Cole Whitt
“Racing around Daytona is something you dream about as a kid growing up. And here I am with an opportunity to be in a JR Motorsports Chevrolet with Tony Eury Sr. as a crew chief, and the number 88 on the side panels. It really is a dream come true for me. Now it’s my job to make something happen with our Hellmann’s Chevrolet.
“I’m more confident than anything heading into Daytona. I just need the season to start so I can stop beating my head against the wall during the off weekends. I just want to go racing.
“The drafting at Daytona in the Nationwide cars will also be new for me. With Dale Jr.’s coaching to lean on, I think I should pick it up fairly quickly.”
Danica Patrick
“Anytime someone asks what it will take to be a success in my first fulltime year in stock cars, it’s really a trick question for me. It’s hard for me to give an answer because I don’t want to feel like I’ve failed anyone or myself. It’s very much about each weekend in and of itself. It’s about where you’re at going into the race and what you feel like you’re capable of. If you can live up to, or exceed that, then it’s a great weekend.
“But for sure, I’d really like to get to victory lane. I want to win in the Nationwide Series. That will definitely help me feel like a success. Running up front and running consistent, and being in the top-five or top-10 all season long is a realistic goal.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I’m looking forward to working with Bruce Cook for the first time. He came to JR Motorsports in the off-season and has made a big impact already, just in working with Tony Sr. and Tony Jr. in getting our cars faster. He’s a level-headed guy, and he’s obviously had a lot of success. He won this race with Tony Stewart last year, so he knows how to get around Daytona.
“I go into these (NNS) races with only one mindset — that’s to win. I want to win for TaxSlayer. Those guys are great partners of ours. To get their car to Victory Lane would be pretty awesome.
“I’m not sure what type of drafting to expect. Obviously these cars are a different package than the Cup cars. Either way I expect to be fast and go to the front.”
Notes
WHITT THE NEWEST ADDITION – The offseason was an eventful one for JRM. The team’s latest addition brings 20-year-old Cole Whitt into the fold. Whitt, a native of Alpine, Calif., embarks on his debut season piloting JRM’s flagship No. 88 Chevrolet. He’ll compete for the season championship and rookie-of-the-year honors in 2012.
THREE-CAR LINEUP FOR TEAM JRM – JR Motorsports has three teams entered for Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt combine to give the organization three entries in the season opener for the second consecutive year.
WELCOME DANICA FULL-TIME – After completing 25 races in NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition through the previous two seasons, 2012 will see Patrick drive the circuit fulltime. She’ll compete in 33 NNS events this year, including a notable start at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway this summer.
LOOKING TO TIE THE LEGEND AT DAYTONA – Six NNS wins at Daytona give both Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart the most among active drivers. The two trail the overall leader, Earnhardt Sr. by just one win. In both Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series competition Earnhardt Jr. owns 18 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes, with two poles and 917 laps led at the facility.
GET TO KNOW COLE WHITT – Whitt comes to JRM fresh off his first full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He concluded 2011 with two top-five, 11 top-10 finishes and one pole (Darlington) en route to a ninth-place finish in the championship points. In 2006, he claimed the USAC rookie of the year title. Two years later he won the USAC National Championship, becoming the youngest national champion.
DAYTONA FRONT RUNNER – In the past 14 NNS races at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr. ranks in the top-five in the following categories according to NASCAR Statistical Services: laps in top-15 (ranked fourth at 77.3%), green-flag passes (ranked fifth with 1,233), fastest laps run (ranked first with 78). In the past three restrictor plate races he’s driven, Earnhardt Jr. has one win (Daytona, 2010), two top-five and three top-10 finishes. He’s led 49 laps with an average finish of 4.3.
EARNHARDT FAMILY AT DAYTONA – The Earnhardt family owns 47 wins at the historic 2.5-mile speedway. Earnhardt Sr. secured 34 wins, with Earnhardt Jr. supplying 13 victories to the list.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK WINS IN SEASON OPENER – Earnhardt Jr. earned three consecutive victories from 2002 through 2004 in the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona. Averaging a starting position of 4.6, Earnhardt Jr. led a total of 173 laps in those events.
JRM AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Don’t miss the opportunity to meet JRM’s newest driver Cole Whitt. Whitt will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. EST.
NEW DALE JR.COM UNVEILED – JR Motorsports unveiled last week the new official site of Dale Earnhardt Jr., www.dalejr.com. The completely redesigned and overhauled site is packed full of interactive content, including an all-new video series entitled “On the Run with Dale Jr.”, an insider’s look at the complex and hectic world of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. Also included are exclusive photo galleries, news, and information on Dale Jr.’s personal interests. Fans can also relive the glory of Earnhardt Jr.’s Sprint Cup victories through a career timeline, featuring detailed descriptions on each win.
FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR THE DALE JR. FOUNDATION – This year marks a milestone for The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF), marking the fifth year since its founding. Since 2007, the TDJF has offered support to communities both locally and nationally, focusing on hunger, education, empowerment, wellness and hope. In honor of five years of giving, TDJF is asking supporters to donate $5 this year and help reach even more families and individuals in need. For more information and to make a contribution visit www.thedalejrfoundation.org.