NASCAR WCUP: Dodge Drivers Comment on Rules Change, Qualifying
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 29, 2001CASEY ATWOOD (No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T)
Casey Atwood was the top Dodge and top rookie qualifier, taking the fifth spot, his best qualifying effort this year. He ran a 53.101/169.488 mph. He was the top rookie qualifier at the June race, too, starting 12th.
"It's a great run for us. We had a great car here last time. So hopefully we can capitalize on our start and stay up front and put this Dodge Dealers Intrepid as far up front as we can. The experience of coming back here a second time makes a lot of difference. We were a lot more prepared this time. Last time was my first time here. This time, we had a lot better set up, we were a lot better off the truck and I was a lot better. I'm glad we get to start from somewhere up where get to see the leaders. I'm really happy with that run. The guys worked really hard on the car. "I like the track. It seems to fit my driving style pretty good. It's a flat track and I've always run pretty decent on flat tracks. I tested well here. The three corners are different and you've got to get your car where it works the best around all three of them. It's not going to be perfect in all three, so you've got to pick which corner you think is most important and do the best you can.
"Things are definitely getting better for the No. 19 team. We were just getting behind at the beginning of the year. We struggled a little bit from inexperience, especially with a rookie driver. It's just hard. As far as here, we're back for a second time. We ran pretty decent here the first time. Coming back, I was better at the track. I hope we'll be strong all second half of the season.
"We're not going to see a bit of difference with the new rule in qualifying trim. We've been going by the rules that NASCAR gave us on the template and it seems to be working out pretty good in qualifying trim. But when we get in race trim, when you get behind cars it's really hard to race. Hopefully that's going to help us out some. When we get behind cars we hope we'll be able to race rather than just ride there."
STERLING MARLIN (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Sterling Marlin qualified 10th on a back-up engine after developing engine problems late in practice. He ran 53.03/ 168.846 mph. He qualified second and finished fourth with the same chassis earlier this season at Pocono.
"It was a pretty good run for us. We lost an engine this morning on our bonsai run, and had to put another engine in to get a lap in. But, the guys did a good job getting it changed out and the car drove really good. For what we went through, we're pretty happy. The motor is pretty far off the qualifier - it's just a practice motor - but we hit all the corners pretty good. We'll just get ready to go race. I really enjoy running here, so we'll have to see what happens.
"The rules change is going to be good for the Dodges. We've been wanting it all year. The 40 car, to speak for myself, has been really tight. We've had to run a lot of springs and stuff. Hopefully, the rules change will give us some more downforce and we'll run better."
BILL ELLIOTT (No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T)
Bill Elliott qualified 14th for the Pennsylvania 500 with a time of 53.439/168.416 mph., improving on his 23rd place start earlier this year.
"We picked up over our qualifying in June, and that's what we've got to keep working on. We're still a half second off the good cars, but if we can keep working on it and getting a little better, than that's what we've got to do.
"We're hoping to get a good finish in the race. At least our last race we did finish, and I don't remember the last race before that we finished. We've got some momentum from some good top 10 finishes in the last few races, so hopefully we'll have a good day on Sunday. We'll just have to see."
WARD BURTON (No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Ward Burton qualified 34th with a time of 54.041/ 166.540 mph. Mike Brown, team manager for Bill Davis Racing, offered comments on the day's run.
"We didn't run very good off the truck all day and thought we'd pick up some in qualifying today. We just didn't do it. We thought the changes we made before we went out didn't put the car on the track like he was hoping. We just didn't have any grip.
"I think the rules change will help the Dodges. We may have to play with it a week or two to see exactly what we need to do to benefit each team, but we're happy about it. It's got to help to make these cars handle a little better. We already called the shop and they're working on the backup cars for Indy. One of the Indy cars is here, so we'll have to work on it on Monday. But, everyone is pretty fired up about it."
DAVE BLANEY (No. 93 Amoco Ultimate Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Dave Blaney qualified 15th with a time of 53.466/168.331 mph. He finished 11th in June at Pocono after qualifying 29th.
"We'd hoped to pick up a little more than we did, but that's still my best qualifying effort in four starts here. We'd been struggling all day long with entries to turn one but I guess a lot of guys were too. The track was a little greasier all over today for everyone. Now we need to get into race trim and improve on our finish (11th) from June and then go to Indy."
STACY COMPTON (No. 92 Kodiak Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Stacy Compton qualified 17th. He ran 53.488/168.262 mph. Earlier this year, he qualified 22nd and finished 23rd at Pocono.
"It was pretty good. We thought it was going to be better than it ended up, but we're pretty happy still. We needed a good run like that. The guys made some good calls after practice. We were off just a little bit and they made some wholesale changes and they worked. We picked up half a second and that's what we needed to do. We need some good runs since we're out looking for sponsorship now. It's a pretty good run for us.
"We all know that we needed it. NASCAR knew that we needed it, and all the other manufacturers knew we needed it. It's going to help. I don't know if it's going to be enough, but it's going to help. I'm glad we got it before we go back to Michigan because we really struggled at Michigan. I feel it was because of the downforce. NASCAR took some cars to the wind tunnel and figured out that we needed some help and saw where we needed help. For Indy, this throws all our practice out the window, but this is only going to help us. I wish we had known two days ago. It's going to change things around a little bit, but we don't mind change if it's going to help us.
"Any time you go back a second time you're going to be better. We're still learning with the Dodges. We're still figuring out what we need to do. I think this is a good example. We came back here and we were better. I think we'll be a lot better in the race. We struggled in the race last time. We learned a lot during the pit stops and through the changes we made. We also learned what we don't need to do, so I think we'll be better.
KYLE PETTY (No. 45 Sprint Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Kyle Petty qualified 40th and took a provisional to make the field.
"We didn't get any practice today. We only ran one lap. We broke a motor this morning so we didn't get any practice. That was only the second lap on the racetrack I've done all day. Since Buckshot wrecked in practice, we didn't have his springs or his shocks or his set up to work from. John helped a lot, but it was not enough to get us over the top. We just kind of struggled with it. We got a decent lap, for what we had. It was second faster than what we ran it practice. I can't complain, but it's not enough. "I think the rules change is a big plus for this sport. I think it's big for the Dodge. I don't want to downplay the significance because it will help us aero-wise. At the same time, a couple of years ago, they gave the Chevys a little bit of nose, it made the Chevys capable of winning races on a weekly basis. I think we're right at the verge of where we run in the top five or the top 10 but not get over the hump and win races on a regular basis. I think that's the point of it - to make all the Dodges where they can be competitive. Hopefully, it will help Sterling, it will help our team, it will help Ray's team. I think it will be better for the sport. If Dodges are winning races instead of running fifth, sixth or seventh, it's going to help all of us."
JASON LEFFLER (No. 01 Cingular Wireless Dodge Intrepid R/T)
Leffler turned a good qualifying lap with a time of 53.579/ 167.976 mph. He will start 21st on Sunday. In June, Leffler qualified 33rd and finished 41st.
"The one lap qualifying didn't really put any additional pressure on us. Maybe at some of the other tracks it will. We improved a lot today over the first time we were here. So, the second time around at a lot of these tracks will be better. I hope the rules change helps us. We certainly need the help. I'm glad it's in effect in Indy. We'll just have to see how it goes."
Text provided by Debby Robinson
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