RACE: Charlotte 600
DATE: Sunday, May 29, 2016
TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway
LENGTH: 1.5-mile oval
TV: FOX, 6:00 p.m. ET
RADIO: MRN/SIRIUSXM
Notes
CHARLOTTE STATS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to win at the 1.5-mile oval, but if you throw out the DNF for engine trouble in the spring of 2013, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native has an average finish of 15.2 in the last five years (2012-2016) and a career total of six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Charlotte Motor Speedway is also the site of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start (May 1999) and first Cup pole (May 2000).
LOOP DATA: According to NASCAR's loop data statistics, Earnhardt ranks sixth among drivers for green-flag passes during the last 10 points races at Charlotte, completing 1,687 of them. In that span, the driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Stars & Stripes Chevrolet SS ranks ninth among drivers in fastest laps run (210), 11th in laps in the top 15 (3,764) and 14th in laps led at the 1.5-mile oval (162).
PATRIOTIC SCHEME: Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevy will have a special patriotic paint scheme this weekend. The No. 88 Nationwide Stars & Stripes Chevrolet SS features an American Flag themed design and supports the launch of the 5th annual NASCAR: An American Salute initiative. The initiative runs seven weeks (from Memorial Day to Independence Day) and is the industry’s collective expression of reverence, respect and gratitude for those who have served and continue to defend our nation today. Nationwide and Earnhardt worked together to design the paint scheme and unveiled it on Nationwide’s social media accounts on Monday, May 23. Photos of the red, white and blue Nationwide scheme can be seen here.
LCPL AARON REED: Perhaps the most notable feature of the Nationwide Stars & Stripes paint scheme will be seen on the No. 88 Chevy’s windshield, as the space that typically features Earnhardt’s name will be replaced with the name of Lance Corporal Aaron Reed. It is part of NASCAR’s “600 Miles of Remembrance” where all 43 drivers will honor United States Armed Forces members who have fallen in service for their country. Reed, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, was a member of Lima (LEE-mah) Company and was killed in action on Aug. 3, 2005, in Barwanah, Iraq. Earnhardt and Nationwide have invited Lance Corporal Reed’s mother, aunt and sister to attend the race as their guests. In addition, Travis Williams, the only surviving member of Aaron’s squad will join Nationwide and the Reed family at the race. Lance Corporal Reed’s family has set up a scholarship fund in his honor. Over the last 10 years, 47 $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to students from Aaron’s High School, Southeastern, in Lancaster, Ohio. Donations can be sent to: The LCpl Aaron Reed Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Southeastern Local Schools, 2003 Lancaster Rd., Chillicothe, OH 45601.
NATIONWIDE AND VETERANS: Nationwide has a long and rich history of supporting our military. The company recently announced that it has hired 1,000 veterans in the past four years. Nationwide appreciates the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans. Also attending the race as a guest of Earnhardt and Nationwide is Jason Dominguez, who was also a member of Lima Company. After his services with the Marines and after serving as the assistant director and chief of staff for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Dominguez joined Nationwide. He participates with Nationwide’s Military Associate Resource Group program.
NCH DONATIONS: Some packages have already sold out, but there’s still time to donate to Nationwide Children’s Hospital through the Ride with Dale Jr. To Help Kids Everywhere campaign and have your name featured on the No. 88 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chevrolet SS and the pit wall banner for the race on July 9 at Kentucky Motor Speedway. For more information or to donate, click here.
Quotes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the Indy 500 and the Charlotte 600: “We start ramping up and getting ready right as the Indy 500 is winding down. Sometimes we end up getting to see the very end of the race and the last lap, and sometimes we’re off doing something. It sort of adds some importance and a new element to our race. It makes that day feel unique and singular to other race weekends as you’re watching those races and you know what’s going on and the drama unfolding in the Indy 500 and everybody around the garage is talking about it – it really is ramping up the energy knowing that we’re getting ready to run our 600-mile event and that everybody that’s a motor sports fan is tuning in to everything that’s happening all day long, so there’s a unique layer to that particular weekend that’s unlike any other race weekend.”
Earnhardt on the 600 Miles of Remembrance: “NASCAR has always had a close relationship with the military of our country, and honors a family weekly who has lost someone. We always have service men and women out to the track as guests. That’s always been an important addition to the weekend. I like that we ramp it up for this particular weekend. It’ll be great to meet Lance Corporal Aaron Reed’s family and the other member of his squad. That’ll be an experience that I probably won’t forget – it will be pretty weighted. I’m looking forward to it.”
Earnhardt on a new setup for the All-Star Race leading into the 600: “As far as our Mountain Dew and Nationwide Chevy, we got it better (during the All-Star Race). A lot of the setup is new and some stuff we’re trying to find some speed with. We still have some gains to make. We didn’t win the race but we outran a lot of guys who had been outrunning us the last few weeks. We didn’t get to practice much so we worked really hard during the race changing a lot of stuff, and I hope (No. 88 crew chief) Greg (Ives) learned a lot. This weekend we’ll actually get to practice some and make some changes to see if we can’t get our car better for the 600. I’d love to win that race.”