NASCAR BGN: Tim Fedewa Begins Ninth NASCAR Busch Series Season

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DAYTONA BEACH, FLa. --- The 2001 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division begins with the annual visit to the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., for the running of the NAPA 300. When the checkered flag drops on the 120-lap race, Tim Fedewa, driver of the No. 66 Phillips 66 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, embarks on his eighth season of NASCAR Busch Series competition. At the same time, Phillips 66 celebrates its fifth year of competition in the touring series.

Phillips Petroleum Company joined the NASCAR Busch Series in 1997 as a primary sponsor. Since their inaugural season in the Busch Series, Phillips 66 had experienced successful seasons of competition as a primary sponsor. Phillips 66 looks to continue their tradition of success in 2001 with Fedewa and the No. 66 Performance Team.

Fedewa assumes the driving duties of the car that was vacated by driver Todd Bodine at the conclusion of the 2000 Busch Series season. Phillips 66 has been the primary sponsor of the No. 66 entry fielded by Cicci-Welliver Racing operation since 1999. In two seasons of competition, the team scored one win, one pole, 24 top fives and 40 top 10s. The team that produced those statistics remains in tact and will be the driving force behind Fedewa in 2001.

"The Phillips 66 team is a great group," Fedewa said. "They work well together and there's continuity to the team. They've been one of the most consistent teams in the Busch Series during the past two years. I'm really looking forward to 2001 and being a part of the Phillips 66 organization.

"Phillips 66 takes an active interest in their sponsorship of the Busch Series and that makes this whole thing exciting for the team. They do a good job of incorporating all their sponsorships and that's always fun. They do a lot with the Big 12 conference and USA Swimming and I look forward to being a part of their involvment with those programs."

The start of the Busch Series season begins with one of the toughest components on the schedule - a superspeedway. Daytona International Speedway is the first of only two superspeedway events for Busch Series teams. The work and hours spent preparing for Daytona is enough work spent preparing for 10 regular events on the schedule.

"The superspeedways are a completely different game," Fedewa said. "Daytona and Talladega are the only two places where we use restrictor plates, which in turn makes aerodynamics so important. There are a lot of variables involved in restrictor-place racing and the teams have to cover their bases in this type of racing. Aerodynamics are more important at Daytona and Talladega than anywhere else and it requires a lot of preparation and testing.

"Plus, there's usually something new teams have to work with each season and Daytona is the first race of the season. Almost every year we either have a new nose, restrictor plate changes or spoiler changes that we have to adjust. Some teams will test Daytona, come back and tear the car down and start over from scratch. There's just a lot of bases to cover."

In addition to the uniqueness of restrictor-plate racing is the nostalgia that goes along with racing at Daytona and in the season-opener. Although Daytona is just the first of the 33-race Busch Series schedule in 2001, it tends to be the Super Bowl of the season.

"Daytona is the first race of the year and it's the biggest race of the year," Fedewa said. "It's the biggest paying race of the year and it's the team's debut for the season. Although it's just one of 33 races, there's a lot of importance placed on Daytona because it is Daytona. Is there too much emphasis placed on Daytona? Maybe. This race doesn't make or break the season. It just starts it."

Text Provided By Penny Copen

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