Chip Ganassi Racing NASCAR XFINITY Series Advance Notes
RACE SETUP
Race: TREATMYCLOT.com 300 – 150 Laps / 300 miles #TreatMyClot300
Track: Auto Club Speedway (ACS) (2.0-mile D-Shaped Oval)
Drivers: @KyleLarsonRacin, @BrennanPoole
Cars: No. 42 ENEOS Chevrolet Camaro, No. 48 DC Solar Chevrolet Camaro
Television: Saturday Mar. 19 – FOX Sports 1 (4:00 p.m. ET)
Social: @CGRnascar #ENEOSRacing #DCSolar
I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT
CGR in XFINITY at ACS: CGR scored their first-ever XFINITY Series pole position at ACS in September 2004 with driver Casey Mears. In 14 starts at the 2.0-mile Southern California Speedway, CGR drivers have collected one pole, two top-five and two top-10 finishes. The best result came in that same September 2004 race, when Mears finished second.
California Dreaming: This weekend’s race at ACS will be a homecoming for both young drivers. Larson grew up in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento. While Poole was also born in Sacramento, but calls The Woodland’s, TX home.
DC Solar’s Home Race: Saturday’s race will be the first on home soil for Concord, CA based DC Solar. DC Solar is a green energy company that specializes in mobile solar equipment, including generators, light towers, electric vehicle charging stations and telecommunications. DC Solar and CGR created the first mobile generator used for cooling down the engine after qualifying and practice runs, and heating the engine oil to optimum temperatures.
In the Driver’s Seat: Poole will be FOX Sports 1’s “In the Driver’s Seat” reporter and carry the DC Solar on-board camera for Saturday’s TREATMYCLOT.com 300.
#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. 42 and No. 48 teams throughout the 2016 season by following “@CGRnascar.” You can also connect in the social conversation throughout the season with team hashtags – #ENEOSRacing and #DCSolar
TWEET OF THE WEEK
@KyleLarsonRacin – Finished better than where we ran (12th). Got better throughout the race and had a decent last restart. Onto one of my favorite tracks next!
@BrennanPoole – Looking forward to running this weekend in California. Back to the state where I drove for the very first time. It’s an exciting moment for me. #nascargoeswest #DCSolar #bullrush
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
Kyle Larson and No. 42 ENEOS Team
Phoenix Recap: Justin Marks wheeled the No. 42 Katerra Chevy for the 200-lap race to a 15th-place result, his highest oval-track finish in the XFINITY Series. Marks rolled off 13th and ran most of the first-half of the race just outside the top-15. He reported the Katerra Chevy was too loose in the turns. The team made several air pressure and chassis adjustments to improve the handling throughout the day. The improvements made during the second-half of the race allowed Marks’ to race up to a 15th-place finish.
Larson in XFINITY at ACS: Larson enters Saturday’s race as the 2014 winner at ACS, his first career XFINITY Series victory. In three previous starts at the two-mile speedway, Larson has finished no worse than seventh. He has an average starting position of 9.3 and an average finishing position of 4.7. His best start was eighth in 2014. Larson has made two XFINITY Series starts in 2016 (Daytona and Atlanta) and has a runner-up finish in Atlanta.
No Limits, No Compromises, Pure Performance: ENEOS brand motor oil is developed to exceed the highest standards of the automotive industry. There are several locations around Auto Club Speedway to pick up ENEOS brand motor oil with the closest location at the NAPA Auto Parts store at 9361 Sierra Ave in Fontana, CA 92335.
Brennan Poole and No. 48 DC Solar Team
Phoenix Recap: Poole wheeled the DC Solar Chevy for the 200-lap race to a 10th-place result, his first top-10 of the 2016 season. Despite being under the weather, Poole started 17th for the 200-mile race and quickly reported the car was too loose. During the first two pit stops of the race the DC Solar crew made two large track bar adjustments to tighten up the car. With the handling more to Poole’s liking, he made a last lap charge to gain 10th-place.
Poole’s Debut at ACS: Poole will make his ACS XFINITY Series debut on Saturday afternoon. Poole has 12 career XFINITY Series starts on tracks 1.5 miles or larger in his brief career, with a best career finish of ninth coming in March 2015.
TEAM ROSTERS
Nick Harvey – Team Manager
John Probst – Technical Director
Tony Lunders – Competition Director
No. 42 (NXS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Amherst, OH
Rear Tire Changer: Steven Tautges
Abbotsford, WI
Chief Mechanic: Ryan Shea
Tionesta, PA
Rear Tire Carrier: Gene Cornwell
Rock Hill, SC
Front Tire Changer: Steven Price
Lynchburg, VA
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Aaron Schields
Goodland, KS
Spotter: Derek Kneeland
Windham, ME
Jack Man: Graham Molatch
Harrisburg, NC
No. 48 (NXS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Chad Norris
Freemont, IA
Rear Tire Changer: Kenyatta Houston
Bronx, NY
Chief Mechanic: Dwayne Bigger
Montoursville, PA
Rear Tire Carrier: PJ Briody
Austin, TX
Front Tire Changer: Daniel Kincaid
Port Byron, NY
Gas Man: Mike Metcalf
Charlotte, NC
Front Tire Carrier: Ben Fetzer
Fredericksburg, VA
Spotter: Tyler Green
Owensboro, KY
Jack Man: Shane Wilson
Edgewater, MD
ONE TEAM
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, two cars in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, two factory Ford GT’s in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, two factory Ford GT’s in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two Supercars in Red Bull Global Rallycross. Overall his teams have 18 championships and 170 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and six Rolex 24 At Daytonas and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa.
For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com