News

Verizon Team News and Notes
• This Week’s Verizon Dodge … Justin Allgaier will pilot Penske Racing chassis PRS-206 in Friday night’s Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Built new for 2010, this Dodge Challenger raced at Michigan International Speedway in August, where Allgaier started seventh and finished fourth.
• Where It All Started … Allgaier made his NNS debut at CMS on October 10, 2008. The 2009 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year started 14th and finished 34th driving Penske Racing’s No. 12 Dodge. Since then, Allgaier has recorded two pole awards, one win, nine top fives, 25 top 10s and has led 222 laps in 69 races throughout his first three seasons on NASCAR’s junior circuit.
• The Challenger Returns … Charlotte marks the fourth, and final, event where the new Nationwide Series car will be utilized in 2010. Allgaier debuted his Verizon Challenger at Daytona International Speedway in July, which was the first Nationwide Series race that featured a Dodge Challenger since the early 1980s. 
• New Car Averages … In the three races featuring the New Nationwide Series car thus far in 2010, Allgaier has a fourth-place finish, which came at MIS in August, to call his best. Allgaier’s Challengers have accumulated an average starting position of 8.3, an average finish of 11th and have completed 100 percent of the laps contested (477 of 477).
• Through 30 Races … With 30 races of the 2010 season in the record books, Allgaier has accumulated one pole, one win, six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, an average starting position of 12.1 and an average finish of 12.2. Allgaier has led 133 laps of competition and has completed 97.3 percent of the laps contested (5,336 of 5,484) so far this season.
• Get to the Points … Allgaier ranks fourth in the NNS championship point standings heading into this weekend’s event at CMS. He trails current point leader and Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski by 826 points, and third-place contender Kyle Busch by 341 points.
• Best in Class … Allgaier’s fourth-place position in the point standings is best among full-time, Nationwide Series-only drivers. Allgaier leads fellow Nationwide-only driver Trevor Bayne, currently ranked eighth, by 547 points.
• Allgaier at Charlotte … In four NNS starts at CMS, Allgaier has a best finish of fourth which came in his most recent start at the 1.5-mile oval. Additionally, the 24-year-old driver has an average starting position of 16.5, an average finish of 16th and has completed 90.2 percent of the laps contested (697 of 773).
• Last Time Out … Allgaier recorded an eighth-place finish in last Saturday afternoon’s CampingWorld.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway, extending his streak of five consecutive races with top-15 finishes.
• Penske Racing at Charlotte … In 10 previous NNS starts at CMS, Penske Racing entries have recorded one win, five top-five and five top-10 finishes. Penske Dodges have been atop the leaderboard for 328 circuits in their time at Charlotte, and have completed 1,714 of 1,978 laps contested.
• Penske Racing in 2010 … With 30 races completed in the 2010 season, Penske Racing’s two NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded six poles, five wins, a combined 27 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes. Penske Dodges have completed 10,819 of 10,968 laps contested, and have been atop the leaderboard for 1,150 laps with drivers Allgaier and Keselowski.
• Cast Your Vote … Some 30,000 fans have cast their votes since July 6, and Allgaier is currently ranked among the top-five in the NNS Most Popular Driver award voting (through Wednesday, Sept. 15). Fans can visit www.nascarnationwideseries.com to vote for their favorite NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. Voting continues through Saturday, November 13.
• Meet the Driver … Fans can meet Allgaier on Thursday, October 14 at the Penske Racing souvenir trailer, located in the midway at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. The following day, he will participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Series group autograph session, on pit road at CMS, from 1 – 2:00 p.m.
• High Above Clear Lake Avenue … As a part of breast cancer awareness month, Springfield, Ill.-based St. John's Hospital unveiled a "Real Men Wear Pink" billboard featuring Allgaier. The billboard will remain above one of the busiest sections of Springfield for the month of October.
• Homecoming … Two members of the Verizon team hail from the greater Charlotte area. Engine tuner Dave Ward calls Hertford, N.C. his hometown, and spotter Chris Osborne is from High Point, N.C.

Justin Allgaier on Charlotte Motor Speedway

“Charlotte is a great track in terms of the 1.5-mile speedways. The front straightaway, I swear it’s flat. As you drive into Turn 1, you’re looking at this massive asphalt wall. Your brain tells you to lift, but your right foot stays in the throttle. The track has a lot of speed. It’s also got some character in terms of the bumps in the track. It’s a fun place to race, especially in front of so many Penske Racing employees and their families.”

Crew chief Chad Walter on Charlotte Motor Speedway

“Charlotte Motor Speedway is a great 1.5-mile track. Handling and track position are the keys to success. This is the last time we’ll race the new Dodge Challenger in 2011, and I’m really excited about that. Penske Racing has been the class of the field in the races that we’ve used the new Nationwide Series cars, and I fully expect the same result this weekend.”