Tuesday

Clint Bowyer, No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS, Auto Club Speedway Race Preview

No. 29 Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Impala SS

Event: Copart 300 – October 10, 2009

Venue: Auto Club Speedway – Fontana, Calif.

Clint Bowyer’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Performance History at Auto Club Speedway

· This Weekend’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS at Auto Club Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 080 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in this Saturday’s Copart 300. Built new in 2009, this is the same Impala SS Austin Dillon practiced and qualified last month at Michigan International Speedway. The car was damaged during the second lap of qualifying, forcing the No. 2 team to a back-up car for the race. Since then, this Chevrolet was repaired, painted with the Holiday Inn Racing colors and driven by Jeff Burton at Atlanta Motor Speedway last month where he posted a fifth-place finish.

· Career Start 300 … The 30-year old driver will make his 300th career NASCAR start (includes NASCAR’s top-three national series) in Saturday’s 300-mile NNS event at Fontana. Since joining RCR in 2004, the Emporia, Kan., native has earned one NNS championship, along with 11 career NASCAR wins; two in the Sprint Cup Series, eight in the NNS and one in the Camping World Truck Series. In fact, Bowyer is one of only 20 drivers to have wins each in of NASCAR’s top-three series. In his previous 299 NASCAR starts, Bowyer has earned 10 poles, 82 top-five and 160 top-10 finishes.

· Statistically Speaking …

o Start and Finish … Bowyer has earned two, of seven, career NNS pole awards at Auto Club Speedway, which ties him with Carl Edwards for the most career NNS poles at the two-mile oval. In his previous seven starts at Fontana, the reigning NNS champion has an average start of 6.9, an average finish of 8.1 and has completed all 1,050 of the laps contested.

o Loop ‘D Loop … According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Bowyer has ran inside the top 15 for 1,012 of the 1,050 laps contested (96.4 percent), third best among all drivers at Auto Club Speedway.

o Bowyer’s 2009 NNS Recap … In 10 NNS starts this season, the eight-time NNS winner has earned two wins, one pole and five top-three finishes. He boasts an average starting position of 9.5, an 8.2 average finish and has completed 1,943 of the 1,946 laps contested (99.8 percent).

o RCR in SoCal … In 32 starts at Auto Club Speedway, RCR-prepared Chevrolets have one win (Burton-September 2007), three poles, 13 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.,-based organization boasts a 10.9 average starting position, a 10.4 average finish and have completed 4,688 of 4,800 laps contested (97.7 percent) with only one DNF (Did Not Finish) at Fontana.

· Holiday Inn Racing Stats …

o Six Races to Go … In the first 29 NNS races this season, Burton, Bowyer and Stephen Leicht have earned two wins (Bowyer – Daytona and Dover), six top-fives, 20 top-10 and 26 top-20 finishes. The three drivers boast a 10.3 average finish, a 10.8 average start and have led eight races for a total of 187 laps. The Doug Randolph-led team has finished in the top 15 in 15 consecutive races.

o Going for 10 … In 108 NNS starts, RCR’s No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet has earned nine wins among three drivers. Burton has earned seven of them, including Dover (June 2006), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 2007), Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 2007), Auto Club Speedway (September 2007), Lowe’s Motor Speedway (October 2007) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 2007). Former RCR driver Scott Wimmer took the checkered flag at Nashville Superspeedway in No. 29 machine last March, while Bowyer has recorded the two Holiday Inn Racing wins this season (July-Daytona, September-Dover).

o Holiday Inn Chevrolet’s at California … Burton has driven all five races the No. 29 Chevrolet has started at Auto Club Speedway. The Holiday Inn Racing team has never finished worse than eighth and has one win and two top-five finishes.

· Rearview Mirror … Bowyer and the No. 29 team overcame an accident in the weekend’s first practice session and a 34th-starting spot to post a ninth-place finish in last Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. The Richard Childress-owned team remains fifth in the NNS owners’ point standings, 61 markers in arrears to Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 entry in fourth.

· Camera’s On Board … The No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet will carry three in-car cameras this weekend. One camera is mounted in the rear bumper, another is inside the car to capture Bowyer behind the wheel and the third camera gives a view of what Bowyer sees looking out over the No. 29’s hood.

· Double Down in Cali … In addition to his NNS driver duties, Bowyer will pilot the No. 33 Prilosec OTC – Walmart Chevrolet in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Live coverage of the 500-mile event will begin Sunday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will be telecast on ABC. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 3:15 p.m. EDT.

· Fuel My Passion… Shell V-Power is holding the “Fuel My Passion” Contest and Sweepstakes for those who are passionate about their ride. Prizes include free Shell V-Power premium gasoline for a year and a chance to win an all-new 2010 Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® Lo motorcycle. The promotion runs through November 3, 2009. You can visit www.shell.us/fuelmypassion for more details.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Copart 300 will be televised live on Saturday, October 10 beginning at 4 p.m. EDT and will be telecast on ESPN2. The race will also be broadcast on MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 30th event of the 2009 NNS schedule will begin at noon EDT. Check out Holiday Inn Racing’s twitter page at www.twitter.com/holidayinnracin for live updates from time trials.

· Mark Your Calendars … In honor of its 40th anniversary, RCR will host a Fan Day at the Welcome, N.C. complex on Thursday, October 22 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Activities include driver and pit crew autograph sessions, self-guided tours of RCR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide shops as well as ECR’s engine shop, radio remotes, musical entertainment, pit crew competition, viewing of the DALE movie, question-and-answer session with team owner Richard Childress and much more. General admission to RCR’s Fan Day is just $5, which will benefit the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.

· Online With the Times … To keep up with the latest news and information about Richard Childress Racing and to view exclusive online content, visit the team’s official website at www.RCRRacing.com. For qualifying and race results, check us out at www.twitter.com/RCRRacing.

Clint Bowyer

This race marks your 300th career NASCAR start. What are some of your biggest highlights from the first 299 starts?

“The two biggest things that stick out in my mind are winning the Nationwide Series championship last season and my first Sprint Cup Series win at New Hampshire in 2007. Taking the title last year was awesome and it was a lot of fun. We only had one win, but were consistently finishing in the top five and top 10 each week. My first Cup win was the first race of the Chase. It was the first time I was in the Chase and being able to say you beat a veteran like Jeff Gordon, at Loudon, is something special. The victory took a lot of pressure off the team and gave us a push to contend for the title. It’s amazing to think that just a few years ago I was dirt racing, back in Kansas, to be where I’m at today. Richard Childress believed in me and I owe most of my success to him and everyone back at RCR.”

Auto Club Speedway has been a good track for you in the Nationwide Series. What are your goals heading into this weekend?

“Doug Randolph (crew chief) and all the No. 29 guys back at the shop have produced fast Chevrolets lately. We ran really well at Dover and the speeds we showed in first practice at Kansas were competitive. Even in that back up car, we were pretty solid last weekend. As we head to Fontana, we look to carry over our momentum of the last two races and, hopefully, earn a top-five finish, if not better.”

DOUG RANDOLPH QUOTES:

What are your goals as you head to Fontana this weekend?

“We’re bringing the same No. 29 Chevrolet Jeff (Burton) drove at Atlanta a few weeks ago. We were happy with the car’s performance and have made some minor modifications to make it even better. Track position is going to be key at Fontana because the field widens out quickly. If we can qualify up front and have strong pit stops, we should be good shape for a top-five finish.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release