A NEW FACE – Key Motorsports welcomes driver Jeffrey Earnhardt to the team! The twenty-year-old will be making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Watkins Glen International behind the wheel of the No. 40. Jeffrey is scheduled to make two starts for Key Motorsports this season, the second of which will be at the series’ other road course circuit in Montreal. 

EARNHARDT AT THE GLEN – Jeffrey Earnhardt has only one career start at Watkins Glen International, but his stats show that he has what it takes to master The Glen. Last season he competed at the road course in the NASCAR Camping World East Series, finishing in second place after starting in seventh.

A LITTLE GENEAOLOGY – Jeffrey Earnhardt is the son of NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt, and the cousin of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. His grandfather, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., won 76 races and seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships, tying him with Richard Petty for most all-time championships.

EXTRA TECHNOLOGY – This weekend will also mark the beginning of Key Motorsports’ relationship with Dale Earnhardt Technologies Group. The new organization, formed in July of 2009, was created to provide products, technology, and engineering services to race teams who demand the best possible solutions without the high carrying costs of dedicated personnel and capital investment, in all of NASCAR’s touring and late model series. The group’s mission is to provide technical resources and equipment that allows racers to contend for the winner’s circle at every level of the sport. Regardless of the level of the team, Dale Earnhardt Technologies Group provides the people, products, and resources required to perform like a 7-time champion.

SOME VETERAN HELP – Even though he won’t be behind the wheel of the No. 40 this weekend, NNS veteran Scott Wimmer won’t be far from the Key Motorsports hauler. Wimmer will be on hand at The Glen to serve as driver coach and spotter for Earnhardt, as well as to offer technical and shock support.

ABOUT THE GLEN – Watkins Glen International, the fastest and most aggressive of the NNS road courses, has always been home to some intense road racing. The highly competitive first turn, arguably the best area on the track for making and setting up passes, will get even more interesting now that the NASCAR Nationwide Series has implemented double-file restarts.

A FAB-ULOUS SPONSOR – Key Motorsports will have a brand new sponsor at The Glen. FABgrills.com, manufacturers of high quality, unique engine-themed grills, will serve as primary sponsor for Jeffery Earnhardt and the No. 40 Chevrolet. For more information, visit www.FABgrills.com.

CHASSIS INFORMATION – Key Motorsports will be utilizing chassis #032 at this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International. This is a brand new road racing chassis.

POINTS UPDATE – The No. 40 lost one position in the NNS owner points after this weekend’s DNF at Iowa Speedway. Curtis Key’s entry now sits in 23rd, 264 points inside the top-30.

A VERY SPECIAL VISIT – For the second time this season, Key Motorsports hosted a class of special needs students from Mitchell Community College at their Mooresville, NC shop this week. The students were treated to an in-depth tour of the team shop and hauler, and enjoy a meet and greet with team owner Curtis Key and the No. 40 crew.  

Jeffrey Earnhardt Quotes:

ON RACING FOR KEY MOTORSPORTS – I’m pretty excited to be racing for Key Motorsports this weekend. I get to come to a new team, meet all these new guys, and get to know Curtis [Key] better…it really helps to know more people in the garage anytime you’re at the track. Hopefully I’ll come out of Watkins Glen with a good race for Key Motorsports.

ON WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL – We had a pretty good run last year in the Camping World East Series race. We qualified seventh and ended up finishing second. We had a good car the whole race, ran up front all day, and came out with a good finish. Hopefully we can go back and do the same for Key Motorsports in the Nationwide car and run well against those road course guys.

Jeffrey Earnhardt NASCAR Camping World East Series Stats at Watkins Glen International:

Race length: 82 Laps/ 200.9 Miles

Track layout: 2.45-miles
Shape: Road Course

SCHEDULE

Friday:

Practice:            1:30 PM-3:00 PM ET

Final Practice:    5:30 PM-6:10 PM ET (Time Permitting)

Saturday:

Qualifying:         10:10 AM ET

Race:                3:00 PM ET

Race Coverage:

TV: ESPN2

Radio: MRN