Race 2 Win: Nationwide Series Race Notes

Nationwide Series

Aaron’s 312 - Stephen Leicht Notes

Stephen Leicht
No. 21 Childress Vineyards Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: Aaron’s 312 – April 26, 2008
Venue: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway

NOTES:

This Week’s Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway … Stephen Leicht will pilot Chassis No. 064 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) stable. Built new for 2007, this is the same No. 21 Chevy that Bobby Labonte drove to a 15th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in February 2008. In 2007, Kevin Harvick piloted this chassis to Victory Lane during the Orbitz 300 at Daytona in February. Additionally, Harvick drove this No. 21 machine to a sixth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April and to a second-place finish at Daytona in July.

Talladega Tally … Talladega has been a bit of a sore spot for Leicht, who finished seventh in the NNS point standings last season. In two starts at the larger-than-life 2.66-mile oval, he owns a 17.5 starting average and a 29.5 finishing average. However, he has completed 224 of 237 (94.5%) of laps attempted at the famed Alabama race track.

Drafting with Childress Vineyards … Leicht’s No. 21 Chevy will feature the Childress Vineyards paint scheme this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Founded by Richard Childress in 2004, the winery and tasting room have quickly become a stand-alone destination in the Yadkin Valley. Recently, the Wine Enthusiast Magazine voted Childress Vineyards as one of America’s Top 25 tasting rooms. It was the only winery selected in the state of North Carolina. For more information please visit www.childressvineyards.com.

Up on Speed of Leicht … In three starts under the RCR banner, Leicht has posted two top-10 and three top-15 finishes. Leicht’s best finish came two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway where he started 22nd and finished seventh.

Three to Go … RCR has earned a Nationwide Series victory at 23 of the 26 tracks on the 2008 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn’t earned wins are Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Nine Races, Two Wins … In nine NNS races this season, RCR entries have notched two wins (Clint Bowyer – Bristol and Scott Wimmer – Nashville), nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. RCR cars have also led 285 of the 1,548 (18.4 percent) of the total laps run this season.

For the Record … 2008 marks Leicht’s fourth season in the NNS with 60 starts, one win (Kentucky 2007), three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. Additionally, the Asheville, N.C., native finished seventh in the 2007 NNS point standings.

RCR at Talladega … In 17 previous NNS starts at Talladega Superspeedway, RCR has posted two poles (Bowyer, April 2004; and Johnny Sauter, April 2002), five top-five and six top-10 finishes. RCR cars have also led 85 laps on Talladega’s high-banks.

Help Chevy Help Autism … During April – Autism Awareness Month – people who go to the Autism Speaks website (www.autismspeaks.org ), can click on the “Help Chevy Help Autism” icon and take a free virtual test drive of the 2008 North American Car of the Year – the all-new Chevy Malibu. Chevrolet has committed to a minimum contribution of $500,000, but every virtual test drive taken gets Chevrolet closer to its goal of donating up to $1 million to Autism Speaks to support its mission of increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research. Those who participate in the virtual test drive will be offered a free 30-day online trial of XM Satellite Radio.

What’s on the 21 Slate for 2008 … The 2008 season will feature Leicht and Labonte as co-pilots of RCR’s No. 21 Chevrolet. Leicht will run a minimum of four Nationwide Series races for the Shane Wilson-led team while Labonte is scheduled to compete in 15 events.

Catch the Action … The Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on ABC on Saturday, April 26 at 2:30 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The race will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 10th of 35 races on the NNS tour will take place on Friday, April 25th and will broadcast live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 5 p.m. EDT.

CREW CHIEF SHANE WILSON QUOTES:
How difficult is it to prepare a car for two different drivers?
“It is definitely a little harder. We have two good drivers in Bobby (Labonte) and Stephen (Leicht). However, going back and forth is a little harder to get that last adjustment, that last bit that is going to get you from fifth to winning the race. That is kind of where we have been all year. We are used to competing for the win and right now we are competing for a top-five finish. With Bobby we have gotten a little closer each race and we are getting Stephen some good finishes. However, it’s hard because everyone is pretty equal when we unload and whoever tunes the car the best in Happy Hour is going to compete for the win. I think eventually we will gel and compete for some wins.”

What are you thoughts on Stephen Leicht?
“I think he has the talent to compete in the Nationwide Series. I think he might even have gotten a win this season if he was in the car full time. I think he is a talented driver that could be a good full time Nationwide driver.”