THE CHASE DRIVERS 2009

GREG BIFFLE

2010-12-07T16:54:00.000-05:00

GREG BIFFLE

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Dec. 23, 1969
Hometown: Vancouver, Wash.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Nicole)
Children: None
Hobbies: Flying, fishing
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase 12th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Zero wins on the year
• In 26 starts, he has eight top fives and 12 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• Two DNFs on the year — Atlanta (3/08) and Bristol (3/22)
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 20 weeks of the 26-week regular season
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he finished third in Chase with two wins at New Hampshire (9/14) and Dover (9/21). The first driver to win the first two races of the Chase since its inception in 2004
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish 14th in the standings. He posted four top-10 finishes including a win at Kansas (9/30) and a pole at Atlanta (10/28).
• In 2006, he failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish 13th in the standings. He posted three top-10 finishes in the 10 races of the Chase; including a win at Homestead (11/19).
• In 2005, he finished second in the standings with six top-10 finishes including one win at Homestead (11/20).
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 248
Career Wins: 14
Career Poles: 6
Best Points Finish: 2nd (2005)
First Full Season: 2003
First Start: April 28, 2002 (California)
First Win: July 5, 2003 (Daytona)
First Pole: Feb. 15, 2004 (Daytona)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Finished third in the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and finished second in the 2005 Chase
• First driver to win NASCAR Nationwide Series (2002) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000) titles
• 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
WINS/POLES
WINS: 14 – Daytona-2 (2003); Michigan-2, Homestead (2004); Auto Club-1, Texas-1, Darlington-1, Dover-2,
Michigan-1, Homestead (2005); Darlington, Homestead (2006); Kansas (2007); New Hampshire-2, Dover-2 (2008)
POLES: 6 – Daytona-1 (2004); Las Vegas, Richmond-1 (2006); Atlanta-2 (2007); Darlington, Dover-1 (2008)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 89.2
Average Running Position - 14.816
Quality Passes - 771
Fastest Laps Run - 387
Laps In Top 15 - 4,172
Green Flag Passes - 1,730
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished third in series points. … Became the first driver to win the first two races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (New Hampshire and Dover). … Rebounded to make the Chase after two consecutive non-Chase seasons. … Significantly improved year-end Driver Rating – 93.4 compared to 76.4 in ’07.
2007 Finished 14th in series points. … Won at Kansas to pick up win in fifth consecutive season. … Led seven races for a total of 78 laps. Led 37 laps at Kansas, a personal high for the season. … Earned only pole of season at Atlanta in October.… Finished 13th at Homestead after winning three straight races at the track.
2006 Finished 13th in series points. … Won Darlington race for the second consecutive season. … Win at Homestead was his third consecutive at the track. … Captured poles at Las Vegas and Richmond (May). … Led the most laps in a race four different times. … Put together streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes in June and July, the longest such streak of his career.
2005 Finished second in series points. … Captured a series-high six wins at Auto Club (February), Texas (April), Darlington (May), Dover (June), Michigan (June) and Homestead (November). … Win by 0.017 seconds over Mark Martin at Homestead was the closest finish of the year and the eighth-closest since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993.… Began the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in second place.
2004 Finished 17th in series points. … Captured his first career pole at the season-opening Daytona 500. … Won two races – the August event at Michigan and the season finale at Homestead. … Became second driver in history to complete the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series schedules in the same season. … Finished third in the final NASCAR Nationwide Series standings with five wins.
2003 Finished 20th in series points. … Won the July event at Daytona, his first career win, by holding off teammates Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte in the closing laps. The victory came in his 23rd start. … Finished with three top fives, six top 10s and seven DNFs (did not finish). … Started 35 of 36 races, missing only the season’s third event (Las Vegas) when he failed to qualify.… Finished second to Jamie McMurray in Raybestos Rookie of the Year competition. … Was the top-finishing rookie in nine races.
2002 Finished 48th in series points. … Made series debut at Auto Club in No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing.… Also made four starts in No. 55 Chevrolet subbing for Bobby Hamilton, and two starts for Petty Enterprises. … Qualified in the top five at three events. … Finished a season-best 13th at Auto Club. … Drove the No. 44 Dodge for Petty at Rockingham and the season finale at Homestead, finishing 25th in both events. … Won the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.
HISTORY
A superb example of NASCAR’s developmental system, Biffle progressed through every level before making his series debut in 2002. … He was the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. …The 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year…The 2000 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion. … Earned nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories in 1999 and finished second in points. … He was the 1998 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year. …Participated in the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, a NASCAR Touring Division in 1997, capturing one victory… Competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series from 1994-1997, earning Late Model track championships at Tri City Raceway in West Richland, Wash. and Portland (Ore.) Speedway.
NOTEWORTHY
One of only two drivers to win both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, and the only driver to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year awards in both series. … Delivered Roush Fenway Racing’s first NASCAR title by winning the 2000 NASCAR Camping world Truck Series title. … Won 27 races in 43 starts during NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition in 1995.
Team Roush Fenway Racing
Team Web Site http://www.roushfenway.com/
Sponsor and Manufacturer 3M Ford
Owner Jack Roush Crew Chief Greg Erwin
Engine Builder Roush-Yates Engines
Team Address 4202 Roush Place, Concord, NC 28027 Team Phone (704) 720-4200
Team Fax (704) 720-4205
PR Contact Amber Moody
PR Address 4600 Roush Place, Concord, NC 28027
PR Phone (704) 720-4613
PR Fax (704) 720-4605
PR E-mail amoody@roushfenway.com

JIMMIE JOHNSON

2009-11-21T13:31:00.001-05:00

JIMMIE JOHNSON

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Sept. 17, 1975
Hometown: El Cajon, Calif.
Resides: Charlotte, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Chandra)
Children: None
Hobbies: Snowboarding, biking, golf
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase third in the standings with 5,030 points
• Three wins on the year – Martinsville (3/29), Dover (5/31) and Indianapolis (7/26)
• In 26 starts, he has 9 top fives and 15 top 10s
• One pole on the year —. Watkins Glen (8/10)
• One DNF on the year — Talladega (4/26)
• Has been in the top five of the standings for 14 consecutive weeks of the 26 week regular season, since Darlington (5/09)
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he won the championship for the third consecutive time. He posted three wins at Kansas (9/23), Martinsville (10/19) and Phoenix (11/9).
• In 2007, he won the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship for the second consecutive season. He posted eight top-10 finishes including four wins at Martinsville (10/21); Atlanta (10/28); Texas (11/4) and Phoenix (11/11). He also posted three poles during the Chase at Dover (9/23); Kansas (9/30); and Homestead (11/18).
• In 2006, he came back from ninth in the Chase standings to win the championship with six top 10s which included a win at Martinsville (10/22) and four second-place finishes.
• In 2005, he finished fifth in the standings with seven top-10 finishes including two wins at Dover (9/25) and Charlotte (10/15).
• In 2004, he finished second in the standings, eight points behind Kurt Busch. He posted seven top-10 finishes including wins at Charlotte (10/16); Martinsville (10/24); Atlanta (10/31); and Darlington (11/14).
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 281
Career Wins: 43
Career Poles: 20
Best Points Finish: 1st (2006, '07, '08)
First Full Season: 2002
First Start: Oct. 7, 2001 (Charlotte)
First Win: April 28, 2002 (California)
First Pole: Feb. 9, 2002 (Daytona)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• First driver in 30 years and only second in NASCAR history to win three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles (2006-'08)
• Won the Daytona 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 2006
• Top-five finisher in all seven NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons
• Series runner-up in 2003 and ’04
WINS/POLES
WINS: 43 – California, Dover-1, Dover-2 (2002); Charlotte-1, New Hampshire-1, New Hampshire-2 (2003);
Darlington-1, Charlotte-1, Pocono-1, Pocono-2, Charlotte-2, Martinsville-2, Atlanta-2, Darlington-2 (2004);
Las Vegas, Charlotte-1, Dover-2, Charlotte-2 (2005); Daytona-1, Las Vegas, Talladega-1, Indianapolis,
Martinsville-2 (2006); Las Vegas, Atlanta-1, Martinsville-1, Richmond-1, California-2, Richmond-2, Martinsville-2, Atlanta-2, Texas-2, Phoenix-2 (2007); Phoenix-1, Indianapolis, California-2, Richmond-2, Kansas, Martinsville-2, Phoenix-2 (2008); Martinsville-1, Dover-1, Indianapolis (2009)
POLES: 20 – Daytona-1, Charlotte-1, Talladega-1, Charlotte-1 (2002); Pocono-1, Kansas (2003); Charlotte-1 (2004); Chicago (2005); Martinsville-1 (2006); Richmond-2, Dover-2, Kansas, Homestead (2007); Daytona-1, Indianapolis, Pocono-2, California-2, Kansas, Phoenix-2 (2008); Watkins Glen (2009)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 110.3
Average Running Position - 8.217
Quality Passes - 1,276
Fastest Laps Run - 738
Laps In Top 15 - 6,179
Green Flag Passes - 1,702
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Won third consecutive series title, joining NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to accomplish that feat. Yarborough’s titles came in 1975-78. … Finished with a series-high six poles. … Began the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as the third seed. Took the standings lead after the third Chase race, at Kansas, and never relinquished it, winning the title by 69 points over runner-up Carl Edwards. … Remains one of only two drivers (Matt Kenseth is the other) to qualify for all five Chases. … Moved into 15th place on NASCAR’s all-time win list with 40 series wins. ... Led four year-end Loop Data statistical categories – Average Start (8.5), Average Position (10.1), Laps Led (1,959) and Percentage of Laps Led (18.3).
2007 Won second consecutive series title. … Became first driver since Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in 1997 and 1998 to win consecutive series titles; also the first since Gordon in 1998 to win 10 races in a season. … Became 15th driver to win multiple titles in NASCAR’s premier series. … Became 14th driver in series history to win consecutive titles. … Four consecutive wins late in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup solidified title run. … Came from 68 points behind Gordon following season’s 31st race to win title by 77 points over Gordon.
2006 Won the series title. … His 24 top 10s led the series. … Spent all 36 weeks of the season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup top 10. … Won Daytona 500. … Also won his first events at Talladega (in May) and at Indianapolis (in August). Other two victories came at Las Vegas and Martinsville. … Pole came at Martinsville (in April).
2005 Finished fifth in series points. … Won four races in his fourth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including the season sweep at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which included a third consecutive Coca-Cola 600 win. Johnson is the first driver to win three consecutive Coca-Cola 600s. … Other victories came at the September event at Dover and at Las Vegas.
2004 Finished second in series points, only eight behind champion Kurt Busch, in the closest championship finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup history. … Led standings for nine race weeks during season. … Led series in wins with eight and top fives with 20. … Started Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup fifth in the standings, and dropped to ninth after first three races of Chase. Rallied by winning four of the year’s last six races, including three consecutive (Lowe’s-Martinsville-Atlanta). … Had three season sweeps, winning both events held at Darlington, Lowe’s and Pocono. … Repeated as Coca-Cola 600 champion and also won the Southern 500. … String of 70 consecutive weeks in series’ top 10 ended in Week 2, after 41st-place finish at Rockingham.
2003 Finished second in series points. … Spent all 36 weeks in the standings’ top 10, the only driver to do so. Started 2004 with a string of 69 consecutive weeks in the points standings’ top 10, best among active drivers. … Season highlight was winning rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 in May at Lowe’s, one week after winning the all-star event, a nonpoints event also held at Lowe’s. … Swept season events at New Hampshire. … Ended season by finishing in the top three in the last six events to secure runner-up finish in series championship.
2002 Finished fifth in series points as a rookie. … Won Daytona 500 pole in fourth career start. … First career victory (at Auto Club) came in 13th start. … Won three races (Auto Club and both Dover races). … Became first rookie in series history to sweep both races at a track. … Led standings for one week following Kansas in September.
2001 Finished 52nd in series points. … Made series debut with three starts, best finish 25th at Homestead.
HISTORY
Finished eighth in NASCAR Nationwide Series points in 2001, driving for Herzog Motorsports. … Earned first career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in the series’ first race at Chicagoland Speedway.… During first full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, had six top-10 finishes and finished 10th in the point standings. …In 1999, started five NASCAR Nationwide Series races, led 22 laps and collected one top-10 finish.…Won Rookie of the Year honors in the ASA ACDelco Challenge Series in 1998. … Johnson won six off-road racing championships, including two MTEG Superlite championships (1992, ’95), the 1992 Miller Challenge Superlite title, the 1993 SCORE Class 10 Desert championship, and two SODA Winter Series Overall titles (1996, ’97). … Also was named 1991 MTEG Rookie of the Year in the Superlite Class and 1995 SCORE Rookie of the Year.… Began racing in motocross events at age five.
NOTEWORTHY
Johnson and his wife, Chandra, founded the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 to assist children, families and communities in need throughout the United States. … During the 2000 season, Johnson was selected as one of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men in the Fast Lane,” along with other NASCAR drivers. … Johnson was the youngest driver ever in the Mickey Thompson Stadium Truck Series. … Johnson and Jeff Gordon joined World Superbike champion Colin Edwards in Europe, and won the 2002 Race of Champions Nations Cup, an annual event pitting the world’s best rally, motorcycle and circuit racers against one another in head-to-head competition.
Team Hendrick Motorsports
Team Web Site http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com
Sponsor and Manufacturer Lowe's Chevrolet
Owner Rick Hendrick
Crew Chief Chad Knaus
Engine Builder Hendrick Engines
Team Address 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262
Team Phone (704) 455-0324
Team Fax (704) 455-0322
PR Contact Kristine Curley, GMR Marketing
PR Address 1435 West Morehead St., Suite 190, Charlotte, NC 28208
PR Phone (704) 342-4450
PR Fax (704) 342-4452PR E-mail kcurley@gmrlivepr.com

MARK MARTIN

2009-11-21T13:30:00.000-05:00

Team Hendrick Motorsports

Team Web Site http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/
Sponsor and Manufacturer Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet
Owner Rick Hendrick
Crew Chief Alan Gustafson
Engine Builder Hendrick Engines

MARK MARTIN
PERSONAL

Birthdate: Jan. 9, 1959
Hometown: Batesville, Ark.
Resides: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Marital Status: Married (Arlene)
Children: Amy, Heather, Rachel, Stacy, Matthew
Hobbies: Weight training
09 RECAP
Heads into the Chase as the standings leader with 5,040 points
Four wins on the year — Phoenix (4/18), Darlington (5/09), Michigan (6/14) and Chicago (7/11)
In 26 starts, he has nine top fives and 14 top 10s
Six poles on the year — Atlanta (3/08), Bristol (3/22), Phoenix (4/18), Indianapolis (7/26), Bristol (8/22) and Richmond (9/12)
Three DNFs on the year — Auto Club Speedway (2/22), Las Vegas (3/01) and Talladega (4/26)
Has been in the top 12 of the series standings for 14 weeks of the 26-week regular season.
PAST CHASES
In 2008, he failed to make the Chase due to running a partial schedule for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing of 24 events. He finished the season 28th in the series standings having posted four top fives and 11 top 10s
In 2007, he failed to make the Chase due to running a part-time schedule Earnhardt Ganassi Racing of 24 events. He finished the season 27th in the series standings having posted five top fives and 11 top 10s
In 2006, he finished ninth in the Chase with seven top fives and 15 top 10s
In 2005, he finished fourth in the Chase for the second consecutive season with one win at Kansas (10/09) and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. He posted 12 top fives and 19 top 10s
In 2004, he finished fourth in the Chase with one win at Dover (6/06). He posted 10 top fives and 15 top 10s that season
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 748
Career Wins: 39
Career Poles: 47
Best Points Finish: 2nd (1990, '94, '98, 2002)
First Full Season: 1982
First Start: April 5, 1981 (North Wilkesboro)
First Win: Oct. 22, 1989 (Rockingham)
First Pole: July 8, 1981 (Nashville)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Four-time series runner-up (1990, '94, '98, 2002)
• 39 series wins and 47 poles
• Top-10 finisher in final point standings for 12 consecutive seasons (1989-2000)
• Qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from 2004-2006
WINS/POLES
WINS: 39 – Rockingham-2 (1989); Michigan-2, Richmond-2, North Wilkesboro-2 (1990); Atlanta-2 (1991);
Martinsville-1, Charlotte-2 (1992); Watkins Glen, Michigan-2, Bristol-2, Darlington-2, Phoenix (1993); Watkins Glen, Atlanta-2 (1994); Talladega-1, Watkins Glen, Charlotte-2, North Wilkesboro-2 (1995) Talladega-1, Infineon, Michigan-2, Dover-2 (1997), Las Vegas, California, Texas, Michigan-1, Bristol-2, Dover-2, Charlotte-2 (1998); Rockingham-1, Dover-2 (1999); Martinsville-1 (2000); Charlotte-1 (2002); Dover-1 (2004); Kansas (2005); Phoenix-1, Darlington, Michigan-1, Chicagoland (2009)
POLES: 47 – Nashville-2, Richmond-2 (1981); Dover-2 (1988); Darlington-1, Bristol-1, Talladega-1, Dover-1,
Daytona-2, Talladega-2 (1989); North Wilkesboro-1, Pocono-2, Martinsville-2 (1990); Martinsville-1, Charlotte-1, Pocono-1, Charlotte-2, Martinsville-2 (1991); Atlanta-2 (1992); Rockingham-1, New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Bristol-2, Rockingham-2 (1993); Watkins Glen (1994); Bristol-1, New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Bristol-2 (1995); Bristol-1, Pocono-2, Bristol-2, Richmond-2 (1996); Rockingham-1, Infineon, Dover-2 (1997); Darlington-1, Dover-2, Rockingham-2 (1998); Rockingham-2 (1999); Bristol-1, Richmond-1 (2001); Atlanta-1, Bristol-1, Phoenix-1, Indianapolis, Bristol-2, Richmond-2 (2009)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 98.7
Average Running Position - 12.536
Quality Passes - 724
Fastest Laps Run - 472
Laps In Top 15 - 5,864
Green Flag Passes - 1,076
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 28th in series points in a part-time role for Dale Earnhardt Inc. … Competed in 24 of 36 events with 12 top-10 starts. … Top finish was third in the spring Richmond race. … Announced in July that he would move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2009 and run a full schedule.
2007 Finished 26th in series points. … Competed in 25 of 36 events. … Finished second behind winner Kevin Harvick in the season-opening Daytona 500; the 0.020 margin of victory is the ninth-closest in NASCAR history. … Led standings for three consecutive weeks, before taking off the season’s fifth event, at Bristol Motor Speedway.
2006 Finished ninth in series points. … By qualifying for the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup, Martin became one of only three drivers who made the Chase in each of the format’s first three years.
2005 Finished fourth in series points. … Won his 35th career race, at Kansas, in October.… Opened the season with five top-five finishes at Atlanta (March), Martinsville (April), Darlington (May), Dover (June) and Michigan (June). … Won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge in May.… Had seven top-10 finishes in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
2004 Finished fourth in series points. … Finished in the top five for the 11th time and in the top 10 for the 14th time. … Won the June 6 event at Dover International Speedway.… Earned a berth in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup the following week, after the Sept. 11 event at Richmond, race No. 26 and the cutoff point for the Chase.
2003 Finished 17th in series points. … Worst result since 1988, his first season with Roush Racing. … Winless for only the fifth time in 17 fulltime seasons. … Best finish was second at Pocono in June. … Seven DNFs (did not finish) was his worst total since eight in 1994. … Ran final 22 races without a top-five finish.
2002 Finished runner-up in series points, 38 behind champion Tony Stewart. … His fourth series runner-up finish (1992, ’94 and ’99) and 13th among the top eight in points. … Had one win, the Coca-Cola 600 in May at Lowe’s, which broke a 73-race winless streak. … Scored 22 top-10 finishes, which tied for series lead with rookie Ryan Newman. … Led standings for two weeks late in the season.
2001 Finished 12th in series points. … First non-top-10 finish since a 15th in inaugural season with Roush Racing in 1988. … Went winless for only the second time in last 13 seasons, the other being 1996. Did not record a top-three finish, for the first time since joining Roush. … Finished with 15 top-10 finishes, including pair of season-best fourth-place results. … Earned two poles, the ninth multiple-pole season of his career. … Poles came at Richmond and Bristol, the latter his seventh there, his best at any series track.
2000 Finished eighth in series points. … 12th consecutive season with a top-10 final finish, but snapped run of seven consecutive years among the top five. … Martinsville win gave him at least one win for four consecutive seasons and 11 of the last 12. … Finished with 20 top 10s. … Did not win a pole, the first time since joining Roush Racing in 1988. Ended a run of 12 consecutive seasons with at least one pole.
1999 Finished third in series points. …Third consecutive season among the top three and seventh time of his career. … Seventh consecutive top-five finish. … Posted two wins – at Rockingham and Dover – for his eighth multiple-win season. … Finished with 19 top fives and 26 top 10s. … His pole at Rockingham extended his streak to 12 consecutive seasons with at least one pole.
1998 Finished second in series points, 364 points behind champion Jeff Gordon. … Third runner-up finish (1990, ’94). … Sixth consecutive top-five finish. … Seven wins was a single-season career high. Previous best was five in 1993. … Trailed only Gordon (13) in wins. … Victories came at Bristol, Las Vegas, Auto Club, Lowe’s, Dover, Michigan and Texas. … Wins at Las Vegas (inaugural event), Auto Club and Texas were career-firsts at those tracks. … Won from the pole at Dover. Also won poles at Rockingham and Darlington.
1997 Finished third in series points. … Fifth consecutive top-five finish. Also finished in 1989 and ’93. … Bounced back from a winless ’96 with four victories – at Infineon, Dover, Michigan and Talladega. … The Infineon win came from the pole. … Coupled with three wins at Watkins Glen International (1993-95), all four career road-course wins have been from the pole. … Shared series lead for poles with Bobby Labonte, with three – at Dover, Rockingham and Infineon.
1996 Finished fifth in series points. … Fourth consecutive top-five season. … Snapped a run of seven consecutive seasons with at least one win. … Finished second a series-high four times. … Four poles trailed only Jeff Gordon (five). … Poles came at Bristol, where he swept the top spot for both events for the second consecutive year, plus Pocono and Richmond.
1995 Finished fourth in series points. … Four wins and four poles; the latter trailed only Jeff Gordon (eight poles).… Won at Lowe’s, North Wilkesboro, Talladega and Watkins Glen International, the latter from the pole for the third consecutive season. … Other poles came at Bristol (twice) and New Hampshire.
1994 Finished second in series points for second time in five seasons, 444 points behind champion Dale Earnhardt. … Won twice, from the pole at Watkins Glen for the second consecutive year and at Atlanta. … Watkins Glen was only pole of the season, but extended streak of consecutive seasons with at least one, to seven.
1993 Finished third in series points. … Second third-place series finish; the other was 1989. … Finished with five wins and five poles, trailing only Ken Schrader (six) in poles. … Wins came at Watkins Glen, Bristol, Darlington, Michigan, and Phoenix. … Poles came at New Hampshire, Bristol,Watkins Glen and a sweep at North Carolina.…Won from the pole at Watkins Glen and Bristol. … Extended string of seasons with at least one pole, to six.
1992 Finished sixth in series points for second consecutive year.… Won twice – at Martinsville and Lowe’s. … Had one pole (Atlanta), giving him at least one pole for five consecutive years.
1991 Finished sixth in series points. … Had one win – Atlanta – and 14 top fives. … Five poles was a series high. …Swept poles for both races at Lowe’s and Martinsville. Other pole came at Pocono. … A total 14 poles in the last three seasons.
1990 Finished second in series points, 26 points behind champion Dale Earnhardt – the series’ fifth-closest margin of victory at the time. … Tied for second in series for wins (three) and poles (three). … Wins came at Richmond, North Wilkesboro and Michigan. … Poles came at North Wilkesboro, Pocono and Martinsville. Made 10 front-row starts.
1989 Finished third in series points. … Became championship contender in his second season with Roush and third full-time season overall. … Earned first series victory Oct. 22 at Rockingham (his 113th career start). … Added five runner-up finishes, 14 top fives and six poles, the latter tying Alan Kulwicki for the series’ season high.
1988 Finished 15th in series points. … His first with owner Jack Roush. … Had career-best second-place result at Bristol. … Earned a pole at Dover.
1987 Finished 101st in points, starting only one race. … Ran for Roger Hamby.
1986 Finished 48th in series points after not running the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1984 and ’85. … Ran five events for Gunderman Racing. … Had two second-place starts.
1983 Finished 30th in series points. … Ran partial schedule for four different teams, J.D. Stacy (seven races), Morgan-McClure (six), D.K. Ulrich (two) and his own (one). … Best finish came with Stacy, as he matched his career best with a third-place effort at Darlington.
1982 Finished 14th in series points. … Competed in first fulltime season as driver/owner and finished runner-up to Geoff Bodine for Rookie of the Year.… Ran 30 races, including one for Bob Rogers, with two season-best fifth-place finishes and eight top 10s.
1981 Finished 42nd in series points. … Debuted as a driver/owner.… Competed in five races, including a third-place finish at Martinsville and poles at Nashville and Richmond Fairgrounds. … His first career pole – at Nashville – came in his third career start. … First career start came April 5 at North Wilkesboro, where he started fifth and finished 27th.
HISTORY
Won his record-extending 48th NASCAR Nationwide Series race in 2008 at Las Vegas. … Won his record fifth IROC Championship in 2005. … In 2006, he had 14 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, winning a series-high six times, with 11 top fives and 12 top 10s…Grew up racing up short tracks throughout the Midwest. … Won three consecutive American Speed Association championships from 1978-80 before moving to NASCAR; returned to ASA and won 1986 title before permanent move to NASCAR.
NOTEWORTHY
Owns Mark Martin Performance, a company which sells quarter-midget racing chassis. … Helped build the quartermidget track at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
Team Hendrick Motorsports
Team Web Site http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/
Sponsor and Manufacturer Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet
Owner Rick Hendrick
Crew Chief Alan Gustafson
Engine Builder Hendrick Engines

KURT BUSCH

2009-11-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

KURT BUSCH

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Aug. 4, 1978
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Eva)
Children: None
Hobbies: Jet skiing, water skiing, snow skiing, hunting, four-wheeling
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase seventh in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year – Atlanta (3/08)
• In 26 starts, he has seven top fives and 14 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• Two DNFs on the year — Michigan (8/08) and Atlanta (9/06)
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 25 weeks of the 26 -eek regular season since Auto Club Speedway (2/22)
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he failed to make the Chase, but finished 18th in series standings. Posted one win on year at New Hampshire (6/29), five top fives and 10 top 10s
• In 2007, finished seventh in the Chase, posted two wins at Pocono (8/05) and Michigan (8/21) and six top fives, 14 top 10s
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 16th in the standings posting four top 10s in the 10 Chase races that season
• In 2005, finished 10th in the Chase, but was released by Roush Fenway Racing with two races left in the season. Busch went on to join Penske Racing the following season
• In 2004, won the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in the closest point’s battle in NASCAR history. Busch prevailed and beat second-place Jimmie Johnson by eight points
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 318
Career Wins: 19
Career Poles: 10
Best Points Finish: 1st (2004)
First Full Season: 2001
First Start: Sept. 24, 2000 (Dover)
First Win: March 24, 2002 (Bristol)
First Pole: Sept. 2, 2001 (Darlington)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
• Eight-point margin over runner-up Jimmie Johnson in 2004 is closest championship finish in series history
• Has scored four perfect Driver Ratings (150.0) in his career (Phoenix, 2005; Pocono, 2005; Pocono 2007; Atlanta 2009), more than any other driver
• 2000 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series runner-up
WINS/POLES
WINS: 19 – Bristol-1, Martinsville-2, Atlanta-2, Homestead (2002); Bristol-1, Auto Club, Michigan-1, Bristol-2 (2003); Bristol-1, New Hampshire-1, New Hampshire-2 (2004); Phoenix-1, Pocono-2, Richmond-2 (2005); Bristol-1 (2006); Pocono-2, Michigan-2 (2007); New Hampshire-1 (2008); Atlanta-1 (2009)
POLES: 10 – Darlington-2 (2001); Homestead (2002); Homestead (2004); Auto Club-1, Infineon, Watkins Glen, Bristol-2, Auto Club-2, Martinsville-2 (2006); Auto Club-2 (2007)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 99.7
Average Running Position - 10.842
Quality Passes - 1,388
Fastest Laps Run - 380
Laps In Top 15 - 5,747
Green Flag Passes - 1,901
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 18th in series points. … Had one win (June at New Hampshire). … Posted five top fives and 10 top 10s. …Two runner-up finishes (Daytona 500 and November’s Phoenix race).
2007 Finished seventh in series points. … Had two victories, at the August Pocono race and the August Michigan race. … Recorded six top fives and 14 top 10s … Earned one pole. … Earned a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 in his win at Pocono. … Led the most miles in the series with 1,691.8 miles led.
2006 Finished 16th in series points. … Had one victory, at Bristol spring race. … Recorded seven top fives and 12 top 10s. … Tied for series-high with six poles. … With a win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he became one of only 16 drivers with a win in all three of NASCAR’s national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series)
2005 Finished 10th in series points. … Ended season with three victories (Phoenix in April, Pocono in July and Richmond in September). … Recorded nine top fives and 18 top 10s. … Was runner-up in the Daytona 500. … Finished in the top three in the season’s first three races. … Missed the final two races of the season after being suspended by car owner Jack Roush.
2004 Won the series championship. … Finished with three wins, one pole, 10 top fives, 21 top 10s and a career-low three DNFs in 36 starts. … Earned 1,506 points during the inaugural 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, eight points more than runner-up Jimmie Johnson. Was 16th in the point standings following the Daytona 500, but spent remaining 35 weeks in the top 10. … Was seventh following race No. 26 at Richmond on Sept. 11, the cutoff point for the Chase. … Took the standings lead with eight races remaining in the 10-race Chase and never relinquished it despite a blown engine at Atlanta and a detached right front wheel early in the season finale at Homestead. … Finished with one win, six top fives and nine top 10s in the final 10 races.
2003 Finished 11th in series points. …Early accident in season finale at Homestead-Miami cost him a chance to finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup top 10. … Experienced an up-and-down year with four wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s and a career-high eight DNFs. … Led points for a week following back-to-back second-place finishes at Daytona and Rockingham in the season’s opening events. …Won both Bristol races, Auto Club Speedway and the first Michigan race.
2002 Finished third in series points. … Had a breakthrough season with four wins. … Had three wins in the final five weeks of the season. … Won from the pole at Homestead.
2001 Finished 27th in series points. … Finished third at the first Talladega race, fourth at Texas and fifth at Indianapolis. … Earned first career pole, at Darlington, and led 74 laps before encountering mechanical problems.
2000 Finished 48th in series points. … Made series debut at September’s Dover race… Made seven starts for Roush Fenway Racing. … Best finish 13th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in October.
HISTORY
Runner-up for the 2000 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship and had four victories that season. …In 1999, Busch won the NASCAR Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring championship driving for Craig Keough. … At age 21, was the youngest driver to win that series’ championship … Southwest Series Rookie of the Year in 1998. …Competed in the Southwest Series from 1997-1999, recording seven wins. … Won the 1996 Hobby Stock track championship at the Las Vegas Speedway Park. … The 1996 Legend Cars National Rookie of the Year and Legend Cars Western States champion. … Won Nevada Dwarf Car championship in 1995. … Was the 1994 Nevada State Dwarf Car Rookie of the Year.… Began racing at age 14, in Dwarf Cars at Pahrump Valley Speedway near Las Vegas.
NOTEWORTHY
Younger brother Kyle also competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. … A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and his favorite athlete is Ryne Sandberg. … Loves Italian food.
Team Penske Championship Racing
Team Web Site http://www.penskeracing.com/
Sponsor and Manufacturer Miller Lite Dodge
Owner Roger Penske
Crew Chief Pat Tryson
Engine Builder Penske-Jasper Engines
Team Address 200 Penske Way, Mooresville, NC 28115
Team Phone (704) 664-2300
Team Fax (704) 664-8040
PR Contact Tom Roberts
PR Address TRPR, P.O. Box 890, 3304 Wyeth Drive, Guntersville, AL 35976
PR Phone (256) 508-2595
PR Fax (256) 582-9162
PR E-mail trpr@ix.netcom.com

DENNY HAMLIN

2009-10-26T12:18:00.000-04:00

DENNY HAMLIN

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Nov. 11, 1980
Hometown: Chesterfield, Va.
Resides: Davidson, N.C.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Hobbies: Online racing
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase fourth in the standings with 5,020 points
• Two wins on the year – Pocono (8/03) and Richmond (9/12)
• In 26 starts, he has nine top fives and 14 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• One DNF on the year — Dover (5/31)
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 19 weeks of the 26-week regular season
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, finished eighth in the Chase with three top-fives and four top 10s.
• In 2007, finished 12th in the Chase with three top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, participated in his first full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup season. He became the first – and thus far only – rookie to make the Chase, going on to finish third in the standings. He posted seven top-10 finishes in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2005, only participated in seven races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series capturing three top 10s.
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 141
Career Wins: 6
Career Poles: 6
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2006)
First Full Season: 2006
First Start: Oct. 9, 2005 (Kansas)
First Win: June 11, 2006 (Pocono-1)
First Pole: Nov. 13, 2005 (Phoenix-2)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the third consecutive season in 2008
• Finished third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings in 2006
• Won both 2006 Pocono races from the pole
• Finished fifth in 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings as a rookie
WINS/POLES
WINS: 6 – Pocono-1, Pocono-2 (2006); New Hampshire-1 (2007); Martinsville-1 (2008); Pocono-2, Richmond-2 (2009)
POLES: 6 – Phoenix-2 (2005); Pocono-1, Pocono-2, Richmond-2 (2006); Martinsville-1 (2007); Richmond-1 (2008)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 101.6
Average Running Position – 11.755
Quality Passes - 1,167
Fastest Laps Run - 432
Laps In Top 15 – 5,570
Green Flag Passes - 1,656
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished eighth in series points. … Had one win, at Martinsville spring event. … Made the Chase for the third consecutive year.… Best start of the season was on the pole at Richmond’s spring race, where he led 381 laps before finishing 24th.
2007 Finished 12th in the series standings. … Had one win (at New Hampshire summer race), 12 top fives and 18 top 10s. … Made the Chase for the second consecutive year. … Best start of the season was on the pole at Martinsville.
2006 Finished third in series points. … NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year.… Swept both 2006 Pocono races from the pole. … Completed first full season of competition.
2005 Finished 41st in series points. … Made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas, starting seventh and finishing 32nd. … Competed in seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races and registered three top-10 finishes at Charlotte, Martinsville and Texas. … Earned his first pole at Phoenix in November.
HISTORY
Finished fifth in the 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series points with one top five and 11 top-10 finishes. … Finished 37th in 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points. … Made his first start in one of NASCAR’s national series in the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at ORP, starting seventh and finishing 10th. … Hamlin is a product of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, where he collected nearly 50 wins from 2002-2004. … Won 2003 Southern National Speedway Track Championship, posting 25 wins and 30 poles on the season. … Won his first NASCAR races in 2002 – 10 total – along with 15 poles at Southampton (Va.) Motor Speedway.… Rookie of the Year at Southside (Va.) Speedway in Late Model Stocks. … Mini Stock Rookie of the Year in 1997 at Southside and Langley Speedways in Virginia; youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track title at Langley (16). … Rookie of the Year at Southside… Collected five championships and 127 feature wins in Kart Racing career with limited participation in three classes over two seasons. … Started racing at age seven in Junior Sportsman competition; won the first event he entered.
NOTEWORTHY
Hamlin began his racing career in go-karts at age seven, and from there on his family hasn’t looked back pouring all they have into Denny’s career in motorsports. From the moment he began his family knew he would be a success, so much so that they almost went into financial ruin trying to support his early career. … He now is a successful full-time Sprint Cup driver with a lakefront home right next to his team owner Joe Gibbs. … Hamlin’s favorite driver since he was a boy has been Bill Elliott. … Hamlin also is an avid pilot.
Team Joe Gibbs Racing
Team Web Site http://www.joegibbsracing.com/
Sponsor and Manufacturer FedEx Toyota
Owner Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief Mike Ford
Engine Builder Mark Cronquist
Team Address 13415 Reese Blvd. W. Huntersville, NC 28078
Team Phone (704) 944-5000
Team Fax (704) 944-7538
PR Contact Jon Mason
PR Address Weber Shandwick, 8000 Norman Center Drive, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55437
PR Phone (952) 387-8780
PR Fax (952) 346-6033 PR E-mail jmason@webershandwick.com

TONY STEWART

2009-10-05T14:31:00.000-04:00

TONY STEWART

PERSONAL

Birthdate: May 20, 1971
Hometown: Columbus, Ind.
Resides: Columbus, Ind.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Hobbies: Bowling, boating, fishing, scuba diving
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase second in the standings with 5,030 points
• Three wins on the year – Pocono (6/07), Daytona (7/4) and Watkins Glen (8/10)
• Won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (5/16)
In 26 starts, he has 13 top fives and 18 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Led the standings for 14 consecutive weeks of the 26-week regular season, since Dover (5/31)
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, finished ninth in the Chase with one win at Talladega (10/5), one top five and three top 10s.
• In 2007, finished sixth in the Chase with five top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase by 45 points. Went on to finish the season 11th in the standings, winning three of the 10 Chase races Kansas (10/1); Atlanta (10/29); and Texas (11/5).
• In 2005, won the NASCAR Sprint Cup title for the second time. During the Chase he posted seven top-10 finishes, five of which were top fives.
• In 2004 finished sixth in the Chase with six top-10 finishes and one pole.
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 382
Career Wins: 36
Career Poles: 10
Best Points Finish: 1st (2002, ’05)
First Full Season: 1999
First Start: Feb. 14, 1999 (Daytona)
First Win: Sept. 11, 1999 (Richmond)
First Pole: April 16, 1999 (Martinsville)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2002 and 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
• 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Two-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (2005,’07)
• 1997 IndyCar Series champion
WINS/POLES
WINS: 36 – Richmond-2, Phoenix, Homestead (1999); Dover-1, Michigan-1, New Hampshire-1, Dover-2,
Martinsville-2, Homestead (2000); Richmond-1, Infineon, Bristol-2 (2001); Atlanta-1, Richmond-1, Watkins Glen (2002); Pocono-1, Charlotte-2 (2003); Chicago, Watkins Glen (2004); Infineon, Daytona-2, New Hampshire-1, Indianapolis, Watkins Glen (2005); Martinsville-1, Daytona-2, Kansas, Atlanta-2, Texas-2 (2006); Chicago, Indianapolis, Watkins Glen (2007); Talladega (2008); Pocono-1, Daytona-2, Watkins Glen (2009)
POLES: 10 – Martinsville-1, Bristol-2 (1999); Pocono-2, Martinsville-2 (2000); Infineon, Indianapolis (2002);
Chicago (2003); Watkins Glen, New Hampshire-2, Martinsville-2 (2005)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 101.6
Average Running Position - 11.163
Quality Passes - 985
Fastest Laps Run - 247
Laps In Top 15 – 5,126
Green Flag Passes - 1,710
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished ninth in series points. … Posted one win, the 33rd of his career but his first at Talladega. … Finished third in dramatic Daytona 500, losing lead on final lap to Ryan Newman – his new teammate for 2009. … Announced decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing and become driver-owner for newly-formed Stewart-Haas organization.
2007 Finished 6th in the series points. … Earned three wins, 11 top-five, and 23 top-10 finishes. … Led 20 of 36 races for 980 laps. … Won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the second time in his career.
2006 Finished 11th in series points. … Posted five wins, three of which (Kansas Atlanta, and Texas) were races during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. … Had 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes.
2005 Won second series championship. … Ranked first in points heading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. … Won five races (Infineon Raceway, Daytona, New Hampshire, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen) over a seven-race stretch. … His three poles were at Daytona (July), Watkins Glen and New Hampshire (September). … The Daytona win was Stewart’s first point-paying restrictor plate victory. Won Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona to earn fourth-place starting spot in the Daytona 500. … Had seven top-10 finishes in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, including three runner-up finishes.
2004 Finished sixth in series points. … Entered the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in fourth place.… Finished second in the Daytona 500 after leading 98 of 200 laps. … Scored the first of two wins at Chicago after leading 160 of 267 laps. … Enjoyed a mid-season run that included two wins and five top fives in six races. … Was caught up in an accident and finished 39th at New Hampshire, round one of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. … Was one of four drivers in the top 10 all season.
2003 Finished seventh in series points. … On par to defend series title after four top 10s in first five races, but a string of four DNFs and inconsistent finishes – including consecutive finishes of 41st (California), 41st (Richmond) and 40th (Charlotte) – dropped him to 20th by late May.… Won two races, Pocono in June and Charlotte in October. … Rebounded late in the year with six consecutive top fives (Dover through Atlanta) bumping him from 11th to seventh in series points. … Won second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Richmond in September. … Signed contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in September through 2009.
2002 Won series championship. … Gave team owner Joe Gibbs his second championship in three seasons (Bobby Labonte in 2000 was Gibbs’ other champion). … Championship season marked the fourth consecutive season in the final top 10 in points. … Won three races – Atlanta in March, Richmond in May and Watkins Glen in August.… Bounced back after last-place finish (43rd) in season-opening Daytona 500. … Took lead in points after Talladega race in October.… March to the top began at New Hampshire in July with the first of nine consecutive top-15 finishes. … Clinched championship in season finale at Homestead with 18th-place finish; finished 31 points ahead of Mark Martin in the final standings.
2001 Finished second in series points, behind four-time champion Jeff Gordon. … Started season by winning Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a non-points event; that was his first victory in restrictor-plate racing. … Won three series races. … Won at Infineon for first series road-course victory, with late-race pass of leader Robby Gordon. … Also won at Richmond and at the Bristol night race. … Completed 1,100 miles of racing on May 27, finishing sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and third in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
2000 Finished sixth in series points. … Won six races, including both Dover’s two events. Also won at Michigan, New Hampshire, Martinsville and Homestead. … Homestead win came on day that Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte clinched series championship. … Had streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes.
1999 Finished fourth in series points. … Raybestos Rookie of the Year in first season with Joe Gibbs Racing. … Won three races during great second half of season. … First win at Richmond on Sept. 11, in 25th series start.… Also won back-to-back events at Phoenix and Homestead. … First series rookie to win three races. … Had two poles, plus an outside pole for the season-opening Daytona 500. … Finished second in all-star event after winning all-star qualifying race. … Raced in Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 30, finishing ninth at Indy and fourth at Charlotte.
HISTORY
In 1998, ran 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing, getting two poles and five top-five finishes; also in ’98 ran full IndyCar Series schedule. … Ran five NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Gibbs in 1997. … In 1996 ran nine Nationwide Series races for Ranier/Walsh Racing. … Won IndyCar Series championship in 1997. … Earned 1996 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year; also Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in ’96 after taking the pole and leading the first 44 laps. … In 1995 swept championships in United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown competition, the first driver to do so.…Won 1994 USAC Midget national champion. … In 1991, USAC Sprint Car Rookie of the Year. … Won 1987 World Karting Association national title. … In 1983, won International Karting Foundation Grand National title.
NOTEWORTHY
Stewart’s World of Outlaws sprint car team won the 2001 series title with driver Danny Lasoski and again in 2008 with Donny Schatz.… Stewart’s favorite driver is four-time Indy 500 champion A.J. Foyt, and selected Foyt’s famed No. 14 for his own new ride in 2009. … Appeared in a music video for rock band 3 Doors Down. … Donated $1 million to Kyle and Pattie Petty and their Victory Junction Gang Camp in November 2003. … As a team owner, won the USAC Triple Crown with driver J.J. Yeley. Purchased Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in November 2004. … Named 2004 NASCAR USG Driver of the Year for charitable efforts earning a $100,000 award which he donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camp … Named USA Weekend Magazine’s 2004 Most Caring Athletes along with NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.
Team Stewart-Haas Racing
Team Web Site http://www.stewarthaasracing.com
Sponsor and Manufacturer Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
Owner Tony Stewart
Crew Chief Darian Grubb
Engine Builder Hendrick Engines

THE CHASE DRIVERS 2009

2009-09-17T14:15:00.000-04:00

The Chase Drivers : The Facts

2009-09-17T14:14:00.001-04:00

1. Mark Martin

Hendrick Motorsports :: No. 5 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: This is Martin's fourth Chase. He has qualified every year he has driven full time.
• Past championships: None, but has finished second four times.
• Performance: Martin's No. 5 has been consistently fast, but the team can't afford mistakes, such as the misguided fuel-mileage gamble at Michigan in August.
• Momentum: Martin overcame three finishes of 40th or worse to make the Chase. With his spot in the Chase on the line at Bristol and Atlanta, he responded with top-five results.
2. Tony Stewart
Stewart-Haas Racing :: No. 14 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: Stewart has missed only one Chase, in 2006, when he was knocked out of the top 10 atRichmond.
• Past championships: Two (2002, 2005).
• Performance: Stewart made the most of his close relationship with Hendrick Motorsports by posting three wins and leading the standings after 26 races.
• Momentum: A string of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes, including all three of his wins, ended at Michigan in August. Since then, Stewart hasn't looked quite so bulletproof.
3. Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports :: No. 48 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: Johnson is the only driver to qualify for all six Chases.
• Past championships: Three (2006, 2007, 2008).
• Performance: Johnson says his cars have never been better in the "regular season." But a broken axle at Atlanta is emblematic of the gremlins that have beset the team this year.
• Momentum: In the six events after his victory at the Brickyard, Johnson posted one top-10 finish (eighth at Bristol). He finished 11th at Richmond.
4. Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing :: No. 11 Toyota
• Chase experience: This is Hamlin's third Chase. His best finish was third as a rookie in 2006.
• Past championships: None.
• Performance: Hamlin has been consistently strong and consistently better than teammate Kyle Busch -- even though he has two fewer wins than Busch.
• Momentum: The dark horse pick to win the Chase, Hamlin won at Richmond and posted 10 top 10s with one finish worse than 15th in the 12 races leading up to the Chase.
5. Kasey Kahne
Richard Petty Motorsports :: No. 9 Dodge
• Chase experience: Kahne finished eighth in 2006 in his only previous appearance.
• Past championships: None.
• Performance: Kahne is at his best in a stable environment. To his credit, he has excelled in the merger capital of NASCAR -- RPM. The new Dodge engine has given him the speed to win.
• Momentum: Kahne's pressure-packed victory on Sept. 6 at Atlanta was huge. So was the news that RPM would partner with Yates Racing and switch to Ford next year.
6. Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports :: No. 24 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: Despite having three wins, Gordon failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2005 -- the only Chase he has missed.
• Past championships: Four (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001).
• Performance: The season highlight was a breakthrough victory at Texas in April. Since then, Gordon has been good, but not great.
• Momentum: In the 13 races leading up to the Chase, Gordon posted 10 top 10s, including four runner-up finishes. If consistency can win the Chase, Gordon has a shot.
7. Kurt Busch
Penske Racing :: No. 2 Dodge
• Chase experience: Busch won the first Chase by eight points over Johnson. This is his fourth Chase.
• Past championships: One (2004).
• Performance: The new Dodge R6 engine, introduced last year, has picked up Busch's program, but the team made some questionable choices on setups late in the regular season.
• Momentum: Crew chief Pat Tryson will leave the team at the end of the season. Potentially, that's a bigger wreck than the crashes that knocked Busch out of two of the past three races.
8. Brian Vickers
Red Bull Racing Team :: No. 83 Toyota
Chase experience: None.
Past championships: None.
Performance: Late in the season, Vickers showed he could sustain his speed for an entire race.
Momentum: Vickers announced his Chase candidacy with a breakthrough win at Michigan. In the seven races leading to Richmond, no other driver scored more Cup points. Then he got the job done at Richmond, finishing seventh and beating out Kyle Busch by eight points for the final spot in the Chase.
9. Carl Edwards
Roush Fenway Racing :: No. 99 Ford
• Chase experience: This is his fourth Chase. Last year, Edwards finished second after dueling with Johnson. Edwards won three of the final five races; Johnson won the other two.
• Past championships: None.
• Performance: Edwards just hasn't had the speed this year -- and it's a handling, not a horsepower issue.
• Momentum: The eight races leading to the Chase produced two top-five finishes, but Edwards' best finish in the other six events was 14th.
10. Ryan Newman
Stewart-Haas Racing :: No. 39 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: This is Newman's third Chase, but his first since 2005.
• Past championships: None.
• Performance: More remarkable, perhaps, than Stewart's leading the points at the end of the regular season is that both of the Stewart-Haas Racing cars are in the Chase, particularly after Newman's rocky start.
• Momentum: Newman hasn't won this year, but top-10 finishes at Bristol and Atlanta solidified his position in the Chase.
11. Juan Montoya
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing :: No. 42 Chevrolet
• Chase experience: None.
• Past championships: None.•
Performance: The quintessential points racer, Montoya found a way to reach his foremost regular-season goal -- making the Chase. His No. 42 Chevy also has shown the speed to run up front.
• Momentum: Montoya overcame a couple of speed bumps at Michigan (19th place) and Bristol (25th) with a third-place finish at Atlanta.
12. Greg Biffle
Roush Fenway Racing :: No. 16 Ford
• Chase experience: Biffle finished second (2005) and third (2008) in his previous two appearances.
• Past championships: None.
• Performance: On occasion, Biffle has been the fastest of the Roush Fenway cars, and his over-the-wall crew is arguably the best on pit road.
• Momentum: Biffle saved his Chase spot by rallying from a lap down to finish 10th at Atlanta. But late in the season, he was fighting for top-10s, not wins.

JUAN MONTOYA

2009-09-16T14:45:00.000-04:00

JUAN MONTOYA

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Sept. 20, 1975
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Resides: Miami, Fla.
Marital Status: Married (Connie)
Children: Sebastian, Paulina
Hobbies: Golf, water sports
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase 11th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Zero wins on the year
• In 26 starts, he has two top fives and 12 top 10s
• One pole on the year — Talladega (4/26)
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top 12 of the series standings for 11 weeks of the 26-week regular season — since Infineon (6/21)
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he failed to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup but finished the season 25th in the series standings. He posted two top fives and three top 10s
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but finished the season 20th in the series standings with one win at Infineon (6/24). He posted three top fives and six top 10s
• In 2006, he participated in one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Homestead-Miami (11/19) where he finished 34th
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 1
Career Wins: 0
Career Poles: 0
Best Points Finish: 20th (2007)
First Full Season: 2007
First Start: Nov. 19, 2006 (Homestead)
Best Career Finish: 1st – June 24, 2007 (Infineon)
Best Career Start: 1st – April 26, 2009 (Talladega)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Won first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in 2007
• Won first NASCAR national series race in Nationwide Series event at Mexico in 2007
• 2000 Indianapolis 500 Winner
• 1999 CART Series champion
WINS/POLES
WINS: 1 – Infineon (2007)
POLES: 1 – Talladega-1 (2009)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 89.4
Average Running Position - 14.740
Quality Passes - 1,302
Fastest Laps Run - 173
Laps In Top 15 - 4,309
Green Flag Passes - 2,268
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 25th in series points. … Finished with two top fives and three top 10s. … Suffered a career-high nine DNFs (did not finish). … Top finish was second in the spring race at Talladega. … Best start was sixth in the spring race at Richmond. … Led one year-end Loop Data statistical category – Green Flag Passes (3,090). … Plagued by inconsistency atop the pit box, working with three crew chiefs during the season.
2007 Finished 20th in series points. … Edged David Ragan for Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. … Finished fifth in fourth race of the season (Atlanta). … Won first career race at Infineon after starting 32nd. … Started and finished second at Indianapolis. … Compiled three top fives and six top 10s. … Won Mexico race in NASCAR Nationwide Series.
2006 Finished 71st in series points. … Made one start for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Started 29th and finished 34th at the season finale at Homestead
HISTORY
Made four NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2006 before making Sprint Cup Series debut. Best finish was 11th in his debut at Memphis. … Competed in Formula One from 2001-2006 for BMW Williams and McLaren Mercedes. Amassed seven wins, 30 podium finishes and 13 pole positions. … The highlight of his Formula One career came in 2003 when he won the Monaco Grand Prix, the series’ premier event. … Finished sixth or better in each of his five full seasons in Formula One. … Won the 2000 Indy 500 racing for Chip Ganassi in his first trip to the Brickyard. Montoya started second. … Spent two years in CART, winning 10 races. … Won CART title in 1999, his rookie year. Won seven races in 1999, including three in a row, both rookie records. …Competed in the Formula 3000 series for two years, earning seven wins and the 1998 series title. … Started racing karts at the age of six. Captured several Colombian local and national titles in the Children’s Kart Championship and Kart Komet Division from 1984-1989.
NOTEWORTHY
Traded cars with Jeff Gordon for a publicity event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002. Gordon drove Montoya’s F1 car and Montoya drove Gordon’s stock car.… Is the first Formula One driver to compete full-time in NASCAR.… Was the youngest CART champion in series history. … Set a rookie record by leading 167 out of 200 laps during his Indy 500 win.

RYAN NEWMAN

2009-09-16T14:40:00.000-04:00

RYAN NEWMAN

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Dec. 8, 1977
Hometown: South Bend, Ind.
Resides: Sherrills Ford, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Krissie)
Children: None
Hobbies: Fishing, restoring classic cars
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase 10th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Zero wins on the year
• In 26 starts, he has five top fives and 12 top 10s
• One pole on the year — Lowe’s Motor Speedway (5/24)
• Zero DNFs on the year
• This is the first time since 2005, Ryan Newman, has made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he failed to make the Chase, but finished the season 17th in series points, won the 50th Daytona 500, and posted eight top 10s and one pole at Phoenix (4/18)
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 13th in series points, posting seven top fives, 15 top 10s, and five poles
• In 2006, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 18th in the standings, he posted two poles at Dover (6/04); and New Hampshire (7/16)
• In 2005, finished sixth in the Chase, posted one win at New Hampshire (9/18), eight top fives, and 16 top 10s, it was the fourth consecutive season leading series in poles (eight)
• In 2004, finished seventh in the Chase, posted 11 top fives, 14 top 10s and led the series with nine poles, but his title hopes were dashed by four DNFs in last 10 races of the season
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 286
Career Wins: 13
Career Poles: 44
Best Points Finish: 6th (2002, ’03, ’05)
First Full Season: 2002
First Start: Nov. 5, 2000 (Phoenix)
First Win: Sept. 15, 2002 (New Hampshire)
First Pole: May 25, 2001 (Charlotte)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2008 Daytona 500 winner
• 2002 Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Led series with nine poles in 2004 and eight in 2005
• Led series with eight wins and 11 poles in 2003
• Set rookie record for most poles in a season (6) in 2002
WINS/POLES
WINS: 13 – New Hampshire-2 (2002); Texas, Dover-1, Chicago, Pocono-2, Michigan-2, Richmond-2, Dover-2, Kansas City (2003); Michigan-1, Dover-2 (2004); New Hampshire-2 (2005); Daytona-1 (2008)
POLES: 44 – Charlotte-1 (2001); California, Chicago, New Hampshire-2, Martinsville-2, Rockingham-2,
Phoenix (2002); Atlanta-1, Bristol-1, Charlotte-1, Dover-1, Pocono-2, Darlington-2, New Hampshire-2, Charlotte-2, Atlanta-2, Phoenix, Rockingham-2 (2003); Rockingham, Atlanta-1, Bristol-1, New Hampshire-1, Richmond-2, Charlotte-2, Martinsville-2, Atlanta-2, Phoenix (2004); Las Vegas, Atlanta-1, Texas-1, Charlotte-1, Michigan-1, Dover-2, Atlanta-2, Texas-2 (2005); Dover-1, New Hampshire-1 (2006); Atlanta-1, Charlotte-1, Dover-1, Michigan-1, Charlotte-2 (2007); Phoenix-1 (2008); Charlotte-1 (2009).
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 81.6
Average Running Position - 17.117
Quality Passes - 728
Fastest Laps Run - 82
Laps In Top 15 - 3,973
Green Flag Passes - 1,974
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 17th in series points. … Opened season by winning the 50th Daytona 500. … Also had eight top-10 finishes and won one pole (Phoenix-1). … Eighth consecutive year with a pole. … Announced exit from Penske Racing o drive for new Stewart-Haas organization.
2007 Finished 13th in series points. … Earned five poles. … Finished second three times (Dover, Pocono, Martinsville). Pole at Atlanta ended a drought of 20 races without a pole, the longest of his career. … Won three consecutive poles at Charlotte, Dover and Pocono. … Average start of 13.8 was fifth-best in the series.
2006 Finished 18th in series points. … Won the pole at Dover in June and at New Hampshire in July.
2005 Finished sixth in series points. … Fourth consecutive season leading series in poles (eight). … Scored only win of season at New Hampshire, passing Tony Stewart on lap 199 and holding the top spot by two cars length. … Qualified for the second Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 10th.
2004 Finished seventh in series points. … Strong season slowed by nine DNFs. … Led series with nine poles, including four consecutive from Charlotte through Phoenix. … Held off Kasey Kahne at Michigan to score the first of two wins. … Dominated in his second win at Dover in September leading 325 of 400 laps. … Qualified for the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 10th. … Title hopes dashed by four DNFs in last 10 races.
2003 Finished sixth in series points. … Led the series in wins (eight), poles (11) and miles led (1,509.13) … Had five DNFs in the first half of the season. … Finished 38th or worse in six of the first 15 races. … Scored first win at Texas, but followed with a four-race skid of three DNFs and 39th-place finish at Richmond in May leaving him 27th in series points. … With a victory at Chicago in July, kicked off a 13-race hot streak that included six wins … His series-high 11 poles, including three consecutive at Atlanta, Phoenix and Rockingham, was the most since Cale Yarborough’s 14 poles in 1980. … Finished with a series-high 17 top fives.
2002 Finished sixth in series points. … Topped Jimmie Johnson for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in one of the most heated rookie battles in years. … Set a rookie record with 22 top-10 finishes. … Scored his first career win at New Hampshire in September in his 34th career start. … Became just the second Raybestos Rookie to win the allstar event – following Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. … Led the series with six poles, setting a rookie record for most poles in a season topping Davey Allison’s five poles in 1987. … Had 14 top-five finishes, second only to series champion Tony Stewart. … Tied Stewart in races led (22).
2001 Finished 49th in series points. … Scored first pole in third career NASCAR Sprint Cup start, at Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, tying Mark Martin’s record for earliest career pole. … Competed in seven races with his best finish a second at Kansas. … Also raced 15 times in NASCAR Nationwide Series, winning one race.
HISTORY
In 2000, made stock-car debut in ARCA race at Michigan, then won the next race he entered at Pocono. … Also won ARCA races that year at Kentucky and Charlotte. … In 1999, won USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series national championship with two wins and 12 top-10 finishes. … Won seven times in midgets and once in sprint cars. … Earned Rookie of the Year honors in Sprint Cars (1999), USAC Silver Crown (1996) and USAC National Midgets (1995). … Was also the 1993 All-American Midget Series champion and Rookie of the Year.
NOTEWORTHY
Won the 50th anniversary Daytona 500 to open the 2008 season. … Earned the nickname “Rocketman” after a series-high 11 poles in 2003. … Is a member of the Quarter-Midget Hall of Fame. … Started racing quarter midgets at age four and a half. … Graduated from Purdue University in August of 2001 with a B.S. degree in Vehicle Structural

CARL EDWARDS

2009-09-16T14:34:00.000-04:00

CARL EDWARDS

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Aug. 15, 1979
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Kate)
Children: None
Hobbies: Bicycling, aviation, fitness training
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase ninth in the standings with 5,000 points
• Zero wins on the year
• In 26 starts, he has seven top fives and 11 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• One DNF on the year — Dover (5/31)
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 19 weeks of the 26-week regular season
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, finished second in the Chase posting three wins at Atlanta (10/26), Texas (11/2) and Homestead-Miami (11/16).
• In 2007, finished ninth in the Chase posting one win at Dover (9/23), four top fives and one pole at Phoenix(11/11).
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase, but he went on to finish the season 12th in the standings. It was his first full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup season he did not make the Chase.
• In 2005, ran his first full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup and finished third in the series standings with nine top-10 finishes including wins at Atlanta (10/30) and Texas (11/6).
• In 2004, did not participate in a full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup, he only ran 13 races but posted five top-10 finishes during that time.
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 183
Career Wins: 16
Career Poles: 4
Best Points Finish: 2nd (2008)
First Full Season: 2005
First Start: Aug. 22, 2004 (Michigan)
First Win: March 20, 2005 (Atlanta)
First Pole: Sept. 4, 2005 (California)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series standings
• Finished third in the 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings
• 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion
• 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
WINS/POLES
WINS: 16 – Atlanta-1, Pocono-1, Atlanta-2, Texas-2 (2005), Michigan-1, Bristol-2, Dover-2 (2007); California-1, Las Vegas, Texas-1, Pocono-2, Michigan-2, Bristol-2, Atlanta-2, Texas-2 and Homestead-Miami (2008)
POLES: 4 – California-2, Homestead (2005), Phoenix-2 (2007); Bristol-2 (2008)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 91.0
Average Running Position - 14.016
Quality Passes - 1,102
Fastest Laps Run - 221
Laps In Top 15 - 4,586
Green Flag Passes - 1,828
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished second in series points. … Won a series-high nine races. … Won three races, with a total of eight top-10 finishes, during the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. … Led seven year-end Loop Data statistical categories – Driver Rating (108.6), Average Finish (9.5), Percentage of Laps in the Top 15 (78.6), Laps in the Top 15 (8,426), Fastest Laps (1,091), Green Times Passed (1,818) and Average Mid-Race Position (10.3).
2007 Finished ninth in series points. … Won three races, ending 52-race winless streak. Wins came at Michigan (June), Bristol (August) and Dover (September). … Win at Bristol secured second career appearance in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Started as fourth seed in Chase. … Led 12 races for a total of 515 laps. … Was in the top 10 in points for the final 26 weeks of the season.
2006 Finished 12th in series points. … Experienced sophomore slump, going winless after winning four races in rookie campaign. … Finished the season with 10 top five and 20 top-10 finishes. … Spent the final seven weeks of the season in 12th place, his highest position in the standings all year. … Best finish was second at Michigan (August) and Dover (September).
2005 Finished third in series points. … Entered the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in eighth place. … Won four races, including a sweep of the races at Atlanta in March (his first series career win) and October. Also won at Pocono in June and Texas in November.… Captured his first career pole at Auto Club in September.
2004 Finished 37th in series points. … Finished with one top five, five top 10s and two DNFs in 13 starts. … Succeeded Jeff Burton in the No. 99 after Burton moved to Richard Childress Racing in August. … Started 13 of the final 14 races, the exception being the October event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway; that day, Edwards finished ninth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Texas. … Finished 10th in his first series start in August at Michigan, becoming one of only five active drivers to post a top-10 finish in their first series race.
HISTORY
Finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series with seven wins, a series-high 19 top fives, plus 22 top 10s. … Won 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. Finished season with four wins, 15 top fives and 21 top 10s. … Has 20 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins in 141 career starts. … Finished second in 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings with four wins and 25 top-10 finishes. … Was third in 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings. … Finished fourth in the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points with six wins, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes.Won 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. … Won the Baby Grand Stock Car Association national championship in 2002. … Won two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships at Capital Speedway near Jefferson City, Mo., in modifieds in 1999 and pro modifieds in 2000.
NOTEWORTHY
Was college student at the University of Missouri and a part-time substitute teacher prior to signing with Roush Fenway Racing. … Father Mike won more than 200 feature races driving modified stock cars and midgets at Midwestern tracks. … Works with children’s charities at home and on the road.

BRIAN VICKERS

2009-09-16T14:25:00.000-04:00

BRIAN VICKERS

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Oct 24, 1983
Hometown: Thomasville, N.C.
Resides: Charlotte, N.C.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Hobbies: Cycling, mountain biking, golf, reading
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase eighth in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year — .Michigan (8/16)
• In 26 starts, he has four top fives and 13 top 10s
• Six poles on the year — Auto Club Speedway (2/22), Richmond (5/02), Michigan (6/14), Infineon (6/21), Chicago (7/11) and Michigan (8/16)
• Three DNFs on the year — Daytona (2/15), Darlington (5/09) and New Hampshire (6/28)
• This is the first time Vickers has made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup clinching a Chase berth at Richmond eight points ahead of 13th
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 19th in the standings with three top fives, six top 10s and a pole
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 38th in the standings with one top five and five top 10s
• In 2006, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 15th in the standings with one win at Talladega (10/08), five top fives, nine top 10s and one pole
• In 2005, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 17th in the standings with five top fives, 10 top 10s and one pole
• In 2004, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 25th in the standings. He posted four top 10s and two poles
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 198
Career Wins: 2
Career Poles: 11
Best Points Finish: 15th (2006)
First Full Season: 2004
First Start: Oct. 11, 2003 (Charlotte)
First Win: Oct. 8, 2006 (Talladega)
First Pole: May 15, 2004 (Richmond)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion
• Won first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2006
• Youngest national series champion in NASCAR history
• Earned first NASCAR pole for Red Bull Racing Team in 2008 at Michigan (8/17) and first NASCAR win in 2009 at Michigan (8/16)
WINS/POLES
WINS: 2 – Talladega-2 (2006); Michigan-2 (2009)
POLES: 11 – Richmond-1, Auto Club-2 (2004); New Hampshire-1 (2005); Texas-2 (2006); Michigan-2 (2008); Auto Club-1, Richmond-1, Michigan-1, Infineon, Chicagoland, Michigan-2 (2009)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 87.8
Average Running Position - 14.271
Quality Passes - 1,078
Fastest Laps Run - 161
Laps In Top 15 - 4,030
Green Flag Passes - 1,944
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 19th in series standings. … Was runner-up at Pocono in June. … Earned first NASCAR pole for Team Red Bull at Michigan in August. … Led over 60 laps in both Lowe’s races.
2007 Finished 38th in series standings. … Best starting position was third at Talladega in October .… Failed to qualify for 13 events.
2006 Finished 15th in series points. … Won first career race at Talladega in October … Led 21 laps of Daytona 500 and finished seventh. … Started and finished fourth in both races at Pocono. … Started on the pole at Texas in November race.
2005 Finished 17th in series points. … Season-best finish of second came at Pocono in June. … Won the pole for the July event at New Hampshire. … Finished third at Indianapolis.
2004 Finished 25th in series points. … Won poles at Richmond in May and Auto Club in September. Also had nine other top-five starts. … Best finish was seventh at Atlanta in October race. … Qualified sixth at Indianapolis.
2003 Finished 49th in series points. … Made series debut at Lowe’s in October, in Hendrick Motorsports No. 60 Chevrolet. … Also made four starts in No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to close out season. … Qualified in the top five in four of the five races entered. … Finished season-best 13th at Phoenix.
HISTORY
Joined Hendrick Motorsports in December 2002 and completed his first full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2003.… Earned one pole, three wins, 13 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes en route to series title at age 20, becoming the youngest national series champion in NASCAR history. … Ran 21 NASCAR Nationwide Series events in 2001, posting one top-10 finish. … Made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at The Milwaukee Mile in 2000. … Finished second in USAR Hooter’s ProCup Series in 2001 after collecting two wins, three poles, 11 top fives and 14 top 10s. … Named 2000 USAR Hooter’s ProCup Rookie of the Year, posting two wins and 14 top-10 finishes. … Began racing late model stocks in NASCAR short-track competition in 1999. … Won five times in Allison Legacy Series in 1998. … Four-time North Carolina state go-kart champion. … Three-time World Karting Association national champion (1994-97). … Began racing go-karts in 1994.
NOTEWORTHY
During 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, qualified for Lowe’s May race on a Friday, hurried home for Trinity (N.C.) High School graduation ceremonies, then returned to Charlotte in time to race Saturday afternoon. … Earlier in the 2002 season, Vickers missed his high school prom because he was racing at Bristol Motor Speedway.… Had a 4.43 GPA in high school.
Team Team Red Bull
Team Web Site http://www.teamredbull.com
Sponsor and Manufacturer Red Bull Toyota
Owner Dietrich Mateschitz
Crew Chief Ryan Pemberton
Engine Builder Toyota Racing Development
Team Address 136 Knob Hill Road; Mooresville, NC 28117
Team Phone (704) 660-8383
Team Fax (704) 662-3588
PR Contact Jayme Christianson
PR Address 136 Knob Hill Road; Mooresville, NC 28117
PR Phone (704) 664-8707
PR Fax (704) 662-3588
PR E-mail jayme.christianson@redbullracingusa.com

JEFF GORDON

2009-09-16T10:18:00.001-04:00

JEFF GORDON

PERSONAL

Birthdate: Aug. 4, 1971
Hometown: Vallejo, Calif.
Resides: Charlotte, N.C.
Marital Status: Married (Ingrid Vandebosch)
Children: Ella
Hobbies: Skiing, video games, racquetball, bowling, scuba diving
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase fifth in the standings with 5,020 points
• Two wins on the year – Infineon Raceway (6/22) and Atlanta (9/06)
• In 26 starts, he has five top fives and 10 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 13 weeks of the 26-week regular season
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, finished seventh without a win the entire season. Posted four top fives and seven top 10s with two poles at Dover (9/21) and Texas (11/2).
• In 2007, finished second in the standings with nine top-10 finishes including two wins at Talladega (10/7) and Charlotte (10/13). He also posted a pole at Martinsville (10/21).
• In 2006, finished sixth in the standings with six top-10 finishes and four finishes of 24th or worse.
• In 2005, failed to make the Chase, but finished the season 11th in the standings.
• In 2004, finished the season third in the standings only 16 points behind champion Kurt Busch. Gordon finished the Chase with seven top-10 finishes, five of which were third or better.
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 571
Career Wins: 82
Career Poles: 67
Best Points Finish: 1st (1995, '97, '98, 2001)
First Full Season: 1993
First Start: Nov. 15, 1992 (Atlanta)
First Win: May 29, 1994 (Charlotte)
First Pole: Oct. 8, 1993 (Charlotte)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (1995, ’97, ’98, ’01)
• Three-time winner of Daytona 500 (1997, ’99, 2005)
• Sixth on all-time win list with 82
• Two-time series runner-up -- 1996 and 2007
• Made series debut in historic 1992 season finale at Atlanta -- Richard Petty's final race
WINS/POLES
WINS: 82 – Charlotte-1, Indianapolis (1994); Rockingham-1, Atlanta-1, Bristol-1, Daytona-2, New Hampshire, Darlington-2, Dover-2, (1995); Richmond-1, Darlington-1, Bristol-1, Dover-1, Pocono-1, Talladega-2, Darlington-2, Dover-2, Martinsville-2, North Wilkesboro (1996); Daytona-1, Rockingham-1, Bristol-1, Martinsville-1, Charlotte-1, Pocono-1, California,Watkins Glen, Darlington-2, New Hampshire-2 (1997); Rockingham-1, Bristol-1, Charlotte-1, Infineon, Pocono-2, Daytona-2, Indianapolis,Watkins Glen, Michigan-2, New Hampshire-2, Darlington-2, Rockingham-2, Atlanta-2 (1998); Daytona-1, Atlanta-1, California, Infineon, Watkins Glen, Martinsville-2, Charlotte-2 (1999); Talladega-1, Infineon, Richmond-2 (2000); Las Vegas, Dover-1, Michigan-1, Indianapolis,Watkins Glen, Kansas (2001); Bristol-2, Darlington-2, Kansas (2002); Martinsville-1, Martinsville-2, Atlanta-2 (2003); Talladega-1, California-1, Infineon, Daytona-2, Indianapolis (2004); Daytona-1, Martinsville-1, Talladega-1, Martinsville-2 (2005); Infineon, Chicago (2006); Phoenix-1, Talladega-1, Darlington, Pocono-1, Talladega-2, Charlotte-2 (2007); Texas-1 (2009)
POLES: 67 – Charlotte-2 (1993); Charlotte-1 (1994); Rockingham-1, Richmond-1, Darlington-1, North Wilkesboro-1, Charlotte-1, Dover-1, Michigan-1, Indianapolis (1995); Charlotte-1, Dover-1, Pocono-1, Daytona-2, Indianapolis (1996); Charlotte-1 (1997); California, Charlotte-1, Richmond-1, Pocono-1, Infineon,Watkins Glen, New Hampshire-2 (1998); Daytona-1, Darlington-1, Richmond-1, Michigan-1, Infineon, New Hampshire-1, Indianapolis (1999); Darlington-1, Charlotte-2, Atlanta-2 (2000); Rockingham-1, Martinsville-1, Michigan-1, Infineon, New Hampshire-1, Richmond-2 (2001); Bristol-1, Martinsville-1, Bristol-2 (2002); Martinsville-1,Watkins Glen-1, Bristol-2, Martinsville-2 (2003); Martinsville-1, Michigan-1, Infineon, Daytona-2, Chicago, Bristol-2 (2004); Phoenix-1, Infineon (2005); Dover-2, Phoenix-2 (2006); California-1, Bristol-1, Phoenix-1, Talladega-1, Richmond-1, Michigan-2, Martinsville-2 (2007); Atlanta-1, Martinsville-1, Dover-2, Texas-2 (2008)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 100.4
Average Running Position - 11.597
Quality Passes - 935
Fastest Laps Run - 488
Laps In Top 15 - 5,528
Green Flag Passes - 1,432
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished seventh in series points. … First season since rookie year of 1993 without a win – a streak of 14 seasons, the longest such active streak entering 2008. … Poles came at spring Atlanta and Martinsville events, and at fall Dover and Texas events. … Won a pole for the 16th consecutive year, good for third place behind David Pearson (20) and Richard Petty (18) for consecutive seasons with at least one pole.
2007 Finished second in series points. … Finished with six wins, 21 top fives, 30 top 10s and seven poles. Top fives, top 10s and poles were series highs. … His second career series runner-up finish. … Tied Dale Earnhardt for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list on April 21 at Phoenix; surpassed him the next week, on April 29, at Talladega. … Phoenix win was first at that track. … Had two wins and eight top 10s in season’s final 10 races, finishing 77 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
2006 Finished sixth in series points. … Returned to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup following a year’s absence. … Wins came at Infineon Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway; the latter his first victory at Chicagoland. … Poles came during the Chase, at Dover International Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.
2005 Finished 11th in series points. … Won four races, including his third Daytona 500, and the season sweep at Martinsville Speedway.… Other win came in May at Talladega Superspeedway.
2004 Finished third in series points, only 16 points behind champion Kurt Busch. … Won five races, including back-to-back victories twice: Talladega-Auto Club in the spring, and Infineon-Daytona in the summer. Season’s fifth win was the obvious highlight: A fourth Indianapolis victory.… Six poles was series’ second-best total behind Ryan Newman’s nine. … Led standings four weeks, including the opening week of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. During Chase, never was lower than third.
2003 Finished fourth in series points. … Won three races, sweeping Martinsville’s two events and winning at Atlanta in the fall. … The second Martinsville win and the win at Atlanta came on consecutive weeks, the 14th time he had won consecutive races. … Won poles at both Martinsville races, at Watkins Glen and at Bristol’s summer race. … Climbed to second in the series standings after finishing second at Chicago in July, but finished 24th (New Hampshire) and 36th (Pocono) the next two weeks to drop from serious contention. … Also had runner-up finishes at Atlanta in March, and Dover and Infineon in June. … Also, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the car Gordon co-owns with Rick Hendrick, finished second in the standings.
2002 Finished fourth in series points. … Overtook rookie sensation – and Hendrick Motorsports teammate – Jimmie Johnson in the standings by one place; 2002 was Gordon’s first year as part-owner with Rick Hendrick of Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s team. … Won at Darlington the next week, the 13th time in his career he had back-to-back victories. … Darlington win pushed him to second in the standings with 11 races to go, but four finishes of 36th or lower in the following seven races ended his shot at a fifth title. … Had first DNF (did not finish) in 57 races Sept. 7 at Richmond, dating back to March 18, 2001, at Darlington. … Used first-ever provisional – the first time in 329 events – to start season’s final race at Homestead; was 37th on the grid but managed a fifth-place finish.
2001 Won fourth series title, third on the all-time title list behind only seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. … Series highs in wins and poles with six, the sixth time in seven years he led the series in wins. … Finished second six times and totaled 18 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes, best in the series in all three categories.… Won all-star event for the third time after coming back from a first-lap crash. Also tied Earnhardt for the most wins in the event. … Became first three-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and scored seventh career road course win at Watkins Glen the next week, extending his series record for road-course wins. … Won inaugural Kansas event in September.
2000 Finished ninth in series points. … His three wins – at Talladega, Infineon and Richmond – accounted for the fewest of his career since 1994. … Had 10 top-10 finishes in the final 11 races of the season.
1999 Finished sixth in series points. … Won seven times, breaking a streak of three consecutive seasons in which he won at least 10 races. … Set all-time series record for road course wins, sweeping races at Infineon and Watkins Glen for the second straight year.
1998 Won third series title in four years – his second straight – becoming the youngest three-time champion at age 27. … Won 13 races, tying the seventh-best single-season win total; had four straight wins during summer. … Became first repeat Indianapolis winner.… Scored career bests with 26 top-five finishes, 28 top 10s and seven poles.
1997 Won second series title … For second consecutive season, won 10 races. … Won Daytona 500 for the first time. At 26, became youngest driver to win NASCAR’s top event. … Followed up with another victory the next week at Rockingham.
1996 Finished second in series points, only 37 points behind champion – and Hendrick Motorsports teammate – Terry Labonte.… Mechanical problems in season finale at Atlanta put him two laps down by only the 10th lap and effectively ended his chance to catch Labonte. … Won series-high 10 races.
1995 Won first series title. … Had seven wins and eight poles. … Won back-to-back races for the first time in his career, in July at Daytona and New Hampshire. … Had accumulated 21 DNFs in his first two full seasons; in his first championship campaign registered only three.
1994 Finished eighth in series points. … Got his first win – starting on the pole – at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s, and also won the inaugural Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in his adopted home state of Indiana.
1993 Finished 14th in series points. … Named series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year, becoming the first driver to do so after also winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year (1991). … Took first career pole for Lowe’s fall race, and at 23 was the youngest driver in 30 years to win a 125-mile qualifying race at Daytona.… First career top five was at the Daytona 500 where he finished fifth.
1992 Made first series start at Atlanta in the final race of the season, where he started 21st and finished 31st. … Gordon’s first race also was the last for NASCAR legend Richard Petty.
HISTORY
Set NASCAR Nationwide Series record with 11 poles in 1992; also won three races that season – all from the pole – including his first in NASCAR, in March at Atlanta. … Named NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 1991 following an 11th-place finish in the points; also won U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown Series championship that season. … 1990 USAC Midget champion at age 19, the youngest driver ever to win the title; was also youngest driver ever awarded a USAC license at 16. … Won three quarter-midget national championships and four karting titles. … Won more than 600 short-track races as a youngster after beginning in the sport in his native California at age 5; family relocated to Pittsboro, Ind., where he honed his skills.
NOTEWORTHY
Gordon is one of NASCAR’s most active drivers on behalf of charitable causes. The Jeff Gordon Foundation, founded in 1999, primarily supports charities working on behalf of children in need. The Foundation supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Hendrick Bone Marrow Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. … Hosted Saturday Night Live on Jan. 11, 2003, in addition to making guest-host appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly.
Team Hendrick Motorsports
Team Web Site http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com
Sponsor and Manufacturer DuPont Chevrolet
Owner Rick Hendrick
Crew Chief Steve Letarte
Engine Builder Hendrick Engines
Team Address 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28262
Team Phone (704) 455-0324
Team Fax (704) 455-0322
PR Contact Jon Edwards, Performance PR Plus
PR Address 529 N. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202
PR Phone (704) 377-8727
PR Fax (704) 377-8830
PR E-mail pprplus50@aol.com

KASEY KAHNE

2009-09-16T10:12:00.000-04:00

KASEY KAHNE

PERSONAL

Birthdate: April 10, 1980
Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Hobbies: Racing open-wheel cars, working out, snowmobiling, wakeboarding
'09 RECAP
• Heads into the Chase fifth in the standings with 5,020 points
• Two wins on the year – Infineon Raceway (6/22) and Atlanta (9/06)
• In 26 starts, he has five top fives and 10 top 10s
• Zero poles on the year
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top 12 of the point standings for 13 weeks of the 26-week regular season
PAST CHASES
• In 2008, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 14th in the standings with two wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (5/25), Pocono (6/08), four top fives, and 14 top 10s
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 19th in the standings with one top five, eight top 10s and two poles
• In 2006, he finished eighth in the Chase with two wins at Auto Club Speedway (9/03) and Lowe’s Motor Speedway (10/14)
• In 2005, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 23rd in the standings. He posted one win at Richmond (5/14), five top fives, eight top 10s and two poles
• In 2004, he failed to make the Chase but finished the season 13th in the standings. He posted 13 top fives and 14 top 10s and four poles
CAREER STATS
Career Starts: 206
Career Wins: 11
Career Poles: 16
Best Points Finish: 8th (2006)
First Full Season: 2004
First Start: Feb. 15, 2004 (Daytona)
First Win: May 14, 2005 (Richmond)
First Pole: Mar. 7, 2004 (Las Vegas)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• In 2008, he became the first driver to be voted into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and win that event; then won the Coca-Cola 600 the next week
• 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Won a career best six races in 2006 and earned a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
• 2000 USAC Midget champion
WINS/POLES
WINS: 11 – Richmond-1 (2005); Atlanta-1, Texas-1, Charlotte-1, Michigan-1, California-2, Charlotte-2 (2006); Charlotte-1, Pocono-1 (2008); Infineon, Atlanta-2 (2009)
POLES: 16 – Las Vegas, Darlington-1, California-1, Pocono-1 (2004); Darlington, Richmond-1 (2005); Atlanta-1, Texas-1, Darlington, Michigan-1, Kansas City, Homestead-Miami (2006); Las Vegas, Bristol-2 (2007); Pocono-1, Infineon (2008)
LOOP DATA
Driver Rating - 89.0
Average Running Position - 14.732
Quality Passes - 854
Fastest Laps Run - 216
Laps In Top 15 - 4,119
Green Flag Passes - 1,702
YEAR-BY-YEAR
2008 Finished 14th in series points. … Voted into NASCAR Sprint All-Star race and won; then won the Coca-Cola 600 the following weekend. … Also won the season’s first Pocono event. .. Started on the pole at the first Pocono race and at Infineon Raceway.… Was in the series standings’ top 12 for the first eight weeks of the season.
2007 Finished 19th in series points. … Finished with one top five, eight top 10s and two poles. … Had six DNFs during a frustrating season that saw him dip as low as 36th in the standings. … Earned poles at Bristol and Las Vegas.
2006 Finished eighth in series points. … Finished with six wins, 12 top fives and 19 top 10s. … Won a series-high six races and a career-high six poles. … Earned first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth. … Finished in the top 10 for the first time in his career.
2005 Finished 23rd in series points. … Earned first career win on May 14 at Richmond. … Finished with two poles, one win, five top fives, eight top 10s and nine DNFs. … Earned back-to-back poles at Darlington and Richmond in May.
2004 Finished 13th in series points in rookie campaign. … Captured four series poles – third highest total of the season. … Earned first pole in only his third career start (Las Vegas). … Recorded three top-five finishes in his first four career starts. … Secured third runner-up finish in six weeks at Texas in April. … Missed qualifying for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by 28 points. … Ended the season by compiling three top fives in the final four races.
HISTORY
After spending his entire racing career in open-wheel series, Kahne spent 2002 and 2003 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. … He drove for Robert Yates Racing during his 2002 rookie season, running 20 of 34 events and finishing 33rd in the standings. … He moved to Akins Motorsports in 2003 and finished seventh in the standings, a season highlighted by his first career win – in the season finale at Homestead – and 14 top-10 finishes. … He also earned his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole, at Michigan in August. … Prior to stock cars, Kahne was considered a top open-wheel talent. … His accomplishments include the 2000 USAC Midget title and the 2000 USAC Silver Bullet Series Rookie of the Year.… In 2001, he ran limited schedules the Toyota Atlantic Series and Formula Ford 2000 Series before moving to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2002.
NOTEWORTHY
Hired by long-time motorsports car owner Steve Lewis, who has fielded cars for Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart to compete in the USAC Sprint, Midget and Silver Crown Series during the 2000 season. … Won the “Night before the 500” Classic at O’Reilly Raceway Park in 2000 (teammate Ryan Newman finished second) and 2001, becoming the first driver to post back-to-back victories in the annual event since Jeff Gordon in 1989 and 1990. … Honored by his hometown of Enumclaw, Wash., with Kasey Kahne Day on Sept. 5, 2005.
Team Richard Petty Motorsports
Team Web Site http://www.evernhammotorsports.com
Sponsor and Manufacturer Budweiser Dodge
Owner Richard Petty, George N. Gillett Jr.
Crew Chief Kenny Francis
Engine Builder Evernham Engines
Team Address 320 Aviation Drive, Statesville, NC 28677
Team Phone (704) 924-9404
Team Fax (704) 924-9495
PR Contact Lisa Hemphill, Elevation Group of Companies
PR Address 9800 Kincey Ave., Suite 145, Huntersville, NC 28078
PR Phone (704) 632-2005
PR Fax (704) 632-2001
PR E-mail lhemphill@elevationgrp.com