NASCAR WCUP: Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Race Preview

Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Race Preview


Dale Jr. Quotes
"I think we're looking forward to Rockingham mainly because we never had a 
chance to show what we could do in the race there in February. We were the 
fastest car in the final practice, and I think we would have done pretty well 
if we didn't end up getting punted into the wall on the first lap. Plus, 
we'll have our buddies from Smash Mouth joining us in the pits, so we'd 
better do well for them too!"

"We're still looking straight ahead in these last few races: we want to grab 
a top five points position this year, so we're not letting the problems we 
had at Phoenix (debris went through the radiator, damaging the engine) slow 
us down or discourage us."


Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Bud Team at Rockingham
Winston Cup Starts: 3
Best Start:              7th  (Feb. 2000)
Best Finish:        19th (Feb. 2000)

A Smashing Good Time
Budweiser is teaming up with national recording act Smash Mouth on an 
exclusive concert on Friday, Nov. 2, in Charlotte, N.C. Tickets for the 
invitation-only concert can be won through radio station WEND-FM (106.5) in 
Charlotte. 

The band will attend Dale Jr.'s "Happy Hour" practice the following day and 
watch the action from the Budweiser Racing team's pit during the Pop Secret 
400 race on Sunday, Nov. 4.  Additionally, the logo of Smash Mouth's latest 
album titled "Smash Mouth," will be displayed on the No. 8 Budweiser 
Chevrolet's rear decklid and dashboard during the event. The album will be 
released Tuesday, November 27. 

What:
Pop Secret 400
393 Laps, 400 miles 
1.017-mile oval
Race # 33 of 36

Where: 
North Carolina Motor Speedway
Rockingham, NC

When:  
Sunday, November 4
1 pm

Watch:  
TNT
Pre-race: 12:30 pm 
(All Times: Eastern)


Bud Pole Qualifying: 
Bud Pole qualifying is scheduled to take place Friday at 3:00pm, and can be 
seen live on the CNN/SI sports cable network or on radio with the Motor 
Racing Network (MRN).

What to Watch
"The Rock" is a track that is tough on tires, but usually produces some 
exciting racing. Watch for teams to put fresh tires on at every opportunity. 
The pit crews get a chance to shine on Saturday, when the Union 76/World Pit 
Crew Competition takes place. The Bud team, in their first attempt at the 
competition last season,  finished third among 35 teams in 2000.