NASCAR WCUP: Chassis Notes, California Speedway

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 28, 2001

[The following are facts and figures regarding the cars Pontiac teams will be running this week during the NASCAR Winston Cup event at California Speedway.]

Eagle One Pontiac driver Johnny Benson recorded his first top five of the season (a fourth) with this chassis at Las Vegas in week three. Since then, Benson - who is third in the Winston Cup point standings - has scored one more top five and five more top 10 finishes.

Local favorite Ron Hornaday last drove this Conseco Pontiac at Texas, where it sustained heavy damage in a lap six incident. Prior to that, he recorded a ninth at Las Vegas with it, which stands as his best career Winston Cup finish.

Interstate Batteries Grand Prix driver Bobby Labonte comes to California on a roll after scoring an eighth at Martinsville and a fifth last week at Talladega. Labonte, who finished second in this race one year ago, is behind the wheel of a new chassis.

Tony Stewart moved into the top 10 of the Winston Cup points last week after finishing second at Talladega. The driver of the Home Depot Pontiac tested at Michigan earlier this week before coming to California to wheel a brand new chassis.

Eel River Racing driver Kenny Wallace is driving the chassis he last drove at Rockingham, where he was the innocent victim of a lap one incident with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Wallace is hoping to better his season best mark of 25th, which he has posted twice in 2001.

M&M's Pontiac driver Ken Schrader is looking to rebound this week at California after suffering disappointments at both Martinsville and Talladega. Schrader, who will also compete in the Pontiac WideTrack Attack 200 Winston West race on Saturday, is driving a brand new chassis.

Text provided by Al Larsen

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