News

Justin Allgaier
No. 12 Verizon Dodge Charger
Nashville Superspeedway – Nashville 300 
April 3, 2010

Verizon Team News and Notes
• This Week’s Verizon Dodge … Justin Allgaier will pilot Penske Racing chassis PRS-029 in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Nashville 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. The 2009 NNS Rookie of the Year debuted this Verizon Dodge at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month, where he recorded a seventh-place finish.
• Winner, Winner … Allgaier heads to Nashville as the most recent Nationwide Series race winner. When the series last competed at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago, the third-year driver overcame a 30th-place starting position and a late-race battle with teammate Brad Keselowski to take home his first series victory in his 43rd start. Allgaier gave Penske Racing their 10th NASCAR Nationwide Series victory, joining Ryan Newman (seven) and Kurt Busch (two) as drivers to bring checkered flags to team owner Roger Penske.
• Allgaier at Nashville … In two previous Nationwide Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway, Allgaier has recorded one top-15 finish and has completed 98.9 percent of the laps contested (445 of 450). Additionally, Allgaier has competed in four ARCA Series races at Nashville, posting his best finish of eighth place in August of 2008.
• Concrete Averages … In seven Nationwide Series starts at concrete facilities - Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway – Allgaier has accumulated an average starting position of 18.6 and an average finish of 15.7. He has led 29 laps in those races, and has completed 1,663 of 1,704 possible laps.
• Four Races In … Over the season’s first four races, Allgaier has accumulated an average starting position of 17.5 and an average finish of 5.2. The Riverton, Ill. native has led 28 laps of competition and has completed all 772 laps contested thus far. He enters Nashville third in points, the highest he has been in the standings in his brief career, 31 markers behind point leader Carl Edwards.
• Penske Racing at Nashville … In three previous Nationwide Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway, Penske Racing entries have recorded one top-15 finish (Allgaier, 6/09). Penske Dodges have completed 98.2 percent of the laps contested (663 of 675). 
• Meet the Press… Allgaier will be available inside the infield media center to field questions from the gathered media on Friday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. CDT.
• Penske Racing in 2010 … Four races into the 2010 season, Penske Racing’s two NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded one win (Allgaier, Bristol), along with a combined five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Penske Dodges have completed 100 percent of the laps contested (1,544 of 1,544) with drivers Allgaier and Keselowski, and have led 105 laps.
• Testing … Allgaier and the No. 12 team took advantage of the second break in the 2010 schedule by heading to Walt Disney World Speedway for a test session on Tuesday, March 30.
• Meet the Driver … Fans can meet Allgaier on Friday, April 2 from 1 – 2 p.m. CDT when he participates in the Nationwide Series autograph session at Nashville Superspeedway. For more information, log onto nashvillesuperspeedway.com.
• Happy Birthday, Shaun … Shaun Rinaman, catch can man for the Verizon team, will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Saturday, April 3.   
• In-Race Reporter … Allgaier will serve as ESPN’s in-race reporter for Saturday’s live broadcast of the Nashville 300. Fans will see live in-car camera shots from the Verizon Dodge and listen as he and crew chief Chad Walter give live updates throughout the race.

Justin Allgaier on Nashville Superspeedway
“I’ve always found that when you go into the ‘stand alone’ races where there aren’t as many Cup guys, the competition is really, really intense. The guys that you’re racing with on a weekly basis really seem to step it up. It all comes down to the fact that we want to win races. It’s not like we feel that we can’t when the Cup guys are racing with us, but when it’s just the Nationwide regulars, you feel like you’ve got an even better chance.

“I’ve gotten to know Sam Bass fairly well over the last couple of years, and the Nashville trophy means a lot to me. I know a lot of guys would like to win that guitar, but because of my relationship with Sam, it means that much more to me. Our finishes last year at Nashville didn’t indicate how well we ran there, so we’re looking for redemption this time around. Coming off the win at Bristol, it definitely gives us momentum and a little more confidence to get the job done this weekend.”

Crew chief Chad Walter on Nashville Superspeedway
“Nashville Superspeedway is a faster race track than people think. The corners are really tight and come up on you in a hurry. One of the keys to success is getting your car to roll through the center of the corner. If you can roll the center with speed you will have a good day. The driver has to be able to manage a free race car all day long. I think by the end of the event there will be two grooves on the track, which gives the drivers the ability to work on both the top and the bottom of the track.”