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NASCAR WCUP: Chassis Notes, Lowes Motor Speedway

5 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

[The following are facts and figures regarding the cars Pontiac teams will be running this weekend during the NASCAR Winston Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway.]

10

Johnny Benson scored a fifth place finish at Michigan the last time out in this chassis after running well in it at Pocono and Indianapolis. Benson has recorded two top fives, three top 10s and gained five spots in the points to 14th since he finished 16th in the Coca Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.

14

Conseco Pontiac driver Rick Mast, who has recorded four top 12 finishes in the last 11 races, last wheeled this car to a 12th place finish in the Southern 500 at Darlington. Mast ran well here in May, but lost an engine with 50 laps to go and finished 39th.

18

Winston Cup points leader Bobby Labonte brings a 213-point lead over Dale Earnhardt into Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend and will be behind the wheel of a chassis that owns an average finish of 2.0. In nine career starts in this piece, Labonte has two wins, five seconds and three third place finishes - including a third at Michigan in August the last time he drove it.

20

Home Depot Grand Prix driver Tony Stewart is looking for his third straight win this week after netting his eighth career victory last Sunday at Martinsville. Stewart is driving the same car he won Michigan with in June. He also drove it here in May, finishing ninth in the Coca Cola 600.

22

This chassis was brand new when Ward Burton debuted it at Pocono in July, finishing 28th. The South Boston, Virginia driver survived a 31st place qualifying effort here in May and went on to finish 13th in the Coke 600.

27

Rookie Mike Bliss is driving a brand new version of the Viagra Pontiac this weekend in Charlotte as he looks to better the 32nd place finish he recorded here in May. Bliss' best finish of the season stands at 19th, which he earned three weeks ago at New Hampshire.

36

Ken Schrader gained one spot in the Winston Cup point standings to 15th after last week's run at Martinsville. Schrader enters this week's race at Lowe's with the same chassis he drove to a 19th place finish at Pocono in July and a 16th place finish at Las Vegas in March.

43

The Cheerios/STP Grand Prix driven by John Andretti this week is brand new. Andretti, who is ranked 22nd in the Winston Cup standings, has scored three finishes of 13th or better in the past four weeks and has gained three spots in the points during that stretch.

44

This week marks Steve Grissom's second attempt at qualifying here at Lowe's in 2000. He will hope to make Sunday's UAW/GM Quality 500 field in a chassis that Adam Petty tested here in May. Its only start this year resulted in a 26th place finish for Kyle Petty at Atlanta in March.

93

Dave Blaney owns 22nd and 24th place finishes in his last two outings with this chassis at Indianapolis and Michigan. The Bill Davis Racing rookie blew an engine here in May and had to settle for a 40th place finish in the Coca Cola 600.

Text Provided By Al Larsen

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