located at Lummus Park, Miami Beach, Fla. Almirola, a Florida native, will be featured in a fan Q & A and then will sign autographs. On Saturday, Nov. 19 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST, Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

2011 NNS Aric Almirola - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

This was Almirola’s first series pole of the 2011 season, his fifth series career pole and his first series pole at Phoenix International Raceway.

Starting second on the outside pole with a qualifying lap speed of 132.905 mph, will be Carl Edwards, followed by Trevor Bayne (132.758 mph) who will start from third, Clint Bowyer (132.734) starting fourth and Sam Hornish Jr. (132.358) starting from the fifth position.

Rounding out the top-ten starting positions will be Elliott Sadler (132.270) starting sixth, Justin Allgaier (132.265) seventh, Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Ryan Truex (132.008) eighth, Joey Logano (131.974) ninth and Brad Keselowski (131.965) will start from tenth.

Failing to make the starting lineup were the #13 driven by Jennifer Jo Cobb; the #75 driven by Carl Long; the #42 driven by Josh Wise and the #02 driven by Daryl Harr.

The WYPALL 200 is scheduled to get underway later this afternoon at approximately 3:50 PM (ET) with ESPN2 beginning their (pre-race) television coverage at 3:00 PM (ET).

2011 NNS WYPALL 200 Starting Lineup

(i) Ineligible for Points in this Series
# Denote Rookie
* Required to Qualify on Time

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Wypall 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)

TRACK – Phoenix International Raceway (1-mile tri-oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 3 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 Suave Men Chevrolet

“Phoenix is going be a challenge, but it’s going to be a challenge for everybody. We’re going to show up to a new racetrack. It’s newly repaved and reconfigured. They’ve made a lot of adjustments to the racing surface. I’m sure it’s going to be exciting for the drivers and for the fans.

“The plan for our 88 team is just to continue to improve over these final two races. It would be great to finish in the top-three in points, but right now the team’s focus is to get better. We’re not happy running where we’ve been running the past couple weeks. It’s important to this entire Suave Men team to finish the season on a strong note in preparation for 2012.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

“I’ve said all along how much fun it is to drive in NASCAR. I have the most fun racing these cars and I have high hopes heading into this race. We’ve ran well at mile-and-a-halfs this year, but short track racing is a different animal. I need to make sure that I still keep expectation levels in check, so I’m not disappointed. This isn’t a time for me to start creating false expectations for myself and feeling like I haven’t lived up to it. This is the time to continue on the path I’ve been going and to set goals for myself.

“Phoenix is a little bit different for everybody now. For me, it’s probably not the worst thing in the world that everyone will have to start relearning the track. It will be my third time there. That’s always a comforting feeling. I think the short track stuff is coming along. I feel like I’ve had the most trouble with it, and struggled with it. I think it’s gone a lot better this year.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

SHORT TRACK MUSCLE – Almirola flexed his short track muscle this season in the form of three top-five and six top-10 finishes at the 10 short track races to date. He is averaging a finish of 9.9 in those events. In short track races from July through September this season (Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Iowa Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway), Almirola never finished worse than seventh.

ALMIROLA AT PHOENIX – In four Nationwide Series starts at the facility, Almirola’s best finish is sixth, coming last fall in the No. 88 Chevrolet. He also owns three starts in the Camping World Truck Series, securing two top-five finishes and leading 52 laps in those events.

PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 1 p.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 11 in the Phoenix International Raceway media center deadline room.

PATRICK AND SHORT TRACKS – Patrick owns two starts at Phoenix, finishing a best of 17th in this season’s spring event, marking the best short track finish of her Nationwide Series career. Her sixth-place effort at Dover International Speedway in the fall of 2010 became her top stock car finish at a short track. Additionally, she finished 15th in her only start at Phoenix in the IndyCar Series.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise. The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points, sitting 36 points outside the top-10.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS - The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. The No. 88 Chevrolet is tied for eighth in owner points. Almirola is currently tied for third in championship points with Justin Allgaier. The pair sits 82 points behind second place, Elliott Sadler.

ALMIROLA AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Fans will have three opportunities to meet JR Motorsports driver Aric Almirola this weekend at Phoenix.

· Wed. Nov. 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Almirola will sign autographs at the Bashas’ grocery store #120 located 7586 W. Thunderbird Road in Peoria, Ariz.

· Sat. Nov. 12 from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. local time he’ll sign autographs at the Bashas’ grocery store at Phoenix International Raceway (located in the Cotton 2 RV section right outside Gate 4 and Gate 3).

· Sat. Nov. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. local time, Almirola will sign autograph at the JR Nation merchandise hauler located the fan concourse area.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

No. 82 Bullet Liner / Foametix Dodge Challenger R/T

“I really appreciate the folks at Burtin Polymer Laboratories coming on board supporting me for these final three races, explained Sorenson. “We had a strong run at Texas and I’m looking forward to these last two races with The Bullet Liner and Foametix on the race car.

Bullet Liner® products are primarily used for pickup truck beds, tailgates, wheel wells and other similar vehicle protection applications. Also, part of the impressive line of Burtin Polymer Labs products is Foametix® Spray Foam Insulation, which is a series of light density, polyurethane spray-applied foam insulation systems designed for residential and commercial / industrial building applications. MacDonald Motorsports is proud to have BPL on board as we continue to build our future racing programs together.

Sorenson started the season out with Turner Motorsports but joined MacDonald Motorsports just prior to the Kansas race. Reed trails Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola by only three points for third in the 2011 NNS driver’s standings.

In his first race in the Bullet Liner / Foametix No. 82 for MacDonald Motorsports at Texas, Sorenson recorded a 16th place finish. The final two races of the season will take place at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

About Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL)

Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL) remains one of the foremost authorities in research, development, and commercialization of polyurethane systems produced for commercial roofing, commercial and residential insulation, flotation, adhesives, packaging, spray elastomers and custom molding products. Recently launched, its Bullet Liner® products are primarily used for pickup truck beds, tailgates, wheel wells and other similar vehicle protection applications. Also, part of the impressive line of Burtin Polymer Labs products is Foametix® Spray Foam Insulation, which is a series of light density, polyurethane spray-applied foam insulation systems designed for residential and commercial / industrial building applications.

About MacDonald Motorsports

The MacDonald family name has been in the racing circles since owner, Randy MacDonald, started his own driving career in the 1980’s. The provisions made by Randy’s father, Merril “Doc” MacDonald, and mother Pat helped Randy start racing professionally and establish his own company. Randy’s father Doc helped him create business relationships and carry out other important functions of the team until finishing his own race in March of 2007. Despite his death, Doc’s impact on the team will not end, as MacDonald Motorsports continues on in his honor and memory.

- MacDonald Motorsports Press Release

MacDonald Motorsports Thumbnail

Starting 22nd, Reed Sorenson ran as high as 14th in the Bullet Liner/Foametix No. 82 during the course of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at TMS. Running 21st with 50 laps to go, Reed and the MacDonald Motorsports team scratched and clawed their way to an impressive 16th place finish.

Blake Koch had his best qualifying result of the year with an outstanding effort to put him 13th on the starting grid. During the course of the race, the Daystar.com No. 81 seemed to have a motor problem developing. The car just wasn’t putting out the power that the team was hoping for but the team pushed hard to the finish. The 22nd place result was enough to earn Blake another Sunoco Rookie of the Race award. This puts him into a tie with Timmy Hill for Rookie of the Year with just two races remaining.

“I’m so pumped heading in these final two races being tied with Timmy,” explained Blake Koch. “I know our Daystar team can pull this off if we can keep running the way we have been the last few races.”

Reed Sorenson remains fifth in the NNS driver’s standings but just five points behind Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola, who are tied third. Blake Koch stays solidly in 18th, while the MacDonald Motorsports No. 81 remains 25th in the owner’s standings.

Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL) has announced that they will be the primary sponsor on Reed Sorenson’s No. 82 Dodge for the remainder of the season, starting last Saturday at Texas. MacDonald Motorsports and Sorenson and very happy to represent BPL in these final races while growing exposure for their great products, The Bullet Liner and Foametix Spray Foam Solution.

Next week, Blake Koch will be in his normal Daystar.com No. 81 Dodge, while Reed Sorenson will be in The Bullet Liner/Foametix No. 82 Dodge. The Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway can be seen live this Saturday at 3:30 pm on ESPN2.

Vote for Blake and Reed for NNS Most Popular Driver…..Remember to vote every day for Blake Koch for NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver. The link to vote is http://nationwide.nascar.com/news/110705/2011-mpd-nationwide/index.html.

About Daystar Television Network

Daystar is a Television Network committed to spreading this message across the world: No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or who you are. It is not too much for God to handle. There is life, hope, and forgiveness waiting for you through Jesus Christ. Find out more on www.Daystar.com.

About Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL)

Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL) remains one of the foremost authorities in research, development, and commercialization of polyurethane systems produced for commercial roofing, commercial and residential insulation, flotation, adhesives, packaging, spray elastomers and custom molding products. Recently launched, its Bullet Liner® products are primarily used for pickup truck beds, tailgates, wheel wells and other similar vehicle protection applications. Also, part of the impressive line of Burtin Polymer Labs products is Foametix® Spray Foam Insulation, which is a series of light density, polyurethane spray-applied foam insulation systems designed for residential and commercial / industrial building applications.

About MacDonald Motorsports

The MacDonald family name has been in the racing circles since owner, Randy MacDonald, started his own driving career in the 1980’s. The provisions made by Randy’s father, Merril “Doc” MacDonald, and mother Pat helped Randy start racing professionally and establish his own company. Randy’s father Doc helped him create business relationships and carry out other important functions of the team until finishing his own race in March of 2007. Despite his death, Doc’s impact on the team will not end, as MacDonald Motorsports continues on in his honor and memory.

- MacDonald Motorsports Press Release

JR Motorsports

EVENT – O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad oval)

DATE – Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 12:55 p.m. EST) / PRN (broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet

“The racing surface at Texas is totally different from the spring to the fall race. When you go there in November the track seems to have a lot more grip and it’s really fast. As a race team, just the fact that we have gotten so many top-five and top-10s this summer, it changes our confidence a lot. We’re building momentum. At the beginning of the year we were showing up at the racetrack hoping to run up front. Now we show up knowing we can get a top-five if we do everything right. Keeping momentum on your side is very important.”

Danica Patrick

No. 7 GoDaddy.com / DanWheldonMemorial.com Chevrolet

“It’s exciting to be heading into these final weeks of the season. Consistency is a big key to success and being in the Go Daddy car for the last three races is a good thing. It will help me get comfortable with the car and the more time I can spend with my crew leading up to next season the better.”

Comments on wearing a special Dan Wheldon Tribute Helmet this weekend:

“I am humbled and proud to be wearing a special paint-out of my helmet in honor of Dan this weekend at Texas. This helmet will be auctioned off after the race with all proceeds, along with my prize money from this race, going to the Dan Wheldon Foundation. Dan was a good friend, and I will miss his great personality and positive attitude. I hope everyone will join me in supporting Susie and their two young boys at DanWheldonMemorial.com.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

DANICA PATRICK TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF DAN WHELDON – Danica Patrick and GoDaddy.com will honor the memory of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, through a memorial paint scheme on the No. 7 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 7 hood will showcase Wheldon’s “Lionheart” logo in bold letters across a black hood. Underscoring the black letters are the words “Dan Wheldon: 1978 – 2011”. DanWheldonMemorial.com will also be featured on the TV panel of the No. 7.

WHELDON TRIBUTE HELMET – Throughout the Texas race weekend, Danica Patrick will wear a special tribute helmet in remembrance of her friend Dan Wheldon. The race-used helmet will be auctioned off via the Dan Wheldon Memorial auction in the coming weeks. Visit DanWheldonMemorial.com for more information.

DANICA PATRICK’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Danica Patrick will be available to members of the NASCAR media at 12:15 p.m. CT in the Texas Motor Speedway media center deadline room. She will be addressing the media on the special Dan Wheldon memorial paint scheme that will appear on both the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet and on her helmet.

PATRICK AT TEXAS – Patrick finished 22nd in her lone stock car start at Texas in the fall of 2010. In eight starts there in the IndyCar Series she earned two podium finishes (3rd in 2007 and 2nd in 2010) and an average finish of 8.8.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 11th position in owner points, sitting 32 points outside the top-10. Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Patrick and Josh Wise.

SEASON TOTALS FOR PATRICK – On the year, Patrick has one top-five and three top-10 finishes. She has led 14 laps and earned an average finish of 16.1. Patrick holds three top-15 finishes in her last five starts.

PATRICK AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Patrick will sign autographs at the GoDaddy.com merchandise hauler (limited to 100 wristbands), located in the fan concourse area, on Friday, Nov. 4, from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.

JR MOTORSPORTS IN THE LONE STAR STATE – The bulk of the team’s success at Texas has come in the fall race at the 1.5-mile facility. Since 2006, the organization notched two top-five and four top-10 finishes in seven starts at Texas during the month of November.

QUALITY PASSER – From NASCAR Statistical Services, Almirola is ranked first in the quality passes category at Texas Motor Speedway. A quality pass is defined as passing a car running in the top 15 while under green-flag conditions. The Tampa, Fla. native holds 69 total quality passes, averaging 34.5 per race.

ALMIROLA AT TEXAS – Almirola has two starts at Texas Motor Speedway with a best finish of 12th in the Nationwide Series. He owns eight starts there in Camping World Truck Series competition with one top-10 finish, and two starts at the Sprint Cup Series level.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Almirola is currently ranked third in championship points (72 points behind second-place Elliott Sadler and four points ahead of fourth-place Justin Allgaier), with the No. 88 Chevrolet eighth in owner points.

ALMIROLA AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. local time.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

TaxSlayer.com

Two of the 14 races will be with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a third JR Motorsports entry. He will drive TaxSlayer.com television ad campaigns that emphasize the affordability and efficiency in TaxSlayer.com, president Jimmy Rhodes. “Fans are extremely loyal to Dale Jr. and his business interests, and we were able to use his immense reach and influence to market our product effectively. We are looking forward to continuing the momentum in 2012.”

Aric Almirola will complete the 14-race slate by driving a TaxSlayer.com, -sponsored No. 88 Chevrolet in 12 races. Almirola is currently fourth in the Nationwide Series point standings with four races to go. He enters the Dollar General 300 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway 10 points behind third-place Reed Sorenson.

“In just a short amount of time we’ve built something pretty special with TaxSlayer,” said Earnhardt Jr. “They’ve become a cornerstone partner of JR Motorsports and a valuable ingredient to this race team. I think both sides saw tremendous benefits to this association in 2011, and the best part is we’re just getting started.”

TaxSlayer debuted with JR Motorsports on Feb. 26 at Phoenix International Raceway. Earnhardt Jr. drove TaxSlayer to a third-place finish at Bristol on March 19, and Almirola put the TaxSlayer Chevrolet on the pole for the June 4 race at Chicagoland Speedway en route to a fourth-place finish.

TaxSlayer is based in Evans, Ga., and provides forms, calculations, and communication links to allow customers an easy avenue to filing tax returns electronically for only $9.95.

Also at today’s press conference, TaxSlayer.com, announced a title sponsorship of the Motorsports Journalism Awards of Excellence presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway. The awards are given out each January to individual winners in five journalism categories. TaxSlayer.com will make a $1,000 scholarship contribution in their name to a charity of their choice.

About JR Motorsports:

JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s eight-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The JR Motorsports facilities are based out of Mooresville, N.C., and include the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment, and JRM Licensing. For more information on JR Motorsports, visit www.JRMracing.com.

About TaxSlayer.com:

TaxSlayer.com is an established firm with a solid reputation and over 40 years in the Tax Preparation business. TaxSlayer has the full expertise of a professional tax service behind it. TaxSlayer.com is an online tax preparation and e-file service providing free services to the active Military Duty Personnel. TaxSlayer’s focus is on supporting young adults offering affordable and reliable tax services in a digital environment conducive to young active lifestyle. TaxSlayer is proud to assist you in preparing and e-Filing your taxes.

For information on the TaxSlayer Racing , go to www.taxslayerracing.com or on twitter @taxslayerracing

For more information about TaxSlayer.com, go to www.TaxSlayer.com or on facebook www.facebook.com/taxslayer1 or on twitter @taxslayer

- JR Motorsports Press Release

JR Motorsports

EVENT – Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage (200 laps / 300 miles)

TRACK – Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad oval)

DATE – Friday, Oct. 14, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begin at 7:30 p.m. EST) / PRN (broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 AdvoCare Chevrolet

“The Charlotte race in May was a good one for us. Our car was pretty fast. We had to battle back from a lap down after a loose wheel made us pit under green, and we still came out with a top-10 finish. Track position is everything there. Plus, it will be our third race there with the new car. Heading back to tracks for a second, and even third time with more notes on the new car definitely has its advantages. It seems like our program has been steadily improving when we make multiple stops at these tracks.

“Running at night at Charlotte, all the grip will come back once the track cools down. Turns one and two are really fast. Probably one of the fastest corners we go through on any racetrack. You can drive in hard and carry a lot of speed through there.”

Josh Wise

No. 7 TaxSlayer.com / The Navy SEAL Foundation Chevrolet

“It’s going to be a lot fun working with the guys on this TaxSlayer.com team again. They’re a fun bunch. They know how to work hard and get the job done, but Tony Eury Jr. makes it an enjoyable process.

“We really want to end the season on a good note. This will be my last race in the 7 car this year. And Charlotte is the type of race where there is a ton of excitement leading up to it. You always want to put on a good show for your sponsors, family and friends. We didn’t have the race we wanted there in the spring, but this team has learned a lot about its intermediate program since then.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

JRM FAN AUTOGRAPH SESSION SET FOR OCT. 14 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will headline the JR Motorsports autograph session this Friday, Oct. 14 from 1 – 2 p.m. EST at the JRM shop in Mooresville, N.C. (See complete schedule below). The first 150 fans to bring non-perishable food items or a new pet item to JRM on Thurs., Oct. 13 beginning at 9 a.m. EST will obtain a wristband that will guarantee access to the Earnhardt Jr. autograph line. Additionally, the first 50 fans to bring a new pet item or non-perishable food items to the JR Nation merchandise trailer at Charlotte Motor Speedway beginning at 2 p.m. EST on Thurs., Oct. 13 will also receive a wristband. Prior to Earnhardt Jr.’s autograph session, JRM drivers Aric Almirola and Josh Wise, along with Kelley Earnhardt, L.W. Miller (Southern Modified driver) and Josh Berry (JRM late model driver) will sign autographs for the first 200 fans from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST.

AUTOGRAPH SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 14

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Aric Almirola, Josh Wise, Kelley Earnhardt, L.W. Miller and Josh Berry

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wristband required)

TAXSLAYER SALUTES THE NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION – For this weekend’s race,TaxSlayer is giving up the hood of its No. 7 Chevrolet to honor fallen Navy SEALs with the logo of the Navy SEAL Foundation. The mission of the Navy SEAL Foundation is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. TaxSlayer.com is a proud supporter of the United States Armed Forces. All active-duty men and women in the U.S. military can prepare and file Federal and State tax returns free of charge with TaxSlayer.com. To make a donation or to learn more visit http://nswfoundation.org

ALMIROLA VISITS HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – On Monday, Oct. 10, Almirola visited Harmony Elementary School in Harmony, N.C as part of Unilever and Dollar General’s “Reading puts you on the track to Victory” literacy program. Almirola met with Mrs. Prichard’s kindergarten class and read Dr. Seuss’ “There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!” to the students. The class earned the privilege by having the highest average number of minutes read for the classes participating in the program.

WISE STATS IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES – This weekend will mark Wise’s 75th start in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition. He holds four starts at Charlotte. This season, Wise has tallied one top-five and three top-10 finishes, all with JR Motorsports, in 28 starts.

WISE WITH JRM – The Riverside, Calif. native made his first start with the team at Nashville Superspeedway in June of 2010. In his 22 races with the organization, he scored one top-five and five top-10 finishes. Wise’s fourth-place effort at Iowa Speedway with JRM earlier this summer equaled his NNS career-best finish.

LOOP DATA – According to NASCAR’s loop data, Almirola is tied for fourth in the closers category, which calculates positions improved in the last 10 percent of laps in each race over the past six years at Charlotte. The native of Tampa, Fla. is also ranked 10th in the quality passes category, which constitutes passing a car running in the top 15 while under a green flag.

JRM’S INTERMEDIATE PROGRAM – JR Motorsports owns four top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 1.5-mile races this season. Drivers Almirola, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Wise have all contributed to the tally.

ALMIROLA AT CHARLOTTE – Almirola owns one top-five and three top-10s in six NNS starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He finished ninth in the No. 88 Chevrolet with JRM this spring. He also has two top-10 finishes in two starts in the Camping World Truck Series.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The No. 88 team’s season tally now stands at seven top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-10s in the last 14 races. Almirola is currently ranked fourth in championship points (10 points behind third-place Reed Sorenson), with the No. 88 Chevrolet eighth in owner points.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies the 12th position in owner points. Every driver of the No. 7 this season has scored a top-10 finish. The list includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Danica Patrick and Wise.

ALMIROLA AT-TRACK AUTOGRAPH SIGNING – Almirola will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Friday, Oct. 14, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. local time.

JR NATION GREAT GIVEAWAY – The promotion that has awarded prizes to lucky fan club members each day for 50 days ends this week! All fans must do is log on to www.jrnation.com and click on the register now banner. In addition to the daily prizes, JR Nation is offering a grand prize of an $888 gift card for use in the JR Nation online store. 10 second-place winners will receive an $88 gift card also for use in the JR Nation online store. Daily prizes include autographed memorabilia from Aric Almirola, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Josh Wise.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM)

Over his first 99 career starts, the 26-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the most prolific drivers in the history of the Truck Series. Busch’s 30 wins rank second on the all-time series wins list. Additionally, he ranks fourth all-time with 4,120 laps led, is tied for sixth with 12 poles and ranks ninth with 59 top-five finishes.

Other notable Truck Series highlights for Busch include:

- Has won 30.3% of the NCWTS races he has entered and finished first or second in 48.5%.

- Youngest driver (20 years, 18 days) in NCWTS history to win a race (Quaker Steak & Lube 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on 5/20/05).

- Reached 25th win in NCWTS faster than any driver in the history of NASCAR’s top three series, attaining the milestone in just his 87th career start.

- Has recorded at least one NCWTS victory in each of the last seven seasons and multiple victories in each of the last five.

- 119.6 career driver rating entering the 2011 season is the highest accumulated by a NCWTS driver since the stat was introduced in 2005.

- Average career finish of 7.2 ranks first among active drivers with 50 or more career starts in the NCWTS

- .002-second win over Aric Almirola in 2010 Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway was the closest margin of victory using electronic scoring in NCWTS history.

Kyle Busch

Since becoming a Toyota-powered competitor in 2008, Kyle Busch has registered a remarkable 83 victories for the manufacturer across NASCAR’s top three touring series. The Las Vegas native recorded Toyota’s first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March of 2008 and has collected more Sprint Cup Series wins for Toyota than any other driver, collecting 19 of the company’s 38 career victories.

In addition to being the driving force behind KBM’s Truck Series owners’ title in 2010, Busch has led Toyota to three-consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series owners’ championships driving the No. 18 and No. 20 Toyota Camrys for Joe Gibbs Racing.

About Toyota Certified Used Vehicles

Toyota Certified Used Vehicles are sold exclusively through participating Toyota Dealers. A Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV) must be a current model year Toyota, up to and including six year old models, and have 85,000 miles or less on the odometer. Each Toyota dealer is required to order a full CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ with results showing NO ineligible requirements. Then, each vehicle must meet or exceed all 160-points of our Quality Assurance Inspection. These strict standards ensure that only the best of the best vehicles receive the Toyota Certified Seal of Approval. To search for a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle, visit www.toyotacertified.com

About Kyle Busch Motorsports

Kyle Busch Motorsports has quickly established itself as one of the most successful teams in all of NASCAR. The reigning Camping World Truck Series owners’ champions prepare a fleet of race-winning Toyotas out of a 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. Pending LEED certification, the facility’s state-of-the art equipment and innovative green initiatives make it unmatched among its peers. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.kylebuschmotorsports.com, by liking the team on Facebook (KyleBuschMS) and following the team on Twitter (@KyleBuschMS).

- Kyle Busch Motorsports Press Release