SRT Motorsports - Weekend Motorsports Preview - June 28

 
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Wednesday, June 27, 2012) – A Midwest summer heat wave will certainly test both man and machine as NASCAR heads to Kentucky Speedway for a weekend triple-header at the 1.5-mile facility located in-between Cincinnati and Louisville.  Some relief comes with the fact races involving the three NASCAR touring series will be at night.

With the mercury expected to climb well into the 90s, physical and mental attrition may play key factors in determining the outcome of Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series event.  Ten races remain to determine the field of 12 that will compete in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup over the final 12 races of the season.

Both Dodge teams from Penske Racing made the Chase last year.  Brad Keselowski is currently 10th in the season standings.  His victories at Bristol and Talladega earlier this year has the driver of the No. 2 Dodge Charger in excellent position for one of the two wild card spots that goes to the drivers in the top 20 with the most wins that do not make the Chase by finishing in the top 10.

“Kentucky is a classic example of a mile-and-a-half track,” said SRT Engineering’s Howard Comstock.  “Even though it’s only our second visit there, engineers in this series have plenty of experience with the high banks, wide corners, big speeds that Kentucky offers and will bring a thick notebook of ideas to help conquer it.  After five weeks away, getting back to a mile-and-half track this week will be like a summer vacation to many in the series."

A.J. Allmendinger (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T) looks to build off his second top-10 finish of the season at Sonoma last weekend and battle his way back into Chase contention.  Allmendinger will drive the same Dodge Charger that made its debut earlier this season in Kansas.  Allmendinger started from the pole and led 44 laps at that mile-and-a-half track.

“Our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team has shown a lot of strength on the intermediate tracks this season,” said Allmendinger.  “We’ve had some fast race cars and have been able to qualify really well.  But we’ve had all kinds of problems – like the fuel system issues and mechanical trouble – that have prevented us getting the good finishes.”

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T) is only 46 points out of sixth in the season standings as drivers continue to jockey for the 12 spots that will make up this year’s championship field but there’s plenty of pressure from behind.  Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch lead the group applying the pressure.

Keselowski will have plenty of track time to get ready for Saturday night’s Cup Series race as the Penske driver will also be in the seat for Thursday’s Camping World Truck Series and Friday’s Nationwide Series events. 

“If you can get your car where it’s comfortable over the bumps in Turns 1 and 2, that’s obviously going to be the fast way around Kentucky,” said Keselowski who finished seventh at last year’s Cup event at Kentucky.  “Sometimes that is easier said than done so some drivers will choose to enter a bit higher to avoid the bumps.  Usually, that will establish a second groove around the middle of the race, which can lead to some great side-by-side racing over the final laps.  It’s definitely a place with a lot of character, despite the fact that it looks like a lot of the other intermediate tracks that we visit.”

What You Need To Know
The Races:  Quaker State 400 (Race 17 of 36)
The Place:  Kentucky Speedway
The Date:  Saturday, June 29
The Time:  7:30 p.m. (ET)
The Track:  1.5-mile oval
The Distance:  267 laps/400 miles
TV:  TNT, 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio:  PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
After a weekend of road racing, the Nationwide Series returns to its customary ovals this weekend for Friday night’s Feed the Children 300.  Dodge earned a trip to victory lane last year when Brad Keselowski (No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger) dominated, leading 132 of the 200 laps en route to the win. 

Sam Hornish Jr. (No 22 Würth Dodge Challenger R/T) remains poised to capture his second-career Nationwide Series win as the driver of the No. 12 Dodge has posted top-10 finishes in three of the last four starts.  Hornish will be making his first-career Nationwide Series start at Kentucky Speedway.  Hornish hasn’t finished lower than 13th since a 20th in the season opener at Daytona. 

What You Need To Know
The Races:  Feed the Children 300 (Race 15 of 33)
The Place:  Kentucky Speedway
The Date:  Friday, June 29
The Time:  7:30 p.m. (ET)
The Track:  1.5-mile oval
The Distance:  200 laps/300 miles
TV:  ESPN, 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Radio:  PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90

 
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Parker Kligerman (No. 29 Cooper Standard RAM) leads RAM into Thursday night’s UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway.  Six of the 11 previous Kentucky winners have captured both a victory at the 1.5-mile oval and the championship trophy in the same season.

What You Need To Know
The Races:  UNOH 225 (Race 17 of 36)
The Place:  Kentucky Speedway
The Date:  Thursday, June 28
The Time:  8:00 p.m. (ET)
The Track:  1.5-mile oval
The Distance:  150 laps/225 miles
TV:  SPEED, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio:  PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90

GLOBAL RALLYCROSS SERIES
Dodge will make its first official entry into the action sports Summer X Games this weekend.  Pastrana Racing 199 will enter two Dodge Darts in Round Three of the Global RallyCross Series race on Sunday in Los Angeles.  Pastrana, the 17-time Gold Medalists at Summer X Games in multiple action sports disciplines, would like nothing more than to give Dodge a piece of Summer X gold. 

“When we went with Dodge, we really took our time with the whole program,” said Pastrana.  “We felt the car out and it was like this is a good platform and we can work with it.  I told the guys, ‘Look, we can win with the car.  We will win with this car.’  The X Games would make that statement a reality.  I feel like X Games is my home.  I’m really looking forward to going out there and, at the very least, putting on a good show and showing everyone and all the doubters that the Dodge is the car to beat.”

Bryce Menzies, the 2012 Trophy Truck - SCORE - Baja 500 champion, will be in the second entry, the No. 99 Discount Tire Dodge Dart.

What You Need To Know
The Races:  Summer X Games (Round 3 of 6 – Global RallyCross Series)
The Place:  Los Angeles
The Date:  Sunday, June 30
The Time:  8:00 p.m. (ET)
The Track:  Road Course
The Distance:  Eight Laps (Final Round)
TV:  ESPN 2 - 6:00 p.m. (ET) – Heat Races
       ESPN 2 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) – Final Round

 
Dodge Weekend Motorsports on TV
(All Times Eastern)
Thursday, June 28
  5:00 p.m. – NCWTS Qualifying (SPEED)
  7:30 p.m. – NCWTS Set-up (SPEED)
  8:00 p.m. – NCWTS “UNOH 225” (SPEED)

Friday, June 29
11:30 a.m. – Sprint Cup Practice (SPEED)
  1:30 p.m. – Sprint Cup Final Practice (SPEED)
  5:00 p.m. – Sprint Cup Pole Qualifying (SPEED)
  7:00 p.m. – Nationwide Countdown (ESPN2)
  7:30 p.m. – Nationwide “Feed the Children 300” (ESPN2)

Saturday, June 30 
  6:00 p.m. – Global RallyCross Series Heat Races (ESPN2)
  6:30 p.m. – NASCAR Countdown to Green (TNT)
  7:30 p.m. – Sprint Cup “Quaker State 400” (TNT)
  8:00 p.m. – Global RallyCross Series Final Round (ESPN2)
   
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