NSCS: Chip Ganassi Racing Advance Notes – Sprint Unlimited – Daytona International Speedway

Chip Ganassi Racing Advance Notes

RACE SETUP

Race:                             Sprint Unlimited – 75 Laps/187.5 miles #SprintUnlimited
Track:                            Daytona International Speedway (2.5 mile tri-oval)
Drivers:                        @jamiemcmurray, @KyleLarsonRacin
Cars:                             No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS, No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS
Television:   Saturday Feb. 13 – FOX (8 p.m. ET)
Social:                           @CGRnascar #TeamGanassi #TeamTarget #TeamJMac

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT

75 Laps of Unlimited Racing: Once again, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season starts off with the Sprint Unlimited, which features 25 drivers racing 75 laps for the checkered flag. The non-points event features pole winners from last season, former Unlimited winners, former Daytona 500 pole winners, drivers who made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup last season and then the highest drivers in points not falling into one of the previous categories. The starting lineup will be set on Friday afternoon when crew chiefs, assisted by fans, will pick at random to set the grid. The race will be broken into two segments, with a competition caution at Lap 25, and only green flag laps will be counted. Jamie McMurray, a 2015 Chase contender, will be making his 10th career start in the Sprint Unlimited, where he has finished runner-up twice. Kyle Larson, who made the race based on points, will be making his second consecutive and career start in the race, where he finished fifth last year.

Singled Out: Also occurring during the first weekend of Speedweeks will be qualifying for the Daytona 500. This season, qualifying for the Daytona 500 will return to single car runs, with the top-12 fastest cars advancing to a second and final round, where the front row for the race will be determined. For the remainder of the field, their qualifying positions will be used to determine which CanAm Duels race they will be entered into on Thursday, Feb. 18, where the complete starting lineup for the Daytona 500 will be determined.

#TEAMGANASSI

Follow CGR on Twitter: Be sure to follow CGR on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No.1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2016 season by following “@CGRnascar”. You can also connect in the social conversation throughout the season with team hashtags – #TeamTarget, #TeamJMac

TWEET OF THE WEEK

@KyleLarsonRacin – @SpotterDerek @DISUpdates I hope you remember how to spot!

@jamiemcmurray – Ready to get back in action @DISupdates especially with this new look on the @McDonalds car for ’16 #NASCAR

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team

Sprint Unlimited: Jamie McMurray will make his 10th start in Sprint Unlimited at DIS driving the No. 1 McDonald’s Chevy SS. In his previous nine starts, McMurray has a best start of second in 2014 and a best finish of second two times (2009 and 2011). He became eligible for the invitation only exhibition race after qualifying as one of the 16 drivers in the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Team McD: McDonald’s, who will pair with Jamie McMurray and the No. 1 team for the seventh consecutive season, will unload in Daytona for the Sprint Unlimited with a new look on the McDonald’s Chevy SS. McMurray, who recently revealed the new livery via his social media channels, will also have crew chief Matt McCall back atop the pit box in 2016. McCall was able to help McMurray secure his first appearance in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in their first season together.

Daytona Honors: McMurray recently competed in the Rolex 24 AT Daytona, where he was part of the four-driver team defending the 2015 win in the classic American endurance race. While in Daytona for that event, McMurray was recognized along with former Rolex 24 AT Daytona and Daytona 500 winner, AJ Foyt. The two drivers helped to officially open the new “World Center of Racing” and each had a unique display of personal racing memorabilia unveiled for fans to enjoy inside the new stadium area at Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Larson and No. 42 Target Team

Larson at Daytona: In only one previous start in the Sprint Unlimited, Larson has a finish of fifth after the random draw gave him a 25th place start. In Larson’s four point’s races at DIS, he has an average start of 24.0 and an average finish of 36.8. While Larson does have one win at Daytona, in a sportscar at the 2015 Rolex 24, Larson’s luck has not been as good in the Sprint Cup series, finishing on the lead lap in only one of his four starts.