NASCAR WCUP: Atwood ready to grab life by the horns at Michigan
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 15, 2001BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 15, 2001)-When Casey Atwood comes to Michigan International Speedway, he'll show why his No. 19 Dodge Intrepid R/T is Ram tough. Atwood's No. 19 Dodge, fielded by Evernham Motorsports, will showcase a special paint scheme featuring a Dodge Ram truck bursting out from the hood of the race car.
Atwood returns to Michigan ready to take his No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T for a spin in his second Winston Cup appearance at the two-mile oval. In his rookie run at the track earlier this season, the 20-year old driver qualified 34th and finished 30th. This weekend, he will be behind the wheel of the car he drove to a third place qualifying run at Indianapolis.
Casey Atwood, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T
How do you feel about returning to Michigan?
"I'm really looking forward to it. I don't usually run great here. I had a real bad wreck when I ran in the Busch Series and I haven't run a lot here in the Cup car. This is actually one of the first times that I'm really looking forward to coming to Michigan. I'm really excited because we're taking the same car that we took to Indy and we ran real well there. We've kind of taken all of the stuff that we've learned over the year and put it into this car so I'm really looking forward to running it again at Michigan."
What's your special paint scheme like for this weekend?
"I'll be running the truck this weekend. I mean that too. I'm running a Dodge Ram on my car. It'll be bursting out of the hood. It looks cool. I kind of like it when we do these special paint schemes.
"It's something different that we can do for the fans. I especially like it this weekend because I get the Dodge Ram paint scheme on my car and I get to drive a Dodge Ram while I'm at the track. It's pretty cool. I love those trucks. I'm hoping they'll let me keep it after this weekend, but I doubt it. At least I get to drive the truck though."
Have you received any special advice about racing at Michigan, especially from your teammate Bill Elliott?
"Bill's always good about helping me out when I ask. He knows a lot about all of the tracks and if I have a question I can always go to him and ask. He's had a lot of success here, so I'm sure I'll have some questions for him. That's the good thing about having Bill as a teammate, if I have any questions I can always go to him and ask.
"You would think Michigan would be one of my better tracks. If I describe what my favorite tracks are to race on, it fits that description but I haven't had the success I would like here. You have to have everything together to race well at Michigan. I've got my favorite car though and we're ready."
Casey Atwood By the Numbers:
* This will be Atwood's second Winston Cup Series visit to Michigan, and fourth visit overall. He finished 30th at the track for June's Kmart 400, and raced twice at Michigan in the Busch Series two years prior to this season.
* In his last six races, Atwood has qualified in the top five starting positions three times (fourth at Daytona, fifth at Pocono, and a career high third place starting spot at Indianapolis). All were earned on 2.5-mile tracks.
* Atwood led 13 laps at New Hampshire - the first of his Winston Cup career. He ran second at Indianapolis behind teammate Bill Elliott, a feat he also accomplished earlier this year at Talladega.
* For the season, Atwood has been the top rookie qualifier six times -- Texas, Martinsville, Pocono (twice), Daytona and Indianapolis -- and the top rookie finisher three times -- Bristol, Richmond and Pocono (second race). Last week he moved up to 32nd in the points race and remains third in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year battle. His average start is 21st and his average finish is 27th.
Text provided by Debby Robinson
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