Rocketsports Racing Driver Notes and Quotes
ROCKETSPORTS RACING DRIVER NOTES AND QUOTES TRANS-AM SERIES FOR THE BFGOODRICH TIRES CUP SATURDAY, AUGUST 23RD POST-QUALIFYING JOHNNY MILLER, DRIVER OF THE NO. 64 EATON CUTLER-HAMMER JAGUAR XKR, QUALIFIED ON THE POLE WITH A TIME OF 2:08:143 FOR TOMORROWıS TRANS-AM RACEHIS SECOND POLE THIS SEASONSECOND POLE AT ROAD AMERICAFOURTH CAREER TRANS-AM POLE NOTE 1 ROAD AMERICA STATSMiller has eight previous startsIn 2002, he qualified fifth and finished thirdBest finish - second in 2001 when he qualified fourth, started third and was leading when the race was called early due to torrential rains, but ultimately finished second when Seriesı rules determined that the previously scored lap would count as the final race lapStarted on the pole here in 2000. On his qualifying effort today ³Weıve been playing catch-up to Scott (Pruett) all weekend. We tried everything. We struggled early on, but made a couple of calculated changes yesterday that pushed us over and basically gave us a new car. We just worked on it from there. It was just magic. We gained in big leaps and bounds. We ran out of time yesterday. Itıs still not there, but itıs goodgood enough to get the job done in qualifying. ³I knew I had a good lap going when I came through the Carousel really well, youıre just flying with a lot of exit speed going into the Kink. I hit the rev limiter in the Kink which I hadnıt done all weekend. Those things combined to give me a really good lap. ³Weıve got 150 Eaton Cutler-Hammer (his sponsor) customers here this weekend, so Iım really glad to be starting up front for them. Weıre just hoping for a good day tomorrow.² On his tire selection ³We opted for the medium compound all the way around. We looked at our tire wear and think weıre in good shape. It (his tire selection) is a really big gamble; itıs a borderline thing. It depends a lot on the weather and how the race unfolds. But I need to win this race. I canıt afford to slow down, so I canıt afford to take chances.² Millerıs Crew Chief Bobby Houghton on working to get the No. 64 ready for qualifying ³We were ready to go to Menards to buy a kitchen sink because thatıs about the only thing we hadnıt thrown at the car.² SCOTT PRUETT, DRIVER OF THE NO. 7 JAGUAR R PERFORMANCE XKR, QUALIFIED SECOND WITH A TIME OF 2:08:484HAS STARTED ON THE FRONT ROW EVERY RACE THIS SEASONHAS STARTED ON THE FRONT ROW AT ROAD AMERICA IN EACH OF HIS FOUR TRANS-AM STARTS. NOTE 1 ROAD AMERICA STATSPruett has three Trans-Am starts here starting on the pole each timeBest finish flag-to-flag win in 1988Finished second after leading laps 1-13 in 1994Has multiple starts here in other series including IMSA GTS and Champ Car World Seriesbest Champ Car finish here fifth in 1997. NOTE 2 BACKGROUND STATSLeads in the points standingsIn 2003, has five wins (St. Petersburg, Mosport, Infineon Raceway, Cleveland, Trois-Rivieres) in seven startsRaced in the Winston Cup event at Watkins Glen, scoring a career-best second placeCompeted in the Winston Cup race at Infineon Raceway finishing 24th due to contact while running sixthHas two Trans-Am Driversı Championships (1987, 1994)In 2002, did not compete in the Trans-Am SeriesCompeted in Winston Cup Series in 2000 Competed several seasons in CART Champ Car Series, scoring two winsHas two IMSA GTO Driversı Championships (1986, 1988). On his qualifying session ³We opted to run the hard compound on the left rear tire. It takes a little away from the performance of the car during qualifying, but weıre looking for more margin in the race on a long distance run. It was sliding around quite a bit out there. ³We ran some long distance runs and decided to play it conservative in our tire choice. We can run a hard pace from start to finish and run consistently during the entire race. ³Weıre in more of a position (leading in the points standings) be conservative. Weıll make it up in the race; weıll see how it plays out tomorrow.² PAUL MENARD, DRIVER OF THE NO. 3 JOHNS MANVILLE/MENARDS JAGUAR XKR, QUALIFIED NINTH WITH A TIME OF 2:10:672. NOTE 1 ROAD AMERICA STATSMenard has only one Trans-Am start here, in 2002 when he finished seventhWon the 2001 NASCAR RE/MAX Series race hereA Wisconsin native, Menard considers this to be his home track. NOTE 2 BACKGROUND STATSHas six career Trans-Am starts and has five top-ten finishesHas one Trans-Am start this season at St. Petersburg, finishing 10thIn 2003, has joined Andy Petree Racing and will compete in an 18-race schedule including NASCAR Truck, Busch, ARCA, and Winston Cup SeriesFinished 29th at the Winston Cup race at Watkins GlenFinished 21st in this weekıs Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway. On his qualifying session ³We had a really bad push during qualifying on the new tires. We came in to adjust the tire pressures and then the car was really good. The red flag during the session really hurt us. I just couldnıt get a clean lap after that. ³But weıve got a good race car. The car will be even better in race trim. Iıd rather win the race than start on the pole.² CONTACT: Harry Warren, 517-281-5053 (cell)