News

Justin Allgaier
No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger
Kentucky Speedway – Meijer 300 Presented by Ritz
June 13, 2009

No. 12 Penske Racing Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger News and Notes
• This Week’s Charger… The No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge team will race chassis PRS-018 during Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Kentucky Motor Speedway. PRS-018 was lasted raced at Bristol Motor Speedway in March where rookie sensation Justin Allgaier crossed the finish line in the fifth spot to mark his first top-five Nationwide Series finish.
• Taking the Lead… With another strong performance in Nashville on Saturday night, Allgaier now sits atop the series Rookie-of-the-Year standings. The 23-year-old Riverton Ill. native is one point ahead of second-place contender Brendan Gaughan.
• Moving On Up… Allgaier sits eighth in the Nationwide Series point standings after 13 of 34 events. The impressive rookie is only 52 points out of the sixth spot
• First Timer… This will be Allgaier’s first Nationwide Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway located in Sparta, Kentucky. The rookie driver has made nine starts this season at tracks where he has never turned a lap and has accumulated two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
• Past Performance… Allgaier made four starts at Kentucky Motor Speedway in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. The Illinois native’s best result was a third-place finish, which came last season.
• Watch and Listen… The Meijer 300 presented by Ritz can be seen live on Saturday, June, 13 on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 128.

Justin Allgaier on driving at Kentucky Speedway
“Kentucky Speedway is a great track. I have been here a couple of times in an ARCA RE/MAX Series car and had a bit of success. It is nice to go to a place where I have turned laps. It helps me in practice, because I do not have spend much time trying to figure out the track. Kentucky is a place where you have to keep your car hooked up on the bottom. [Crew chief] Chad [Walter] and all the guys on the Verizon Wireless Dodge have done a great job preparing these cars to go to the track. Every time I climb into the car I know we are going to be competitive. It is just a matter of trying to figure out exactly what the car needs during a long run. I am having the time of my life racing with these guys and am so lucky [team owner] Roger [Penske] is behind what we are doing. I could not ask any more out of a group of people.
 
Crew Chief Chad Walter on racing at Kentucky Speedway
“Kentucky Speedway is a great mile-and-a-half track. Handling and track position are the keys to success. You have to have your car pinned to the bottom on both ends of the track in order to have a shot to win. We are taking a car that has had some success this year and Justin really seems to like it, so I am looking for great things on Saturday night. He has done a great job this year getting acclimated with the tracks he has never been. He has a great feel for the cars and what they need. Track position is crucial. These cars are so aero dependent that you need to keep your machine in clean air, and the only way to do that is to be leading.”

Justin Allgaier Nationwide Series Career Totals
Races      Wins      Top-Fives      Top-10s      Poles      Money Won
   17              0                2                      6                 0           $449,224

Justin Allgaier 2009 Totals
Races      Wins      Top-Fives      Top-10s      Poles      Money Won
   13              0                2                      6                0             $375,374