The last time he was in the Principality to race - for his debut grand prix in the fabled Principality - he was hauled away in an ambulance, having been knocked unconscious in a huge qualifying crash.

"To me it's unbelievable to be back here after such an accident," the 22-year-old said on Wednesday, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Mexican Perez said Monaco is still his favourite track.

"It is definitely not a good feeling that the walls are so close, but we know the risks. It's a special place.

"I can remember everything right up to the crash. The next thing I know was that I was on the way to hospital -- I was unconscious for several minutes.

"After such an accident it is not easy to come back -- I cannot say for sure how I will feel when I come out of the tunnel for the first time. But I think it will be completely out of my head."

Perez said he really needed "four or five" races to recover from the heavy concussion, but that there was pressure from sponsors to come back as soon as possible.

"I wanted to get back into the car in Montreal, but it was impossible," he recalled.

"In Valencia it was very difficult for me."

Now, he is hoping for a very different Monaco weekend, after looking strong last year until his crash.

"Our goal must be the podium. I hope to find a good setup although we have recently had a little problem with the traction.

"We are so close to the top that every tenth can make a difference.

"After our second place in Malaysia, maybe the next step will be victory -- I don't know if we will succeed. But the opportunities are there," said Perez.

After handing over to his Mercedes deputy Nick Fry in Barcelona, fellow Briton Brawn is back in action as the team boss in Monte Carlo.

Rumours hinted there was more to the story, but Brawn insisted to a German newspaper earlier on Wednesday that he was simply advised by doctors to take the weekend off after a night in hospital for checks.

He then told reporters in Monaco his symptoms had been "arrhythmia", or an irregular heartbeat, insisting he is "back to normal now".

Brawn, 57, joked the heart problem was triggered by watching an exciting football game on television.

Express yourself and let us know what you think!

Race start

Photo by: Ed Fahey

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Repsol Media

#11 Wochenspiegel Team Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R: Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas, Lucas Luhr, Richard Lietz

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Will Davison leads the field

Photo by: Edge Photographics

Race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Will Davison leads the field

Photo by: Edge Photographics

#3 Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi R8 LMS Ultra: Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase, Frank Stippler, Markus Winkelhock

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

#18 Vita4one Racing Team BMW Z4 GT3: Pedro Lamy, Marco Wittmann, Jens Klingmann, Richard Göransson

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

#2 Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi R8 LMS Ultra: Marcel Fässler, Christopher Mies, René Rast, Frank Stippler

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Christian Vietoris, Team HWA AMG Mercedes, AMG Mercedes C-Coupe

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

Susie Wolff, Persson Motorsport, AMG Mercedes C-Coupe

Photo by: xpb.cc

Valentino Rossi, Ducati Marlboro Team

Photo by: Ducati Corse

Jimmie Johnson joins the photographers

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

#8 Haribo Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R: Christian Menzel, Emmanuel Collard, Mike Stursberg, Hans Guido Riegel, #166 Gazoo Racing Toyota GT86: Yoshinobu Katsumata, Masahiko Kageyama, Kumi Sato, Herwig Daenens

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Sunrise on the Döttinger Höhe

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Podium from left: Bruno Spengler, BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM, Gary Paffett, Team HWA AMG Mercedes, AMG Mercedes C-Coupe, Mike Rockenfeller, Phoenix Racing Audi A5 DTM

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

Pit stop for #10 Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R: Marco Holzer, Nick Tandy, Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Valentino Rossi, Ducati Marlboro Team

Photo by: Ducati Corse

#29 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4 GT3: Bas Leinders, Markus Palttala, Maxime Martin

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

That is the admission of team boss John Booth, who told the Russian website championat.com that he is looking into adding the energy recovery technology to next year's Marussia package.

"First of all, I want to say that while it is said it (KERS) is a 'green' technology, in reality it's just a serious waste of money," he said.

"But in our situation it's time to start thinking seriously about KERS. Of the gap to Caterham, five or six tenths is due to KERS," added Booth.

"So we are thinking seriously about it for 2013, but so far there is no decision."

Both admitted the start of the 2012 season has been a disappointment so far for Marussia, which in its first two years was called Virgin.

He said the team has recently completed a phase of serious restructuring.

"We had a good team of people before, but now we have a good team of designers. Though we have been in F1 for three years, I have the feeling that we were actually born in July 2011."

Both is undoubtedly referring to the split mid last year with former technical chief Nick Wirth, and the relocation to a new headquarters.

Even in the Monte Carlo paddock, the huge Spanish blaze was still a hot topic.

The British team and the FIA conducted investigations, but there has been no definite finding about the cause of the fire.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported suggestions simple static electricity, caused by the specific weather conditions and the fact a container was not grounded at the time, was the culprit.

Williams has scrambled to be ready for Monaco, but the only obvious sign of the fire on Wednesday was one missing mechanic, who is still recovering from burns.

"He's on the road to recovery," said co-owner Toto Wolff.

It is believed the mechanic was pumping fuel from one container to another when the fire started.

Wolff confirmed the static electricity theory.

"This is extremely rare. The weather may have played a role, as we had low pressure over Barcelona that day," he explained.

Auto Motor und Sport said Williams lost mainly computers in the fire, but the crucial data survived. Of the team's 150 radios, only 40 were intact.

Wolff said Bruno Senna's chassis survived because of the partitions at the back of the main pit area.

"They are flame retardant," he confirmed. "This meant the fire did not come beyond the back (area). The walls melted in the heat, but they didn't burn."

And financially, the Oxfordshire based team is completely undamaged, due to insurance.

The German marque's Brackley based chief executive Nick Fry this week earmarked impressive Force India driver di Resta, earlier a Mercedes protege, as an ideal successor should Schumacher not stay beyond his 2012 contract.

Asked about Fry's comments and the media speculation on Wednesday, di Resta said in Monaco: "It's always nice to have the press interest and people looking out for you, but I need to stay focused on doing the best job I possibly can."

He told Sky Sports News: "It's no secret that I want to be a race winner and world champion -- and to do that, I need to be in a great car."

News of the sale coincided with the launch of pre-marketing ahead of one of the biggest ever sports floatations, data by the financial experts Thomson Reuters shows.

"It's cheap compared to Facebook," chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told reporters on Tuesday, confirming that the Singapore IPO looks set to go ahead soon "with no dramas".

"All the things that have to happen have happened. It will be finished by the end of June," the 81-year-old is quoted by the Telegraph.

F1's new one-fifth owners are US managers Waddell and Reed, the powerful Blackrock and Norway's central bank Norges.

"It's a great way to start the IPO and lets investors know what they can expect," said Ecclestone.

The diminutive Briton said he is keeping his 5.3 per cent stake, and staying in charge. His former wife Slavica controls another 8.5pc, the news agency Bloomberg said.

"You might as well have asked Frank Sinatra who he would appoint to replace him," Ecclestone insisted.

CVC said in a statement that is remains F1's biggest and controlling shareholder.

After a 112,771 spectator sellout for the inaugural event in 2008, organisers reduced the temporary seating capacity by 35,000 on lower demand the following year.

The capacity was shrunk again, to 65,000, for last year's race, and this year there will be only 45,000 places for spectators to sit amid Europe's economic crisis, according to El Pais newspaper.

It means Valencia's spectator capacity has more than halved since 2008.

We reported this year that although Barcelona is not convinced it should annually alternate Spain's F1 hosting rights, Valencia is insisting the arrangement go ahead starting next year, as suggested recently by Bernie Ecclestone.

Until then, only 13 grandstands have been erected for the June 24 race, a figure "that may increase depending on demand", an official said.

The report in El Pais explained: "The organiser's goal is to adjust the mounting costs to reduce the losses of previous years, especially in view of the high fees charged by Bernie Ecclestone."

Having handled his own career in the wake of Flavio Briatore's demise, Finn Kovalainen recently signed up with IMG, the sports and entertainment management giant.

The 30-year-old has rebuilt his reputation since 2010 in the wake of mixed tenures for top teams Renault and McLaren.

According to IMG Motorsport's head of clients Martin Anayi, Kovalainen is now regarded by formula one team bosses up and down pitlane as among the top best drivers.

"He is a great guy," Anayi is quoted by Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper.

"Heikki's potential is obvious and he definitely wants to succeed."

There have been rumblings in the paddock that Kovalainen is disappointed that, despite being consistently the best of F1's new teams since 2010, Caterham is yet to break into the midfield.

"This is only the team's third season, so there are still some growing paints," IMG's Anayi acknowledged.

"Heikki has a strong desire to compete, and not just with his teammate Vitaly Petrov. The team's boss Tony Fernandes wants to get in with the middle group.

"This means that the team needs to regularly get into the Q2 stage of qualifying and in the race be aiming for the points," he insisted.

On Tuesday morning, Italy's finance police the Guardia di Finanza entered the Autodromo Nazionale to investigate seven people involved with the operation of the circuit.

According to Il Giorno and La Repubblica, the Monza prosecutor suspects tax offenses, false invoicing and other discrepancies in relation to Sias SpA, the circuit operator, between 2007 and 2012.

Among the suspected offenses is the issuing of invoices for non-existent transactions in order to show a positive balance sheet for the running of some events.

The officers raided the Sias offices and also the home of the circuit director, Enrico Ferrari, and other high ranking officials.

Bild newspaper recalls that the Venezuelan, who defied his 'pay driver' critics by winning for Williams in Spain two weeks ago, was actually banned after an horror incident on the streets of Monte Carlo seven years ago.

Racing in the Renault World Series in 2005, the then 25-year-old ignored yellow flags before striking and severely injuring a marshal.

Organisers of the Monaco grand prix reacted by banning Maldonado from the street circuit for life.

Germany's Bild revealed that Maldonado's wealthy father intervened, promising to pay for the marshal's recovery and rehabilitation from a broken back.

That intervention saved Maldonado's future formula one career, as no team would hire a regular driver that cannot participate in the sport's most famous race.

Maldonado is therefore a favourite for victory this weekend, with his Williams now acknowledged as arguably the best in the entire field when it comes to slow-speed traction.

And in his four seasons of GP2 between 2007 and 2010, Maldonado finished on the podium each time, winning and achieving pole position twice. In 2006, he won in Formula Renault.

Last year, in qualifying for his first Monaco grand prix, he qualified his then struggling Williams in eighth place, comfortably ahead of Rubens Barrichello.

"He is very good at Monaco," agreed Barrichello.

In the 2011 race, Maldonado was fighting for fifth when he crashed with Lewis Hamilton.

"If the last sector in Barcelona is the marker, then the Williams will be unbeatable in Monte Carlo," Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quotes Dr Helmut Marko as saying.

The breakthrough success in Barcelona has piqued the interest of Maldonado's native Venezuela, having not had an F1 points scorer since the ignominious Johnny Cecotto in 1983.

"My country will be following every second of the next race," Maldonado is quoted by O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

"I love street circuits, this one in particular. My style of driving fits perfectly with Monaco. I am ready to get another great result."

Mercedes' team principal sat out the recent Spanish grand prix due to illness, but a scarcity of extra information triggered speculation.

One rumour was that he is seriously ill, whilst another was that his absence may in fact be due to his German employer's high-stakes spat with Bernie Ecclestone.

The latter theory gained traction since Barcelona, with acting team boss Nick Fry taking a much higher than usual profile, including naming Paul di Resta as a possible 2013 successor for Michael Schumacher.

Explaining his absence, Brawn told Bild newspaper: "On the Tuesday before Barcelona I felt unwell so I went to the doctor and then stayed a night in hospital for some tests.

"When I got home, I decided on the advice of doctors to give myself a weekend off, to be sure that I am fit for Monaco," the Briton said.

Partly because of Brawn's deputy Fry's recent comments, and also due to his paltry points tally and his crash with Bruno Senna, rumours about Schumacher's future have intensified since Spain.

"A lot has been said and written," acknowledged Brawn, "but we should not forget that we - the team - have let him down in three of the fives races, not delivering the job we should have.

"We must do better," Brawn, who worked closely with Schumacher during the seven time world champion's ultra successful Ferrari era, added.

"We saw Michael's real quality again in the first race, so it's for that reason that I believe we will see him on the podium this year."

As for a possible contract extension for the 43-year-old, Brawn insisted: "When the time comes, we will sit down together and talk about the future.

"I'm sure it will become clear very quickly in what direction we will go."

It's a scene that happens hundreds of thousands of times a day around the world: two people meet in a lift, greet each other and begin to chat about work and life. The twist in this particular story, though, is that the elevator is in Monte-Carlo; the two men are resident in the same apartment building, separated by little more than a few floors; and both have written their own chapters in the very exclusive grand prix racing history of Mercedes-Benz.

Nico Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen in the streets of Monte Carlo

Photo by: Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team

Mika Häkkinen was the first Mercedes-Benz world champion of the modern era, and a two-time title winner in 1998 and 1999 with McLaren Mercedes; Nico Rosberg is the first man to win a Grand Prix at the wheel of a Silver Arrow since the great Juan Manuel Fangio, in the third season of the return of the Silver Arrows. On the eve of the race around their home streets, the two men met to discuss their experiences as part of one of the most spectacular events in world sport.

The histories of Mika Häkkinen and Nico Rosberg have been intertwined for more than twenty years, when Nico was just a young boy and Mika worked with Keke Rosberg, who led his management team.

"I don't remember when we first met - maybe Mika does!" laughs Nico when the question comes.

"Well, I started working with Keke at the end of 1987," recalls Mika. "I think the first time we met must have been down here in Monaco in the early '90s. I was visiting Keke, and you were playing in your room! It's possible I was his first sponsor in karting - do you remember that?"

"Yeah, sure," laughs Nico. "It was 1997, I was 11 years old and competing in the French go-karting championship. I had a poster in my room with all my sponsors on there, and one of them was you!"

"My son is eleven now," says Mika, picking up the thread. "I'm sure I did a contract with Keke that one day, when Nico will win races and be world champion, he has to start supporting my son Hugo!"

If the early stages of Nico's career were supported by Mika - who today himself is a partner with Didier Coton in Aces Management and has, among others, young Finn Valtteri Bottas under his wing - the parallels between the two have only grown stronger as time has passed. Both Mika and Nico had to wait until their seventh Formula One season before climbing the top step of the podium - Mika after 96 races, at the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez; Nico in his 111th start, at this year's Chinese Grand Prix. And both in their third seasons driving Mercedes-Benz-powered cars.

"Your first victory in Formula One always feels like it is a long time coming," explains Mika. "And especially in my case - but when it arrives, the feeling is just amazing. But problems are part of life, and winning or losing, they don't disappear. You need to keep understanding the cause of disappointments and where you and the team can improve. There is no point having your face upside down for one week - it's better to pick up the phone, travel, see people, talk, organise yourself. Then you know that at the next event, you will be stronger - and if not the car, then yourself; you can always be better. Because the day when you have a car to win, you have to be ready. If not, it's too late. I knew that one day I was going to win, it just took a long time."

"I had exactly the same feeling - Ross, all the guys, kept telling me that the win would come, I just needed to stay patient and take my opportunity," agrees Nico. "Of course, you get frustrated if it doesn't go perfectly, but time takes that away and you keep going, follow the development, communicate constantly with the team."

Nico Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen in the streets of Monte Carlo

Photo by: Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team

"Nico did a perfect weekend in China and deserves full credit for that win," emphasises Mika. "It was not depending on circumstances or luck, but purely on his hard work. As a Mercedes-Benz ambassador, it was great not only to watch his achievements, but to enjoy seeing Mercedes-Benz back on the top step of the podium."

Inevitably, the conversation soon turns to the unique challenge of racing around the Monegasque streets, which have been home to both of them for more than 20 years. For Nico, the tunnel was once the route to school, in the passenger seat next to his Mum or on the school bus. And that 'local' feel is one that Mika says remains throughout the weekend.

"I had some great victories in my career, but Monaco was something special," remembers Mika. "I have lived here for 20 years and the thing you realise is that the people who work on the race track are also the people who live and work in Monaco - the police, the pompiers. In everyday life, these are the guys you see in the street and they say 'hi' as you walk past. To win in Monaco is like winning in your home streets, and you recognise faces all through the weekend."

"It's home for me too, of course," picks up Nico. "I've grown up here, all my friends are here and my family, I know everybody and it's very special to race here. Mentally, it's quite a demanding weekend. You have a lot going on, a lot of PR events and appointments. Plus on track, too, it's a bit more intense - but not so much. You need to be super concentrated at every circuit."

"That's true. But what changed for me was that, when I got a car that I would win races with, Monaco became more important for some reason. When you are hunting pole position in Monaco, your mind changes; you put yourself in a higher power, even though you think you are doing it already. When you are fighting for P11 or P12, you always think you are doing your maximum. But when I started fighting for pole, it just happened that I was working even harder to reach my goal - but not purposely. And of course, we changed the car, too: the steering lock, and the seating position to sit higher in the car, because the aero was not so important and we wanted to see the Armco properly."

"That's interesting, because we definitely make changes, too," says Nico. "But I don't think it's common practice, even today."

With that, the two men are off to inspect the circuit at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. Over the years, Mercedes-Benz has been synonymous with success in Monaco - from the three consecutive victories in 1935, 36 and 37 for Fagioli, Caracciola and von Brauchitsch respectively; to the seven Formula One victories for Mercedes-Benz power, including three of the last five. And the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team will be working hard to add a new milestone to the company's heritage this weekend.

John Andretti and Anders Krohn

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

In a late-breaking agreement announced by the team just this morning, Anders Krohn will drive Bryan Herta Autosport’s blue and white No. 28 Dallara in the premier event for Firestone Indy Lights, the Firestone Freedom 100, Friday at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It will be Krohn’s first event in the series this year after finishing seventh in the championship last year with another team.

Krohn passed the winner of last year’s Firestone Freedom 100, Josef Newgarden, and two other drivers on lap four of last year’s race to take the lead. He led seven laps in all during last year’s race but he ended up 12th after he hit the outside wall in Turn 1 while battling for fifth place with just six laps to go. Instead of heading for the podium he visited the infield care center for treatment of abrasions to both elbows sustained in that crash. But the last words he said in his post-race interview a year ago were, “Hopefully we can come back next year and dominate this race,” and that’s just what he hopes to do on Friday.

“Leading the race last year was great, but we obviously didn't finish the race, which is the first thing we have to do,” said Krohn, a native of Stavanger, Norway who now lives in St. Petersburg, Fla. “This is a great opportunity to come back, and for sure I have some unfinished business. A lot was learned during the Firestone Freedom 100 last year that I will bring with me to the 2012 race. Hopefully that knowledge combined with a mighty strong team will put us in a position to challenge for top honors.

“Racing for Bryan Herta Autosport means that I’m stepping into one of the most highly regarded teams out there,” he said of the team that won last year’s Indy 500. “I’ve been pushing hard to race at the Brickyard again, and couldn’t be happier about making my Firestone Indy Lights return with BHA.

“As of right now this is just a one-off deal, but as a race car driver you always want to do more,” he added. “If things fall into place I will try to do a few more races this year, but the focus is already shifting towards being back full time in a race car for 2013.”

Krohn, 24, certainly respects the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the challenges that competing on a world stage holds.

“Nothing can prepare you for IMS and the month of May until you are there,” he said. “It's so much more than just a race. It's diehard fans that support the event for a full month, and the fastest race track on the calendar with over 100 years of history. It's a place that gives me goose bumps every time I enter the gates, so I think it'll always be something special. And hopefully some day I will get to experience racing in the main race.”

For this race one of Krohn’s primary sponsors will be the I-Tec and Yellow Jacket “Wanna Frac More?” campaign, which showcases I-Tec’s supreme technology in hydraulic fracturing, a mining or drilling process used to extract petroleum, natural gas or other substances.

Premiere Glass & Mirror will be another primary sponsor. OMP Racing and Bell Helmets will also help Krohn’s effort this weekend.

Krohn won the first oval-track race he ever competed in when he was victorious in a Star Mazda race at the Milwaukee Mile in 2009. He finished second to Conor Daly in the Star Mazda championship in 2010. He won the F2000 Championship Series’ driving title in 2008.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

TEAM CHEVY IN THE GARAGE CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY – ALBA COLON, PROGRAM MANAGER – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – CHEVROLET RACING: "We are back in Charlotte, NC for a second week in a row and Team Chevy is looking forward to another successful race weekend. Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte, and the entire No. 88 National Guard - An American Salute / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet team for winning the Sprint Showdown. Also, congratulations to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, and the No. 48 Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet Team for such a remarkable performance and victory of the All-Star race!

“There is nothing quite like racing under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Memorial Day weekend. And the old saying that ‘only the strong survive’ is surely appropriate as we face the longest race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, the Coca-Cola 600.

“Running a 600-mile marathon is more than just an endurance race. In addition to being both mentally and physically tough for the drivers and crews, there are many other challenges to such a long and grueling test. Starting in the daylight and ending at night, the track surface will change more dramatically than at any other track on the tour. Our Chevy teams will have to make considerably more adjustments to their cars to adapt to those radically changing conditions. The cars that are the most ‘neutral’ are the ones that will be ahead of the game and the competition. And, as it has been proven race after race, track position will again be a key element to success.

“Last week’s All-Star race was very important for our Chevy teams to try different race set-ups, engine combinations, and other elements that we can use not only at this race, but for other upcoming 1.5-mile tracks. It was a valuable opportunity to evaluate the performance of the race cars, make notes, and see what will likely work this weekend.

“Good luck to all our teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series! Also, good luck to our other Team Chevy drivers participating in the Indy 500 this Sunday. This will be a great race weekend!”

TEAM CHEVY FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD – AN AMERICAN SALUTE/DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET – 3rd IN STANDINGS: “I think the (NASCAR Sprint) All-Star Race showed what we are capable of doing for the 600. We are bringing the same car, and we have a couple of ideas on how to make the car even faster -- especially for qualifying -- that I hope will work out.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S PATRIOTIC CHEVROLET – 5th IN STANDINGS: “It is a very long race on a tough track. It’s not only from the driver’s perspective, but the teams go through a lot to get prepared for that race. Staying alert and focused, properly hydrated all the things that the driver has to go through so do the guys that go over the wall. They change a lot of tires during that race. It’s a very tough event on everyone but I think everybody enjoys it. I know my guys do. I know I do. I love that challenge. I love it especially when you are going to victory lane. I hope to do that again.

“Just that weekend with all the racing that takes place world-wide that weekend. It’s Memorial Day, there is a very special part in me both of my Grandfathers’ served. That means something. We are in all of our backyards. Hendrick Motorsports is literally a mile-and-a-half, two miles away. I start stacking up a lot of cool reasons to win that race and I hope to do it.”

TONY STEWART, NO. 14 OFFICE DEPOT/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET – 7th IN STANDINGS: “Any time you win a race at Charlotte, it’s big. It’s a speedway with a lot of history and, obviously, the Coke 600 is a huge event. I’m a big fan of shorter races nowadays, but the 600 is truly a special event, with it being on Memorial Day weekend and the history of the Coke 600, when it was known as the World 600. There’s just a lot of tradition that surrounds the month of May in Charlotte. So, this is a big race. This is an important race to win.”

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 BUDWEISER FOLDS OF HONOR CHEVROLET – 8th IN STANDINGS: “I think (the Coca-Cola 600) is a historic race in our sport. It’s the ultimate test of car, team, driver, engines and every part on the car. The sport is not all about just running a 250-mile race, it’s about making your car last. It’s more than just having a fast car and lining them up and running a short race. It’s really about the attrition of the whole night and surviving that. As things change through the night you have to keep up with the race track and if your car won’t run then you’re done. NASCAR needs a race like this because those are the types of things the sport was built on.

“The coolest part about winning the Coke 600 to me was walking up to the top (of Smith Tower), seeing all the fans who’d hung out in The Speedway Club and being able to drink a few Budweiser’s with them afterward. The fan base we have in this area is very loyal and they’ve been here for a long time. Seeing those folks in The Speedway Club was the coolest part.”

PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 MENARDS/SERTA CHEVROLET – 13th IN STANDINGS: “We’ve wrecked a couple of times (during the Coca-Cola 600) and had some parts failures before, so it’s just one of those deals with any race, everything has to go right to get a good finish. And we just haven’t had things go right. We’ve had speed. We’ve qualified well and raced well; we just haven’t finished. It’s obviously cooler at night than during the day; so once you’re in the car you don’t really know whether it’s 400 miles or 600 miles. You’re just kind of doing your deal. Every track is so different. You know, you run 500 laps at Martinsville, and it’s 250 miles; but it feels just as long as a 500-mile race at Texas or somewhere. So, it’s all relative, I guess. But you just kind of take it as it comes. You sit in the car and you’re always thinking about what you need to do and time goes by pretty quick.”

RYAN NEWMAN, NO 39 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET – 14th IN STANDINGS: “Memorial Day is special, and I’ve told you before that I took for granted what all branches of the military do for us before I got a chance to meet the soldiers and being able to understand what they do and the stories that they have to wear their colors is an honor to wear that Army camouflage to represent Army Strong – that mental, physical and emotional strength a strength like no other. And I can only represent it. Only an Army soldier can be that. I’m doing my best to represent the colors and those people – over a million people that fight for our freedom each and every day. I’m proud to represent them. It’s a little bit cooler than just an ordinary product sponsor.

“It all depends on how hot it is. If it’s a superhot day, it’s very demanding because this is a fast race track. It’s very physical. Your transitions from day to night and those types of things are very critical for how successful you are that night. It takes a good crew chief to make the right adjustments. Being comfortable in the car is one thing but staying cool and staying hydrated is extremely important with the duration that we are in the racecar. I always say that the most important thing I do that day is to make sure the air conditioning is working. The Coca-Cola 600 is a great race. We’ve run second here in the past. It’s the longest race and a demanding race, and this is definitely the race where I really have to represent all the qualities of an Army Strong soldier – I have to be physically, mentally and emotionally strong to get through all that this race can give you. Everybody knows that going into it. It all depends on the characteristics of the weather, the tack and everything that night – if it’s a 90 degree day or if it’s a 65 degree day. You just never know. I enjoy it. I enjoy this racetrack. I enjoy being close to home. I enjoy the fact that all our friends and family get to come out and enjoy a good race. We will see if we can get the U.S. Army into Victory Lane.”

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 QUAKER STATE CHEVROLET – 16th IN STANDINGS:

• NOTE: This weekend’s race will mark Kasey Kahne’s 300th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Start* “Charlotte has been a great track for us during my career. We tend to put together strong races there. It was great to be fast at the All-Star race, even in a back-up car. I think we learned a lot during practice and the All-Star race that will help us this weekend. But the 600 is a really long night. We have to keep making good adjustments and be consistent.

“I’m glad we’ve found some good luck and some good finishes, but I know we can be better. I can give better information to Kenny (Francis, crew chief) to make the cars better, and we need to be more consistent on pit road. We’ve turned a corner, but we can still get more.”

JEFF BURTON, NO. 31 WHEATIES CHEVROLET – 17th IN STANDINGS: “I think it is. We’re seeing a lot of green-flag runs now. A few years ago we couldn’t have a long green-flag run. If you go back and think about it, you never know what’s coming in this sport. This year, we’ve had a lot of green-flag runs and it helps to have a break, especially in a 600-mile race. If you go back and think about Charlotte Motor Speedway in the fall, that place was wicked fast. High g-forces, long race, all that stuff adds up. Yeah, it is harder and there’s really nothing you can do. You need to be in shape, if you’re not in shape in April, it’s too late. You already need to be in shape because it is a long race.

“I have been more involved over the last few years with veteran affairs and trying to help. I have a whole other appreciation of what it means to be a veteran and what Memorial Day is actually all about. Through those associations, it’s hard for me to not look at it differently because a lot of people unselfishly gave their lives. And that’s a heck of a thing to say. Some people raised their hands and fought for their country and some people were asked and didn’t really want to go, but went and lost their lives. You tend in everyday life to look over all that stuff. When you get to the nuts and bolts of it, Memorial Day is a really special weekend and day and I think on top of that it’s the best race weekend of the year. You look at that Sunday and there is the F1 race in Monaco, the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. That’s three iconic races on the same day, on Memorial Day weekend, and to me that’s as good as it gets.”

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET – 19th IN STANDINGS: “I was pretty happy with the way our Target Chevy handled in the Showdown race last weekend so I’m feeling pretty good about this weekend. We used the 40-lap race Saturday night try and learn some more information for the point’s race. The car had speed and we were running right up front till I got a bit of damage. I’ll tell you, these guys are working hard every day to try and find that something extra that is going to get us back up front. I’ve never meant a more determined group of guys and hopefully that’ll show in this weekend’s race. Also, we’ll have a pretty cool Target paint scheme to show off for the NASCAR Unites campaign.”

JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS/ARCTIC CAT CHEVROLET – 20th IN STANDINGS: “This is a really busy week for us as we always have a lot going on with sponsor commitments and appearances, so it is always fun to see everyone in town for this race. There always seems to be a bit more excitement around this race when we are here at home. Charlotte is one of my favorite race tracks. It has been a really good track for me personally. I have been fortunate enough to win here a couple of times, including my first Sprint Cup win ever in 2002. We used the Sprint Showdown race last weekend to try and learn a few things to make our Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet better for the Coca-Cola 600, so I am looking forward to getting back to the track on Thursday and getting ready for this weekend. I also really look forward to all the cool stuff that Charlotte Motor Speedway does to celebrate Memorial Day in honor of all the men and women who have made sacrifices for our country and to recognize all the current military members that serve and protect our freedoms.”

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET – 24th IN STANDINGS: "I thought we were getting close to the end of the race, and they told me we weren't even halfway yet. That race felt a thousand miles. It just seemed so, so long. These days I've learned you don't ask until you know the end of the race is near. This track is very temperature-sensitive - it always has been. We'll start the race guessing what the balance (of the car) needs to be during the daytime. But when the sun goes down, it changes drastically. You have to be prepared for those changes without getting too far behind at the beginning, so it's a challenge. But the biggest challenge for me is just trying to manage my fluid intake and getting something in my stomach. You can get really dehydrated in this race if you're not careful.

"We experimented with some things last week, and we'll definitely explore more of that set-up (we used in the All-Star event) this week. It showed good speed at times. We just need to get the balance a little bit better. We need points and we need wins, so the 600 is far more important to us (than the All-Star race). It's a long race Sunday and a lot can happen. And I think that suits us. I think a long race is one of our strong points."

KURT BUSCH, NO. 51 PHOENIX CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC. CHEVROLET – 25th IN STANDINGS: “It’s just a marathon mentality. It’s the exact opposite of the All-Star Race. The race starts during the daytime and, even if you’re getting behind early in the race – although you can’t get too far behind – it’s difficult to find a setup that works well at both the beginning and end of the race because of how much the track changes from start to finish. It’s the end of the race, though, when they hand out the points and the check, so you hope your car will race the same way at the end as it did for the All-Star Race, provided you had a good All-Star Race. The mentality is that it’s just pit stop after pit stop with long sequence after long sequence. The All-Star Race is a 100-yard dash. The 600 is a marathon.”

REGAN SMITH, NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/CSX PLAY IT SAFE CHEVROLET – 26th IN STANDINGS: "I feel much better about our program after Darlington than I did before Darlington. We went through a stretch where we hit a brick wall and couldn't get out of it. With that being said this Furniture Row Racing team is working hard in trying to find more speed in our Chevrolet race cars. I think we found some stuff in Darlington two weeks ago and also in last week's Sprint All-Star Race. Hopefully we will be able to implement what we learned this weekend in Charlotte. There's never a quick fix to curing a problem, but we're getting closer. This is an exciting week with all of the hoopla that surrounds the Coca-Cola 600. The race is another crown jewel for NASCAR, and Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of my favorite places to race at. We've been struggling on the mile-and-a-half tracks this season but feel that we have to potential to turn the corner in the 600."

DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET – 59th IN STANDINGS: “I think Darlington was one of those weekends that could have confirmed opinions or sort of developed new ones for people and I think it was more on the ‘develop new ones’ than it was to confirm if someone didn’t think I was doing a good job. I think just the difficulty of the race, being there for the first time and putting a double-header on top of it in addition to the Nationwide race – I went into it basically knowing it was going to be difficult. I was plenty worried and disappointed after the first practice in Cup because I was last. A lot of people said ‘good job’ and I appreciate it because let’s face it I had a 12th and a 31st. But I appreciate it and it means that a lot of people with experience are watching and it did go well for the circumstances, so it was a little bit of a confidence-booster.”

Kyle Busch

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 22, 2012) - Owner-driver Kyle Busch will make his seventh NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), piloting the No. 54 Monster Energy Camry at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in Saturday's History 300. Busch is very familiar with Victory Lane at his team's home track, winning 10 times in 40 career starts across NASCAR's top three divisions - including a record-tying six in the Nationwide Series.

Busch, recorded as the youngest NNS winner in 2004 on the 1.5-mile oval, last experienced Victory Lane at CMS in a 2011 Truck Series race. Prior to that year, he accomplished first place in the Nationwide Series during the fall of 2009 and the summer of 2010. Behind the scenes, KBM crew chief Mike Beam last experienced victory lane at CMS in the fall race of the 2011 Nationwide Series. Needless to say, they both intend on bringing a win home to the No. 54 team, where Busch is looking to record his first victory as driver for the team he has built and mentored in their initial season together.

The 27-year-old driver has recorded at least one pole at Charlotte in each of the last eight seasons, but none of those have come in the Nationwide Series. Busch will look to lengthen that streak in qualifying Saturday and then set his sights on accomplishing his first NNS win with his own team, adding to the success he has already achieved there.

Kyle Busch, Driver of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:

How will it feel to jump back into your team's NNS car at a track where you've had much success? "The cool thing about it is that I know Mike (Beam, crew chief) is the past winner at this track, so he's enjoyed success there too and knows what is needed to dial the car in for this race track. As far as being back with the No. 54 guys, I look forward to having some fun trying to get that first win - Kurt has his, now it's my turn. This track being close to home allows our friends and family to come out and watch us. That makes it extra special if we're able to pull off the win."

What have you found to be the keys to running well at Charlotte Motor Speedway? "You have to be consistent through the race and have a good-handling car throughout. Turns three and four are tighter than turns one and two, so moving all over the race track to find the best line is important. I've found you have to be good at the bottom and at the top in order to get the most out of the race track and your car."

Mike Beam, Crew Chief of the No. 54 NASCAR Nationwide Series Monster Energy Camry:

What are your thoughts about racing Charlotte Motor Speedway? "This week we are taking the same car that we had at Texas, so we've updated the aero specifications on the car. The last time we ran this chassis the engine overheated so we didn't have the chance to see what it could really do. Hopefully, this week will produce a good run for us."

Does it make it easier being close to home when you race Charlotte Motor Speedway? "The KBM race shop is about an hour from the track in Concord (N.C.). It does help that the guys can sleep in their own beds and have rest from travel for one week. I've always enjoyed racing at Charlotte, especially because we have the chance to show friends and family what we do. This track has been good to me in the past and I'm hoping that will carry through to this new team."

Kyle Busch's No. 54 Monster Energy Camry:

Chassis KBM-008: KBM will unload car #008, the first car Kurt Busch drove this season with the No. 54 team at Texas Motor Speedway. The chassis qualified sixth at TMS; however, late-race engine issues forced the team into a 30th place finish. The backup machine for this weekend's No. 54 team is one that is frequently on standby, Chassis KBM-007.

Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

CONCORD, N.C. (May 22, 2012) - Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team will carry the colors of the U.S. Air Force this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marks the Memorial Day holiday and pays tribute to the nation's fallen military. Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway is the first of two primary sponsorship races for the Air Force, which is also an associate sponsor on the No. 43 car for the entire 2012 season.

The 600-mile race will be Almirola's first points-paying race in a Sprint Cup car at the 1.5-mile oval. But he's fresh off a seventh-place performance in the Sprint Showdown exhibition race at the track last Saturday, a 40-lap primer that gave Almirola and crew chief Mike Ford plenty of data to prepare for NASCAR's longest race of the year. Almirola also has a top-five and three top-10s in seven Nationwide Series starts and two top-10s in two Camping World Truck Series appearances at Charlotte.

In addition to his on-track activities this weekend, Almirola will also participate in Richard Petty Motorsports' third annual Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon at the RPM shop in Concord, N.C. The first 200 fans in line who donate a nonperishable food item to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will receive a commemorative ticket allowing them access to the shop and an autograph session with Richard Petty, Almirola and his teammates, Marcos Ambrose and Michael Annett. Other activities include a Q-and-A session with the RPM drivers and Richard Petty hosted by Miss Sprint Cup, raffles, give-a-ways and free food.

Comments from U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion Driver Aric Almirola:

"The Showdown was fun and we learned a lot that we can take into the 600 weekend. We were up there battling, but we were just a little too tight. Now when we unload this weekend, we'll be that much more ahead because we've got all those laps under our belt already. Sunday's race will obviously be a lot longer and the track conditions will change more over the course of the evening, but I think we can bring a pretty competitive U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion.

"I'm very proud to have the Air Force on our car this weekend. It's Memorial Day weekend, a time that we remember all the servicemen and women who have given their lives for our country. And the Air Force sponsorship also helps us to salute all the brave men and women who are currently out there fighting for us today.

"My connection to the Air Force goes back longer than probably a lot of people know. My father was an Airman and I was actually born on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. So this is a very special partnership to me. Earlier this year I got to go out to Nellis Air Force Base (Nev.) and spend some time with the Airmen on base there and meet some of the Thunderbirds, too. I have such respect and appreciation for the work they do for our country. I'll be really proud to strap into the U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion on Sunday and race for them."

Comments from Crew Chief Mike Ford on Charlotte:

"The 600 is so challenging because of the sheer length of it and also because the conditions change. It starts when the sun is still out and then transitions into a night race. So you're dealing with temperature changes and changes in grip, and you're constantly adapting and working on your car to keep it competitive for all 600 miles.

"Of course, the most important thing is to be there in the end. You don't want to suit up for 600 miles and get knocked out early, so you have to race smart and take care of your equipment. You also need an engine that will go the distance and we feel confident going to the track with Roush-Yates horsepower under the hood."

Chassis History:

The team has prepared chassis No. 783 for the Charlotte race. This car ran earlier this season at Texas and Las Vegas.

Kurt Busch, Phoenix Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 22, 2012) – A marathon by definition is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 26 miles and 385 yards and it is typically run on the road. While the distance of a marathon didn’t become standardized until 1921, it was one of the original modern Olympic sports in 1896. More than 500 marathons take place annually around the world. It’s a sport that can literally accommodate thousands of participants, most of whom engage in a variety of training practices in preparation for the test of endurance.

Endurance is a concept with which competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are well acquainted. Every race run on the Sprint Cup schedule tests the endurance of its drivers, whether they’re racing 300, 400 or 500 miles. That weekly test gets a little more aggressive this weekend as the series prepares for its own “marathon” of races with the running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The 2012 edition of the Coca-Cola 600 marks the 52nd running of NASCAR’s longest race. Aside from the distinction of being the longest race on the schedule, the Coca-Cola 600 is also one of the most prestigious events on the circuit due in no small part to its durability implications – it’s a race that tests man and machine.

Kurt Busch is among the drivers who have met the challenges that come with competing in the Coca-Cola 600, winning the 2010 version of the annual Memorial Day-weekend race. After just missing out on the pole, Busch started second and wasted no time jumping to the lead. He took over the top spot on lap 12 and led the next 40 laps before surrendering the lead briefly for a round of green-flag pit stops. Busch owned the lead 12 different times for a race-high 252 laps, including the final 19 laps. With the win, he became the seventh driver in series history to follow a victory in the Sprint All-Star Race with a win in the Coca-Cola 600 a week later.

Prior to sweeping the 2010 All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600, Busch’s best finish at Charlotte was a second-place effort during the fall race in 2005. In total, Busch has scored one win, five top-five and six top-10 finishes in 23 career starts at the 1.5-mile track. Much like runners preparing for a marathon, Busch explains that it was a matter of time before he learned to speak the same language of the finicky track. Although the temperamental Charlotte track will always present its challenges, learning to balance the marathon aspect of the 600 is a key component to finding success.

KURT BUSCH, Driver of the No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing:

What are your thoughts about the Coke 600 this weekend?

“This weekend’s race is a big one and, being that it’s here in our backyard, it’s almost like a hometown race for everybody. All of the guys who work at the shop and don’t get to go to the track on a weekly basis usually get to come out and see all of their hard work on display. You want to really put the banner up for your team. That track has been tough on me over the years but, as of late, I feel like I’ve settled in at Charlotte and I guess you could say the track is talking to me a little bit.”

What do you do to get ready for what is the longest race of the year on the schedule?

“It’s just a marathon mentality. It’s the exact opposite of the All-Star Race. The race starts during the daytime and, even if you’re getting behind early in the race – although you can’t get too far behind – it’s difficult to find a setup that works well at both the beginning and end of the race because of how much the track changes from start to finish. It’s the end of the race, though, when they hand out the points and the check, so you hope your car will race the same way at the end as it did for the All-Star Race, provided you had a good All-Star Race. The mentality is that it’s just pit stop after pit stop with long sequence after long sequence. The All-Star Race is a 100-yard dash. The 600 is a marathon.”

Talk about what was learned during the All-Star Race that helps with this weekend’s race.

“We were given a new challenge by NASCAR with the side skirts being trimmed off the cars. That created less rear downforce. So the initial thought is figuring out how we cope with that change and we needed to run a specific setup just to try out and see how different the car was going to be with those changes. It provided us a couple of other problems but, at the same time, it helped to compensate for the loss of the rear downforce. So it’s a balance. This game is so close with the speeds being so close between the top-10 cars. We’ll go back to practice on Thursday this week and go back to some of our standard stuff, evaluate it and then make a gametime decision with what we’re going to do for qualifying.”

What’s the toughest part about Charlotte?

“The toughest part is always that turn three. If you can get your car to cut properly into turn three, it seems like the racetrack just gives you extra speed. If you struggle in turn three, then that makes for a longer day.”

Talk about the 2010 Coca-Cola 600, when you had such a dominant car.

“Well, to start, we just missed out on the pole. That’s one thing that sticks in my mind. You know how racers are – we want to win them all. That race, we were so good in the daytime that I was scared of what was going to happen when the sun went down and the track started to change and how the race would play out. I mean, you never really have a good car at the beginning and have it stay underneath you for the nighttime. It’s just the way you’ve always seen that race play out. But that car was that good. It was what we saw with it in the All-Star Race the week before. It was fast during both of those weekends. So it’s amazing how you can stumble across little things that make all of the difference in the world. Again, I was leading the beginning of the race just pacing myself. The car was so good in the daytime and I literally thought we would end up a lap down at night because cars never stay the same as the race goes on. But it worked out and we got the win in the 600.”

Marcos Ambrose

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

CONCORD, N.C. (May 22, 2012) - Marcos Ambrose will try for his third consecutive top-10 finish of the season this Sunday in NASCAR's longest and most grueling race of the season. Ambrose will make his third start in the Coca-Cola 600 and his seventh career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Sunday.

The 600-mile race is a true test of man and machine, and after a stellar seventh-place showing in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, Ambrose and his DEWALT crew are focused and ready to tackle this weekend's prestigious event.

The driver of the No. 9 machine would like nothing more than to add a Coca-Cola 600 victory to his win category, and his stats at Charlotte, as of late, show him knocking on the door. Ambrose had two top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile track in 2011, his best (fifth) coming in last year's 600-mile race.

In addition to his on-track activities this weekend, Ambrose will also participate in Richard Petty Motorsports' third annual Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon at the RPM shop in Concord, N.C. The first 200 fans in line who donate a nonperishable food item to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will receive a commemorative ticket allowing them access to the shop and an autograph session with Richard Petty, the Australian native and his teammates, Aric Almirola and Michael Annett. Other activities include a Q-and-A session with the RPM drivers and Richard Petty hosted by Miss Sprint Cup, raffles, give-a-ways and free food.

Marcos Ambrose's Thoughts on the Coca-Cola 600:

"I love racing at Charlotte. It's a track that has been good to me lately, and I definitely have some momentum going into this weekend, after having such a good DEWALT Ford in the All-Star Race. Our intermediate track program is really solid, and I have been excelling at tracks like Charlotte, Texas and Vegas the past year, so that's definitely an encouragement going into this weekend.

"The Coca-Cola 600 is such a prestigious event, and it ranks right up there with a Daytona 500 or Indy win. It's a race win every driver would like to add to their resume and it's definitely one I'd like to check off my list. It's such a unique race being the longest event of the season and starting during the day and finishing under the lights. There is always a lot of extra excitement surrounding Charlotte race weeks because it's the home of NASCAR. It's one of the few times I get to bring out all of our family and friends to watch me race, and I'd like nothing more than to get a win on Sunday in front of NASCAR's hometown crowd."

Comments from Crew Chief Todd Parrott on the Coca-Cola 600:

"Charlotte is my home track and it's always awesome to be at home and be able to race in front of all of my family and friends. Charlotte is a quick, 1.5-mile track and the 600 is an extra-long race. It starts in daylight and runs into darkness, so the track conditions are going to change throughout the race. I'm going to rely on Marcos to let me know how the DEWALT Ford is reacting to those changes, so the crew and I can make the right adjustments to the car as the night wears on. It's a fast place and the No. 9 needs to have good downforce and be able to turn in the center without getting too loose driving off of the corners. It's going to be a long night, so we'll all just have to stay focused and keep our eye on taking the checkered flag first."

Chassis History:

The No. 9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 735 for this weekend's NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This DEWALT Ford was run previously this season at Las Vegas and Texas.

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 22, 2012) – Kyle Busch has 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins to his credit at 16 different venues.

Ironically enough, the driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Red, White and Blue Toyota has yet to win at the racetrack he considers his absolute favorite, where he’ll make his career-high 17th start in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 – Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The special Red, White and Blue M&M’S paint scheme Busch will sport for NASCAR’s traditional Memorial Day Weekend marathon event is in support of the limited-edition Red, White and Blue-only bags of M&M’S now in stores. The new patriotic blend is designed to be the perfect snack for fans during the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Busch will also carry the patriotic scheme in late June at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta in lead-up to the Fourth of July to be celebrated the following week.

When he takes the green flag Sunday evening in his M&M’s Red, White and Blue colors, Busch will have two more starts at the 1.5-mile oval than any other track. Next-most is his 15 Sprint Cup starts at seven different racetracks, including Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Experience seems to go a long way for Busch as he’s won at all but one of those seven racetracks (Martinsville) where he’s posted 15 career starts. The talented 27-year-old has combined for 13 of his 24 Sprint Cup wins at those seven tracks.

Ever since his childhood in Las Vegas, some of Busch’s favorite race-watching memories came during Charlotte’s traditional All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 during the month of May. He dreamed that one day he, too, could be the one hoisting the trophy at one of stock-car racing’s most hallowed grounds.

In his 16 previous Sprint Cup starts at Charlotte over the past eight-plus seasons, Busch has managed to enjoy plenty of success on the 1.5-mile oval nicknamed the “Beast of the Southeast.” He’s currently riding a streak of nine top-10 finishes during the last 11 points-paying races there, dating back to October 2006. In addition to solid Sprint Cup finishes, Busch has captured six NASCAR Nationwide Series wins, including four of the last eight (May 2004, 2005 and 2008, October 2008 and 2009, and May 2010) and four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins (2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011).

Of course, while those nine Sprint Cup top-10s and 10 combined Nationwide and Truck Series wins at Charlotte are certainly something to be proud of for Busch, there’s still that childhood dream to fulfill.

So this weekend, decked out in his Red, White and Blue M&M’s livery, Busch will attempt to finally break through at Charlotte and secure the long-awaited first win at his favorite track, and in one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Red, White and Blue Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

You’ve won at 16 different racetracks in the Sprint Cup Series. How badly do you want to win the Coca-Cola 600 and a Sprint Cup race at Charlotte?

“Winning at Charlotte Motor Speedway, since it’s my favorite track, would be really special since I’ve been able to win there in other series and have been close a lot in the Cup car. It seems like the month of May at Charlotte just hasn’t liked me too much. We got to win (last week’s) Truck Series race and the Nationwide race last spring, so I’m hoping we can add to that this weekend and finally get a Sprint Cup win. There are plenty of other tracks we need to win at, too, but there’s no doubt a Charlotte win would be big with the Red, White, and Blue colors on our M&M’s Camry.”

What are the challenges of racing at Charlotte?

“I think the biggest challenge about Charlotte is how much the track changes from practice. You practice all during the day and then you go into night racing. You’ve got to know what kind of adjustments to make to your car and how well you can race at night. Typically, you go back to your night notes. For us, we’ve run well there in the past and like going there. It’s a fun place to race and adds to the excitement of spending some time at home.”

Does Sunday’s 600-mile race feel different than other events?

“It depends on what kind of car you have. I’ve been in races in the 600-mile race where it’s felt really easy and short, and I’ve been in races where it’s been a long, drawn-out, knock ’em, sock ’em kind of day. Hopefully, Dave Rogers (crew chief) and the guys can bring a really good M&M’s Camry for me this weekend and it will be a smooth race for us. I like running the 600 miles. I think it brings a new aspect to our sport – its longevity. People will say, ‘It’s too long. It’s boring. Whatever.’ Well, you know, it’s a part of the product and the history that we’ve had here on Memorial Day weekend for a long time that you run that extra hundred miles. And car preparation goes into that. Will your car make it? Will your engine last? Are the drivers able to be competitive throughout the whole race? You’ll have fatigue, sometimes, even at a 500-mile race. So, if you don’t show signs of weakness, you should be pretty good.”

You’ve said in the past that Charlotte is your favorite track. Is there any particular reason why?

“Charlotte is my favorite racetrack for a lot of reasons. Just growing up watching races on TV, I loved watching the All-Star Race under the lights and the 600 with all the sparks flying and all the guys going after hard-fought, hard-racing wins. The Nationwide Series has been good to me there. The Truck Series has been pretty good to me there, too. But a Cup Series win has eluded me there. We’re definitely getting closer than I was back when I first started racing at Charlotte. I think I have something like eight top-10 finishes in my last 10 races going into this weekend, so I hope my luck is turning around a bit and I can finally get that Sprint Cup win there. We’ve been very close the last couple of years.”

If you’re saving your car for the end of the race, is it a struggle for you not to pass during the course of this long, 600-mile event?

“Yeah, you want to race those guys who are around you all of the time. You think to yourself, ‘There’s a car in front of me. I want to pass that guy.’ That’s what’s in your blood to do. Sometimes, you’ve just got to back off a little bit and kind of let the race play out. You’ve got to get to the end of the final pit stop. Once you get to the final pit stop, then the race is on. That’s kind of the way it works out. Charlotte can suck you in and it can suck you in pretty easily – into the wall, I mean.”