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NASCAR WCUP: Ward Burton shooting for front row at Daytona

10 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"We think we have a great piece of equipment for the Daytona 500. We're shooting for the front row, but if we don't make that we'll be ready for the Twin 125's on Thursday."

Ward Burton, No. 22 Caterpillar Pontiac

Ward Burton
DAYTONA BEACH, FL: "We have two new speedway cars for Daytona Speedweeks," said Tom Baldwin, crew chief of the No. 22 Caterpillar Racing Pontiac. "We built a new car for the Bud Shootout and the Daytona 500. We also have a solid back-up car, which we finished sixth in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona and fourth in the Winston 500 at Talladega. I really think we're more prepared this year than we've ever been. We have all of the key people still in place, a lot of cars built and a great motor program.

Burton shares Baldwin's optimism.

"We had a very successful test at Daytona," said Burton. "We worked hard on our qualifying set-ups and worked on the new shock rules. We feel like we have a good handle on the new rules. Our restrictor-plate program has really improved over the years. We also have a new teammate. It's real important to have a drafting partner at the superspeedways."

Burton and his No. 22 Caterpillar Racing team will participate in the Bud Shootout on Sunday, February 13, 2000. They qualified for the event after capturing the pole for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway on August 22. The Caterpillar Racing team will compete with a new car built during the off-season. The No. 22 Caterpillar Racing Pontiac will carry a special paint scheme to honor the many dealers throughout the United States and Canada who have been very supportive of the Caterpillar racing program.

Burton is also eligible to collect the $1 million No-Bull bonus as a result of finishing fourth in the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 17.

Text Provided by HK Stoddard

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