Austin Dillon to make his fifth Clash start at Daytona

Austin Dillon is 40/1 to win Daytona 500.

Richard Childress Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history at Daytona International Speedway … Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected six points-paying victories at the most-storied race track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit. RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018), three Coke Zero 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including a record 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999). In addition, RCR has won the Advance Auto Parts Clash a total of eight times, with drivers Harvick (2009, 2010, 2013) and Earnhardt (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, and ’95).

RCR50 … Richard Childress Racing celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary in 2019. For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3 and @DanielHemric. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com.

Catch the Action … The Advance Auto Parts Clash will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 10.

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Dillon is one of 20 drivers scheduled to compete in the pre-season event recognizing 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole winners, past winners of the Advance Auto Parts Clash, drivers who earned a berth in the 2018 playoffs and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed in the Series full time last year. The 75-lap race is split into two segments, with a competition caution at lap 25 serving as the breaking point.

The Starting Position … Dillon’s crew chief, Danny Stockman, will draw for the team’s starting position for the Clash from the main stage of the UNOH Fanzone on Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET with assistance from young USAC .25 Midget fans.

Past History … This will be Dillon’s fifth start in the Advance Auto Parts Clash. He finished fifth last year.

About Bass Pro Shops … Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to join other drivers competing in this year’s Advance Auto Parts Clash in a fan event in the UNOH Fanzone at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 10. The interactive event brings families and drivers together to kick off the 2019 NASCAR season, with Dillon scheduled to take selfies with fans.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts heading into your fifth Clash?
“It’s a fan’s race. It’s a race that’s fun for the fans to watch and fun for the drivers to race in. I’m thankful that I have a chance to compete in it. Our expectations are to go out and try to win it. It’s a really cool race with a lot of prestige and to win it would help set the tone for the rest of Speedweeks. Our entire organization has worked really hard during the off season to make gains and this will be the first opportunity to showcase that.”

You have Daniel Hemric joining RCR in the Cup Series. What will it be like having him as a teammate this year?
“I think it’s cool being teammates in the Cup Series. We started together in Bandoleros running the quarter mile at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He started Go Kart racing. When we were growing up, I always thought that Daniel was so talented. I felt like if he ever got the shot he was going to do a really good job in the racecar, and he has. He’s done a good job and now we’re racing together. That experience that we’ve gained from different motorsports should help us this year and we’ll know how to communicate. He’s fired up. He’ll push me and that’s what you need. You need people around you that push you to be better.”