Phoenix: Series contingency awards announced

Montoya, Pattie Pick Up Pair Of Contingency Awards in Phoenix

Top Five Puts No. 42 Team Back On Track In Pursuit Of The 2010 Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 13, 2010) -- Saturday night under the lights in the desert at Phoenix International Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 42 team proved they just might be a force to be reckoned with this year, earning a top-five finish and both driver and crew chief post-race awards.

Montoya, who started seventh in Saturday night's SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600, ended the evening with a fifth-place finish and the "Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race" Award provided to the highest- finishing team that carries the Mobil 1 decal. Veteran crew chief Brian Pattie picked up his second "DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Race" Award this season. This award is given to the crew chief who demonstrates best qualifying and race effort as determined by the average of qualifying result and race finish.

The awards are part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provide teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories. The 2010 NASCAR season marks the eighth consecutive year in which Mobil 1 is the official motor oil of NASCAR. DIRECTV, Inc. has been the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR since 2005.

Montoya led the 375-lap race four times for a total of 104 laps and capped a driver rating of 128.8 at the one mile oval, where car setup and track position make all the difference. The solid performance at Phoenix is a real game-changer for the No. 42 Target team who Saturday night showed signs of regaining the consistent form that propelled them into last year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

"We are a top-five team, easily," said Montoya, who has led laps in five of the seven races this season. "We run in the top five every week. We're there [and] always one of the fastest cars in practice, qualifying, even at race pace."

It was the second top-five finish of the season for Montoya, who climbed four spots in points to 21st. Heading into this weekend's Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, the No. 42 team sits just 132 points outside of 12th position with 19 races left until the Chase begins.

Official winners of this week's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Prize Money & Decal Program special awards include:

* DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE AWARD: Brian Pattie (crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya)

* GOODYEAR GATORBACK BELTS FASTEST LAP AWARD:AJ Allmendinger (129.819 mph, Lap 3)

* MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE AWARD:Jimmie Johnson

* MOBIL 1 "COMMAND PERFORMANCE DRIVER OF THE RACE" AWARD:Juan Pablo Montoya

* MOOG CHASSIS PARTS PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE AWARD: Shane Wilson (crew chief for Clint Bowyer)

* O'REILLY AUTO PARTS POSITION IMPROVEMENT AWARD:Matt Kenseth (21 places)

* RAYBESTOS ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD: Kevin Conway

* SUNOCO DIAMOND PERFORMANCE AWARD:Ryan Newman

* TISSOT "PIT ROAD PRECISION" AWARD:Matt Kenseth (289.915 sec)

* WIX FILTERS LAP LEADER AWARD:Kyle Busch(113 laps)

About the NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program
The NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program, commonly referred to as the contingency program, is administered by the NASCAR Automotive Group. The program strives to build strong relationships with high-quality, performance-driven brands that are leaders in their respective categories and award money to NASCAR teams via per-race and year-end postings. Competitors become eligible for awards money by displaying partner decals on the front fender of their race vehicles and, in some instances, use of a sponsor's product. National series contingency sponsors will contribute over $8.8 million to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams in 2010.

-source: nascar