NASCAR WCUP: Ward Burton wants to 'stay clean' in Martinsville
28 September 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"We'll have to get back on track this week. We've had some problems the last couple of weeks and we need to avoid those types of problems at all costs." - Ward Burton BURTON ON MARTINSVILLE
"Martinsville is one of those tracks where things can happen fast, but if something happens you probably won't destroy a car like you do at Dover. If the same thing had happened at Martinsville that happened last week at Dover, we would have been able to keep going. Martinsville is a real flat track, so the banking doesn't shoot you up the track. We need to stay clean, finish on the lead lap and we'll have a good day.
"Brakes are still an issue at Martinsville. We have better brakes now then we did just a few years ago. You still need to manage them, but you can be a lot harder on them then you used to. As we continue in this sport, the equipment keeps getting better and better and that means that you can be harder on your equipment without it giving out.
"Martinsville has just one pit road now, so you don't have to worry about pitting on the backstretch and having that disadvantage. It's pretty amazing that they were able to have one pit road there. It makes for a real long and narrow pit road. You certainly don't want to get caught pitting under green and then have the caution come out because you'll probably be three laps down.
"I put a lot more pressure on myself to do well at tracks near my hometown. South Boston (Va.) isn't very far from Martinsville, so I consider it one of my home tracks. Obviously, you want to perform at your best in front of your friends and family."
BURTON ON THE POINTS
"We spent half the year in the top five in points. We've just lost some of our momentum and now we're sitting ninth in the points. That isn't where we wanted to be at this point in the year, but we've just stumbled a little bit the past couple of months. Our focus is to pick up the pieces, run well and we'll definitely finish in the top 10."
Text provided by H.K. Stoddard
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