Daytona International Speedway Advance Notes

Race:   Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 14

Track:   Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)

Location:      Daytona Beach, Fla.

NOTES

Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team

MEDIA ALERT:  Juan Pablo Montoya will be available in the media center for a brief media Q&A session on Friday, Feb. 12 at 12:45 p.m. ET

The 2010 Season: The start of the 2010 season marks Montoya’s fourth full-time year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Target returning as the primary sponsor. Montoya and Team Target capped off a 2009 NSCS campaign with two pole awards, seven top-fives, 18 top-10 (50%) and 22 top-15 finishes, with a trip to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Montoya finished out the season eighth in the point standings and their attention now turns to a successful 2010 season.

The High Banks of Daytona: Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his seventh NSCS point’s race start at Daytona International Speedway this weekend. Montoya has an average starting position of 20.3 and an average finishing position of 24 in his six prior NSCS starts.  Montoya’s best finish of ninth came at last year’s July race. He has completed 96.8% of the possible laps at Daytona; 1003 out of 1036.

Superspeedway Success: Montoya matched his best finish of second at Talladega Superspeedway on August 27, 2008 by bringing home a second place finish at Pocono Raceway on August 3 – his highest finish of 2009. In his 11 Superspeedway starts, Montoya has never finished outside the top-20 with two top-fives, five top-10s, and eight top-15s.

About The Bud Shootout:  Montoya made his inaugural appearance in the Bud Shootout last weekend. Team Target drew the 20th place starting position and worked their way up to the sixth position in the final 50 lap segment. A final caution flag would fall on lap 74 and would determine the results of the race. Montoya was in the 10th position when the yellow was displayed and would be credited with such as he took the checkered flag under caution.

Hometown Stop For Two: Crew chief Brian Pattie and spotter Tab Boyd are former residents of the “Sunshine State”. Pattie grew up in Zephyrhills just outside of Tampa Bay and Boyd is from the Pensacola on the panhandle of Florida.

Get Geared Up!:  New for 2010. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will have a merchandise trailer located on souvenir row for the 2010 season. Get your Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray gear trackside or visit www.earnhardtganassi.com to place an order online.

CHASSIS INFO

No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS):  Chassis #902.  Pattie and the No. 42 Target team are bringing chassis #902 to Daytona International Speedway this weekend. This is a brand new chassis.

TEAM ROSTERS

Tony Glover – Team Manager

Steve Hmiel – Director of Competition

Crew Chief:  Brian Pattie, Zephyrhills, FL

Rear Tire Changer:  Chris McMullen, Troutman, NC

Chief Mechanic:  Heath Silver, Asheville, NC

Rear Tire Carrier:  Chip Goode, Statesville, NC

Front Tire Changer:  Trevor Lysne, Fergus Falls, MN

Gas Man:  Mike Bodick, Norwalk, CT

Front Tire Carrier:  Eric Bilyeu, Waterford, MI

Catch Can:  Heath Silver, Asheville, NC

Jack Man:  TJ Ford, Charlotte, NC

Spotter:  Tab Boyd, Pensacola, FL