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NASCAR BGN: Randy Lajoie Watkins Glen Notes and Quotes

21 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Driver, No. 1 Bob Evans Restaurants Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event: Lysol 200
Track: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International
Track Specs: Length -- 2.45-mile road course

FAST FACT

Randy LaJoie and his family will be kicking off their annual "Motorhome Tour" beginning with the Watkins Glen event June 25 and wrapping up at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. Each year LaJoie, his wife Lisa and their two boys, Corey and Casey, travel from race to race, stopping along the way to visit family and friends.

LaJoie Looks Ahead to the Lysol 200:

"I have always enjoyed road courses, even though I could probably count the ones I have run on one hand.

"I have had bad luck at Watkins Glen. I've wrecked in practice and qualifying and I've had mechanical failures each time I've raced there. I broke a transmission, a rear end, a motor, trailing arms and a shifting rod. If we can keep pieces from breaking, we might be able to get a good finish.

"I tested at Watkins Glen last year with Boris Said (an established road course racer), and I learned a lot. It takes a while for an oval racer to get into a rhythm on a road course. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to test because I got a complete day on the track, and I ran about 75 to 100 laps. The biggest part of learning a road course is figuring out how to get into the corners and how to use the brakes. On oval tracks, you go into a corner at about 180 mph, tap the brakes and carry the speed out the other corner. On a road course you have to set your brakes to get yourself in position for the 90-degree corners or 45-degree corners. If you don't brake properly, you can't carry the speed through the corners."

Randy LaJoie's Busch Series Watkins Glen International Statistical Infor mation:

Year Start Finish Race Laps Laps Comp. Laps Led Status

1999 2 17 82 82 0 Running
1998 5 37 82 58 0 Engine
1997 17 21 82 81 0 Running
1996 36 30 82 53 0 Mechanical
1994 14 12 62 62 0 Running

Text provided by DeLana Linville

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