Tuesday

Richard Childress Racing / Tim George Jr. Daytona Preview

Richard Childress Racing Event Preview Fact Sheet

Race: Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 – February 6, 2010

Location: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

Series: ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards

Richard Childress Racing

· AN RCR First … RCR will field a fulltime Chevrolet in the 2010 ARCA Series for the first time in the organization’s 41-year history. Tim George Jr., in his second ARCA season, will pilot the No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet Impala with veteran crew chief Gere Kennon Jr. calling the shots.

· No. 31 in ARCA Competition … RCR development driver Austin Dillon drove the No. 31 Chevrolet in four ARCA starts over the last two seasons, earning two runner-up finishes (Michigan International Speedway – June 2009 and Iowa Speedway – July 2009) and a 6.5 average finish.

· Back in the Day … In 1999, Kevin Harvick drove the No. 20 Chevrolet in two ARCA races for RCR, finishing second at Charlotte Motor Speedway and third at Talladega Superspeedway.

· Catch the Action … Flag-to-flag coverage of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will be televised live Saturday, Feb. 6, beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST on SPEED.

Tim George Jr, No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet Impala

· This Week’s No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet Impala at Daytona … George Jr. will pilot chassis No. 160 from the Richard Childress Racing ARCA Series stable. Clint Bowyer drove this former No. 07 Chevrolet in four Sprint Cup Series races. Bowyer drove this chassis to a sixth-place finish in the 2006 Daytona 500, a 40th-place result after being involved in an accident in the 2006 May Talladega event, a 10th-place effort in the 2006 July Daytona race and a seventh-place finish in the 2007 July Daytona race. All told, this 07-turned-31 racer holds a 15th-place average finish on the heels of three top-10 credits in just four events.

· 2009 Recap … George Jr., a New York, N.Y. native, finished 11th in the 2009 ARCA Series standings on the heels of two top-10 and eight top-15 finishes.

· Superspeedway Stats … In three superspeedway starts (Daytona and Talladega), George Jr. boasts one top-10 and two top-20 finishes with a 13.7 average finish. His best finish at a superspeedway came in the 2009 season opener at Daytona where he finished eighth after starting 34th.

· Rolex 24 … 2010 marked the third consecutive year George Jr. competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He has two podium finishes in the GT class, a second-place finish in 2009 and a third-place finish in 2008. He and his No. 71 team finished ninth in the GT class and 16th overall in this season’s 24-hour Grand-Am endurance race.

· Giving Back … George Jr., a University of Miami graduate, will donate all his earned prize monies and licensing royalties from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis to kickoff a year-long goal of raising enough funds to cover one day of the charity’s operating expense of $59,000. For more information on the Buoniconti Fund and George Jr.’s efforts, please visit www.timgeorgejr.com.

· Champion Crew Chief … Gere Kennon Jr., crew chief for the No. 31 team, knows how to win championships. Kennon Jr. led Sam Ard to back-to-back Nationwide Series championships in 1982 and 1983.

How was your Daytona test last month? How will you transfer what you learned to the race this weekend?

“The Daytona test was pretty good. We tested the backup car, and it drafted better than any speedway car I had ever been in. I am looking forward to seeing how the primary car drives on Thursday, and settling into a good rhythm for the season.”

This is your sophomore season in the ARCA Series. What did you learn from last year that you’ll apply this season?

“I learned a lot last year about strategy and when to be patient. This year, I will learn how to go when it is time. Working with a team is a very big part of succeeding in racing. I am looking forward to getting to know Gere (Kennon, crew chief) and my guys better as we learn how to work together as a team.’

This is your first full season driving for RCR. What is like driving for an organization with a rich history of success?

“Daytona marks my second race with RCR. I am very honored to be driving for one of the most celebrated organizations in NASCAR. Richard Childress really knows how to win in this sport, and I’m excited to be in a position to learn from him and everyone else at the shop. The infrastructure is amazing, and the history speaks for itself.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release