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NASCAR WCUP: Evernham and Atwood have happy ending to 2000 season

14 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MIAMI -- Motorola and Evernham Motorsports' relationship came to a very happy ending as the No. 19 Motorola team finished 10th in the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race.

Driver Casey Atwood's impressive finish came after a long and exhausting weekend where he prepared for both his third NASCAR Winston Cup Series race and the season finale NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division race. "The more races you're in, the more you grow," Atwood said. "The team did a great job today and we hung in there with the best of them."

Atwood started the 267-lap race fifth after an incredible qualifying performance. Held beneath an ever-changing mix of cloud cover and intense sun, the race and its multitude of track conditions helped the team prepare for its 2001 debut with Dodge.

"I am really pleased with the progress that this team has made," said team owner Ray Evernham. "We were able to start up front, and Casey got to go out and have some fun today."

Bob Wildberger, senior manager of NASCAR operations for DaimlerChrysler was on hand to witness the team's performance.

"This top-10 finish by Casey and the Motorola team is proof positive of how important team chemistry is," Wildberger said. "Ray is the expert that will build that chemistry into the 2001 Dodge team."

In addition to this being Atwood's last race of the 2000 season, it also held personal significance to the 20-year old Tennessean. Atwood is a longtime fan of Darrell Waltrip, who will be concluding his career as a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver this year.

"I was really honored to drive in three races with Darrell," said Atwood. "He's been an idol of mine for a long time."

At the conclusion of this weekend's race, the final words heard over the No. 19 Motorola team radio were those spoken by Evernham to Atwood; words which simply expressed all that was accomplished in these three races and what is yet to come in 2001.

Text Provided By Jenny Bonk

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.