NASCAR WCUP: Square D Racing Review/Preview
7 May 1999
CHARLOTTE, N.C.,- The May 2 California 500 proved uneventful and frustrating for Square D Chevrolet driver Kenny Wallace. An ill-handling race car dropped Wallace from his 23rd starting position to the back of the field before the first round of pit stops on lap 30."It was a tough day," said Wallace. "We were fortunate to finish where we did. Our car was in a four-wheel slide all day. I could never get the car to stick. In order to run the bottom of the track, I had to slow up a little too much."
Over the course of six pit stops, crew chief Jimmy Elledge and the rest of his over-the-wall gang attacked the Square D Chevy, inserting spring rubbers, then removing spring rubbers, adding wedge, then removing wedge, dropping tire pressure, then increasing tire pressure. They even unhooked the rear track bar in an effort to treat the car's handling woes.
Despite their collective efforts, no cure could be found. Wallace soldiered home to a 27th place finish and maintained his 23rd position in the championship point standings.
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The bullrings of the American Speed Association are where Square D Chevrolet driver Kenny Wallace honed his short track driving techniques. As a result, the short tracks composing the NASCAR Winston Cup Series - Martinsville (Va.), Bristol (Tenn.) and Richmond (Va.), are venues where Wallace excels.
In fact, Wallace scored six of his eight NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division wins at those three tracks, including his last Busch Series win - the 1996 Autolite 250 at Richmond International Raceway.
When the Winston Cup Series visits Richmond for the May 15 Pontiac Excitement 400, Wallace returns to familiar territory.
"When I first went to Richmond, I had a good feel of what I needed in the race car right away," said Wallace. "I'm very excited to go to Richmond this time because we're taking the car we ran at Martinsville (finished sixth). We know what we need to do to qualify well, and we know that this car races very well.
"This car is an APR (Andy Petree Racing) design, with the chassis and body done in-house. We've learned a lot through the RAD program, and we're beginning to see its effects with cars like this."
Note: RAD is the developmental consortium of Richard Childress Racing, Andy Petree Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc.
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