JR Motorsports Chicagoland Driver Quotes

Kevin Harvick

EVENT – Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TRACK – Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
DATE – Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014

Quotes | Kevin Harvick

“Chicago is a great track because it’s got a lot of character. It hasn’t been repaved like a lot of places we go so we really have to search around to find grip and get through the bumps. For us, as drivers, we enjoy having that opportunity to have multiple options during the race. The JR Motorsports guys ran well there earlier this year so I’m confident we will unload with a car capable of winning."

Notes | No. 5 Team

CHICAGO STATS: In 10 Nationwide Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, Harvick owns two wins, four top-five and six top-10 finishes. He also earned a pole award at the track in 2010.

Harvick celebrating his Nationwide win in Atlanta two weeks ago.

MILE-AND-A-HALF MOMENTUM: Harvick earned victories in his last two Nationwide Series starts on 1.5-mile tracks. At Kentucky, Harvick wrestled the lead away from Kyle Busch on a late restart and went on to lead the final five laps. Two weeks ago at Atlanta, Harvick led the final 159 laps for his third win of the season.

TOP-10 STREAK: Harvick’s third-place run at Richmond last week gave him his 22nd consecutive top-10 finish in Nationwide Series competition dating back to 2013. It’s the second-longest top-10 streak of Harvick’s career, as he previously went 23 races in 2006-07.

JIMMY JOHN’S DOUBLE: In addition to his familiar No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Harvick will pilot a similarly-designed No. 5 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet in Saturday’s Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.

FOLDS OF HONOR: Featured on Harvick’s No. 5 Jimmy John’s paint scheme will be the Folds of Honor Foundation logo as part of Jimmy John’s commitment to supporting our nation’s heroes. Through scholarships and other assistance, the foundation’s mission is to give back to families of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country. For more information, visit www.foldsofhonor.org.

CHASSIS 866: The No. 5 team will unload chassis No. 866 this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. In five starts this season, the chassis earned one win (Kentucky), five top-five finishes and one pole award (Texas). In its most recent outing, Kasey Kahne raced the chassis to a fourth-place finish at Chicagoland in July.

Regan Smith

Quotes | Regan Smith

“We’ve had Chicago circled on the calendar since we were last there in the summer. It’s a place where I’d like nothing more than a solid run and some redemption. For some reason, trouble has always found us there. It’s been a challenge and at times really frustrating. But we’re focused on the positives and we’ve run well at Chicago, just need to emphasize putting it all together. And we definitely have the team and talent to do it."

Notes | No. 7 Team

THE TALLY CONTINUES FOR SMITH: Regan Smith and the No. 7 Clean Coal team are riding a string of four consecutive top-10 finishes into this weekend’s event at Chicagoland Speedway. Dating back to mid-August, the effort includes top-five finishes at Mid-Ohio and Bristol. Additionally, Smith still leads the series with 21 top-10 finishes on the season.

CLEAN COAL PARTNERSHIP: Smith will carry the black and orange colors of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) on the No. 7 Chevrolet this weekend for the final time in 2014. In its third year of partnership with JR Motorsports, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal’s role in supplying the United States with affordable and reliable electricity. Learn more by visiting www.americaspower.org.

CHASSIS INFO: Smith will drive chassis No. 893 this weekend at Chicagoland. Smith piloted this chassis to a pair of top-10 finishes (Atlanta, Indianapolis) in both its starts in 2014.
SMITH’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Smith will be available to media members on Friday, Sept. 12, at 10:15 a.m. CST in the Chicagoland Speedway media center.

MEET SMITH AT AMERICA’S POWER DISPLAY: Smith will appear at the America’s Power display on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. CST to sign autographs for fans. The display is located in the Chicagoland Speedway fan concourse.

MULTIPLE TITLE CONTENDERS: JR Motorsports has its sights on not one, but two championships this season. With Regan Smith and Chase Elliott squarely locked into the NNS championship hunt, the organization’s two-car late model team with drivers Josh Berry and youngster William Byron will also do battle for a track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway this weekend. Berry and Byron have enough of a points lead on the competition that a second JRM track championship is a lock. The question remains, which driver will do the honors?

Chase Elliott celebrating his win at Darlington earlier this season.

Quotes | Chase Elliott

On Chicagoland Speedway:

“I’m excited to get back up to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. We had a great run there back in July, but the more I look back on that night, I can see a bunch of things we can improve on. So hopefully we are able to improve in those areas this weekend and put on a great show for the fans."

On the season to date:

“With just a few races left this season, everyone has to be on the same page. It starts at the shop and ends each weekend at the race track. My NAPA AUTO PARTS team has been dialed in all year long, but now it’s ‘go’ time. One mistake can take you out of contention with a snap of the finger, so we have to minimize the risks for mistakes and execute when it matters, like on pit stops and late-race decisions. It has been an unbelievable season so far and we have worked well together, but now it’s time to get to work and finish strong."

JR Motorsports