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2013 Daytona: Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Nationwide Race Preview
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
"Winning at Daytona for my buddies at TaxSlayer is still something we, as a company, want to do really bad, and I want to be the one to do it for them. Their commitment means a great deal to me, and I can tell them ’til I’m blue in the face, but it’ll mean a lot more if I can tell them in victory lane. So that’s our goal. I like running in the Nationwide Series. This race obviously is very important to me. It’s important to TaxSlayer because we are in the crux of tax season. I’ll run their scheme again at Vegas in a few weeks, and hopefully give people a reason to go to TaxSlayer.com."
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Regan Smith
Clean Coal Chevrolet
"We are carrying a ton of excitement into this year. You’ll hear a lot of drivers saying that, but winning the final race last season gave us a lot of reasons to be fired up. "Our tests went well through the offseason. The changes that JR Motorsports has seen, and our close alignment with Hendrick Motorsports, are only going to help us. The things we have been working toward as two companies, to make them one, it’s been good. We feel like we’re part of the HMS organization, and we are. That’s the whole goal and the whole vision. It’s going to help all of us be better."
Kasey Kahne
Great Clips Chevrolet
"I think everybody is geared up for the season to start. There is a lot of talk around what to expect with the racing we’ll see in both series. I don’t think there’s any doubt that it will be competitive for sure. The fans and everyone involved have a lot to look forward to this year.
"I’ve gotten to know a lot of the guys over at the JRM shop. They’re a fun bunch, and I’m looking forward to working with Bummy (crew chief Mike Bumgarner). He spent something like 18 years at Hendrick Motorsports and the experience he brings will be really valuable."
Notes
THE WAIT IS OVER - Regan Smith capped the 2012 season on a high note with a win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The event marked his JR Motorsports debut and his first series victory. Smith has patiently endured the offseason in anticipation to start the 2013 season. Lucky for him, the NASCAR break lasts a meager 14 weeks. Beginning this weekend, Smith is back to command the No. 7 Clean Coal Chevrolet Camaro on a fulltime basis and looks to clinch JRM’s first NNS championship.
FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW PLACES - This offseason included the addition of Mike Bumgarner and Greg Ives to respective crew chief roles on the No. 5 and No. 7 Chevrolet Camaros. Both joined JRM from Hendrick Motorsports. Bumgarner is more than familiar with the No. 5 ride, as he was crew chief for Kyle Busch in the NNS during 2007, winning four races. Ives previously served as the race engineer for Jimmie Johnson’s historic run of five Sprint Cup Series championships from 2006-10.
GREAT CLIPS "IT’S GONNA BE GREAT" SCHEDULE - JR Motorsports welcomes its newest partner Great Clips to the team in 2013. Great Clips will sponsor a JRM Chevrolet in a total of 29 events this season. Kahne will make 10 starts with the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet in NNS competition with Brad Sweet wheeling the ride in 17 events. Jimmie Johnson will drive the entry next week at Phoenix International Raceway. Additionally, Earnhardt Jr. will pilot a Great Clips-sponsored No. 88 Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway in the Aaron’s 312 on May 4.
EARNHARDT FAMILY AT DAYTONA - The Earnhardt family owns 47 wins (in all series) at the historic 2.5-mile speedway. Earnhardt Sr. secured 34 wins, with Earnhardt Jr. supplying 13 victories to the list.
LOOKING TO TIE THE LEGEND AT DAYTONA - Six NNS wins at Daytona give both Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart the most among active drivers. The two trail the overall leader, Earnhardt Sr. by just one win. In both Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series competition Earnhardt Jr. owns 19 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, with two poles and 925 laps led at the facility.
FIRST OF FOUR FOR JUNIOR - Earnhardt Jr. will compete in four NNS events in 2013. The two-time series champion opens the season driving the No. 88 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona International Speedway, and then Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 9). Earnhardt Jr. also sees action in the May 4 event at Talladega Superspeedway. His participation in a fourth event will be announced at a later date.
CREW CHIEF UPDATE ON THE 88 - JR Motorsports competition director Ryan Pemberton will be atop the pit box in the crew chief role for Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona. It marks the first time Pemberton has served in that capacity for his team owner. Pemberton will also crew chief the three remaining races on Earnhardt Jr.’s 2013 NNS schedule.
10th ANNIVERSARY OF DAYTONA SWEEP - 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of Earnhardt Jr.’s domination of the 2003 NNS events at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt Jr. swept both events that season, leading 167 of 220 total laps.
SPEEDWEEKS SUCCESS - Earnhardt Jr. owns nine career victories during Daytona Speedweeks, including three consecutive victories in the NNS event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway from 2002 through 2004. He also accumulated a pair of Sprint Unlimited victories, three Duel victories and a Daytona 500 victory in 2004.
KAHNE’S RECORD WITH JRM - Kahne holds pair of top-five finishes (Kentucky, Loudon) in his two career starts with JRM, both in 2011. His average finish is 3.5 with the team.
KAHNE AT DAYTONA - Kahne has landed five top-10 finishes in his last six starts at Daytona International Speedway, dating back to 2008. He holds 25 victories among NASCAR’s top-three series, but still looks for an elusive restrictor plate victory.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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