No. 9 Anderson's Maple Syrup Chevrolet Silverado Layout

“I had the privilege of working with Anderson’s in 2011, I’m thrilled to have them back on board this year,” said Hornaday. “They are a small family-owned and operated company with big dreams and a great product. I look forward to our continued success in 2012 and can’t wait for the sweet taste of victory.”

Anderson’s Maple Syrup, a pure, all-natural, and healthy alternative to artificial “maple-flavored” syrups, was started over 80 years ago by Paul Anderson as a hobby. Today the third generation grandson, Steve Anderson, continues the family’s sugar making heritage.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Ron Hornaday’s ‘Drive for 5′,” said Steve Anderson of Anderson’s Maple Syrup. “Joe Denette Motorsports has assembled a great team and we feel fortunate to be a part of their program. Anderson’s Maple Syrup is excited about the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and sharing it with the loyal fans of Ron Hornaday and Anderson’s Maple Syrup.”

About Anderson’s Maple Syrup:

In 1928, Paul Anderson first shared the distinct taste of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, delicately sweet pure maple syrup. Three generations later, the Anderson family carries on its sugar making heritage by bottling pure maple syrup from the same sugar bush their grandfather tapped for so many years. A healthy all-natural delicacy, authentic maple syrup is a nutritious and natural alternative to artificial sweeteners and maple-flavored syrups. From its roots in Cumberland, Wisconsin, Anderson’s Maple Syrup can today be found in supermarkets and specialty shops across the country.

Follow the Anderson’s race team all year long at www.AndersonsMapleSyrupRacing.com and on Facebook

For more information on Anderson’s Maple Syrup visit: www.AndersonsMapleSyrup.com

For more information on Joe Denette Motorsports please visit: www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com

- Joe Denette Motorsports Press Release

Joe Denette Motorsports Logo

Gresham will pilot the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado and contend for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

Max Gresham

Gresham, an 18-year-old Griffin, GA native, captured the 2011 NKNPSE title on the strength of two wins, four poles, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. He was the only driver to complete all 1,705 laps contested in NKNPSE competition last season.

The 2012 season will mark the rookie driver’s first full-time stint in the NCWTS; Gresham had three starts in the series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2011.

A sponsorship announcement for Max Gresham and the No. 24 JDM entry will be forthcoming.

For more information about Max Gresham please access www.MaxGresham.com – or you can follow Gresham on Twitter @MaxGresham and on Facebook at Max Gresham Fan Page.

For more information on Joe Denette Motorsports please visit: www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com

- Joe Denette Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR Logo Large

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications Press Release

Turn-One-Racing-Logo Thumbnail

EVENT: Homestead 200 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series)

DATE: Friday, Nov. 18, 2011

TRACK: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla.

RESULT: Start 6 / Finish 22

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — No win. No championship. No rookie of the year.

“Hell yeah I’m disappointed,” Whitt said, looking back on his first season in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. “Almost every week we were fast. That’s all you can ask for out of the trucks, out of everybody at Turn One Racing. But you can’t change your luck. It seems like every time we were running good, something bad would happen … an engine failure, a loose lug nut or we’d get caught up in something. I guess you pay your dues. I hope I’m
around long enough so it comes back the other way.” Like most drivers, however, Whitt’s a little hard on himself.

After a 22nd-place finish in the season finale Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Whitt ended up ninth in the Truck Series points standings —
not bad for a driver who only 20 months ago was making his first stock car start.

The 20-year-old Whitt finished with two top fives, 11 top 10s, 18 top 15s and one pole, which came his first time out at Darlington — widely
considered NASCAR’s trickiest track. After a season-best second-place finish at Dover followed by a third at Charlotte, Whitt, at only 19, became
the youngest driver and first rookie to lead the Truck Series standings.

But consecutive finishes of 28th and 26th at Texas and Kentucky became the defining moment of Whitt’s swing at the championship. The first was
an engine failure. The next, Ron Hornaday Jr. slapped Whitt’s truck into the outside wall. He fell to third in points, and two months later another
engine failure dropped Whitt from fifth to eighth.

Cole Whitt, driver of the No. 60 Fuel Doctor / Red Bull Toyota Tundra - Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore / Getty Images for NASCAR

Whitt outran all but one truck in the early going Friday night. He started sixth and drove to second after disposing of race winner Johnny Sauter on lap 50. With only leader Elliott Sadler ahead, Whitt’s truck was one of the first to begin green-flag pit stops with 65 laps to go. He gave up second with the hopes of gaining time on fresh tires, but a right front vibration forced Whitt to return to pit road. He re-entered the race one lap down in 23rd.
“We came back in to get another set, get all five lugs on tight,” Whitt said. “That’s all it needed. When we got back out there, we were plenty fast to lead the race. Probably was a truck to win, but things didn’t go right.”

Whitt was in free-pass position (22nd) when it began raining at about 9:45 p.m. ET. Rather than dry the 1.5-mile track and re-start the race near midnight, NASCAR officials opted to call the race 15 laps from its scheduled finish.

It’s not long until Whitt’s back in the cockpit of a car. He’ll participate in the Dec. 1 Red Bull Kart Fight, which matches stars from NASCAR, IndyCar, Grand-Am, American Le Mans, NHRA and the X Games in a karting event at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando.

“It’ll be the first time I’ve done it, and I’m looking forward to it,” Whitt said. “Go down to Orlando and just relax, have fun with it. I haven’t been in a kart in years …”

- Red Bull Racing Press Release

Truck owner and Grandfather Richard Childress (L) celebrates the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with grandson Austin Dillon (R) at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Photo Credit: RCR)

The accomplishment marks the second NCWTS championship for RCR, who earned the inaugural NCWTS series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner, also in a No. 3 Chevrolet. The 42-year-old racing organization, headed by Dillon’s grandfather Richard Childress, now has 14 motorsports championships overall, spread across the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NCWTS and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

“It’s so special when you’re family,” said patriarch and team owner Richard Childress. “Our whole family is involved, and I remember the very first championship with Dale Earnhardt. I had the same feeling tonight watching Austin, my grandson. It’s just so special to have the family and know how hard all of them worked. Danny Stockman (crew chief), Bass Pro Shops, everybody on the No. 3 team did so much to help put it together. Austin kept it together so good under the pressure. For a 21-year-old guy, man, to be able to hang in there and do what he did was very special.”

Dillon, the 2010 NCWTS Rookie of the Year, becomes the first driver in the 11-year history of the NCWTS to earn the rookie title and then the driving championship the subsequent year. He also holds the honor of youngest champion to be crowned in the series’ history. Along with Ty Dillon, the 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion, the Dillon’s are the only brothers who have earned same-year championships on a national stock car tour.

“We definitely worked hard this year and accomplished this as a team,” said Dillon. “This was our goal at the beginning of the year and no one ever gave up. Danny Stockman and every member of the Bass Pro Shops team worked nonstop. We rebounded from so many little mistakes and unfortunate incidents this year-the hood flipping up at Kentucky Speedway, for example. It’s the way you react to the undesirable situations that show what a championship team is made of, and these guys reacted in all the right ways. This championship means so much to me and I’m thrilled to be able to represent my family, Richard Childress Racing, Bass Pro Shops and NASCAR as a champion.”

En route to the 2011 title, Dillon and his Danny Stockman-led Bass Pro Shops team celebrated in Victory Lane at Nashville Superspeedway and Chicagoland Speedway, posting an impressive five pole awards among 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 25 races. Dillon finished second on four separate occasions.

At 29-years-old, the 2011 championship marks crew chief Stockman’s first in only his second year as a crew chief. Prior to joining RCR in December 2009, he earned two championships (’07 and ’09) in the NCWTS as a truck chief at Kevin Harvick, Inc.

“Like Austin said, the last restart was quite gut wrenching,” added Stockman. “Just awesome to be a part of this deal with Richard, Mike, Austin and Tina, and everybody that just let me have this opportunity to be a part of it. Austin Dillon is just a great up-and-coming race car driver. I am just really happy to be a part of it. We have a heck of a good race team, and just got to thank everybody back at the shop for all their hard work.”

The nation’s No. 1 outdoor retail leader, Bass Pro Shops, was positioned as the primary partner on Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet for the duration of the 2010 and 2011 race seasons. A long-time RCR supporter, Bass Pro Shops began its association with Richard Childress Racing in 1998 with associate sponsorship of the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo made famous by seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt. Bass Pro Shops’ partnership with RCR has also included sponsorship of the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick and primary sponsorship of Earnhardt’s eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt, in RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for six Sprint Cup Series races in 2004. The company sponsored Ty Dillon for his season-finale race in the ARCA Racing Series this year.

“Congratulations to Austin from all of us at Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine and all our Tracker independent dealers,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “Austin is a fine young man who loves racing, loves the outdoors and has a great future ahead of him. What a proud moment for Austin’s grandparents Richard and Judy Childress and his mom and dad Mike and Tina Dillon.”

Dillon joins an exclusive list of NCWTS driving champions, including Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday, Jr., Johnny Benson, Ted Musgrave, Bobby Hamilton, Travis Kvapil, Mike Bliss, Jack Sprague, Greg Biffle and Mike Skinner. He will be formally honored at the annual NNS and NCWTS Awards Banquet at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday, Nov. 21. SPEED will broadcast the banquet on Friday, Dec. 2 from 7-9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

About Bass Pro Shops Group:

Bass Pro Shops -58 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 110 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Tracker Marine Group –

Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe and Mako boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. Visit www.trackerboats.com

Resort Group –

Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. Visit www.bigcedar.com for more information.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 Applebee’s / Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 RCR Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Austin Dillon celebrates his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with his Richard Childress Racing team at Homestead-Miami Speedway. - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland, Getty Images for NASCAR

THE MODERATOR: Let’s roll into our championship race team in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It’s the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, driver is Austin Dillon, our crew chief is Danny Stockman, Jr., and our owner is Richard Childress. This is Richard Childress’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers’ championship. His first came in the inaugural season in 1995 with driver Mike Skinner. And crew chief Danny Stockman, this is your first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

Richard, you talked to me out in the hall. You’ve had a lot of championships, but how does this one rank.

RICHARD CHILDRESS: It’s got to be right up there at the top. It’s so special when you’re family. Our whole family is involved, and I remember the very first championship with Dale Earnhardt. I had the same feeling tonight watching Austin, my grandson. It’s just so special to have the family and know how hard all of them worked.

I was at Ohio, Toledo, when Ty won his championship a few weeks ago, and just it’s a dream come true to have both these young men win championships.

And Danny Stockman, Bass Pro, everybody did so much to help put it together, and Austin kept it together so good under the pressure. For a 21 year old guy man, to be able to hang in there and do what he did was very special.

THE MODERATOR: Speaking of which, our championship driver has joined us now. That’s Austin Dillon. He drives the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. At 21 years, six months and 22 days, he becomes the youngest champion in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history. Congratulations, Austin. Tell us what it’s like to win a championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

AUSTIN DILLON: How does it feel? Amazing, best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’m so happy for my grandfather. He’s got two champs this year. I’m worried about Ty coming back and beating me for the youngest champion ever. He’s pretty awesome. It’s going to be a wonderful week, a wonderful month. Can’t ask to go out of the Truck Series any better than this, coming out as a champion.

Danny Stockman has done a great job this year. We’re all a family over at RCR, and we fight like dogs, but we love each other the same. It’s cool that we’re out there, a championship. It was wild. The last restart was not the way I planned it. It made it interesting, but we still came out on top.

THE MODERATOR: Danny Stockman, talk about being the crew chief for this championship team.

DANNY STOCKMAN: Yeah, like Austin said, the last restart was quite gut wrenching. Just awesome to be a part of this deal with Richard and Mike and Austin and Tina and everybody that just let me have this opportunity to be a part of it. Austin Dillon being a great race car driver, up and coming race car driver, just really glad to be a part of it. Got a heck of a good race team, and just got to thank everybody back at the shop there. Really good.

Q. Austin, a little more detail on that last restart. Was it a tire issue? And I think Hornaday said when he went by you there that he saw oil or something like that. Was that communicated to you, as well?

AUSTIN DILLON: I didn’t see the oil, but I know right behind the right front fender we were knocked in. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t hit anybody on the track, but I think it happened on pit road. We got really tight once I got back there, but I think it was more the conservative side when I was three wide. We were three wide in the middle, and to force a spot right there is not worth it.

I wish we would have finished I think we had a shot to win the race. We really had a fast race car. When you get back there in that situation, your head tells you to be smart, but at the same time they’re telling you to go because you’re close there. I went as hard as I could, started entering the corner harder at the end and helped us out. But we got really tight when the fender got knocked in. I think it was close really with the fender, but the rain came at the right time, the Lord was looking after us, and it’s really cool to be where we are today.

Q. Austin, I want to say you didn’t really say anything on the radio as you were falling back there or even for the few laps after that. Did you not want to say anything? What was going through your head?

AUSTIN DILLON: There was no need to, just focus and get back on the wheel. When you get down like that, you can’t do anything but drive back to the front, and we’ve done that all year. I’ve struggled in certain spots and restarts. Actually my restarts have been really great to the end of the year. That one wasn’t a bad restart. I kind of Johnny went I didn’t anticipate as well as I needed to, and when Denny stuck me three wide, I probably could have made something out of it in the middle, could have got to the top quicker, but I didn’t know who was out there and no one said clear on the radio, so we obviously weren’t.

When you get three wide, and these trucks, the air pushes you around so much it’s hard to run three wide, and down the back stretch it was really hairy, so I just rolled out a little bit, got back in line and went to working on everybody in front of me and were able to pass quite a few of them.

Q. Can you just talk about what the last six, seven weeks have been like? You’re leading the points coming out of each of these last six or seven races. Has it been nerve wracking or has it been easier to handle than you thought?

AUSTIN DILLON: You know, watching these guys in the Cup Series talk to each other, it’s pretty wild. I listen to Tony Stewart and I listen to Carl Edwards and the different approaches they take to it. Offense is your best defense most of the time in racing, and I felt like today I probably played too much defense. It wasn’t enough offense, and my grandfather got onto me midway through the race and said, You can’t get comfortable here, you’ve got to keep racing. Went back and got on the wheel and drove up through a bunch of them and found ourselves in second.

We had a fast race car there at the end, and when we got three wide, I had to play conservative because it wasn’t worth it. It worked out for the better of everything, and leading up to this week, I’ve just been hunting and fishing, doing stuff I love to do, keep my mind off of it, hanging out with the people I always hang out with, talking to Danny, preparing ourselves the way we do for every race.

There’s no difference coming into the championship. You can’t approach things different. When you’re sitting outside the lead, you can take more chances, that’s for sure. Johnny could take more chances today than we could, Buescher the same way, they have nothing to lose. Stewart is right, he has nothing to lose for Sunday. It’s hard to play offense. You’ve got to play off, though. My best advice to Carl is to go out there and play offense, go out there he knows what he has to do. They have a different situation; they’re very close in points. There’s a benefit there.

I actually talked to Ricky Carmichael, he’s won lots of championships, and I was talking to him and he said the closest championship was probably the easiest because he knew what he had to do. 16th was what we were supposed to finish to win, and we knew that going in, and got us a top 10, so we did our job.

Q. That said, Austin, what was today like, because it wasn’t maybe a normal day because of the rain and everything. Was there a chance for nerves to get in? And with winning the championship, what’s your experience so far? Is it everything you thought it would be?

AUSTIN DILLON: Today with the rain, it did make it you had to think a little bit more, I guess. You could think about it longer. But I actually watched a Clint Eastwood movie during the middle of the day. That was pretty cool. It kept my mind off it. I laughed a few times. It was the one with the chimpanzee. “Any Which Way But Loose” is what I watched today. I watched it with my buddy Tim Dugger and my girlfriend and his girlfriend, we just hung out and watched the movie and waited on everything, and when it got down to it, started listening to my music, had our team meeting. That’s when we all get emotional is in our team meeting because we all know why we’re here, and it was really cool, we all had a big prayer session before, and I told them I was nervous going in, as nervous as they are, but we’ve got to go do our job, and we did it.

Austin Dillon soaks in the glory after becoming the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion following Friday night's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR)

AUSTIN DILLON: The championship, yeah, it’s amazing. You get to spray champagne everywhere. You’re on top of the world. It’s the best feeling in the world. You stink real bad. Darrell Waltrip told me the best feeling in the world is going home stinking and having a trophy in your lap, and we were able to do that. I think now I’m more nervous about making a speech Monday, but we’ll figure that out. I’ve got some time.

Q. Going back to your celebration, are you maybe the first NASCAR champion to try planking on concrete?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, the planking is cool. It’s something new. I feel like the good thing about NASCAR, we’ve got some really good drivers coming up. I am friends with a bunch of them that are going to represent the sport well. I think NASCAR has a lot to look forward to going forward. I feel that the newer fans coming in are young, and it’s really cool for sponsors, and I love the social media network, and I’ll be out there having fun any way I can. Yeah, I think that was one of the coolest planks you can do, I guess, winning a championship and then planking.

Q. Maybe your riskiest move of the night, too?

AUSTIN DILLON: That was probably my riskiest move, yeah. But it was wet enough where I could have got a little slide, and I have Sparco suit, so it’s the best suit in the world.

Q. You didn’t think about “Tebowing,” did you?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, I kind of did. I pointed up when I was over the car. I didn’t get down on one knee, but that would have been cool to Tebow. He got it done last night, too; it was pretty impressive.

Q. What were you thinking when the rains came? Did you figure you had it at that particular time?

AUSTIN DILLON: Never thought about it. Andy Houston, my spotter, said, That’s probably going to be it, man, and I stayed in the truck and waited for the signal. It kind of drizzled, it was drizzling, and I knew they had lost the track because it was so slippery driving around under caution, and my grandfather said, Do not spin out under caution; slow down. I said, Wow, if I do this, that would be really a good way to lose the championship, rolling around under rain, so I backed her off and pulled in, and Hermie Sadler told me I won the championship, so I started celebrating and planked.

Actually, you know what, I did play some Xbox this week and tweeted my Xbox Live name and had like 50 people play Xbox Live Call of Duty with me. That was pretty fun, too. That was my RCR clan. It was good. I ended up on top like three times, but it was cool because everybody was going to tune into the championship, and they’re like mention the RCR clan in victory lane. I didn’t do it, but I got it in the media center, so I’m going to go back and play with them and talk to them about the championship. It’s cool, I interacted with fans that way.

Q. For Richard, what do you think allowed him to have the poise and everything to hold onto this lead in the points the last seven weeks, and is there anything that he’s done that you obviously have watched him race since he was little, but is there anything he’s done in the last two months that either particularly impressed you or surprised you?

RICHARD CHILDRESS: I think watching the race at Texas was the key to winning this championship. He was conservative when he had to be and he raced hard when he had to be. I think that was a big win we finished second, but it was a great run, and I think going into tonight, he I haven’t talked to him a whole lot this week because I didn’t want to add any extra pressure. He handles pressure better than a lot of people his age, he and his brother does, Ty. I couldn’t believe with the way he handled himself in the ARCA championship. They must get it from their mom because me and their dad gets a little wound up sometimes.

One other thing: Tonight with Johnny winning, that was 51 wins for ECR, and I told them at our kickoff banquet last year that they won 50 last year, so I told them you’ve got to beat it this year, so tonight made it 51. Great job for ECR.

Q. With the strength and the momentum you have after winning this championship, you’re taking the entire team with you to the Nationwide Series. What are you expecting for next season?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, we’ve built a great team going into 2012. We’ve been working a little bit leading up to this race, and Stockman has been really harping on worried about this race, not worried about next year. But we’re so excited I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing, feel like we can do it again. Two in a row would be awesome, just keep moving up and doing our job and we’ll be there at the end.

I was able to run some really good races with the Nationwide Series this year, and I feel like we stack up well, and we’ll have similar equipment. RCR and Pop Pop always make sure we have the best, and we’ll go out there and do our job in that No. 3.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations to the No. 3 truck, Austin, Danny and Richard.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

About Chevrolet

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 120 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” 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 www.chevrolet.com .

- Chevrolet Press Release

Austin Dillon soaks in the glory after becoming the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion following Friday night's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR)

“Everyone at Chevrolet is extremely proud of Austin Dillon’s accomplishment this year,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Throughout his young career, he has proven himself to be a very talented driver. After winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of Year in his 2010 debut, to come back and win the championship this year clearly demonstrates the bright future Austin has in NASCAR.

“We are very proud of our long partnership with Richard Childress Racing and couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of every victory and every championship Richard’s teams have won.”

Dillon, 21, led the series with five poles, and added two wins, 10 top-fives and 16 top-10s in 25 races this season.

Dillon, who carried a 20-point lead into the season finale’, is the sixth Team Chevy driver to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, joining Ron Hornaday Jr. (2009, 2007, 1998 and 1996), Jack Sprague (2001, 1999, and 1997), Travis Kvapil (2003), Mike Bliss (2002) and Mike Skinner (1995).

This is Childress’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship; Mike Skinner won the first in the series’ inaugural season, 1995 – also in the No. 3. Childress also won six NASCAR Sprint Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994).

“It’s been a very successful season for Team Chevy in the Camping World Truck Series,” Campbell said. “We’d also like to congratulate Kevin Harvick Inc. on winning the Owners’ Championship. What a way for KHI to close out a tremendous 10-year run in the series.

“In addition, our congratulations to Joey Coulter for winning the Series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year.”

Chevrolet earlier clinched the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturers’ Championship for the seventh time.

Tonight’s season-finale was won by Johnny Sauter, No. 13 SafeAuto / Curb Records Silverado.

About Chevrolet

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 120 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” 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 www.chevrolet.com .

- Chevrolet Press Release

Ron Hornaday - Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images for NASCAR

Homestead, FL (November 18, 2011)

“We are proud to have a champion like Ron Hornaday joining our team,” stated Joe Denette, Owner of Joe Denette Motorsports. “It’s not every day that a young organization gets the opportunity to bring a veteran driver, like Hornaday, on board. He will bring a lot of experience and an entirely new dimension to our team. We are dedicated to winning races and contending for a championship in 2012, and we think our decision to bring (Ron) Hornaday and (Jeff) Hensley to JDM shows that commitment.”

Hornaday, a 14-year veteran of the series, has an impressive 51 victories, 27 pole awards, 146 top-five and 208 top-10 finishes on his racing resume.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with JDM next season,” stated Hornaday. “This is a young team and they have put a lot of the right people in place to win races and compete for a championship in 2012. I’m honored to continue my relationship with Chevrolet and I’m looking forward to a successful 2012 season.”

A sponsorship announcement for Hornaday and the No. 9 JDM entry will be forthcoming in the following weeks.

JDM also plans to run a second entry in 2012 for selected events.

For more information on Joe Denette Motorsports please visit: www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com
Follow Joe Denette Motorsports on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TeamJDM23

For more information on Joe Denette Motorsports please visit: www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com

Follow Joe Denette Motorsports on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TeamJDM23

- Joe Denette Motorsports, Press Release

No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado (Ricky Carmichael) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Event / Date: Ford 200 – Nov. 18, 2011

Venue: Homestead-Miami Speedway – Homestead, Fla.

This Week’s Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala … Ricky Carmichael will pilot chassis TMS-021 from the Turner Motorsports (TMS) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) stable in Friday night’s Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Built new for 2011, this truck saw action most recently at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where, despite being collected in an early-race incident, Carmichael finished 12th. This truck also saw action this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway (St. 17, Fn. 12), Texas Motor Speedway in June (St. 9, Fn. 6), Kentucky Speedway in July (St. 14, Fn. 16), Michigan International Speedway (St. 7, Fn. 12) Chicagoland Speedway (St. 4, Fn.25) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (St. 1 Fn. 8).

Phoenix Facts … Carmichael participated in last weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race where he and his Doug George-led Monster Energy Team turned in a gritty 15th-place performance in the WYPALL 200 Powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional at Phoenix International Raceway. It was Carmichael’s fourth and final NASCAR Nationwide Series start of 2011 but perhaps, his most determined. The ever-resolute competitor battled through miscues on pit road, handling issues and late-race contact with another racer to muster a respectable top-15 showing behind the wheel of the No. 34 Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala.

In a Nutshell … The 2011 season marks Carmichael’s second year competing on a full-time basis and third overall in the NCWTS. Since making his series debut 67 races ago, he has gone on to earn four top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Over those same 67 races, the motocross legend has logged a 14.8 average start, a 16.9 average finish, led 40 laps, completed 90.3 percent of the laps run and earned just over of $862,000 in purse money. In Nationwide Series competition, he’s made eight starts spanning the last two years and logged a career-best ninth-place finish earlier this season at Road America.

2011 Totals … In 24 NCWTS races this season, Carmichael has notched one pole, one top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 15-time AMA National Champion has led 39 laps this season, recorded a 16.3 average start and a 17.2 average finish. He has completed 3,254 of 3,719 total laps (87.5 percent) and finished on the lead lap 13 times.

Nationwide Notes … In 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2011, TMS-fielded teams have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes. TMS’s No. 32 Dollar General team picked up one spot in owner’s points and now sits sixth after Ron Hornaday Jr., finished 13th last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet, was ninth in the final rundown after Phoenix and maintained third in the driver point standings. While Jason Leffler was credited with 26th at Phoenix, the Long Beach, Calif., native still held on to sixth in points heading into the final race of the year.

RC Live … On Thursday, Nov. 17, Carmichael will appear at the NASCAR Championship Drive at Lummus Park located along Ocean Drive, between 7th and 9th Streets, in Miami Beach. The Clearwater Fla., native will be on hand from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. for a question and answer session and to sign autographs for race fans.

Turner Truck Totals … In 23 NCWTS races in 2011, TMS entries have earned 13 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes. James Buescher leads the way with 19 top 10s and is third in points – 28 behind leader Austin Dillon. Buescher has only finished outside the top 10 four times in the 23 NCWTS races in which he has competed this season. Carmichael has logged one top five and seven top 10s and is 15th in the standings. Blake Feese finished fourth and Ryan Newman was fifth in Atlanta. Mark Martin finished seventh in the No. 32 machine at Pocono while Brad Sweet drove the same truck for the first eight races of the year, logging a pair of top-10 results.

Get to the Point(s) … Carmichael jumped from 16th to 15th in points following his eighth-place finish two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway. Buescher is third in the standings. While Feese has made just nine starts in 2011, he is 26th in points. The No. 32 machine is also assured a spot on Friday night’s starting grid by virtue of being 20th in the NCWTS owner point standings.

Welcome Aboard … Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to feature CVS / pharmacy on the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 4 entry this weekend in Homestead. CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation, is America’s leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,200 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com.

Up to Speed … Live coverage of the Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will take the green flag Friday, Nov. 18 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will be televised live on SPEED and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ season-finale will be televised live on SPEED the same day at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Ricky Carmichael - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

After three years racing in the Camping World Truck Series, where do you think you are on the learning curve and have you met your expectations?

“I think I’m getting closer to where I need to be with my learning curve. I’m getting more comfortable when I get out on the race track so I can focus more on actually racing and getting the vehicle to where it’s handling better. As far as my own expectations go, there have been times where I’ve over-exceeded my expectations and times when I’ve under under-performed. I’m not a great guy to ask about judging myself. I think if you take everything into account and you know everything about my program, I’ve done pretty well, all things considered. I think I’ve done a pretty good job at holding my own against guys who have been racing on four wheels for a long time. I’m somewhat happy but, me being the competitive person that I am, I expect more and want more.”

What have been the biggest challenges?

“The biggest challenge I face every single week is my lack of experience when we don’t unload that fast and being able to explain what the vehicle is doing so I can give good feedback about what to change so we can get faster. I need to be better when it comes to taking some of the guesswork away from the crew chief. My lack of seat-time has hindered me a little bit when it comes to restarts closer to the end of races and knowing all the tricks of the trade. I think my lack of experience is pretty obvious when I’m racing guys like Hornaday (Ron Hornaday Jr.) and some of the other guys who have been doing this for years and years. That’s really when I get taken to school.”

Can you put 2011 into perspective?

“I expected to have a better season than we did. My goals at the beginning of the season were to be inside the top five in points and no worse than being in the top 10. I think, given the amount of experience I have, being inside the top five would have almost been the equivalent of winning the championship. It’s definitely been a let down from that perspective. At the same time, we made some strides as a team that shouldn’t be overlooked. We won the pole at Atlanta and ran up front all day at both restrictor-plate races. We also led some laps and that was a big deal for me, personally. I definitely feel like I’ve made some accomplishments this year but the point thing is definitely a letdown. I’m not one to make excuses so all I can do is put my best foot forward and work hard to be better next year.”

Follow Ricky Carmichael at:

Rickycarmichael.com

Twitter.com/RickyCarmichael

Facebook.com/RickyCarmichael

Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Twitter.com/TurnerMotorspts

About Turner Motorsports:

Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas businessman Steve Turner, the organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will compete with three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Brian Vickers, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher, Brad Sweet, Brandon McReynolds and Ron Hornaday Jr. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.

- Turner Motorsports Press Release

Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM)

The Mexico City native will be making his second career Truck Series start behind the wheel of the No. 51 Telcel Tundra. Quiroga brought home a respectable 16th-place finish in his Truck Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.

In addition to three wins this season in the NASCAR Mexico Series, the 31-year-old driver propelled himself to a championship behind the strength of 10 top-five finishes. Prior to winning three consecutive titles, Quiroga finished second in points in both 2007 and 2008.

Quiroga’s 17 career wins rank second on the all-time NASCAR Mexico Series list behind Rogelio Lopez’s 20. Over 94 career starts, he has captured eight poles, 61 top fives and 74 top 10s.

German Quiroga

How big of an honor is winning three consecutive NASCAR Mexico Series championships?

I think more important, is to show the team work and communication we have created. It’s all about working hard and always having a bigger goal to reach.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in making the transition from the cars that you run in the NASCAR Mexico Series to the trucks?

Getting used to the radial tires, the weight of the truck, and how important the down force is to the truck. It was very difficult to pass trucks during the race, but I think that I will get used to after a couple of races.

Since making your debut in September, have you continued to follow the Truck Series?

Even before I made my debut, I always watch every Truck Series race on television. If I can’t be in the truck, at least I will try to learn from watching the broadcast. I also went to the Truck Series race in Las Vegas and watched and listened to the team communicate on the radio to try and learn even more.

Do you have any experience on any tracks bigger than a one-mile oval?

I raced at Nashville Superspeedway in the East Series in 2007 and practiced at Kentucky Speedway in order to make the Futaba 100 Infiniti Pro Series race at Indianapolis Speedway in 2005.

Have you set any goals for the race at Homestead-Miami?

Knowing that I already have a little more experience in the truck, I will try to qualify in the top ten. I’m sure that can help me in the race and even try to finish in the top 5. This series is very competitive and I have a lot of respect for it.

Rick Ren, Crew Chief of the No. 51 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Telcel Tundra:

What impressed you the most about Germán at New Hampshire?

His thought process was pretty impressive. The way he thinks about things and describes things — he puts a lot of thought into what he is going to say before he gives you feedback. I believe that comes from being an experienced race car driver. If you look at his track record the last five years, he has two runner-ups and three championships in Mexico, so he looks at things a little bit different than your average driver. The racing in the Truck Series may be a little bit different than what he is used to, but the thought process it takes to be a champion is the same.

What will be Germán’s biggest challenge at Homestead-Miami?

He has probably never raced on a progressive banked race track like Homestead. It will be a little different at first, but he is a guy that drives race cars for a living and wins championships in Mexico, so he will still go through the same thought process on how to attack the race track. When we were at New Hampshire, he never once talked about being loose in. When you go to the next size race track, the biggest concern as a crew chief is if the driver is loose getting into the corner. If we don’t hear him saying that he is loose in this weekend, I think we’ll be fine.

What is the key to getting around Homestead-Miami Speedway?

I think that the biggest thing a driver needs to do at Homestead is not to apex the turn too early because it’s a race track that tends to drive tight off the corners. You need to be able to have the self-restraint to wait that extra second in the middle of the corner before you get back to the gas. Just like we did at New Hampshire, we’ll talk him through everything throughout the day. He did a great job of getting on and off pit road the first race, but we’ll be sure to remind him that it’s a little trickier getting on pit road with the increased speeds on a faster track. We’ll make sure that he practices his pit road entry a few times during practice.

Germán Quiroga’s No. 51 Telcel Toyota Tundra:

Chassis KBM-3: KBM-3 will be making its fifth start of 2011 this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Brian Ickler finished seventh in the Tundra’s debut last September at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Most recently, Josh Richards started 11th in the truck at Kentucky Speedway in October before being involved in an early incident that relegated him to a 34th-place finish.

Notes of Interest:

Germán Quiroga NASCAR Career:

- Finished 12th in the 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

- In his lone NASCAR Nationwide Series start, led nine laps and finished 20th in the 2007 Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico.

- Made six NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts during the 2007 season.

Kyle Busch Motorsports and the No. 51 Toyota Tundra:

- KBM’s second entry will be making its ninth start of the 2011 season.

- Josh Richards recorded a season-best 13th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway for the No. 151 team (10/22/11).

- Quiroga, who finished 16th in his Truck Series debut at New Hampshire in July, is one of three drivers to have made their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in KBM’s second entry this season. Kimi Räikkönen finished 15th in the N.C. Education Lottery 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Josh Richards was involved in accident that relegated him to a 29th-place finish in the UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway.

Quiroga and Hamlin Know How to Deliver for Their Sponsor:

Besides being teammates for Kyle Busch Motorsports this weekend, German Quiroga and Denny Hamlin have another thing in common – both drivers are sponsored by Fed Ex in their primary series. Quiroga drives the No. 2 Telcel / FedEx entry in the NASCAR Mexico Series and Hamlin drives the No. 11 FedEx Racing Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Ride of Champions:

All three drivers to make their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in KBM’s second entry this season had captured at least one championship in another series before joining the team’s roster of drivers. Quiroga recently clinched his third consecutive NASCAR Mexico Series championship, while Kimi Räikkönen captured the 2007 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship and Josh Richards is a two-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. Calling the shots atop the pit box for each driver has been KBM General Manager Rick Ren, who guided Ron Hornaday Jr. to Truck Series championships in 2007 and 2009.

- Kyle Busch Motorsports Press Release

No. 33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Silverado

ANOTHER CAREER MILESTONE: Four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday will head into the 2011 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway adding another milestone to his career this season. The veteran will be behind the wheel of the No. 33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet making his 300th Truck Series start and gunning to close out the year at Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) with his fifth win of the season.

TWICE THE ONEMAIN FINANCIAL AT HOMESTEAD: OneMain Financial will again be pulling double duty in both the Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events during the season-finale weekend. Ron Hornaday will pilot the No. 33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series race on Friday night with Sadler competing the following day in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Nationwide Series ride.

CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief Bruce Cook and the No. 33 crew will unload chassis No. 042 when the team arrives at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This chassis has been used in competition six times this season at Darlington Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway, Dover International Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and again at Nashville Superspeedway in July. Most recently, the chassis took a trip to victory lane on August 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway with KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. This chassis has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes in its six starts.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Hornaday climbed behind the wheel of the No. 33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet on November 4 at Texas Motor Speedway for the WinStar World Casino 350k. Looking to gain further ground in the championship battle before the final race of the season, the four-time Truck Series champion was making laps around the 1.5-mile track showing that the KHI team was the one to beat. Trouble hit the team, however, on lap 15 as Hornaday was caught up in an accident that relegated him to a 34th-place finish.

Ron Hornaday - Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images for NASCAR

What are your thoughts heading into the season finale and your final race with KHI?

“I know heading to Homestead with Bruce Cook and his crew that we will have a chance to win. It would be really great for us to get a win for OneMain Financial and to also give Kevin and DeLana one last trip to victory lane in the Truck Series. I wish we were in the middle of championship battle but we are not, so we will go out race hard and do what we have to do for the win.

“Kevin and DeLana have given me great equipment that has allowed me to have the successful career that I’ve had at KHI. I am very thankful to all of the employees, sponsors and fans that have put in the hard work and made things happen over the past seven seasons together. It’s going to be a bittersweet race.”

OneMain Financial

OneMain Financial (formerly CitiFinancial), based in Baltimore, Md, provides personalized loan solutions and one-on-one, local service at more than 1,300 branches nationwide. With a 99-year heritage of helping people realize their financial goals and dreams, their employees are part of the communities where they live and work. OneMain Financial works with each customer to find a solution that best fits their needs and budget, offering a simple and straightforward loan application, with fixed rates, and clear terms. Additional information may be found at OneMainFinancial.com.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release

Ricky Carmichael - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR

Event / Date: WYPALL 200 Powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional 200 – Nov. 12, 2011

Venue: Phoenix International Raceway – Avondale, Ariz.

This Week’s Monster Energy Chevrolet Impala … Ricky Carmichael will pilot Chassis TMS-311 from the Turner Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) stable in Saturday’s WYPALL 200 Powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). This a brand-new Chevrolet Impala that will be put through its first paces this weekend in Phoenix.

Phoenix Facts … Carmichael will attempt to make his second NNS start at PIR in Saturday’s WYPALL 200. In his lone NNS start at the newly reconfigured one-mile desert oval, the 15-time American Motorcycle Association (AMA) National Champion started 41st and finished 21st, one lap down to the leaders. In NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) action, the 31-year old driver has made three starts, where he’s logged a 21.0 starting average, a 25.3 average finish, completed 419 of 451 laps (93 percent) and earned just over $25,500 in purse money.

A Look Back at Last Week … After being forced to start at the rear of the field following a pre-race engine change, Carmichael, a regular competitor in the NCWTS, and his Monster Energy Team bounced back to post a resilient and impressive eighth-place finish in last Friday night’s WinStar World Casino 350K at Texas Motor Speedway. The solid effort was Carmichael’s seventh top-10 finish of 2011 and bumped him up one spot, from 16th to 15th, in the NCWTS championship point standings.

In a Nutshell … The 2011 season marks Carmichael’s second year competing on a full-time basis and third overall in the NCWTS. Since making his series debut 67 races ago, he has gone on to earn four top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Over those same 67 races, the motocross legend has logged a 14.8 average start, a 16.9 average finish, led 40 laps, completed 90.3 percent of the laps run and earned just over of $862,000 in purse money. In Nationwide Series competition, he’s made seven starts spanning the last two years and logged a career-best ninth-place finish earlier this season at Road America.

Calling the Shots … Veteran NASCAR crew chief Doug George, Carmichael’s crew chief in the NCWTS, will call the shots for the No. 34 team this weekend in Phoenix. Additionally, Carmichael’s entire Truck Series road crew will prepare the Monster Energy Chevy at PIR.

Nationwide Notes … In 32 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2011, TMS-fielded teams have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes. TMS’s No. 32 Dollar General team maintained seventh in owner’s points after Brian Vickers finished 10th last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet, was 14th in the final rundown after Texas and jumped from fourth to third in the driver point standings. Jason Leffler was credited with 15th at Texas and held on to sixth in points. NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series veteran Ron Hornaday Jr. will take over the reins of the Dollar General Chevy this weekend at PIR and make his 184th career NNS start. Hornaday boasts one pole, four wins, 32 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes spanning 13 seasons.

Welcome Aboard … Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to welcome QuikTrip to the rear quarter panels, deck lid and TV panel of the No. 34 Monster Energy Impala this weekend in Phoenix. QuikTrip Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 1958, QuikTrip has grown to a $9 billion company with 580+ stores in nine major metropolitan areas. Those revenues place QuikTrip high on the Forbes listing of largest privately held companies. QuikTrip’s strategy is to be the dominant convenience/gasoline retailer in each market, and to reach that level not through sheer numbers of stores, but through key, high-volume locations. With over 10,000 employees, Fortune magazine has ranked QuikTrip high on the list of Best Companies To Work for the last nine years. QuikTrip also gives back to the communities it serves, donating five percent of net profits to charitable organizations.

Up to Speed … Live coverage of the WYPALL 200 Powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional will take the green flag Saturday, Nov. 11 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Qualifying for Carmichael’s fourth and final Nationwide Series start of 2011 will be televised live on SPEED the same day at noon EST.

RICKY CARMICHAEL QUOTES

You’re making your last Nationwide Series start of 2011. You’re a big fan of one-mile race tracks, Phoenix has a new configuration and you’ve got your buddy Ron Hornaday Jr., as a teammate this weekend. You’ve got to be excited about going to Phoenix.

“Life is good. Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy have given me a great opportunity to run some Nationwide Series races this year. I can’t wait to get out on the track Thursday and see what we’ve got. It’s a clean slate for everyone. The track has new pavement and I know the kink on the backstretch is a little different now so it’s going to be a new challenge for everyone. I’m really going to have to rely on the depth of our team so I’m excited to have my crew chief Doug George and my whole team from the Truck Series preparing the car. There will definitely be some synergies from that standpoint. It’s a great opportunity. I can’t wait.”

Have you had a chance to talk to anyone who has had the opportunity to go out to Phoenix and test so you know what to expect?

“I talked to (Kevin) Harvick about it and I saw Dale Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) out at the SEMA show in Las Vegas last week. Both of them had a chance to go test out there so they gave me some insight. The track is good in the main groove but you definitely have to err on the side of caution if you get out of the groove. I’ve heard the track has had some other cars out there to try and lay down some rubber. We get a couple of extra practices on Thursday so that will give us some more time to get out there and get a feel for the track. That’s going to help out a lot. My main focus is going to be paying close attention and giving good feedback. We’re not locked into the field so we’ll have to qualify on time. We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us. We’re all going to have to be on our toes this weekend – me especially when it comes to cutting a fast lap.”

You’ve also got a lot going on in Phoenix away from the race track.

“I always like going to Phoenix. My wife’s family is from out there and my kids will be out there, too so it’s going to be a fun weekend. On Wednesday, I’ll go to 2XL, which is the company that designed the Ricky Carmichael Motocross Matchup video game and record some voice-overs. I’ve got a dinner with the folks from QuikTrip on Friday and that’s always a great time. I’m just looking forward to the weekend. It’s a great opportunity and I want to make the best of it.”

- Turner Motorsports Press Release

No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet Impala - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 32 Dollar General Chevy

Phoenix International Raceway

Wypall 200

November 12, 2011

No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet News and Notes

Welcome Ron Hornaday -Turner Motorsports and the No. 32 team welcome Ron Hornaday, Jr. as he pilots the Dollar General Chevy this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. A consistent force to be reckoned with and title contender in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), Hornaday is making his first NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start for Turner Motorsports. In his 183 race NNS career, which spans 13 seasons, Hornaday boasts four wins, 32 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes along with one pole award.

Hornaday at Phoenix International Raceway - While he has made yearly trips to the one-mile Phoenix track for NCWTS action, Hornaday hasn’t turned competitive NNS laps at the track since 2007. Ironically, that last start came in a Dollar General sponsored car for Kevin Harvick, Inc. Hornaday will make his 11th NNS start at the track and has notched three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 previous starts along with 103 laps led. He owns an average starting position of 16.5 with an average finish of 14.6.

It’s New to Me - Hornaday will make good use of the extra testing session NASCAR is giving NNS competitors this weekend due to the newly paved track, as this is his first stint in the ‘new’ Nationwide Series car. Hornaday’s last NNS start came in 2010 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

Dollar General Team Continues To Build Solid Stats - It has been a solid year for the No. 32 Dollar General team, it’s first year under the Turner Motorsports banner. Through 32 races this season, the Trent Owens-led team has amassed two wins, eight top-five and 24 top-10 finishes, split between three drivers. Turner Motorsports notched its first team win with the No. 32 team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March with Mark Martin behind the wheel.

Fans Can Win Big with Dollar General – Dollar General, an Official Partner of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™, is offering customers the chance to win more than 9,000 prizes including free gas for a year, a trip for two to Las Vegas for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™ and $250,000. The “Race in to Win” sweepstakes officially launched August 28 and runs through November 12, 2011. When customers purchase qualifying items from DG, they are given a code on their receipt to enter online at dollargeneral.com. It is the first-ever national retail program around the Chase, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs.

Ron Hornaday Jr. - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett- Getty Images

This Week’s Impala - This weekend, Hornaday will pilot TMS-122 in the Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. This is the first time this car will see action since an eighth-place finish at Darlington Raceway earlier in the season.

Hornaday on making an NNS start at Phoenix for Turner Motorsports:

“I’m really excited to get behind the wheel of the Dollar General Chevy this weekend for Turner Motorsports in Phoenix. I want to thank DG and Mr. Turner for the opportunity, as well as Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] for allowing me to compete in the Nationwide race with Turner Motorsports. This will be the first time for me in one of these new cars and it should be fun to give it a go with Trent [Owens] and the No. 32 team. I know they’ll have their stuff ready to race at a track I enjoy going to.”

- Turner Motorsports Press Release

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Traxxas Toyota, and Ron Hornaday Jr., driver of the #33 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, hit the wall after an incident in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4, 2011, in Fort Worth, Texas. - Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

There has been a lot of “discussion” about comparing Kyle Busch’s actions to what others have done in the past. But, in this situation, what some people seem to fail to realize is that they are comparing apples to oranges .

People are trying to put the “bump-n-runs” gone bad, the “boys have at it ‘bump of displeasure’” under caution and what transpired between Busch and Hornaday, into the same barrel.

What Kyle did, IS NOT the same thing, as he took the “boys have at it ‘bump of displeasure’” to another level; a level that NASCAR has now deemed “crossing the line.”

Kyle got in his “bump of displeasure” under the caution, but he didn’t leave it at that and kept going. It was the actions of him to keep going until he wrecked Hornaday intentionally, and in such a manner, that if it wasn’t for the HANS and SAFER barriers, that  Hornaday could of seen his last race, and that is the issue.

There wouldn’t be this issue if Kyle had just spun Hornaday out, but he kept banging, and banging, and banging until he focused his angle of impact to the right corner of Hornaday’s truck, that sent him head-on into the outside wall (hitting the left corner would of sent Hornaday into the opposite direction with a greater chance of recovery).

Now throw on-top that it was between two drivers, which for one was driving for a driver’s championship and a owner’s championship for the other; as well as, it was so early in the race, that it makes what happen even worse.

With all that being said, I would hope NASCAR will be consistent on the “line” that they have now “drawn in the sand,” and have deemed to be the line crossed. There is now an answer to the question of how far is too far with “boys have at it,” and there is a distinguishable boundary leading up to that “line.” And now, NASCAR should put it in writing as a specific rule (a safety rule violation at least) in the official NASCAR rule book (for all the series).

Speaking of rules, don’t be surprised that there are going to be more penalties coming (for Busch) as the one rule that always accompanies the other rule violations under the NASCAR rule book – Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) hasn’t been mentioned yet. You can probably count on it being mentioned after Monday’s meeting, and this rule is so broad that it can cover just about anything and it’s fines are unlimited.

As for Kyle, I side with Rusty Wallace’s position (which his statements from SPEED’S NASCAR RaceDay can be read here) of recognizing the talent he possess, but can’t condone the actions that he took Friday night (or some of the others that have happened this year). There was a lot of people that were hurt indirectly by his actions, as I could see that hurt and disappointment in both Coach Gibbs and Mike Helton’s faces. The damage spreads deep, but I speculate that he is going to get one more chance with everyone involved, and with possible fines and probation by his sponsors and Joe Gibbs Racing (not just NASCAR). So if that is the case….don’t blow it!

No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado (Ricky Carmichael) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Event / Date: WinStar World Casino 350K – November 4, 2011

Venue: Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth, Texas

· This Week’s Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado … Ricky Carmichael will pilot chassis TMS-013 from the Turner Motorsports (TMS) NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) stable in Friday night’s WinStar World Casino 350K at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the same truck Carmichael raced earlier this fall at Kentucky Speedway (St. 16, Fn. 6). The truck also saw track-time this season at Pocono Raceway (St. 15, Fn. 20) and Dover International Speedway (St. 20, Fn. 29). Following Dover, the truck was outfitted with a new body, including front and rear clips after a hard crash sent him into the Turn 4 wall and ultimately to garage area prior to the conclusion of the event. This truck also saw action in April at Nashville Superspeedway where Carmichael started 23rd and finished 14th. Built new in 2010, this Chevrolet Silverado was the workhorse of the Monster Energy Team’s fleet last fall. Carmichael drove the same Monster Energy Chevy last year at Chicagoland Speedway (St. 13, Fn. 28), Kentucky Speedway (St. 5, Fn. 9), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (St. 8, Fn. 9) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (St. 22, Fn. 21).

· Texas Totals … Carmichael has five NCWTS starts to his credit at Texas Motor Speedway and posted a career-best sixth-place finish in the division’s June stop at the lightning-fast, mile-and-a-half Fort Worth oval. The Tallahassee, Fla., resident has logged an impressive 8.4 starting average, an 11.8 average finish, completed 756 of the 798 total laps run over those four races (94.7 percent) and earned just over $66,000 in purse money.

· Martinsville Minutes … Carmichael and the Monster Energy Team made an early exit at Martinsville Speedway when brake-related issues sidelined the No. 4 machine just 37 laps into last Saturday’s Kroger 200. Carmichael started 23rd and picked up a handsome eight positions in the early goings before informing crew chief Doug George that he was having brake problems. Less than half of a lap later, the brake pedal in Turner Motorsports’ No. 4 machine went to the floorboard, sending the 15-time AMA National Champion into the Turn 2 retaining wall. Unfortunately, the damage to the Monster Energy-sponsored Chevrolet Silverado was too substantial to repair, leaving Carmichael and Co. with a hard to swallow 35th-place finish. As a result, Carmichael slipped from 13th to 16th in the series’ championship point standings.

· In a Nutshell … The 2011 season marks Carmichael’s second year competing on a full-time basis and third overall in the NCWTS. Since making his series debut 66 races ago, he has gone on to earn four top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. Over those same 66 races, the motocross legend has logged a 14.9 average start, a 17.0 average finish, led 40 laps, completed 90.2 percent of the laps run and earned just over of $847,000 in purse money.

· Chevrolet at SEMA 2011: Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept … When the Chevrolet Sonic’s designers sought inspiration for an all-activity-style concept for the 2011 SEMA Show, they found the perfect partner in Carmichael – a15-time American Motorcycle Association (AMA) National Champion, three-time X-Games gold medalist and NASCAR racer. When Carmichael is not racing for points, he’s pursuing his other passions, including bikes, boards and more. The fully customized Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept is equipped for those adventures, with the storage capacity for his biking and wakeboard equipment.

The Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept reflects the driver’s high-performance personality, with custom interior and exterior design cues, performance enhancements and an upgraded sound system. Carmichael was very active in developing the car, working with Chevrolet designers to convey his style and attitude. Carmichael was on-hand in Las Vegas at the SEMA Show on Monday when the car was unveiled to the media. For more information about the Chevrolet Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept, members of the media may visit media.gm.com/sonic.

· Turner Truck Totals … In 22 NCWTS races in 2011, TMS entries have earned 13 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes. James Buescher leads the way with 19 top 10s and is second in points. With the exception of this year’s first race at Martinsville, Chicagoland and Las Vegas, Buescher has finished inside the top 10 in every race in which he has competed in the division this season. Carmichael has logged one top five and six top 10s and is 16th in the standings. Blake Feese finished fourth and Ryan Newman was fifth in Atlanta. Mark Martin finished seventh in the No. 32 machine at Pocono while Brad Sweet drove the same truck for the first eight races of the year, logging a pair of top-10 results.

· Get to the Point(s) … Carmichael slipped to 16th in points after last week’s disappointing end-result at Martinsville. With two races remaining on the 2011 NCWTS schedule, the 31-year-old, father of twins is still just three points outside the top 15. Buescher is second in the standings and trails current point leader Austin Dillon by 11 points. While Blake Feese has made just eight starts in 2011, he is 27th in points. The No. 32 machine is also assured a spot on Friday’s starting grid by virtue of being 17th in the NCWTS owner point standings.

· Turner Motorsports is Texas Strong… Turner Motorsports owner Steve Turner considers Texas Motor Speedway his home track. Turner, along with his wife Sandra, live outside of Houston, only four hours from the Great American Speedway. The organization is in its sophomore season of NASCAR competition and has captured five poles, three wins, 43 top-five and 90 top-10 finishes in both NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series competition. Turner Motorsports expanded from a two-team Truck Series operation in 2010 to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-three touring series, fielding three full-time entries in the NCWTS and four in the Nationwide Series.

· Welcome Aboard … Turner Motorsports and Monster Energy are pleased to welcome Kroger and QT Kitchens to the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 4 Monster Energy Silverado this weekend in Texas. QT Kitchens, located inside select QuikTrip locations, offers fresh sandwiches, wraps, fruit, salads and pastries. The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR) headquartered in Cincinnati, is one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, with fiscal 2010 sales of $82.2 billion. The Kroger Co. spans many states with store formats that include grocery and multi-department stores, convenience stores and mall jewelry stores. Kroger operates under nearly two dozen banners, all of which share the same belief in building strong local ties and brand loyalty with our customers.

· RC Live … Carmichael, along with teammate Blake Feese and NCWTS staple Ron Hornaday Jr. will appear at the Chevy Stage on Friday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. The Chevy stage will be located outside the front straightaway, inside the TMS Midway area.

· See the Monster Energy Silverado … The Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado show truck will make a host of stops in the Dallas/Fort Worth area this week. Dates and times are listed below.
Wednesday, Nov. 2

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kroger 6550 North Beach Street Fort Worth 76137

3 p.m. – 7 p.m. QuikTrip 9635 Coit Road Plano 75024

Thursday, Nov. 3

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kroger 3300 Texas Sage Trail Fort Worth 76177

3 p.m. – 7 p.m. QuikTrip 1100 North Industrial Boulevard Euless 76039

Friday, Nov. 4

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. QuikTrip 801 East SH 121 Bus. Lewisville 75057

3 p.m. – 7p.m. QuikTrip 3113 West University Drive Denton 76207

· Nationwide Notes … In 31 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2011, TMS-fielded teams have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 60 top-10 finishes. TMS’s No. 32 Dollar General team maintained seventh in owner’s points after Brian Vickers finished 10th two weekends ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet, was seventh in the final rundown at Charlotte and jumped from fifth to fourth in the driver point standings. Jason Leffler was credited with 11th in Charlotte and held on to sixth in points. After a two-week hiatus, the drivers and teams of the NASCAR Nationwide Series return to the track this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. ESPN2’s live coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge will be televised on Saturday, Nov. 5 beginning at noon Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Qualifying for Round 32 of the 2011 Nationwide Series Championship will be televised live on SPEED Friday, Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

· Up to Speed … Live coverage of the WinStar World Casino 350K will take the green flag Friday, Nov. 4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EDT. The race will be televised live on SPEED and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Ricky Carmichael - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

Texas is one of your favorite race tracks and a place where you feel like you’ve got a legitimate chance to run in the top five or possibly even win. What makes Texas such a good track for you?

“I’m not sure really sure I can put my finger on it but I like the amount of grip the track has. I just love everything about that track. The first time I went there, when I was a rookie and hadn’t been on a track like that before, I ran pretty good. It’s just one of those tracks we go to that gives me a really good feeling. I’m really excited to go to Texas this weekend.”

What’s the key to a fast lap at Texas Motor Speedway?

“The truck needs to be good and secure underneath you. The track has a fair amount of grip so that’s not usually a problem. You need to run the truck along the white line on the bottom of the track as best as you can. Texas is typically a place where the fast guys will run around the bottom of the race track. The top line will probably start working once we get a little deeper in to the race but I think if you can get your truck working good on the bottom, that’s the best place to be. Fortunately for me, every time I’ve raced at Texas, I’ve been fast on the bottom and fast on the top.”

Texas is essentially a home race for Turner Motorsports. Does that provide a little extra motivation for you to do well?

“Absolutely. I know all three of us … myself, James (Bueshcer) and Blake (Feese) would all really like to run up front. As long as we run the way we’re capable and figure some things out, we should be able to run inside the top five. For us to do well as a team, for Mr. Turner in his home state where he conducts his business, would be outstanding. Mr. Turner has placed a lot of faith in me and given me a great opportunity so I’d really like to reward him with a good finish.”

You had a very cool opportunity to play a key role in the design process and development of Chevrolet’s new Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept. Can you talk a little bit about that?

“The car looks so cool, colorful and fun to drive. I live my life on the go and this Sonic really represents that active lifestyle and my desire to have fun when I’m off the race track. The Sonic would be a perfect vehicle for someone who wants to get the most out of their time – and I also really appreciate how Chevrolet was able to incorporate my loyal sponsors into the design of the car.”

- Turner Motorsports Press Release