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NASCAR BGN: Casey Atwood remains focused going into Darlington

16 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Despite a less than flattering start to the 2000 season, Antioch, Tennessee resident Casey Atwood remains focused on his goal - the NASCAR Busch Series championship. Currently in 17th position in the standings, the 19-year-old driver remains confident about his chances.

"This is not how I expected the start of this season to be," said Atwood, whose best finish in four races is 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada. "We've been struggling but haven't lost sight of our championship goals. We are only in 17th in the standings but it's still early in the season."

The intentions of Atwood and the Castrol GTX Racing team to run for the championship were made crystal clear in the season opening race in Daytona Beach, Florida. After being involved in a crash, repairs were made to Atwood's heavily damaged No. 27 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in an effort to return him to the action and score as many championship points as possible. The team's determination paid off. Atwood gained six positions which equates to 18 points.

"We've been running at the end of every race this year," said Atwood. "It isn't much but it is something. Our finishes haven't been great but at least we have been able to finish. You can't win the championship with the car in the garage."

HELP CASEY ATWOOD RAISE AWARENESS IN KINGSPORT, TN:

In an effort to increase awareness about the urgent need for organ and tissue donors, Casey Atwood has agreed to participate in the second annual Race for Life event on Friday, March 24, 2000 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The event is coordinated by Mountain Region Donor Services (MRDS), the northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia's organ and tissue recovery agency.

Race for Life features an autograph session with Atwood, driver of the No. 27 Castrol GTX Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the NASCAR Busch Series and other top NASCAR drivers. The event is being held prior to the races at Bristol Motor Speedway at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee (approximately 20 miles from the track).

MRDS is a community-based, not-for-profit organization. The agency's primary goal is to provide organs and tissues for transplant to the thousands of people in need of these lifesaving gifts. It is MRDS' hope that with the support of NASCAR drivers, it will be able to provide race fans with information about organ and tissue donation so they can make an informed decision about it and share their decision with their family. Many fans are unaware that legendary drivers Davey Allison and John Nemechek were both organ and tissue donors at the time of their deaths. In life they gave autographs, in death, they gave life.

Text provided by Craig Bailey

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.