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Trucks: A Return to Phoenix

8 April 1998

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Randy Tolsma, driver of the No. 61 IWX Motor Freight Chevrolet, is looking forward to his return to Phoenix International Raceway. Tolsma, a former open-wheel driver, will be racing here in the Chevy Trucks Desert Star Classic on April 19.

"I love Phoenix for a number of reasons," said Tolsma, 31, a native of Meridian, Idaho. "I've always ran well here in a Silver Crown car. In 1996, I finished second in the Copper World Classic and I have always liked driving this track.

"I like the challenge it offers," he continued. "Turns one and two are different from turns three and four. That means you've got to get comfortable in both and I like working to make the truck run well through both sets of turns."

The IWX Motor Freight team is coming off a disappointing finish at Homestead. The finish was not indicative of the team's performance. Throughout the weekend the team was among the fastest trucks. On lap 17 Tolsma was moving into third position when the truck spun around and crashed out of the event.

"We were so strong at Homestead," said Tolsma. "Unfortunately, the 37th- place finish doesn't look good on paper, but we were one of the fastest trucks there all weekend. We got to race in the top five and that's what we want to do every week. I feel like we are carrying some momentum into Phoenix."

It's always great to be carrying momentum into any event. For Tolsma, it's a plus to be carrying that spirit into familiar surroundings.

"I love the West Coast trips we have in our series," he said. "A lot of friends from home have always came down here and watched the racing. I look forward to that, plus all the great friends I've made over the years racing here. We travel across the country and it's always nice to return to a track we consider one of our home tracks."

IWX Motor Freight is a Springfield, Mo. based trucking firm having a fleet of 400 trucks. IWX serves 48 states and annually the trucks will log more than 98 million miles.