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But first, these notes of interest:

--SPECIAL NOTE…Please see below (above quote of the week) for AJ Allmendinger’s special media hits scheduled for this weekend…

--AJ Allmendinger and his Todd Gordon-led Penske Racing No. 22 Team will be racing their “PRS-642” Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger in this week’s action at Daytona. Thursday’s qualifying race will mark its first time in racing competition. Dinger qualified the car 18th fastest (lap of 46.603-seconds/193.121 mph) last Sunday and will start ninth in the second 150-mile qualifying race on Thursday. “AJ and I were talking before qualifying and I told him I thought we’d run a (46.) 59 and wind up about 15th or so,” said crew chief Gordon. “Of course, he expected to run faster and I appreciated that. Overall, things went pretty much like we expected.” The “PRS-626” chassis will serve as the team’s backup Dodge Charger this weekend. “This is a car that was part of the No. 2 team’s fleet last season,” Gordon said. “Brad and the Miller Lite Team had it on their transporter as a backup, but they never raced it.”

--AJ Allmendinger is certainly confident in the strength of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Chargers his Penske Racing crew is preparing for him. “The cars are really strong and the engines have been powerful,” Dinger said. “What’s been so impressive is how consistent both Penske Dodges have been. We’ve been running neck and neck in all the practices and we were 18th and 19th in qualifying. We won’t have the opportunity to run together in Thursday’s qualifying races because Brad’s in the first and we’re in the second. But you can expect to see the Penske cars running together in practice and definitely in Sunday’s Daytona 500.”

--In the last Daytona 500 that AJ Allmendinger was behind the wheel of a Dodge – the 2009 edition of the Great American Race -- he finished third. It’s his best career finish at Daytona to date. AJ had failed to make the starting field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup tour’s biggest race for two straight years (2007 & 2008) while driving for Red Bull Racing. It was Dinger’s sheer determination that prevailed and got him through those rough times. “We closed out the 2008 season with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports and had them up in the top 35 in points,” AJ said. “But that team transitioned into Richard Petty Motorsports during the off-season. We thought we were locked into the Daytona 500 and we didn’t find out that we had to qualify for the race again until we rolled into the track.” Dinger started 19th in his qualifying race and drove to a solid 10th-place finish. In the 500, he started 20th and ran toward the front all day. He finished third after the race was called because of rain with 152 laps complete. AJ had entered the season with only eight races guaranteed on his schedule. The outstanding performance in the 500 led to the team picking up the additional sponsorship it needed to compete in all 36 races during the 2009 season. “It was pretty emotional just to make that race,” Dinger recalled. “Like I said back then, it comes down to two options -- you can quit or stick it out and I’m not a quitter. This sport is tough. You’ve got to always expect the worst and hope for the best.”

--The record book shows that Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger’s best career finish to date at Daytona was the third he scored in the 2009 Daytona 500. But Dinger contends that it wasn’t the strongest car he has raced at Daytona: “While the third in the 2009 Daytona 500 might be the best finish for us in the record book, it wasn’t the strongest car we’ve had in the race,” Dinger said. “We had a rocket ship there for the 500 in 2010. We changed engines and had to start at the rear of the field, but were able to blast up through the pack to lead. I think we had the car to beat until they had problems with the track and the pothole got us, the front end planted and I got loose. I was trying to save it, but I was pinned up against Jeff Gordon and I didn't want to take us all out so I just spun it to the inside. Unfortunately, when I stopped I couldn't get it refired and get going again. They made me get out of the car and go to the medical center even though we hadn't hit anything. So that was very frustrating because we lost a lot of laps. We lost like 12 laps, but got back in the car and finished the race. I’m convinced that we had a car strong enough to win the race there in the 2010 Daytona 500.”

--In five career Gatorade Duel 150’s AJ Allmendinger’s best results to date are the seventh-place finishes he has posted the last two consecutive years. His performance during the five-year span coincides with the overall progress he has made during that time. He finished 29th in 2007, 13th in 2008 and 10th in 2009.

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger has started only seven total Cup races to date at Daytona, with three starts in the Daytona 500 and four in the July Coke Zero 400. He has recorded one top-five finish and two top-10s. His third-place finish in the 2009 Daytona 500 rates his best result entering this weekend. Dinger started 15th and finished 11th in last year’s Daytona 500. He started ninth and finished 10th in last July’s 400-miler.

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger announced last week his motorsports company, Walldinger Racing, had established a new karting scholarship program. A deserving young karter will receive a scholarship to race in the 2012 World Karting Association championship starting March 23-25 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. The scholarship winner will also be set to compete in the Rotax Grand Nationals in August and SKUSA SuperNationals in November. “I was very lucky so many different times through my career to get the support that I needed to keep racing and keep moving up,” said Allmendinger. “So I feel very fortunate to be in a position to try to help someone else who is trying to do the same thing. I’ve had really great partners through my career and I think you can expect some exciting announcements as we go forward with this program. I am really looking forward to this being the start of something good for some young racer out there.” Serious applicants ages 13-16 are asked to send their CV, racing credentials, photo, and short summary of their racing goals to: Karting@ajallmendinger.com. Deadline for entry is March 10, 2012. For additional information, please visit www.ajallmendinger.com.

--Expect Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger to be “talking up” his sponsor’s move to continue their successful “WINsdays” program during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. “That’s pretty cool that they have that level of faith in me to continue the program this season, but we can’t officially talk about it till Thursday,” Dinger said with a chuckle. “We have a radio media tour scheduled then that is supposed to coincide with the official announcement. All I can say is that I am flattered and we’ll be going after all wins we can get for our great sponsors and for all the fans out there.” (Shhh…keep it under the hat till then, but Dinger will be announcing the continuation of Shell’s “WINsdays” program where Shell Saver Card holders will receive a savings of 22 cents per gallon on the Wednesdays following every points race victory by the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge.)

--Make sure you catch Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger in his weekly contribution to ESPN’s “NASCAR Now.” The regular segment titled “The Daily Dinger” features AJ conducting off-beat interviews with drivers, crew chiefs and fans about each weekend’s race. Sunday’s edition of the hour-long “NASCAR Now” is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and airs on ESPN2.

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger is writing a monthly blog for NASCAR.com and his first contribution is set to be posted on Thursday. This is a “no rules & no limitations” opportunity for Dinger, so expect to see content here that you will see nowhere else.

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger continues to contribute a weekly video blog that is featured on FOXSports.com. It is a “free-form documentation” of Dinger’s exciting life as one of the most promising & personable young drivers in Sprint Cup racing. FOXSports.com’s Senior NASCAR editor Jorge Mondaca oversees the project and actually made a cameo appearance in Dinger’s latest video. To view all the fun, please log on to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtyGuu77GJg

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger continues his weekly call-ins to SiriusXM Speedway with Dave Moody & Angie Skinner on Fridays on NASCAR Channel 90. Dinger’s calls are regularly in the 5:00 p.m. ET block, schedule permitting.

--Make sure you check out Shell’s new activation on Facebook which will feature all the latest news on all facets of their motorsports involvement. Please log on here to get started: http://www.facebook.com/ShellMotorsport

--Follow Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AJDinger. You can also follow AJ Allmendinger as well as all the Penske Racing drivers on Facebook and Twitter by simply logging on to www.penskeracing.com and click on the respective links. Follow the Dodge drivers on Twitter at http://twitter.com/teamdodge . Follow TR on Twitter at http://twitter.com/22carPR

--The full 2012 AJ Allmendinger No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil racing media guide is available online this season. Log on to www.shell.us/racing to find all the information you need in one convenient location. You can follow the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Team on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ShellRacingUS

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger’s media availability time for Daytona International Speedway is set for Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. in the Daytona International Speedway Infield Media Center. Dinger will always attempt to visit media center whenever possible.

-Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger will be signing autographs at his merchandising trailer on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway this weekend. The 30-minute block of time is set for Saturday from 1:30 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. and will be posted at the trailer first thing on Friday morning. You must have a ticket to be in the line and Shelly & Jerry will be handing them out on Saturday well before the signing.

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger is set to be a special guest on PRN’s “Up to Speed from Daytona Beach” on Thursday during the 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET block. The live show will again originate from the center court of the Volusia Mall. Follow the PRN crew on Twitter (@PRNlive). To find an affiliate station near you, please visit the PRN site at: http://www.goprn.com/

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger is a special guest on this Saturday’s edition of “Trackside” on SPEED-TV. Dinger joins hosts Krista Voda, Rutledge Wood and Kyle Petty for the second segment. Saturday’s show airs live beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on SPEED. For additional information, please log on here: http://www.speedtv.com/programs/nascar-trackside/

--Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger will be a featured guest on Sunday’s edition of “FOX and Friends” on the FOX News Channel. The program starts at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning, with Dinger scheduled to join hosts Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris at 8:30 a.m. For additional information on the show, check them out on Twitter (@ffweekend) or log on to their site at: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends-weekend/index.html

--“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.” -Walter Elliott

ALLMENDINGER GETTING PRIMED FOR ACTION IN DAYTONA 500 WEEKEND
-Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Driver Taking Shootout Knowledge Into Sprint Cup’s 2012 Season-Opener-

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2012) – AJ Allmendinger labeled last Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout as a “learning experience” that will have him better prepared for the upcoming Daytona 500 weekend. Dinger is optimistic about his Todd Gordon-led Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Team’s chances in Thursday’s qualifying race and Sunday’s 54th annual running of the Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway.

“We certainly learned a lot out there last weekend,” said Allmendinger, who finished 12th in last Saturday night’s special non-points race. “Pack racing is back, that’s for sure. That was very evident in the Shootout. We saw several different strategies. Some teams went all out from the drop of the green. Others, like us, took a ‘hang back and wait’ approach. That almost paid off for our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Team there at the end.

“The new package we’re racing with gives the driver more control of the car and that’s a good feeling to have,” offered Allmendinger, who will start ninth in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying race. “But if you’re running in a huge pack of cars that’s three-wide and eight-deep, that control turns out to be not much in avoiding getting caught up in the big crashes. That’s what we saw last Saturday night.

“There’s just such a fast closing rate with the new package,” said AJ. “That’s what we’re seeing. If you’re not hooked up, the guys who are hooked up can get a really good run. We saw so many situations where cars were getting into the left-rear of the guys running in front of them. That’s what triggered the big crashes out there and is what we have to be aware of again this week.

“Hopefully in the Duels, we’ll see guys trying to take car of their cars a bit more,” Dinger said. “You know it’s your 500 car and you don’t want to damage it. Everybody is still out there to go for the win and get a good starting spot for Sunday, but hopefully it’ll be a little calmer out there on Thursday than it was last Saturday night.”

One might say that the strategy utilized by Allmendinger and Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski was one of survival last weekend at Daytona. Perhaps the words of wisdom made famous by legendary Penske driver Rick Mears – “To finish first, you must first finish” – were adhered to?

“Like we’ve been saying ever since we arrived in Daytona, we’re focusing on the big picture,” said crew chief Gordon. “Last Saturday night, it didn’t matter where you were running after 25 laps and it didn’t matter where you were running after 70 laps. The objective was to be in the position to go for it at the right time.

“It will be the same goal out there in our qualifying race and in the 500,” Gordon said. “It’s 60 laps of racing on Thursday and 200 laps on Sunday. The purpose for being out there in the first place is to win and you can’t do that if you’re on the hook and being pulled back to the garage. Our strategy will remain the same and that’s to do what it takes to be in a position to win at the end of the race.

“AJ’s tremendous focus and level of patience have been so impressive,” Gordon said of his driver. “We’ve been working so well with our teammates over on the No. 2 team. You can expect to see AJ and Brad (Keselowski) hooking up together a lot from Wednesday’s practice on this week. Since we’re in different duels on Thursday, we’ll get a plan going as for someone to run with in that race.”

In five career Gatorade Duel qualifying races, Allmendinger has posted three top-10 finishes, finishing seventh in both 2010 and 2011 editions. He has been running at the finish and completed all the laps for four consecutive Duels.

Allmendinger’s third-place finish in the 2009 Daytona 500 rates as his best result to date in seven career points races on the 2.5-mile track (three starts in the Daytona 500 and four starts in the July Coke Zero 400). He started 15th and drove to an 11th-place finish in last year’s Daytona 500.

“We started 15th and were able to head to the front and lead early in the race,” recalled AJ, who was credited as leading four of the first 12 laps. “Then we settled into a situation where we ran like 15th to 20th for much of the race. It was another day when it seemed like every time we were moving up, a slow stop on pit road would set us back. We were able to capitalize on the cautions and come up with a respectable 11th-place finish.

“While that third in the 2009 Daytona 500 might be the best finish for us in the record book, it wasn’t the strongest car we’ve had in the race,” said Dinger. “We had a rocket ship there for the 500 in 2010. We changed engines and had to start at the rear of the field, but were able to blast up through the pack to lead. I think we had the car to beat until they had problems with the track and the pothole got us.”

Allmendinger, Gordon and crew are racing their “PRS-642” Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger in this week’s action at Daytona. Thursday’s qualifying race will mark its first time in racing competition. The “PRS-626” will serve as the team’s backup Dodge Charger this week.

The first of Thursday’s “Gatorade Duels” 150-mile qualifying races gets the green flag at 2:00 p.m. ET. Live coverage of all the action will be provided by SPEED-TV and MRN Radio. The Sunday, Feb. 26 Daytona 500 has a scheduled 1:00 p.m. ET starting time here at Daytona International Speedway. FOX-TV, MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Channel 90 will provide live coverage of all the action.
# # #

AJ ALLMENDINGER CAREER TRACK RECORDS

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

(2.5 miles)

BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

Date	Event	Car	St	Fn	Laps	$ Won	Status
2/18/12	Budweiser Shootout	Dodge	9	12	80/82	$35,525	Running
2/7/09	Budweiser Shootout	Dodge	18	5	78/78	50,000	Running

		Races	Wins	Top-5	Top-10	Poles	$$$$$
	TOTAL	2	0	1	1	0	$85,525

Lap completion percentage: 158/160 = 98.750%

QUALIFYING RACES

Date	Event	Car	St	Fn	Laps	$ Won	Status
2/17/11	Gatorade Duel 150 #1	Ford	12	7	62/62	$26,213	Running
2/11/10	Gatorade Duel 150 #1	Ford	12	7	60/60	23,470	Running
2/12/09	Gatorade Duel 150 #2	Dodge	19	10	60/60	21,638	Running
2/14/08	Gatorade Duel 150 #1	Toyota	7	13	60/60	22,345	Running
2/15/07	Gatorade Duel 150 #1	Toyota	19	29	23/63	19,050	Accident

		Races	Wins	Top-5	Top-10	Poles	$$$$$
	TOTAL	5	0	0	3	0	$112,716

Lap completion percentage: 265/305 = 86.885%

POINTS RACES

Date	Event	Car	St	Fn	Laps	$ Won	Status
2/20/11	Daytona 500	Ford	15	11	208/208	$338,399	Running
7/2/11	Coke Zero 400	Ford	9	10	170/170	142,186	Running
2/14/10	Daytona 500	Ford	15	32	198/208	$305,546	Running
7/3/10	Coke Zero 400	Ford	21	36	136/166	121,176	Running
2/15/09	Daytona 500	Dodge	20	3	152/152	786,563	Running
7/4/09	Coke Zero 400	Dodge	30	17	160/160	98,975	Running
7/5/08	Coke Zero 400	Toyota	13	42	100/162	83,355	Running

		Races	Wins	Top-5	Top-10	Poles	$$$$$
	Daytona 500	3	0	1	1	0	$1,430,508
	Coke Zero 400	4	0	0	1	0	445,692
	TOTAL	7	0	1	2	0	$1,876,200