Juan Pablo Montoya
Chicago Busch Advance
Race: USG Durock 300 on Saturday, July 14, 2007
Track: Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Location: Joliet, Ill.
Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Busch Series Dodge Team Facts:
One Year Anniversary: It was this same time last year when Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced Juan Pablo Montoya would join its organization to go stock car racing. The announcement was made at Chicagoland Speedway last July and marked the first time a Formula One regular would join the NASCAR ranks full-time.
Montoya Debuts Wrigley’s Big Red® at Chicago: This weekend, Montoya will make his first of three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup starts in the Wrigley’s Big Red Dodge in Sunday’s USG Sheetrock 400. Big Red has been riding along with Montoya the entire 2007 season as an associate sponsor on the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline NEXTEL Cup Dodge’s rear quarter panel, but this weekend the hot cinnamon tasting gum will take center hood for its NASCAR debut. Wrigley’s Big Red has been the number one cinnamon gum since 1987 and is available in the U.S., Germany and Canada.
NBS Rookie Race Update: Montoya still stands fourth in the NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) Raybestos® Rookie of the Year standings. He is 34 points behind NBS rookie class leader David Ragan. Montoya has scored rookie of the race honors four times this 2007 NBS season—at Mexico City, Atlanta, Phoenix and Richmond.
Chassis: Crew chief Brian Pattie and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Busch team are bringing new chassis #755 to Chicagoland this weekend. Saturday will mark the car’s first official race.
NBS Points Update: The No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Busch team now stands 15th in the NBS owner points. The team is just 85 points outside the top 10.
Hamlin Still Trucking It: Before Kevin Hamlin climbs back into the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Busch Dodge to go racing at Gateway International Raceway next Saturday, July 21, he will go truck racing again with the No. 4 Bobby Hamilton Racing (BHR) team this Saturday, July 14, at Kentucky Speedway in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race. Hamlin just scored a 21st-place start and finish in the No. 4 BHR truck at the Memphis Motorsports Park June 30. This weekend’s run will mark his third NCTS start of the 2007 season. The 150-lap competition is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on SPEED.
