NASCAR BGN: Jeff Green wraps up dream season at Homestead
8 November 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Jeff Green On Homestead: Jeff Green, 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Champion and driver of the No. 10 Nestl NesQuik Chevrolet, feels he can win the Miami 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"Homestead is like a big Milwaukee and we dominated Milwaukee this year by sitting on the pole, leading the most laps and winning the race," said Green. "Needless to say, I'm pretty confident about our chances of getting to victory lane this weekend. Last year, we finished fifth at Homestead and I know we can better our performance this year. My teammate, Jason Keller, tested at Homestead a few weeks ago and he ran laps faster than the track record, so I know ppc Racing has a good setup to start with right out of the box. Fortunately, Jason and I have similar driving styles, so we like our cars to be setup similar. We are fortunate that what usually works for him, works for me and vice versa."
Equipment: The NesQuik Racing team is taking Green's favorite car to Memphis. Green nicknamed this car "Bonus" because every time they have run the car this year, the team has gotten a bonus because of the finish. This car won at South Boston, Myrtle Beach and Milwaukee earlier this year, and it finished third at IRP, second at Richmond in the fall and third two weeks ago at Memphis.
Dominance in 2000: Green continues to lead the NASCAR Busch Series in 2000 in wins (6), poles (7), miles led (1,137.01), laps led (1,457), number of races led (18), top-fives (24), top-10's (26) and money earned ($1,083,700).
Record Breaker: With Green's fourth-place finish at Phoenix last weekend, he tied Sam Ard's record (set in 1984) for most top-five finishes in a single season with 24. If Green finishes in the top-five at Homestead this weekend, he will become the record holder for the most top-fives in a single season with 25.
ppc Racing Sweep: Green's teammate, Jason Keller, clinched second-place in the NBS point standing last week at Phoenix giving ppc Racing the first- and second-place positions in the 2000 NBS point standings. This is the first time in series history for teammates to sweep the top spots in the points standing.
Mark Martin's Last NBS Race: Mark Martin will make his last NBS start of his career at Homestead this weekend. Green is one of his biggest supporters and has mixed feelings to Martin's departure.
"As I've said before, many times, Mark Martin is my hero," said Green. "I feel he his the best driver there is, regardless of what car he is driving, Winston Cup, Busch or IROC. I know he has made myself and my NesQuik Racing team better because he has made us strive to continually get better each week. You know when you've beaten him, you've done your job well. I have mixed feelings about him leaving the series because I feel he is the benchmark of what we strive to beat each week and I like having that to focus on. However, with him leaving, it is one less guy you've got to beat for the win, and every time he races, he's a factor for the win."
Text Provided By Marcy Scott
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