Kerry Earnhardt
No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Event/Date: Daytona 500 – Feb. 20, 2005
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
NOTES:
This Week’s Race Car at Daytona International Speedway … Kerry Earnhardt will pilot chassis No. 126 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Chassis No. 126 is a brand new superspeedway car that Earnhardt tested during Pre-Season Thunder at Daytona International Speedway in January. Earnhardt also tested the car at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway during the off season.
First for Earnhardt … Though Kerry raced in the 2004 Pepsi 400 with RCR, this will mark his first attempt at the famed Daytona 500.
RCR Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won six poles and owns 22 total victories at DIS, including 10 straight (1990-1999) Twin 125 wins with Dale Earnhardt. All totaled, RCR has won five Bud Shootouts, 13 Twin 125 qualifying races, two Pepsi 400s and one Daytona 500. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the Feb. 2002 Busch Series race at Daytona driving a car fielded by RCR.
Testing overload … Earnhardt probably logged any many laps as any NASCAR competitor during January’s pre-season testing at Daytona International Speedway. He tested his No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet during the first week of Cup Series testing, then climbed into the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Craftsman Truck Series entry for a few days of testing, and finally filled in to test the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet during the final Nextel Cup session in late January.
“WOW”, Live with BP … Burton will join fellow RCR driver Kerry Earnhardt Tues., Feb. 15 at 6:45 p.m. as a guest on Performance Racing Network’s “Fast Talk with Benny Parsons”. The show will be live from the Volusia County Mall, across the street from Daytona International Speedway.
Up to Speed … The 47th Annual Daytona 500 can be seen live on FOX on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and can be heard live on MRN. The qualifying races will be broadcast live on FX and MRN beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17. Qualifying can been heard live on MRN beginning at 1p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13.
KERRY EARNHARDT QUOTES:
On attempting to qualify for his first Daytona 500
“It’s pretty exciting to be at Daytona any time but to be here trying to make the Daytona 500 is pretty big. Richard has put a lot of effort toward this program to get all we can out of the next two weekends.”
On the new qualifying format
“It’s going to be tougher because there are only about six spots we’re fighting for. I’m hoping that we’ll take care of all of that during the Twin 150s and we won’t have to worry about the qualifying runs.
On driving for Richard Childress
“It’s hard to explain. It’s a very special opportunity for me because Dad drove for him. A lot of people say it’s because of Dad that I have the opportunity but, you know what, he (Childress) still has to believe in me and put together the team, the equipment and the money that goes into the Bass Pro program. It says a lot about Richard, that he believes in me enough to put me in his equipment to race the superspeedway races this season. Hopefully, it will turn into something bigger.
On restrictor plate racing
“I really like restrictor plate racing. I didn’t think I would but it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve adapted do it pretty quick. I haven’t really had anyone teach me how to draft or anything; it’s come pretty natural. I’m not going to say I’m good at it because the results don’t show it but we’ve run up front and pushed Dale Jr. to the front once so it’s been a good time.”
