Jason Leffler sits in pole position for Dodge at Memphis -- Dodge Truck Series Notes & Quotes

Friday, June 21, 2002                          			Patrick Mason
Memphis Motorsports Park - Memphis, Tenn.    		Golin/Harris International,
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series				773-593-2044
O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 Qualifying		


JASON LEFFLER (No. 2 Team ASE/CARQUEST Dodge Ram) 
NOTE: Leffler earned his series-high fourth pole position today with a time of 22.887 sec., (117.971 mph).  

"The lap was a good lap. I was pretty sure it would us up in the top-five, but there were a lot of fast guys to go after us, so we weren't counting our chickens there. I like it here at Memphis.  It doesn't even matter where we're at though, I just enjoy racing this truck.  I'm just thankful to have the help of all the guys at Ultra Motorsports and the Team ASE and CARQUEST.  I don't need to worry about how our Dodge is going to run each weekend.  We've been fast of the trailer a lot, and that makes my job 10 times easier."

"The great thing about the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is that no one is really dominating right now - no driver or manufacturer.  I'm still looking for my first win.  

TED MUSGRAVE (No. 1 Mopar Performance Parts Dodge Ram)
"Well, I like racing here.  We were just really, really bad in qualifying.  We were terribly loose.  That's why I gave up the second lap.  I almost backed into the wall there, and we were just bringing it back across the line.  We thought we'd still be in the top-10.  We'll see though, we've just got to see what we can do in the race and try and wear 'em down."

BRENDAN GAUGHAN (No. 62 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Ram)
"In our off week we went to test at Chicago with Dodge.  We went to Yuma, Ariz., to do a NAPA show.  We did a rodeo in Las Vegas that was sponsored by Dodge, so it's always nice to see the Dodge Rams out there.  My family is in the rodeo business out there too, so that was really fun to do.  We really didn't have a whole lot of time off."

"Well, we gained about four-tenths from practice, and we gained a lot of time on our second lap of qualifying.  But our strategy hasn't changed.  It's not like we're really stressing about qualifying.  As long as we stay around 10th or so for race day, that'll be the perfect spot for us.  We're happy, and we've got a Dodge Ram that will race well.  We want to try and get that second win.

"We bring a different truck, it's a different feel.  You're basically prepared to go from Texas, which is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit, to Memphis, which is a fast three-quarter mile track.  It's not slow out here.  We just bring a whole different truck and a whole different attitude.  We get to come here and know that we can be a little bit more aggressive and get away with it.  You don't have to worry about aerodynamics and keeping your truck so clean.  That's part of racing on short tracks.  You come in with a different mindset, and whole different strategy.  

ROBERT PRESSLEY (No. 18 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge Ram)
"Memphis is a nice little racetrack - I like it.  I just had two different laps for qualifying here. In one lap, turns one and two were good, in the other lap three and four were good.  I feel pretty lucky getting what we did out of that.  But, we'll get ready and go in the race and see what we've got here."

LANCE HOOPER (No. 5 Diamond Cut Jeans/Blair5.com Dodge Ram)
"Every time we go out on the racetrack we get a little better and a little better.  We're chasing the gremlins somewhere in the truck, but hopefully we've found it.  So, we should be in great shape for the race.  I just love these shorter tracks.  I enjoy them, and I wish there were more of them on the circuit."

CARLOS CONTRERAS (No. 43 Hot Wheels Dodge Ram)
"We had a very bad practice because we had a problem with the oil pump.  But the truck seems good.  We've got to keep working on it.  I like this Memphis.  It's a good track, but the problem is going to be the weather tomorrow.  We'll see, but we need speed to contend in this race."

BRIAN ROSE (No. 4 Perry Connection Dodge Ram)
"It feels good to be back out here in the Perry Connection Dodge Ram.  Joey (Arrington, engine builder) has given us a lot of power today.  We're really pleased with the motor and everything.  The track was a little greasier than it was during practice this morning.  I felt a little bit freer in qualifying, and it kind of cost us.  But that's the way it goes.  We were real perfect when we made our qualifying run two hours ago.  But the track just heated up a little bit, so it's kind of unfortunate."

RYAN HEMPHILL (No. 51 Ware Racing Enterprises/OOIDA Dodge Ram)
NOTE: Twenty-year-old Ryan Hemphill will make his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start after signing a two-race deal with Ware Racing.

"This feels great.  I've been waiting a long time for this.  Now that I finally get the opportunity to do it, it feels great.  We really didn't get much practice.  We didn't learn a whole lot because we were trying so much different stuff.  So we didn't get enough time on the track to make any final decisions.  We went out and got a little too free, but all in all I guess we had a pretty decent run. I like this track.  I've been here before, and I think it's a real nice track to race on.  There's a lot of room here to race."  

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