DREW CAREY TO HOST NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AWARDS

Featuring Performances by Andy Grammer, Sam Hunt, Rachel Platten, and Sabrina Carpenter

2015 Awards Honors the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Celebrates the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ Challengers

Drew Carey

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Nov. 25, 2015 – The celebration will continue after the trophy is lifted at Homestead-Miami Speedway as NASCAR® presents the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards™ hosted by actor and comedian Drew Carey. Live from Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 4, fans can tune-in to watch as the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion™ is honored with red carpet coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, followed by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards™ broadcast on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET.

This year’s show will also feature a lineup of performances from award-winning musical artists Andy Grammer, Sam Hunt, Rachel Platten, and Sabrina Carpenter.

As the current host of The Price is Right and former host of Who’s Line is it Anyway?, Drew Carey will bring a seasoned air of entertainment and comedy to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards stage. Best known for his self-portrayal on The Drew Carey Show, which garnered seven Emmy nominations, Carey has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including three People’s Choice Awards, an Editor’s Choice TV Guide Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“This has been a tremendous year for NASCAR, and I’m honored to host this headlining event as fans all across the country tune-in to pay homage to the accomplishments of the 2015 champion,” said Carey. “I look forward to rounding out the 2015 NASCAR® racing season with a night of epic proportions alongside some of the greatest names in sports and entertainment.”

Triple-platinum selling recording artist Andy Grammer will perform at the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards. The pop singer best known for hits such as “Keep Your Head Up” and “Back Home” took America by storm in 2015 with his smash single, “Honey, I’m Good” turning it into one of the year’s catchiest songs. A deluxe edition of his sophomore album, Magazines Or Novels was released on Nov. 20 featuring Andy’s brand new single, “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah.)”

The evening’s musical lineup will also feature country star Sam Hunt, who took home the honor of New Artist of the Year at Sunday night’s American Music Awards. His critically-acclaimed debut album Montevallo has so far produced three consecutive No. 1 platinum-selling singles with “Leave the Night On,” “House Party” and the double-platinum “Take Your Time,” plus his current platinum-selling Top 15, “Break Up In A Small Town.”

Rachel Platten, one of this year’s breakout artists with her double platinum No. 1 hit single, “Fight Song”, will also grace the awards stage. Her current chart-climbing single, “Stand By You” will be released on her highly-anticipated forthcoming album, Wildfire.

Rounding out the night’s performances will be multi-talented singer / songwriter Sabina Carpenter, who currently stars on the Disney Channel original series Girl Meets World. Carpenter released her debut album, Eyes Wide Open earlier this year, which features “We’ll be the Stars” and its namesake single, “Eyes Wide Open.”

“The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards marks the pinnacle of our season as we have the opportunity to commend the drivers and teams for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year,” said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. “With Drew Carey at the wheel and a lineup of performances from some of the most celebrated entertainers in the music industry, it will certainly be a finale to remember for everyone joining us in Las Vegas and the NASCAR fans watching at home.”

This year’s artists will join a star-studded group of actors and musicians who have previously performed at NASCAR’s championship celebration, including Lady Antebellum, Sara Bareilles, Dierks Bentley, and Kid Rock. Part of the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™ in Las Vegas, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards is the headlining experience in a series of events that also includes the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fanfest, NASCAR After The Lap™ and NASCAR Victory Lap™, where fans get a front row seat as the 16 Challengers™ roar down Las Vegas Boulevard. Visit www.NASCAR.com/ChampionsWeek to view the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week schedule.

 

 

KEVIN HARVICK ENDS SEASON STRONG FOR CHEVROLET; JEFF GORDON FINISHED IN SIXTH PLACE

Chevy SS Drivers Finish 2-3-4 in Year-End Point Standings

HOMESTEAD, Fla. November 23, 2015 – Piloting the No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS, Kevin Harvick led the way for Team Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season-finale at Homestead-Miami

Defending Sprint Cup Champion Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy JohnÕs Chevrolet SS, races to a second place finish, Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet SS finishes in sixth place, and Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision finishes in twelfth place Sunday, November 22, 2015 in the final race of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. This Chevrolet drivers finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th (respectively) in the Chase of the Cup Championship. (Photo by Harold Hinson/HHP for Chevy Racing)

Speedway.  Harvick ended the last race of the year with a runner-up finish, and was second in the year-end NSCS point standings.  In 2015, Harvick captured three wins, 23 top-five’s, and 27 top-10 finishes.

With less than 10 laps remaining, Harvick was able to move from fourth to second on the final restart, but ended up just a little more than 1.5-seconds shy of winning a second consecutive title.

“We were just struggling all night with our Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevy,” said Harvick, following the race. “We had a lot of trouble getting up off the corner and putting the power down. And the longer the run went, the looser that we would get up off the corner. We just want to thank everybody: Hendrick Engines, SHR, Outback, Mobil 1, Hunt Brothers, Chevrolet and everybody who is a part of this car and who has been supportive of us over the last two years. It’s been a great couple of years and I’m looking forward to next year. So, it’s fun to be able to run like this. You always want to win, but I’ve learned not to get greedy. After last year, I felt like we had everything go our way; and tonight, it didn’t go our way.”

Four-time series champion, Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS, finished in sixth-place in the race, and third in the 2015 standings. Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS, was 12th in the race and took a career-best fourth place finish in the championship order.

Our own Photo-Journalist Haydee Quiñones working at the Jeff Gordon pits.

“To drive for one of the best car owners, if not the best; and to drive the best race cars and work with the best people, is why I have the wins and championships that I have,” said Gordon, following his final race as a full-time driver in a 23-year, 797-race career. “And that’s why we did what we did here today in the final race, in battling for a championship.”

Kyle Larson earned a fifth-place finish in the season-ending race in his No. 42 Target Plaid Chevrolet SS, which marked his second top-five finish of the season.

Kurt Busch drove his No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS to an eighth-place finish at Homestead; and six-time NSCS champion, Jimmie Johnson, was ninth to round out the top-10 finishers for Chevrolet in the season-finale.

In the race, Brad Keselowski (Ford) finished third and Joey Logano (Ford) was fourth.

In the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Final 4 finished as follows:

1st = Kyle Busch (Toyota)

2nd = Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet)

3rd = Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)

4th = Martin Truex, Jr., (Chevrolet)

The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season gets underway with the Daytona 500 on February 21.

 

 

CHEVROLET GRABS SIX OF THE TOP-12 STARTING SPOTS AT HOMESTEAD

Team Chevy Championship Contenders Qualify Fifth, 11th and 13th

HOMESTEAD, Fla. Nov. 21, 2015 – Ryan Newman might have been eliminated from Championship contention in the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race of the year, but the 2014 championship runner-up led Team Chevy in qualifying with the fourth fastest time in his No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  This was Newman’s third top-five qualifying effort of the year.

Four-time NSCS champion, Jeff Gordon, posted a fifth place qualifying effort in the No. 24 AXALTA Chevrolet SS for his final race as a full-time entrant.   Gordon is one of three Team Chevy competitors vying for the 2015 title.

Last week’s race winner and Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., posted the ninth fastest time in the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS.  Martin Truex Jr., another Chevrolet championship contender, will start from the 11th position in the No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet SS.

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon will pilot his No. 3 Dow Chevrolet SS from the 10th starting position.  This is Dillon’s sixth top-10 starting effort of the 2015 season.

Defending NSCS champion and contender for the 2015 title, Kevin Harvick, barely missed making the final round of qualifying in the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS.  Harvick will start his bid to defend his title from the 13th position.

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, rounded out the Chevrolet power in the top-12 in qualifying.  Johnson will roll off the starting grid from the 12th position.

Denny Hamlin (Toyota) won the pole, Joey Logano (Ford) was second, and Kyle Busch (Toyota) was third to round out the top-five qualifiers.

The 267-lap/400.5 mile Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., ET on Sunday November 22. Live coverage will be available on NBC, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

 

 

CHEVROLET CELEBRATES VETERAN BOWTIE BRAND DRIVER JEFF GORDON

DETROIT – November 20, 2015 – Jeff Gordon, who has driven the No. 24 Chevrolet for 796 consecutive races from 1992-2015, is about to close out his full-time career as a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.  Gordon, a four-time series champion, enters the final race of the season with an opportunity to claim his fifth title.  Gordon ends his full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, having driven for only one car owner, Rick Hendrick at Hendrick Motorsports, and only one manufacturer, Chevrolet.  Among Gordon’s career highlights driving the No. 24 Chevrolet are:

• Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
• 93 career Cup victories; third on the all-time list
• 81 career Cup pole positions; third on the all-time list
• Three-time Daytona 500 winner (1997, 1999, 2005)
• Five-time Brickyard 400 winner (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2014)
• Three-time champion of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (1995, 1997, 2001)
• NASCAR record nine road course victories
• NASCAR record 12 restrictor plate victories

Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports:

“Jeff has been the unequivocal example of a Chevrolet race car driver.   Over 23 years, he earned 93 overall victories including three Daytona 500 wins, five Brickyard 400 wins and four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships.  Jeff is a true champion, Chevrolet dealer and a key member of the Chevrolet family.”

“Jeff Gordon continues to be a great ambassador for NASCAR and Chevrolet.”

Pat Suhy, Group Manager – NASCAR Programs:

“I think first of all and it will be said many times he has been a great ambassador to the sport.  I think he attracted a new generation of fans and broadened the reach of NASCAR in terms of West Coast awareness and enthusiasm for it.

“On the competition side he has meant a lot to Chevrolet, he has been a great ambassador for the brand.  But on the racetrack he’s done so much for us with four championships and 93 race wins.  The points he collected for us have helped lead us to 18 manufacturer championships during his career.  The race wins and the championships mean a lot to us.  The manufactures championships mean a lot to us.

“He’s been an innovator.  Recently, he and Alan Gustafson (crew chief) have shown that you can teach an old dog new tricks.  They continue to try to use the latest technology and the tools that we offer.  We keep pushing the boundaries of technology and they keep joining us and helping us push it even further.  Which makes it good not only for them, but for all Chevy teams.  We certainly appreciate everything he has done for us over the years.”

Alba Colon, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Program Manager:

“To talk about what is GREAT about NASCAR is synonymous with talking about Jeff Gordon.  This generation has been honored to see Jeff Gordon race and to witnessing how great he is.  At the same time, we at Chevrolet have been privileged to count Jeff Gordon as an ambassador for our brand.  He represents what our brand is about, true American values, the real heartbeat of America.   He has always been passionate about our vehicles, about our brand.  All his 93 great wins have all been behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.  It can’t get better than that.

“Thanks to Jeff for all the great years of racing a Chevrolet.  I know our relationship is one that will last forever.  We salute you in your last career race and celebrate your new ventures”.

 

 

FORD ECOBOOST 300 TO SET STAGE FOR CROWNING OF XFINITY SERIES CHAMPION

Nov. 19, 2015 – Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher has held the NASCAR XFINITY Series points lead for the last 23 races of the 2015 season, and he has just one race left – Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2:45 p.m. ET on NBC) – to capture his first career NASCAR national series title.

To clinch the NASCAR XFINITY Series driver championship in Miami no matter what any other competitor does, Buescher will have to finish 13th or better without leading a lap, 14th or better while leading at least one lap, or 15th or better while leading the most laps.

Buescher’s title run is a culmination of team work and relentless consistency. He is currently 18 points ahead of second-place Chase Elliott and 22 points up on third place Ty Dillon. In 32 starts Buescher has posted two wins (Iowa and Dover), 11 top fives, and 20 top 10s. His average finish this season is 8.3 and his season-to-date driver rating is 98.7.

Buescher rolls into Miami knowing he has one start under his belt at the 1.5-mile speedway he can build off of this weekend. Last season, Buescher made his HMS series debut, starting 10th and driving to a fifth-place finish.

Buescher will also have the backing of one the most successful organizations in the NXS at Homestead-Miami Speedway – Roush Fenway Racing – which is tied with Joe Gibbs Racing and NEMCO Motorsports for the series lead in wins at HMS with three each.

Buescher has an average finish of 8.4 on 1.5-mile tracks this season, second best among championship contenders behind Ty Dillon’s 6.9.

Source: NASCAR

 

STILL ALIVE IN THE DRIVE FOR 5: GORDON CAN WALK AWAY WITH SPRINT CUP TITLE ON SUNDAY

Nov. 19, 2015 – Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 just might be the biggest race of Jeff Gordon’s life. And it just so happens that it’ll likely be his last.

Jeff Gordon

If he can finish ahead of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in the final event of his last full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Gordon will walk away with his fifth NSCS championship. Already fourth on the all-time championships list, the No. 24 Chevrolet driver would end his career behind only Jimmie Johnson (six championships), Richard Petty (seven) and Dale Earnhardt (seven) in the NASCAR record books.

Luckily for Gordon, he’s performed well at Homestead-Miami Speedway where the Ford EcoBoost 400 will be held. In 16 starts at the 1.5-mile track, he boasts one win (6.2%), seven top fives (43.8%) and 12 top 10s (75.0%). He finished 10th at Homestead last year after leading a race-high 161 laps.

Gordon gutted his way into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as its 13th seed, qualifying on points. He’s upped his performance in NASCAR’s playoffs, leading all drivers in average finish (7.7) and top-10 finishes (8, tied with Joey Logano), highlighted by his win at Martinsville.

A Gordon championship would not only be his first since 2001, but his first in the Chase era (2004-present). If he wins the title on Sunday, Gordon’s 14-year gap between championships would surpass 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Terry Labonte’s record 12-season drought between titles.

Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports team already owns the NSCS record with 11 NSCS titles.

Source: NASCAR

 

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITE HARVICK HOPES TO BECOME SECOND DRIVER TO WIN CONSECUTIVE CROWNS

Nov. 19, 2015 – Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title-winner Kevin Harvick enters Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 Championship Round race (3 p.m. ET on NBC) as the favorite to take home his second straight series crown. If he finishes ahead of fellow Championship 4 drivers Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., Harvick will become the 11th person in NASCAR history to win consecutive NSCS titles.

Harvick heads to Homestead as its reigning race winner. He had to finish first to win the championship last year, otherwise runner-up Ryan Newman would have taken home the title. In 14 career starts at Homestead, Harvick has one win (7.1%), six top fives (42.9%) and 12 top 10s (85.7%). His 7.6 average finish at the 1.5-mile track ranks first among active drivers. He also owns the fourth-best driver rating (102.5) and average running position (10.0) among active drivers at Homestead.

At Phoenix on Sunday, Harvick placed second – his 15th top-two finish of the season and the most in the NSCS since Jeff Gordon posted 19 in 1998.

A loop statistician’s dream, Harvick leads the NSCS in average running position (7.3; Next-best driver: Kyle Busch, 9.2), fastest laps (1,370; Next-best driver, Brad Keselowski, 650), laps led (2,248; Next-best driver: Joey Logano, 1,359) and driver rating (118.9; Next-best driver: Kyle Busch, 107.1).

A Harvick championship would be the third for Stewart-Haas Racing, which has won titles with Harvick (2014) and Tony Stewart (2011).

 

 

NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES ARRIVE IN MIAMI; ZOO MIAMI CHEETAH PICKS NSCS CHAMPION

Homestead-Miami Speedway is in Championship form, welcoming the NASCAR industry to South Florida for Ford Championship Weekend.

An honor guard poses with the NASCAR championship trophies in Miami

Nov. 18, 2015 – As part of that, the NASCAR premier series’ trophies arrived at Landmark Aviation at Miami International Airport this morning, where they were brought in by the Homestead Police Honor Guard. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series trophy, XFINITY Series trophy and Sprint Cup Series trophy were then placed on a Brinks truck, where they headed to Zoo Miami for the “Wildlife Prognosticator” event.

The trophies arrived at Zoo Miami for an event featuring Koda, a two-year-old cheetah and the official Zoo Miami “Wildlife Prognosticator.” In a partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway and Zoo Miami, Koda picked from the Championship 4 drivers diecast cars – Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., and Kyle Busch – and made his prediction on who he thought would win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship this Sunday, ultimately picking the defending champion Harvick.

A Brinks Security truck arrives at Zoo Miami with the NASCAR championship trophies

“I’ve got to be honest with you, we had an animal make a pick last year, a binturong, and he picked the guy that came in fourth place,” Zoo Miami Communications Director and Goodwill Ambassador Ron Magill said. “So we fired him, he’s done. So we thought we’d bring in the cheetah. The cheetah is the fastest land animal there is, seems to be a no-brainer, so we thought hopefully he can pick who is going to be the fastest car. If he picks wrong, next year we might do it with a tortoise.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be decided this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway at the Ford EcoBoost 400. Harvick, Gordon, Truex and Busch will battle it out amongst a full field of 43 cars and whichever of the four finish the highest will claim the 2015 Championship title.

Koda the cheetah chooses Kevin Harvick as the 2015 NSCS champion

“You can expect a lot of thrilling racing this weekend, not just on Sunday but also on Friday and Saturday,” Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer said. “Last year, all four guys in the Championship 4 during the Ford EcoBoost 400 ran within the top five all day, I expect exactly the same this year. In fact, don’t be surprised if the new champion is also the winner of the Ford EcoBoost 400.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway has been the host of the championship race each year since 2002 and as a community partner, Zoo Miami was part of the fun by having Koda, an African cheetah from South Africa, join all of the “experts” in predicting this year’s winner.

Homestead-Miami Speedway will host the season-ending races in the NASCAR’s three premier series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series – this weekend during Ford Championship Weekend (November 20-22). Tickets for the Ford EcoBoost 200 and Ford EcoBoost 300 still remain, and can be purchased by calling (305) 230-5255 or by visiting www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com. The Ford EcoBoost 400 is officially sold out.

Source: Homestead-Miami Speedway

 

 

CHEVROLET WELL REPRESENTED IN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AT HOMESTEAD

2015 Manufacturer Champions Head to Homestead Looking to Collect more Hardware

DETROIT – Nov. 18, 2015 – The time has come – the final race of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is at hand.  Chevrolet will be well represented in the 267-lap/400-mile championship battle at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Team Chevy drivers occupy three of the four spots in final battle for the title. Each one has a unique story that will potentially be fulfilled in the award-winning Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Kevin Harvick returns to Homestead at the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Driving his No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevy SS, Harvick is racing to become the 11th driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to win back-to-back titles.

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Jeff Gordon enters Homestead looking for his fifth series title.  The race will mark the final time he will climb behind the wheel of his No. 24 AXALTA Chevrolet SS racecar as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver.  Gordon has made 796 consecutive Cup Series starts, earned 93 wins, and 81 poles; all behind the wheel of Chevrolets.

Martin Truex, Jr. heads to Homestead chasing a dream.  The driver of the No. 78 Chevrolet SS could make Furniture Row Racing the first single-car team to win the championship since Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in 1994.

All three Chevrolet SS drivers enter the final race of the season armed with all the tools, data and engineering support that the Chevrolet competition team can provide.  The three championship contenders are looking to take the Bowtie Brand to Victory Lane for the 16th time this season and earn Chevrolet its 31st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver’s title.

The southern Florida track’s asphalt has aged well over the hot Florida summers.  The track boasts multiple grooves and progressive banking which allows for plenty of side-by-side racing.  As the competitors and teams race from afternoon to evening, they will have to adjust to an ever-changing track and manage their tires so they have enough for a late-race caution which could provide an edge in the final laps of the 400-mile race.

Chevrolet drivers and teams have won the last three consecutive races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, and have won three of the last four races at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway.

One championship title has already been decided.  With Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s win at Phoenix International Raceway last weekend, the brand collected its 13th consecutive, 39th overall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturers’ Championship.

The 267-lap/400-mile Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., ET on Sunday November 22. Live coverage will be available on NBC, MRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

 

 

ENGINEER EXPERTISE FROM THE GARAGE AREA – PAT SUHY, GROUP MANAGER, NASCAR PROGRAMS:

Pat Suhy

Nov. 18, 2015 – “Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Greg Ives, the whole No. 88 Nationwide Chevy SS crew along with everyone at Hendrick Motorsports on the win at Phoenix International Raceway.  Their finish, along with wins and strong performances all year long from several drivers and organizations brought Team Chevy its 39th Sprint Cup Manufacturers’ Championship.  A big thanks to all the drivers and organizations that contributed!

“Homestead Miami Speedway is up next, and we won’t know until the end of the race who is the new Sprint Cup Drivers Champion.  Team Chevy is well represented by Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex, Jr. and they, along with Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart Haas Racing and Furniture Row Racing all get a big ‘thank you’ from us at Chevrolet.  They never gave up, and proved that they deserved to be part of the Championship 4 round.  The rules are simple – the first driver of the four to cross the finish line is the new champ, but there’s nothing simple about being that driver or team.

“Preparing for the championship race at Homestead means using all the tools we’ve been using all year long, and looking for something a little extra without adding too much risk.  Many of our tools, and our teams’ tools are geared toward quantifying the improvements of what a particular chassis setup, engine power level, component, or aero choice will mean on the race track.  With limited track testing, vehicle performance simulations have become key tools.  Chevrolet and our teams perform simulations on many levels, from simple desktop models to complex dynamic systems that provide some feedback to the driver.  Over time, they all get better and better; but Friday’s practice sessions are still critical for the drivers and crew chiefs to validate the output of those simulations.  Speed on Sunday often tracks speed on Friday, so all eyes will be on the championship contenders to see how they run when they unload and hit the track for first practice.

“Sunday is sure to be exciting, with the dual storylines of seeing who wins the race, and who brings home the championship trophy.  With all of the hard work that we and our teams have put in throughout the season, I wouldn’t bet against us having a contender for both; and having an opportunity to visit both celebrations.”