Dover II Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
• Allmendinger has made nine starts at Dover (Del.) International Speedway
• Allmendinger enters the race in 15th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finish at the Monster Mile (seventh) came in 2009

AJ Allmendinger on Dover: “Dover is my favorite track. I love The Monster Mile. It’s a really fast track and I run good there, so I’m looking forward to going. My Best Buy team and I are due for a good run, especially after the past two weeks. We need to get our momentum back and I think Dover is the place to do it. We had a fast car there in the spring before we got knocked out of the race with an engine issue. I think this weekend is going to be the weekend for Greg (Erwin) and I to get back on track.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Thoughts on Dover: “Personally, Dover is one of my favorite race tracks. I’ve had a lot of good finishes and success there over the years as a crew chief. Both of the RPM teams had good cars there in the spring, probably amongst the top five fastest cars in the field. AJ ran very well there last year as well. He’s done a good job of adapting to the newer tire Goodyear has run at Dover the last three races. The new tire compound lays rubber down on the track a lot different than it used to.

“This weekend will give us an opportunity to rebound after a tough weekend in Loudon. AJ typically qualifies well at Dover and we are taking a car that has run well for us earlier this year at Indy and Atlanta. Hopefully we can get AJ his first win in the Sprint Cup Series this weekend. That’s really what our goal is from here on out. We really want to get the No. 43 Best Buy Ford a ‘W’ before the season is over.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM team has prepared chassis No.752 for this weekend’s event at Dover International Speedway. This Best Buy Ford has been run previously this season at Texas, Charlotte, Indianapolis and Atlanta.

Notes: Allmendinger has nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover International Speedway. Allmendinger has started on the outside pole at The Monster Mile twice, including this year’s spring race. During last year’s fall event, Allmendinger led 143 of the 400 laps run and brought home a Top-10 finish. Allmendinger enters Dover in 15th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.

Richard Petty and Allmendinger will participate in the Dover Air Force Base Social on Friday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The event will offer live music, free food and entertainment for the Air Force base community. In addition, “The King” and AJ will be signing autographs for the troops and their families.

The sixth of 12 Best Buy “Re-Tailgate” events will occur Sunday. A combination of 100 premiere Best Buy customers and Best Buy employees will be invited to a private shopping/tailgating event. The guests will get the opportunity to meet Allmendinger, and attendees will be given a pit tour before enjoying the race from their grandstand seats.

The Fourth Annual Best Buy Private Shopping Event for NASCAR teams and members will take place Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the Best Buy store in Dover, Del. (1165 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover, Del., 19901) Prizes will be given away throughout the evening and numerous special offers will also be available. The store will be closed to the general public. Just show your hard card or bring a special invitation for access to the store.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Loudon II Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion 

• AJ Allmendinger started in the 13th position for the 300-lap event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Allmendinger finished in the race in the 21st position at the 1.058-mile speedway
• Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 15th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger lined up for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the 13th position. Early in the event, Allmendinger communicated to his crew that the Best Buy Ford was tight in the center of the corners and loose off. Crew Chief Greg Erwin made plans to make air pressure and track bar adjustments during the first pit stop of the day.

Allmendinger ducked down pit road at Lap 64 and the crew went to work to make the planned changes to the Best Buy Ford Fusion as well as bolt on four fresh tires. At Lap 70 of the 300-lap event, he held down the 16th spot and several laps later informed the crew that the car was still tight, but the adjustments had helped to make some progress on the rear grip issues. A yellow flag at Lap 88 enabled the team to make additional changes, including additional adjustments to the track bar. Allmendinger lined up for the Lap 92 restart in the 22nd position.
Erwin called his driver into the pits at the halfway point of the race for four fresh tires, fuel, track bar and air pressure adjustments. The caution flag came out seven laps later, which resulted in much of the field going one lap down to the leaders, who had not yet made their latest round of scheduled pit stops. The No. 43 team opted to take the wave around when the green flag flew at Lap 163 and laps later, when the yellow flag came out once again, the Best Buy team made its way back to the lead lap.

With 50 laps remaining in the event, Allmendinger relayed to his crew that the Best Buy Ford was extremely tight. He held down 24th place with 14 laps to go and was able to pick up three positions in the final laps when several of his competitors ran out of fuel. The No. 43 Ford took the checkered flag in the 21st position.

Allmendinger slipped one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and sits in 15th place heading into next Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Loudon II Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• Allmendinger has made eight starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.
• Allmendinger enters the race in 14th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finish (10th) came in last year’s spring race at New Hampshire

Allmendinger on New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “Loudon has a lot of racing grooves and it’s a flat one-mile track. I’ve always just enjoyed going there because it’s one of our better race tracks and I typically have good runs there. Chicago was a tough weekend for us so I’m looking forward to going to Loudon and putting last weekend behind us.

“We’ve got to have a Best Buy car that is good on the brakes, turns well in the center and has good forward drive off. That’s what we’re going to have to work on during practice. The track gets slick, so the best race car is going to be the one that gets off of the corners well. I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks. We run really well at Loudon and Dover, Del., so I know we’re going to be really competitive the next two races.

“I think I’m really gelling well with Greg (Erwin). Working with him has been great. He’s a calming influence on the radio during the race and really helps me to stay focused on the task at hand. I’m excited to see what the last nine races of the season have in store for us, especially this weekend in Loudon.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Thoughts on New Hampshire: “I enjoy going to Loudon and I’ve won there before so I feel pretty confident about knowing good setups for the one-mile track. AJ is good at New Hampshire and he really likes racing there so I think we are in good shape heading into this weekend. If all goes well this might be the weekend for our first “W” with AJ and the whole Best Buy team.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 729 for this weekend’s event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This Best Buy Ford has been run previously this season at Phoenix, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and both Pocono (Pa.) Raceway events.

Notes: Allmendinger has eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Allmendinger’s best starting position (sixth) came in last year’s fall race at the one-mile track. He has completed 2,202 of 2,359 laps attempted.

Allmendinger enters the weekend in 14th spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. He has finished no worse than 12th place in the last three events at Loudon.

Air Force Major General Michael R. Boera will be a guest at Allmendinger’s pit box this weekend. General Boera is the Director of Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. He is responsible for all functions relating to the acquisition of weapons systems for combat air forces, to include new systems and modifications to existing systems. General Boera is a command pilot with more than 5,600 flying hours and has flown more than 200 combat missions. Besides Operation Enduring Freedom, he has deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Deliberate Forge, Allied Force and Unified Assistance.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Dinger Fan Story #9

Meeting A.J. Allmendinger

I have been a race fan since I was a child; you know, the kind of fan who calls themselves by the name but doesn’t follow the sport like a true fan should.  For as many years as I can remember, I recall sitting in the living room of my childhood home, watching and laughing at my Mom as she would stand no more than two feet away from the television screen during a race, all the while screaming and hollering at the drivers like, if she could get just a little bit louder, that the people on the track could actually hear her.  I have to admit that I was even at times embarrassed by her uncontrollable emotion during a race, which is obviously why I would never invite friends over on a Sunday.  I just never understood how she could take something so seriously, how there was nothing that could raise her blood pressure more than watching a NASCAR Race, and how missing a race on Sunday could be detrimental to her health… maybe even worse than breaking the 11th Commandment.   On February 18, 2001 though, I finally began to understand what was behind all of my Mom’s hype.  In Turn 4 of the final lap during the Daytona 500, I watched with her as Dale Earnhardt, Sr. made contact with the wall, and I comforted her for what seemed like an eternity as she sobbed uncontrollably when the news broke of his passing.   That day was the day that I believe I became a true race fan, getting a real and emotional glimpse into the passion that my Mom had, not only for the sport itself, but mostly for the drivers behind the wheel. 

Since that day, my Mom began purchasing tickets to the Spring Race in Bristol as well as The Southern 500 in Darlington, and each year since that horrible tragedy, we’ve attended most every race together.  I’m so thankful for our mutual love for the sport because it gives us an opportunity to get away together and enjoy our common interest in the sport  as well as to enjoy the wonderful friendship we’ve developed since I have become an adult.  They say that everything happens for a reason… as devastated as NASCAR Nation was over Dale Earnhardt’s death, I believe whole-heartedly that at least one good thing that came from that horrible tragedy; new and passionate race fans were born.

When we began attending races together, I automatically fell in suit with the driver that my Mom pulled for, who of course was none other than Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Son of the fallen Legend, and now the most popular driver in the sport.  Though my Mom seemed content with the connection she had as a Jr. fan, I always felt like he was the most detached driver of them all.  Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for Dale Jr. and admire how well he holds up under all the pressure of the media and fans; I know for a fact that I could never fill those kinds of shoes.  But it has become obvious over the years that with his responsibilities and overwhelming pressure, he just doesn’t have patience or connection with the fans like I’m sure he once did.  I wanted more-so to pull for someone who still seemed outwardly appreciative of their fans… someone who had the time to interact with the people who believe in them most. I even dreamed that maybe, just maybe, I’d end up pulling for someone who could see me at the track someday and actually know me by name.  I know right?  What a long shot!

Since 2001, my passion for the sport has grown by leaps and bounds.  I drove a race car in Charlotte for the Richard Petty Driving Experience in 2007 and will be going again this year in the fall.  I’ve also had a couple of very lucky close encounters with some of the most popular drivers in the NASCAR Circuit, among other reputable names.  Making a very long story short, in the Spring of 2007 I was fortunate enough to end up on the Start/Finish line for the Pre-Race show in Bristol.  This was out of sheer luck, as I obviously did not have pre-race passes, but none the less it turned into an amazing experience with having pictures taken with Billy Currington and Junior Johnson, as well as the Driver of the Truck carrying Tony Stewart having to stop in the middle of the track to allow me to collect my sunglasses which had flown onto the track in front of them by mistake.  I’m pretty sure that I did see A.J. for the first time that day as he came around for the pre-race lap, but at the time unfortunately I didn’t even know who he was; I probably couldn’t have even matched his face with his name if I had to!

It wasn’t until several years later, on May 8, 2010 to be exact, that my “Dinger” fan biography would change forever.   It was the weekend of the 2010 Southern 500, and that day was like any other with the exception of one minor addition. I had secretly purchased three tickets to the Darlington Stripe Zone as a Mother’s Gift to myself, my Mom and Aunt, just to add a little something extra to the Mother’s Day weekend and to put a unique spin on the day.  I had no clue though how special the day would become!   We were halfway through the afternoon and nearing the end of the Pre-Race Event at the Stripe Zone, and though I had enjoyed the VIP Treatment, the meals provided at the event and our great front row seat selection to the stage during the Driver Appearances, I must admit that I was a little frustrated, just being absolutely miserable with the heat and nothing really “special” had happened outside of winning a signed Mark Martin hat.  Now-a-Days, you can spend an arm and a leg to do nothing more than simply sit in the Grandstands, so with the kind of money I had spent for this addition to our day, I guess I was just expecting something a little more spectacular.  My Mom and Aunt had decided during an intermission to take a walk and people watch, but I was afraid to lose our seats so I told them I’d stay seated and wait for them to return.  Just a few moments after they walked off, the DJ announced for us to please welcome A.J. Allmendinger to the stage.  Again, I knew him by name but didn’t know anything else about him besides his car number, the legendary No. 43.  As soon as he sat down, the man who was there to interview A.J. said something that he hadn’t said to any of the other drivers who had appeared that day; he asked A.J. to choose a fan to come onstage for a picture.  Immediately, I started flapping my arms around like a crazy chicken; I can only imagine looking back at how ridiculous I must have looked.  But what were the odds, the chicken flap caught his attention and the next thing I knew, A.J. looked at me and said “What about her?  She looks pretty excited!”  WOW, holy crap, I’m about to take a picture with A.J…. ummm, what was his last name again? J  Never-the-less, I was still stoked, so onto the stage I started climbing, when A.J. stopped me mid-crawl and said “Wait a minute, she’s got on a Dale Jr. shirt, I want to pick someone else!”.  “Oh no” I thought, “He CANNOT pick somebody else!”  My first thought wasn’t very witty, but apparently it’s what I said anyway, which was “Well if you’ll give me a shirt, I’ll wear your shirt instead of this one!”  Um, wrong answer T.J.  Knowing his personality the way I do now, he’s a big kidder and I basically asked for myself to get called out, very publically in-fact.  He responded with “Why do I have to give you a shirt?  Did Dale Jr. give you that shirt?”  I’m sure you can all imagine the immense embarrassment I was feeling at the time; I was so humiliated that I wanted to crawl UNDER the stage. Thankfully though, he was only joking around, and he took the picture with me anyway, despite my bright green #88 tee-shirt.  Of course, my day was totally turned around and I couldn’t wait for my Mom and Aunt to come back so I could show them the picture of us together.  Needless to say, they didn’t exert the same enthusiasm that I had, I assume because they were in the same boat I was when he first walked in… “A.J. Whats-his-Face”.  LOL!  That evening, unfortunately, A.J. had a pretty bad crash with Jimmy Johnson that inevitably ruined his night and he didn’t finish the race.  By that point though, I was too far gone and knew that I would be a Dinger Fan for the rest of my life regardless of his finish that evening.  This was fate I thought, “He’s A.J. and I’m T.J…. it’s destiny that I now root for someone who also goes by their initials!” 

The months passed by and I learned more and more about A.J, including where he was from, how he began racing as a child, about his marriage to Lynne who was a Chiropractor and former model, and all about  his incredible journey that led him to the NSCS.  My Grandmother was a big Richard Petty fan prior to her death; childhood stories even recall that she slow danced with Richard once, at Darlington Raceway no doubt, so I felt that it was truly an act of fate that eventually led me to root for someone who drove for the Petty organization.   With all that I had learned about A.J., I had also broadened my knowledge about the sport, watching programs such as RaceHub on SPEED and all of the Race Day Pre-race shows.  I learned all of the rules, all the driver numbers and all about how the points system worked.  Things for me as a true race fan were coming full circle and I was so excited to now carry the same knowledge as my Mom when we would attend races together. 

Around the end of January, 2011, I decided to give Twitter a try.  A lot of my friends were raving at how great the site was to keep up with celebrities, but I’m sure they weren’t thinking of the same celebrities that I was thinking of, because Racing was on my mind while Hollywood was on theirs!   I made a vow to myself when I signed up on Twitter to not associate with any of my real life friends because I knew that I wanted to talk basically about nothing but racing; no one I knew other than my Mom shared the same passion that we did for the sport and I was not prepared to hear any jokes about my obsessions for cars going around and around in a circle!  LOL!

One of the first people I found and followed on Twitter was DingerWorld, which is the website you’re reading this story on now.  Tracy is the founder of the site and as it turned out by small talk with her, she’s just like me, a fan who is passionate about A.J. and his talent.  At first, I didn’t even know how to operate the Twitter site, so she kind-of showed me the ropes.  A week or so later, I tweeted the picture of A.J. and I together in Darlington, but what happened next was beyond my wildest imagination!  DingerWorld re-tweeted my picture and told her followers to follow me because I was a “Crazy AJ Fan too!”  Next thing I knew, I checked my @Mentions and saw that A.J.’s wife Lynne had apparently seen DingerWorld’s tweet and had replied to me!  Her tweet said “Nice to meet ya!  Great pic.  I showed it to AJ just now”.  Wow, seriously?!?!  I was hyperventilating!  Not only did I meet this hilarious driver (with awesome hair) in Darlington and have my picture taken with him (Which OMG I was looking extremely rough that day and had lost about 30 pounds since then), but now he’s seeing the very same picture again almost a year later!  I was freaking out!  This was totally insane! 

That tweet was all it took to get me totally hooked.  It confirmed to me that the Dinger’s, both AJ and Lynne alike, were just normal and real people who just happened to race for a living.  They were nothing like the “Class A” drivers that you hear the most about on television, they were actually far better in my opinion and I now knew why I had never agreed to settle with pulling for someone who didn’t have a connection with their fans.  I was on top of the world and A.J., Lynne or DingerWorld even realized how much all of this made my day!!  In the days to follow, I found and followed the entire Dinger family, along with Paul, the PR from Best Buy, The Spotter and RPM.  I became an official member of A.J.’s fan club, purchased a couple of autographed A.J. items for my office as well as a 2011 A.J. Calendar!  If I was going to be his biggest fan, I had to publicize it by showcasing my Dinger gear with pride!

After a few disappointing missed opportunities to see A.J. at the track in Bristol and Darlington, on the last week of May 2011, I learned through Twitter and Facebook posts that A.J. would be appearing at the Best Buy Mobile in Gastonia on the 25th as well as the Richard Petty Fan Day on the 26th.  I knew that since I couldn’t afford Pit Passes to races on a regular basis, that this would be my best shot to see A.J. again.  I first considered attending the Fan Day, but it would have meant having to get up and on the road by approximately 3:00 AM in order to even have a shot to see A.J. again.  I resolved that the mall appearance would be a much better shot; I would leave work early on the 25th and attend the Best Buy Mobile appearance instead.  Not to mention, going to the mall event would also mean having the opportunity to meet Paul, A.J.’s PR with Best Buy who I had chatted with several times on Twitter. 

The day finally arrived after what seemed like an eternity (3 days I think, LOL), and as I awaited the time to get on the road to start heading to Gastonia, I had the idea to burn a CD for A.J. and Paul.  It would be called “Race Day Mix”, filled with some of A.J.’s favorites along with some great road rage music to get him pumped up before each race.  I know what everyone is thinking, CHEESY, and you’re right, but I didn’t even care, and besides it was a kick a*s CD!  I arrived at the mall really early and was surprised to see that there were no fans waiting.  I reserved my spot up front and waited patiently.  When A.J. arrived, I was shocked to see that the crowd was small but I assumed that since this was a hometown appearance, most of the residents of the area were probably used to seeing the drivers and they weren’t as stoked about it as I obviously was!  Also, I was kind-of freaking out b/c with the lack of people there, it would mean more of a chance for me to get to talk with him and hopefully have another picture taken!  1, 2, 3 Breathe T.J.!!!

When A.J. arrived, wow, I was more nervous than I ever imagined.  I nervously walked up to have my autograph signed and I was FLOORED when he told me that he remembered me from the previous year and that he had been reading my Tweets!  Seriously, with over 18,000 followers, he read MY TWEETS?!?  Okay, here comes the hyperventilating again… this is beyond insane!  After a few minutes, when he was finished signing autographs, he agreed to drive in the simulator with me.  Here was my shot to beat him at his own craft; I really had to show up for this challenge!  Yeah well, that didn’t work out like I had planned… I totally cracked under the pressure.  I’m also pretty sure that the stupid simulator was rigged because I smashed into the wall on the first lap before I even entered turn one and with no reverse, I was stuck there for the entire race.  I was cheated, I don’t care what A.J. said!  I KNOW I could beat him next time! J  I was definitely embarrassed beyond words at the first lap crash, but my demise and immobility in the game did at least give me the opportunity to talk to him for a few minutes and watch him do what he does best, all while riding passenger… NO complaints there!  At the end of the race, he found my car parked head first into the wall and T-boned me in the driver’s door.  To this he added, “Now THAT’S how you wreck someone”!  Not nice A.J.!  LOL! 

After our simulator experience, there was still another hour left in his appearance.  Though I could have easily hung out there all night long, I really needed to start heading back home as I had at least a two hour drive ahead of me.  Besides, I was pretty sure this Cali Boy NASCAR Celebrity wouldn’t want to talk with a small-town Southern Belle from South Carolina for the next hour!  As I was leaving, I asked for a picture with him, which he graciously granted.  I also got a picture with Miss Sprint Cup as well as with Paul, who was much taller than A.J. and I both!  I do feel like I need to mention though that A.J. was actually a smidge taller than me and his hair looked perfect as always!   I nervously gave A.J. and Paul the CD’s that I had made for them and made my exit from the mall to head to my car.  On the two and a half hour drive home, you couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face.  Truth be told, I may have even broke out a dance or two while driving!  That evening was more than I could have ever hoped for.  Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would have gotten that much interaction with a rising NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver and actually carried on a conversation with him.  Wow, what a night. 

As I was pulling into my driveway at home, I decided to check my Twitter from my cell phone.  Now, looking back, I wish I had waited until the next morning because what I saw caused me to lose sleep that night… A.J. had Tweeted to me!!!!  His Tweet said “Just got done with Best Buy and Sprint Appearance. Listening to the AJ Race Day mix that @tj_chloes_mommy made for me. Great songs!”  I was on top of the world, literally.  No one could have brought me down off the natural high I was feeling at that very moment!  As if my night weren’t amazing enough, A.J. had personally mentioned me in one of his tweets.  “Cloud 9”, that’s such an understatement.  I had now met A.J on two different occasions.  I was embarrassed both times, but at each meet and greet he made me feel like he had known me forever.  He treated me like a friend, someone he had known all his life.  I was truly touched.

In closing, I will simply say that I believe A.J. Allmendinger has so much more than most of the other drivers on the circuit.  With his profession, he’s passionate, driven, determined and steadfast in his goals.  On a personal level, he’s got an insanely funny sense of humor, great hair and I think we can all agree that he has definitely brought “sexy back” into the sport. J  Finally, and most importantly, with his fans, he seems to be appreciative, courteous, generous and selfless.  A.J. seems to understand that his fans truly believe in him and he knows that we are his biggest supporters.  He hasn’t yet risen above the thought of slowing down to sign autographs for the people who have rooted for him and helped push him to the top.  That’s a rarity now-a-days when you watch the drivers interacting with the people on Pit Road; you don’t normally see drivers devote the kind of time to their fans that A.J. does.  He’s also not ashamed to admit that his fans keep his head in the game and that we keep him pushing for more.  He’s down and out after a race when he doesn’t think he’s given us all we’ve deserved and that says so much about him as a driver.  He’s determined to get a win, for himself and for his team, but I believe it’s mostly for the people who believe in him every single week, year in and year out.  The boy has without a doubt got mad skills and talent; it’s only a matter of time before he will find victory circle, I’m certain of that! 

I am so thankful for the events that have led to me to becoming one of A.J. Allmendinger’s biggest fans. I know that I could have never picked a better driver or person to support.  No one knows what his racing future will hold, but one thing is certain, I will follow him and cheer him on to the very end.  In the two times that I have met him, he has made me feel like I was actually someone important and he treated me like a friend, something more than just one of 18,000+ fans.  That meant more to me than words could ever possibly express.  Thank you A.J. and I look forward to seeing you again someday!    

Finally, I’m grateful for this opportunity to share the impact that meeting A.J. has made on my life and my passion for the sport.  Tracy, thank you so much for offering this unique opportunity.  Without it, people may have never realized how much sincerity is in the hearts of race fans such as myself.  There aren’t too many NASCAR Celebrities who care to know about those who pull for them, and I feel like it is such a special touch that you’ve offered this opportunity to share our stories!  I’m also attaching some of the photos from my racing experiences; these are very dear to me and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!  Thank you again!!


T.J.
Leesville, SC

Allmendinger: Windy City brings the rain

Chicago Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• AJ Allmendinger started in the 18th position for the 267-lap event at Chicagoland Speedway
• Allmendinger, finished in the race in the 27th position at the 1.5-mile speedway
• Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 14th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: After rain showers moved over the track all day and evening Sunday, NASCAR officials were forced to postpone the Sprint Cup Series Race at Chicagoland Speedway until Monday afternoon. AJ Allmendinger lined up in the 18th position for the start of the 400.5-mile event but fought a tight car in the early laps of the race.

After running several laps, Allmendinger communicated to Crew Chief Greg Erwin that the Best Buy Ford felt like it was lacking speed. A competition caution on Lap 30 allowed Erwin to call the No. 43 into the pits for a track bar and air pressure adjustment and four fresh tires and fuel in an effort to help remedy the handling issues.

Restarting in the 21st position, Allmendinger quickly relayed to Erwin and crew that the changes made during the previous pit stop had not helped the handling of the Best Buy machine and the car was still very tight. Continuing to fight an ill handling race car, Allmendinger fell a lap down in the early stages of the 267-lap event and worked hard to get himself in the “Lucky Dog” position for the remainder of the race.

A tight condition plagued the Best Buy Ford for the majority of the day, but Erwin and the No. 43 crew refused to give up and made air pressure, track bar and wedge adjustments during the ensuing pit stops. By the halfway mark of the race, Allmendinger told the crew his car was turning better in the corners, but he was running in the 24th position still a lap behind the leaders.

With just 55 laps remaining, Erwin called the No. 43 machine down pit road one last time for two right side tires and fuel. Restarting in the 26th position, Allmendinger let his crew know the car was getting better, but the effort came too late and Allmendinger was unable to gain any ground on the field.

As the laps wore on, Allmendinger continued to fight to put himself in position to get his lap back, but the cautions never fell at the right time and the Best Buy Ford held down the 27th position at as the checkered flag flew at Chicagoland.

Allmendinger slipped one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and sits in 14th place heading into next Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Chicago Qualifying Quotes

Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Stanley/Dewalt Ford
Qualified 17th
“We had a great one and two and I have to thank my Stanley and Dewalt team for a much better qualifying. I just got tight off of four and started to shake the tires. I don’t know. We were close. I think with another quarter pound of tire pressure we might have had something.”

***

AJ Allmendinger, No. 43 Best Buy Ford
Qualified 18th
“I don’t know what happened. We didn’t have that problem yesterday but we just bounced it off the race track in three. I probably drove it in too deep. It just crashed to the ground so when it crashed it got the race track and when you are this fast and not in the throttle we missed it. I am not very happy with the lap. At times we have had the car really fast and at other times it is not as quick. I think track position will be key. I was hoping to start out higher but we will just have to pass some race cars tomorrow.”

Credit - Ford Racing

Chicago Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• Allmendinger has made three starts at Chicagoland Speedway
• Allmendinger enters Chicago in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finishes (13th) at the 1.5-mile track came in 2008 and 2009

Allmendinger on Chicagoland Speedway: “Chicago is not the typical 1.5-mile track like Texas or Charlotte, it’s more like a Kansas shaped race track with a D-shaped back straightaway, so it makes for a little bit of a different setup for us. Overall I’ve been average at Chicago; I’ve finished either 13th or 14th each time I’ve run there. This will be the second 1.5-mile track for Greg (Erwin) and I to work together on. We ran well at Atlanta and I’m looking forward to working with him this weekend to see if I can get better at these intermediate tracks and learn some things from Greg. I’m excited about going to Chicago. We’ve had Top-12 finishes in the past five consecutive races and I’m looking forward to keeping that streak alive this weekend and putting the Best Buy Ford in Victory Lane.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Thoughts on Racing at Chicago: “I like going to Chicago. Now that the Chase is over for us, we can just focus on going out and getting the ‘W’ each weekend. We’ve had five straight weeks of Top-12 finishes and I’m excited for the last 10 races of the season. I know that we are going to get to Victory Lane one way or another and why not start in Chicago?

"AJ has run well in the past at Chicagoland even though it is one of the more difficult 1.5-mile tracks we go to. The track is pretty bumpy and our cars haven’t done quite as well with some of the setups we have tried to run at tracks with rough racing surfaces this year. We are really going to have to focus on coming up with a setup for the Best buy Ford that will give us a good option on making the front end work well in the corners this weekend.”

Erwin on Working with Allmendinger: “I’ve really enjoyed working with AJ the past couple months. He listens well and is really trying to make himself better and better as a driver each weekend. AJ is like a sponge. He soaks up all the information we give him. He has been studying films and in-car camera angles of past races and is doing a great job of learning from those films and applying what he learns each week at the race track.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team has prepared chassis No. 783 for this weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway. This Best Buy Ford is a brand new car and has not been run previously this season.

Notes: Allmendinger has three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway and has completed 100 percent of laps attempted (801) at the 1.5-mile track. He has an average finishing position of 13.3 at the Joliet, Ill. Speedway. Allmendinger enters Chicago in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.

Can’t get enough of AJ? The Dinger will be appearing at the Best Buy store in Orland Park, Ill. (15854 South La Grange Rd., Orland Park, Ill., 60462). The appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, from 6-7 p.m. CT and is open to the public.

Allmendinger’s 11th place effort on Saturday at Richmond International Raceway marked his fifth consecutive Top-12 finish.

This weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway marks the first race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Top-12 drivers in the point standings will vie for the series championship in the last 10 races of the season.

Don’t miss out on your chance to meet “The King!” Richard Petty will be signing autographs at the Goodguys WIX Filters Speedway Nationals at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sept. 17, from 2:30-4 p.m. at the WIX Filters booth located on the Midway.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Tuesday Ramble: No Chase, No Problem

The Best of the Rest

The Chase field was locked in last Saturday night at Richmond with no big surprises or last minute changes. It would have made it more exciting if someone had pulled off the “win and in” scenario by taking a victory in the race and stealing a wildcard spot. It would have been especially nice if the driver who pulled that off was AJ Allmendinger, but there is no disappointment for this Dinger fan that it didn’t play out that way. A win was a long shot considering the stage of development that the #43 Best Buy team is at. I was very pleased that they put together another solid run, had a fast car, and fought through some adversity to make it back for an eleventh place finish. Not just pleased – I was thrilled!

I’m a big picture kind of NASCAR fan. I try not to invest too heavily in one particular race or even one particular season and let that define success for my driver. I’ve been a fan of AJ’s since he came into the sport full time in 2007. When you spend two seasons agonizing over every qualifying session just to know if your driver is going to race or not, the definition of success is subjective. Just making the races in those days was a victory, and then top 30 finishes which gradually progressed to top 20’s. Then it started all over again when he moved to what is now Richard Petty Motorsports. Sponsorship was race to race in 2009 and then 2010 brought a whole new issue with the financial stability of the team. Even making it to the race track each weekend wasn’t a given.

So a Chase berth, or even a race win, doesn’t define success for me when I look at AJ. It’s the overall experience that he has gone through, and the constant improvement that he has shown that’s impressive to me. AJ’s career in stock cars reminds me of the way things used to be in the sport when drivers started out with lower-tier teams and gradually worked their way through the ranks. AJ had a steep learning curve coming into NASCAR with a first-year team and first-year manufacturer, especially considering the fact that he had no stock car experience. It wasn’t that way for a lot of this year’s championship contenders like Johnson, Gordon, Hamlin, Busch, etc where they came to the Cup series with race winning equipment and established, championship-caliber team owners.

To me there is no disappointment at all in the #43 team not being in the Chase. I would have loved to see it happen for them, because I think that the driver, crew chief, team, and sponsor all deserve to be talked about on a weekly basis, which won’t happen now that they aren’t in a Chase spot. They have so much to hold their heads high about, however. It has been a solid season for AJ and his team. They’ve had fast cars, and other than getting bitten by strategy a couple of times, for the most part have just had some really solid runs.

The biggest positive factor I’ve taken from this year so far is the constant improvement. I’ve watched them progress from a top 20 team to a top 15 team, and they are now showing the potential to be a top 10 team. It won’t be long before they’re a consistent top 5 team, and once they are in the position of being in the top 5 on a regular basis, the opportunity to win will be there each week. I know it’s coming – it’s just a matter of time and making sure they’re in position to make it happen.

Stealing an unexpected win in the next ten races would be great, but gaining consistency and earning a solid win next year is even better. Because that means the potential is there to continue winning on a regular basis. The #43 team has one of the most talented drivers on the circuit, an excellent crew chief in Greg Erwin, and very fast cars. It’s just a matter of putting all those ingredients in the mix and adding a dash of luck in order to attain those wins. What they don’t need is a lot of pressure by people saying that they have to win this season. They don’t have to win to prove anything. Their constant progression forward and the way that whole organization has bounced back from the uncertainty of last year is proof enough that they’re on their way to winning.

There are still a lot of goals that I’m sure AJ and team would like to attain before the year is out. A pole win would be great, and is definitely a possibility since AJ has three 2nd place starts already this year. Some more top 5’s to add to his one in the first Charlotte race would look good in the statistics book. Finishing top 15 in points is also a very attainable goal considering they’re currently in 13th. In fact, there’s a very good chance of them keeping that 13th position – the best of the rest, so to speak. So win or not, Chase team or not – the #43 group still has great things ahead this year.

Unfortunately, next year isn’t locked up for sponsorship yet at RPM. Economic times are taking their toll on corporations, large and small. Those advertising dollars spent in the sport are getting harder and harder to justify, but faith in AJ and his team look justified to me. Sponsors should be knocking on the door to get their company’s name on the #43 car. If they’re not – those sponsors are going to be missing out on trips to Victory Lane in the future. I’d be willing to put my money on it, and so should they. Because when I look at AJ and the #43 team, I see a Chase team. Just because it didn’t happen this year doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. It will. Bank on it!

Richmond II Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• AJ Allmendinger started in the 9th position for the 400-lap event at Richmond International Raceway
• Allmendinger finished the race in the 11th position
• Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger lined up in the ninth position for the start of Saturday night’s 300-mile event at Richmond International Raceway. He remained inside the Top 10 through the first 50 laps and let Crew Chief Greg Erwin know that the Best Buy Ford was loose in the corners and tight in the center during much of that time.

A Lap 53 caution gave the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team the opportunity to make an air pressure adjustment to the right rear tire when Allmendinger brought the car into the pits for a routine four tire stop at Lap 59. He lined up 19th for the restart. Though he communicated to the team that he was struggling with forward bite, Allmendinger was able to pick up several positions, and by the time another yellow flag was in the air, he had worked his way into 16th place. After a quick pit stop, Allmendinger lined up for the Lap 123 green flag in 14th place.

Richmond’s short track showed no mercy Saturday night and there was hardly a car in the field that didn’t make contact with something or someone. Allmendinger suffered minor fender and splitter damage to the car prior to the lap 200 mark and the crew worked to make quick repairs during subsequent pit stops.

Allmendinger’s Best Buy Ford hovered around the Top 10 until a Lap 243 pit stop for four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Several laps after hitting pit road under green flag conditions the caution flag flew and Allmendinger and crew found themselves a lap down to the leaders, who had not yet pitted. Allmendinger let the team know that the last set of changes were a step in the right direction and patiently worked his way into position to be the recipient of the Lucky Dog award. The plan worked and the No. 43 was awarded the Lucky Dog during a Lap 288 caution.

With 100 laps remaining in the Wonderful Pistachios 400, Allmendinger held down the 22nd spot. Able to stay out of trouble in the closing laps, Allmendinger wasted no time making his move to the front of the field. When the checkered flag fell on the event, the No. 43 Ford sat in 11th place.

The Best Buy Racing team’s 11th place effort on Saturday was its fifth consecutive Top-12 result. Allmendinger remains in 13th position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. Next weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway marks the first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The top 12 drivers will vie for the series championship.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Allmendinger: Richmond or bust

Richmond II Qualifying Quotes

AJ Allmendinger, No. 43 Best Buy Ford
Qualified 9th
“It was okay. I really tried to roll into turn one and get a lot of speed and see if I could cut it and get a good run off but I over did it a little bit. I got loose coming to the white. If I could do it over again I would like to but it is what it is. That is alright. We should be around tenth and that is a decent stop to start from.”
***

Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Stanley Ford
Qualified 33rd
“You know, I am just confused right now. I thought that was better than that. I thought that was a decent lap but turns out that it wasn’t. I don’t really know right now what we need to get better at for tomorrow, but we will get to work on it.”
Credit - Ford Racing

AJ Allmendinger & Joey Logano Chase Wild Card Press Conference

Credit - http://www.gojoeylogano.com

Richmond II Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
• Allmendinger has made nine starts at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway
• Allmendinger enters the race in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finish (seventh) at Richmond came in this year’s spring race

Allmendinger’s Thoughts on Richmond and Making the Chase: “We know the chance is still there to make the Chase. It’s still wide -open and if we win, anything can happen after that, but for me, like I said from the beginning, the Chase doesn’t define the season. I’d love to get in the Chase, that’s the ultimate goal, but as a race team we keep getting better and that’s what really matters. If we can go into these last 11 races and get to Homestead and be far better than we were when we started, that is a great season for me and my whole Best Buy team. We’re getting there. We still have a little ways to go, but every week I feel like we improve.”

Allmendinger’s Thoughts on His Team Dynamic: “I feel like we are really clicking as a team. I felt like we legitimately had a top-five car in Richmond, then when we got the damage, that’s what makes a good race team because we fought back. At Michigan we didn’t have a great car but we got an 11th out of it, so it’s things like that where we can go and keep finishing well that makes a good team. That’s where we are as a team right now. We’re about an eighth to a 12th or 13th-place race team, but that’s better than where we had been, so that’s the improvement I’m looking for.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Keys to Getting Around Richmond: “AJ has been pretty fast and very competitive at Richmond and it has been one of his stronger race tracks the past two years. He’s coming off of a strong finish at Atlanta and that should give him a good boost of momentum going into this weekend. This is a car that has run well at other races this season, so we are looking forward to a good run in the Best Buy Ford this weekend.”

Erwin on Challenges at Richmond: “The hardest thing about Richmond is that at the end of the race it’s hard to be able to keep the rear tires hooked up and be able to stay in the throttle leaving the corner at both ends. Generally the track conditions in practice are not similar to what you experience during the last 100-200 laps at the race and a lot of cars won’t have enough bite or grip in the rear tires and will get really free at the end of the race especially on a long green flag run.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 736 for this weekend’s event at Richmond International Raceway. This Best Buy Ford has been run previously this season at Las Vegas, the spring Richmond event, Kansas and New Hampshire.

Notes: Allmendinger has nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Richmond International Raceway. Allmendinger’s best starting position (third) came in last year’s fall event and his best finishing position (seventh) came in this year’s spring event at the .75-mile track. He has completed 3,390 of 3,610 laps attempted at the oval, leading one of them.

Can’t get enough of AJ? The Dinger will be appearing at the Best Buy store in Glen Allen, Va. (11200, West Broad Street, Glen Allen, Va., 23060). The appearance is scheduled for Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. ET. In addition, teammate Marcos Ambrose will be joining him from 7-8 p.m. to talk about the Sprint Head-to-Head Racing Challenge, in which AJ and Marcos will compete for a $5,000 contribution on behalf of Sprint for their respective charities. The driver who finishes higher in Richmond’s night race will be considered the winner. AJ will be competing for a donation to Paralyzed Veterans of America and Marcos will be competing for a donation to Victory Junction. The evening’s festivities are open to the public.

The No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion will run a special 9/11 tribute paint scheme this weekend in Richmond. The car will be decked out in red, white and blue.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR

Photo credit - Richard Petty Motorsports

Dinger Fan Story #8

I started following Dinger a couple years ago just before Red Bull fired him. He'd been running better & everyone was talking about him & then they did the stupidest thing ever & dropped him. But I guess it turned out good for Dinger anyway now that Red Bull says they're leaving. And besides I like him with the #43 & Best Buy. I also really like that a lot of times Dinger runs better than Junior. There's a kid in my English class that is a huge #88 fan. He's such a jerk - the kid in my class, not Junior. So I like rubbing it in his face whenever Dinger finishes better. Go 43!

Tyler M.
Charleston, WV

Atlanta Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
*AJ Allmendinger started in the 11th position for the 500-mile event at Atlanta Motor Speedway
*Allmendinger took the checkered flag in the 10th position at the 1.54 mile oval in Hampton, Ga.
*Unofficially, Allmendinger sits in 13th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings

Race Summary: Though the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was scheduled to race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday evening, Mother Nature had other plans. After a day and night of intermittent rain showers, NASCAR officials were forced to postpone the AdvoCare 500 until Tuesday morning. AJ Allmendinger lined up in the 11th position for the start of Tuesday’s race, which was red flagged due to rain on one occasion and was plagued by light rain showers throughout.

Allmendinger took the green flag for the start of the race and though he encountered a tight handling Best Buy Ford in the early laps of the event, by the time the first caution flag flew at Lap 13, he had relayed to his crew that the car’s handling was much improved. That early caution enabled Crew Chief Greg Erwin to make a minor chassis adjustment to the Best Buy Ford and Allmendinger restarted in the 21st spot at Lap 17. Just seven laps later, he had maneuvered his way into ninth place.

Erwin concentrated his efforts on making the car turn better during the first 100 laps of the 325-lap race and Allmendinger held down the fifth spot at that 100-lap mark. Allmendinger communicated to his crew shortly thereafter that the No. 43 Ford was not as good as it had been during the last run and a Lap 130 caution flag allowed Erwin to call his driver into the pits for fresh tires and a track bar adjustment. Jockeying for position on the subsequent restart, Allmendinger and a fellow competitor made contact, which resulted in damage to the left front of the car. The Best Buy Ford fell as far back as 18th before a scheduled pit stop gave the crew the opportunity to make repairs to the car. A caution period several laps after the stop gave the Best Buy Racing crew another chance to make repairs and Allmendinger took the green flag for the restart in 28th.

Allmendinger had worked his way up to 23rd before a short rain shower forced NASCAR officials to park the cars on pit road while track drying efforts were underway. The 500-mile event got going again at Lap 220 and Allmendinger used his skills to pick up five positions on the restart. From there, he began to patiently make his way toward the front and held down 13th place with 75 laps remaining in the event. By the time the checkered flag flew, Allmendinger had driven up to the 10th position.

“I felt like we were a solid top five or top six car early in the going and we just got pounded on that restart,” Allmendinger said after the race. “I’m not sure what happened. Clint (Bowyer) just ran into the back of us. I don’t know if I was spinning the tires and he was ready to go or not, but I got hooked and we got door-slammed by somebody and then from there it was just kind of a fight to get back on it. The left side was crushed in, so the guys did a good job of getting the fenders pushed back out. The crush panel in the rear was destroyed. The car wasn’t the same, but to fight back with 100 laps to go being 28th and to get back to 10th, I was impressed with the whole day.”

The result marked Allmendinger’s fourth top-12 finish in the last four events and moved him up one spot, to 13th, in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. With one race to go prior to the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Allmendinger still has an outside shot of making the Chase. The Richard Petty Motorsports driver would have to win this weekend’s event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and several other things would need to fall into place, but the possibility for a shot at a run for the championship still exists.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports

Atlanta Post-Race Quotes

AJ ALLMENDINGER – No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
Finished 10th
“I felt like we were a solid top five or top six car early in the going and we just got pounded on that restart. I’m not sure what happened. Clint just ran into the back of us. I don’t know if I was spinning the tires and he was ready to go or not, but I got hooked and we got door-slammed by somebody and then from there it was just kind of a fight to get back on it. The whole left side was crushed in, so the guys did a good job of getting the fenders pushed back out. The crush panel in the rear was destroyed. The car wasn’t the same, but to fight back with 100 to go being 28th and to get back to 10th, I was impressed with the whole day.”

THERE IS STILL A SLIM CHANCE A WIN COULD GET YOU A WILD CARD. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GOING TO RICHMOND? “We know the chances are still there. It’s still wide-open when it comes to having a chance to go win and anything can happen after that, but, for me, like I said from the beginning, the Chase, for me, doesn’t define the season. I’d love to get in the Chase, that’s the ultimate goal, but as a race team we keep getting better. If we can go into these last 11 races that we have and get to Homestead and be far better than where we started, that, to me, is a great season. We’re getting there. We still have a little ways to go, but every week I feel like we improve.”

YOU’VE HAD FOUR SOLID RACES FINISHING BETWEEN 8TH-12TH. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE AT RIGHT NOW AS A TEAM? “That’s right where we are as a race team right now. I felt like we legitimately had a top-five car and then when we got the damage that’s what makes a good race team because we fought back. At Michigan we didn’t have a good car, we got an 11th out of it, so it’s things like that where we can go and keep finishing well. That’s where we are as a team right now. We’re about an eighth to a 12th or 13th-place race team, but that’s better than where we had been, so that’s the improvement I’m looking for. If we can just keep getting there, whether we make the Chase or not, if we can go into those last 10 races and be a legitimate car every weekend that’s running inside the top-10 or top-five – maybe go to a couple tracks like Loudon or Dover and have a chance to win – then I’ll be really happy with the season.”

Credit - Ford Racing

Dinger Fan Photo Contest Rules

It’s time for all of you Dinger Fans to step up and show just how much of a fan you are! I am doing a Dinger Fan Photo contest where everyone can send in a photo of either themself or a family member with AJ, or for those who haven’t had a chance to meet the man himself, you can submit a photo of you and all your Dinger gear. Even if you have a photo of just AJ, his car on the track, etc those will also work. Anything showing that you're a Dinger fan as long as it is your original photo.

After photos are posted there will be a voting period where everyone will get the chance to pick the person with the best Dinger Fan Photo. Depending on the number of submissions, the photos may be narrowed down to 10 finalists for voting purposes. The photo receiving the most votes will get the grand prize, which is the choice of either a $50 Best Buy gift card or a 1:24 2011 Best Buy #43 diecast signed by AJ. And since all Dinger fans are winners in my eyes, I will personally be sending out thank you gifts to everyone who submits a photo for the contest.

Starting September 15^th I will begin accepting photo submissions by email at dingerworld44@yahoo.com with a subject line of Dinger Fan Photo Submission. Please include your full name and mailing address in the email so I can send your thank you gift. Photos will be accepted until 11:59 pm/et on September 30^th. After that all pictures will be posted for the voting process to begin. The winner will be announced on October 15^th during the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte.

No blatant photo editing is allowed on the submissions and any copyright infringement is prohibited. Just original photos of AJ, his race car, or his fan gear. This contest is run solely by the owner of this website and is not in conjunction with AJ Allmendinger, Walldinger Inc, Richard Petty Motorsports, or Best Buy. The winner of the contest will be picked by popular vote and all decisions are final.

Atlanta Qualifying Quotes

AJ ALLMENDINGER – No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
Qualified 11th
“I’m a little disappointed with it. Times are so close though. This has never really been my best place to qualify at, so you think it could have been a little bit better. Overall, it was decent. The car has been pretty solid ever since we unloaded, so I think we’ll have a good car for the race. We just needed a little bit more and I think we would have been right there.”

***

MARCOS AMBROSE – No. 9 Kwikset Ford Fusion
Qualified 18th
“We don’t want it to get too cool here because this track is so temperature sensitive. We’re really looking to start decent on Sunday night and give ourselves for that $3 million bucks. We’ve got a good car. You can pass here, but I tell you what, it’s a much easier night if you can start at the front. Tire wear is critical here and you can get in someone else’s trouble in a hurry, so we want to start somewhere in the first 15 if we can.”

Credit - Ford Racing

Atlanta Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion
• Allmendinger has made six starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Allmendinger enters Atlanta in 14th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finish (sixth) at the 1.54-mile oval came in 2010

Allmendinger on Atlanta Motor Speedway: “Atlanta is fun and it’s fast; it’s probably my favorite 1.5-mile track. Atlanta doesn't have a lot of grip, so the car slides around a lot, which makes it fun for me to drive. I think I have better finishes at Atlanta than I do at any other 1.5-mile track. Tires go away quickly so the car starts to slide around pretty early in a run. With the grip on the tires going away so quickly I’ll have to figure out where I want to run on the track, and I typically like running on the bottom better at Atlanta.

“I’m going to need a fast Best Buy Ford this weekend. The track is slick so we’re going to have to make sure the car isn’t too loose going into the corner, but still loose enough so it will turn well in the center, since the front tires don’t usually have a lot of grip. Our goal is to try and win this weekend. If we can win, then I think we can get into the Chase. I’m also looking forward to
going to Atlanta for the first time with Greg (Erwin) as my crew chief. He’s good at 1.5-mile tracks and I’m excited to see what I can learn from him this weekend.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Thoughts on Racing at Atlanta: “Atlanta is another race track for us to visit for the first time this year. I think it’s going to be kind of difficult since that track is one of the oldies, but goodies, and it ages quite a bit each year. It seems to get rougher every year we go back. We are running our Indianapolis car and we had a good run with it there, so we feel good about having that Best Buy Ford heading into this weekend. Atlanta is a track where AJ typically runs well so that also gives us some confidence going into Sunday night’s race.

“The biggest challenge is going to be getting our car setup in one practice session. The early evening session on Friday will be the practice session that will most mimic the race conditions we’ll see Sunday evening with track temperature. The afternoon session we have on Saturday won’t do us much good since the track will cool down 15-20 degrees on Sunday evening from
what it was in practice Saturday. Friday is going to be the only time for us to get a good read on what kind of a car we have. The important thing is going to be having a Best Buy car that is really fast right off of the truck.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team has prepared chassis No. 752 for this weekend’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This Best Buy Ford has been run previously this season at Texas, Charlotte and Indianapolis.

Notes: Allmendinger has six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway and has completed 1,973 of 1,975 laps at the 1.54-mile track. He has an average finishing position of 15.2 at the Hampton, Ga. Speedway. Allmendinger enters Atlanta in 14th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings.

Don’t miss your chance to meet AJ. The Dinger and Miss Sprint Cup will be appearing at the Best Buy store in Peachtree City, Ga. (2703 West Highway 54, Peachtree City, Ga., 30269). The appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, from 6-8 p.m. ET and is open to the public.

Can’t get enough of the Dinger? AJ will be signing autographs at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph session at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday from 3-4 p.m. in the concourse underneath the Earnhardt grandstands.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR