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3/10/1963-Junior Johnson wins at Hillsboro, win #2 of the season, and #29 of his career.
3/10/1964-David Pearson wins at Richmond, win #1 of the season, and #4 of his career.
3/10/1996-Dale Earnhardt wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #70 of his career.
3/10/2002-Tony Stewart wins at Atlanta, win #1 of the season, and #13 of his career..
from Larry
Cup to Mexico? in 2006? Pocono to lose a race? UPDATE: The biggest crowd
in NASCAR's Busch series history!
Momma,
To me this is very disappointing. What no one is hearing is "how much were the tickets", " how much were the concessions", and "how much were the souvenirs"!
NA$CAR was the only one to benefit from the Mexico Busch Series race! They filled 160,000 seats, but what did it cost the Mexican fan? And........what does it cost the American fan to attend a race? I cannot find the figures anywhere on the "net" and if NA$CAR has their way, no one will find them to compare.
We lost Rockingham to California and now Pocono to Mexico? I don't know of ONE race fan in this country that wouldn't be at the NA$CAR races if they were reasonably priced!! OK, so why is it so expensive to attend a race in America?............because the people that control NA$CAR ( the France family) have a monopoly on our sport! All NA$CAR wants to do is fill seats and line their pockets with the fans' money!
There is no answer until NA$CAR goes away and the sport is lost. I believe that NA$CAR is "shooting itself in the foot" and will eventually disappear. Race fans will keep racing alive!!!!, without the help of NA$CAR and the France family!!
Larry Bits and Pieces
New Venture for Marcis and... no more racing: from the Marcis Racing site...."Racing is in our blood and will remain in our hearts but we have had to let it go. In today’s racing you either have to be big or not at all. Dave has defied the odds, silenced the critics, earned the respect of his competitors, and the admiration of many fans. So many years Dave fought the good fight for little guys who were told it could not be done. Now in retirement from racing, a sedentary life will not do. In addition to accepting every hunting and fishing invitation and owning a successful restaurant in the north woods, Dave has decided to turn his attention towards building a new business. Dave spent a lifetime working on chassis setup. This is what makes or breaks a race car. Talk about pressure, the car is right or you go home. Talk about a time crunch, the race will run with or without you. How do you make a car handle at 200+? Dave knows, and that is the foundation of each of Dave’s street rods. In the world of Street Rods, the market is saturated with ill handling and poor performing cars. Our chassis come from five decades of racing experience, using the same Laughlin F1 chassis technology found on our Winston Cup cars. This design is born from a much tougher proving ground than the typical Mustang II street rod chassis. Our end result is a solid, dependable, well engineered, bullet proof chassis. See the full story at the Marcis Racing site.
By RICHARD RUBIN
The Charlotte Observer
City leaders are planning a major public announcement next week about Charlotte's bid for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The results of Charlotte's competition with six other locations could determine the future of the racing industry here, said board members of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which met Wednesday morning.
They worried that NASCAR-related companies as well as the sport's annual all-star race might move if the hall of fame goes elsewhere.
"Not only do we have a lot to win, we have a lot to lose," said board Chairman Luther Cochrane.
But many crucial details remain unclear, including the location, size, cost and potential public funding for the sport's showpiece.
Only some of that information will be known by next week, said authority CEO Tim Newman. He and local business leaders are working on the project.
"Six weeks ago, it was a great opportunity without much structure," said Cathy Bessant, chair of the Charlotte Chamber and chief marketing officer at Bank of America.
"Today, it's a great opportunity (with) a lot of progress, and I think all of us are beginning to feel optimistic that we can put something really cool and special on the table for NASCAR."
Charlotte must submit its bid by May 31, and NASCAR is expected to pick the winning city by the end of 2005.
So far, NASCAR has been intentionally vague about what it wants in a new hall of fame. Newman said that seven cities or regions have expressed interest: Charlotte; Atlanta; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; Birmingham-Talladega, Ala.; Richmond, Va.; and Michigan.
In response to questions from those areas, NASCAR will release more details soon, Newman said.
Cochrane said the competition will be tough. Atlanta, he said, will have a "very well-financed and well thought-out bid."
Daytona Beach will emphasize its ties to NASCAR history and the sport's ruling France family. The Kansas City area is home to Sprint, which is merging with Nextel, the NASCAR title sponsor.
Charlotte leaders hope to draw support from around the region and the state.
"If there's a cause that will get people rallied around the North Carolina flag, this is it," said Cochrane, a construction executive.
The location will likely be uptown, and Newman said that next week's announcement would include criteria for the site.
To attract visitors, the site should not be in the interior of uptown, said John Lassiter, who chairs the City Council's economic development committee.
"It's either got to be close to a major thoroughfare, or a highway or a place (people) can see it," he said.
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Today In Nascar History3/10/1963-Junior Johnson wins at Hillsboro, win #2 of the season, and #29 of his career.
3/10/1964-David Pearson wins at Richmond, win #1 of the season, and #4 of his career.
3/10/1996-Dale Earnhardt wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #70 of his career.
3/10/2002-Tony Stewart wins at Atlanta, win #1 of the season, and #13 of his career..
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Top Ten New Rules for Racing in Mexico
Mistie Bibbee
10. It is not acceptable to race a dog on the track unless it has paid NASCAR’s entry fee.
9. DW’s “Boogity Boogity Boogity” will now be replaced with Speedy Gonzalez’s “¡Arriba, arriba, arriba, ándale, ándale, ándale!”
8. The track’s name will be change from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to Watkin’s Glen- Southern Annex in order to gain more acceptance with the fans.
7. If you qualified on the front row but have to go to the rear of the field due to an engine change, it is now OK for a competitor’s crew chief to knee you in the groin because you are an evil engine changer.
6. If DW is going to lose his voice each time NASCAR goes to Mexico, the entire season will be run down there.
5. Lysol will be the next official sponsor of a race in Mexico if the track continues to insist on selling burritos.
4. No sombreros allowed in the grandstands. It blocks the view of the person behind you.
3. The prize money will be in pesos in the future due to the excellent exchange rate.
2. Unlike at ISC tracks, it’s highly recommended that you bring your own water into the track.
1. Instead of hiring the guards to escort the haulers from the border to the track the real race will be to let the cars loose to see who can make it from the border to the track and back on their own.
10. It is not acceptable to race a dog on the track unless it has paid NASCAR’s entry fee.
9. DW’s “Boogity Boogity Boogity” will now be replaced with Speedy Gonzalez’s “¡Arriba, arriba, arriba, ándale, ándale, ándale!”
8. The track’s name will be change from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to Watkin’s Glen- Southern Annex in order to gain more acceptance with the fans.
7. If you qualified on the front row but have to go to the rear of the field due to an engine change, it is now OK for a competitor’s crew chief to knee you in the groin because you are an evil engine changer.
6. If DW is going to lose his voice each time NASCAR goes to Mexico, the entire season will be run down there.
5. Lysol will be the next official sponsor of a race in Mexico if the track continues to insist on selling burritos.
4. No sombreros allowed in the grandstands. It blocks the view of the person behind you.
3. The prize money will be in pesos in the future due to the excellent exchange rate.
2. Unlike at ISC tracks, it’s highly recommended that you bring your own water into the track.
1. Instead of hiring the guards to escort the haulers from the border to the track the real race will be to let the cars loose to see who can make it from the border to the track and back on their own.
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New Poll
Where Should The NASCAR Hall of Fame be Located?
Only 1 Vote Per Day Will Be Counted!
NASCAR is Considering Four Cities as a Site for a NASCAR HALL of FAME. Which City Should it Choose?
Atlanta
Daytona Beach
Charlotte
Kansas City
No Opinion
Where Should The NASCAR Hall of Fame be Located?
Only 1 Vote Per Day Will Be Counted!
NASCAR is Considering Four Cities as a Site for a NASCAR HALL of FAME. Which City Should it Choose?
Atlanta
Daytona Beach
Charlotte
Kansas City
No Opinion
Click here to vote! http://de3fan4.tripod.com/
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Comments from the Peanut Gallery
from Larry
Cup to Mexico? in 2006? Pocono to lose a race? UPDATE: The biggest crowd
in NASCAR's Busch series history!
Momma,
To me this is very disappointing. What no one is hearing is "how much were the tickets", " how much were the concessions", and "how much were the souvenirs"!
NA$CAR was the only one to benefit from the Mexico Busch Series race! They filled 160,000 seats, but what did it cost the Mexican fan? And........what does it cost the American fan to attend a race? I cannot find the figures anywhere on the "net" and if NA$CAR has their way, no one will find them to compare.
We lost Rockingham to California and now Pocono to Mexico? I don't know of ONE race fan in this country that wouldn't be at the NA$CAR races if they were reasonably priced!! OK, so why is it so expensive to attend a race in America?............because the people that control NA$CAR ( the France family) have a monopoly on our sport! All NA$CAR wants to do is fill seats and line their pockets with the fans' money!
There is no answer until NA$CAR goes away and the sport is lost. I believe that NA$CAR is "shooting itself in the foot" and will eventually disappear. Race fans will keep racing alive!!!!, without the help of NA$CAR and the France family!!
Larry Bits and Pieces
New Venture for Marcis and... no more racing: from the Marcis Racing site...."Racing is in our blood and will remain in our hearts but we have had to let it go. In today’s racing you either have to be big or not at all. Dave has defied the odds, silenced the critics, earned the respect of his competitors, and the admiration of many fans. So many years Dave fought the good fight for little guys who were told it could not be done. Now in retirement from racing, a sedentary life will not do. In addition to accepting every hunting and fishing invitation and owning a successful restaurant in the north woods, Dave has decided to turn his attention towards building a new business. Dave spent a lifetime working on chassis setup. This is what makes or breaks a race car. Talk about pressure, the car is right or you go home. Talk about a time crunch, the race will run with or without you. How do you make a car handle at 200+? Dave knows, and that is the foundation of each of Dave’s street rods. In the world of Street Rods, the market is saturated with ill handling and poor performing cars. Our chassis come from five decades of racing experience, using the same Laughlin F1 chassis technology found on our Winston Cup cars. This design is born from a much tougher proving ground than the typical Mustang II street rod chassis. Our end result is a solid, dependable, well engineered, bullet proof chassis. See the full story at the Marcis Racing site.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Speedway's Famous 'Yard Of Bricks' Back In Place: One of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s most visible pieces of history returned to its rightful place March 9 as crews began reinstalling the famous “Yard of Bricks” at the start/finish line. The Speedway’s “Yard of Bricks” serves as a tribute to the 2.5-mile oval’s most famous surface – 3.2 million paving bricks that were laid down in autumn 1909, just months after the track opened with a tar and crushed stone surface. Most of the bricks, except the middle portion of the main straightaway, were paved over with asphalt by 1939. In 1961, the main straightaway was finally paved with asphalt, and the “Yard of Bricks” tribute was established. Installing the new “Yard of Bricks,” which consists of more than 570 of the 1909-vintage bricks that were most recently in storage, signals the ceremonial end to a massive repaving project that saw 19,000 tons of asphalt laid to repave the Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval, pit lane and warm-up lanes. Crews began the project by milling 2.5 inches of the old surface in August 2004 and completed the paving process in early November.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shane Hmiel to Attempt Triple Duty at Golden Corral 500 Weekend: Before last week, Shane Hmiel was just driving in the NASCAR Busch Series. But during Wednesday’s test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hmiel was preparing to run all three races during next weekend’s Golden Corral 500 weekend. Hmiel will start the weekend in the World Financial Group 200 Craftsman Truck race on Friday (March 18), then compete in the Aaron’s 312 Busch race on Saturday (March 19) and finish up with the Golden Corral 500 on Sunday (March 20). Hmiel was testing his NEXTEL Cup car on Wednesday and turning the fastest laps of 2005, as he circled the 1.54-mile fast track in 29.26 seconds (189.424 mph).~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
#5 Robot Car: Coinciding with the March 11 launch of the movie "Robots" presented by 20th Century Fox, Kellogg's will trade in the #5 Chevrolet's traditional paint scheme, driven by Kyle Busch, for a nuts-and-bolts Robots-themed design for Sunday's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
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Announcement planned on Charlotte bid for NASCAR hall
By RICHARD RUBIN
The Charlotte Observer
City leaders are planning a major public announcement next week about Charlotte's bid for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The results of Charlotte's competition with six other locations could determine the future of the racing industry here, said board members of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which met Wednesday morning.
They worried that NASCAR-related companies as well as the sport's annual all-star race might move if the hall of fame goes elsewhere.
"Not only do we have a lot to win, we have a lot to lose," said board Chairman Luther Cochrane.
But many crucial details remain unclear, including the location, size, cost and potential public funding for the sport's showpiece.
Only some of that information will be known by next week, said authority CEO Tim Newman. He and local business leaders are working on the project.
"Six weeks ago, it was a great opportunity without much structure," said Cathy Bessant, chair of the Charlotte Chamber and chief marketing officer at Bank of America.
"Today, it's a great opportunity (with) a lot of progress, and I think all of us are beginning to feel optimistic that we can put something really cool and special on the table for NASCAR."
Charlotte must submit its bid by May 31, and NASCAR is expected to pick the winning city by the end of 2005.
So far, NASCAR has been intentionally vague about what it wants in a new hall of fame. Newman said that seven cities or regions have expressed interest: Charlotte; Atlanta; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; Birmingham-Talladega, Ala.; Richmond, Va.; and Michigan.
In response to questions from those areas, NASCAR will release more details soon, Newman said.
Cochrane said the competition will be tough. Atlanta, he said, will have a "very well-financed and well thought-out bid."
Daytona Beach will emphasize its ties to NASCAR history and the sport's ruling France family. The Kansas City area is home to Sprint, which is merging with Nextel, the NASCAR title sponsor.
Charlotte leaders hope to draw support from around the region and the state.
"If there's a cause that will get people rallied around the North Carolina flag, this is it," said Cochrane, a construction executive.
The location will likely be uptown, and Newman said that next week's announcement would include criteria for the site.
To attract visitors, the site should not be in the interior of uptown, said John Lassiter, who chairs the City Council's economic development committee.
"It's either got to be close to a major thoroughfare, or a highway or a place (people) can see it," he said.
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NASCAR Nation Good, Bad, and the Ugly- ODDS and ENDS
Dennis Michelsen
NASCAR Nation Good, Bad, and the Ugly
Last week as I was sitting in my easy chair waiting for the weekly “Mirror Driving” meeting at Frontstretch, I was hit with this sudden longing for the return of “RPM2Night.” The new Speed Channel show “NASCAR Nation” inspired that feeling and according to the overwhelming e-mail and comments from readers last week I am not alone with those feelings!
The basic premise for “NASCAR Nation” is fine, the set is appealing, and the hosts don’t suck…so why isn’t this show hitting it off with the old time NASCAR fans like myself? A full hour of NASCAR news! Isn’t this what we always wanted…more of our favorite sport? Well perhaps more is not better when it seems to be a show with the scripts edited and/or written by NASCAR brass! Apparently what most fans want is unbiased news about their favorite sport and so far “NASCAR Nation” hasn’t butted heads with NASCAR on anything. But what exactly is wrong with “NASCAR Nation” anyway? As old sport’s guru George Michael used to say, “Let’s take a look at the video tape.”
In their comments to me last week lots of praise was heaped on Ralph Sheheen. Maybe being one of the ESPN guys is why old-time NASCAR fans despite saying “NASCAR Nation” is less than great still like Sheheen. Likewise fans seem to like Krista Voda and think she adds more to the show than just being a pretty face. Courtney George and Michelle Fizer seem to add little to the mix and some fans questioned their NASCAR knowledge. One rather curious episode occurred on the show Monday night this week. Reporting live from DEI headquarters the reporter was asked what was going on at DEI. The answer was a confusing “Not much.” So why have two remotes from a facility that was basically empty? This is the sort of confused programming we are seeing from this new show.
The concept being “NASCAR Nation” is great but so far according to the fans that have sounded off it seems to be missing its target audience. I have contacted the folks at Speed Channel for an interview with people involved in the show. If you have any feedback about the show or ideas of questions to ask please let me know. In the meantime count me out as a resident in the new “NASCAR Nation.”
Thanks for the Memories Mark Martin
Fan clubs and their assorted newsletters and web sites have never held much of an interest to me over the years. These self-promoting ventures seem to be more about selling stuff than letting you get a real glimpse at the driver anyway. Of course some of the older fan clubs such as that of Kenny Wallace is the exception to that rule. But this week a new fan club site for Mark Martin debuted and it got my attention right away. Called the “Mark Martin Salute to You” it features a ton of great pictures and even greater memories for all us Martin fans! Located at www.markmartinsalute.com, here is what you can expect to find. Do you remember Mark Martin’s first Winston Cup win? Now for a bonus point do you remember his sponsor? We used to say down at Purdue that this product was “Fire Brewed Over a Garbage Dump,” but they were sure good colors to follow back in 1989! Now for two more bonus points what track did he get his first win at race fans? There is even a link to the site of the 2012 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year’s web site, none other than 13-year old Matt Martin! Take a stroll through the pictures and other fun stuff at the “Salute to You” web site and you won’t be sorry even if you aren’t a die-hard Martin fan. Thanks for the memories Mark, you are truly one of the best that’s ever been!
What is Win Fuel?
The new fad in the world of marketing is the so-called trend of Guerilla Marketing. The idea is to create a BUZZ for a product before people even know what that product is all about. United Airline’s used this technique to debut their new low-cost air carrier called “Ted.” Debuting in Denver, Colorado “Ted” kept popping up on billboards all over town. “Ted” bought people coffee and lunches. Messages to “Ted” even showed up on the message boards at Denver Nuggets basketball games. People wanted to know what “Ted” was and soon found out. This year in racing we have seen Dale Earnhardt Jr in advertisements for Win Fuel. After seeing advertisement after advertisement on race broadcasts I finally was curious enough to check out their product at www.winfuel.com. A visit to their web site left me even more confused since the product isn’t out yet! But their web site contains one of the craziest pieces of marketing I have ever seen. The “Win Fuel Edge” handbook “Winning With Losers” is a hoot! One little taste, they suggest that one of the ways to know that the Win Fuel Edge has taken hold is that flushing the toilet no longer affects the flow of hot water in the shower. Congratulations to the marketing geniuses at Win Fuel, we still have no clue what this stuff is or does but at least their marketing plan is a winner.
Dennis Michelsen
NASCAR Nation Good, Bad, and the Ugly
Last week as I was sitting in my easy chair waiting for the weekly “Mirror Driving” meeting at Frontstretch, I was hit with this sudden longing for the return of “RPM2Night.” The new Speed Channel show “NASCAR Nation” inspired that feeling and according to the overwhelming e-mail and comments from readers last week I am not alone with those feelings!
The basic premise for “NASCAR Nation” is fine, the set is appealing, and the hosts don’t suck…so why isn’t this show hitting it off with the old time NASCAR fans like myself? A full hour of NASCAR news! Isn’t this what we always wanted…more of our favorite sport? Well perhaps more is not better when it seems to be a show with the scripts edited and/or written by NASCAR brass! Apparently what most fans want is unbiased news about their favorite sport and so far “NASCAR Nation” hasn’t butted heads with NASCAR on anything. But what exactly is wrong with “NASCAR Nation” anyway? As old sport’s guru George Michael used to say, “Let’s take a look at the video tape.”
In their comments to me last week lots of praise was heaped on Ralph Sheheen. Maybe being one of the ESPN guys is why old-time NASCAR fans despite saying “NASCAR Nation” is less than great still like Sheheen. Likewise fans seem to like Krista Voda and think she adds more to the show than just being a pretty face. Courtney George and Michelle Fizer seem to add little to the mix and some fans questioned their NASCAR knowledge. One rather curious episode occurred on the show Monday night this week. Reporting live from DEI headquarters the reporter was asked what was going on at DEI. The answer was a confusing “Not much.” So why have two remotes from a facility that was basically empty? This is the sort of confused programming we are seeing from this new show.
The concept being “NASCAR Nation” is great but so far according to the fans that have sounded off it seems to be missing its target audience. I have contacted the folks at Speed Channel for an interview with people involved in the show. If you have any feedback about the show or ideas of questions to ask please let me know. In the meantime count me out as a resident in the new “NASCAR Nation.”
Thanks for the Memories Mark Martin
Fan clubs and their assorted newsletters and web sites have never held much of an interest to me over the years. These self-promoting ventures seem to be more about selling stuff than letting you get a real glimpse at the driver anyway. Of course some of the older fan clubs such as that of Kenny Wallace is the exception to that rule. But this week a new fan club site for Mark Martin debuted and it got my attention right away. Called the “Mark Martin Salute to You” it features a ton of great pictures and even greater memories for all us Martin fans! Located at www.markmartinsalute.com, here is what you can expect to find. Do you remember Mark Martin’s first Winston Cup win? Now for a bonus point do you remember his sponsor? We used to say down at Purdue that this product was “Fire Brewed Over a Garbage Dump,” but they were sure good colors to follow back in 1989! Now for two more bonus points what track did he get his first win at race fans? There is even a link to the site of the 2012 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year’s web site, none other than 13-year old Matt Martin! Take a stroll through the pictures and other fun stuff at the “Salute to You” web site and you won’t be sorry even if you aren’t a die-hard Martin fan. Thanks for the memories Mark, you are truly one of the best that’s ever been!
What is Win Fuel?
The new fad in the world of marketing is the so-called trend of Guerilla Marketing. The idea is to create a BUZZ for a product before people even know what that product is all about. United Airline’s used this technique to debut their new low-cost air carrier called “Ted.” Debuting in Denver, Colorado “Ted” kept popping up on billboards all over town. “Ted” bought people coffee and lunches. Messages to “Ted” even showed up on the message boards at Denver Nuggets basketball games. People wanted to know what “Ted” was and soon found out. This year in racing we have seen Dale Earnhardt Jr in advertisements for Win Fuel. After seeing advertisement after advertisement on race broadcasts I finally was curious enough to check out their product at www.winfuel.com. A visit to their web site left me even more confused since the product isn’t out yet! But their web site contains one of the craziest pieces of marketing I have ever seen. The “Win Fuel Edge” handbook “Winning With Losers” is a hoot! One little taste, they suggest that one of the ways to know that the Win Fuel Edge has taken hold is that flushing the toilet no longer affects the flow of hot water in the shower. Congratulations to the marketing geniuses at Win Fuel, we still have no clue what this stuff is or does but at least their marketing plan is a winner.
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Wallace wants to make lasting final impression
Veteran driver has many goals for final season and beyond
By Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press
Rusty Wallace never said he wouldn't race again. He even wonders at times if he's making the right decision to retire from full-time NASCAR competition after the 2005 season.
When he can't sleep, Wallace stares at the ceiling in the middle of the night thinking about things he did in the past, or what he'll do when he's not racing 10 months a year.
"I'm all over," he said of his thoughts. "Honestly, I'm not content at all."
But the 48-year-old Wallace is sure about one thing: He's tired of the week-to-week grind.
"I'm retiring because I'm just burnt out in the schedule," he said. "If I get through the end of 2005, and I feel like, 'Man, I'm running 3,000 mph and now they tell me I've got to stop,' I'm probably going to say let's run about 10 (races the next year). But for sure, my days of running the full schedule are over."
After one more championship chase, that is.
Wallace began this season with a 14th-place finish at the Budweiser Shootout. His 22nd Nextel Cup campaign, which has been dubbed "Rusty's Last Call," officially got underway with a 10th-place finish at the Daytona 500, the race he can't claim among his 55 wins and the one he wanted the most.
"I wanted to win this race, but that's OK," said Wallace, who started 36th and advanced all the way to fifth before dropping back. "It really isn't OK, but I told everybody if I didn't win, it wouldn't be the end of the world. ... I'm done with it. I've had a lot of fun, and I enjoy it."
Wallace, who wrecked during Daytona qualifying and had to switch to his backup car, finished in the top 10 nine times in 23 Daytona 500s.
His best finish in NASCAR's most prestigious race was third in 2001. He led another time with 10 laps to go, and in 1993 was third "with me, Dale Jarrett and (Dale) Earnhardt going for the win" when he was hit by another car and barrel-rolled down the backstretch.
"I haven't won the Daytona 500 and I doubt there's too many people out there who are not aware of that fact," said Wallace, the 1989 series champion and fourth on the career earnings list with nearly $44 million. "I got close many, many times."
Still, his farewell season is about more than that elusive Daytona win. And forget nostalgia, Wallace wants to approach 2005 like any other year.
"I'm real intent to try to win more races," he said. "I want to go out on top. I don't want to go out fading. ... I'm going to be rockin' and rollin' and go wide open all year."
Wallace has finished top 10 in season points 16 times. He ended a 105-race winless streak last year but was still 16th, two spots lower than in 2003 when a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 seasons ended.
"You always hear about the importance of making first impressions," he said. "But for us, we're determined to leave some great last impressions."
Once full-time driving is done, Wallace won't be bored.
He hopes the NASCAR Busch Series team he owns, running its first full schedule this year, will be a championship contender by 2006. He also will spend more time on his car dealership business and with 17-year-old son Stephen, an aspiring NASCAR driver who will race in the Hooters Pro Cup Series this year.
Not to mention more time with his wife, Patti, playing golf and his duties as part-owner of the Penske team.
"What I'm going to have to do is just get in and go, and figure it out as I go," Wallace said. "We'll adjust as the year goes on. I've never gone one year in my life where I've been able to plan two years ahead. For me, to plan two weeks ahead is pretty tough for me.
"There will be a lot of excitement. Sometimes there will be tears in your beer."
Veteran driver has many goals for final season and beyond
By Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press
Rusty Wallace never said he wouldn't race again. He even wonders at times if he's making the right decision to retire from full-time NASCAR competition after the 2005 season.
When he can't sleep, Wallace stares at the ceiling in the middle of the night thinking about things he did in the past, or what he'll do when he's not racing 10 months a year.
"I'm all over," he said of his thoughts. "Honestly, I'm not content at all."
But the 48-year-old Wallace is sure about one thing: He's tired of the week-to-week grind.
"I'm retiring because I'm just burnt out in the schedule," he said. "If I get through the end of 2005, and I feel like, 'Man, I'm running 3,000 mph and now they tell me I've got to stop,' I'm probably going to say let's run about 10 (races the next year). But for sure, my days of running the full schedule are over."
After one more championship chase, that is.
Wallace began this season with a 14th-place finish at the Budweiser Shootout. His 22nd Nextel Cup campaign, which has been dubbed "Rusty's Last Call," officially got underway with a 10th-place finish at the Daytona 500, the race he can't claim among his 55 wins and the one he wanted the most.
"I wanted to win this race, but that's OK," said Wallace, who started 36th and advanced all the way to fifth before dropping back. "It really isn't OK, but I told everybody if I didn't win, it wouldn't be the end of the world. ... I'm done with it. I've had a lot of fun, and I enjoy it."
Wallace, who wrecked during Daytona qualifying and had to switch to his backup car, finished in the top 10 nine times in 23 Daytona 500s.
His best finish in NASCAR's most prestigious race was third in 2001. He led another time with 10 laps to go, and in 1993 was third "with me, Dale Jarrett and (Dale) Earnhardt going for the win" when he was hit by another car and barrel-rolled down the backstretch.
"I haven't won the Daytona 500 and I doubt there's too many people out there who are not aware of that fact," said Wallace, the 1989 series champion and fourth on the career earnings list with nearly $44 million. "I got close many, many times."
Still, his farewell season is about more than that elusive Daytona win. And forget nostalgia, Wallace wants to approach 2005 like any other year.
"I'm real intent to try to win more races," he said. "I want to go out on top. I don't want to go out fading. ... I'm going to be rockin' and rollin' and go wide open all year."
Wallace has finished top 10 in season points 16 times. He ended a 105-race winless streak last year but was still 16th, two spots lower than in 2003 when a streak of 10 consecutive top-10 seasons ended.
"You always hear about the importance of making first impressions," he said. "But for us, we're determined to leave some great last impressions."
Once full-time driving is done, Wallace won't be bored.
He hopes the NASCAR Busch Series team he owns, running its first full schedule this year, will be a championship contender by 2006. He also will spend more time on his car dealership business and with 17-year-old son Stephen, an aspiring NASCAR driver who will race in the Hooters Pro Cup Series this year.
Not to mention more time with his wife, Patti, playing golf and his duties as part-owner of the Penske team.
"What I'm going to have to do is just get in and go, and figure it out as I go," Wallace said. "We'll adjust as the year goes on. I've never gone one year in my life where I've been able to plan two years ahead. For me, to plan two weeks ahead is pretty tough for me.
"There will be a lot of excitement. Sometimes there will be tears in your beer."
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Junior could get head start from bad finish
By Brian Hilderbrand
LAS VEGAS SUN
Maybe his 32nd-place finish two weeks ago at California Speedway wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt suffered a series of blown tires during the Auto Club 500 and eventually fell 13 laps off the pace after making repeated pit stops to change tires and fix the ensuing sheet-metal damage. As a result, Earnhardt and his team used the remainder of that race as a mini-test session for this weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"It wasn't much fun driving around with tires blowing out all day, but that's what happened and it's behind us," Earnhardt said. "Nobody said it was going to be a cakewalk. We're going to get better because of what happened.
"I was real happy the way (crew chief Pete Rondeau) and all the guys handled the situation. Pete had me calm and chilled-out at a time when I probably would've lost focus and been all over the place. I like that about him."
And -- believe it or not -- Earnhardt said the most recent race gave him a shot of confidence as the team heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Earnhardt had his worst race of the 2004 season.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," Earnhardt said of Sunday's race. "We tested at Las Vegas (last month) and we learned a lot of stuff in the last half of the California race that should help us there.
"Once we blew those tires, we turned the rest of the race into a test session. We're taking the same car (to Las Vegas) that we used at California."
In last year's race at LVMS, Earnhardt struggled with the handling in his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet and repeatedly was forced to the garage to make adjustments. He eventually retired from the race after running 196 of 267 laps and finished 35th.
By Brian Hilderbrand
LAS VEGAS SUN
Maybe his 32nd-place finish two weeks ago at California Speedway wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt suffered a series of blown tires during the Auto Club 500 and eventually fell 13 laps off the pace after making repeated pit stops to change tires and fix the ensuing sheet-metal damage. As a result, Earnhardt and his team used the remainder of that race as a mini-test session for this weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"It wasn't much fun driving around with tires blowing out all day, but that's what happened and it's behind us," Earnhardt said. "Nobody said it was going to be a cakewalk. We're going to get better because of what happened.
"I was real happy the way (crew chief Pete Rondeau) and all the guys handled the situation. Pete had me calm and chilled-out at a time when I probably would've lost focus and been all over the place. I like that about him."
And -- believe it or not -- Earnhardt said the most recent race gave him a shot of confidence as the team heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Earnhardt had his worst race of the 2004 season.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," Earnhardt said of Sunday's race. "We tested at Las Vegas (last month) and we learned a lot of stuff in the last half of the California race that should help us there.
"Once we blew those tires, we turned the rest of the race into a test session. We're taking the same car (to Las Vegas) that we used at California."
In last year's race at LVMS, Earnhardt struggled with the handling in his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet and repeatedly was forced to the garage to make adjustments. He eventually retired from the race after running 196 of 267 laps and finished 35th.
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Truex sets sights on Junior's achievement on junior circuit
By Brian Hilderbrand
LAS VEGAS SUN
Martin Truex Jr. has some bad news for his fellow NASCAR Busch Series competitors.
After winning a series-leading six races and seven poles en route to the 2004 Busch Series championship, Truex and his Chance 2 Motorsports team want to improve their performance this season.
"Obviously, I want to back up our championship," Truex said, "but we want to do better -- win more races and just overall be better as a race team and try to prepare ourselves for the next step."
Although he is fourth in Busch Series points coming into Saturday's Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Truex already is off to a good start of fulfilling his preseason goals. He finished fourth in the season-opening race at Daytona and, after struggling to a 30th-place finish the following week at California Speedway, won the inaugural race in Mexico City last weekend.
Truex was locked in a fierce championship battle with Las Vegas native Kyle Busch for much of the 2004 season before pulling away in the final quarter of the season and eventually locking up the title in the series' penultimate race. Busch has since moved up to the Nextel Cup Series, but Truex said the road to the 2005 title would by no means be a cakewalk.
"We lost one of our competitors, but I think we gained about five," Truex said, evaluating the competition for this season. "I think it's going to be tough with new guys coming in and some of the guys who were running really good at the end of last year who are going to be back.
"I think with this new tire we've got, they really leveled the playing field back out and we've got our work cut out for us, that's for sure. It's not going to be easy (to repeat), but I think we're up to it."
Truex said he had no problem returning to the Busch Series after having such a banner year in the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, which is co-owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"I think it's great," Truex said. "It's going to be a new challenge; it's a new year and there's new people around and everything changes. I know we only had a month or two off, but a lot of things change in those two months. It's going to be really hard and I'm really looking forward to it.'
"I think we're taking the right approach. I think there are still some things I need to learn in this series and probably some things that I missed last year because I had so much going on and things happened so fast."
Although he will have to wait until 2006 to move to the Nextel Cup Series on a full-time basis, Truex will compete in seven Cup races this season in the No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet. Truex made his first Cup start of the season in the Daytona 500 and was running in the top 10 when his engine expired.
"We're going to run seven Cup races and try to build the No. 1 team back up to be competitive and next year go fulltime with it," he said.
"Doing the seven Cup races we're going to do is going to be a big part of taking the next step and we're looking forward to the challenge."
He is also looking forward to the opportunity of matching Earnhardt Jr.'s mark of winning back-to-back Busch Series championships.
"We were all real proud and real happy that we won it," Truex said, "but we know it's time to get to work and we need to do it again."
By Brian Hilderbrand
LAS VEGAS SUN
Martin Truex Jr. has some bad news for his fellow NASCAR Busch Series competitors.
After winning a series-leading six races and seven poles en route to the 2004 Busch Series championship, Truex and his Chance 2 Motorsports team want to improve their performance this season.
"Obviously, I want to back up our championship," Truex said, "but we want to do better -- win more races and just overall be better as a race team and try to prepare ourselves for the next step."
Although he is fourth in Busch Series points coming into Saturday's Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Truex already is off to a good start of fulfilling his preseason goals. He finished fourth in the season-opening race at Daytona and, after struggling to a 30th-place finish the following week at California Speedway, won the inaugural race in Mexico City last weekend.
Truex was locked in a fierce championship battle with Las Vegas native Kyle Busch for much of the 2004 season before pulling away in the final quarter of the season and eventually locking up the title in the series' penultimate race. Busch has since moved up to the Nextel Cup Series, but Truex said the road to the 2005 title would by no means be a cakewalk.
"We lost one of our competitors, but I think we gained about five," Truex said, evaluating the competition for this season. "I think it's going to be tough with new guys coming in and some of the guys who were running really good at the end of last year who are going to be back.
"I think with this new tire we've got, they really leveled the playing field back out and we've got our work cut out for us, that's for sure. It's not going to be easy (to repeat), but I think we're up to it."
Truex said he had no problem returning to the Busch Series after having such a banner year in the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, which is co-owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"I think it's great," Truex said. "It's going to be a new challenge; it's a new year and there's new people around and everything changes. I know we only had a month or two off, but a lot of things change in those two months. It's going to be really hard and I'm really looking forward to it.'
"I think we're taking the right approach. I think there are still some things I need to learn in this series and probably some things that I missed last year because I had so much going on and things happened so fast."
Although he will have to wait until 2006 to move to the Nextel Cup Series on a full-time basis, Truex will compete in seven Cup races this season in the No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet. Truex made his first Cup start of the season in the Daytona 500 and was running in the top 10 when his engine expired.
"We're going to run seven Cup races and try to build the No. 1 team back up to be competitive and next year go fulltime with it," he said.
"Doing the seven Cup races we're going to do is going to be a big part of taking the next step and we're looking forward to the challenge."
He is also looking forward to the opportunity of matching Earnhardt Jr.'s mark of winning back-to-back Busch Series championships.
"We were all real proud and real happy that we won it," Truex said, "but we know it's time to get to work and we need to do it again."
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Q&A: Steve Park / Brendan Gaughan
From Press Release
Craftsman Truck Series drivers Steve Park and Brendan Gaughan recently sat down to answer questions from the media:
Q: Steve, by winning California last weekend you completed what many have termed as a comeback from your injury several years ago. You were also added to a club of only 10 drivers who have won in all three major NASCAR touring series. What did that victory mean to you and to Orleans Racing?
Steve Park: It meant a lot. We felt that last year we developed into a team that could win races but we just fell short of that. The fact that we won in our second race of the year kind of proved to all of us that we are a team capable of winning.
I want to thank Michael Gaughan and Brendan and everybody at the Orleans Dodge to give me the opportunity to be in equipment we can win with. To win for Jasper was a big deal not only for us, but for them too.
I didn't know that until Fontana that was the first time that they actually won a major NASCAR event in their history; and they've been involved since 1988. Their support in the sport since then has been tremendous, and we're proud to be a part of that.
Q: Brendan, you are returning to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2005 after a year in the Nextel Cup Series. Can you talk a little bit about the increase in the competition level that you have seen in the Craftsman Truck Series from when you left to now?
Brendan Gaughan: This series is no longer the days of Jack (Sprague) and Ron (Hornaday) and Mike (Skinner) winning seven, eight, nine, 10 or 11 races a year. Those days are gone. The Craftsman Truck Series has more competition now than it's ever had.
To win in this series is going to be a serious deal from now on. I'd say there are 16 drivers every week now that can win a race. In the past there was five or six or seven that really had a legit shot. Now there are literally 16 of us. What did I read, what are there 11 former Nextel Cup drivers racing full time in the Truck Series?
The Craftsman Truck Series is still that stepping stone -- it's still doing what it was designed for. The only way to get better as a driver, and I learned this back from my Winston West days when people yelled and screamed when Kenny Schrader shows up, that the only way for me to get better is to race against the best --- and Schrader is one of the best. Now the Craftsman Truck Series has the best when it comes to Nextel Cup drivers, but it's also a place where the kids can come and get a stepping-stone.
The Truck Series is stronger now than it's ever been. It's exciting to be able to say we've been a part of it for so long.
Q: Steve, what are your plans for the Las Vegas weekend?
Park: We're having an Open House on Friday. All the fans will be there to see myself and Brendan and the whole Orleans Dodge team and the shop that Brendan helped build to what it is today. I'll probably be there through the weekend.
Q: After the Fontana win, will you feel any differently walking through the Cup and Busch garages? It will be a lot of the guys' first chance to congratulate you. With all the rumors that 'you can't win anymore' laid to rest, are you going to walk through there with a big smile?
Park: I always walk through there with a big smile no matter what. If you look at how many people that can actually say they won a Nextel Cup Series event, they are the guys that I think need to be worried about walking through the pit area with a smile on their face.
I always knew that I could win, and I always knew that as a team we could win in the truck series. And that it was just a matter of time of getting this team to where it needed to be to win races, and we felt at the end of last year that we were close to achieving that. Just to achieve that goal is something we all worked hard for.
It's just nice for me in the aspect of being hurt, making a comeback and then finally you don't end the story until you win a race again. Now, we've been able to achieve that, and so hopefully it will be the end of the story. I've heard it for three years, and I'm about ready to put a 'The End' on it.
Q: Bobby Hamilton said after the race he was happy to see you get the checkered flag instead of him. Did you get a lot of calls after the race from other drivers and friends from Cup to congratulate you?
Park: I sure did. Phone calls came from pretty much everybody. Everybody was almost as excited to see me win as I was. Again, there are some people in the schedule that we lead that you sometimes forget about.
What's great about the Craftsman Truck Series is being able to have a little time to spend with your friends and family and also enjoy the first victory. It's just overall been a great time for all of us.
Q: To have so many people respond so positively to your win, it must make you feel good as a person to know that so many people like and care about you?
Park: That's very true. Brendan won Most Popular Driver two years ago, and I won it last year. I think you don't reach a level to achieve an award like that unless you are making a difference in the sport and appealing to not only your peers, but to the fans who are out there.
I think with Brendan's personality, he reaches out to the fans quite a bit. And I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy the people that are involved in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nextel Cup and the Busch Series.
Gaughan: (Laughing) Yeah, but I'm going to win it this year.
Park: I think it shows up.
Q: No truth to the rumors that Jasper is going to be switching their sponsorship away from Brendan to you, Steve?
Park: As long as they are sponsoring an Orleans Dodge, we're happy. They've been a big supporter of Brendan in Cup and in Truck. Doug's (Bawel -- of Jasper Engines) a great supporter of NASCAR, and all his employees deserved the win as much as I did.
Q: Steve, tell us a little bit about how you got your start in racing?
Park: Really, my dad. I grew up in Long Island, and there aren't many people from Long Island that really reach the level of Nextel Cup. I grew up racing go-karts when I was about 10-years-old and graduated to cars when I was 15 -- all because of my dad.
My dad was my hero. Growing up as a kid, you can imagine going to school with your dad being a race car driver that you were probably the most popular kid in school. Other kids knew that your dad raced cars, and how cool is that. I just had the opportunity to do it myself, and then go to work for a guy by the name of Dale Earnhardt was a long-time dream for me.
It's just been a success story from the time I started in go-karts until we won the Craftsman Truck race. I'm just thankful for the opportunities that I have had along the way, and the people I've had a chance to meet and the race fans that I've had a chance to meet. Without surrounding yourself with good people, you can't achieve these goals.
Q: Brendan, tell us what is so special about Las Vegas the city and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Gaughan: Well, the city, for myself personally, it is just the family history. Like Steve said, I grew up with my hero being my dad and my grandfather, and my grandfather has been in Las Vegas since 1948.
Las Vegas is one of those towns that people look out from the outside and see 'Oh, it's Las Vegas -- the casinos, the gambling.' It's been known as 'Sin City.' It's been known as a lot of things. What you miss though is that this is a town that is great for families. It's great for children.
It can be as big as you want it to be or as small. This town now has the big city feel, which I'm not all that big of a fan of. Or it has the small town feel, which is more me. I have seven friends, and that's all my spend my time with. And then I have 30 friends at my race shop. And that's all I do is spend time with those close friends, so it becomes a very small town to me.
As far as a race track, this was the first of those what we now call the 'cookie-cutter tracks.' Las Vegas was the first mile-and-a-half that had the 14 to 18 degree banking, and it's the only one that hasn't had to be rebuilt twice because it was build incorrectly or anything.
It's a fantastic place. We get a 120,00 plus people in the grandstands. Of all the things that Las Vegas does through the year, whether it be conventions or whatever, the biggest is the Nextel Cup race.
That is the biggest event in Las Vegas every year. The track has a very big distinction of all the things that Las Vegas can do, the race track and the Nextel Cup race is the biggest.
Q: Would it be fair to say that the win in California was more than 'just a win'?
Park: Yes. It was a big win -- to win in the Craftsman Truck Series. The Series has grown so much in the last couple of years that when I had the opportunity to go to Busch or Truck, when Mr. (Michael) Gaughan called, I decided to go to trucks because the competition was where it needed to be and because I was actually looking for an easier schedule just to take a break from all the stuff that I had been through the last two years in Nextel Cup.
It was a big win. People ask if it ranks right up there with wins in Nextel Cup, and it does. A win is a win especially in a hard series like the Craftsman Truck Series.
The first win in Nextel Cup was in my home state of New York at Watkins Glen. That was emotional, and something you will remember your whole life. And then the second win was after Dale (Earnhardt) passed away. You know it was an extremely emotional win.
I felt myself falling apart in the last four laps thinking I was going to win this race. All the emotions we went through that week -- the thought of not racing or racing, making the decision with Teresa (Earnhardt) and Dale Jr. that we were going to race because Dale (Earnhardt) would want us to race and win that race.
Now, here we are on the verge of winning the race. I thought I was falling apart to the point where I wasn't going to be able to finish the race. And you hear this all the time, but it's like a voice came over my shoulder and said 'Just suck it up, boy, and get up on that wheel and get it done.' That's true Dale Earnhardt fashion.
It was an emotional win just like the win in the truck race in California was. Three years coming, working my way back from being hurt, getting the opportunity to be in good equipment to win a race. Dodge and Orleans Racing provided us the equipment to do that. It's history. It ranks right up there with all the wins.
Q: Talk a little bit about working with the Gaughan family.
Park: It's great. The opportunity last year -- I've known Brendan professionally for the last couple of years at the race track, and last year was the first year I had the chance to meet his dad. It's the Gaughan family.
It's a rich history, and a great family in Las Vegas. Brendan was talking about his grandfather earlier, and I just love to hear the stories about the old days and the 'Rat Pack.' And Brendan is absolutely right, I thought Vegas was 'The Strip.' I thought that was the only thing there until they put the race track there.
Becoming a part of The Orleans family, learning that there is actually something else out there besides 'The Strip.' It's a great place to live. It's a great place to raise a family. The climate is great. It has every bit of a small town feel that you want alongside a big city.
Q: Describe your feelings during the cool down lap after you had taken the checkered flag and were making your way around California Speedway.
Park: It just felt good. It was just a relief. It was like taking a 200-pound weight off your shoulders that you've been carrying around for the last two-and-a-half years, and finally achieving what you knew that you could achieve. Getting the opportunity with the Orleans Dodge and working closely with them to get to the point of where we were last year at the beginning until the end of last year to knowing that we can win a race.
I don't just race for the fact of winning races. What I enjoy about racing is also the whole development and the people aspect of the team. It is a team sport, and no man is an island. You don't win unless you surround yourself with good people and a good team. And the Gaughan family and Dodge gave me the opportunity to do that. I'm just happy to be a part of it.
Q: Last year you were very close to a win, but it never happened. Was there ever a point where you got frustrated or wondered if you would get to victory lane again?
Park: You're exactly right. There were three or four opportunities that we had to win a race, and something always happened. Even in California, we knew that we had a truck that could win that race. In the back of your mind, you hear people talking about they hear noises in the truck, just wondering what was going to happen to keep us from winning another race.
Everything worked in our favor. We've worked hard over the winter and at the start of this year to limit our opportunities to lose races and to capitalize on them. That's what we did that Friday night in California.
Q: Brendan, how proud are you of Steve?
Gaughan: I'm tired of hearing the same question, and I'm hoping this is one of the last times we get to hear the question of the injury or this or that. I'm tired of it -- not as much as Steve is of it, I know. But I'm tired of it because when we called a year-and-a-half ago to see if Steve would be available to drive when I left, the first name on top of the list was Steve Park.
And people said it then. I've heard it from fans. I've heard it from media. I've heard it from even officials and people, that 'Oh, are you sure he is alright?' To finally be able to look at everybody and stick your tongue out at them and go 'Thank you guys. Now leave us alone. Let's go win six races this year.' I'm proud of Steve because he had to put up with a lot.
And I know how it is nowadays listening to the media and listening when you start believing what they are writing. It means a lot because this team finally got back on track. And it means a lot to have Steve get it because he put up with a lot last year that he shouldn't have had to deal with. I'm glad it was him first.
Q: Brendan, talk about what it is like being a team based in Las Vegas. Is it has difficult as it seems logistically or are there some hidden advantages to being so far outside the Charlotte hub?
Gaughan: There are many logistical issues with it. But that's the key is how well prepared you are for them. The Orleans Racing Team has been dealing with it since 2000. We know the logistics of it, and we are pretty darn good at it. Yes, there are big logistical issues.
Fortunately for us, we've gotten really darn good at it. There are actually advantages. This year, the schedule doesn't give us as big of an advantage as last year. We like it when the teams have to go from like last year from New Hampshire to California to Las Vegas all in back-to-back-to-back weeks. That helps us. It means that everybody has to learn how to do what we do, and they're not prepared for it.
One of the biggest advantages is...finding guys is a little bit of an issue, but keeping the employees you have is much less of an issue. We have guys that worked with Steve at Dale Earnhardt Inc. working out here because they were tired of Nextel Cup. We have guys that worked all over the country for all sorts of Cup or other teams. They want to come to us. I don't necessarily hire those guys.
We have ourselves now a great core group of employees, and they don't leave. They like to be here. They want to be here. They like the drivers. They like my dad. They like the way he owns the team, and we're a little bit more family-oriented. So the guys that have been other places realize it and go 'Wow.' They don't want to leave and that's become an advantage for us.
Q: The Busch teams in the midst of this California-Mexico-Las Vegas swing had to switch out cars a couple of times in Texas. Is that what you guys have to do when you have back-to-back races on the East Coast.
Gaughan: I'm not going to let out our secrets. I'm not going to let everybody know how we do it. But there are ways. We are more prepared. We have teams right now changing things here in Las Vegas. We have teams that went to Mexico City with a back-up car that was a Las Vegas car hoping they didn't get into a wreck.
There are ways to logistically do it, and be able to bring the correct piece to every race and not have to hope that you don't have a problem. Like I said, I'm not going to let my secrets out because we are extremely well prepared for it. But there are a lot of times that our semis don't travel home.
Q: Was the Orleans Racing team approached by any Busch teams about using your shop this week with them being gone from the East Coast for so long?
Gaughan: Would the three teams that are in my new building be any proof of that? The Orleans Racing Team is run almost like an old desert team. We share. We help teams. We take care of people that need help, and we always do that.
A lot of teams called and asked if they could borrow space or borrow whatever. Anything that we have, they are welcome to use our space to help them out as much as we can. We're trying to do a job also, and we're working. But we have space for them, and if I can help them out, I'd be more than happy to.
Q: The NASCAR schedule seems to be moving west. There's talk of adding Seattle, going to Mexico again and maybe Canada. Does it make sense for teams based in Charlotte to maybe have satellite shops out toward Las Vegas or centrally located in the United States?
Gaughan: The satellite shop idea is tough. Walker Evans tried that years ago, back when Steve drove a couple of races for Walker. He had a satellite shop in Mooresville. The satellite shop idea is a lot of money. You increase a lot of costs by doing that.
There are better ways to do it. I have an engine shop -- Kroyer Racing Engines -- that builds great engines. I don't need to go spend the money and build a second engine shop back east. You just have to learn how to do it, how to shuttle your stuff around the country and how to make it a feasible unit.
Q: Once you get used to doing stuff in your shop, you don't really want to do it in another shop?
Gaughan: You don't want to have a whole second place. Think about the costs. Think about the extra employees. If one guy starts a car back here and finishes a car on the east coast, you never want that. You'd never know if the nuts and bolts were tightened.
Q: Brendan, this was your first win as the General Manager of Orleans Racing. How does it compare to the feeling of winning as a driver?
Gaughan: That win was pretty darn big. To be able to look at my dad and make the joke that I made -- that my dad had the team for a year and didn't do anything, and I was only back for three months and we got one. To be able to say that is all fun and games, but it means a lot to the team.
It means a lot to Steve. It means a lot to all those guys who were put through a tough year last year. I think every press release we add a different stupid title to my name because that's the style of the Orleans Racing team -- having fun. It means the world.
Steve did it for Jasper. I promised the Jasper employees that I would get them a win. I didn't describe how. I just said I would get them a win. To be able to make that decision -- a lot of that, I have to give a special shout out to Ricky Cobb of RC Decals. Doug Bawel of Jasper flat out said 'Don't worry about it. Do the black American Racing truck, let Steve run the 62 Orleans Racing Dodge. Don't worry about it.'
Because Ricky Cobb had the ability to do what they call vinyl wraps now, Ricky Cobb stayed up until 3 in the morning right before it left for California, putting the yellow vinyl on Steve's truck. Those decisions were made because we do have a sponsor in Jasper and we do have a sponsor in American Racing Wheels. So we made those decisions at the last minute to rewrap these trucks.
If we had to paint them, we would have had a blue Orleans truck and a yellow Jasper truck, and that was it. But we were able to swap yellows and put black, and all these things and those decisions were made -- they cost me a little bit of money, but in the end, I think it's going to pay off pretty big.
Q: So are you going to sponsor Rick Cobb (a Vegas racer) in the Super Late Models now?
Gaughan: (Laughing) No, Ricky doesn't have time to drive Super Late Models now that the Orleans Racing team is doing these wraps. So, Ricky Cobb will not be able to race this year.
Q: Brendan, a lot has changed in your driving career in a year. There was a lot of hoop-la when you came to Vegas a year ago in the 77 Cup car. You have said that you are happy with your current situation, but when you go to the Speedway this weekend, is there going to be any disappointment, wishing that you were still there?
Gaughan: Nope. One you are assuming something that may not be true. I don't even know if I am going to go through the garages. We're working. We've got 'Lone Star' back for my primary for Atlanta. Steve's going to take the truck that he just won in California with and that's going to Atlanta.
We're working on those. We're working on back-ups. We're working on Martinsville test trucks. The Orleans team is going to be working all weekend. If I make it to the garages, it's not a priority. If I do though, I'm going to got there with a big old smile because I get to show all those guys that -- Steve can probably attest to it, a lot of times it is not very fun -- and they can come over and see my shop with hoods hanging from rafters and banners hanging from all the wins we've got, Steve's new banner, and all our Craftsman tool boxes laying on our trophy shelf.
They can come over here, and I get to have a big legit smile. Steve will be here with the fans and autographs on Friday, and everybody can look at us and know one thing -- we're actually having fun, not faking it.
Q: Two years ago you would have walked through the Cup garage because you wanted to get to Cup. Are you not pursuing that now? What if someone offered you a deal with a legit team?
Gaughan: It would have to be a really big deal right now. Look at the way Steve won that race. He drove his tail off, and when it came down to it, I got to be a real teammate. I got to let him draft. I got to try to push him into a corner.
It was more fun for me once he had that lead for me to try to do anything that I could to help. That's what teammates do. To get me away from the Orleans Team right now, it's going to have to be something pretty darn big. And I've had some pretty good offers.
Yeah, a couple of years ago I would be in the garage just walking around. I'll probably still go to the garage because I want to go say hi to Robby (Gordon) and Jimmie (Johnson), some of my buddies that I'm friends with and give them a hard time for things. Otherwise, we're going to be working. I'm trying to be co-interim-part-time general manager.
Q: It seems like you are enjoying the General Manager role at Orleans Racing.
Gaughan: (Laughing) No. I like Park's deal -- he can have the GM deal. He has the old job, and the old job isn't bad. The new job -- I've got a guy named Mike Lesle out here, helping me 'general manage.' He's an old off-roader. He's actually the GM right now.
But still a lot of the decisions are mine. I don't want this job. All General Manager applications -- we are open, willing and available. General Managers all across the country drop off a resume, we're looking. Because the one we've got right now isn't good -- it's me.
Nobody wants to ask who's going to win 'Most Popular Driver' this year?
Q: Who's going to win 'Most Popular Driver' this year?
Gaughan: (Laughing) Me. It's my turn -- Steve won last year.
Q: Brendan, are you still looking at 18 races?
Gaughan: At the moment.
Q: Maybe, more?
Gaughan: Maybe more.
Q: Is that just so you can get in front of more fans to get votes win 'Most Popular Driver'
Gaughan: Well, now, yeah. With Steve winning the award last year and winning California, it's put some pressure on me to go back and win the thing. I got to get a win, and try to beat him on that 'Most Popular Driver' thing.
From Press Release
Craftsman Truck Series drivers Steve Park and Brendan Gaughan recently sat down to answer questions from the media:
Q: Steve, by winning California last weekend you completed what many have termed as a comeback from your injury several years ago. You were also added to a club of only 10 drivers who have won in all three major NASCAR touring series. What did that victory mean to you and to Orleans Racing?
Steve Park: It meant a lot. We felt that last year we developed into a team that could win races but we just fell short of that. The fact that we won in our second race of the year kind of proved to all of us that we are a team capable of winning.
I want to thank Michael Gaughan and Brendan and everybody at the Orleans Dodge to give me the opportunity to be in equipment we can win with. To win for Jasper was a big deal not only for us, but for them too.
I didn't know that until Fontana that was the first time that they actually won a major NASCAR event in their history; and they've been involved since 1988. Their support in the sport since then has been tremendous, and we're proud to be a part of that.
Q: Brendan, you are returning to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2005 after a year in the Nextel Cup Series. Can you talk a little bit about the increase in the competition level that you have seen in the Craftsman Truck Series from when you left to now?
Brendan Gaughan: This series is no longer the days of Jack (Sprague) and Ron (Hornaday) and Mike (Skinner) winning seven, eight, nine, 10 or 11 races a year. Those days are gone. The Craftsman Truck Series has more competition now than it's ever had.
To win in this series is going to be a serious deal from now on. I'd say there are 16 drivers every week now that can win a race. In the past there was five or six or seven that really had a legit shot. Now there are literally 16 of us. What did I read, what are there 11 former Nextel Cup drivers racing full time in the Truck Series?
The Craftsman Truck Series is still that stepping stone -- it's still doing what it was designed for. The only way to get better as a driver, and I learned this back from my Winston West days when people yelled and screamed when Kenny Schrader shows up, that the only way for me to get better is to race against the best --- and Schrader is one of the best. Now the Craftsman Truck Series has the best when it comes to Nextel Cup drivers, but it's also a place where the kids can come and get a stepping-stone.
The Truck Series is stronger now than it's ever been. It's exciting to be able to say we've been a part of it for so long.
Q: Steve, what are your plans for the Las Vegas weekend?
Park: We're having an Open House on Friday. All the fans will be there to see myself and Brendan and the whole Orleans Dodge team and the shop that Brendan helped build to what it is today. I'll probably be there through the weekend.
Q: After the Fontana win, will you feel any differently walking through the Cup and Busch garages? It will be a lot of the guys' first chance to congratulate you. With all the rumors that 'you can't win anymore' laid to rest, are you going to walk through there with a big smile?
Park: I always walk through there with a big smile no matter what. If you look at how many people that can actually say they won a Nextel Cup Series event, they are the guys that I think need to be worried about walking through the pit area with a smile on their face.
I always knew that I could win, and I always knew that as a team we could win in the truck series. And that it was just a matter of time of getting this team to where it needed to be to win races, and we felt at the end of last year that we were close to achieving that. Just to achieve that goal is something we all worked hard for.
It's just nice for me in the aspect of being hurt, making a comeback and then finally you don't end the story until you win a race again. Now, we've been able to achieve that, and so hopefully it will be the end of the story. I've heard it for three years, and I'm about ready to put a 'The End' on it.
Q: Bobby Hamilton said after the race he was happy to see you get the checkered flag instead of him. Did you get a lot of calls after the race from other drivers and friends from Cup to congratulate you?
Park: I sure did. Phone calls came from pretty much everybody. Everybody was almost as excited to see me win as I was. Again, there are some people in the schedule that we lead that you sometimes forget about.
What's great about the Craftsman Truck Series is being able to have a little time to spend with your friends and family and also enjoy the first victory. It's just overall been a great time for all of us.
Q: To have so many people respond so positively to your win, it must make you feel good as a person to know that so many people like and care about you?
Park: That's very true. Brendan won Most Popular Driver two years ago, and I won it last year. I think you don't reach a level to achieve an award like that unless you are making a difference in the sport and appealing to not only your peers, but to the fans who are out there.
I think with Brendan's personality, he reaches out to the fans quite a bit. And I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy the people that are involved in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nextel Cup and the Busch Series.
Gaughan: (Laughing) Yeah, but I'm going to win it this year.
Park: I think it shows up.
Q: No truth to the rumors that Jasper is going to be switching their sponsorship away from Brendan to you, Steve?
Park: As long as they are sponsoring an Orleans Dodge, we're happy. They've been a big supporter of Brendan in Cup and in Truck. Doug's (Bawel -- of Jasper Engines) a great supporter of NASCAR, and all his employees deserved the win as much as I did.
Q: Steve, tell us a little bit about how you got your start in racing?
Park: Really, my dad. I grew up in Long Island, and there aren't many people from Long Island that really reach the level of Nextel Cup. I grew up racing go-karts when I was about 10-years-old and graduated to cars when I was 15 -- all because of my dad.
My dad was my hero. Growing up as a kid, you can imagine going to school with your dad being a race car driver that you were probably the most popular kid in school. Other kids knew that your dad raced cars, and how cool is that. I just had the opportunity to do it myself, and then go to work for a guy by the name of Dale Earnhardt was a long-time dream for me.
It's just been a success story from the time I started in go-karts until we won the Craftsman Truck race. I'm just thankful for the opportunities that I have had along the way, and the people I've had a chance to meet and the race fans that I've had a chance to meet. Without surrounding yourself with good people, you can't achieve these goals.
Q: Brendan, tell us what is so special about Las Vegas the city and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Gaughan: Well, the city, for myself personally, it is just the family history. Like Steve said, I grew up with my hero being my dad and my grandfather, and my grandfather has been in Las Vegas since 1948.
Las Vegas is one of those towns that people look out from the outside and see 'Oh, it's Las Vegas -- the casinos, the gambling.' It's been known as 'Sin City.' It's been known as a lot of things. What you miss though is that this is a town that is great for families. It's great for children.
It can be as big as you want it to be or as small. This town now has the big city feel, which I'm not all that big of a fan of. Or it has the small town feel, which is more me. I have seven friends, and that's all my spend my time with. And then I have 30 friends at my race shop. And that's all I do is spend time with those close friends, so it becomes a very small town to me.
As far as a race track, this was the first of those what we now call the 'cookie-cutter tracks.' Las Vegas was the first mile-and-a-half that had the 14 to 18 degree banking, and it's the only one that hasn't had to be rebuilt twice because it was build incorrectly or anything.
It's a fantastic place. We get a 120,00 plus people in the grandstands. Of all the things that Las Vegas does through the year, whether it be conventions or whatever, the biggest is the Nextel Cup race.
That is the biggest event in Las Vegas every year. The track has a very big distinction of all the things that Las Vegas can do, the race track and the Nextel Cup race is the biggest.
Q: Would it be fair to say that the win in California was more than 'just a win'?
Park: Yes. It was a big win -- to win in the Craftsman Truck Series. The Series has grown so much in the last couple of years that when I had the opportunity to go to Busch or Truck, when Mr. (Michael) Gaughan called, I decided to go to trucks because the competition was where it needed to be and because I was actually looking for an easier schedule just to take a break from all the stuff that I had been through the last two years in Nextel Cup.
It was a big win. People ask if it ranks right up there with wins in Nextel Cup, and it does. A win is a win especially in a hard series like the Craftsman Truck Series.
The first win in Nextel Cup was in my home state of New York at Watkins Glen. That was emotional, and something you will remember your whole life. And then the second win was after Dale (Earnhardt) passed away. You know it was an extremely emotional win.
I felt myself falling apart in the last four laps thinking I was going to win this race. All the emotions we went through that week -- the thought of not racing or racing, making the decision with Teresa (Earnhardt) and Dale Jr. that we were going to race because Dale (Earnhardt) would want us to race and win that race.
Now, here we are on the verge of winning the race. I thought I was falling apart to the point where I wasn't going to be able to finish the race. And you hear this all the time, but it's like a voice came over my shoulder and said 'Just suck it up, boy, and get up on that wheel and get it done.' That's true Dale Earnhardt fashion.
It was an emotional win just like the win in the truck race in California was. Three years coming, working my way back from being hurt, getting the opportunity to be in good equipment to win a race. Dodge and Orleans Racing provided us the equipment to do that. It's history. It ranks right up there with all the wins.
Q: Talk a little bit about working with the Gaughan family.
Park: It's great. The opportunity last year -- I've known Brendan professionally for the last couple of years at the race track, and last year was the first year I had the chance to meet his dad. It's the Gaughan family.
It's a rich history, and a great family in Las Vegas. Brendan was talking about his grandfather earlier, and I just love to hear the stories about the old days and the 'Rat Pack.' And Brendan is absolutely right, I thought Vegas was 'The Strip.' I thought that was the only thing there until they put the race track there.
Becoming a part of The Orleans family, learning that there is actually something else out there besides 'The Strip.' It's a great place to live. It's a great place to raise a family. The climate is great. It has every bit of a small town feel that you want alongside a big city.
Q: Describe your feelings during the cool down lap after you had taken the checkered flag and were making your way around California Speedway.
Park: It just felt good. It was just a relief. It was like taking a 200-pound weight off your shoulders that you've been carrying around for the last two-and-a-half years, and finally achieving what you knew that you could achieve. Getting the opportunity with the Orleans Dodge and working closely with them to get to the point of where we were last year at the beginning until the end of last year to knowing that we can win a race.
I don't just race for the fact of winning races. What I enjoy about racing is also the whole development and the people aspect of the team. It is a team sport, and no man is an island. You don't win unless you surround yourself with good people and a good team. And the Gaughan family and Dodge gave me the opportunity to do that. I'm just happy to be a part of it.
Q: Last year you were very close to a win, but it never happened. Was there ever a point where you got frustrated or wondered if you would get to victory lane again?
Park: You're exactly right. There were three or four opportunities that we had to win a race, and something always happened. Even in California, we knew that we had a truck that could win that race. In the back of your mind, you hear people talking about they hear noises in the truck, just wondering what was going to happen to keep us from winning another race.
Everything worked in our favor. We've worked hard over the winter and at the start of this year to limit our opportunities to lose races and to capitalize on them. That's what we did that Friday night in California.
Q: Brendan, how proud are you of Steve?
Gaughan: I'm tired of hearing the same question, and I'm hoping this is one of the last times we get to hear the question of the injury or this or that. I'm tired of it -- not as much as Steve is of it, I know. But I'm tired of it because when we called a year-and-a-half ago to see if Steve would be available to drive when I left, the first name on top of the list was Steve Park.
And people said it then. I've heard it from fans. I've heard it from media. I've heard it from even officials and people, that 'Oh, are you sure he is alright?' To finally be able to look at everybody and stick your tongue out at them and go 'Thank you guys. Now leave us alone. Let's go win six races this year.' I'm proud of Steve because he had to put up with a lot.
And I know how it is nowadays listening to the media and listening when you start believing what they are writing. It means a lot because this team finally got back on track. And it means a lot to have Steve get it because he put up with a lot last year that he shouldn't have had to deal with. I'm glad it was him first.
Q: Brendan, talk about what it is like being a team based in Las Vegas. Is it has difficult as it seems logistically or are there some hidden advantages to being so far outside the Charlotte hub?
Gaughan: There are many logistical issues with it. But that's the key is how well prepared you are for them. The Orleans Racing Team has been dealing with it since 2000. We know the logistics of it, and we are pretty darn good at it. Yes, there are big logistical issues.
Fortunately for us, we've gotten really darn good at it. There are actually advantages. This year, the schedule doesn't give us as big of an advantage as last year. We like it when the teams have to go from like last year from New Hampshire to California to Las Vegas all in back-to-back-to-back weeks. That helps us. It means that everybody has to learn how to do what we do, and they're not prepared for it.
One of the biggest advantages is...finding guys is a little bit of an issue, but keeping the employees you have is much less of an issue. We have guys that worked with Steve at Dale Earnhardt Inc. working out here because they were tired of Nextel Cup. We have guys that worked all over the country for all sorts of Cup or other teams. They want to come to us. I don't necessarily hire those guys.
We have ourselves now a great core group of employees, and they don't leave. They like to be here. They want to be here. They like the drivers. They like my dad. They like the way he owns the team, and we're a little bit more family-oriented. So the guys that have been other places realize it and go 'Wow.' They don't want to leave and that's become an advantage for us.
Q: The Busch teams in the midst of this California-Mexico-Las Vegas swing had to switch out cars a couple of times in Texas. Is that what you guys have to do when you have back-to-back races on the East Coast.
Gaughan: I'm not going to let out our secrets. I'm not going to let everybody know how we do it. But there are ways. We are more prepared. We have teams right now changing things here in Las Vegas. We have teams that went to Mexico City with a back-up car that was a Las Vegas car hoping they didn't get into a wreck.
There are ways to logistically do it, and be able to bring the correct piece to every race and not have to hope that you don't have a problem. Like I said, I'm not going to let my secrets out because we are extremely well prepared for it. But there are a lot of times that our semis don't travel home.
Q: Was the Orleans Racing team approached by any Busch teams about using your shop this week with them being gone from the East Coast for so long?
Gaughan: Would the three teams that are in my new building be any proof of that? The Orleans Racing Team is run almost like an old desert team. We share. We help teams. We take care of people that need help, and we always do that.
A lot of teams called and asked if they could borrow space or borrow whatever. Anything that we have, they are welcome to use our space to help them out as much as we can. We're trying to do a job also, and we're working. But we have space for them, and if I can help them out, I'd be more than happy to.
Q: The NASCAR schedule seems to be moving west. There's talk of adding Seattle, going to Mexico again and maybe Canada. Does it make sense for teams based in Charlotte to maybe have satellite shops out toward Las Vegas or centrally located in the United States?
Gaughan: The satellite shop idea is tough. Walker Evans tried that years ago, back when Steve drove a couple of races for Walker. He had a satellite shop in Mooresville. The satellite shop idea is a lot of money. You increase a lot of costs by doing that.
There are better ways to do it. I have an engine shop -- Kroyer Racing Engines -- that builds great engines. I don't need to go spend the money and build a second engine shop back east. You just have to learn how to do it, how to shuttle your stuff around the country and how to make it a feasible unit.
Q: Once you get used to doing stuff in your shop, you don't really want to do it in another shop?
Gaughan: You don't want to have a whole second place. Think about the costs. Think about the extra employees. If one guy starts a car back here and finishes a car on the east coast, you never want that. You'd never know if the nuts and bolts were tightened.
Q: Brendan, this was your first win as the General Manager of Orleans Racing. How does it compare to the feeling of winning as a driver?
Gaughan: That win was pretty darn big. To be able to look at my dad and make the joke that I made -- that my dad had the team for a year and didn't do anything, and I was only back for three months and we got one. To be able to say that is all fun and games, but it means a lot to the team.
It means a lot to Steve. It means a lot to all those guys who were put through a tough year last year. I think every press release we add a different stupid title to my name because that's the style of the Orleans Racing team -- having fun. It means the world.
Steve did it for Jasper. I promised the Jasper employees that I would get them a win. I didn't describe how. I just said I would get them a win. To be able to make that decision -- a lot of that, I have to give a special shout out to Ricky Cobb of RC Decals. Doug Bawel of Jasper flat out said 'Don't worry about it. Do the black American Racing truck, let Steve run the 62 Orleans Racing Dodge. Don't worry about it.'
Because Ricky Cobb had the ability to do what they call vinyl wraps now, Ricky Cobb stayed up until 3 in the morning right before it left for California, putting the yellow vinyl on Steve's truck. Those decisions were made because we do have a sponsor in Jasper and we do have a sponsor in American Racing Wheels. So we made those decisions at the last minute to rewrap these trucks.
If we had to paint them, we would have had a blue Orleans truck and a yellow Jasper truck, and that was it. But we were able to swap yellows and put black, and all these things and those decisions were made -- they cost me a little bit of money, but in the end, I think it's going to pay off pretty big.
Q: So are you going to sponsor Rick Cobb (a Vegas racer) in the Super Late Models now?
Gaughan: (Laughing) No, Ricky doesn't have time to drive Super Late Models now that the Orleans Racing team is doing these wraps. So, Ricky Cobb will not be able to race this year.
Q: Brendan, a lot has changed in your driving career in a year. There was a lot of hoop-la when you came to Vegas a year ago in the 77 Cup car. You have said that you are happy with your current situation, but when you go to the Speedway this weekend, is there going to be any disappointment, wishing that you were still there?
Gaughan: Nope. One you are assuming something that may not be true. I don't even know if I am going to go through the garages. We're working. We've got 'Lone Star' back for my primary for Atlanta. Steve's going to take the truck that he just won in California with and that's going to Atlanta.
We're working on those. We're working on back-ups. We're working on Martinsville test trucks. The Orleans team is going to be working all weekend. If I make it to the garages, it's not a priority. If I do though, I'm going to got there with a big old smile because I get to show all those guys that -- Steve can probably attest to it, a lot of times it is not very fun -- and they can come over and see my shop with hoods hanging from rafters and banners hanging from all the wins we've got, Steve's new banner, and all our Craftsman tool boxes laying on our trophy shelf.
They can come over here, and I get to have a big legit smile. Steve will be here with the fans and autographs on Friday, and everybody can look at us and know one thing -- we're actually having fun, not faking it.
Q: Two years ago you would have walked through the Cup garage because you wanted to get to Cup. Are you not pursuing that now? What if someone offered you a deal with a legit team?
Gaughan: It would have to be a really big deal right now. Look at the way Steve won that race. He drove his tail off, and when it came down to it, I got to be a real teammate. I got to let him draft. I got to try to push him into a corner.
It was more fun for me once he had that lead for me to try to do anything that I could to help. That's what teammates do. To get me away from the Orleans Team right now, it's going to have to be something pretty darn big. And I've had some pretty good offers.
Yeah, a couple of years ago I would be in the garage just walking around. I'll probably still go to the garage because I want to go say hi to Robby (Gordon) and Jimmie (Johnson), some of my buddies that I'm friends with and give them a hard time for things. Otherwise, we're going to be working. I'm trying to be co-interim-part-time general manager.
Q: It seems like you are enjoying the General Manager role at Orleans Racing.
Gaughan: (Laughing) No. I like Park's deal -- he can have the GM deal. He has the old job, and the old job isn't bad. The new job -- I've got a guy named Mike Lesle out here, helping me 'general manage.' He's an old off-roader. He's actually the GM right now.
But still a lot of the decisions are mine. I don't want this job. All General Manager applications -- we are open, willing and available. General Managers all across the country drop off a resume, we're looking. Because the one we've got right now isn't good -- it's me.
Nobody wants to ask who's going to win 'Most Popular Driver' this year?
Q: Who's going to win 'Most Popular Driver' this year?
Gaughan: (Laughing) Me. It's my turn -- Steve won last year.
Q: Brendan, are you still looking at 18 races?
Gaughan: At the moment.
Q: Maybe, more?
Gaughan: Maybe more.
Q: Is that just so you can get in front of more fans to get votes win 'Most Popular Driver'
Gaughan: Well, now, yeah. With Steve winning the award last year and winning California, it's put some pressure on me to go back and win the thing. I got to get a win, and try to beat him on that 'Most Popular Driver' thing.
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NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK
| NEXTEL CUP QUALIFYING | 6 p.m. Friday | Speed Channel |
| BUSCH SERIES QUALIFYING | 8 p.m. Friday | Speed Channel |
| BUSCH SERIES SAM'S TOWN 300 | 3:30 p.m. Saturday | FX |
| NEXTEL CUP UAW/DAIMLERCHRYSLER 400 | 2 p.m. Sunday | Fox |
| All times Eastern. Times and stations subject to change. | ||
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Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain,
Your
Momma
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt
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This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
Your
Momma "Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt
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Subscribe: KnowYourNascar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
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