News

DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 8, 2009) – Justin Allgaier, driver of the Penske Racing No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger, will start the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway in the 16th   position tonight after today’s qualifying session was cancelled due to rain.

Luckily, the NASCAR Nationwide Series was able to complete a full practice session at 1.366-mile raceway on Friday before the arrival of inclement weather. Allgaier posted a fast lap time of 28.409 seconds at a speed of 173.100 miles per hour placing him third overall in practice.

With the cancellation of qualifying, the field was set by 2009 owner points per the NASCAR rule book. Currently 16th in the standings, the No. 12 team will line up on the outside of the eighth row for tonight’s 200-lap event.

“Saying that Bristol was my favorite was a little bit premature because this is a really cool place.  It’s not an easy place and unfortunately we got the right-side and there’s a lot of people going to backups but it is a really cool place and if you can get around here well I think it’s going to be a lot of fun tonight.  It reminds me of track back home, Salem, Indiana.  It reminds me a lot of that place and it reminds me of going back to the dirt track days.  You slide an awful lot and you’re waiting on the car, very similar to what you do on a dirt track.  You’re carrying so much speed and you feel horrible.  You’re like man, the car’s horrible, I’m tight, I’m loose, I’m whatever and you’re really not that bad.  It’s just a really cool place.”

The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 will be broadcast live tonight on ESPN 2, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 128.

Driver:  Justin Allgaier
Starting Position: 16

Pole: #18-Kyle Busch