CALIFORNIA PREVIEW

Cole Whitt on California

“I’m looking forward to getting back on a big track and going to a large 2-mile place like California. We ran well at Vegas, so this gives us an opportunity to go back to a track where we can show our speed again. Cars can get so strung out in this race that you’re going to need to qualify well because you’ll need track position.

“I’m excited about finally getting to race there. I watched so many races growing up. That was the closest track to my home, and still I’ve never driven on it or raced on it. It’s going to be pretty cool to do that. I’ve ran Michigan which is fairly similar to it. Obviously, the grip levels and lines are a little different, but those tracks are a lot alike.”

2-MILE TRACKS –Although he has never seen racing action at Auto Club Speedway, Whitt does have experience at Michigan International Speedway – a track similar in size and shape. He drove to a 10th-place finish in the Camping World Truck Series in 2011 at Michigan after a 17th-place start.CHASSIS INFO FOR WHITT – The 88 team unloads chassis number 605 for Whitt at California. 605 raced at Charlotte and Bristol in 2011, earning respective finishes of ninth and fifth.

ROOKIE BATTLE UPDATE – Rookie Cole Whitt has earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes in his first four starts in 2012. He also landed Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors in two of those four events, ranking him second in the rookie standings. He trails leader Austin Dillon by five points.

PATRICK AND WHITT AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – JR Motorsports drivers Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt will both sign autographs during the Nationwide Series autograph session in the Auto Club Speedway garage area on Friday, March 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time. Whitt will also sign at the JR Nation merchandise hauler in the fan concourse area at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 9:30 a.m. local time.

FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR THE DALE JR. FOUNDATION – This year is a milestone for The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF), marking the fifth year since its founding. Since 2007, the TDJF has offered support to communities both locally and nationally, focusing on hunger, education, empowerment, wellness and hope. In honor of five years of giving, TDJF is asking supporters to donate $5 this year and help reach even more families and individuals in need. For more information and to make a contribution visit www.thedalejrfoundation.org.