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NASCAR: Casey Atwood wins pole at Nashville Speedway

7 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Nashville, TN- Casey Atwood scored the Bud pole award for Saturday's BellSouth Mobility 320 NASCAR Busch Series at Nashville Speedway USA by turning a lap off 111.547 mph. It marks the fifth career pole and first since July 1999 for the 19-year-old driver, who resides in the Nashville suburb of Antioch.

"We knew we had a good chance," said Atwood, driver of the No. 27 Castrol GTX Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "We've been good since we unloaded. I just hope we can back this up with a win. It would mean a lot for everyone on the Castrol GTX Racing team since most of us live nearby."

Atwood has enjoyed much success competing on the legendary 0.596 mile speedway he considers his home track. In addition to scoring several Late Model victories, he also won his first career Busch Series pole at Nashville Speedway in 1998. Only 17 years old at the time, the feat marked Atwood as the youngest driver in NASCAR history to ever achieve such a benchmark.

"I thought we were in trouble on the first lap," said twood. "It felt like it was all over the place. I slid up in the middle of turn two. But my second lap was much better. I felt like I had it, but as I came through (the pits), an official told me to keep going to the trailer. I said, 'Man, I didn't get it.' Then, he came back to the truck and told me I got the pole."

The 320 lap race is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. ET and will be televised live on TNN and can also be heard live on MRN radio.

Text provided by Craig Bailey

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