Chevy Notes - Daytona, Feb. 6, 2004

      
CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES 

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

February 6, 2004
 

MORGAN-MCCLURE MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT YOKE TV.com IS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR FOR THE NO. 4 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP CHEVROLET ENTRY.  The company will offer one of the world's first web-based TV programs, and plans to start broadcasting on May 1, 2004.  Kevin Lepage returns as the driver of the No. 4 YOKE TV.com Monte Carlo.  Larry McClure, President of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, and Lepage commented on obtaining the new sponsor:

LARRY MCCLURE: "We're at Daytona with a new sponsor, YOKE TV.com, and we're excited about it. It went right up to the last minute before we got this deal worked up and got it signed, but we're excited about it."

(HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO PUT THE SPONSORSHIP TOGETHER?) "We started this deal in Homestead and more or less agreed that we would work with them this year. It's just been a long process of getting all the details worked out. Fortunately, yesterday everything came together."

(WERE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT THIS DEAL?) "Well, sure we sweated a little bit because there are a lot of things that have to go on behind the scenes in order to be prepared to do something like this and make the announcement and get the decals all done and the uniforms all done. It's been exciting, but through the whole deal the team has just kept working and trying to get better and better. We tested here. We made an agreement that we were going to run this year with Kevin. That made the race team excited because we had some continuity to build on from last year."

(ACTUALLY, THIS CAME TOGETHER RATHER QUICKLY, DIDN'T IT?) "Well, yet it did. NASCAR has worked with us. Kodak worked with us to get this deal put together. Everything has worked out fine. There were some hurdles to cross. This is some new technology that's coming out and we're real proud to be getting in on the ground floor. This is something we're going to see that's great coming into the sport. It's new and it's exciting. The people are exciting that we're going to work with. They are going to being in some TV personalities and sports personalities and it's going to create excitement all year long."

(WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF THE SPONSORSHIP?) "It's initially a one-year deal and then we can extend it or they can extend it. So we have options."

KEVIN LEPAGE: "We're just real excited to start the season. It's been since 2000 that I've been able to start a season and run for a championship. I want to thank Larry and all the guys back at the No. 4 shop for giving me the opportunity late last year. Tim Brewer (crew chief) and Larry and everybody in that whole race team worked real hard to put something together in those last six or eight races to attract a sponsor like YOKE TV.com.  We're proud to be part of this. 

"My first race car was a red race car back in 1980 so I'm real excited about getting back in a red race car. We've got a new Monte Carlo body style, which we tested twice so far and have been really pleased with it. The motor guys have been working 24/7. So there are a lot of positives for us. This No. 4 Chevy will find Victory Lane this year."

(SO WITH THIS SPONSORSHIP SIGNED, CAN YOU TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE DAYTONA 500 NOW?) "What a great race to start off the new NEXTEL season with a victory in the 500 between YOKE TV.com, the NO. 4 car, Larry McClure, and Tim Brewer. There's a lot of history here. There are a lot of people involved and a lot of 'firsts' could happen next week. And we're back with Chevrolet."

BORIS SAID, DRIVER NO. 01 U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT, AND ERNIE IRVAN, HIS COACH, VISITED WITH THE MEDIA TODAY.  The following are highlights of their comments:

FOR IRVAN - (HOW IS BORIS SAID DOING IN HIS PREPARATION FOR THE RACE TOMORROW NIGHT?) "He's doing exceptionally well since he hasn't been on the race track yet. He's got everybody covered right now. I'm just here to be able to answer questions for Boris, if he asks. He's leaning on a lot of people to get some confidence when he goes out there to make sure he can fit in and be able to go out there and draft and do a good job."

FOR SAID - (YOU WERE EXCITED WHEN YOU QUALIFIED FOR THE BUD SHOOTOUT LAST JUST AT SONOMA. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU NOW, THE DAY BEFORE THE RACE?) "I can't wait for it to start. I've been waiting for this since about five minutes after winning the pole at Infineon knowing that I was going to be able to drive a NEXTEL Cup car at Daytona. It's something I've never done. It's a big challenge. I have zero experience. I've been drawing on my friend Ernie's experience. Dale Jr. has been helping me a lot. I've helped him in his road racing program, so he's coaching me a little bit on this. To be in the U.S. Army Chevrolet after what's going on in the world right now makes me proud. I'm just watching the clock like a little kid waiting for Christmas."

FOR SAID - (IS THERE TOO MUCH MADE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROAD RACING AT THE TOP LEVEL AND NASCAR RACING?) "No. To be at the top level in any sport is not any easier. It's just as hard to become the top badminton player or the top road racer or the top NEXTEL Cup racer. You have competition. It's a different sport. Driving the road racing cars I'm used to, require a completely different set of skills in a way than driving a NEXTEL Cup car. It's just like it's different set of skills to be a quarterback for the New England Patriots. But I feel like I'm up for the challenge and it's something I've always wanted to do. As long as you think about it, you can do it. You can make the transition. Look at Tony Stewart. He came into the Rolex 24 Hour race here last weekend and I won $100 bucks off of my team owner because the first thing he said was, 'Oh these NASCAR guys can't drive in the rain and they can't road race. I think there are a few exceptions in NEXTEL Cup that are great road racers and he's one of them. There are great road racers that have tried to go NEXTEL Cup racing but haven't been able to make the transition for whatever reason. But some of them have. Scott Pruitt has. Ron Fellows has. I feel like I have. I've run pretty decent on the road courses here."

IRVAN: "There is no doubt that road racing and oval track racing are as different as day and night. It's hard for a road course racer to get in these cars and be able to do a very good job on the oval tracks because they don't really have the experience to do it. The other thing is that you have to get with a team that is able to put what you need underneath you. Obviously the Army team has got all the pieces of the puzzle. Boris has just got to fit in and go out there and make sure he does a good job. If Boris somehow can finish in the top 10, that would be exceptional. Whenever I came down and ran the Bud Shootout, I was always looking to try to win. We have a different perspective on what success will be for Boris. If he can get out there and finish in the lead draft and somehow be in the top 10 that would be great. That's what's real different about a road racer. All the talent in the world isn't going to make you go any faster - especially here on the superspeedways. 

FOR SAID - (HOW PREPARED ARE YOU FOR BEING LEFT BEHIND IN THE DRAFT BECAUSE THE OTHER DRIVERS AREN'T USED TO RUNNING WITH YOU?) "No matter what happens, I'm going to have a great time. This is something that realistically; everyone is expecting me to fail. So anything I do better than that is a plus. But growing up, I wanted to be a race car driver. You start idolizing people like Dale Earnhardt. I always thought if I could drive like anybody, it would be that guy. He was the master at this place. I've watched so many races here. To be able to come here and race on that same track - even if I lose the draft - it's great weekend for me. I appreciate the opportunity of the Army and Jay Frye to be able to do that. Who knows? Some day I want a Cup ride. I want to figure out how to do it. I've shown people I can do it on the road courses. Last year we had a pole at Infineon and a good finish. At Watkins Glen we had a legitimate chance to win the race. Unfortunately, we got taken out by Robby Gordon. I must have backed into him. But I'm prepared for anything this weekend. But most of all, I'm going to have a good time."

FOR SAID - (ON HIS APPROACH TO THE BUD SHOOTOUT): "Ernie has actually helped me a lot during the past couple of years in my road races in NEXTEL Cup. I've gotten a lot better. He always says you've got to be patient. You've got to be patient. And he used to drive like a mad dog. But it was really good advice because I've learned not to break the car and not to wear it out. I've learned how to be there at the end when it really counts. I'm sure I'll make mistakes in the race and get out of the draft and lose the draft. Hopefully I'll keep the fenders on it. I'm just going to be learning what moves do what. It's not to say that I don't always try to win and always try to do my best. But I'm not going to take any crazy chances."

FOR IRVAN - (CAN YOU ADDRESS WHAT YOU'VE TAUGHT BORIS?) "I've told him that the most important thing is that you have to finish before you can win. I've been preaching that to him the whole time. Obviously I'm not the best one to teach patience. I've been crucified for my lack of patience. But again, the patience is the hardest thing to learn and the easiest thing to forget. You go out there and feel what the car is doing - every car is either loose or tight - and figure out what it's going to take to go faster. Maybe I'll be able to help him with something he says. Mike Skinner is going to be driving one of the other cars out of the same house and maybe he can help him too."

FOR IRVAN - (ON JERRY NADEAU'S ACCIDENT AND ONGOING RECOVERY) "I actually did a go-kart race a couple of months ago with Jerry and his dad out at Charlotte. I realize what Jerry is going through and it's tough. Everybody's head injury or problem is different. The human body is so complex. You just never realize it. Jerry was suffering with being numb on half of his body. I never suffered with that. I had one part where I was numb with my foot. The doctors didn't know it. They can't feel what you're feeling. They can't figure out why Jerry is numb. It's odd. There is nothing you can say or do. Obviously he is being as cautious as he can. But he's making small steps and that's what you have to do. Everybody said there was no way I'd be able to do it (race) again. I have no idea how I was able to do it. It just so happened that God enabled me to do that."

 DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

(HOW MUCH DOES IT HELP YOU TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RUN IN A RACE BEFORE THE OTHER GUY?) "It helps a lot because it's a lot different than it was last year."

(WHEN YOU RUN WELL AT SPEEDWEEKS, DOES IT SET THE TONE FOR YOUR SEASON?) "Yeah, I guess so. But we've got some bigger fish to fry. And that's the softer tires and whatnot. This tire is just tearing up real fast on us and wearing out real fast. The car is handling real bad. So we're going to have to concentrate on that real hard."

(HAVE YOU BEEN HELPING OUT BORIS SAID WITH A FEW POINTERS?) "Yes, he's been asking a few questions and I'm trying to answer them for him. He's helped me a lot and I try to help him."
 
(WHAT COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU THIS YEAR IN WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP?) "I guess I just need to be faster than everybody else. I don't know. It's hard to say. You just do what you've got to do and hopefully you can do it better than anybody else."

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (ON THE PRACTICE SESSION) "Our GM Goodwrench Chevy was great in the first drafting practice today. I could suck up from the back and run out front by myself."

(ON THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR) "It's good to be back in the car. I was getting sick of sitting around the house all day."

(ON THE SOFTER TIRES) "Tires are probably going to be the biggest concern. After about 25 laps, they were through. There will definitely be a four-tire stop for the race (Budweiser Shootout)."

(ON DEI BEING SO STRONG AT DAYTONA) "Until someone beats them, they rule this place. We've got a good package and our best finish last year at the superspeedway tracks was 9th.  We've got a good chance at it."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM YOU HAD DURING THE AFTERNOON PRACTICE SESSION?) "We just had a little problem with the oil tank overflow.   We may have had a little bit too much in there.  But I think we have it figured out now."

(ONCE YOU GOT OUR THERE, HOW DID IT FEEL?) "It feels great. I'm real happy with it. The car has good speed, and we're just working on the handling. These tires are a lot different from what we've had here, and so we're just trying to get an indication of what we're going to have in the race."

(SOME OF THE GUYS TALKED ABOUT HOW WELL-BEHAVED EVERYBODY WAS. ARE YOU REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT?) "That's good. I like to hear that. This is the place where you don't need to really take any chances in practice. You've got a big race tomorrow and there's plenty of action going to be going to be happening there tomorrow. You just need to feel out your car, and there's no reason to do anything crazy out there. But we've still got a little more practice left to go.

(IS THERE GOING TO BE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFTERNOON AND THE NIGHT PRACTICE?) "Not a big difference. But it will be a better indication of what we're going to have tomorrow night. I mean it was pretty hot and slick out there during the middle of the day, so it's going to be a little better. Sometimes it takes a little while for that track temperature to really cool down."

(EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DIFFERENT CAR FROM WHAT YOU'LL BE RACING IN NEXTEL CUP, DOES IT HELP YOU GUYS WHO ARE ABLE TO RUN THE BUD SHOOTOUT GET A LITTLE MORE PRACTICE TIME IN THAN THE OTHERS?) "It does in some ways. It's nice to get out there and just get a feel for the tires. But the cars are a little bit different than what we have for the 500. Sometimes you might have cars that are pretty close. But our 500 car is definitely better. It has a little bit different aero package than what this Bud Shootout car has. So I think you can learn a certain amount. But you really have to wait for the 125s and practice with the 500 car before you can really get an indication of what it's going to be like. 

(DID IT FREAK YOU OUT A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU FIRST HAD THE PROBLEM AFTER PRACTICE HAD JUST STARTED?) "Well, no, I just wanted to know what it was. I just felt bad for the guys who were behind me that were getting sprayed with oil. It's fine with me now that we know what it was.