Chevy Impala SS Aims Shootout Victory

Topics:  Budweiser Shootout, Chevrolet Impala

Anthony Fontanelle
February 19, 2008

Team Chevy is now ready to conquer victory in the Budweiser Shootout. With power supplied by Junior, the team is entertaining high hopes of winning.

Picking up what is left at the end of last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), Chevy Impala SS powered by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s (Junior) ground-breaking R07 engine is motivated to hit the victory lane in the Season Opener of the 2008 NASCAR.

Last season’s victory was the 17th Team Chevy Shootout victory. To note, the figure is more than any other manufacturer participating in the race. What’s more, it was the fourth consecutive year and seventh time in the last ten events a Bowtie driver has achieved the desirable jaunt to victory lane.

"Dale, Jr.'s win in the Shootout is an exciting way for Team Chevy to start the 2008 season," said Pat Suhy, NASCAR Group Manager for GM Racing. "It was a short off-season and everyone at GM Racing has been working hard with our teams to maintain the momentum from last season's record-breaking 26 wins.”

"We know that it is going to be very competitive season in the Cup season, but the engineering group at GM Racing has been working very closely with all of our teams on every level. This continuing level of teamwork has been the hallmark of our success,” he added. “Starting Speedweeks with a trip to victory lane not only carries the momentum forward, but builds enthusiasm and fuels our determination as we approach the Daytona 500 next Sunday."

For Junior, the trek to yield victory was as sweet as it gets. "That was fun. The Shootout is a neat race. I had a blast those last few laps," noted Earnhardt, Jr. "I got some great help from my teammates. Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Impala SS) gave me a push there at the end and it helped me a lot. He and Casey (Mears, No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Impala SS) were lined up there on the outside and that was great for us. I’ve got to thank those guys for the help.”

Earnhardt, Jr. added: “I’ve got to thank my team for building a beautiful Chevrolet race car and they did such a good job all winter and everybody back at Hendrick has worked so hard. This is great for us, man. This is exactly what we needed coming out of the gate. I hope the fans enjoyed that race. It was fun for me. And I’m just so proud of my team, National Guard, AMP, Sony, Adidas, Chevy and everybody that’s helped us. We’ve had such a long off-season. This makes it all worth it.”

The Chevy team is still in for a good catch this season. And aficionados will be jubilant to witness how the team will be able to yield the same.