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NASCAR BGN: Jeff Green's crew chief celebrates a homecoming at Talladega

12 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Harold Holly Homecoming: Harold Holly, crew chief of the No. 10 Nestl NesQuik Chevrolet, hails from Pell City, Ala., only a few minutes west of the Talladega Superspeedway. Holly started his racing career at the Talladega Short Track, across the street from the famed 2.66-mile superspeedway.

"My dads love for racing is what got me interested in the sport," said Holly. "Growing up in Pell City, my dad took me to every NASCAR race at Talladega since 1974. It amazed me when the pit crews went across the wall and thats when I decided I had to be a part of the sport. I started my racing career at the Talladega Short Track working on late model stock cars and dirt cars from around the age of eight. I learned how to turn a wrench on my Little League football coachs car and even though I was a good football player, nothing could beat the excitement of racing."

New Rule Change: Green comments on the new rule change NASCAR made regarding tires on pit road. This new rule will be enforced for the first time in the NASCAR Busch Series at Talladega Superspeedway.

"Im glad NASCAR has made this new rule," said Green. "At the bigger tracks it is not as important, but it will really make a difference at the short tracks where the pit stalls are tighter. The tire issue has never affected me personally, because I have always been aware of the tires around me and my car. However, we have got to make pit road as safe as possible for the crew guys, because I wouldnt want to jump out in front of a speeding car and have to worry about getting hit by a tire. Missing the car is work enough. This new rule will not affect our team because the NesQuik team has been taking our tires back with us to the wall for two years now, so we did not have to do any extra practice or changes to our pit stops."

Last Year At Talladega: Green felt like he had a strong car during last years Touchstone Energy 300 at Talladega, even though his finish didnt reflect it.

"I got caught up in the Big One last year," said Green. "Around lap 70, I was involved in a wreck with 23 other cars. It is just typical superspeedway racing. Youve got to have luck on your side, because having a strong car means nothing if you get caught up in a wreck; and at Talladega, they are never small wrecks."

Equipment: The NesQuik Racing team is taking the same car to Talladega that raced earlier this year at Daytona. The car has a new body on it, after the well-known "Nestl flip" at Daytona.

Text provided by Marcy Scott

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