No. 33 Rheem / Menards Chevrolet Impala

In addition to competing at the 14-turn road course, Papis will serve as a driver coach for fellow RCR teammates, assisting in strengthening their road-course racing skills.

“It is an honor to join a history-making team like RCR and continue what I started with Kevin Harvick Inc. the last couple of years,” stated Papis. “I feel ready to win races in NASCAR and, at the same time, I’m honored to have the chance to pass all the experience I built in my last 20 years of competition around the world to real racers like Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon and doing it with my never-give-up attitude that brought me all the way here.”

Papis, a native of Italy who now resides in North Carolina, has nine road-course races on his Nationwide Series resume with his career best finish of second coming at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August 2009. The 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series champion has also competed in six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road-course events, posting his best finish of eighth at Watkins Glen International in the same year.

“Max is a great addition to our driver lineup and to RCR overall,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He has shown his talents in many different forms of auto racing all over the world and will be able to share that knowledge with our less experienced drivers. He’s the perfect driver for the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet when the NASCAR Nationwide Series gets to Road America. Max also has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm wherever he is, at the track or the shop.”

The 2007 Petite Le Mans race winner made his NASCAR debut in 2006 when he joined the 43-car field in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International, posting a 14th-place finish. Since then, he has competed in 88 races across NASCAR’s top three national series, accumulating two-top five and seven top-10 results.

Papis is scheduled to share the No. 33 Nationwide Series ride with teammates Brendan Gaughan, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Tony Stewart for the 2012 season.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard/Tony Stewart/Max Papis (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

AdvancePierre™ Foods

The Pierre Drive Thru™ Sandwich brand will be the primary sponsor of Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 Chevrolet team at Auto Club Speedway in California (March 24). Fast Fixin’® brand will adorn the No. 33 Chevrolet team with Kevin Harvick at Richmond International Raceway (April 27) and the Barber Foods® brand will be the primary sponsor at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 14). The Fast Fixin’® brand was a primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick Incorporated’s NASCAR Nationwide Series program in 2011. Sadler is scheduled to compete in the full 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for RCR. Harvick will run a limited NNS schedule in the No. 33 Chevrolet.

“AdvancePierre Foods is excited to continue a high quality partnership with America’s favorite spectator sport, said Chris Kiser, President, Brands. “We are thrilled to team with RCR through a multi-year marketing agreement. RCR represents leadership in all aspects of motorsports and having known Richard for a number of years, we are looking forward to re-join efforts to our mutual benefit. We are excited to continue teaming with Elliott Sadler and thrilled to add Kevin Harvick to our marketing efforts for our leading food brands.”

AdvancePierre™ Foods is a leading supplier of value-added protein and handheld convenience products to the foodservice, school, retail, club, vending and convenience store channels. The company makes and distributes a full line of packaged sandwiches, fully cooked chicken and beef products, Philly-style steak, breaded beef, pork and poultry, and bakery products. Its wide variety of products is produced from high quality ingredients and provides unparalleled taste, convenience and value to both operators and their patrons. AdvancePierre employs more than 4,000 people at 11 facilities, including manufacturing facilities in Oklahoma, Ohio and Iowa and sandwich assembly facilities in North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. The company also operates bakeries in North Carolina and Oklahoma.

“RCR is proud to continue the relationship with AdvancePierre™ Food’s brands Fast Fixin’®, Barber Foods® and Pierre Drive Thru™ Sandwiches that began with KHI this past season,” said Ben Schlosser, chief marketing officer for Richard Childress Racing. “They have some key markets where they’ll execute retail programs and promote their great prepared chicken products from west to east. We thank them for their confidence in RCR and look forward to a growing relationship with them.”

For more information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.

About AdvancePIerre™

AdvancePierre™ Foods is a leading supplier of value-added protein and handheld convenience products to the foodservice, school, retail, club, vending and convenience store channels. The company makes and distributes a full line of packaged sandwiches, fully cooked chicken and beef products, Philly-style steak, breaded beef, pork and poultry, and bakery products. Our products are produced from high quality ingredients and provide unparalleled taste, convenience and value to both operators and their patrons.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, AdvancePierre™ employs more than 4,000 people and provides consistent product quality across our 11 different facilities including our manufacturing facilities in Oklahoma, Ohio and Iowa and our sandwich assembly facilities in North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. The company also operates bakeries in North Carolina and Oklahoma.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/ Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

University of Northwestern Ohio Logo

The University of Northwestern Ohio’s (UNOH) College of Applied Technologies offers a unique curriculum to young people interested in professional motorsports competition as a career. The University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Applied Technologies is accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. The University also has a College of Business, College of Occupational Professions, College of Health Professions and Graduate College offering Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, Sport Marketing, Information Technology, Medical Assisting and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

The College of Applied Technologies offers associate degrees and diploma programs in High Performance Motorsports. Student interns training in this curriculum will be assisting RCR Development at the track during race weekends.

“The University of Northwestern Ohio is honored to continue and expand our relationship with Richard Childress Racing and Ty Dillon,” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, President of the University of Northwestern Ohio. “Ty Dillon’s personality and professionalism along with his championship ability, makes him the perfect fit to represent UNOH.”

Dillon, 19, takes the next step in his motorsports career after earning the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship. In his first full ARCA season, he earned seven victories, seven pole qualifying positions and 16 top-10 finishes in 19 races. He made his debut and competed in three Truck Series races during the 2011 season, finishing third November 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in just his second start.

“I’m really excited to have the University of Northwestern Ohio on the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for my rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said Dillon. “UNOH has been a big supporter of mine, with both my dirt car racing and last season’s ARCA Series championship. It’s great to have them move up with me and the No. 3 team.”

RCR competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from its inception in 1995 through 1999 before returning to the series in 2009 with Ty’s brother, Austin Dillon, who went on to claim the 2011 Truck Series championship. It has earned 24 victories, as well as the inaugural series championship with driver Mike Skinner. RCR’s three-truck lineup for 2012 consists of Ty Dillon in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Joey Coulter in the No. 22 RCR Chevrolet along with Brendan Gaughan and Tim George Jr. in the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet.

“The University of Northwestern Ohio has great educational programs, from motorsports to business to health care, as well as a program to earn your degree online,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Everyone at UNOH has been great to work with this season and we’re proud to continue our relationship with them in 2012 as Ty takes the next step in his racing career in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.”

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About UNOH

The University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit, university founded in 1920. There are five colleges within the university: The College of Applied Technologies, College of Business, College of Occupational Professions, College of Health Professions, and the Graduate College. UNOH has taught students from all 50 states and 16 foreign countries, and currently has more than 4500 students enrolled from 36 states and 6 foreign countries. UNOH offers more than 60 different programs of study including Master’s, Baccalaureate, Associate, and Diploma programs.

The University is situated on a 200+ acre campus and is in the midst of a 10-year expansion plan that includes new apartment-style dormitories and a new academic building that will house Health and IT classrooms along with a new library, student learning center and food services. The University of Northwestern Ohio also offers a variety of athletics including Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Men’s & Women’s Tennis, Men’s & Women’s Golf, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Bowling, Men’s Baseball, Men’s Soccer and six Co-Ed Motorsports teams.

The University of Northwestern Ohio has an impact of more than $250 million on the local economy. Limaland Motorsports Park, which is owned by UNOH, has an additional $15 million impact.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/ Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

TAG Heuer Eyewear

Austin and Ty Dillon will wear TAG Heuer sunglasses exclusively as part of a multi-year deal designed to bring exposure to the TAG Heuer brand and aid in retailer development. The Dillon brothers will display the TAG Heuer eyewear logo on the visor of the racing helmet each wears during NASCAR competition, as well as in other forms of motorsport.

“We look forward to working with Austin and Ty Dillon and RCR as ambassadors for the TAG Heuer Eyewear brand,” said Pascal Brouard, CEO of Logo Group, worldwide distributor for TAG Heuer Eyewear. “After meeting with Austin and Ty, seeing their family values and the respect they show, along with their competitiveness, we hope to have a great relationship for years to come. TAG Heuer is affiliated with leading personalities and properties around the sports and entertainment world and Austin and Ty fit that role perfectly. They both are unquestionably premier talents in NASCAR.”

The Dillon brothers will wear the French-made sunglasses exclusively, joining an elite lineup of other motorsports drivers that are part of the TAG Heuer family.

“It’s an honor to be able to represent the TAG Heuer brand,” said Austin Dillon. “I had the opportunity to wear some TAG Heuer sunglasses this past season at Homestead-Miami Speedway and they are pretty cool. My brother and I have had a lot of fun looking at all of their different styles over the past few weeks and I can’t wait show a few of them off at the racetrack.”

While Austin Dillon will compete for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship in 2012, Ty Dillon will vie for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

“It’s a real honor to be able to represent a brand like TAG Heuer,” said Ty Dillon. “Both Austin and I were very fortunate to have lots of success in racing in 2011 and I hope we can continue that success for TAG Heuer in 2012.”

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit rcracing.com.

About TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer – maker of high-end sports watches and chronographs since 1860 – has been applying the same standards for design and quality found in their timepieces to the creation of exceptional eyewear since 2002. All TAG Heuer “Avant-Garde” Eyewear lenses are shatter-resistant, ultra-light and provide 100% UV-A and UV-B protection. Eyewear is available at authorized retailers nationwide. For more information on TAG Heuer’s Eyewear full line of sunglasses and eyeglasses, and to locate authorized retailers, please visit www.tagheuer.com/eyewear.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare Chevrolet) and Brendan Gaughan (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group / South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

Pinnacle’s Armour® brand will be the primary sponsor for three NASCAR Nationwide Series races on the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala when Kevin Harvick is the driver: March 18 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway; May 6 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway; and September 8 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. The Truck Series team and race will be announced at a later date. Armour® canned meats will also be an associate sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and one of RCR’s championship-caliber NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams.

“Pinnacle Foods Group and the Armour® Vienna Sausage brand are very excited about the merger of the RCR and Kevin Harvick Inc. racing teams and are looking forward to the 2012 season,” said Eric Hintz, vice president of marketing. “We want to thank Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler, Ron Hornaday Jr. and all the KHI employees for their support over the years, bringing us to victory lane multiple times. We originally started our sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing a few years ago and the experience was second to none. In 2012, we look forward to extending our winning ways on the track and with our key grocery retail partners around the country. Having a winning team with Kevin Harvick, RCR and our retail partners helps us reach and delight so many of our consumers all the while helping us continue this sponsorship.”

Pinnacle Foods is a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, many of which have been trusted household names for decades. Armour® is one of America’s favorite canned meat brands known for its Chili, Vienna Sausage, Hash, Stews and more. An associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick in 2008, Armour® has been a major associate of KHI, in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, since 2009.

“RCR is proud to have Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, through its Armour® brand of canned meats, back among our family of leading category sponsors,” said Richard Childress, chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing. “Vienna Sausages have traveled with me around the world and have been a part of my outdoor adventures for decades. We look forward to successful programs with both the No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series team with Kevin Harvick and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team.”

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About Armour®

The Armour® Star story began when Phillip Danworth Armour founded Armour & Co. in 1867, in Chicago, IL. Armour & Co. is recognized as the first business in the nation to produce canned meat while using an assembly line for production purposes. Known for being one of the most important businesses in Chicago, there is no question as to why Armour ® Vienna sausage, Potted Meat, Chili, Stew, Hash, Corned Beef, Slice Dried Beef, and Luncheon Meats are one of America’s favorite brands. For more information on Armour® Star products, log onto www.armour-star.com Armour is a portfolio brand of Pinnacle Foods Group LLC.

About Pinnacle Foods Group LLC

Millions of times a day in more than 85% of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. We are a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, our business employs more than 4,300 people in North America. We are a leader in the shelf stable and frozen foods segments and our brands hold the #1 or #2 market position in 10 out of 13 major category segments in which they compete. Our Duncan Hines Grocery Division manages brands such as Duncan Hines® baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic® pickles, peppers, and relish, Comstock® and Wilderness® Fruit Pie Fillings, Mrs. Butterworth’s® and Log Cabin® syrups, Armour® canned meats, Nalley® and Brooks® chili and chili ingredients, and Open Pit® barbecue sauces. Our Birds Eye Frozen Division manages brands such as Birds Eye®, Birds Eye Steamfresh®, C&W®, McKenzie’s®, and Fresh like® vegetables, Birds Eye Voila!® complete bag meals, Aunt Jemima® frozen breakfasts, Swanson® and Hungry-Man® dinners and entrees, Van de Kamp’s® and Mrs. Paul’s® seafood, Lender’s® bagels and Celeste® pizza. Our Specialty Foods Division manages Tim’s Cascade Snacks®, Hawaiian™ Kettle Style Potato Chips, Snyder of Berlin® and Husman’s® in addition to our food service and private label businesses. Further information is available at www.pinnaclefoods.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare Chevrolet) and Brendan Gaughan (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

George, a New York, N.Y. native, is fresh off his best ARCA Racing Series run, finishing the 2011 season seventh in the final championship point standings on the strength of his first-career win at Pocono Raceway in June, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. The 30-year-old driver made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in November 2009, one year after claiming victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He began his racing career in 2005, driving in the Skip Barber Racing School Southern Series and finished second in his class the following year on the heels of five victories.

“Tim has shown a great amount of improvement, running in the ARCA Racing Series these past few years that included his first career win,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re ready to further strengthen his skills and moving him to the Camping World Truck Series is the next logical step. Having Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter as his teammates will help support his learning curve and I’m excited to see how he’ll perform.”

Tim George Jr.

Potomac Family Dining Group is the exclusive franchisee for the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in the Washington, D.C. and surrounding area.

“Having an association with Tim this past year has proven to be an exciting experience for us,” said PFDG President Jim Rieger. “Quite frankly, the positive feedback from both our guests and our employees, has exceeded our expectations. And, since so many of our guests are also NASCAR fans, this collaboration is a perfect fit.”

Bruce Cook, who has nearly twenty-five years of motorsports experience, will serve as crew chief for RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado team. His most recent stint came at Kevin Harvick Inc. where he captured three wins during the 2010 Nationwide Series season with Kevin Harvick and seven in the Camping World Truck Series with six different drivers en route to the 2011 owner’s championship title.

George’s race schedule and further additions to RCR’s competition department will be forthcoming.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

- Richard Childress 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

Pocono Raceway Logo Thumbnail

Both races on the 2.5-mile triangular track will take place as companion events, one day before NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. The first, an 80-lap, 200-mile event, is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. The second, at 50 laps or 125 miles, will take place Saturday, August 4.

“Pocono Raceway is so unique in that it challenges drivers with three widely differing turns in terms of banking and radius, and it incorporates the speed typically associated with superspeedway racing,” said Ron Drager, president of ARCA. “Driving at Pocono requires a driver to brake and accelerate, skills acquired in short track racing, so we have found it to be a great track for less experienced drivers to become acclimated to higher speeds.”

ARCA’s Pocono history dates back over 54 prior races to 1969, when Bobby Watson defeated Benny Parsons to win the track’s first ARCA race on the now-defunct 0.75-mile oval at the facility. The June race, though, will be ARCA’s first since the summer retirement of track owners Joseph and Rose Mattioli. Track president Brandon Igdalsky, a grandson of the Mattiolis, has risen to chief executive officer.

“Our tenure at Pocono dates back to 1969 and spans three generations of family members on both the ARCA and Pocono management teams,” Drager said. “Dr. Joe and Rose Mattioli and John and Mildred Marcum started the tradition we carry on today with Brandon and Nick Igdalsky, who were named by ‘Doc’ to senior executive positions this past season.”

2012 will be the 26th consecutive year that ARCA has contested two annual races at Pocono Raceway. Bob Schacht won both races at the track in 1987, the first year that ARCA scheduled two races on the “Tricky Triangle.” This season’s events will be the 54th and 55th for the ARCA Racing Series on Pocono’s 2.5-mile oval. Tim George Jr. won a fog-shortened event this June, and eventual series champion Ty Dillon gave Richard Childress Racing a Pocono sweep for 2011 by winning in August.

Tim Steele is the all-time wins leader at Pocono with nine (including five consecutive from 1996-98), and he is closely followed by Schacht (six) and Bob Keselowski (five). Familiar names like Ryan Newman and Joey Logano dot the winner list.

More detailed schedule information for the season will be available shortly. The following race dates for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule have been announced:

February 18 – Daytona International Speedway

March 10 – Mobile International Speedway

May 4 – Talladega Superspeedway

June 9 – Pocono Raceway

July 1 – New Jersey Motorsports Park

August 4 – Pocono Raceway

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. In 2011, the series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

The No. 52 Pink Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala driven by Tom Hessert III in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR).

Federated Car Care, a division of Federated Auto Parts showcased the title sponsorship of the 19th race of the season giving the team an added incentive to return to the half-mile oval stronger than ever.

With the United States Auto Club (USAC) sharing Saturday with the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway, practice which was normally run as one session would now be combined into two forty minute-efforts. Mounting the fifth and 13th quickest laps in each practice respectively, the KSR driver and team were looking forward to qualifying.

It was Hessert though who stunned the field after maneuvering a lap of 16.080 seconds at 111.940 miles per hour good enough to land his decoratively pink Chevrolet Impala to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to his second career ARCA pole, the other occurring at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2009.

Tom Hessert III

Unfortunately, teams returned to the ARCA-owned racetrack on Sunday under gloomy skies and consistent rain showers. Ultimately, the start of the contest would be pushed-back nearly two hours before the command to fire engines was given. ARCA would choose to utilize the 35-car starting field to finish the track drying process throwing both the green and yellow flags simultaneously for the first 40 circuits of the contest. With the yellow flag retracted and the green “officially” given to the field, Hessert controlled the field until lap 42 when eventual series champion Ty Dillon taking the top spot by lap 43 and sending Hessert back to runner-up position.

On a lap 56 restart, Dillon led Hessert by 0.454 second the first time around, using a strong jump to his advantage. Hessert closed the gap over the next several laps, though, and took advantage when Dillon encountered Milka Duno when trying to lap her on lap 62. Hessert and Enfinger drove to the right and around Dillon and re-secured the lead, controlling the half-way point but with the No. 17 of Chris Buescher hunting for the top spot. On lap 106, Buescher made a move going into turn three sending Hessert back into second only to be passed by Dillon a lap later to occupy the third position by lap 108.

Hessert would remain in a podium finishing position until the yellow flag waived 10 laps later which allowed the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native the opportune time to enter pit road for tires and fuel under the guidance of long-time Motorsports crew chief Donnie Richeson.

A solid effort for KSR on pit allowed their driver to return to the track in the 10th position and begin a charge back towards the front on lap 124. By lap 132, Hessert had brilliantly crafted his Chevrolet to sixth and closing. Just six laps later, the former CARS Pro Cup star found himself in the same position he did entering pit road sitting on the tails of leaders Buescher and Dillon.

As racing pressed on, the action heated up with Hessert now having to battle Brendan Poole for the third position. Poole would eventually win the spot bypassing the No. 52 on lap 153.

Hunkered in fourth, the pressure would be put on the 25 year old approaching lap 177 when battling the No. 58 of Chad Hackenbracht. Unable to maneuver around Hessert, Hackenbracht offered a shove from behind which knocked the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala sideways igniting a short track feud with Hessert returning the favor a lap later but with Hackenbracht spinning out on the frontstretch, bringing out the yellow flag.

By lap 183 Hessert had fell to fifth after being passed by Chad McCumbee with Hessert finding his groove on the track. A green-white-checkered finish allowed Ryan Wilson and Grant Enfinger the opportunity to pass Hessert who by then had moved back into fourth after the leaders collided on lap 199, but to no avail. Hessert took the checkered flag in fourth, notching his fourth top-five finish at Toledo Speedway.

“We would have liked to close out the season with a win, but we just didn’t have the car at the end of the race,” said Hessert, who led a race-high 86 laps. “Everyone at Ken Schrader Racing put their heart and soul into this car this weekend and we were able to score the pole and run upfront all day long. I want to thank Federated Auto Parts and all of their partners for their support of our team all year long.”

Hessert’s pole which rewarded him with 15 bonus points toppled with his 13th top-10 of the season allowed the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car ace to slide past Tim George Jr. in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings to claim sixth overall.

In all, Hessert made 19 starts this season posting one pole, seven top-fives, 13 top-10s and 114 laps led in two races (Salem (Ind.) Speedway and Toledo Speedway).

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is the 2011 championship banquet which is set for Saturday, December 10th at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati. The top-20 drivers and top-10 owners and drivers will be recognized for their participation in the series this year.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars served as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 83rd career ARCA start. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 19 top-fives and 43 top-10s.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

To join Hessert and Ken Schrader Racing in their plan to spread the message about Breast Cancer awareness and to order you own “Pink” KSR memorabilia, please visit SchraderRacing.com.

Team BCR Racing

The effort by the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team was also a strong recovery after debris sliced a tire on the team’s No. 99 Elevator Transportation Services Ford Fusion sent Evans Jr. into a spin a week before at Kansas Speedway in practice and ultimately forced the team to withdraw from the Kansas Lottery 98.9 to focus on the third short track race together.

Leadership from Motorsports veteran Howard Bixman at the controls as crew chief, rookie Charles Evans Jr. returned to the Northern Ohio short track on the heels of a solid private testing session just several weeks prior.

With the United States Auto Club (USAC) sharing Saturday with the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway, practice which was normally run as one session would now be combined into two forty minute-efforts. Mounting the 18th quickest times in each practice respectively, Team BCR team was optimistic about qualifying.

Charles Evans Jr.

In qualifying, the Friendswood, Texas native knocked off the 16th fastest qualifying lap, ahead of some of ARCA’s most notables including nine-time champion Frank Kimmel, Tim George Jr. and Bobby Gerhart. Stoked about their fast run in time trials, the team aimed at moving forward during the race the next day.

Unfortunately, teams returned to the ARCA-owned racetrack on Sunday under gloomy skies and consistent rain showers. Ultimately, the start of the contest would be pushed-back nearly two hours before the command to fire engines was given. ARCA would choose to utilize the 35-car starting field to finish the track drying process throwing both the green and yellow flags simultaneously for the first 40 circuits of the contest. With the yellow flag retracted and the green “officially” given to the field, Evans Jr., quickly tried to filter his way through traffic and mix himself into a comfortable position.

Heavy racing would soon settle in around Evans Jr., forcing the rookie driver to hover between 16th and 20th over the first 50 green flag circuits. Informing Bixman of a loose-handling No. 99 Elevator Transportation Services Ford Fusion, the leader informed his driver that they would make a chassis adjustment on their first stop of the day which ultimately occurred shortly after lap 118. Four tires, fuel and a chassis change was the call from atop of the pit box sending their driver back into battle 19th and on the lead lap.

Shortly after the restart on lap 124, Evans Jr. remained 19th on the half-mile oval for the first 15 laps of the run before finding himself in the groove to climb into 13th by lap 144.

Cheerleading and coaching from his team would continue to boost their driver’s confidence behind the wheel as he moved into the 12th position on a lap 161 restart.

Using the “give and take” method paid off for the upcoming driver as he plugged his way into the top-10 by 175. Evans Jr. was able to lift himself into ninth by lap 183 where he took the checkered flag which included a one-lap dash in overtime competition.

“It was such a great day for Team BCR, ETS, Casite, RoushYates Parts.com and everyone involved with this organization,” said the 21-year old. “We knew we were bringing a good piece to the track and we kept making adjustments and I raced smart to stay on the lead lap all day and be where we wanted to be when it counted. We can only build off this for 2012 and I’m excited about that.”

For Bixman, who also serves as car owner of the No. 99 entry, he showered praise about his driver’s Toledo Speedway debut. “I had little doubt if we didn’t get involved in a wreck, and we just road the first 150 laps or so that we would finish inside the top-10,” the Michigan native said. “CJ did what he needed to behind the wheel all weekend long and I’m extremely proud of him. For only three ARCA Racing Series starts and to already have a top-10 finish to his credit, I think it just shows what kind of talent and ability he really has.”

He added, “I want to thank everyone who supports our race team. We’re lucky to have some great companies aboard our racecar and to be affiliated with an organization like ETS, RoushYates Parts.com. Also, Greg White from Casite attended the race, so that just added icing on the cake. We’ll be back in 2012 and look forward to it.”

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is the 2011 championship banquet which is set for Saturday, December 10th at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati. The top-20 drivers and top-10 owners and drivers will be recognized for their participation in the series this year.

For more information on Team BCR Racing and Charles Evans Jr., please log onto teambcr.com.

Connect with RoushYates Performance Products and RoushYates Engines through their official web site at roushyatesparts.com.

To check out the latest products available from The Casite Company, please click on casite.com.

- Team BCR Racing Press Release

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

RCR Post Race Report –

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
RACE: Charlotte 500
TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway
DATE: October 15, 2011

Race Highlights:

• RCR teammates finished sixth (Kevin Harvick), 17th (Paul Menard), 18th (Jeff Burton) and 24th (Clint Bowyer).
• Harvick gained two positions in the final 10 percent (34 laps) of Saturday night’s Charlotte 500, tying him for sixth in the NASCAR Loop Data category Closers.
• Harvick logged 328 out of 334 laps (98.2 percent) in the top 15, ranking him eighth amongst the 29 drivers to do so.
• With an average speed of 177.175 mph during the first two laps under green-flag conditions, Harvick ranked third in the NASCAR Loop Data category Fastest on Restarts while Menard’s average speed of 176.471 mph placed him sixth.
• Menard ran as high as seventh and as low as 28th, maintaining an average running position of 16.928 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Burton logged a total of 86 green-flag passes, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics. the 15th-highest among all drivers.
• Burton’s average speed of 179.223 mph in traffic, ranked him 14th in that NASCAR Loop Data statistics category.
• Burton’s 18th-place finish marks his 17th top-20 of the 2011 NSCS season.
• Bowyer’s remains 13th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings.
• Bowyer gained three positions in the final 10 percent (34 laps) of Saturday night’s Charlotte 500, tying him for fourth in the NASCAR Loop Data category Closers.
• The next NSCS race is the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 23 and will be televised live on ESPN beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.

Paul Menard and the No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards Team Victims of Ill-timed Cautions;

Finish 17th at Charlotte

Paul Menard started the No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards Chevrolet from the seventh position in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and finished 17th despite getting caught laps down to the leader with ill-timed caution periods falling immediately after green-flag pit stops. During the first run of the 500 miler, Menard battled a tight-handling machine and fell back to the 12th position. When he brought the No. 27 Chevrolet Impala to pit road on lap 43 for the first green-flag pit stop of the evening, crew chief Slugger Labbe called for four fresh Goodyear tires, a full tank of Sunoco E-15 fuel and a spring rubber removed from the left-rear spring to counter the tight condition. The result was a much-improved Chevrolet that only tightened up late in the ensuing long run. A caution for debris on lap 77 allowed the CertainTeed/Menards team the opportunity to make air pressure and chassis adjustments which, unfortunately, freed the car’s balance too much, causing Menard to fall as far back as 23rd in the running order with the loose-handling machine. Over the next 150 laps, Menard regained track position, running as high as 15th before settling in the 16th spot. The No. 27 team continued to make small air pressure and chassis adjustments, getting the car’s handling balanced for the Eau Claire, Wis., native. Following the lap 236 green-flag pit stop, the yellow flag was displayed only two laps later, trapping the 2011 Brickyard 400 winner two laps down to the leader who had not yet visited pit road. Menard restarted 17th and regained one lap as he took the wave around. To add insult to injury, it happened again on lap 287, with the caution flag appearing for fluid on the racing surface just as Menard returned to the track following another green-flag pit stop. Menard remained trapped a lap down through the end of the 334-lap race and, after falling back to 20th on a lap-303 restart, powered back to take the checkered flag in the 17th position.

Start – 7 Finish – 17 Laps Led – 0 Points – 21

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

“We had a pretty solid car tonight and Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and the No. 27 CertainTeed/Menards team did a good job adjusting on the handling as the race progressed. We just had bad luck getting caught two laps down when the caution flag came out after a green-flag stop. What’s crazy is that it happened twice with back-to-back green-flag stops. That was frustrating and at that point, we were just ready for the checkered flag to fly.”

Harvick Avoids Trouble to Claim Sixth-Place Effort at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet team avoided trouble in Saturday night’s Charlotte 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to bring home a sixth-place finish and maintain the second position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. After starting from the 14th position, Harvick struggled with a car he said was “way too tight” on the first run. Crew chief Gil Martin called for a four-tire stop with air pressure and chassis adjustments on the first trip to pit road at lap 43. Once green-flag pit stops cycled through, Harvick was scored in the 13th position. The No. 29 Chevrolet was still too tight for Harvick’s liking when the caution flag waved for the first time at lap 76 and Martin called for a two-tire stop in an effort to gain valuable track position. The Bakersfield, Calif. native restarted in the second position at lap 81, but still felt the car was too tight as he slipped back to 11th before the team’s next pit stop under green-flag conditions at lap 122 for four tires and additional chassis adjustments. The caution flag waved for the second time at lap 146 and again the No. 29 team gambled with a two-tire stop. However, a number of other teams did as well, so Harvick lined up in the ninth position for the lap 152 restart. He was running 12th when the team pitted again at lap 193. On the ensuing run, Harvick once again noted the car was “too tight off.” Martin called Harvick to pit road again at lap 235, but spotter Billy Odea alerted him to stay out as a car was slowing on the backstretch. Two laps later the caution flag waved as another competitor was unable to make it to pit road. The spotter’s call kept Harvick on the lead lap, allowing the Jimmy John’s Chevrolet to restart in the 10th position after pitting for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Harvick started out too tight, but the handling seemed to improve over the course of the run. The No. 29 team came back down pit road at lap 285 for four tires and fuel, and just two laps later the caution flag waved. Because the leader hadn’t pitted yet, Harvick was caught a lap down but was returned to the lead lap when he took the wave around. He was listed in the 12th position when the green flag waved at lap 292. Before the field completed a lap, three competitors in front of the No. 29 Chevrolet made contact and spun. Harvick went low through the grass to miss the melee and then a quick move back up the track allowed the 35-year-old driver to completely avoid the accident. The trip through the grass caked the nose of the Jimmy John’s Chevrolet with debris, requiring a trip to pit road on lap 295 for fresh tires, fuel and the ability to clean off the grille. Harvick restarted in the 10th position at lap 298 and gained two spots before the caution flag waved again a lap later. Once the field took the green again, Harvick worked his way up to the sixth position before the caution flag waved at lap 316. On the last run, Harvick climbed to fourth with 11 laps to go, but fell back two spots to sixth with as a tight-handling condition developed once again. He maintained the position in the remaining laps and took the checkered flag in the sixth position, scoring his fourth top-10 finish in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and his 17th of the season.

Start – 14 Finish – 6 Laps Led – 0 Points – 2

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:

“We made it through the first five Chase (for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) races this year. We have had a lot of goals that we wanted to achieve this year and that was one of the goals we wanted to achieve was to get through these first five races, with not too much damage, so five points, if you would have told me we would come out of Charlotte (Motor Speedway) with a only a five-point deficit going into the next five races, I would be really happy. Everyone did a great job on our Jimmy John’s Chevrolet. It wasn’t great, but it was better at the end of the race than it was in the first half.”

Caterpillar Racing Chevrolet Finishes 18th at Charlotte Motor Speedway

The No. 31 Caterpillar Racing team went from loose to good to tight to good and back to loose again before finishing 18th in the Charlotte 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jeff Burton qualified 28th on Thursday night and would line up on the outside of the 14th row for Saturday night’s “home race” for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams. The first half of the 334-lap race on Charlotte’s 1.5-mile tri-oval was a mixture of three caution periods and two green-flag pit stops. Burton ran as high as 15th before losing a lap to the leaders two-thirds of the way through the race. Five caution flags in the race’s final 100 laps allowed Burton and the Caterpillar Racing team to work on their car in an attempt to bring its handling under control. Attrition from late-race crashes allowed Burton to pick up a couple of spots before crossing the finish line in the 18th position. He maintained the 24th position in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings with five races remaining.

Start – 28 Finish – 18 Laps Led – 0 Points – 24

JEFF BURTON QUOTE:

“The Caterpillar Chevy started the race tight and then went to good, then loose and tight and good and back to loose again. It was a back and forth throughout the night but the Cat crew never gave up in the pits in an effort to make the car better.”

Bowyer Finishes 24th in Backup Car at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Clint Bowyer and the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet team finished 24th in the Charlotte 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a backup car. After a solid 19th-place qualifying effort on Thursday, the Richard Childress Racing driver’s No. 33 Chevrolet became really loose with 20 minutes remaining in Friday’s final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session and made significant contact with the outside retaining wall, forcing the “Helping Hands” pit crew to bring out the backup chassis for Saturday night’s 334-lap event. Starting from the rear of the 43-car field per the NASCAR rulebook, the four-time NSCS race winner worked his way up to the 28th position on the leaderboard before the first green-flag pit stop of the day at lap 43. After the pit stop, Bowyer reported to crew chief Shane Wilson that his red and yellow machine was tight on long runs and fell one lap down to the leader. Bowyer would receive the “lucky dog” award during a lap-78 caution-flag period to regain the lost lap and pitted for four fresh Goodyear tires and Sunoco E15 fuel with a chassis adjustment. Upon returning to the race track after a pit stop on lap 120, Bowyer reported to Wilson his left-rear wheel was loose and the team was forced to return to pit road for service, falling two laps down. For the next 150 laps, the Emporia, Kan., native ran around the 28th position, two laps down. Wilson decided to try some pit strategy on lap 287, coming down pit road early to gain a lap back, but as the 32-year-old driver exited his pit box the caution flag was displayed again, pinning the No. 33 Chevrolet three laps down in the 28th position with 42 laps to go. Over the final run, Bowyer was able to gain one more lap back under caution and passed four more competitors on the track before crossing the finish line in 24th-place. With the finish, Bowyer remains 13th in NSCS driver championship point standings.

Start – 19 (41) Finish – 24 Laps Led – 0 Points – 13

CLINT BOWYER QUOTE:

“It was just frustrating because we had a decent car before I got loose and wrecked it in practice on Friday. These guys worked hard to get the backup ready. We just couldn’t catch a break during the race and couldn’t recover after we fell a few laps down. Next weekend will definitely be more interesting in Talladega.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

RACE: Smith’s 350

TRACK: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

DATE: October 15, 2011

Race Highlights:

• RCR teammates finished 17th (Austin Dillon) and 22nd (Joey Coulter)
• Dillon started from the second position in the Smith’s 350, improving his average starting position on the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season to 4.6
• Despite only running one lap inside the top 15, Dillon was second in the Closer category of the NASCAR Loop Data statistics, gaining three positions over the last 10 percent of the race.
• Dillon ran as high as first and as low as the 33rd position in the Smith’s 350
• Coulter and Dillon were each credited with one Fastest Lap of the race according to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics
• Coulter is second the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings, trailing the leader by one marker.
• Dillon leads the NCWTS standings by five points over Johnny Sauter with four races remaining in the 2011 season.
• Coulter dropped three positions, to ninth, in the standings, 17 markers out of sixth and 75 markers out of the top spot.
• Ron Hornaday earned his 51st career NCWTS victory and was followed to the line by Matt Crafton, Timothy Peters, Sauter and Todd Bodine.
• The next race on the NCWTS schedule is the Coca-Cola 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 22 and will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 3:45 p.m.

Dillon and Bass Pro Shops Team Increase Points Lead Despite Tough Day in Las Vegas

Austin Dillon and the Bass Pro Shops Racing Team battled back from a lap three accident to finish 17th in the Smith’s 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday. Despite the disappointing finish, Dillon was able to pad his lead in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship point standings and now holds a five-point margin over second place with just four races remaining on the season’s schedule. Dillon started the 146-lap race from the second position and while battling for position down the backstretch of the 1.5-mile track on lap two, felt a slight tweak in the rear of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. That slight tweak turned out to be the left-rear tire losing air pressure which led to a much larger problem coming out of turn four as the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado lost grip, sending the 21-year-old driver spinning into the outside wall and coming to rest at the start/finish line on lap three. With heavy damage on the black and camouflage Chevrolet, the Bass Pro Shops team went to work on repairs and ultimately spent the remainder of the 146-lap event making numerous trips to pit road and the garage area for improvements on the No. 3 machine in an attempt to gain as many positions on the track as possible. Dillon & Co.’s never-give-up attitude paid off as they were able to maintain the points lead with the 17th-place effort, marking their 18th top-20 finish in the 21 races run so far in the 2011 NCWTS season.

Start – 2 Finish – 17 Laps Led – 0 Points – 1

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
“It was a tough day for our Bass Pro Shops team but I am so proud of everyone for their efforts. The guys worked so hard to get the truck repaired and back out on the track so quickly. It’s hard to believe we are still leading the points after a day like today. We didn’t have a good day but nobody gave up and we battled back to make the most of what we could, that’s what makes a championship team.”

Rookie Joey Coulter Finishes 22nd after Unfortunate Luck at LVMS

Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year contender Joey Coulter overcame an early incident to claim a 22nd-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After starting the Smith Brother’s 350 in the 18th position, the Miami Springs, Fla. native took full advantage of the early cautions to stay out and gain significant track position. Choosing not to pit for four of the first six cautions allowed Coulter and the No. 22 RCR Graphics Chevrolet Silverado team to move into a solid top-five spot by lap 40. However, while racing hard among the leaders on lap 54 and competing three wide, the 21-year-old Coulter got loose and made contact with the turn-four wall, bringing out the seventh caution of the event. Coulter brought the black and red Chevrolet to pit road to the attention of the Harold Holly-led crew for four tires as they quickly attempted to fix the damage. After returning to the track and green-flag racing, Coulter’s truck suffered from a right-front tire failure just two laps later. The severe damage required a trip to the garage for extensive repairs to the No. 22 machine. Once repairs were complete, Coulter headed back out on the track on lap 115, moving into the 23rd position and 57 laps down to the leaders. Three additional cautions during the remainder of the race allowed the No. 22 team to provide additional assistance to Coulter’s Chevrolet Silverado and ultimately gain positions on the track. A strong effort by both the driver and crew enabled the No. 22 RCR Graphics Chevrolet to finish in the 22nd position.

Start – 18 Finish – 22 Laps Led – 0 Points – 9

JOEY COULTER QUOTE:

“We were excited about the possibilities going into this race since we’ve had some strong runs on 1.5-mile tracks. It is unfortunate things turned out the way they did because we were anticipating a top-ten finish. Our guys worked really hard and we’re all disappointed. We’ll look ahead to Talladega Superspeedway where we’ll be unveiling the new Rip It Chevrolet Silverado. We have a lot to look forward to and will put this weekend behind us.”

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

RACE: Federated Car Care 200

TRACK: Toledo Speedway

DATE: October 16, 2011

Race Highlights:

• RCR teammates finished second (Ty Dillon) and 17th (Tim George Jr.).
• Dillon was crowned the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Champion.
• Dillon started second and led for 52 laps.
• George started 20th and ran as high as 11th.
• George finished seventh in the ARCA Racing Series point standings
• Chris Buescher won followed by Dillon, Chad McCumbee, Tom Hessert, and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five.
• The 2011 ARCA Racing Series season concluded at Toledo Speedway this weekend, and the banquet is scheduled for December 10 in Covington, Ky.

Tim George Jr. Finishes Seventh in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series Point Standings

Tim George Jr. and the No. 31 Applebee’s/Potomac Family Dining Group finished 17th in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season finale at Toledo Speedway after being involved in a late-race incident. Rain and grey skies greeted the Richard Childress Racing team for the final race of the 2011 season Sunday at Toledo Speedway. With persistent rain falling over the half-mile speedway, ARCA and track officials were forced to push the start of the race back by two hours. The initial start of the 200-lap event was given under green and yellow-flag conditions due a few rain showers still in the area. All green-flag racing began on lap 42 and George started his journey from his 20th starting position. George had improved his position into the top 15 when a caution flag slowed the field on lap 77. The New York, N.Y., native informed his crew that his car was developing a tight-handling condition, but opted to stay out during the ensuing caution to keep his track position. As the halfway point neared, George was closing in on the top 10 as another caution flag was displayed on lap 118. Crew chief Gere Kennon called the black and red No. 31 Chevrolet to pit road for four fresh Hoosier tires and one can of Sunoco fuel. The handling on the RCR entry improved over the next 25 circuits around the Toledo, Ohio-based facility when George experienced a flat left-rear tire. Kennon called for a two-tire pit stop before sending George back out onto the racing surface on lap 147. Again, the veteran ARCA driver clawed his way into the top 15 and was scored in the 13th position when a car in front of him lost control. George had nowhere to go and made contact with the spinning vehicle. The Pocono ARCA 200 event winner came to pit road for repairs on the right side of the No. 31 machine. He restarted in the 17th position when green-flag racing resumed on lap 176 but was unable to improve his position over the next 30 circuits, finishing out the season seventh in the point standings.

Start – 20 Finish – 17 Laps Led – 0 Points – 7

TIM GEORGE JR. QUOTE:

“It’s a disappointing finish to end our season with, but I have to thank Gere (Kennon, crew chief) and my RCR team for putting together a lot of great race cars this year. They worked really hard throughout the season. I wish we could have finished in the top five in points, but we’re seventh and that’s an improvement from last year.”

Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon Crowned ARCA Racing Series Champion at Toledo

Ty Dillon concluded his rookie year of competition in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with his first career championship and earned a second-place finish in Sunday afternoon’s Federated Car Care 200 at Toledo Speedway. Dillon, 19, officially clinched the 2011 title by virtue of entering and competing in the 200-lap ARCA season finale. The start of the race was pushed back by two and a half hours due to rain. When track officials displayed the green flag just after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, they also displayed the yellow flag, indicating to the starting field to maintain a cautious pace as the track was still wet. Green-flag racing commenced on lap 42 and after starting from second position, Dillon drove to the inside of the race leader to take over the point position. He remained in the lead until lap 63 when the inside line was slowed by a lapped car, allowing several competitors to slip by on the outside. Dillon slipped to fourth in the running order, but was scored in the third position on lap 65. Just past the race’s halfway mark, he advanced to the second position. Dillon was running second when the caution flag was displayed on lap 118, prompting crew chief Scott Naset to direct his young driver down pit road for the team’s only pit stop of the race. The RCR team serviced the No. 41 Chevrolet with four fresh Hoosier tires and Sunoco fuel. Despite the fact pit road was quite slippery and wet due to early morning rain showers, the team completed a fast stop and Dillon restarted sixth on lap 125. The RCR entry was fast on fresh tires, allowing Dillon to quickly move forward in the running order, advancing to third on lap 133 and second on lap 135. Dillon made a pass for the lead on lap 164, but fell back to second on lap 197. The High Point University freshman attempted to regain the race lead on lap 198 of 200, but the race leader got loose in the middle of turns one and two and spun in the process, prompting ARCA officials to display the yellow flag. The caution extended the race past its advertised distance and set the stage for a two-lap shootout to the checkered flag. Dillon restarted the race in the second position on lap 200 but was unable to make the pass for the victory and,finished second in the No. 41 Bass Pro Shops/Hemelgarn Enterprises Chevrolet. Dillon was officially crowned the 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion during post-race ceremonies surrounded by his RCR team, his grandparents Richard and Judy Childress, and team sponsors Johnny Morris and John Paul Morris (representing Bass Pro Shops) and Ron Hemelgarn (representing Hemelgarn Enterprises). The championship represents the first non-NASCAR championship in RCR’s storied history and the 13th championship for the organization.

Start: 2 Finish: 2 Laps Led: 52 Points: 1

TY DILLON QUOTE:

“I can’t believe it, the youngest champion in ARCA history. Somebody needs to pinch me or something. That just says how great this team is. I can’t thank my grandpa, my dad, and everybody enough for the opportunity. This Chevrolet was fast. Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris came on board for the last race and we put on a good show for them. I’m proud of my team and proud of winning this championship. Running the entire ARCA season has been very beneficial to my career because I have learned things that will help me next year and beyond. I know I will always remember this moment.”

- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release

Richard Childress (L) celebrates the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship with grandson and driver Ty Dillon (R).

The start of the Federated Car Care 200 was pushed back by two and a half hours due to rain. When track officials displayed the green flag just after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, they also displayed the yellow flag, indicating to the starting field to maintain a cautious pace as the track was still wet. Green-flag only racing commenced on lap 42 and Dillon drove to the inside of the race leader to take the point position. He remained in the lead until lap 63, when the inside line was slowed by a lapped car, allowing several competitors to slip by on the outside. The High Point University freshman attempted to regain the race lead on lap 196 of 200, but the race leader got loose in the middle of turns one and two and spun in the process, prompting ARCA officials to display the yellow flag. The caution extended the race past its advertised distance and set the stage for a two-lap shootout to the checkered flag. Dillon restarted the race second on lap 199 but was unable to gain any additional positions, finishing second in the No. 41 Bass Pro Shops/Hemelgarn Enterprises Chevrolet. The young driver is the first rookie to win the ARCA championship since 1995.

“I am so proud of the entire team and how hard everyone worked this season to claim this championship,” said Dillon. “Over the course of the season, we’ve become a family and we’re all sharing in this moment right now. I can’t thank my family and grandfather enough for this unbelievable opportunity. It is such an honor to bring home a championship for RCR. This is a moment I will never forget.”

Dillon and Co. stormed into their rookie season earning seven wins, seven poles, 13 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 19 starts. The Lexington, N.C., native claimed his first Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and in the following race, made his first trip of the season to Victory Lane at Talladega Superspeedway.

“It’s been a great season. I’m really proud of Ty and all of these guys,” said Scott Naset, crew chief on the No. 41 team. “As a rookie driver, crew chief and team, we came together and worked really hard to accomplish everything that we have this season.”

Richard Childress Racing has won 12 NASCAR championships but Dillon’s accomplishment marks the first non-NASCAR championship for the Welcome, N.C.-based organization. The last championship RCR earned was the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series with driver Clint Bowyer.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “I’m so happy for him and this whole racing team. To win the championship is just huge.”

At 19 years old, Dillon is the 29th champion and the youngest champion in the history of the ARCA Racing Series. The RCR driver joins a long list of competitors who have earned the title of ARCA Champion since the series’ inception in 1953, including Frank Kimmel, Benny Parsons and Iggy Katona, to name a few.

The 2011 ARCA Racing Series Championship Awards Banquet is scheduled for December 10 in Covington, Ky.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 12 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

The No. 52 Pink Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala driven by Tom Hessert III in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR).

The final one-day event for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards started off on a solid footing for Hessert and KSR. Hoping to utilize some of their knowledge from the open ARCA test last month, the team made a series of adjustments throughout practice before the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native landed the eighth quickest lap overall.

Still knowing that he had to consult with his team on changes to his pink No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala, the team remained optimistic heading into Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying. Hessert’s lap of 31.929 seconds at 169.125 miles per hour was good enough to land the KSR machine 10th on the starting grid, a personal best in the “Land of Oz.”

Confident about the ability of his racecar, Hessert joined 37 of ARCA’s finest to take the green flag just after 7:45 p.m. local. Quickly, the former CARS Pro Cup driver had moved into the ninth position by lap three and rose to eighth by lap five – proving that he had a fast machine under the Sunflower State skies.

By lap 15, the 25-year old had slipped back to the ninth position but remained in the clutches of Chad McCumbee. Seven laps later, a loose condition on the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala allowed Chad Hackenbracht to overtake him for the ninth position and settling in 10th.

The first caution flag of the night waived on lap 24 for debris allowing ample opportunity for Hessert to bring his KSR automobile to the attention of his team assisted by David Hyder, as crew chief Donnie Richeson played the double-duty role Friday night as both team leader and spotter. After receiving four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, Hessert returned to competition. Unfortunately, the team informed their driver that they had to serve a penalty under the yellow for a tire escaping from pit lane which also forced the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car ace to start the contest from the tail end of the longest line.

Restarting 17th on lap 29, Hessert blasted his way through the pack and moved into the 16th position six laps later before finding himself entering the top-15 two laps later. A yellow flag would halt the field from racing conditions with Hessert occupying the 12th position.

Racing resumed on lap 40 with Hessert quick to get on the gas and determined to slice his way back into the top-10. When the next caution flag waived just after the halfway mark, Hessert sat 11th on the track. However, he would join the rest of the field for a routine pit stop when it opened.

Nestled in the 14th position on the restart, Hessert made quick work of Milka Duno and set his sights on Hackenbracht for 12th. With 40 laps remaining, the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala made an impressive move by bolting around both Hackenbracht and Ryan Wilson to claim 11th.

Five laps later, Hessert’s machine continued to throttle forward passing McCumbee and Tim George Jr. to hoist the ninth position where he would hover until his race took a dramatic turn in the closing laps.

When championship point’s leader Ty Dillon and Michael Leavine collided on the frontstretch with 12 laps remaining, a piece of debris struck Hessert’s Chevrolet bowtie creating a hole in the frontend of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala.

Despite the damage, the team elected to keep their driver on the racetrack where he would restart seventh. When racing resumed, the damage would prove to dramatically change the handling of his General Motors automobile which meant that cars were passing Hessert left and right. A gallant effort behind the wheel allowed the team to take the checkered flag on the lead lap but having to settle for a discouraging 13th place finish.

Tom Hessert III

He added, “I also want to remind everyone to log onto SchraderRacing.com. and help us spread the word about Breast Cancer Awareness month. I was told that the car looked pretty slick on the track and it’s all for a good cause, so I’m excited to carry the paint scheme over to Toledo.”

With just one race remaining on the calendar, Hessert sits seventh in the championship standings 80 markers behind sixth place runner Tim George Jr. The curtain will fall on Hessert’s fourth year of full-time competition in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season on Sunday, October 16 when the checkered flag falls in the Toledo ARCA 200 presented by Federated Car Care. The final race of the year which consists of 200 laps will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 2:00 p.m. local.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars served as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 82nd career ARCA start. In those outings, he has maneuvered one win, 18 top-fives and 42 top-10s.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

To join Hessert and Ken Schrader Racing in their plan to spread the message about Breast Cancer awareness and to order you own “Pink” KSR memorabilia, please visit SchraderRacing.com.

- Tom Hessert Racing Press Release

CGH Motorsports Thumbnail

The effort by the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team led by crew chief Kevin Reed bettered the team’s previous outing at Kansas Speedway last October where they finished 25th after cutting a tire while running in the top-10.

Extremely focused and determined, it wasn’t a surprise to see the No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple Chevrolet post the fifth fastest practice lap earlier in the day. After conferring with Reed, the two opted for some minor adjustments before the start of Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying. The 19-year old’s lap around the 1.5-mile speedway would land the family-owned team on the outside of row number four in the eighth spot, beating their previous best Kansas start of ninth just a year earlier.

Under the Sunflower State skies, Hackenbracht took the green flag just after 7:45 p.m. local, finding himself immediately under pressure from his competition that included Tim George Jr., Tom Hessert III and Chad McCumbee.

Flirting for a spot inside the top-10 during the early stages of the race, Hackenbracht had slipped to 11th on the racetrack by lap 10 but remained quiet on the radio. It wasn’t until the race’s first yellow flag for debris on lap 24, that Hackenbracht informed his team of the car’s attitude.

No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple Chevrolet Impala

Racing resumed on lap 40 with Hackenbracht weaving his way through the stack of lead lap cars to find himself once again knocking on the door of re-entering the top-10.

With the looseness condition refusing to give way, a third trip to pit road would occur just past the halfway point. Reed signaled for a track bar adjustment, two right side tires and fuel.

Reassuming the 18th race of the season in the 12th position, Hackenbracht would cleverly inch his way up the field before finding himself in a torrid battle with the No. 82 of Sean Corr shortly after the restart. The two competitors would duke it out for nearly 10 laps in an impressive side-by-side battle with Hackenbracht eventually winning the fight and rising to the 11th position on lap 76.

With the field completely spread out because of a long-green flag, the team had desperately hoped for a caution, not only to tag onto the bumpers of the lead pack but also ignite their driver with four sticker (new) tires and fuel.

Looking like that opportunity would not come to fruition; the field would be slowed just 12 laps from the finish. The caution was the break that the team had wanted, as it would allow the rising star to bring his No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple machine to pit road for four new tires and fuel.

Restarting in 10th, Hackenbracht attempted to use the new rubber to his advantage but would instead have to battle a slew of race cars around him that included nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, Ryan Wilson and John Blankenship. The unexpected battles would keep him trapped from making any progress on the track. Hackenbracht was able to hold off Wilson coming to the checkered flag where he crossed the start-finish line 10th, tying his best finish in four races where he also nailed a 10th in his inaugural dirt debut at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Chad Hackenbracht

Reed offered his thoughts on Saturday night’s contest. “We came to Kansas and thought we had a solid top-five car,” said ARCA’s 2010 crew chief of the year. “We’re stumped. I’m not sure, we’re fighting something, just not sure what it is. Still, it was a solid day for the CGH Motorsports team. We just have to keep fighting. On the flip side, we’ll take the top-10 and Chad (Hackenbracht) always does a flawless job. He doesn’t have “give up” in his vocabulary. We’ll go to Toledo and test on Monday and get ready for Sunday’s race and try to close out the season on a high note.”

With just one race remaining on the calendar, Hackenbracht remains eighth in the championship standings 145 markers behind seventh place runner Tom Hessert III. The curtain will fall on CGH Motorsports’ inaugural ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season on Sunday, October 16 when the checkered flag waives in the Toledo ARCA 200 presented by Federated Car Care. The final race of the year which consists of 200 laps will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 2:00 p.m. local.

In order to prepare the team for the race, they will test at the half-mile oval resting on the borders of Michigan and Ohio on Monday, October 9. In May, Hackenbracht blasted from his 27th place starting spot to secure a commendable 11th place run.

CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the remaining 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule and all of 2012. Interested parties can contact Jordan Dahl at Jordan@cghmotorsports.com or 570.234.5449.

For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com and CGHMotorsports.com.

To purchase the popular “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt, please log on to store.cghmotorsports.com or CGHMotorsports.com.

Connect with Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports through Facebook by clicking here.

Tweet with Chad Hackenbracht through Twitter at @ChadH58 or CGH Motorsports @CGH5858.

About CGH Motorsports:

CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Mooresville, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team has stepped up their commitment from a partial schedule in 2010 to a full-effort in 2011 with the prospects of a two-car operation in 2012.

- CGH Motorsports Press Release

No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala

After an engine failure plagued the operation at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds two weeks ago while hunting for his second career ARCA Racing Series victory, Hessert returned to one of the most complicated racetracks on the circuit itching for some redemption and to put his team back on the strait of narrow this past weekend.

The one-day show definitely started off on the right foot as by the conclusion of the lone hour and a half practice session Saturday afternoon, Hessert bolted his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala to the second-quickest lap overall; giving the team a confidence booster heading into qualifying.

Being the second car to qualify for the 17th race of the season eventually landed the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native sixth overall, tying his starting position for KSR in the spring Salem event.

Despite starting on the outside of row three, Hessert knew that he had a good car underneath him and was quickly capable of chewing his way into the top-five.

The green flag for the 90th ARCA race at the Southern Indiana bullring began shortly after 7:15 p.m. with Hessert clawing his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet into fourth by lap seven. It was evident from there that the team had a stout racecar.

Racing resumed on lap 12 with Hessert focused on third place runner Max Gresham. Unable to move his way around Gresham, Hessert found himself content to ride in fourth until Gresham cut a tire on lap 42 moving the No. 52 up the leader board to third overall where he remained through the race’s first 50 circuits.

Just 12 laps later though, Hessert’s chances of a strong run turned doubtful as the ARCA veteran informed his team that he had no power underneath his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala, which he immediately pre-diagnosed as a battery problem.

The KSR team methodically changed the battery on their entry and sent their driver back into competition despite falling several laps off the pace. From that point, it was a battle of survival for the former USARacing Pro Cup Series competitor.

As the race pressed on, Hessert would have to come down pit road subsequently twice under green flag conditions for what later would be officially described as an alternator belt failure, which resulted in three batteries drained to its capacity. To add insult to injury, Hessert’s motor would seize in the late stages of his eighth Salem Speedway start, which would eventually park the team for the night and force a frustrating 19th place finish.

Tom Hessert III

With two races remaining on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards calendar, Hessert occupies seventh in the championship standings 95 points behind sixth place runner Tim George Jr. and just 125 markers from fifth place contender Chad McCumbee.

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is their penultimate event at Kansas Speedway for the running of the Kansas Lottery 98.9 which is set to launch on Friday, October 7 live on SPEED. Hessert will join a slew of ARCA competitors at the 1.5-mile oval on Tuesday, September 20th for an open testing session in preparation for round 18.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars served as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 81st career ARCA start. In those outings, he has maneuvered one win, 18 top-fives and 42 top-10s.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

- Tom Hessert Racing Press Release