O TRIANGULO DE TRICKY (THE TRICKY TRIANGLE): Nelson Piquet Jr. and the No. 8 Bozzano/Jontex team will head to Pocono Raceway this weekend for the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race will be the Brazilian native’s first appearance at the track known as “The Tricky Triangle.” The Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) team hopes to bring the momentum they’ve gained over the first half of the season to the 2.5-mile track in the team’s Pocono debut.
ON THE MOVE: As the Truck Series heads into the second half of the season, Piquet Jr. continues to climb through the standings. The rookie driver currently sits fourth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Point Standings, 33 points behind leader Cole Whitt. The young driver also has a solid position in the overall Driver’s Point Standings where he is currently 13th, only 89 points out of the lead, after working his way back from the 25th position following the race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April.
POCONO SUCCESS: The Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125 will be the Truck Series’ second visit to Pocono Raceway. KHI entered two trucks in the inaugural event last season with Elliott Sadler behind the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet and Ron Hornaday piloting the No. 33 Chevrolet. Sadler made a clean sweep during the weekend, winning the race from the pole position. KHI has led a total of 31 laps at the 2.5-mile track, with one top-five and one top-10 finish.
CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief Chris Carrier and the No. 8 team will run chassis No. 051 this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The No. 8 KHI crew has run this chassis three times thus far this season, making its first appearance at Nashville Superspeedway in April where Piquet Jr. drove to a second-place finish, the driver’s career-best finish in 17 Truck Series starts. This particular chassis has also been used in competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and at Texas Motor Speedway in June.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Nelson Piquet Jr. and the No. 8 Bozzano/Jontex Chevrolet Silverado fought an increasingly tight-handling condition at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis last Friday night, leaving the young driver with a 14th-place finish at the 0.686-mile facility. The Brazilian native qualified the KHI entry in the 11th position for the AAA Insurance 200, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie’s first appearance at the Indiana short track.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Nelson Piquet Jr.
How do you feel about heading to Pocono Raceway where you will experience the track for the first time?
“We have had such great momentum the past few races, so I’m very excited to see how we are going to do at another new track. With each race, my confidence continues to grow. I thought it would be easier to become familiar with the trucks, track and Truck Series as a whole but I was wrong. I have a different outlook when I go to new tracks now; I take more time to learn the little things about each track and what my truck can handle. I hear Pocono is very tricky to learn, so I’m heading into this race with a completely open mind and confidence in my team. I hope it allows me to continue earning solid finishes and helps us continue to move up in the point standings.”
THOUGHTS FROM THE PIT BOX: Chris Carrier
What are the major characteristics of Pocono Raceway?
“Talk about a racing facility with character. Pocono Raceway is an old track with three differently configured corners, connected by three straightaways of different length. The front straightaway and turn one are very rough and bumpy. The tunnel turn is nothing more than a kink in the track and turn three is a flat short-track style turn. There isn’t a lot of grip on this track, so down force is definitely needed. Because this track is so different throughout, it is nearly impossible to have a great truck all the way around, so the challenge is going to be picking where you want to be best and hanging on for the rest.”
Media Access: Members of the media can now log on to www.kevinharvickinc.com to gain access to press kit information online. For more information, please email Jill Frischmann at jfrischmann@kevinharvickinc.com.
About Bozzano
Bozzano offers a full line of personal care products designed especially for men. Specializing in skin care and grooming products, the Bozzano line includes shaving creams, after shave lotions, deodorants and hair care products. Bozzano recently launched a new product line in Brazil with an innovative packaging design. Bozzano is a recognized brand in Brazil and a leader in its industry.
About Jontex
Jontex is a manufacturer of condom products. A trusted brand since 1936, Jontex is a market leader, synonymous with quality and tradition. Jontex Condoms are 100% electronically tested and undergo a rigorous quality control process.
About Autotrac
AUTOTRAC SA is a company specializing in the development of equipment, software and mobile data communication solutions for the monitoring and tracking of vehicles. AUTOTRAC is the market leader in Brazil and very recognized in its industry with 18 years of experience. The company brought to Brazil advanced solutions for mobile communications between companies and their fleets using dedicated and redundant channels via geostationary satellites. Additional information may be found at www.autotrac.com.br.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated is the world leader in next-generation mobile technologies. For 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of wireless communications, connecting people more closely to information, entertainment and each other. Today, Qualcomm technologies are powering the convergence of mobile communications and consumer electronics, making wireless devices and services more personal, affordable and accessible to people everywhere. For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.
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