Richard Childress Racing

Recent News

May 15, 2012

Brendan Gaughan Event Preview: Pioneer Hi-Bred 250

"It's going to be nice to be able to race the Nationwide Series car two weeks in a row and I'm really looking forward to Iowa Speedway."

RCR/HHP Photo RCR/HHP Photo

Event Preview Fact Sheet

Brendan Gaughan
No.33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet

Event/Date:
Pioneer Hi-Bred 250
May 20, 2012

Venue:
Iowa Speedway

This Week’s South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway ... Brendan Gaughan will pilot Chassis No. 99 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable. Built new in 2012, RCR teammate, Kevin Harvick, drove this Chevrolet to a fifth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway in March.

In the Driver’s Seat … Gaughan will climb behind the wheel of the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet this weekend at Iowa Speedway for his fourth of 10 scheduled Nationwide Series events of the 2012 season. In his first three appearances, Gaughan has collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

Nationwide Series Milestone … The Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 on Sunday afternoon will mark Gaughan’s 75th-career Nationwide Series start. During his Nationwide Series career, the Las Vegas native has collected one pole award, seven top-five and 19 top-10 finishes and has led 45 of the 12,909 laps he completed.

America’s Place to Race … Since 2009, Gaughan has made three combined NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series starts at the 0.875-mile tri-oval. During these three appearances, the K&N Pro Cup Series Champion has completed 537 of 700 (76.7 percent) laps contested.

Going for a Loop … According to NASCAR’s Season-to-Date Data Loop Statistics, after only two Nationwide Series starts Gaughan ranks within the top 20 in several categories at Iowa Speedway including: Fastest on Restarts (122.410 mph), Fastest Drivers in Early Run (126.890 mph), Green Flag Passes (56), Green Flag Speed (126.321 mph) and Speed in Traffic (125.770 mph).

To the Points … The No. 33 RCR Chevrolet team sits fifth in the Nationwide Series owner’s championship point standings, 49 markers behind the No. 6 team. The No. 33 team has earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes between four different drivers (Harvick, Gaughan, Tony Stewart and Paul Menard) thus far this season.

Double Duty … Before heading to Iowa for the Nationwide Series race on Sunday afternoon, Gaughan will pilot the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado Friday evening during the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series race will air live on SPEED beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Autograph Please … Fans will have the chance to meet the driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet during the Nationwide Series Driver Autograph session at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, May 19 from 2-2:45 p.m. CT.

2012 FAN DAY … Gaughan is scheduled to participate in an autograph session at Childress Vineyards on May 25 beginning at 3:30 p.m. and will sign autographs with fellow RCR teammates Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter at the ‘12 FAN DAY co-hosted by the RCR Museum and Childress Vineyards. Following the autograph sessions, Gaughan will participate in a competitive round of cornhole with fans in attendance. 

South Point Hotel & Casino ... South Point Hotel & Casino will serve as Gaughan's primary sponsor for the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend at Iowa Speedway. Located in the heart of the premiere southwest Las Vegas valley, minutes away from the famous Las Vegas Strip, South Point Hotel & Casino amenities include a 16-screen century theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and a handful of restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes. The casino features a large selection of table games and the latest slot and video poker machines. The distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 42-inch LED televisions, Point Plush mattresses and wireless fidelity throughout. A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country. South Point also has a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and dancing to live bands on weekends.

In the Rearview Mirror: Darlington Raceway … Gaughan was running fifth in the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 last Friday night when he collected a “Darlington Stripe” late in the race by brushing the outside backstretch wall. The contact resulted in a cut a tire on the No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, relegating the team to a 26th-place finish at Darlington Raceway.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN QUOTES:
You are pulling double duty this weekend running two different races at two different tracks. How do you mentally prepare for a race weekend like this?
“This weekend is actually more like two separate race weekends. Unlike Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) or California (Auto Club Speedway) where I had to jump from one car to the other and go back and forth, the Charlotte truck race is a one day show, so I'll practice qualify and race it all on Friday. Then I’ll leave for Iowa the next day and start a normal race weekend all over again, so mentally I just am preparing myself like I would for a normal race weekend, only I get to do it twice.”

You have posted some solid Nationwide finishes so far this season. What are your thought heading to the race at Iowa Speedway?
“The No. 33 team has been really strong with all of their drivers this season, and I have been fortunate to have some strong runs, but even better finishes. It's going to be nice to be able to race the Nationwide Series car two weeks in a row and I'm really looking forward to Iowa (Speedway).”

Back to top