Jeffrey Earnhardt Races in the Rain, 
Earns 31st Place Finish in Montreal

In only the second race of his NASCAR Nationwide Series career, Jeffrey Earnhardt made it through a rainy, incident-filled weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. After experiencing a broken transmission and running out of fuel, Earnhardt was able to avoid the numerous late-race wrecks as teams raced in the wet, salvaging a 31st place finish in the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet.

The rain was never far away this weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec. With rain tires on from the moment teams hit the track, racing in the wet was a new experience for rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt. Though he took quickly to the 2.71-mile road course, running 10th fastest in what would be the only NASCAR Nationwide Series practice of the weekend, with only moments remaining Earnhardt hydroplaned and ran off-course in the first turns, hitting the tire barrier and damaging the front right fender of the No. 40 Chevrolet.

Able to fix the damage quickly and avoid going to a backup car, The No. 40 was good as new by the time qualifying began. After an hour-long weather delay, NASCAR made an unprecedented decision to allow NNS teams to qualify in the rain. Locked into the race, Earnhardt was able to safely navigate the water-drenched circuit with a lap time of 127.017 seconds, earning him at 25th place starting position.

Though ominous clouds loomed, the rain held off long enough for the field to take the green flag on slicks, running under dry conditions for the first time that weekend. Earnhardt ran only two laps after the green flag waved before the No. 40 Chevrolet dropped off the pace. Reporting to crew chief Gary Showalter that he had lost third and fourth gears, Earnhardt brought the No. 40 Chevrolet into the garages for a new transmission. The Key Motorsports crew changed the car's transmission in record time, and Earnhardt returned to the track in the 39th position only ten laps later.

When the yellow flag waved on lap 18, Earnhardt was awarded the free pass as the only car a lap or more down. Still nine laps behind, Earnhardt brought the No. 40 down pit road for four tires and fuel. Reporting that only one of his radio earpieces was working and that he could not hear his team on the far side of the course, Earnhardt had even more working against him when the field received the green, but he skillfully navigated the track, running lap times comparable to the top-15. When a multi-car wreck brought out another yellow on lap 24, the Key Motorsports Chevy was once again given the free pass.

Earnhardt earned the free pass one final time when the yellow waved on lap 27, but he would be the cause of the next full-course caution on lap 49. Running 33rd and laying down his fastest laps of the weekend, Earnhardt suddenly radioed the team to inform them that he had lost all power. Stalling in the hairpin, a wrecker would have to return the No. 40 its pit stall. According to fuel mileage calculations, Earnhardt should have been able to run at least five more laps before pitting, but it was clear to the Key Motorsports crew that he had run out of fuel. Packing the No. 40 with fuel, the team was able to re-fire the engine, putting on four fresh tires before sending Earnhardt back onto the track.

On lap 60, the rain which had been threatening to fall throughout the race, finally came. NASCAR waved the red flag, allowing teams to change to their set of rain tires, install windshield wipers, turn on brake lights, and make any other necessary adjustments for the conditions before going green on lap 66.

The final ten laps would be the most treacherous of the race as competitors skidded into each other, spun through the turns, and slid through the grass and gravel, bringing out three cautions and forcing a green/white/checkered finish. Earnhardt skillfully dodged multiple wrecks in his path and expertly made his way through the melee, keeping the No. 40 on track and taking the checkered flag with minimal damage in the 31st position. Although it was only his second NNS start and his first experience on a wet track, Earnhardt proved to fans and his competitors that he had learned the art of racing in the rain.

"The race was a little crazy," said Earnhardt. "We blew a transmission and that set us back, and then we ran out of fuel. I think we had a pretty good car, and if it wasn't for those little mishaps we would have had a great finish. It was a lot different running in the rain. It was hard to see, but still a lot of fun. It was just a real hectic race with everyone beating up on everybody and caution after caution. It's just one of those races where if you can make it back to the garage with a car and you're able to drive it in, you had a pretty decent day."

Curtis Key's No. 40 remains 23rd in the NNS owner standings after Jeffrey Earnhardt's 31st place finish at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Key Motorsports Chevrolet is now 218 points ahead of 30th place.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will race under the lights for the very first time this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Scott Wimmer will return to pilot the No. 40 Chevrolet for Saturday's Degree V12 30.

RECAP: Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 Track: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Event Name: NAPA Auto Parts 200 Start: 25th Finish: 31st Laps Completed: 67/76 Laps Led: 0 Money Earned: $38,843 Owner Point Standings: 23rd

Jeffrey Earnhardt NASCAR Nationwide Series Advance: 
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve  

Monday, August 24, 2009

BONJOUR MONSIEUR EARNHARDT - Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to the No. 40 Chevrolet for this weekend's race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec. When Jeffrey takes the flag this Sunday, he will be the first Earnhardt to ever race in Canada.

SECOND TIME AROUND - This weekend is only Jeffrey Earnhardt's second start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Earnhardt made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut with Key Motorsports at Watkins Glen International earlier this month, working his way up to a 24th place finish after starting 36th.

CHASSIS INFORMATION - Key Motorsports will be utilizing chassis #032 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. This is the same chassis Earnhardt drove to a 24th place finish in his NNS debut at Watkins Glen International.

POINTS UPDATE - The No. 40 remains 23rd in the NNS owner points after Scott Wimmer's 21st place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. Curtis Key's entry now sits 191 points inside the top-30.

Jeffrey Earnhardt Quotes:

ON CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE - "I feel a lot better going into Montreal than I did going into Watkins Glen. We've got the experience of making our debut at The Glen behind us and I'm looking forward to another road course. I've heard it's a really nice track and that the fans there are incredible."