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NASCAR-BGN: Casey Atwoods Homecoming Brings High Expectations

1 April 1999

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The NASCAR Busch Series took notice of Casey Atwood last season when the 17-year old Antioch, Tenn., native captured the Bud Pole and finished second in the BellSouth Mobility 320. It was just his second NASCAR Busch Series start.

Atwood returns home with the Castrol GTX team this week a year older and with a few more races and hard knocks under his belt. The expectations are high for the 18-year-old, but Atwood is ready for his homecoming.

The fans and media have high expectations for me this weekend, but a win at Nashville Speedway is not easy, Atwood said. It would be great to get my first career win at Nashville, but I realize there are 42 other guys who want the same thing. I just want to come away with a good run for Castrol GTX and Brewco. A win would just be icing on the cake.

Nashville Speedway has been the sight of many great moments in Atwoods life. He cut his racing teeth in Late-Model stocks on the .596-mile high-banked-oval. By age 16, Atwood had collected a dozen wins on the storied track.

The Castrol GTX team will bring a new car to Nashville for Saturdays race. The team had the chance two weeks ago to test on the high-banked oval.

We feel like we have a good car for this weekend, said co-crew chief Jason Ratcliff. The entire Castrol GTX crew has worked hard getting ready for this race. We have a lot of family, friends and fans in and around Nashville, and it would be nice to be able to put on a good show for them.

Atwood said he would be honored if one day his name is name mentioned in the same sentence as Darrell Waltrip, Curtis Turner and Lee and Richard Petty as greats who have raced at Nashville. In the meantime, Atwood said he just wants to make sure he has a good run this weekend for Castrol GTX and his fans in Nashville.

The BellSouth Mobility 320 will be aired on CBS live at 1 p.m. (ET) and broadcast live by MRN.

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