Alex Bowman, No. 99 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Toyota Camry, Bristol Preview

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In: Xfinity Series News

News & Notes:

  • This Week’s Toyota… Alex Bowman will pilot RAB Racing Chassis No. 44 in Saturday’s Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bowman is comfortable in this chassis, having piloted it twice in the past, both at Phoenix International Raceway.
  • Welcome Back … St. Jude Children’s Research Center will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 99 Toyota Camry this weekend. Founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on childhood diseases.
  • First Timer … Though Bowman has recorded laps at many of the tracks on the Nationwide Series circuit throughout his seasons in the K&N Pro Series and the ARCA Racing Series, he has not yet competed at Bristol Motor Speedway. As he heads out on the .533-mile oval for Nationwide Series practice this Friday afternoon, these will truly be his first laps here.
  • RAB Racing at Bristol … In eight Nationwide Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway dating back to 2004, RAB Racing has earned three top-20 finishes with drivers Carl Edwards, Kenny Wallace and John Wes Townley. The team’s highest finish came in March, 2009 when Townley finished 16th.
  • Rearview Mirror… Bowman started 18th in last Saturday’s Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Though the rookie driver had never competed at the 1.5-mile track before, advice from NASCAR veteran Mark Martin and crew chief Chris Rice helped Bowman power his No. 99 Port of Tucson Toyota Camry to an eighth-place finish and win his second Sunoco Rookie of the Race award.
  • Where it all Began … RAB Racing made their NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 27, 2004 with driver Carl Edwards. The 2007 Nationwide Series champion started 14th and finished 19thdriving RAB Racing’s Mac Tools sponsored No. 03 machine. Since then, RAB Racing has recorded one win, four top fives, 18 top 10s and has led 26 laps in 137 races throughout their first six seasons on the Nationwide Series circuit.
  • Get to the Points … As we head into the fourth race of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Bowman currently occupies the 10th position in the drivers’ point standings, only 13 points out of the top five and 37 points behind leader Sam Hornish, Jr. Owner Robby Benton climbed three positions, moving into the 12th position in the Nationwide Series owners’ point standings.
  • Rookie Battle… After securing his second Sunoco Rookie of the Race contingency award in only three races, Bowman made grounds on the top position of the Rookie of the Year battle, moving into the second position, only three points behind Nelson Piquet, Jr.
  • Catch the Action … Saturday’s Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live Saturday, March 16 beginning at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network.
  • Get Social … Don’t miss any updates from Bowman and RAB Racing. Follow them on Twitter @AlexBRacing and @RAB_Racing.

Alex Bowman Quotes:

“I’m excited to go to Bristol Motor Speedway because I have run well at similar tracks like Salem and Winchester in ARCA last season. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun racing at a new track and my RAB Racing team have built me a great Toyota Camry. We performed well at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and that track was new to me, so I look forward to what’s in store this weekend.”

 

Chris Rice Quotes:

“I love to go to Bristol Motor Speedway and back to short-track racing. Bristol’s not how it used to be; now it is pretty wide open. You can run the top or bottom and track position is huge. Handling is of the utmost importance and aero doesn’t play as large of a factor here as it does at mile-and-a-half tracks. I’m excited to have St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on our Toyota Camry this weekend at one of my favorite racetracks on the Nationwide Series circuit.”

 

RAB Racing PR

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