News

SAM HORNISH JR.
No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger
Talladega Superspeedway – AMP Energy Juice 500
October 31, 2010

Mobil 1 Team News and Notes
• Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the Penske Racing No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger, has a total of four Cup Series career starts at Talladega Superspeedway. In April, Hornish was on pace for a solid run in the No. 77 Dodge when he was collected in a multi-car accident during the first of three attempts at green/white/checkered flag finish at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. After repairs, Hornish remained on the lead lap and ultimately finished the race in 24th place.
• Hornish has 10 Cup Series starts in restrictor-plate races at NASCAR superspeedway venues, with one top-15 result. He has an average start of 27.8 at venues at least 2.5-miles in length with a best start of fourth at Talladega Superspeedway (April, 2009). Hornish has an average finish of 29.9 in superspeedway competition with a top result of 15th which came at Daytona International Speedway (February, 2008).
• Mobil 1 crew chief Travis Geisler offers fans a glimpse into car setup for each racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit at washingtonpost.com. Geisler reports that at Talladega, handling becomes less of an issue than at other tracks and setups can be described in one phrase…fast and loose. Learn more at http://wapo.st/aichMm.
• Hornish and teammate Kurt Busch will attend the grand opening of Anniston Dodge located at 1229 South Quintard Avenue in Anniston, Ala. on Thursday, October 28 from 7 - 8 p.m. CDT. Hornish will also sign autographs for fans at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 30 from 9:30 – 10 a.m.at the Dodge trackside display.

Sam Hornish Jr. Quotes
What are thoughts on racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
“Talladega has always been a wildcard race and it always will be. I really like restrictor-plate races and we've typically run pretty well at places like Talladega and Daytona. Superspeedways remind me of IndyCar Series racing because the outcome depends mostly on aerodynamics. It's like a chess game where you are trying to figure out what to do as the race progresses to position yourself correctly.”

Which track do you feel is more difficult, Talladega Superspeedway or Daytona International Speedway?
“I would say racing at Talladega is more difficult than at Daytona because, at Daytona, if your car is handling well and you save your tires, you can really move up through the field at the end of a run. At Talladega, you have to have someone helping you to move forward.  You're not going to pull out and make any passes on your own; the draft is that important.”

Crew Chief Travis Geisler Quote
What are your thoughts on this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway?
“Talladega is one of the most unpredictable race tracks on the circuit. The three-wide racing is exciting for the fans but it is nerve-wracking for teams as you hope you can miss the ‘big one.’ We are confident heading into Sunday’s race as Sam has shown a lot of skill working the draft. I am excited to get a good finish at a restrictor-plate race because we typically run well at superspeedways but we just haven’t gotten the finishes we deserve.”