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Pennzoil Dodge Preview: Tony Raines Heads for the Texas Motor Speedway

3 June 1997

Raines Hopes to Add Big Track Win to Pennzoil Dodge Resume


   June 2, 1997 -- Pennzoil Dodge Driver Tony Raines gave Dodge its
first NASCAR Sears Craftsman Truck Series win at I-70 Speedway two
weeks ago and was ready to take the lead Saturday at the Pennzoil 200
in New Hampshire when a faulty transmission ended his day.

   Now his mission is to give Dodge its first win on a big track when
the truck series pays its first visit to the Texas Motor Speedway.
Bruton Smith's new track in Texas might be one of the toughest truck
series drivers will face this season. When the Winston Cup Series
christened Texas Motor Speedway in April, laps run under caution were
more the rule than the exception.  Raines hopes he and his fellow
truck racers avoid a repeat performance on the 1.5-mile oval.

   Since the Winston Cup visit, track officials widened turn four by 5
feet.

   Raines on...

...the key to a clean race:

   "As a group of drivers we are just going to have to be `heads-up,'
drive smart and keep our fenders to ourselves."

...where to run at Texas:

   "I think the fastest way around there is on the bottom. We know
there will be lapped traffic, so there could be the possibility of a
second groove working in there.  I think the place to pass will be
coming out of turn two.  Turn four will just be one where you have to
hang on.  You might be able to do something going into one or maybe
going into three, but four is definitely a single-file exit."

...running under the lights:

   "I think it will put on a good show for the fans.  It's a well-lit
track, so it won't be any problem for us, either.  We ran a lot of
night shows in ASA and it's a lot of fun.  It's not much different for
a driver, unless the track is poorly lit, but we won't have that
problem."

...advice from Pennzoil Pontiac driver Johnny Benson:

   "Johnny and I had a chance to talk about Texas a little bit and he
pretty much echoed what everybody else has told me.  He said turn four
is tough and if you're tight coming off there you'll have to be
careful.  Basically, he told me to use my head and everything would
work out fine.  But, if you  crash there, you are going to crash
really big."

For More Information
Contact: Al Larsen
Cohn & Wolfe
(404) 880-5267
al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com