NASCAR BGN: Outback Steakhouse Qualifying Notes and Quotes
3 November 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 200 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RACEPHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Thursday, November 02, 2000
Jason Leffler, No. 18 MBNA Pontiac Gran Prix (polesitter): "We were 15th in practice, but I knew if I pushed it a little harder in (turns) three and four, we could pick up some, and we did. I really like Phoenix. It's a favorite track of mine and I expect to do well here on Saturday. I the Silver Crown, Silver Bullet division, I won the race and posted a track record here earlier this year. We've been really fortunate the past couple of years to be successful here. The MBNA was good in practice and I knew we'd be good in qualifying, but I didn't think we'd be that good. This is my very first time here in a Busch car today. I've raced here six or seven years in the sprint car, but the last couple of years we've been successful enough to win a couple of races.
"I just tried to cut the best lap I could. It was a pretty good lap. The car was set up right and the motor was running good. Everything kind of fell into its own. Hopefully we can do just as good on Saturday."
Jeff Green, No. 10 NesQuik Chevrolet Monte Carlo (qualified 2nd): "It was a good lap for the NesQuik Chevy. Obviously it wasn't exciting enough or we'd be on the pole. But it was good. Jason (Leffler) just slipped in there. He gained a lot from practice. That's what a driver's supposed to do. We'll be starting up front and that's what it's all about. We've got a great race car again. It's a different car than we run last week, and this one's probably better than that one. We're looking forward to Phoenix. We didn't run real good here last year, so we want to improve our status a little bit and get in Victory Lane here. In the Busch Series you have to go out on sticker tires and you slide around a little bit here for a lap. But everybody's got the same opportunity. So it comes down to whomever slides around the best I guess."
Ron Hornaday, No. 3 NAPA Chevrolet Monte Carlo (qualified 4th): "I don't expect this to hold up. It'll be in the top ten though. These guys have been working their guts out on this Monte Carlo."
Jimmie Johnson, No. 92 Alltel Chevrolet Monte Carlo (qualified 5th): "We left some on the table. I bet there's some guys that will improve on our run. We got through three and four real good. We haven't run out here very much. It took me the first ten or 15 laps in practice to find my rhythm. Then it felt pretty good."
Kyle Petty, No. 45 Sprint Chevrolet Monte Carlo: "That's about what we run in practice. I'd have liked to go later. I don't like to go early. I don't like to be the first guy out there. I like to let everybody else set the rhythm instead of going out and having to do it like that."
Kenny Wallace, No. 25 Lance Snacks Chevrolet Monte Carlo: "I didn't run that lap for nothing. I think it's cooling off a little bit as the night sets in. We've been competitive all year long. We're just looking for another solid run. We need to get one. We need to win a race here for Rensi Racing. I was hoping to run an .80 and I ran a .91. So I think I got everything I could out of the car. I don't think I left anything on the table out there. Phoenix has been pretty good to us. We run fifth here last year in this car. We're looking to run a little bit better here this year."
David Green, No. 34 AFG Glass Chevrolet Monte Carlo: "It felt real good. This is my first time here in a Busch car. I ran a couple of times here in a Cup car. I really enjoyed this place. But I was a little skeptical on how we'd do in a Busch car, but so far everything's went well. We just hope it doesn't rain on Saturday. I think I left something out there because we're so used to getting two (qualifying) laps in the Busch series. And I'm not saying that that's detrimental 'cause everybody's only got one lap. But on this particular race track today with the conditions we have it's hard to get the heat in the tires. I was worried about getting the heat in the tires. But then boom, by the time you know it, you're at the green flag. But that's okay. We just need some good luck. Anything can happen on Saturday."
Text Provided By Nancy Wager
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