RCR Post Race Report – Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Austin Dillon Drives No. 3 Mycogen Seeds Chevrolet to Top-10 Finish at the Brickyard

Driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Mycogen Seeds, an Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences brand, Austin Dillon earned a top-10 finish in the 21st-running of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in just his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the historic, 2.5-mile track. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender started the event from the 17th position and showed speed from the start of the 160-lap event, moving into the 11th spot by lap four. He led one lap during the middle of a pit cycle before making a green-flag pit stop on lap 44 for four tires and fuel. The Gil Martin-led team struggled to communicate with Dillon during the first half of the event because a broken antenna on the roof of the car made it difficult to communicate with him unless he was on the front stretch. A pit stop under caution on lap 98 provided an opportunity to replace the antenna, while changing four tires and adding fuel. He restarted 17th when green-flag racing resumed on lap 108 and quickly worked his way into the top-12. When the caution flag was displayed with 20 laps of racing remaining, Dillon pitted for right-side tires, positioning him 15th for the lap-143 restart. The Welcome, N.C. driver spent the remainder of the event working for track position, ultimately securing a top-10 finish in the No. 3 Mycogen Seeds Chevrolet.

Start – 17th       Finish – 10th    Laps Led – 1    Points – 14th   

“It was a really good day and I’m proud of everyone at Richard Childress Racing, Gil Martin and all of the guys. We had a communication issue at the beginning but they worked to fix the antenna. Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds had a huge group here today and I’m glad we were able to get a good finish for them and all of our other partners, too. I’m so proud of my brother, Ty, for winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday. Seeing that really got me fired up to do well. I would really like to get a win before the end of the year.”

Paul Menard Finishes 34th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Paul Menard drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 27 Moen/Menards Chevrolet SS to a 34th-place finish in Sunday’s 160-lap event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Eau Claire, Wis., driver started 29th and quickly reported his Chevrolet SS was loose off Turns 1 and 2. The Slugger Labbe-led team was able to remedy Menard’s handling issues during the lap 20 competition caution with four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The Moen/Menards pit crew was able to gain five spots on pit road, putting Menard in position to restart 20th. The RCR driver’s momentum was slowed on lap 30 when contact with another car caused Menard to hit the wall. This contact resulted in a left-rear tire rub and right-rear flat tire. The Moen/Menards Chevy made two stops down pit road for new tires and repairs to the left and right rear wheel wells to prevent future tire rubs. These pits stops during green flag racing meant Menard would have to contend in the 43rd-position two laps down. The Moen/Menards team  worked hard to regain track position, but ultimately finished in the 34th position. Up next for the No. 27 team is next Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.

Start – 29th             Finish – 34th             Laps Led – 0                Points – 16th

PAUL MENARD QUOTE:

“It seemed like we just couldn’t catch a break today. The Moen/Menards Chevy was pretty fast in race trim all weekend. We were going to have a hard time gaining track position since we started in the back, but didn’t get any favors there. I think we will still be okay in the Chase, but today definitely didn’t help. We will just look forward now and try to get them in Pocono.”