NASCAR (NNCS) - GANASSI/SABATES TEXAS PREVIEW

David Stremme and the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Team Facts:

* Expectations High for CGRFS at Texas: Did you know that the 2005 NNCS event at Texas Motor Speedway was the site of the best combined finishes for the team since moving to a three-car operation in 2003? All three cars finished in the top five with Jamie McMurray in second (No.42), Casey Mears in fourth (No.41) and Sterling Marlin in fifth (No.40).

* Transferring Momentum: If last weekend's Busch Series pole position for CGRFS at Nashville is any indication of what Texas Cup qualifying holds, Stremme and the No.40 team could produce their second front-row start of the NCCS season (Las Vegas, 2nd).

* Coors Annual Tradition: Thursday night at Texas Motor Speedway will mark another year for the annual Coors Light NASCAR Crawfish Boil. Dating back to 1997, the crawfish broil was started at a nearby Coors Light field rep's house, then moved to the Cotton Bowl stadium from 1998-2004 before finding a home at Sneaky Pete's Bar and Grill in Lewisville, Texas. This year the Coors tradition moves to the track for the very first time. David Stremme will be on hand as Coors Light entertains over 1000 guests and clients with over 12,000 crawfish!

Reed Sorenson and the No. 41 TUMS Dodge Team Facts:

* Fast Relief: The 41 Dodge will take on a different look this weekend in Texas, sporting a special TUMS paint scheme. A bold, white TUMS logo will adorn the hood of the blue No. 41 Dodge along with brightly colored TUMS tablets covering the quarter panels and rear of Reed Sorenson's Charger. Photo available upon request.

* Lucky Number 13?: Last year at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), Sorenson was just getting his rookie season started in NEXTEL Cup while also working on a sophomore run in Busch Series competition. During last April's weekend of racing at Texas, Sorenson was all about the number "13." First, on Friday, he qualified to start 13th in Sunday's NEXTEL Cup competition and then finished 13th in the Busch race on Saturday. The following day, on Sunday, the then-rookie drove to yet another 13th-place finish in the NEXTEL Cup competition. Sorenson will also be qualifying for Sunday's NEXTEL Cup race on Friday the 13th this weekend [insert eerie music].

* TUMS Diner Delights Cook-off: TUMS will be hosting a campground cook-off for fans to demonstrate their culinary expertise. The event will take place from 11-12:30 pm on Saturday, Apr. 14, at the TUMS "Dinermobile", located in the Fan Concourse area at Texas Motor Speedway. All fans are encourage to enter the event, which will be judged by an all-star panel including Doug Riepe, rear tire carrier on the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, and Reed Sorenson's mother Becky. Categories include dishes that are Most Likely to Inspire Indigestion, the Hottest Heartburn and the Most TUMS-worthy. Top prizes include a pit tour for two on Sunday morning and a meet and greet with Sorenson.

* Texas Tidbits: Sorenson has six starts at TMS in either the NEXTEL Cup Series or Busch Series. He has two top-five and two top-10 finishes (both in Busch Series competition) and his overall average start is 13.5 and his average finish is 14.3. His best finish in the NEXTEL Cup Series is 13th (4/9/06). He's completed 1409 of a total 1479 laps (95.3%) and he has led a total of 31 laps.

* Points Report: The Target team moved up four positions in the overall standings to 25th at the conclusion of the Martinsville race. The team is just 75 points out of 20th and only 136 out of the final transfer position (12th) for the Chase.

* Chassis: Crew chief Jimmy Elledge and the TUMS team have selected chassis #705 for this weekend's NEXTEL Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Sorenson last drove chassis #705 to a ninth place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 42 Texaco Havoline Dodge Team Facts:

* Texas: Juan Pablo Montoya finished 28th in his second-career NASCAR start in the NASCAR Busch Series Race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2006. Montoya started the race 10th, but made an unscheduled pit stop on lap 42 when his Dodge Charger made contact with the outside wall and he was unable to make up the laps. This will be Montoya's first trip back to a track he competed on last season in a stock car.

* Standings: Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team finished 16th in Martinsville two weeks ago. Montoya and team moved up three spots in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings to 16th, and now sit just 62 points out of the top 10.

* Rookie Status: Montoya is now second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Raybestos Rookie standings. He led the standings by one point last week before Martinsville, and now sits second, just one point behind David Ragan. Montoya also took last weekend off from the Busch Series race and is four points out of the lead in the Busch Series Rookie standings heading into the Busch race in Texas.

* All Access: Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team will be one of the featured teams on DIRECTV's NASCAR Hotpass for the NEXTEL Cup race at Texas. The Hotpass subscription allows fans to follow Montoya and the team throughout the entire 500-mile race with in-depth reporting, real time statistics and live race audio. The Texaco/Havoline team will be featured on channel 797 on Sunday.

* It takes one to know Juan: Did you know Montoya has met both the King of Spain Juan Carlos and Prince Rainier of Monaco? In fact, Montoya was the last driver to receive the Monaco Grand Prix trophy from Prince Rainier before his passing in 2005.

* Chassis: Crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Texaco/Havoline team have chosen chassis #706 for the 334-lap race at Texas Motor Speedway. Montoya piloted this chassis to his first top-five finish in the NEXTEL Cup Series earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Montoya started 16th at Atlanta en route to a fifth-place finish.