Chad Finley

Several times throughout the 100-lap / 150-mile race on the 1.5 mile high-banked d-shaped paved oval in Fort Worth, Texas, Finley raced with and passed some of the best in the business, including eventual Rattlesnake 150 winner and new ARCA point’s leader, Steve Arpin.

Transmission troubles that plagued Finley’s #29 Auto Value Parts Stores and Certified Service Centers / AutoParts2020.com / Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) machine throughout the race was the only thing that slowed the DeWitt, Michigan driver as only first and fourth gear were working properly and those issues seriously plagued Finley when a caution flag flew and the ensuring restarts occurred.

A disappointing 11th place finish doesn’t come close to revealing the progress Finley has made in his career and showed to the ARCA world and the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams that were also on the grounds in the Lone Star State.

“Texas was a great run for us. We started right off the truck with an excellent car prepared by everyone at BKR,” stated Finley as he reflected on his first race of the 2010 racing season in ARCA.

“The car handled really well in the race. It was awesome to run so well. I’m just heartbroken for Brad (Keselowski) and everyone at BKR to have that great of a race car but not be able to show it due to transmission problems from the drop of the green flag.”

After starting 24th after Qualifying was rained out and the line-up was determined by 2009 ARCA Car Owner Points, Finley quickly maneuvered his way through the field and very quickly found himself in the Top 10 and soon afterwards, the Top Five. He passed the eventual winner, Arpin at the 3/4s mark of the race to move into second place, his highest showing of the day, but the dreaded caution flags proved to be the downfall.

On the ensuing restarts, Finley’s BKR machine couldn’t get up to speed quickly and lost several positions each and every time. “The last two cautions really hurt us as we were closing in on the leaders. I felt like we had the best car on the long runs just never had a chance to show it because of our troubles,” Continued the Great Lakes State pilot.

“I was really proud of the way we kept fighting throughout the night to try and overcome the transmission problems that hurt us in the end,” he added. “I’m really looking forward to the rest of this season with these guys. They are a great group of guys and I hope I can get them there first win.”

Finley’s next race on his 2010 schedule will be behind the wheel of his Outlaw Bodied Super Late Model on Saturday, May 8th as he’ll make the trip down I-69 just across the Michigan / Indiana state line to the 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of Angola Motor Speedway in Angola, Indiana for the 2010 season opener for the Main Event Racing Series.
“I’m looking forward to having some fun in the Super Late Model,”

Finley added. “We were good down there last year and I can’t wait to get going with the remainder of the season. We tested the Super yesterday (Sunday, April 18th) at Spartan Speedway and the car was really good.” He ended.
The next ARCA race on Finley’s 2010 schedule will be on Saturday, June 5th at the biggest track of his young career, the 2.5 mile multi-banked triangular paved oval of the famed Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania for the Pocono ARCA 200.

As for the rest of his 2010 ARCA schedule, a short trip within his home state of Michigan is after Pocono the following Friday, June 11th for the Racing for Wildlife 200 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. A return visit to Pocono follows Michigan on Saturday July 31st for the Pennsylvania ARCA 125.

Another race close to home will be the Chicagoland ARCA 150 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois on August 27th. In addition, plans also call for Finley to race the ARCA shows at Iowa Speedway (July 10th), Kansas Speedway (September 30th) and the 2010 season finale at Rockingham Speedway on October 9th.

Finley raced a limited schedule in ARCA during the 2009 racing season, but made the most of those limited races with One Pole Award at Rockingham, one Top Five finish, a third at Berlin Raceway, three Top 10 showings and all four starts he made during the 2009 campaign in ARCA resulted in at least a Top 15.

In addition to his ARCA schedule, Finley will also race in two races within the ASA Late Model Northern Series at Owosso Speedway and Dixie Motor Speedway. He also has several races scheduled aboard his Outlaw Bodied Super Late Models in events across Michigan as well as Indiana and Ohio.

- Brad Keselowski Racing / M.P.H. Promotions Press Release

No. 29 Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Impala SS

Event: Food City 250 – August 21, 2009

Venue: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway

NOTES:

· This Weekend’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS at Bristol Motor Speedway … Clint Bowyer will pilot Chassis No. 068 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable in this Friday’s Food City 250. Bowyer has driven this No. 29 Chevy twice in 2009, finishing third at Bristol in March and 14th at Dover International Speedway in May. Jeff Burton also drove this Impala SS to a 10th-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this past May. In 2008, this chassis finished 12th at LMS in May and fourth at DIS in September.

· Statistically Speaking …

o Start and Finish … Bowyer, a seven-time NNS winner, has completed every lap contested in his nine NNS races at BMS. He has not started outside the top 16 and has only one finish outside the top 13, which came in August 2006.

o 2008 BMS Domination … In both NNS races at Bristol last season, Bowyer visited Victory Lane in March and finished second in August, leading 57.2 percent (243 of 421) of the laps contested.

o Loop ‘D Loop … According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics over the past nine races at Bristol, Bowyer leads all drivers with 2,044 laps (77.7 percent) run inside the top 15 and 1,352 total points accumulated. His driver rating of 108.2 ranks him fifth-best among all drivers in those races. The Driver Rating is a formula that combines the following categories: wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum points a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The Driver Rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.

o Bowyer’s 2009 NNS Recap … In six NNS starts this season, the defending series champion has earned one win, one pole and four top-three finishes. He boasts a 6.3 average start, a 9.2 average finish and has completed 99.7 percent (1,039 of 1,042) of the laps contested.

o RCR in Thunder Valley … In 44 NNS starts at Bristol, RCR-prepared Chevrolets have earned 20 top-five and 25-top 10 finishes. They have six wins among three different drivers, including four with Kevin Harvick (August 2000, August 2001, March 2003 and April 2005), one with Jeff Green (March 2002) and one with Bowyer (March 2008). The Welcome, N.C.,-based organization has led 1,581 laps at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and boasts a 13.1 finishing average.

· Double-Down in Tennessee … In addition to his NNS driver duties, Bowyer will pilot the No. 33 Hamburger Helper Chevrolet in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the 0.533-mile Tennessee oval. With three races remaining before the 12-team Chase for the Sprint Cup is set, Bowyer & Co. are 14th in the NSCS championship standings, 58 markers behind the coveted 12th-place spot. Live coverage of the Sharpie 500 will begin Saturday, August 22 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on ESPN. The race will also be broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

· Rearview Mirror … Jeff Burton drove RCR’s green, white and blue No. 29 Chevrolet to a ninth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway last Saturday. With 12 races remaining in the 2009 NNS season, the Richard Childress-owned team remains seventh in the owners’ point standings, 107 markers behind Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 entry in fifth.

· Stay Updated … Last Friday, Holiday Inn Racing launched their Twitter account. For behind-the-scenes information about the No. 29 team and updates throughout each race weekend, visit www.twitter.com/HolidayInnRacin.

· Crew Chief’s Hometown … Doug Randolph, crew chief on RCR’s No. 29 NNS Chevy, hails from Morristown, Tenn., which is located approximately 70 miles southwest of Bristol. Since joining the team beginning in May, Randolph has led the No. 29 team to one win, one pole, nine top-10 finishes and a respectable 9.2 finishing average.

· Dixie Stampede Online Winner … David Guthrie, a Tennessee native, won Dixie Stampede’s online contest. Guthrie’s prize package includes a two-night stay at the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Holiday Inn, two tickets to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and two tickets to both the Food City 250 and Sharpie 500. Dixie Stampede is an associate sponsor on the RCR’s No. 29 NNS Chevrolet. For more information, please visit www.dixiestampede.com.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Food City 250 will be televised live on Friday, August 21 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. PRN and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio will begin their live race coverage at 7:15 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 24th event of the 2009 NNS season will air live the same day beginning at 4 p.m. EDT on SPEED. PRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast live updates of time trials.

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

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

Clint Bowyer wins the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona - Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Last season, you dominated both Nationwide Series races at Bristol and this season you finished third. What can you say about your recent success there?

“Bristol is definitely one of my better tracks in the Nationwide Series and it seems to fit my driving style. RCR has always prepared good-handling Chevrolets for me there and I’ve learned my way around the high-banked corners. Last season, we had the dominant car in both races, but came up short in the fall race. We had a solid run this past spring and, hopefully, we can continue to run up front and try to get this No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet back to Victory Lane.”

How big was it to win a race at Bristol?

“It was a ton of fun and that’s one of the tracks that you want to win at on the circuit. It’s a hard race track and it’s demanding. If you can go there and beat the rest of the field, at a place like Bristol, you’ve been rewarded for a hard day’s work.”

DOUG RANDOLPH (CREW CHIEF) QUOTE:

What are your thoughts heading into this Friday night’s Nationwide Series race at Bristol?

“Our short-track program has been pretty solid this season, especially when Clint is driving because those tracks fit his driving style. I wasn’t around for the third-place run at Bristol in the spring, but I’m confident we can match it, if not do better than it, this weekend. We seem to have that place figured out as an organization on the Nationwide Series side and, hopefully, we can carry that momentum over to this weekend.”

What are the keys to running well at Bristol?

“The biggest thing for the race will be getting the car to enter and exit the corners consistently. Although this is a short track, the cars carry a lot of speed in and off the high-banked turns. The progressive banking in the corners allows for several different lines to choose from, so we’ll adjust our Chevy to whichever line works best for Clint. Another key aspect at Bristol is qualifying towards the front and staying out of trouble. If we can do that, we should be in contention for another top-three finish and an overall strong points day.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

No. 29 Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Impala SS

Event: Kroger 200 – July 25, 2009

Venue: O’Reilly Raceway Park – Indianapolis, Ind.

Stephen Leicht’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Performance History at O’Reilly Raceway Park

NOTES:

· This Week’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS at O’Reilly Raceway Park … Stephen Leicht will pilot Chassis No. 057 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. Last season, Clint Bowyer drove this former No. 2 Chevy at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (October), Bristol Motor Speedway (August) and Gateway International Raceway (July), finishing fourth, second and eighth, respectively. Since then, this chassis has been rebuilt to fit 2009 Chevrolet Impala SS specifications and will be put through its first paces of the season this weekend.

· Statistically Speaking …

o RCR Equipment for Leicht … Leicht, an Asheville, N.C., native, joined RCR in 2008 and has driven in 10 NNS events for the Welcome, N.C.,-based race team. He has recorded five top-10 and eight top-20 finishes dating back to February 25, 2008. Leicht has earned a 12.4 average starting position, a 14.3 average finishing position and has completed 1881 of 1994 (94.3 percent) laps contested.

o RCR at O’Reilly … In 20 NNS starts at ORP, RCR has earned two wins; both with Kevin Harvick in 2001 and 2006. Additionally, RCR-prepared cars have earned six top-five and nine top-10 finishes, led 190 laps and have completed 3717 of 4008 (92.7 percent) laps contested.

o Holiday Inn Racing at ORP… Scott Wimmer piloted the green, white and blue Chevrolet in 2007 and 2008 at the .686-mile oval, finishing seventh and fourth, respectively. In 2006, Jeff Burton finished fifth in the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevy at ORP.

· Elite Status … Leicht is one of six non-double-duty drivers to run at least one full NNS season since 2006 and have won a race in NASCAR’s junior division. The list also includes Marcos Ambrose, Mike Bliss, Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler and Paul Menard.

· New Rebranded Look … The No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet is sporting a new look for the remainder of the 2009 season. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are rebranding and redesigning 3,200 hotels worldwide and, in the process, have incorporated the rebranded logos into a new paint design for the No. 29 RCR Nationwide Series entry. For more information on Holiday Inn’s rebranding efforts, please visit www.relaunch.holidayinn.com.

· Rear-View Mirror … Leicht rallied late to finish sixth in last Saturday evening’s Nationwide Series race at Gateway. It was the No. 29 team’s 12th top-10 finish of the season and moved them up two spots, to seventh, in the NNS owners’ point standings. Although the Richard Childress-owned team is 554 behind the point-leading No. 18 entry of Joe Gibbs Racing, only 105 markers separate them from Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 entry in fifth.

· Dixie Land Sweepstakes … Dixie Stampede, an associate sponsor on RCR’s No. 29 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, has teamed up with Holiday Inn to give away a fun-filled weekend for one lucky fan and their guest centered around Bristol Motor Speedway’s August events. The winner and their guest will receive a free two-night stay at the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Holiday Inn on August 19 and 20, two tickets to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and two tickets to Dollywood. They will also receive RV accommodations (provided by Tennessee RV Sales & Service) at Bristol Motor Speedway for August 21 and 22, two pit passes and race tickets to the Nationwide Series Food City 250 on Friday, August 21 and two race tickets to the Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 22. For more details or to enter to win, please visit www.dixiestampede.com or submit your entry by mail to Dixie Stampede, Attn: Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 58, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 37868. All entries must by received by July 31, 2009 in order to qualify.

· Hoosier Native … Jeff Stankiewicz hails from Clarksville, Ind., approximately 110 miles south of Indianapolis. Stankiewicz is the car chief for the No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Kroger 200 will be televised live on ESPN Saturday, July 25 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 20th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2 at 4:30 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

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

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

Stephen Leicht

Is ORP a race track that fits your driving style?

“It’s a tight, small race track. It reminds me of those tracks that I used to race on Saturday nights growing up. I’ve raced at ORP a bunch in ASA (America Speed Association) late models, so I’m comfortable there. I feel like that experience gives me a slight advantage compared to some of the other drivers.”

You said it is tight. So, is it kind of like Bristol Motor Speedway?

“No. Not really. Bristol is concrete and ORP is paved. ORP is also flat and it’s one of those places where you’re sliding around a lot during the race. Getting your car to handle there might be a little more important than it is at Bristol.”

What’s your strategy for picking a line at ORP?

“That’s where I think my edge up on everybody comes into play. I’ve raced there so much that I know where the lines are at ORP. As the race progresses, it seems like we widen the groove up even more. You have guys running all the way on the bottom to right against the wall but, when you first get there, you have to run a car length or two away from the wall. Strategies change as we race longer and we lay more rubber down, so towards the end, you can choose which line best works for your car.”

Did you adapt quickly in the Nationwide Series car at ORP?

“I actually did. The transition from late models to these heavier Nationwide cars was big, but knowing that I had laps around the place made the transition easier. I think we had a top-five car in 2007 at ORP in the Nationwide Series during the first practice. We were quicker than most of the other guys in race trim, but I hit the wall during the final practice session and really hurt our chances at a solid finish. I feel like I have better equipment and a stronger team as I head to ORP this weekend. Hopefully, we can have a strong run and continue the consistent finishes we’ve been piling up lately.”

DOUG RANDOLPH (Crew Chief) QUOTE:

Stephen has raced here before. Does that build your confidence towards having a strong rung this weekend?

“Anytime a driver knows and understands a racetrack, it definitely helps. Stephen (Leicht) has done a great job this season with the limited time he’s seen behind the wheel. Our communication with one another is getting better each week and we’re really learning how to get the car set up to his liking. We’ll try and build on our respectable finish from Gateway and improve on that this weekend.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

No. 29 Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Impala SS

Event: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 presented by Ventrilo – July 18, 2009

Venue: Gateway International Raceway – Madison, Ill.

NOTES:

· This Week’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS at Gateway International Raceway … Stephen Leicht will pilot chassis No. 066 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. This is the same No. 29 racer Leicht finished sixth and 11th with at both Nashville Superspeedway events in 2009. Most recently, Leicht drove this Impala SS to an eighth-place finish at The Milwaukee Mile in June. Formerly a No. 21 Chevrolet, Leicht also raced this car at Texas Motor Speedway last October where he finished 18th. In 2008, Clint Bowyer drove this former No. 2 Chevrolet at Kentucky Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway finishing ninth and seventh, respectively. The car was rebuilt over the off season to fit the 2009 Chevrolet Impala SS specifications.

Statistically Speaking …

o RCR Equipment for Leicht … Leicht, an Asheville, N.C. native joined RCR in 2008 and has driven in nine NNS events for the Welcome, N.C.,-based race team. He has recorded four top-10 and seven top-20 finishes dating back to February 25, 2008. Leicht has earned a 12.9 average starting position, a 15.2 average finishing position and has completed 1656 of 1769 (93.6 percent) laps contested.

o RCR at Gateway … In 19 NNS starts, RCR earned two wins with Kevin Harvick in 2000 and 2001. Additionally, RCR-prepared cars have six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, led 358 laps and have completed 3588 of 2800 (94.4 percent) laps contested. Scott Wimmer piloted the No. Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet in two races at the 1.25-mile oval. In 2007, he started on the pole, led 53 laps and finished second. Last year, the No. 29 Chevy finished 30th after being involved in a mid-race accident while running in the top 10.

o Crew Chief’s Stats at Gateway … Crew chief Doug Randolph is one-for-one at Gateway. In his only race there, Randolph led driver Scott Riggs to Victory Lane at the flat Madison, Ill., facility on May 10, 2003.

· Elite Status … Leicht is one of only six non-double-duty drivers to have run at least one full NNS season since 2006 and have won a race in NASCAR’s junior division. The list also includes Marcos Ambrose, Mike Bliss, Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler and Paul Menard.

· New Rebranded Look … The No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet is sporting a new look for the remainder of the 2009 season. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are rebranding and redesigning 3,200 hotels worldwide and, in the process, have incorporated the rebranded logos into a new paint design for the No. 29 RCR Nationwide Series entry. For more information on Holiday Inn’s rebranding efforts, please visit www.relaunch.holidayinn.com.

· Rear-View Mirror … In the first 18 races of the 2009 NNS season, the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet has earned one win and one pole, 11 top-10 and 15 top-20 finishes. Jeff Burton, Bowyer and Leicht have combined to post an average starting position of 10.2 and a 11.9 average finish. The trio have completed 3392 of 3477 (97.7 percent) laps contested, thus far, and have led 105 laps of competition. The Richard Childress-owned team is ninth in Nationwide Series owners’ point standings, 133 markers behind Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 entry in fifth, but a mere 24 points separate the No. 29 team and Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 16 entry in seventh.

· Bowyer’s No. 29 … After Bowyer won two weeks ago at Daytona International Speedway, he was crowned the winner of the ‘Three Wide for the Name on the Ride’ wager among the three Holiday Inn Racing drivers (Bowyer, Burton and Leicht). The bet was the driver with the most wins, or best average finish following the July Daytona event, claiming signature rights above the door of the No. 29 Chevy for the remainder of the 2009 season, no matter which of the three are driving the green, white and blue Chevrolet.

· Dixie Land Sweepstakes … Dixie Stampede, an associate sponsor on RCR’s No. 29 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, has teamed up with Holiday Inn to give away a fun-filled weekend for one lucky fan, and their guest, centered around Bristol Motor Speedway’s August events. The winner and their guest will receive a free two-night stay at the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Holiday Inn on August 19 and 20, two tickets to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and two tickets to Dollywood. They will also receive RV accommodations (provided by Tennessee RV Sales & Service) at Bristol Motor Speedway for August 21 and 22, two pit passes and race tickets to the Nationwide Series Food City 250 on Friday, August 21 and two race tickets to the Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 22. For more details or to enter to win, please visit www.dixiestampede.com or submit your entry by mail to Dixie Stampede, Attn: Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 58, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 37868. All entries must by received by July 31, 2009 in order to qualify.

· Meet the Driver … Leicht will be participating in two events for Gateway International Raceway race fans. On Friday, Leicht will participate in the track’s season ticket holder autograph session on pit road from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. local time. On Saturday, he will take part in a fan question and answer session beginning at 5:45 p.m. local time located outside the main grandstands in the midway.

· Meet the Press … On Friday, Leicht will answer questions from the media in attendance at 3 p.m. local time in the driver’s meeting room located inside Gateway’s infield media center.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 presented by Ventrilo will be televised live on ESPN2 Saturday, July 18 beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also broadcast worldwide on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 19th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. EDT. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also air live updates of time trials.

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

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

Stephen Leicht

RCR has had success at Gateway in the past. What are your goals for this weekend?

“A top-five finish would be great. I think with how this car has performed so far this season, we should be fast. This is the same Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet I drove at both Nashville races and at Milwaukee. At Milwaukee, we were better than our eighth-place finish, but the track changed so much and we chased the handling because of that. However, it still gives me an extra boost of confidence as we unload at Gateway using a car I’m familiar with. I’m definitely excited to be back behind the wheel of the No. 29 and I hope we can qualifying up front and keep it there all night.”

It’s the midway point of the season. How would you rate the No. 29 team’s season thus far?

“We’re definitely not where we want to be as far as the owners’ points are concerned. We’re ninth right now and that’s the furthest back this team has been in a few years at this point of the season. Although we’ve had a rocky start, this Holiday Inn Racing team is making gains. Every weekend we’ve been faster and our finishes have been consistent. We’re making improvements on the track that we’ve struggled with and we’re hoping for solid finishes over the next few weeks to continue gaining points on the rest of the competition.”

DOUG RANDOLPH (Crew Chief) QUOTE:

You’ve won before at Gateway and head there with an organization that has had success there. What’s your plan heading into this weekend?

“I think we have a solid Chevy that we know is capable of running up front. It’s the fourth time this season that Stephen is driving this particular chassis and these style tracks fit his driving style. My win there in 2003 was exciting with Scott (Riggs). Hopefully, we can combine my success with RCR’s past success there and compete for a solid finish.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

No. 29 Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express Impala SS

Event: Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola – July 10, 2009

Venue: Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet, Ill.

NOTES:

· This Week’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway … Jeff Burton will pilot Chassis No. 078 from the Richard Childress Racing Nationwide Series stable in Friday night’s Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola. This is a brand new Chevrolet Impala SS that will be put through its first paces this weekend.

· New Rebranded Look … The No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet will sport a new look beginning at Chicagoland. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are rebranding and redesigning 3,200 hotels worldwide and, in the process, have incorporated the rebranded logos into a new paint design for the No. 29 RCR Nationwide Series entry. For more information on Holiday Inn’s rebranding efforts, please visit www.relaunch.holidayinn.com.

· Bowyer’s No. 29 … After Clint Bowyer won last week’s race at Daytona International Speedway from the pole, he was also crowned the winner of the ‘Three Wide for the Name on the Ride’ wager among the three Holiday Inn Racing drivers (Bowyer, Burton, and Stephen Leicht). The bet saw the driver with the most wins, or best average finish following last weekend’s event claiming signature rights above the door of the No. 29 Chevy for the remainder of the 2009 NNS season, no matter which of the three are driving the green, white, and blue Chevrolet.

· Third Place Is a Charm … Burton’s 3.8 average finish at Chicagoland ranks second best all-time behind Mike Skinner, who finished second in his only NNS start there. In six NNS starts at the Joliet, Ill., facility, the 27-time NNS race winner has five third-place finishes to his credit and one eighth-place result. He has led 128 laps and has completed every lap contested during that span.

· In the Loop …

o Average Running Position … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Burton leads the Average Running Position category with a 4.5 ARP in the last four events at Chicagoland. The ARP is derived by taking the sum of a driver’s position on each lap and dividing it by the number of laps run in each race.

o Laps in the Top 15 … The South Boston, Va., native has been running in the top 15 for 98.5 percent of the laps of NNS competition in the four previous races at Chicago, which is best among all drivers.

o Driver Rating … Burton also leads the Driver Rating category over the past four events at Chicagoland with a rating of 117.6. The Driver Rating is a formula that combines the following categories: wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The Driver Rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator.

· RCR at Chicagoland … Richard Childress has the most car owner victories in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland Speedway with three. Johnny Sauter won in 2002 while Kevin Harvick took the checkers in 2005 and 2007. In 19 NNS starts at the 1.5 mile tri-oval, RCR-prepared Chevrolets have earned eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. The Welcome, N.C.,-based organization has an average finish of 9.6 and has led 228 laps of Nationwide Series competition at the suburban Chicago track.

· Point Check … Coming off their victory in last weekend’s race at Daytona, the Richard Childress-owned No. 29 team maintains ninth position in the 2009 NNS owners’ standings. The Holiday Inn Racing team currently sits 469 markers outside the lead, held by Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 entry, but only 80 points separate Childress’ team and Braun Racing’s No. 38 car in sixth.

· Dixie Land Sweepstakes … Dixie Stampede, an associate sponsor on RCR’s No. 29 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, has teamed up with Holiday Inn to give away a fun-filled weekend for one lucky fan and their guest, centered around Bristol Motor Speedway’s August events. The winner and their guest will receive a free two-night stay at the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Holiday Inn on August 19th and 20th, two tickets to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and two tickets to Dollywood. They will also receive RV accommodations (provided by Tennessee RV Sales & Service) at Bristol Motor Speedway for August 21st and 22nd, two pit passes and race tickets to the Nationwide Series Food City 250 on Friday, August 21st and two race tickets to the Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 22nd. For more details or to enter to win, please visit www.dixiestampede.com or submit your entry by mail to Dixie Stampede, Attn: Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 58, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 37868. All entries must by received by July 31, 2009 in order to qualify.

· Double-Down in Chitown … In addition to his NNS duties, Burton will pilot the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland. The 19th points-paying race on the NSCS schedule will be televised live on TNT beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

· Race Broadcast Information … The Dollar General 300 powered by Coca-Cola will be televised live on ESPN on Friday, July 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast on MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 18th event of the 2009 NNS season will air on the same day beginning at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. MRN and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast live updates of time trials.

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

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

JEFF BURTON QUOTES

With five third-place finishes at Chicagoland in the Nationwide Series, what can you attribute that success to?

“We’ve had great cars at Chicagoland and RCR has had success there, too. Kevin (Harvick) has won there twice and it is just a place that suits our driving styles. The way that you have to drive the backstretch, because it’s curved, reminds me of Richmond. It’s unlike any other mile-and-a-half track out there and I’m excited to get have the opportunity to race the Holiday Inn Chevrolet there this weekend.”

You helped start the Holiday Inn Racing program at RCR in 2006 as the first driver in the green and white Chevrolet. What has your relationship been like with them?

“They are a great sponsor and we’ve shared a ton of success with them over the years, including the Nationwide Series owners’ title in 2007. It was an honor to help get a great organization like Holiday Inn get involved in our sport and am amazed at how much our relationship has grown. They’ve starting their rebranding efforts worldwide this year and their new contemporary look is amazing. The fact that I’m getting the opportunity to debut their rebranded look on the track this weekend is special. Hopefully, we can repeat our run last weekend and bring the rebranded Holiday Inn Chevrolet to Victory Lane.”

Speaking of the new paint scheme, how do you feel about driving the No. 29 with Clint Bowyer’s signature on it for the rest of this season?

“I’m not going to lie, I really wanted it to be my name on the door. Clint is going to get on me about driving ‘his car’ now, but he did his job and won the wager fair and square. Seeing the entire team celebrate in Victory Lane at Daytona was great. They’ve worked really hard this year and we’re definitely coming on strong midway through the season. In the end, it doesn’t matter which one of our names is above the door, as long as we keep running well and contending for wins.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release