Event: NAPA Auto Parts 200 – August 30, 2009

Venue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Montreal, Canada

• This Weekend’s Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet Impala SS at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve … Stephen Leicht will pilot Chassis No. 075 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series stable this weekend. Built new in 2008, Clint Bowyer raced this former No. 2 Chevy to a sixth-place finish last April at Autòdromo Hermanos Rodrìguez (Mexico City) and a ninth-place finish last August at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal).

• 70th career NNS Start … The 22-year old Asheville, N.C., native will make his 70th career NNS start this weekend. In 69 starts, Leicht has one win (Kentucky – 2007), 14 top-10 and 38 top-20 finishes. He boasts an average start of 17.3 and an average finish of 20.7. In his five-year NNS career, he has led six races for a total of 66 laps and been running at the finish in 60 races (87.0 percent).

• Unique Status … Leicht is one of eight drivers to earn a top-five finish at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Additionally, Leicht and Marcos Ambrose are the only two drivers who accomplished this feat at Montreal while running the full 35-race NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Leicht did it in 2007 and Ambrose did it back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.

• Third Time Around … Leicht finished fifth in his only career start at Montreal in 2007. Last season, he posted the 17th- and 13th-fastest speeds while practicing RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet for Clint Bowyer.

• Leicht’s Montreal Loop … According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Leicht is second among drivers at the 2.71-mile Canadian road course with an average of 27 quality passes. The quality pass formula is calculated by the number of passes a driver has, while running inside the top 15, under green-flag conditions.

• RCR Equipment for Leicht … Leicht joined RCR in 2008 and has driven in 12 NNS events for the Welcome, N.C.,-based race team. He has recorded six top-10 and nine top-15 finishes dating back to February 25, 2008. Leicht has an 11.5 starting average, a 13.8 finishing average and has completed 2,331 of 2,444 (95.4 percent) of the lap contested.

• Elite Winner … Leicht is one of six non-double-duty drivers to run at least one full NNS season since 2006 and won a race in NASCAR’s junior division. The list also includes Ambrose, Mike Bliss, Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler and Paul Menard.

• RCR in Montreal … In four previous starts at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, RCR-prepared Chevrolets have earned one win and four top-11 finishes. The 54-time NNS winning organization won the inaugural race in 2007 with Kevin Harvick.

• RCR’s Road Course Stats … In 25 NNS road course starts (includes Mexico City, Montreal and Watkins Glen), the five-time NNS championship organization earned two wins, eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. RCR-prepared Chevrolets boast a 9.8 average finish and have completed all but one lap (1957 of 1958) contested in those starts.

• Rearview Mirror … Bowyer drove the No. 29 Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Express Chevrolet to a seventh-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last Friday, extending the No. 29 team’s streak to 10 consecutive top-15 finishes. With 11 races remaining in the 2009 NNS season, the Richard Childress-owned team remains seventh in the owners’ point standings, 97 markers behind Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 entry in fifth.

• Stay Updated … For behind-the-scenes information about the No. 29 team and updates throughout each race weekend, click clicking www.twitter.com/HolidayInnRacin.

• Blog Spot … Keep up with Leicht this weekend by viewing his daily blog clicking www.rcrracing.com. Leicht will begin his blog on Friday, August 28, about his experiences both on and off the track in Montreal.

• Media Session … Leicht will field questions from the media on Saturday, August 29 from 1:30 to 1:55 p.m. inside the media lounge.

• Race Broadcast Information … The NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be televised live on Sunday, August 30 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on ESPN2. The race can also be heard on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Qualifying for the 25th event of the 2009 NNS season will begin at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Live updates of time trials can be found www,twitter.com/HolidayInnRacin and can be heard on MRN and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. Taped-delayed coverage of qualifying can be seen at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.

• Mark Your Calendars … In honor of its 40th anniversary, RCR will host a Fan Day at the Welcome, N.C. complex on Thursday, October 22 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Activities include driver and pit crew autograph sessions, self-guided tours of RCR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide shops as well as ECR’s engine shop, radio remotes, musical entertainment, pit crew competition, viewing of the DALE movie, question-and-answer session with team owner Richard Childress and much more. General admission to RCR’s Fan Day is just $5, which will benefit the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.

• Online With the Times … To keep up with the latest news and information about Richard Childress Racing and to view exclusive online content, visit the team’s official website at www.rcrracing.com. For qualifying and race results, check us out at www.twitter.com/RCRRacing.

STEPHEN LEICHT QUOTES:

With one race under your belt at Montreal, what are your goals heading there this weekend? “I definitely have more confidence heading into the weekend than I did back in 2007. We finished fifth here when I was with (Robert) Yates, but I feel I’m with a better team and have better equipment this time around. Last year, when I practiced the No. 2 Chevy for Clint, I developed a better feel for the track. I’ve learned that tire wear is not big, but track position and a smart strategy for the race are important. We need to qualify well, have a good pit strategy and, if we play our cards right, we might be in a position to win the race.”

You’ve said that Montreal is one of your favorite tracks the Nationwide Series visits. Why is that? “This is one of the stops on our circuit that I can’t wait for at the beginning of each season. The fans are very welcoming to our sport. They love NASCAR racing just as much as our fans do in America. They enjoy having big name drivers from the Nationwide Series race alongside their Canadian drivers. The track is relatively flat and open, which gives everyone the chance to see the amazing scenery. The city of Montreal is awesome, too, and there is plenty to do away from the track.”

What’s your take on the Canadian road-course ringers? “I think it’s great they get the opportunity to race with us once a year. They know how to get around this road course and enjoy helping series regulars learn the track better. They do have the home-track advantage on their side, especially with the fans in attendance, but I intend to give them a run for their money and have a solid finish.”

It’s your 70th career NNS start. How do you feel about what you’ve accomplished thus far in your early career? “It’s been amazing so far. I’ve learned a lot in this series and have met some great people along the way. I started out racing when I was little, but never dreamed I would be in the position where I’m at today. To be able to tell people who I raced door-to-door with is pretty cool. This season alone is filled with awesome memories. I was a part of Richard Childress’ 700th career Nationwide Series start and I’ll be making my 70th career Nationwide start driving for the same guy who owned Dale Earnhardt’s car. That’s big. I’m just proud to be along for the ride right now, and hope for bigger and better things to come in the future.”

DOUG RANDOLPH (CREW CHIEF) QUOTE:

What are your goals heading to Montreal? “It’s one of the few places I’ve yet to visit on the Nationwide Series side, but I’m definitely excited. Stephen seems to have the track figured out, which definitely gives us confidence heading into the weekend. We’re going to get our Chevrolet to handle to Stephen’s liking during the practice sessions and try to have a strong qualifying effort. Track position is so important at road course races, so starting further up definitely helps. In regards to the race, we’re going to stick to our fuel strategy we set and, hopefully, put ourselves in position to contend for the win at the end of the day.”