Dario Franchitti
Talladega Superspeedway Advance Notes
Race: Aaron’s 312 on Saturday, April 26 (NNS) (LIVE, ABC, 2:30 p.m. ET)
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile Tri-Oval)
Location: Talladega, Ala.
Dario Franchitti and the No. 40 Fastenal Dodge Team (NNS)
NOTES
Fast Relief for No. 40: This weekend the all-new TUMS QuikPak instant dissolve powder will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 40 CGRFS Dodge Charger at Talladega Superspeedway. TUMS first became a CGRFS partner in 2007, as an associate sponsor of the No. 40 and No. 41 cars. This will be Franchitti’s first time representing the TUMS brand which is the number one selling brand of antacid in America, used by people who want fast relief.
The Name Game: The No. 40 TUMS QuikPak Dodge team is taking on the identity of its primary sponsor by renaming the pit crew “The TUMS QuikPak” for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup series race. The TUMS QuikPak pit crew is hoping the temporary name change will help the No. 40 team provide fast and effective relief at each pit stop throughout the race and bring home a solid finish.
Rookie Update: Franchitti is still third in the NSCS Raybestos Rookie of the Year race, just seven points (71) behind rookie class leader Sam Hornish Jr. (78). Franchitti still leads the NNS Raybestos Rookie off the Year standings. With a total of 80 points, he leads fellow CGRFS teammate Bryan Clauson (whose current tally is 52) by 28 points.
Talladega was His First: When Franchitti gets on track Thursday for NNS first practice it won’t be his first time driving a stock car on the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Franchitti made his career-first stock car start at Talladega Superspeedway last October in the ARCA Re/Max race (started sixth, finished 17th) after announcing earlier that same month he had signed a multi-year deal with the CGRFS to compete in the NSCS and NNS beginning this year.
Check out the Parrott Perspective: Franchitti’s NNS crew chief Brad Parrott is keeping fans up to date on what is going on in the world of the Fastenal Racing Team through an on-line log he is keeping throughout the 2008 NNS season. Check out the Parrott Perspective at www.fastenalracing.com.
That is what I call A BIG STEP FORWARD: Scott Pruett and the No. 40 Fastenal Dodge team put forth a solid effort at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (AHR) last Sunday in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing third after starting from the outside pole position in the NNS Corona Mexico 200. The No. 40 Fastenal Team advanced six positions total—into 11th place—after scoring the top-five finale at AHR. The team is now only four points outside the top 10 and 267 out of first going into this weekend’s run in Talladega.
CHASSIS INFO
No. 40 Fastenal Dodge (NNS): Chassis #751. This is the same car Franchitti raced at Daytona International Speedway during the season-opening Camping World 300 (started fourth, finished 20th). It is also the same car Montoya raced at Talladega in April 2007 during which he and the team started 20th and then finished seventh.
