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NHRA: Winston Finals First Race of 1999 Season for Jeter

13 November 1998

Pomona, Calif. - - Chevy S-10 Pro Stock Truck driver Brad Jeter, 23, of Greenville, S.C., is approaching this weekends Winston Finals like its the first race of the 1999 season. Jeter knows that youre only remembered for your last race. A win would be nice to bridge the gap between this final event at Pomona Raceway and the opening event at the AutoZone Winternationals on this same track in February of 99. Momentum and experience are the keys ingredients to be gained at this event.

"Weve done well the last several races of this year and must gain whatever momentum we can from this event to carry over to next season. Its a short off season and we want the luxury of a good showing at Pomona to carry us though," said Jeter on the eve of the Winston Finals. "How we finish at the Winston Finals will be the one that we must live with during the two and a half months leading up to the season-opening event here next February."

"Also, since we have never competed at this track, we will gain valuable insight that we can use next year given the fact that we will race at this track twice next season," added Jeter.

For Brad Jeter Racing there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the 1999 season. For one, since the Parts America Nationals in Topeka, Jeter has been at the head of the Pro Stock Truck class. Jeter is now a threat to win any event at which he races.

Going into the twelfth and final event on this years Pro Stock Truck schedule, Jeter has his Chevy S-10 truck in fifth spot in Pro Stock Truck Winston championship points. With a good showing at the Winston Finals he has a realistic opportunity to finish as high as third in this years point standings. Only 38 points separate Jeter and the number three position. Additionally, he has been to the semi-final or final round in four of the last five national events, qualifying number one (pole position) in two of the last three and establishing a national elapsed time (e.t.) record at the Pennzoil Nationals in Memphis.

Looking ahead Jeter said, "Our goal for this event will to finish with a win. If not a win, then as high as we can. For 1999, we are setting our sights on a championship. Can we win the championship? Only time will tell. I will say that we have become more consistent and now have the ability to win races. If we can get our first win, stay consistent, then we have a shot at the top spot.

"We are treating the Winston Finals like its the first race of the 1999 season or at least a stepping stone to next year. I didnt come here to finish third, fourth or fifth. I came here to win. We know we must continue to expand our learning curve but we feel that with (Bill) Grumpy Jenkins engine power and a Jerry Haas Chevy S-10 chassis we have the main ingredients to be successful in 1999."