NASCAR WCUP: Ward Burton loves the fun of a road course
22 June 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"Road Courses are great races for the drivers. They're a lot of fun
to
compete at. The one good thing about them is that all of the drivers are
on
the same playing field. Since we only go to two road courses a year,
nobody
really puts a lot of energy into testing and developing their road course
programs. It all comes down to the driver during the race. Those are the
types of tracks that I like."- Ward Burton, driver of the Caterpillar Racing Pontiac
BALDWIN ON POCONO
"It was a long weekend for us. We didn't qualify that great, but we were able to get the car a lot better by race time. When we started the race, we ran decent and then we got track position by taking on two tires. That helped us a lot. Once we got to the front, we were able to stay there. We ran in the top 10 all day until we got into the wall coming off turn two. We got two wide with Kenny Irwin and that tunnel turn isn't wide enough for two cars. It was a bad break."
BALDWIN ON SEARS POINT
"Ward ran really well there last year. He was running sixth when Ricky Rudd got off course and collected us. It completely destroyed the car and our hopes of a top-10 finish. We're going back with the same car that we ran last year. Obviously, we had to completely rebuild the car. It's a real good road course car. The key to our success at Sears Point is to stay on the course, stay out of trouble, have good pit stops and have some brakes left at the end of the race. If we do all of those things, we'll come out of there with a top-5."
TEAM NEWS
The No. 22 Caterpillar Racing team has nine finalists in the Chase Racing All-Stars competition. The selection has been narrowed to 10 finalists in the 12 categories. The finalists include: Tommy Baldwin, crew chief and rear tire changer; Ward Burton, driver; Trip Bruce, front tire carrier; Tommy Wallace, front tire changer; Mike Brown, rear tire carrier; Gray Warren, gas catch can man; Jimmy walker, chief mechanic; Terry Elledge, engine specialist. The finalists can be identified by their purple radio belt worn during the race. The field will eventually be narrowed down to an All-Star Team 1, Team 2, and Team 3.
Text provided by Heidi Stoddard
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.