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Race Info
March 8, 2008
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Nicorette 300

Race length:  195 laps/300.3 miles
Banking/Turns: 24-degrees in the turns 5-degrees on the straight-a-ways
Track layout: 1.54 miles
Shape: Quad-oval 

Pre-Race Schedule
Friday:
Practice: 10:10-11:20 a.m., ET
Final Practice: 1:05-2:00 p.m., ET

Saturday:
Qualifying: 9:15 a.m., ET 

TV: The Nicorette 300 can be seen live on ESPN2 at 1:30 p.m., ET. 

Radio: The Performance Racing Network (PRN) will broadcast the race live at 2:00 p.m., ET 

No. 77 Rheem Chevrolet Monte Carlo Specs 

Chassis: 037
Engine: RCR

DAYTONA RECAP: Cale Gale made his first start in a Nationwide Series car at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, back in February to kick off the 2008 season. Biding his time most of the day Gale and the No. 77 team fulfilled the goal of gaining valuable seat time and experience gaining points as one of the 2008 Rookie of the Year contenders.  Battling a tight-handling car most of the day, Gale was able to avoid on-track incidents and bring the No. 77 Rheem Chevrolet home in the 23rd position.  

ROOKIE STRIPE: This weekend Gale will attempt to qualify for his first ever start at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS).  Gale has competed at similar tracks to AMS, such as Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., but has never driven a lap on the 1.54-mile quad-oval.   

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 77 Rheem team will bring chassis No. 037 to Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Chassis No. 037 is a car that KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick competed in last season at Lowe’s (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway recording top-15 finishes at each track.     

CREW CAM: Jackman for the No. 77 Rheem team, Steve Keller, will wear a helmet cam during the Nicorette 300.  Catch all the action on pit road up close and personal as Keller and team jump over the wall to service the No. 77 Rheem Monte Carlo SS. Keller also performs jackman duties for the No. 2 American Commercial Lines/RVs.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR Truck Series.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALE! Cale Gale will be celebrating his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, March 5. A strong finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon would be icing on the cake and be a great way to celebrate Gale’s birthday. 

HOMETOWN TRACK: Primary sponsor of the No. 77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Rheem Manufacturing, calls the Atlanta, Ga. area home.  Rheem looks to use its primary sponsorship of the No. 77 and No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series cars throughout the season with exciting events and promotions for its independent distributor, contractor, and homebuilder partners as well as to increase brand awareness of Rheem and Ruud home comfort products.   

Cale Gale Quotes:
HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS THERE RACING AT A NEW TRACK?  “There is a lot of pressure and a few butterflies when you go to a track you’ve never made a lap on.  Nevertheless, Atlanta is Rheem’s headquarter city and I want to go to Atlanta and run well for them.” 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE CHALLENGES OF RACING AT ATLANA?  “Everyone that I’ve spoken to has told me that Atlanta is a really fast place.  Even though it’s fast they say you can really move around and find different grooves that your car can run in.  For me that is really important to be able to search around.  Even if you’re a little off with the handling you can search for a spot your car may work better in.”  

OTHER DRIVERS HAVE BEEN COMMENTING THAT THE NEW RESTRICTOR PLATE MAKES THE NATIONWIDE CARS EASIER TO DRIVE DO YOU AGREE?  “The new spacer plate really kills the speed on the straight-a-ways, but you do not have to use as much brake going into the corner.  By not having to lift, it really makes the cars feel as if they are sticking better.  Since you have that new comfort of feeling that the car is sticking instead of snapping loose, I think that is why they feel like they are driving better.” 

ATLANTA IS NOTORIOUS FOR THREE-WIDE FINISHES; WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT SITUATION WHAT DO YOU DO?  “When it comes down to the end and your in that situation all you can really do is choose the lane that your car works best in and stick to it.  I’ve watched Carl Edwards beat them by running the top. I’ve also watched Kevin (Harvick) beat Jeff Gordon by taking the bottom, it really just depends on which groove your car can handle the best so that you can put the most pedal into it.” 

About Rheem:
Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is a privately held company with headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.  In its 81st year of operation, the company manufactures a full line of high-quality residential and commercial heating, cooling, water heaters, swimming pool heaters and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets.  The premium brands of Rheem Manufacturing Company include Ruud, Raypak and Rheem.  Rheem Manufacturing Company is the major associate sponsor of Richard Childress Racing and the No. 29 team driven by Kevin Harvick, owner of the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series championship team and 2006 Busch Series Champion.  Rheem is also the primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 and No. 77 Chevrolet cars for four high-profile Nationwide^® Series races in 2008.