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NASCAR-BGN: The Milwaukee Mile is One Cool Flat Track

2 July 1999

Event:          DieHard 250
Location:       Milwaukee, Wis.
Time:           1:00 p.m. CDT on Sunday, July 4, 1999
TV:                     TNN (live)
Radio:          MRN

NOTES:

Last year Dale Earnhardt Jr. dominated the one-mile oval-flat track of "The Milwaukee Mile" in Milwaukee, Wis. for the Busch Series race. He made his debut starting on the outside pole. He took over the led on lap 7 and led 208 of the 250 laps and to win. The ACDelco team feels comfortable with the set-up they have developed for the No. 3 Monte Carlo over the last few years of racing the Milwaukee track. They have improved their finishes each year with three different drivers:

        
   1997    Jeff Green finished seventh
   1998    Steve
Park finished fifth
   1999    Dale Earnhardt Jr. first

This year they will be bring back the same car they won with last year, the now famous car is affectionately known as "Step-Momma".

Earnhardt Jr. is moving his way to the top of the NASCAR contingency award programs, which he dominated last year. He currently holds the No. 1 spot in the Gatorade Front Runner (leading at half-way in the race), MCI Worldcom Fast Pace (fastest lap of the race), and is tied with six other drivers for the top spot for the Bud Pole Award. His great finishes have helped his engine builder to remain on top for the AE Clevite Engine Builder (award for top engine builder who is Ron Hutter with No. 3 car). As of last weekend he has moved from second to first in the Goody's Extra Strength Award (top finishing regular in the Busch Series) and has passed Matt Kenseth in the most monies won category.

Earnhardt Jr.'s third win for the 1999 season came at Watkins Glen International last weekend. The win helped increase Earnhardt Jr.'s lead in the NASCAR Busch Series point standing to 129 points ahead of second place Matt Kenseth.

Earnhardt Jr. has led laps in a total of 12 events so far this season. Eleven of those have been in the last 13 races.

This weekend Earnhardt Jr. and the ACDelco team will take a little time to play. Each year they look forward to "Summer Fest" held down on the banks of Lake Michigan. Quotes:

"I couldn't really tell last year if we were that good or not," commented Earnhardt Jr. "I just wasn't taking any chances. It seemed like the harder I tried to run, the slower I ran. I guess it is just on of those tracks."

"We feel real good about going back to Milwaukee," said Tony Eury Jr. (car chief). "We tested our Winston Cup car last week in Loudon, and gained some knowledge that we think will help us at Milwaukee."

"Going to Milwaukee is like taking a vacation because we get to do something more than just go to the race track," explained Eury Jr. "The whole team gets on a city bus from the hotel and we go to "Summer Fest." It gives as a chance to let a little let off a little steam. I think that is why we do so well here because we just relax."

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