Ricky Carmichael – No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Race Recap
Venue: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Circuit: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: Nextera Energy Resources 250 (Race 1 of 25)
Date: February 13, 2010 (100 laps, 250 miles)
Start: 4th – Finish: 29th

RACE RECAP:

• The running of the Truck Series season opener in Daytona was delayed until Saturday evening after heavy rain showers plagued the speedway. All action scheduled for Friday was canceled due to the weather.
• Thursday evening under unusually cold conditions in Florida, Carmichael cranked out the fourth fastest qualifying effort of the night. His lap of 176.343 earned him his fourth career top-five qualifying effort.
• Just following the drop of the green flag a multi-truck wreck brought out the first caution before the field could complete one lap. “The truck feels good,” said Carmichael as he restarted in second spot on lap eight.
• Carmichael wasted no time making a move to the front. By lap nine he was challenging for the lead before settling into fifth place by lap 12.
• The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was working the highline running in eighth position when the second caution waved on lap for fluid on the track on lap 20. “The truck is just right,” said Carmichael as he made his way down pit road to the attention of his team. The Monster Energy Racing Team jumped into action changing all four tires and adding two cans of racing fuel. Carmichael restarted in fifth position after picking up two spots on pit road due to the fast work of his pit crew.
• Just as the race was playing into the hands of the Monster Energy Racing Team disaster struck when the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was being aero- pushed from behind by another competitor. Carmichael was unable to slow the truck down before barely touching the rear of the No. 33 truck. The tap caused Hornaday to get loose and turn into the outside wall collecting Carmichael and others in the process.
• The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet sustained heavy damage to the front and rear of the vehicle with smoke bellowing from the radiator. After taking a closer look at the carnage the team was unable to repair the Monster Energy Chevrolet and retired from the event on lap 32. Carmichael finished in the 29th position.

Timothy Peters won the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Todd Bodine, Dennis Setzer, Jason White and Matt Crafton rounded out the top five finishers.

FAST FACTS:

• Carmichael’s fourth place starting position for the Truck Series race at Daytona was his fourth career top-five starting position.
• The caution flag flew seven times for 33 laps during the 100 lap event.
• Next up for the No. 4 Monster Energy team is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, March 6.
• Carmichael will be in the booth calling the action for the Indianapolis Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship event Saturday, February 20. Check out the action on SPEED starting at 8:00 PM EST.

RICKY CARMICHAEL: “Obviously, this is not how we wanted to start off the season. The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was a rocket ship. I was getting pushed from behind and we had an incredible run going in the outside lane. I had my foot on the brake trying to slow the truck down, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. The next thing I know I was tapping the back end of Hornaday’s truck and turning him into the wall. After that we had nowhere to go. It was an unfortunate night for all of us. I hate it for everyone involved and for my guys. The truck was fast and they knew we were here tonight.”
-TMS-

Media Contact:
Amanda Jones Ellis
Media Relations Account Manager
No. 4 Monster Energy /Ricky Carmichael
Cell: 731.697.0396
Amanda.ellis@turnermotorsportsllc.com

We are finally racing at Daytona. It always seems like we spend months talking about this one race, but the past two weeks have just flown by. I am like a kid in a candy store when I drive into the tunnel here at Daytona. This track just has so much racing history from race cars to bikes. I am one of the fortunate ones who can say they have been for both. I have actually been coming to Daytona for more than 10 years; just so happens most of it was on two wheels and not four. It’s always good to come to a place where it is familiar, so it makes it more comfortable for me.

I flew into Daytona last Wednesday night to grab dinner and hit the sack before the ARCA practice the next day. I got up early on Thursday to attend NASCAR Media Day. I might be the only driver who actually enjoyed it. Basically, you spend several hours in a tent outside the speedway. Every major media outlet is present and you go around the room at your allotted time doing interviews, photo shoots and promo liners. It was great to see all the drivers and get a chance to talk with the media outside the race track. I was only one of four Truck Series drivers invited so I was happy to attend.

I headed straight from Media Day to climb behind the wheel of my No. 4 Monster Energy vehicle. It was my first time to hit the track since the ARCA test in December. The car was good off the truck. We ran a couple of laps and then parked it till qualifying the next day.

Qualifying was set for Friday morning. I went out 43rd and at Daytona that means about an hour after qualifying actually starts because it takes a long time to get around the race track. I was able to lay down a decent lap good enough for 14thspot. After qualifying I hit the gym at the track for a much needed workout. Danica was there working out so we spent a few minutes talking about our plan for the race Saturday. She is a pretty cool girl. Several of the tracks we travel to have a gym in the motorhome lot and it makes it very convenient for drivers and team members to keep up with their workouts. Another reason why I love this sport.

I woke up Saturday ready to race. I don’t really get nervous the day of the race. I am more just ready to get the show on the road. The drivers’ meeting was not until after lunch so I hit the gym that morning to get my run in. Then I went into the garage for a meeting with my crew chief, an autograph session and finally our team meeting before the race.

I will have to admit the ARCA race was as crazy from behind the wheel as it was on TV. I’d like to tell you that was part of the plan — to keep close to Danica for the TV time — but really we were hoping for a top-five finish. As far as Monster Energy is concerned I know they wanted a win but the TV time doesn’t hurt. I can’t believe how many times I’ve seen that finish on TV since then! It was good racing and all of that is good for the fans. For me it was a good race and good experience which is what it’s all about for me right now.

After I had chatted with my crew chief I headed back to the bus to change for the Budweiser Shootout. I headed down pit road to hang out with my former boss and friend, Kevin Harvick, before he climbed into his car. The atmosphere on pit road was crazy for the first Sprint Cup race of the year. They let all the fans out on the infield and man it gets crazy! It’s kinda like an all-star race.

I watched the race from the top of KH’s hauler. Man … did you see that race he drove ? It was so much fun to watch him move on the track. Harv knows the draft! I spent the rest of the night celebrating with KH and D.

I headed home early Sunday morning to spend several days with my family. I watched the Super Bowl and spent time playing with my kids. I have 2-year-old twins which make for lots of fun with the Carmichael household. I picked them up from school on Tuesday afternoon before hopping in the car to drive to Daytona. I live only about four hours from the track, so it’s not a bad drive.

When I arrived in town I drove by our team’s hotel and picked up my crew chief. We went to dinner before heading to New Smyrna Speedway for the late model race. It had rained most of the day in Daytona so the track ended up being too wet for racing. I was so bummed because I really wanted to see some good racing.

Wednesday was filled with media interviews and our first Truck Series practice for my Turner Motorsports team. The truck was really fast and I can’t wait until Friday night.

This season is going to be a lot of fun and you get to come along with me for the ride.

We will meet every week here on NASCAR.COM and I will give you the ins and outs of my season as the driver of the Monster Energy Chevrolet.

See you at the races!

“Riding with Ricky” is a weekly feature posted at Nascar.com. If you are interested in keeping up with Ricky between the blogs, you can follow him through the social media world at Twitter and Facebook.

Ricky Carmichael – No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota Race Recap
Venue: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Circuit: ARCA Racing Series Presented By RE/MAX and Menards
Race: Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 (Race 1 of 20)
Date: February 6, 2010 (80 laps, 200 miles)
Start: 14th – Finish: 7th

RACE RECAP:

• Saturday afternoon under windy conditions Turner Motorsports driver Ricky Carmichael started his fourth career ARCA Racing Series event. The No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota rolled off 14th and wasted no time making a charge toward the top-10.
• The first of six cautions that waved during the afternoon came out on lap six for a multi-car wreck. While running in the 10th position Carmichael radioed into his crew. “It’s tight and then wants to snap loose,” he said. Veteran crew chief, Butch Hylton, agreed and assured his driver the problem would be fixed during the next pit stop. The field restarted on lap 16.
• The caution flag flew three times during the next 25 laps for accidents on the track, resulting in red flag conditions on lap 26. Just before the red flag Carmichael radioed in the No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota was handling better. Following the red flag conditions he made his way down pit road to the attention of his Monster Energy Racing Team. They added two cans of fuel and added tape to the front grill to add down force. He restarted in the 7th position.
• On lap 68 Carmichael showcased his driving ability when two vehicles in front of him tangled. The Tallahassee native made it through the incident with no damage in the 9th spot.
• Over the final 12 laps Carmichael drove the green and black entry to the high line and back to the low line searching for the fastest moving lane advancing to the 7th position.
• Coming to the checkered flag Carmichael raced door-to-door with IZOD INDY Car Series star, Danica Patrick, scoring the 7th spot as he crossed the finish line.

Bobby Gerhart won the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Mark Thompson, John Wes Townley, James Buescher and Patrick Sheltra rounded out the top five finishers.

FAST FACTS:

• Carmichael scored his best ARCA Racing Series finish during the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Before Saturday afternoon’s event his best finish was 17th at Rockingham last season.
• Despite starting in the 14th position Carmichael remained in the top-10 for more than 50 percent of the race.
• The caution flag flew six times for 36 laps during the 80 lap event.
• Next up for Carmichael is next week’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener at Daytona Friday, February 12. He will pilot the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports.

RICKY CARMICHAEL: “Our main goal today was to log laps and gain seat time. We accomplished that. But I could never get the car to suck up to the car in front of me in the draft like I wanted. I am confident if I had been able to do that my Truck Series teammate (James Buescher) and I could have hooked up and went to the front.”
-TMS-

Media Contact:
Amanda Jones Ellis
Media Relations Account Manager
No. 4 Monster Energy /Ricky Carmichael
Cell: 731.697.0396
Amanda.ellis@turnermotorsportsllc.com