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NASCAR WCUP: Crew Chief Club at the Save Mart/Kragen 350

22 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Event: Save Mart/Kragen 350 When: Sun., June 25

Where: Sears Point Raceway (1.949-mile road course)

Together, Jimmy Makar, Larry McReynolds, Todd Parrott, Robin Pemberton, Tommy Baldwin, Jimmy Elledge, Ryan Pemberton and Greg Zipadelli have led their drivers to 84 wins, 469 top-five finishes, 769 top-10 finishes and 90 poles prior to this Sunday's Save Mart/Kragen 350 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

McReynolds has enjoyed much success at Sears Point. He led Davey Allison to a win at the 1991 Banquet 300, and in 1994, McReynolds chiefed Ernie Irvan to the pole and the win at the Save Mart 300.

Pemberton was at the helm for Rusty Wallace's second career victory at Sears Point in the 1996 Save Mart 300.

Baldwin and Ward Burton led second-round qualifying in last year's event.

WHAT DO YOU DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN BUILDING A CAR FOR A ROAD COURSE?

Larry McReynolds - Lowe's Home Improvement Chevrolet of Mike Skinner - "Sears Point is a lot like Suzuka (Japan) and Watkins Glen (N.Y.). All the turns are predominantly to the right, just like Watkins Glen. Instead of low and to the left like on round tracks, we build our cars low and to the right because most of the turns are right hand turns. There is one left turn that's still there - turn one. Turn one's more of a high-speed dogleg than it is a corner. It's right past the start/finish line. You carry a lot of speed into it. But where you do the majority of your passing is on the right hand turns, so that's what you've got to focus on."

Todd Parrott - Ford Quality Care Service/Ford Credit Ford of Dale Jarrett - "Sears Point is pretty similar to Watkins Glen. You turn more to the right than you do to the left, so you've got to have a car that's opposite of everywhere else you take it."

Robin Pemberton - Miller Lite Ford of Rusty Wallace - "Sears Point is a bit like Watkins Glen with the exception that you don't brake as much. The most important part about setting up your car for a road course is knowing how many good shots you get at passing under braking. At Sears Point, you only get one good shot."

Text provided by Heather McConnell

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