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NASCAR WCUP: Atwood qualifies in top half at Martinsville

30 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Casey Atwood:

"I am a little disappointed because when I got out there I was sure we had a top-five car. I did all I could do, but considering that I've never raced here before, I'm happy with a top-25."

Ray Evernham:

"To get better, we're just going to have to figure it out. We were just too conservative and we need to find out what Casey's limit is. But overall, I think it's pretty good because before we tested at Martinsville, Casey didn't even know how to get here!"

After only 23 of the 48 cars had finished qualifying, Evernham was confident in Atwood securing a position in the first qualifying round when he said, "Let's get the car ready to race."

Notes:

* The Sept. 9 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway was Casey Atwood's first of three NASCAR Winston Cup Series races that he will race this year with the No. 19 Motorola Evernham Motorsports team. He qualified 35th and finished 19th.

* This is Atwood's first race at Martinsville Speedway. Next year, Atwood will face three tracks currently on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule where he has never raced (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Sears Point Raceway) in addition to Chicagoland and Kansas City Speedway which were added for 2001.

Text provided by Jenny Bonk

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