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NASCAR WCUP: Progress Report: Scott Pruett, No. 32 Tide Ford

14 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Progress Report: Scott Pruett, No. 32 Tide Ford

  • Year: Rookie
  • Car: No. 32 Tide Ford Taurus
  • Team: PPI Motorsports
  • Owner: Cal Wells III
  • Points Standings: 35 (driver); 37 (owner)
  • Cup Starts: 21 (of 25 possible)
  • Best Start: 2nd (Las Vegas)
  • Best Finish: 10th (Indianapolis)
  • Top Ten Starts: 5 ..Las Vegas (March) - 2nd
  • Top 20 Finishes: 6 . Daytona (Feb.) - 19th
  • Texas (April) - 3rd
  • Talladega (April) - 20th
  • Fontana (April) - 6th
  • Michigan (June) - 19th
  • Sears Point (June) - 9th
  • Indy (Aug.) - 10th
  • Darlington (Sept.) - 7th
  • Michigan (Aug.) - 17th
  • Richmond (Sept.) - 16th
  • Provisionals Used: 2 Pocono (June); Richmond (Sept. - qualifying accident)
  • DNFs: 7
  • Busch Starts: 3 Daytona (Feb.); Dover (June); Darlington (Sept.)
  • Best Busch Start: 7 (Darlington)
  • Best Busch Finish 18 (Darlington)
The Numbers Game:

  • 29% of Pruett's race performances to date have resulted in a top-20 finish.
  • 24% of Pruett's qualifying efforts to date have landed the Tide Ford in the starting grid's top ten.
  • Pruett has run in the top ten in seven events (Las Vegas, Texas, Talladega, Fontana, Sears Point, Indianapolis and Darlington), one third of the events he has run to date, and has led two races (Texas and Sears Point).

Have Engineer, Will Travel: Pruett and his Tide team race engineer, Roy McCauley, worked together for five years on the CART circuit before reuniting this year in NASCAR. McCauley was involved in Patrick Racing's Firestone development program with Pruett in 1994 before working as Pruett's race engineer the following four seasons (1995 through 1998). Together Pruett and McCauley posted Pruett's strongest years in CART, earning two race wins, four pole positions, 13 podiums, 40 top ten finishes and a career-high sixth (1998) in points standings.

Pilgrim's Progress: A recent streak of solid on-track performances has helped showcase Pruett's swift adjustment to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. His standout runs at Darlington (qualified seventh and ran in the top 12 until a race accident dropped him back) -- a track that rejected him earlier this season - and Richmond (landed a 16th-place finish from 43rd starting position) - a race that nearly sent Pruett into early retirement in May - have helped both Pruett and the Tide team capitalize on midseason momentum gained at Pocono, Indianapolis, Michigan and Bristol.

Safety Initiative: Pruett and PPI Motorsports technical director Mark McArdle are participating in the development and testing of several safety initiatives along with representatives from Ford Racing, Roush Racing, the motorsports industry and NASCAR. Initiatives under review include driver's seat construction and safety belts, throttle interruption systems and use of the HANS device. PPIM engineers have already begun development work on a new seat system and expect to test a throttle pedal kill switch this weekend in New Hampshire.

Text provided by Amy Riley

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