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	<title>Catchfence &#187; Coca-Cola 600</title>
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		<title>Ben Leslie Named ARCA Crew Chief For Empire Racing; Sean Corr In 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2012/arca/01/20/ben-leslie-named-arca-crew-chief-for-empire-racing-sean-corr-in-2012/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ben-leslie-named-arca-crew-chief-for-empire-racing-sean-corr-in-2012</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:16:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARCA]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Empire Racing LLC ThumbnailMOORESVILLE, NC (1/19/2012) – Empire Racing announced today that Ben Leslie has been named crew chief of the No. 82 Roush Yates Engines Ford Fusion driven by Sean Corr in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Ben comes to Empire Racing with an 18-year career in the motorsports industry. Leslie’s background...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2012/arca/01/20/ben-leslie-named-arca-crew-chief-for-empire-racing-sean-corr-in-2012/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-full wp-image-61556" style="auto;"><img src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Empire-Racing-LLC-Thumbnail.jpg" alt="Empire Racing LLC Thumbnail" title="Empire Racing LLC Thumbnail" width="90" height="35" class="alignright size-full wp-image-61556" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:90px;">Empire Racing LLC Thumbnail</div></div><strong>MOORESVILLE, NC (1/19/2012) –</strong> Empire Racing announced today that Ben Leslie has been named crew chief of the No. 82 Roush Yates Engines Ford Fusion driven by Sean Corr in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.</p>
<p>Ben comes to Empire Racing with an 18-year career in the motorsports industry. Leslie’s background includes experience in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, where he worked with drivers such as former Sprint Cup Series champions Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Bobby Labonte, and defending Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</p>
<p>“This is a great opportunity to be working with a growing team like Empire Racing,” Leslie said. “I had the opportunity to work with Sean at Kansas last year. He has a very good feel for the car and excellent ‘car control’. The whole organization is dedicated to putting out the best equipment every race.”</p>
<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ft size-full wp-image-64538" style="auto;"><img src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Sean-Corr.jpg" alt="Sean Corr" title="Sean Corr" width="167" height="250" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-64538" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:167px;">Sean Corr</div></div>“I’m very excited to begin working with Ben and preparing for the 2012 season,” Corr said. “I am confident his substantial experience and background in racing will benefit Empire Racing and help the No. 82 team gain a more competitive edge in the ARCA Racing Series.”</p>
<p>Leslie spent the majority of his Sprint Cup career with Roush Fenway Racing, where he got his NASCAR start in 1994 as a mechanic and tire changer. In 1998, he was named car chief for the No. 26 Ford of Johnny Benson and was later promoted to interim crew chief, which led to a permanent crew chief position with the championship-winning organization.</p>
<p>Leslie’s career highlights include rookie of the year honors with Kenseth in 2000 and a runner-up championship finish with Mark Martin in 2002, which encompassed a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Coca-Cola 600.</p>
<p>Following the 2002 season, Leslie went on to fulfill crew chief positions with organizations such as Wood Brothers Racing, Yates Racing and Hall of Fame Racing. He also has served as field director at Ford Racing for several years.</p>
<p>In 2010, Leslie returned to Roush Fenway Racing and was named crew chief of the No. 6 Ford driven by Stenhouse Jr.</p>
<p>For more on Sean Corr, Empire Racing and marketing partnership opportunities for the 2012 racing season, please visit <a href="http://www.empireracingllc.com">empireracingllc.com.</a></p>
<p>Are you FORD tough? Connect with Roush Yates Performance Products and Roush Yates Engines through their official web site at <a href="http://www.roushyatesparts.com">roushyatesparts.com.</a></p>
<p>Connect with Sean Corr and Empire Racing through Facebook by clicking here. Tweet with Sean Corr through Twitter @EmpireRacingLLC.</p>
<p><strong>About Empire Racing:</strong></p>
<p>Established in 2009, Empire Racing LLC. Is a two-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Sean Corr, a 27-year old hailing from Goshen, New York pilots the team’s automobiles in the DIRTcar Series and Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). In 2012, the team will once again attempt to run for a championship in the ARCA Racing Series and selected NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events .The team is headquartered in Goshen, New York with an additional operation in Mooresville, NC</p>
<p>- <strong>Empire Racing Press Release </strong></p>
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		<title>Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Turnaround; Tale of a Champion</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/nationwide/11/17/ricky-stenhouse-jr-turnaround-tale-of-a-champion/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ricky-stenhouse-jr-turnaround-tale-of-a-champion</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:20:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nationwide Series]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.catchfence.com/?p=91440</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;He’s going to be as good in this business as anybody has been.” &#8211; - Jack Roush on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Photo Credit: Steve Langley for NASCARMIAMI (Nov. 17, 2011) – A year and a half ago Roush Fenway’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., was fighting for his job in the No. 6...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/nationwide/11/17/ricky-stenhouse-jr-turnaround-tale-of-a-champion/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>&#8220;He’s going to be as good in this business as anybody has been.” &#8211; - Jack Roush on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</em></strong></p>
<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-full wp-image-70331" style="auto;"><img src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-Nashville-March-Advance-Stenhouse.jpg" alt="Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Photo Credit: Steve Langley for NASCAR" title="Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Photo Credit: Steve Langley for NASCAR" width="300" height="260" class="alignright size-full wp-image-70331" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:300px;">Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Photo Credit: Steve Langley for NASCAR</div></div><strong>MIAMI (Nov. 17, 2011) – </strong> A year and a half ago Roush Fenway’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., was fighting for his job in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford Mustang in the Nationwide Series . This weekend he heads into the NASCAR Nationwide Series finale with a 41-point lead and on the cusp of his first NASCAR Championship.</p>
<p>“Ricky Stenhouse a year ago, was just a possibility,” said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. “He was not a reality for sure. Ricky has matured over the winter. His Dad, Ricky Sr., has certainly counseled him and Ricky Jr., has taken his advice.”</p>
<p>Roush goes on to point out that the rejuvenation of Roush Fenway’s Ford Mustangs has played a role in Stenhouse’s continued development but the veteran owner adds that he feels Stenhouse is going to grow into one of the sports’ elite drivers. </p>
<p>The title would be Roush Fenway’s third Nationwide Series driver title and its sixth overall NASCAR Championship. </p>
<p>“We’ve managed to put him in better cars this year than he had last year, which could account for some of the missed wrecks that we’ve benefited from,” added Roush. “But he’s just matured. He’s arrived on the scene and he’s going to be as good in this business as anybody has been.”</p>
<p>Stenhouse rebounded in 2010, scoring top-10 finishes in five of the last 10 races and finishing the year by earning Rookie of the Year honors in the Nationwide Series; the 12th Rookie of the Year Award for Roush Fenway Racing. </p>
<p>Entering the 2011 season the team was poised to compete for the championship. </p>
<p>“Our goal coming into the season was to compete for the Nationwide Championship,” said Stenhouse. “We’ve led the points for the majority of the season, we’ve led quite a few laps and we’ve contended for and been able to win races. That has been the key this season for this No. 6 team.”</p>
<p>Stenhouse earned his first career NASCAR win earlier this year at Iowa in May and followed it up with another win at Iowa in August. </p>
<p>In a year to remember for the Mississippi native, Stenhouse also made his Sprint Cup debut in 2011, an 11th-place finish driving the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers’ Ford in the Coca-Cola 600 in May. </p>
<p>Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating in both the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series with drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Trevor Bayne. Celebrating 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions with its exclusive Roush Fenway OnTrack sponsorship measurement services, motorsport’s only team-focused TV show, and its social marketing channel <a href="http://www.RickyvsTrevor.com">RickyvsTrevor.com </a> bringing unmatched brand opportunities to sponsors. Visit <a href="http://www.RoushFenway.com">www.RoushFenway.com,</a> become a fan on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway">www.facebook.com/roushfenway </a> and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries call John Younger at 704.720.4620.</p>
<p>Follow Roush Fenway&#8217;s historic run at two championships on Twitter with #RFR242 (two for two).</p>
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		<title>Kasey Kahne, No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala Charlotte Motor Speedway Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/nationwide/10/11/kasey-kahne-no-38-great-clips-chevrolet-impala-charlotte-motor-speedway-preview/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kasey-kahne-no-38-great-clips-chevrolet-impala-charlotte-motor-speedway-preview</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:46:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nationwide Series]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCARKASEY KAHNE QUICK FACTS No. 38 Great Clips Impala Charlotte Motor Speedway Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage October 14, 2011 No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes Kahne is no stranger to Charlotte Motor Speedway&#8217;s victory lane&#8230; In...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/nationwide/10/11/kasey-kahne-no-38-great-clips-chevrolet-impala-charlotte-motor-speedway-preview/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-full wp-image-65624" style="auto;"><img src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-NNS-38-Car.jpg" alt="No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR" title="No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala  - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR" width="300" height="200" class="alignright size-full wp-image-65624" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:300px;">No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div><strong>KASEY KAHNE QUICK FACTS</p>
<p>No. 38 Great Clips Impala </p>
<p>Charlotte Motor Speedway </p>
<p>Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage</p>
<p>October 14, 2011</p>
<p>No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes </p>
<p>Kahne is no stranger to Charlotte Motor Speedway&#8217;s victory lane&#8230;</strong> In 17 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS), Kahne has one win and one pole to his credit in addition to four top-10 finishes with 140 laps led. Kahne has seen even more success at Charlotte in Sprint Cup Series competition with a total of four wins under his belt. In 2006, he swept both the spring and fall events at CMS and in 2008 won his second Coca-Cola 600. Also in 2008, Kahne was the recipient of the Sprint Fan Vote which made him eligible for the final transfer spot for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Kahne started the race from 24th position and raced his way to the front to lead the final 17 laps and take home the $1-million prize.</p>
<p><strong>Who&#8217;s on the pit box?</strong> Stewart Cooper will call the shots for Kahne and serve as crew chief for the No. 38 Great Clips team in the eight races that he is behind the wheel. Note that when Kahne drives the No. 38 machine, the team uses the No. 30 team&#8217;s radio frequency &#8211; 460.8875.</p>
<p><strong>This week&#8217;s Impala&#8230;</strong> The Great Clips team will unload chassis TMS-128 this weekend at CMS. This chassis last saw track time at Dover International Speedway where Kahne started seventh and finished fourth.</p>
<p><strong>Turner Motorsports in the hunt&#8230; </strong> In 30 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes. Both of Turner Motorsports&#8217; championship-contending drivers are inside the top-10 in the driver point standings with Justin Allgaier in fifth and Leffler in sixth.</p>
<p><strong>Get ready for the &#8220;Five Kahne&#8221; &#8230;</strong> The second annual Kasey Kahne Foundation &#8220;Five Kahne&#8221; will take place on the streets of uptown Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday, Oct. 16th. Kahne started the 5K charity run last year in hopes of building an annual event to generate funds for youth causes. Through a partnership with the NC STEM Community Collaborative, proceeds from the run will fund grants for educational field trips to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.</p>
<p><strong>Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Great Clips&#8230; </strong> This season marks Great Clips&#8217; 10-year anniversary as a primary sponsor in the NNS. The Minneapolis-based Great Clips, Inc., which is currently the longest-running primary sponsor in the series, came onto the scene in 2001 as a primary sponsor of Akins Motorsports No. 38 entry, then driven by Christian Elder.</p>
<p><strong>Leffler on SIRIUS&#8217; Morning Drive every Wednesday&#8230;</strong> Don&#8217;t forget to tune in to SIRIUS Radio&#8217;s &#8220;Morning Drive&#8221; with Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone every Wednesday at 10:30am to hear Leffler&#8217;s take on recent events in the Nationwide Series and what you can expect from the week&#8217;s upcoming race. </p>
<p>Follow the No. 38 team on Twitter! <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS">Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS</a></p>
<p>Follow Kasey Kahne on Twitter! <a href="http://www.Twitter.com/KaseyKahne ">Twitter.com/KaseyKahne </a>  </p>
<p>Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports">Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports</a></p>
<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ft size-full wp-image-62707" style="auto;"><img src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011-Kasey-Kahne.jpg" alt="Kasey Kahne - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR" title="Kasey Kahne - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR " width="200" height="300" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-62707" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:200px;">Kasey Kahne - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div><strong>Kahne on the racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;One of the keys to success at Charlotte is that you have to be able to run anywhere on the race track.  Your car has to turn really good at certain areas on the track and the front-end has to be in the track. I have a lot of faith in this Turner Motorsports team and never doubt that they are going to give me a good car to race. I work really well with Stewart Cooper (crew chief) and feel like we are just a small step away from getting this Great Clips Chevrolet back into victory lane.&#8221;  </p>
<p>- <strong>Turner Motorsports Press Release </strong></p>
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		<title>Difference of Night and Day for David Starr</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/difference-of-night-and-day-for-david-starr/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=difference-of-night-and-day-for-david-starr</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 20:58:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Press Releases]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Leavine Family Racing Driver Finishes 36th in Coca-Cola 600 2011 NSCS David Starr - Leavine Fenton RacingCONCORD, N.C. (May 31, 2011) — Last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 was like night and day for David Starr and the Leavine Family Racing (LFR) team – literally. Starr, driver of the No. 95 Jordan Truck Sales Ford, seemed poised...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/difference-of-night-and-day-for-david-starr/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Leavine  Family Racing Driver Finishes 36<sup>th</sup> in Coca-Cola  600</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-medium wp-image-69894" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-69894" title="2011 NSCS David Starr - Leavine Fenton Racing" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-NSCS-David-Starr-Leavine-Fenton-Racing-140x210.jpg" alt="2011 NSCS David Starr - Leavine Fenton Racing" width="140" height="210" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:140px;">2011 NSCS David Starr - Leavine Fenton Racing</div></div>CONCORD,  N.C. (May 31, 2011) — </strong>Last  Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 was like night and day for David Starr and the Leavine  Family Racing (LFR) team – literally.</p>
<p>Starr,  driver of the No. 95 Jordan Truck Sales Ford, seemed poised to grab a solid  finish in the marathon NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, but was a victim of a  late-race incident that resulted in 36th-place finish at Charlotte (N.C.)  Speedway.</p>
<p>The  race began in the sweltering heat of the day and finished in the coolness of the  summer night. As a result of qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 – one of the most  prestigious Cup Series races – Starr and the LFR team started with confidence  and enthusiasm, but they left with the disappointment of being a victim of  somebody else’s mistake.</p>
<p>“I  love racing so much; it hurts when I fall,” Starr said. “It is hard to be  disappointed about the race, because we were in the Coca-Cola 600. We made the  race and that was a big honor and a dream come true for all of us. So, that was  pretty awesome.  I have mixed emotions  about a finish like that, but I hate to sit here frustrated.  We raced respectfully. I’m just disappointed  we did not get to the end.”</p>
<p>Starr  started NASCAR’s longest race at 32<sup>nd</sup>, but struggled to find a line  that worked for him in the sunshine. At each pit stop crew chief, Wally Rogers,  worked on Starr’s machine, making a variety of adjustments in hopes of finding  the right combination to improve performance in the 600-mile/400 lap event. Not  until the No.95 Ford Fusion went under the lights did the adjustments click and  the No. 95 begin to gain track position.</p>
<p>“The  No.95 Jordan Truck Sales car went into the corners well, it came off the corners  well, it was a little bit tight in the center,” Starr said. “Wally Rogers and  all of the guys on our team making adjustments were making the car better and  better throughout the night.”</p>
<p>At  Lap 45, Starr gave up the 18th-spot to pit under green for four tires, fuel and  to clean the grill. The varying pit strategies forced the LFR team to return to  the track in 35<sup>th</sup> place. He moved up the field four spots 32 laps  later.</p>
<p>“We  got about one truck race about done,” Wally Rogers, crew chief, radioed to Starr  150 miles into the race.</p>
<p>Once  under the lights, Starr’s Jordan Truck Sales Ford Fusion took off. Although  Starr said his car was still a little tight in the center, he continued to  mirror the lap times of the race leaders.</p>
<p>Lap  241 saw a three-car wreck in Turn 2 bring out the yellow flag.  A close call for the No.95, but the veteran  NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver came out  unscathed.</p>
<p>Under  a caution for debris in Turn 3 on Lap 283, Starr took on four tires, and fuel.  The Houston native returned to the track in 30<sup>th</sup>-place for the  restart at lap 286.</p>
<p>As  Starr was maneuvering the 1.5-mile quad-oval, he found himself in the wrong  place at the wrong time. He was the victim of a three-wide racing  on  Lap 286. He initially brought his car down pit road, but when the team was able  to assess the damage up close, the team had no choice but to park their Ford  Fusion for the rest of the event.</p>
<p>The  incident resulted in a disappointing 36th finish for  Starr.</p>
<p>“You  are on such a high, and then something like that happens, and then you hit the  bottom,” Starr reflected.  “But that is  why we are competitors, warriors, fighters and racers. That’s why when you win  and run well it is so joyful. But you just keep fighting, and I am going to keep  fighting and I know everyone on this Leavine Family Racing team  is.”</p>
<p>The  next event on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule for Starr and Leavine Family Racing  is the July 9 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. The race  starts at 7:30 p.m. with live coverage provided by TNT.</p>
<p><em>Date:  May 29, 2011<br />
Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 12 of 36)<br />
Series: NASCAR Sprint  Cup Series<br />
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway<br />
Start/Finish:  32nd/36th (Accident, completed 286 of 402 laps in a green-white-checkered  finish)</em></p>
<p><em>- Leavine Fenton Racing, Press Release<br />
</em></p>
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		<title>Dramatic Win Earns Four Contingency Awards For Harvick, No. 29 Team</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 19:31:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Press Releases]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Gil Martin Captures His Third MOOG Chassis Parts Problem Solver Of Race Award NASCAR LogoCHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 31, 2011) – Strategic calls atop the pit box and fuel conservation in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway earned Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing a thrilling victory and four post-race contingency awards. Saving enough...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/dramatic-win-earns-four-contingency-awards-for-harvick-no-29-team/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Gil  Martin Captures His Third MOOG Chassis Parts Problem Solver Of Race  Award</em></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-full wp-image-25200" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-25200" title="NASCAR Logo" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/NASCARLogo.jpg" alt="NASCAR Logo" width="202" height="155" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:202px;">NASCAR Logo</div></div>CHARLOTTE,  N.C. (May 31, 2011) – </strong>Strategic  calls atop the pit box and fuel conservation in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola  600 at  Charlotte Motor Speedway earned Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing a  thrilling victory and four post-race contingency awards.</p>
<p>Saving  enough fuel to overtake an out-of-gas Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final  green-white-checkered  lap, Harvick scored his 17th career victory and became the first driver to score  three victories in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series  season.</p>
<p>Crew chief Gil Martin, who made aggressive calls to keep Harvick in  contention for the win, earned a season-best third MOOG Chassis Parts Problem  Solver of the Race Award which goes to the crew chief that improves the most  from the first half of the race to the second half of the race utilizing the 40  best lap times.</p>
<p>“We knew with 100 laps to go, we had our mindset that we needed to get  to Lap 348 to be able to make it in one last stop,” explained Martin post-race.  “When that caution came out on 343 or whatever it was, we knew it was going to  be extremely close, and our two engineers started crunching numbers as hard as  they could go. Any way we could crunch them, we were a lap and a half short. We  told Kevin that and he did a great job saving fuel and maintaining speed at the  same time, and that&#8217;s two things that are hard to do.”</p>
<p>With  the win, Harvick picked up the Mobil 1 Oil Driver of the Race Award as well as the O’Reilly Auto Parts  Position Improvement Award presented to the eligible driver that improves the  most positions from their starting position to their finishing position in each  event. Harvick started in the 28th position.</p>
<p>The  awards are part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as  the contingency program, which provides teams prize money and weekly awards  based on performance in several categories.</p>
<p>“I think tonight we took it to another level as far as the  aggressiveness of staying on the racetrack and putting two tires on and just  doing things that aren&#8217;t normal for us that were a little bit outside the box,”  said Harvick post-race. “But it seems like over the past couple weeks you&#8217;ve got  to be more aggressive and you&#8217;ve got to take more chances if you&#8217;re going to  win.”</p>
<p>Powerful  horsepower under-the-hood of the No. 29 Chevrolet earned Earnhardt Childress  Racing Technologies their first MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race Award  of the season based on points awarded for qualifying and finishing position. Bonus  points are awarded to the team that leads the most laps in the  event.</p>
<p>“Gil made some great calls tonight, and we&#8217;re proud to be here with these  guys,”  said team owner Richard Childress, after scoring the organization’s 97th NASCAR  Sprint Cup Series victory. “This whole race was probably as competitive of a 600  that I&#8217;ve witnessed. All night long the field kept changing at the front, but to  see our cars working together, that&#8217;s what an owner loves to see.”</p>
<p>With  the win, Harvick climbed to second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points  standings, 36 points back  of leader Carl Edwards heading into Sunday’s STP 400 at Kansas Speedway (1 p.m.  EST, FOX).</p>
<p><strong>Official  winners of this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Prize Money &amp; Decal Program  special awards include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>·          <strong>AMERICAN  ETHANOL </strong><strong>GREEN  FLAG RESTART: </strong>Matt Kenseth</li>
<li>·          <strong>COORS  LIGHT POLE AWARD:</strong> Brad Keselowski  (192.089  mph. 28.112 secs.)</li>
<li>·          <strong>DIRECTV  CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE AWARD:</strong> Mike Shiplett (crew chief for AJ Allmendinger)<strong> </strong></li>
<li>·          <strong>GOODYEAR  GATORBACK BELTS FASTEST LAP AWARD: </strong>Jeff  Gordon (186.355 mph, Lap 312)</li>
<li>·          <strong>MAHLE  CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE AWARD:</strong> Earnhardt Childress Racing</li>
<li>·          Technologies,  No. 29</li>
<li>·          <strong>MOBIL  1 OIL DRIVER OF THE RACE AWARD:</strong> Kevin Harvick</li>
<li>·          <strong>MOOG  CHASSIS PARTS PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE AWARD: </strong>Gil  Martin (crew chief for Kevin Harvick, 0.442 secs.)<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></strong></li>
<li>·          <strong>O’REILLY  AUTO PARTS POSITION IMPROVEMENT AWARD:</strong> Kevin Harvick (27 places)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>About  the NASCAR Prize Money &amp; Decal Program</strong></p>
<p>The  NASCAR Prize Money &amp; Decal Program, commonly referred to as the contingency  program, is administered by the NASCAR Automotive Group. The program strives to  build strong relationships with high-quality, performance-driven brands that are  leaders in their respective categories and award money to NASCAR teams via  per-race and year-end postings. Competitors become eligible for awards money by  displaying partner decals on the front fender of their race vehicles and, in  some instances, use of a sponsor’s product. National series contingency sponsors  will contribute over $8.4 million to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR  Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in  2011.</p>
<p><em>- NASCAR, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>This Week in Ford Racing (May 31, 2011) with NSCS Richard Petty Motorsports&#8217; VP of Operations, Robbie Loomis</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/this-week-in-ford-racing-may-31-2011-with-nscs-richard-petty-motorsports-vp-of-operations-robbie-loomis/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=this-week-in-ford-racing-may-31-2011-with-nscs-richard-petty-motorsports-vp-of-operations-robbie-loomis</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 16:53:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Press Releases]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Robbie Loomis]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Robbie LoomisRichard Petty Motorsports drivers AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose are coming off their best performances of the season as they registered fifth and sixth place finishes in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.  Robbie Loomis, Vice President of Race Operations for RPM, spoke with Ford Racing about the team’s season to date during a test session on...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/this-week-in-ford-racing-may-31-2011-with-nscs-richard-petty-motorsports-vp-of-operations-robbie-loomis/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-medium wp-image-56095" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-56095" title="Robbie Loomis" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Robbie-Loomis-152x210.jpg" alt="Robbie Loomis" width="152" height="210" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:152px;">Robbie Loomis</div></div>Richard Petty Motorsports drivers AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose are coming off their best performances of the season as they registered fifth and sixth place finishes in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.  Robbie Loomis, Vice President of Race Operations for RPM, spoke with Ford Racing about the team’s season to date during a test session on Tuesday at VIR.</strong></p>
<p><strong>ROBBIE LOOMIS, Vice President of Race Operations, Richard Petty Motorsports</strong> – <strong>YOU HAD TO BE HAPPY WITH SUNDAY’S RESULT HAVING AJ AND MARCOS FINISH FIFTH AND SIXTH, RESPECTIVELY.</strong> “Yeah. Everyone at Richard Petty Motorsports and our relationship with RFR has been working really good this year.  Doug is doing a great job with the engines and I couldn’t be prouder of the job Mike Shiplett and Todd Parrott and those guys are doing as far as keeping the team focused.  I think in the past we’ve struggled a little bit on those mile-and-a-half tracks, but we’ve run two or three of them now and have had some pretty solid cars, especially with the 9 and then this weekend with the 43 was probably our best performance to date.  With AJ, we’ve really been fighting with keeping the front tires on the car, so we feel really good about the direction we’re going there and have a lot of good race tracks coming up for us through this summer stretch.”</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>MARCOS LED 18 LAPS AND AJ LED 5 LAPS DURING THE COCA-COLA 600, SO YOUR CARS WERE UP FRONT MUCH OF THE NIGHT.  SOME MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO SEE WHERE YOUR TWO CARS FINISHED, BUT THAT WAS A JUSTIFIABLE RESULT, CORRECT?</strong> “Oh yeah, for sure. On the 9 car we actually had a loose wheel during the race and that kind of got him behind, but the way these races go – sometimes you get the finishes like we got the other night and sometimes a situation like we had with the loose wheel can put you in a circumstance that we might have been involved in one of those accidents or been in a different situation. Some weeks things play into your hands.  You look at the way Harvick has won these races.  Somebody told me he has led only nine laps in the three wins that he’s got, but he’s been able to put himself in that position to win.  That’s what Richard said to me coming home the other night he said, ‘You know, if we keep running the way we’re running, we’re gonna get us a couple of wins before the year is out,’ and that’s what we’re gonna stay focused on is keeping up the performance of the cars.”</p>
<p><strong>DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR TEAM HAS FLOWN UNDER THE RADAR SO FAR THIS YEAR?</strong> “I kind of like flying under the radar and let them talk about everybody else.  I like to let our results speak for themselves, but we’ve still got work to do and have to continue to do it every week and every day of the week to get there.  I definitely like the direction that the whole company and the team is moving in and ownership has shown a true commitment and stability to the program, which, when it starts from the top it trickles down through the whole organization.”</p>
<p><strong>AJ IS 13<sup>TH</sup> IN POINTS AND MARCOS IS 17<sup>TH</sup>.  HAVE YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT TAKING MORE RISKS AND CHANCES TO TRY AND GET A WIN OR TWO TO MAKE A RUN AT THOSE WILD CARD SPOTS?  YOU HAVE THE ROAD COURSE AT INFINEON COMING UP AND SOME OTHER GOOD TRACKS.</strong> “The first thing we talked about when the season started was to be as consistent as we can be and finish the races and see if we can keep ourselves in a position to be close enough in the points to make the top 10 in the point system.  The second thing is as the season winds down and gets in the middle of summer, then if we’ve got to start pressing and rolling the dice to gamble, I mean, the way these races are going right now those crew chiefs have got the toughest job in the world calling these races.  Guys are using all kinds of different pit strategy.  Clean air just means the world to these cars right now, so I think you’ll see more of that as the season winds down, but, right now, we want to keep being consistent and building our program to have strong cars and strong performances.  Then you can afford to take those chances, but, right now, the cars are running great.  The teams are communicating well with the engineers and Eric Warren, our technical director, is doing a great job from an engineering standpoint and Sammy Johns, as far as the cars rolling out and being prepared well, is working well with the crew chiefs.  All of the parts are working, but it’s a very, very fine line of how quick you can get off base.  We’re trying to keep our guard up for sure.”</p>
<p><strong>SO WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS YOU’RE GLAD NOT TO BE A CREW CHIEF ANYMORE AND HAVING TO MAKE THESE CALLS.</strong> “Exactly. I really feel for them.  There’s not a crew chief in there that I haven’t felt the emotions they feel when a race is over with, but it’s always been tough.  The competition and these cars are all so close that everybody is rolling the dice sometimes to put themselves in better track position.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes there’s a big wreck behind you that changes the circumstances of where the cars are at, but, right now, those crew chiefs have a really tough job.”</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>YOU MENTIONED SOME GOOD TRACKS COMING UP WITH </strong><strong>KANSAS</strong><strong> AND POCONO AND </strong><strong>MICHIGAN</strong><strong> AND INFINEON.  IS THIS A STRETCH YOUR TEAM CAN WIN A RACE OR TWO AND SOLIDIFY YOUR SPOT IN THE STANDINGS? </strong> “I think so.  I’ve always taken more of a rhythm type of approach to it.  I can’t stand having an off weekend.  I like when you get in a rhythm and you just race and race and race.  I think it keeps everybody focused more and keeps everybody’s head in the game a lot better.  From the drivers, who are the leaders, all the way down to the guys working on the car.”</p>
<p><em>- PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>RCR Post Race Report &#8212; Charlotte Motor Speedway</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 14:19:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Nationwide Series]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[RCR Post Race Report &#8212; Charlotte Motor Speedway Richard Childress Racing (RCR)NASCAR Sprint Cup Series RACE: Coca-Cola 600 TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway DATE: May 29, 2011 Race Highlights: RCR teammates finished first (Kevin Harvick), 15th (Clint Bowyer), 21st (Jeff Burton) and 29th (Paul Menard) in the Coca-Cola 600. RCR teammates currently rank second (Harvick), eighth...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/rcr-post-race-report-charlotte-motor-speedway/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<table id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="bottom"><strong>RCR Post Race Report &#8212;  Charlotte Motor Speedway </strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table id="content_LETTER.BLOCK3" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<td><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-full wp-image-16410" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-16410" title="Richard Childress Racing (RCR)" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/richardchildressracing.jpg" alt="Richard Childress Racing (RCR)" width="211" height="127" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:211px;">Richard Childress Racing (RCR)</div></div>NASCAR Sprint Cup Series</p>
<p>RACE: Coca-Cola 600</p>
<p>TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway</p>
<p>DATE: May 29, 2011</p>
<p>Race Highlights:</p>
<p></strong></p>
<ul type="square">
<li>RCR teammates finished first (Kevin Harvick), 15th (Clint Bowyer),  21st (Jeff Burton) and 29th (Paul Menard) in the Coca-Cola 600.</li>
<li>RCR teammates currently rank second (Harvick), eighth (Bowyer),  20th (Menard) and 22nd (Burton) in the Sprint Cup Series point standings.</li>
<li>Prior to a lap-240 accident, Menard spent 214 laps in the top 15.</li>
<li>Menard has completed eight of nine contested NSCS races at  Charlotte Motor Speedway, continuing a streak of six consecutive checkered  flags.</li>
<li>Bowyer spent 199 laps running in the top 15.</li>
<li>Burton led on two seperate occasions for a total of six laps.</li>
<li>Harvick&#8217;s win places him in a small yet prestigious group of  drivers who have won all three of NASCAR&#8217;s noteable events &#8212; Daytona 500,  Brickyard 400 and Coca-Cola 600.</li>
<li>Harvick made a last lap, last turn move for the win beating David  Ragan, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and A.J. Allmendinger to the checkered flag.</li>
<li>The next Sprint Cup Series race is the STP 400 at Kansas Motor  Speedway on Sunday, June 5, televised live on FOX and broadcast live on the  Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, beginning at 12:30 p.m.  Eastern Daylight Time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="auto;"><img src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs019/1103251462521/img/133.jpg" border="0" alt="2011 CC Team Icon 27 NSCS Menards" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="150" height="75" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:150px;">2011 CC Team Icon 27 NSCS Menards</div></div></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a name="OLE_LINK3"><strong>Bittersweet Night for the No. 27 Moen/Menards  Team;</strong></a><strong> Leaves Charlotte  with 29<sup>th</sup>-Place Finish</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Paul Menard lined the  Moen/Menards Chevrolet up in the 16th position to start Sunday night&#8217;s Coca-Cola  600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Eau Claire, Wisc., native reported that the  car was solid right from the start and remained in the top 15 as he settled in  for the marathon 400-lap event. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the  temperatures began to lower, the Slugger Labbe-led team made minor chassis and  air pressure adjustments during each pit stop in order to keep up with the  changing track conditions. When Labbe called for two-tires during the lap-173  pit stop while under caution, it elevated the No. 27 Moen/Menards Chevrolet into  the top 10 and as the race neared the halfway point, Menard was turning his  fastest circuits. On lap 240, Menard suddenly lost control of the car and spun  in turn two. He brought the car to pit road for four tires and repairs to the  damaged right rear. Throughout the remainder of the 600-mile affair, Menard  returned to his pit stall for continued repairs to the right-rear quarter panel  and deck lid of the No. 27 Impala. The ill-timed spin and costly damage placed  him 19 laps behind the leader; however, he did take the checkered flag but not  before helping his teammate Kevin Harvick to the win. In true Richard Childress  Racing fashion, as teams faced the possibility of running out of fuel and were  about to attempt a green-white-checkered finish, Menard was called upon to push  teammates Jeff Burton and Harvick on the track&#8217;s apron. Green-flag racing  resumed on lap 400 and on the final lap, the lead cars ran out of gas and  Harvick swept in for the victory. Although the 29<sup>th</sup>-place finish was  bittersweet for the No. 27 team, they cheered loudly for the RCR  family.</p>
<p><em><strong>Start &#8211;  16                   Finish &#8211; 29                Laps  Led &#8211; 0                Points &#8211; 20</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>PAUL MENARD  QUOTE:</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;I just hate it for  these guys (the No. 27 team); I feel just terrible. They built me a great car  for this weekend. Their pit stops were fast and they gave 110% trying to fix the  car after the spin. We&#8217;ll just go to Kansas and have the weekend they deserved  here.&#8221;</p>
<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="auto;"><img src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs019/1103251462521/img/134.jpg" border="0" alt="2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 29 BUD 150 px" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="150" height="75" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:150px;">2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 29 BUD 150 px</div></div></p>
<p><strong>Harvick and No. 29 Budweiser  Armed Forces Team Score Win in Coca-Cola 600</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Kevin Harvick and the No. 29  Budweiser Armed Forces Chevrolet team scored their third victory of the season  by stretching fuel mileage to pick up a win in one of NASCAR&#8217;s marquee events,  the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday night. Harvick&#8217;s trip to  Victory Circle came after overcoming an ill-handling race car that was tight on  entry and loose on exit, getting caught a lap down twice as the caution flag  waved during rounds of green-flag pit stops and late-race fuel strategy. As  Harvick expressed his frustration with the handling of the No. 29 Budweiser  Armed Forces Chevrolet during the first half of the race, crew chief Gil Martin  and the No. 29 Budweiser-Armed Forces team dug in and continued making  adjustments to improve the car as the sun began to set and the track started to  change. The No. 29 Chevrolet was first caught a lap down to the leaders on lap  232 as the caution flag waved in the midst of a cycle of green-flag pit stops.  Martin called for Harvick to stay out during the caution and take the wave  around to get back on the lead lap. The scenario was repeated again when the  caution flag waved again at lap 281. Martin called Harvick to pit road on lap  290 as most other teams stayed out, a move that would prove to be pivotal later  in the race. The No. 29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevrolet restarted in 23rd  position at lap 292. Two caution periods later, the majority of the field  elected to pit, moving Harvick up to the third position. After making an effort  to conserve fuel under caution, the No. 29 team felt they could go the remainder  of the race on one more fuel stop, the same as the rest of the field. The final  stop of the night came at lap 345, which was just shy of the No. 29 team&#8217;s fuel  window to make it to the end of the race. Martin told Harvick to save as much as  he could under caution, and the No. 29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevrolet  restarted in seventh position at lap 348. As the laps wound down, Harvick did  his best to conserve fuel while maintaining his track position. With six laps to  go, other teams started running out of fuel and making pit stops, moving Harvick  up to the sixth position when the caution flag waved at lap 396. The driver of  the No. 29 RCR entry continued to do his best to conserve fuel, and even  received a push from teammates Paul Menard and Jeff Burton under caution. The  field came to the green flag for a green-white-checkered finish and Harvick was  able to quickly gain positions as cars started running out of fuel. As the field  entered turns three and four on the final lap, leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out  of gas and Harvick passed him to take the checkered flag and score the victory.</p>
<p><em><strong>Start &#8211; 28                       Finish &#8211; 1                      Laps Led &#8211; 2                    Points &#8211;  2</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>KEVIN HARVICK  QUOTES:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Congratulations. How do you feel? </strong>&#8220;I tell you what; I&#8217;ve got to give a huge credit to everyone on the  race team &#8211; (crew chief) Gil Martin and all these guys. We started saving gas  from lap one when the green flag fell, just hoping that we&#8217;d go to the end. I  saw those guys up there racing and I knew how close we were on gas but it all  worked for our Budweiser Chevrolet. I want to thank all the men and women who  have served and are currently serving that give us a chance to do everything we  do in this country.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>You&#8217;ve led nine laps and won three  races. That&#8217;s pretty interesting.</strong> &#8220;Yeah, I mean, you know, it&#8217;s just  one of those deals I guess. The last two we earned and this one we conserved gas  to be around at the end. I can&#8217;t stand driving at this place. This is a great  facility, great management, great people running it, but it&#8217;s just been a race  track for me where I&#8217;ve struggled every time I&#8217;ve ever been here. Yesterday was  probably the best day I&#8217;ve ever had in the Nationwide car and to be here in  Victory Lane says a lot!&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Do you feel that this is the season  that feels like you can really go after the championship hard? </strong>&#8220;Well,  it&#8217;s one of those deals like today, when everybody started pitting and we said  to heck with it. We&#8217;re just going to try to save gas and try to get to one pit  stop to go by saving gas. And, the caution came out with like four or five laps  before we were supposed to pit. So, heck, it&#8217;s just one of those deals where we  had enough gas to get to the end and wound up winning the race.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="auto;"><img src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs019/1103251462521/img/135.jpg" border="0" alt="2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 31 CAT" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="150" height="75" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:150px;">2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 31 CAT</div></div></strong></p>
<p><strong>Another Seasonal Bad Break for Burton, Cat Racing  Team at Charlotte </strong></p>
<p>After qualifying fifth for the  annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jeff Burton and the Todd  Berrier-led team focused on turning their season filled with bad luck around.  Instead, the luminous black cloud that has followed them from race track to race  track appeared in the closing laps of the scheduled 400-lap showdown that erased  a promising top-five run and turned it into a 21<sup>st</sup>-place result.  Subsequent to leading twice for a total of six laps in the early goings of the  600 miler, the 21-time Sprint Cup Series race winner settled in and around the  20<sup>th</sup> position for much of the first half of the race while tussling  with an ill-handling machine during daylight hours. As the sun set and the track  changed, continuous adjustments made to the Caterpillar Chevrolet began to take  shape with 100 laps remaining. Burton moved into 16<sup>th</sup> at lap 325,  13<sup>th</sup> at lap 340 and cracked the top 10 nine laps later. Calculated at  two laps shy of fuel of completing the distance, Berrier instructed the veteran  driver to conserve as much fuel as he can in the final 50 laps, hoping to not  return to pit road. As the laps began to wind down, a couple of the frontrunners  peeled off the racing surface to pit for fuel that allowed Burton to move into  eighth when the night&#8217;s final caution flag was displayed at lap 398, forcing the  marquee event to finish under a green-white-checkered ending. The South Boston,  Va., native restarted sixth as a result of two more competitors in front of him  pitting under caution and set his eyes of scoring his first top-five finish of  the season. But, as the field took the green flag for the final time, the  second-place car in the outer lane ran out of fuel, causing the drivers behind  him to slow down. The circumstance sandwiched Burton between the Nos. 2 and 99  machines that, ultimately, sent the RCR driver spinning into the apron of the  race track. He was able to gather himself together and cross the finish line one  lap down to the leader in 21<sup>st</sup>.</p>
<p><em><strong>Start &#8211; 5                        Finish &#8211; 21                   Laps Led  &#8211; 6              Points &#8211; 22</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>JEFF BURTON  QUOTE:</strong></p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very disappointing to position  yourself to finish, at least, in the top five, let alone contend for the win  with two laps to go and finish 21<sup>st</sup>. Unfortunately, that&#8217;s how our  season has been all year and we just can&#8217;t seem to shake off the bad luck. Our  Caterpillar Chevrolet ran good at the end so we&#8217;ll keep building fast cars and  try our luck again next week at Kansas.&#8221;</p>
<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_nowrap" style="auto;"><img src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs019/1103251462521/img/136.jpg" border="0" alt="2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 33 Cheerios 150 px" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="150" height="75" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:150px;">2011 CC Team Logo NSCS 33 Cheerios 150 px</div></div></p>
<p><strong>No. 33 Team Survives Coca-Cola  600, Brings Home Top-15 Finish</strong></p>
<p>Clint Bowyer and the No. 33  Cheerios/Hamburger Chevrolet fought tight conditions for 400 laps and salvaged a  top-15 finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After qualifying  in the top 10 on Thursday, the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was tight from  the beginning of the 600-mile event. By lap 75, Bowyer had dropped to  16<sup>th</sup> while Shane Wilson and the &#8220;Helping Hands&#8221; pit crew made minor  adjustments to the car&#8217;s setup under caution-flag periods while waiting for  track temperatures to change when the sun went down over the 1.5-mile oval.  After the sun set, the handling on Bowyer&#8217;s car did not improve and became so  tight that Wilson decided to make major chassis changes to the No. 33 Chevrolet.  On lap 173, under yellow-flag conditions, Bowyer brought his Chevrolet Impala  down pit road, not once, but twice for wholesale changes intended to free the  car up. The extended time on pit road cost the team track position, dropping  them back to 24<sup>th</sup>. The Emporia, Kan., native still complained of a  tight condition went the race went back to green, but he slowly started passing  cars on the track, working his way up to as high as 14<sup>th</sup> until a  bizarre incident with the No. 14 Chevrolet under caution on lap 243 caused  moderate damage to the left-rear quarter panel of the car. After looking at the  damage, Wilson decided it wasn&#8217;t enough to warrant a pit stop, but told Bowyer  that if it got any worse, and the car was unable to turn, to bring it down pit  road for service. The car&#8217;s sheet metal held up great and Bowyer was able to  turn competitive lap times on the track until a caution flag on lap 296 gave the  &#8220;Helping Hands&#8221; a chance to fix the damage and make more adjustments on the  car&#8217;s setup for a 100-lap shootout to the checkered flag. Restarting  25<sup>th</sup> on lap 302, Bowyer started gaining positions and worked his into  the top 10 with 50 to go for the first time since early in the event. As the  long green-flag run went on late into the night, Bowyer would settle into the  11<sup>th</sup> position until a yellow flag was displayed with five laps to go,  setting up a green-white-checkered finish. With Wilson concerned about having  enough Sunoco E15 fuel to make the finish because of the extra laps, he decided  to bring the four-time Sprint Cup Series winner to pit road for two right-side  tires and enough fuel to make it to lap 402. Bowyer would restart  11<sup>th</sup> with three laps to go, but an incident just in front of him  involving multiple cars, including RCR teammate Jeff Burton, caused him to slow  down and fall back to 15<sup>th</sup> position where he held for the remainder  of the race. With the 15<sup>th</sup>-place result, Bowyer maintained  eighth-place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point  standings. He now sits 80 markers out of first.</p>
<p><em><strong>Start &#8211; 10                      Finish &#8211;  15                     Laps  Led &#8211; 0                   Points &#8211;  8</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p><strong>CLINT  BOWYER QUOTE:</strong></p>
<p><strong>&#8220;</strong>Man, this track just isn&#8217;t our  friend sometimes. It was a long night fighting a tight car and we turned it into  a 15<sup>th</sup>-place finish. These guys worked hard all night to keep me on  the lead lap and we just missed a top-10 finish there at the end. I am  proud of everyone on  the Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet team. It was just a long  night.&#8221;</p>
<p><em>- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release</em></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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		<title>Promising Run Ends With Disappointment for No. 1 Team</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/promising-run-ends-with-disappointment-for-no-1-team/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=promising-run-ends-with-disappointment-for-no-1-team</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 12:41:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Press Releases]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Charlotte]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Convoy of Hope Joplin Car]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Jamie McMurray - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCARConcord, NC (May 29, 2011) – Jamie McMurray started the Coca-Cola 600 from the 35th position and quickly gained positions, making his way all the way to the lead before the halfway mark of the 400 lap race. On lap 182 his hopes soured when the...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/promising-run-ends-with-disappointment-for-no-1-team/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-medium wp-image-64356" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-64356" title="2011 NSCS Jamie McMurray - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-NSCS-Jamie-McMurray-Headshot-133x210.jpg" alt="Jamie McMurray - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="133" height="210" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:133px;">Jamie McMurray - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div>Concord, NC (May 29, 2011) –</strong> Jamie McMurray started the Coca-Cola 600 from the 35th position and quickly gained positions, making his way all the way to the lead before the halfway mark of the 400 lap race.  On lap 182 his hopes soured when the engine of his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Convoy of Hope Chevrolet let go, relegating him to a 37th place finish.</p>
<p>McMurray finished second in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2010 and was hoping to improve his finish by one position in the longest race on the NSCS schedule.  His hopes were lifted when the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Convoy of Hope Chevrolet made its way from the 35th starting position all the way to the lead before the 200 lap point of the 400 lap event.</p>
<p>The No.1 crew made the call for a two-tire stop on lap 172 to gain track position, the team would restart second and McMurray quickly took advantage by taking the lead two laps later.  Then, within just a few laps disappointment hit when the motor expired, resulting in a 37th place finish for the team.</p>
<p>“We really had a promising run tonight” stated McMurray.  “I am really grateful to Johnny Morris and the folks at Bass Pro Shops for allowing us to have the Convoy of Hope on the car this weekend.  I really wanted to have a strong finish for all the people back home in Joplin.  My heart has been with them this past week and it would have meant a lot to have a strong finish for them.”</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NOTES</span></p>
<p>·         The No. 1 Chevrolet displayed the Convoy of Hope marks in effort to raise awareness for the relief efforts in Jamie McMurray’s hometown of Joplin, Mo.</p>
<p>·         This was the third straight race at Charlotte Motor Speedway that McMurray has led at least one lap</p>
<p>The next race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule will be at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, June 5th at 1:00 pm ET and will air on FOX and radio stations affiliated with MRN.</p>
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		<title>Determination Pays Off for Mears in 600-Mile Race; Finishes 23rd</title>
		<link>http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/determination-pays-off-for-mears-in-600-mile-race-finishes-23rd/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=determination-pays-off-for-mears-in-600-mile-race-finishes-23rd</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 12:05:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Press Releases]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Casey Mears]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[No. 13 GEICO Toyota Camry]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCARCONCORD, N.C. (May 29, 2011) – A normal NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race averages 400 to 500 miles, 300 laps, and three hours. However, there is one event every May that lasts a little longer – The Coca-Cola 600. The longest race of the...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/31/determination-pays-off-for-mears-in-600-mile-race-finishes-23rd/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-full wp-image-64354" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-64354" title="2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2011-NSCS-Casey-Mears-Headshot.jpg" alt="2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="187" height="281" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:187px;">2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div>CONCORD, N.C. (May 29, 2011) –</strong> A normal NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race averages 400 to 500 miles, 300 laps, and three hours. However, there is one event every May that lasts a little longer – The Coca-Cola 600. The longest race of the season puts strain on the drivers, teams, and equipment as 600 miles, 400 laps, and over four and half hours require top performance and endurance.</p>
<p>All of this action completes a full two weeks of racing at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, the home track for many teams including Casey Mears and the Mooresville, N.C. based GEICO Racing Toyota crew.</p>
<p>After three practices and a disappointing qualifying effort of 37th, Mears was hopeful to have a solid race and survive all 600 miles under the hot Sunday night temperature. Starting in the back of the pack, Mears knew he had ground to make up in the beginning stages of the race. By lap 25, the GEICO Toyota Camry had moved into the 31st position, however Mears quickly radioed to his team that he was not pleased with the amount of horsepower under the hood, as he would pass competitors only to have them chase him back down on the straightaway.</p>
<p>The first 170 laps saw Mears’ Toyota get tighter as the green flag run continued but the California native clocked consistent lap times in spite of the engine woes. The third caution of the evening came on lap 172, as Crew Chief Bootie Barker instructed Mears to stay on the racetrack and regain a lap, placing the GEICO Toyota in the 30th position.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the second gremlin found Mears on lap 188 as the No. 13 Camry received contact from Landon Cassill, cutting the left rear tire on the Germain Racing machine. The tire shredded the left rear quarter panel before Mears could make it pit road. The GEICO crew worked feverishly to repair the damage on numerous stops, and with hard work, Mears never lost a lap in the process. On lap 194, Mears restarted in 30th-place.</p>
<p>Over the course of the next run, Mears told his GEICO crew that his cooling hose that connects to his in-car air conditioning system had come undone, leaving the cockpit extremely hot. Immediately, the team began preparing ice bags, fresh water, and a new system to help relieve their driver. For the remainder of the event, the GEICO Racing team refueled Mears on each pit stop.</p>
<p>By lap 282, Mears had worked his way into the 26th position. The GEICO Toyota had become loose, hindering the ability to get in and get off the corners. A break finally came for Mears and the GEICO team as they received the Lucky Dog Award on lap 295 to regain their position on the lead lap.</p>
<p>The field took the green flag restart on lap 302, with less than a 100 laps remaining. Three quick cautions broke up the pace over the next 40 laps, but Barker brought his driver to pit road on lap 345 for four tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustments. Continuing to fight through the circumstances, Mears was scored in 24th-place with 50 laps to go.</p>
<p>Right away, Mears and Barker decided to start saving fuel, as they were four laps short and were going to try and stretch it to the end if no cautions ruin the plan. This strategy looked like it was going to work out perfect before Jimmie Johnson lost a motor on lap 397, setting the stage for a green-white-checkered finish. Mears returned to pit road under this caution for four tires and fuel, ensuring he could make it the remaining distance.</p>
<p>Going three laps past the scheduled distance, Mears brought home a 23rd-place finish for the GEICO Racing team. The effort put in by the entire team was unmatched and completely exhibited the reason to keep pushing through unwanted circumstances.</p>
<p>“It was a hot one out there tonight,” said Mears, after the race. “We didn’t have very much go our way, but we never gave up the entire race. The GEICO Racing team kept working on the damage and made it fairly decent for the amount of sheet metal that was tore up. To come home 23rd isn’t the result we wanted, but for the circumstances we were dealt, it was a good night.  One of the keys to a 600-mile race is having a car that can survive it and Germain Racing gave me a car that took the checkered flag, so I appreciate their hard work. We will go on to Kansas.”</p>
<p>The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the running of the STP 400 on Sunday, June 5th. All of the action can be seen live on FOX, as well as heard on MRN Radio and Sirius XM Radio.</p>
<p>To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com  You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing  Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/caseymearsracing</p>
<p><em>- Players Management International, Inc., Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>Busch Feels Heartbreak Again at Charlotte</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:40:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[M&#38;M’s Driver Finishes Disappointing 32nd in Coca-Cola 600 After Leading Twice for 55 Laps 2011 Kyle Busch - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCARDate: May 29, 2011 Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 12 of 36) Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Start/Finish: 21st/32nd (Accident, completed 344 of 402 laps in...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/busch-feels-heartbreak-again-at-charlotte/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>M&amp;M’s Driver Finishes Disappointing 32nd in Coca-Cola 600 After Leading Twice for 55 Laps</strong></em></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-medium wp-image-62891" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-62891" title="2011 Kyle Busch - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2011-Kyle-Busch-280x186.jpg" alt="2011 Kyle Busch - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="280" height="186" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:280px;">2011 Kyle Busch - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div>Date:</strong> May 29, 2011<br />
<strong>Event:</strong> Coca-Cola 600 (Round 12 of 36)<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> NASCAR Sprint Cup Series<br />
<strong>Location:</strong> Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway<br />
<strong>Start/Finish:</strong> 21st/32nd (Accident, completed 344 of 402 laps in a green-white-checkered finish)<br />
<strong>Winner:</strong> Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)</p>
<p>After leading twice for 55 laps and running in the top-10 for much of Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 NACAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, a pair of late-race spins sidelined Kyle Busch and his No. 18 M&amp;M’s team early, resulting in a disappointing 32nd-place finish.</p>
<p>For the driver of the No. 18 M&amp;M’s Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), it was yet another heartbreaking ending at the 1.5-mile track that he considers to be his favorite on the Sprint Cup circuit. In 15 point-paying races at Charlotte, Busch has challenged for the win on multiple occasions and has come agonizingly close to winning, but has never celebrated in victory lane.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Busch, a win wasn’t in the cards for his No. 18 team again on this Sunday night. The 32nd-place finish also snapped Busch’s streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes at Charlotte, dating back to October 2007.</p>
<p>“The race was 600 miles and it felt like 800,” said crew chief Dave Rogers. “Clean air meant so much tonight. We started 21st and I thought Kyle did a great job of methodically working his way up to the front. We finally got up front and we got our car back from practice – in practice this M&amp;M’s Camry was really fast – but back there in dirty air, we couldn’t get out of our own way.</p>
<p>“Then pit strategy – we got caught on fuel windows there. We got in a situation where us and the guys we were racing with could make it on one more stop when we pitted when we did. Then we gave up all that track position and got in that dirty air. Honestly, Kyle was just trying to make something out of nothing. None of the cars handled well back there. Clean air means everything and Kyle was trying to make something out of nothing and it got away from him. We ended our day a little early.”</p>
<p>With Busch starting deep in the field in 21st place for Sunday’s race, it would take patience on the racetrack along with solid work in the pits to help get Busch and his M&amp;M’s Camry out front.</p>
<p>Busch struggled early with the handling of his racecar, and complained about the difficulty he had in passing other cars on the track. But at each opportunity, Rogers and crew worked on the M&amp;M’s machine, making a variety of tire air pressure, wedge and track bar adjustments in hopes of finding the right combination to help Busch in NASCAR’s longest race.</p>
<p>By lap 80, he was in the top-10, which is where he ran for much of the night. Slowly and steadily, Busch maneuvered his way to the front of the field.</p>
<p>He took the lead for the first time at lap 245 following a restart. Once in clean air, Busch’s M&amp;M’s Camry took off without any real challengers.  Although Busch said his car was still a little tight in the center of the corner and a little loose on exit, it was apparent that the No. 18 would be one of the cars to contend for the win if it could stay up front.</p>
<p>At lap 276, Busch gave up the top spot to pit under green for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. He moved back into the lead just eight laps later.</p>
<p>But a rash of caution flags forced the team to give up the lead and pit under yellow at lap 302 so that the No. 18 M&amp;M’s car could stay on the same pit cycle as many of the cars it had been racing with among the top-10. Under the caution, Busch took right-side tires, fuel and the team made a track bar adjustment. The varying pit strategies forced Busch to restart in 19th place at lap 310.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Busch found himself back in the same frustrating spot he was earlier in the race. Not only did he have difficulty passing other cars, but his No. 18 machine just didn’t perform the same in traffic as it had at the front of the field.</p>
<p>On lap 320, his No. 18 M&amp;M’s Camry got loose coming out of turn four and he spun. The car lazily slid through the infield grass, which brought out the caution flag. Busch was able to get the car pointed in the right direction without hitting anything. He came to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel, and the team opted to reverse the previous track bar adjustment.</p>
<p>Busch returned to the track in 23rd place for the restart at lap 323. Although he was able to gain a few quick spots on the restart, it was only a handful of laps before he once again told his crew that he simply couldn’t pass in traffic.</p>
<p>Despite his frustrations, Busch remained tenacious behind the wheel. Unfortunately, he was involved in another accident in turn two at lap 344 where he brushed the wall and spun, causing major damage to the No. 18 M&amp;M’s machine.</p>
<p>He initially brought his car down pit road, but when the team was able to assess the damage up close, they sent Busch to the garage for further repairs. The team attempted to repair the car and get Busch back on track, but the damage was too great to be fixed with less than 60 laps remaining.</p>
<p>Busch ended the night in 32nd place.</p>
<p>“He was pushing it and running right on the edge trying to get it,” Rogers said. “The ‘17’ car (Matt Kenseth) was the best car all day on that pit stop. He was the only car that could make it up through traffic. We knew we left pit road right behind him and Kyle was trying to stay with him. We didn’t quite have the car that he had. Kyle just tried to do the impossible and that’s why we love him.</p>
<p>“We know he gives us 100 percent and he doesn’t ever leave anything on the table. Tonight he just tried to take a little bit too much and it got away from him. That’s part of racing. That’s why we love Kyle Busch – he only knows one speed – full throttle.”</p>
<p>Busch’s JGR teammates – Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin – finished third and 10th, respectively.</p>
<p>Kevin Harvick won the Coca-Cola 600 to score his 17th career Sprint Cup victory, his third of the season and his first at Charlotte.</p>
<p>David Ragan finished .703 of a second behind Harvick in the runner-up spot, while Logano, Kurt Busch and A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top-five. Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Regan Smith, David Reutimann and Hamlin comprised the remainder of the top-10.</p>
<p>There were 14 caution periods for 64 laps, with 13 drivers failing to finish the 402-lap race, which was extended two laps past its scheduled distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.</p>
<p>With round 12 of 36 complete, Busch continues to lead the JGR trio in the championship point standings. He dropped two spots to fifth and how has 392 points, 53 markers back of series leader Carl Edwards. Hamlin moved up one spot to 12th with 339 points, 106 markers back of the top spot. Logano jumped five spots to 23rd with 279 points, 166 points behind Edwards.</p>
<p>The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the June 5 STP 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The race starts at 1 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 12:30 p.m.</p>
<p><em>- True Speed Communication for Joe Gibbs Racing, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>Smith Hangs Tough, Finishes 8th in Charlotte</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:33:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[3rd top 10 of season Furniture Row driver Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau (L) and driver Regan SmithCHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2011) &#8211; Perseverance, patience and the right pit strategy lifted Regan Smith from being two laps down to an eighth-place finish in Sunday night&#8217;s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The result was...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/smith-hangs-tough-finishes-8th-in-charlotte/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>3rd top 10 of season Furniture Row driver </strong></em></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-medium wp-image-75344" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-75344" title="Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau (L) and driver Regan Smith" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FRRRegan5wRondeau2011-280x186.jpg" alt="Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau (L) and driver Regan Smith" width="280" height="186" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:280px;">Furniture Row crew chief Pete Rondeau (L) and driver Regan Smith</div></div>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2011) &#8211;</strong> Perseverance, patience and the right pit strategy lifted Regan Smith from being two laps down to an eighth-place finish in Sunday night&#8217;s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.</p>
<p>The result was Smith&#8217;s third top-10 result after the 12th race of the season, and the second top-10 in the last three Sprint Cup point events.</p>
<p>&#8220;I guess you can say the longest race of the season paid off in our favor,&#8221; said Smith. &#8220;We were patient, and crew chief Pete Rondeau made the right calls on the pit box. It all came together for our Furniture Row team at the end.&#8221;</p>
<p>Smith, who started the race from the 20th position, was running in 12th place when he was penalized for a loose lug nut on Lap 234. The incident put Smith two laps down.</p>
<p>&#8220;We had a pretty good Furniture Row Chevrolet but then a lug nut issue knocked us to the back and it was a battle from that point on,&#8221; explained Smith. &#8220;But we kept our cool and didn&#8217;t quit fighting for track position.&#8221;</p>
<p>It took until Lap 308 for Smith to get back on the lead lap. He fought hard in gaining track position and it wasn&#8217;t until near the end of the race when he jumped from what appeared to be a top-15 finish to a top-10.</p>
<p>On the final caution (Lap 397), Smith came down pit road to take two tires and fuel. That decision paid off as a number of cars who gambled of not pitting, ran out of fuel as the race was concluded with a green-white-checkered overtime finish.</p>
<p>&#8220;The pit strategy was perfect, which was the main reason we made a pretty good leap near the end of the race,&#8221; noted Smith. &#8220;It was a good points day as we continue to fight for a top-20 position in the driver standings.&#8221;</p>
<p>Smith, who is in position to be one of the Chase selections due to his win in Darlington, S.C. three weeks ago, needs to finish in the top-20 to be a wild card pick for the 10-race championship playoff. He is currently in 29th place, 44 points from 20th. There are 14 more races before the Chase begins.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s definitely doable, we need to race smart like we did tonight,&#8221; added Smith.</p>
<p>The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-10 in order were: David Ragan, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Smith, David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin.</p>
<p>The Sprint Cup Series next race is Sunday (June 5) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.</p>
<p><em>- DMF Communications for Furniture Row Racing, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>Ragan Leads Strong Roush Fenway Effort with Career-High 2nd-Place Finish in Coke 600</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:28:37 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Roush Fenway Leads 221 laps, but comes up just short at Charlotte Edwards expands Sprint Cup points lead to 36 David Ragain, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya race side by side during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCARCHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 30, 2011) –...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/ragan-leads-strong-roush-fenway-effort-with-career-high-2nd-place-finish-in-coke-600/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #001c00;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Roush Fenway Leads 221 laps, but comes up just short at  Charlotte</span></span></span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #001c00;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Edwards expands Sprint Cup points lead to  36</span></span></span></em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></em></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #001c00;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_ght size-full wp-image-75923" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-75923" title="David Ragain, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya race side by side during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2011-Charlotte-May-NSCS-Ragan-Montoya-battle.jpg" alt="David Ragain, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya race side by side during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="300" height="200" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:300px;">David Ragain, David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya race side by side during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 30, 2011) –</strong> Roush  Fenway Racing came into Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 looking for its third  consecutive NASCAR weekend sweep and despite dominating the event, fell just  short of the accomplishment. In a wild ending, David Ragan posted a career-high  second-place finish, needing just one spot to bring home Roush Fenway’s fifth  600 trophy.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">All four drivers combined to lead a total of 221 of 400 laps, with  all four having a legitimate shot at the win. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Matt Kenseth had the dominate car in the race, leading five times for  a race-high 103 laps. He would, however come up short on fuel mileage and had to  settle for a 14<sup>th</sup>-place finish. Carl Edwards led 61 laps early, but  was unable to find the handling after the sun went down and finished  16<sup>th</sup>. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Greg Biffle overcame early cooling issues to &#8211; not only battle back  onto the lead lap – but dominate the latter stages of the race, leading 50 laps.  Biffle had the race win in site, holding the lead with just three to go, before  the final caution forced him to come in for fuel prior to the ‘overtime’ finish. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">With the finish Edwards increased his Sprint Cup points lead to 36.  Matt Kenseth is seventh, Greg Biffle moved up one spot to 11<sup>th</sup> and  David Ragan increased three spots to 18<sup>th</sup>. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In addition, Roush Fenway’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driving the No. 21  Wood Brothers Ford for Trevor Bayne, finished 11<sup>th</sup> in his Sprint Cup  debut. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Sprint Cup Series returns to action next weekend at Kansas  Speedway. Roush Fenway has won three times in Sprint Cup action at Kansas,  including last fall when the organization place three cars in the top 10 at the  1.5-mile track. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #001c00; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><em>- Roush Fenway Racing, Press Release</em><br />
</span></p>
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		<title>Stewart Salvages Top-20 in Coke 600 at Charlotte</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:25:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[2011 Tony Stewart in car - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAREngine Woes Drop Office Depot/Mobil 1 Driver Out of Top-10 in Waning Laps Date: May 29, 2011 Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 12 of 36) Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Start/Finish: 22nd/17th (Running, completed 402 of 402...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/stewart-salvages-top-20-in-coke-600-at-charlotte/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-full wp-image-69200" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-69200" title="2011 Tony Stewart in car - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2011-Auto-Club-Tony-Stewart-in-car.jpg" alt="2011 Tony Stewart in car - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="200" height="300" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:200px;">2011 Tony Stewart in car - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div><strong>Engine Woes Drop Office Depot/Mobil 1 Driver Out of Top-10 in Waning Laps</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Date: </strong> May 29, 2011<br />
<strong>Event:</strong> Coca-Cola 600 (Round 12 of 36)<br />
<strong>Series:</strong> NASCAR Sprint Cup Series<br />
<strong>Location:</strong> Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)<br />
<strong>Start/Finish:</strong> 22nd/17th (Running, completed 402 of 402 laps in a green-white-checkered finish)<br />
<strong>Winner:</strong> Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)</p>
<p>At four hours, 33 minutes and 16 seconds, the 52nd annual Coca-Cola 600 lived up to its billing as the longest race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), seemed poised to grab a solid top-10 finish in the marathon event, but engine woes dropped him to a 17th-place finish.</p>
<p>Despite radioing to crew chief Darian Grubb that something was amiss in his engine with less than 20 laps to go, Stewart found himself in ninth place just before a green-white-checkered finish would decide the race two laps past its scheduled 400-lap distance. But when the green flag waved, Stewart’s engine sputtered, either from whatever was happening inside the engine to the fact that Stewart’s fuel tank was nearly dry or a combination of the two. Either way, Stewart was unable to take off at full song, and when Jeff Burton spun off turn one in front of Stewart, the two-time Sprint Cup champion had to jump on the brakes to avoid hitting him, losing even more spots.</p>
<p>Stewart quickly gathered himself and made the final tour around the 1.5-mile oval to log his 10th top-20 finish in the 12 races run thus far in 2011.</p>
<p>Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala for SHR, finished 31st after being collected in an accident on lap 303. His crew made repairs that allowed him to return to the race and gain five positions.</p>
<p>Kevin Harvick won the Coca-Cola 600 to score his 17th career Sprint Cup victory, his third of the season and his first at Charlotte.</p>
<p>David Ragan finished .703 of a second behind Harvick in the runner-up spot, while Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top-five. Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Regan Smith, David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin comprised the remainder of the top-10.</p>
<p>There were 14 caution periods for 64 laps, with 13 drivers failing to finish.</p>
<p>With round 12 of 36 complete, Stewart picked up one position to rise to ninth in the Sprint Cup championship point standings. He now has 356 points and is 89 markers behind series leader Carl Edwards. Newman dropped three spots to 10th in the standings. He has 353 points and is 92 points back of Edwards.</p>
<p>The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the June 5 STP 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The race starts at 1 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 12:30 p.m.</p>
<p><em>- True Speed Communication for Stewart-Haas Racing, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>Accident Drops Newman to 31st-Place Finish</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:18:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Ryan Newman, Mark Martin and David Gilliland get tangled up on lap 301 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCARCHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2011) &#8212; Just when it appeared that Ryan Newman was going to make one of his patented late-race charges, the U.S. Army driver...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/accident-drops-newman-to-31st-place-finish/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-full wp-image-75917" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-75917" title="Ryan Newman, Mark Martin and David Gilliland get tangled up on lap 301 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2011-Charlotte-May-NSCS-Martin-Newman-Gilliland-wreck.jpg" alt="Ryan Newman, Mark Martin and David Gilliland get tangled up on lap 301 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR" width="311" height="207" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:311px;">Ryan Newman, Mark Martin and David Gilliland get tangled up on lap 301 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR</div></div>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2011) &#8212; Just when it appeared that Ryan Newman was going to make one of his patented late-race charges, the U.S. Army driver found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as he was a victim of a three-car accident.</p>
<p>The incident resulted in Newman finishing a disappointing 31st in Sunday night&#8217;s Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.</p>
<p>Newman didn&#8217;t get any breaks in the driver point standings either, he dropped three positions from seventh to 10th.</p>
<p>&#8220;We really wanted to go out there tonight and showcase the Army Chevrolet on Memorial Day weekend,&#8221; said Newman. &#8220;We fought hard like our Soldiers and never quit, but we just had too much car damage to overcome.&#8221;</p>
<p>After starting NASCAR&#8217;s longest race of the season from the 12th position, Newman struggled with handling issues almost from the get-go. The Army car was tight in the corners and lacked speed on the straightaways. A number of adjustments were made, but nothing seemed to click to gain track position.</p>
<p>But following a decision by crew chief Tony Gibson not to pit during a caution on Lap 295 of 400, Newman jumped to 13th place when the race was restarted a few laps later.</p>
<p>As Newman was maneuvering around the 1.5-mile oval, he found trouble when Mark Martin and David Gilliland got tangled on Lap 302. Newman got collected in the melee and had no choice but to drive his car to the garage where the Army crew made major repairs. When Newman returned to action in his hoodless car, he was more than 40 laps down.</p>
<p>&#8220;I couldn’t get the car pulled down in time and they (Mark Martin and David Gilliland) bounced off the wall and came back and got me,&#8221; explained Newman. &#8220;We were just a by-product of it. We shouldn’t have been in that position, we should have been out front. The U.S. Army Chevrolet was not good but the guys fought hard. Just got on the unfortunate side of an unfortunate accident.”</p>
<p>Newman&#8217;s teammate, Tony Stewart, finished 17th and is currently ninth in points.</p>
<p>The race winner was Kevin Harvick. Rounding out the top-10 in order were: David Ragan, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Regan Smith, David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin.</p>
<p>The Sprint Cup Series next race is Sunday (June 5) at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.</p>
<p><em>- DMF Communications for U.S. Army Racing, Press Release</em></p>
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		<title>Team Chevy, 2011 NSCS Coca-Cola 600 Post-Race Recaps</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 13:11:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Press Release</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Team Chevy LogoJIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S SUMMER SALUTE CHEVROLET – SIDELINED ON LAP 395 WITH ENGINE FAILURE – FINISHED 28th “What I’m taking from this week is that we had a fast car. Unfortunately four laps from the end we lost an engine, which never happens. We’ve had a lot of things go our...<a href="http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/05/30/team-chevy-2011-nscs-coca-cola-600-post-race-recaps/">more&#187</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><div class="imagecaptioneasy imagecaptioneasy_top_ght size-medium wp-image-33894" style="auto;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-33894" title="Team Chevy Logo" src="http://www.catchfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/TeamChevyLogo-280x32.jpg" alt="Team Chevy Logo" width="280" height="32" /><br style="clear:both" /><div style="margin:0px;max-width:280px;">Team Chevy Logo</div></div>JIMMIE  JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S SUMMER SALUTE CHEVROLET – SIDELINED ON LAP 395 WITH  ENGINE FAILURE – FINISHED 28th</strong></p>
<p>“What I’m  taking from this week is that we had a fast car. Unfortunately four laps from  the end we lost an engine, which never happens. We’ve had a lot of things go our  way over the years and the last couple of weeks, things have not gone our way  and that’s just how it goes. So we’ll dig in deep and work hard and get this  Lowe’s car back where it belongs.</p>
<p>“We dropped a  cylinder and it blew the engine with four (laps) to go. So it was definitely a  disappointing way to finish up. We fought so hard all night long and to get  track position from multiple issues and then got ourselves up there and were  looking at a top five finish and lost the engine. It was very uncharacteristic.  Our engine shop is very dedicated and focused on building reliable power. So it  must have been a fluke deal.”</p>
<p><strong>ON THE PIT  CREW LEAVING THE WEDGE TOOL IN THE CAR AND HAVING TO START AT THE REAR OF THE  LEAD LAP</strong></p>
<p>“Yeah, we’ve  been stubbing our toe on pit road. We have a great group of young guys that just  need some race time to develop. They are true athletes and amazing, amazing  guys. They are very talented at what they do, we just need to get them some more  race experience and we had a couple of miscues there on pit road. So, we’re all  growing as a team and growing them inside of our team. It’s just going to take a  little time to get everything right.”</p>
<p><strong>DO YOU  STILL LIKE THIS PLACE, CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY?</strong></p>
<p>“I love this  place. It will come back and love me one of these days. It was very good to me  for a while.”</p>
<p><strong>RICK  HENDRICK, OWNER, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS</strong></p>
<p>“Another 400  fee and he (Dale Earnhardt Jr.,) would have won the race. So it was one of those  deals that we had to do it. Dale just did a super job and (crew chief) Stevie  (Letarte) called a heck of a race. It was a great race all night. It was the  best that the No. 88 has won on a 1.5-mile. So we’ll take it and it was a rough  night for the rest of our guys. But I’m real proud of Junior and real proud of  Stevie. They did a heck of a job.”</p>
<p><strong>DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO.  88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET, FINISHED 7TH AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL  ON THE FINAL LAP WHILE LEADING: </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ON HIS  RACE:</strong> &#8220;Great race car. We should find our fortune here soon if we keep working  hard.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>WHAT DO YOU SAY AFTER  THAT? &#8220;</strong>I&#8217;m going to have a good  time tomorrow. (LAUGHS) Nah, I&#8217;m kiddin&#8217;. I&#8217;m not kidding about that. I&#8217;m pretty  happy. I was sitting there&#8230;I&#8217;m disappointed about running out of gas, but we  knew we were&#8230;we knew we were short. You saw the No. 16 (Greg Biffle) give up  the lead. Everybody knew they were short. We were just fortunate enough to get  around to the back straightaway and have enough momentum to carry us around to  the front straightaway and get a seventh place finish I think, wherever we  finished&#8230;somewhere in the top-10.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;m disappointed, we  came so close to winning but, I was sitting there looking at maybe a 20th place  finish if we would have run out of gas sooner. I thought those guys wrecked on  that restart and that would have brought the caution out before the white and  we&#8217;d have had to pit. This was probably, in all honesty, the best turnout of  events for us besides winning the race. But it wasn&#8217;t the car, we just ran out  of gas. That is just the way it goes. We will keep working hard. We run  good.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>WHEN YOU WERE IN TURN  FOUR, DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO RUN OUT OF GAS?</strong> &#8220;I was already out. I  was out on the back straightaway. My car just kept up enough speed it didn&#8217;t  look like it was out. But, I was out. The spotter is like &#8216;man, they are comin&#8217;,  they are comin&#8217; and I&#8217;m like I&#8217;m just crusin&#8217; here, what am I supposed to do?  Get out and pedal this thing with my feet? It was a long race and a really hard  race and I haven&#8217;t ran good here in a long time. We ran really, really good  tonight. Real good and I&#8217;m real happy about that. The wins are going to come; we  just have to keep working&#8217;.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>TEAM-WISE,  MOMENTUM-WISE, WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED THERE  AT THE END?</strong> &#8220;Well, I know we are  doing a good job. I know we are unloading good cars and the car we unloaded for  the Shootout, I didn&#8217;t get into the meeting for what our plan was and it wasn&#8217;t  a good car. So we knew better so we came back with a good car. It showed it and  we&#8217;re really happy with our effort. These guys just have to lift their heads up  man, because we are doing a good thing. We&#8217;re building a good team and building  good chemistry and they keep their heads up and we&#8217;ll keep proving. That&#8217;s what  is important. If we let this bother us too much, we won&#8217;t improve as much as we  should. So, we want to win races and we are getting close enough that a couple  of them are about to fall in lap and when we get that little extra stint, we&#8217;ll  be in business.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE  WHEN YOU CAN TASTE IT?</strong> &#8220;It is a good feeling.  it is a real good feeling. I was going around one and two (turns) and T.J.  (Majors, spotter) there is seven car lengths, there is eight car lengths. I was  like this is a great feeling. I feel like I&#8217;m about to win this race. When we  ran out of gas, I&#8217;d already had my mind geared for that in case that happened so  I wasn&#8217;t too upset. The crew chief said we ought to be out of gas before that  green-white-checkered even happened.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>YOU HAVE ALWAYS SAID YOU  ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE YOUR FANS SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT AND FEEL GOOD THE NEXT  DAY, IS THIS THAT? </strong>&#8220;To be honest, I know  there will be disappointment about coming so close tonight but our fans should  be real happy about how we are performing and how we are showing up at the race  track. How competitive we are. We&#8217;ve definitely improved things and we want to  keep getting better and better. I think they are pleased with our efforts and  pleased with the results so far this year and I&#8217;ll be the first to admit we need  more, but this is going in the right direction. I felt like a true front-runner  tonight. I&#8217;ve felt like that several times this season, but Charlotte is a true  test. The 600 is a true test of our team and we performed well all night  long.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>I HEARD STEVE LETARTE  SAY 500 MORE FEET AND WE WOULD HAVE HAD IT, DESCRIBE YOUR NIGHT. </strong>&#8220;I  believe we needed more than 500 feet. We weren&#8217;t supposed to win tonight. We  played our hand and those other guys came in. I tried to save a ton of gas but I  know I didn&#8217;t save enough. I tried to save as much as I could. I&#8217;m disappointed  we didn&#8217;t win. I know all our fans were disappointed to come so close. We were a  top-five car. This was our Vegas car and it is really, really good so we will  keep taking it to race tracks and running good. We were so fast at the start of  the race and once the sun went down we kind of went back. We ran good tonight,  I&#8217;m proud. I&#8217;m proud of my guys and I&#8217;m proud of the care we  unloaded.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>KEVIN  HARVICK, NO. 29 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET – RACE WINNER</strong></p>
<p><strong>CONGRATULATIONS, ON THE WIN. HOW DO  YOU FEEL?</strong></p>
<p>“I tell you  what; I’ve got to give a huge credit to all the race team, Gil Martin and all  these guys. We started saving gas from lap one when the green flag fell, just  hoping that we’d go to the end. I saw those guys up there racing and I knew how  close we were on gas but it all worked for our Budweiser Chevrolet. I want to  thank all the men and women who have served and are currently serving that give  us a chance to do everything we do in this country.”</p>
<p><strong>YOU HAVE  LED NINE (9) LAPS AND WON THREE RACES. THAT’S PRETTY  INTERESTING.</strong></p>
<p>“Yeah, I  mean, you know, it’s just one of those deals I guess. The last two we earned and  this one we conserved gas to be around at the end. I can’t stand driving in this  place. This is a great facility, great management, great people running it, but  it’s just been a race track for me where I’ve struggled every time I’ve ever  been here. Yesterday was probably the best day I’ve ever had in the Nationwide  car and to be here in Victory Lane says a lot!”</p>
<p><strong>DO YOU  FEEL THAT THIS IS THE SEASON THAT FEEL LIKE YOU CAN REALLY GO AFTER THE  CHAMPIONSHIP HARD?</strong></p>
<p>“Well, it’s  one of those deals like today, when everybody started pitting we said to heck  with it. We’re just going to try to save gas and try to get to one pit stop to  go by saving gas. And the caution came out with like four or five laps before we  were supposed to pit. So heck, it’s just one of those deals where we had enough  gas to get to the end and wound up winning the race.”</p>
<p><strong>THIS IS YOUR THIRD WIN  WITH A TOTAL OF NINE LAPS LED, HOW ARE YOU CLOSING THESE THINGS THAT  WAY?</strong> &#8220;Today we were lucky. I told them at the beginning of this thing that we haven&#8217;t  fixed this thing in two weeks, there&#8217;s no way we&#8217;re going to fix it today.  Nothing against this race track I just don&#8217;t like racing here. It just doesn&#8217;t  feel right.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>REGAN SMITH, NO. 78  FURNITURE ROW CHEVROLET, FINISHED 8TH: </strong></p>
<p>&#8220;I guess you can say the  longest race of the season paid off in our favor. We were patient, and crew  chief Pete Rondeau made the right calls on the pit box. We had a pretty good car  but then a lug nut issue knocked us to the back and it was a battle from that  point on. But we kept our cool and didn&#8217;t quit fighting for track position. The  pit strategy was perfect, which was the main reason we made a pretty good leap  near the end of the race. It was a good points day as we continue to fight for a  top-20 position in the driver standings.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>About  Chevrolet:</strong> Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global  automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than  140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and  reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited  performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars  such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as  Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as  Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly  to gas-free&#8221; solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg  highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an  additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar  safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free  Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information  regarding Chevrolet models can be found at <a title="https://legacy.kseglobal.com/OWA/redir.aspx?C=58220b5d77cf4ef7893e6c674922cce5&amp;URL=http://www.chevrolet.com/" href="https://legacy.kseglobal.com/OWA/redir.aspx?C=58220b5d77cf4ef7893e6c674922cce5&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.chevrolet.com%2f" target="_blank">www.chevrolet.com</a>.</p>
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