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NASCAR WCUP: Qualifying Notes and Quotes, Atlanta

18 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

JOHNNY BENSON, NO. 10 AARON'S PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

(ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT LAP?) "No. We came down and tested, and wanted to qualify better than that. But hey, it looks like we're going to be in the race so we're pretty happy anyway. That's all the matters."

(DO YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS PLACE OWES YOU ONE?) "This place doesn't owe us a thing. We were just hoping to come down here and put on a little better show for qualifying. That wasn't what we were looking for, but it will still be decent.

RICK MAST, NO. 14 CONSECO PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"We just pulled one out. We were way out in left field all day - all day long. The car was just slow. We just couldn't hit on anything that worked. When practice was over we just threw some stuff at it - not oddball, but completely different than where we were, and it worked. If I'd have known it was going to be that good we could have expanded on that a little bit and made it better. But we'll take that the way our day has gone."

KEN SCHRADER, NO. 36 M&M'S PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

(HOW WAS YOUR RUN?) "We've been solid all day. We picked up from practice, so we'll take it. It's pretty hard to come in here after running that lap and then realize that you're a half a second off the pole. But we were sweating potentially going home from this race in March, so nobody is complaining."

(ANY BIG GOALS FOR SUNDAY?) "Run decent. Period."

BOBBY LABONTE, NO. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"That wasn't too bad. We weren't going to be a threat for the top five, anyway, so we felt if we could get in the top 10 or top 12 that would be good. But the race usually comes around a little bit better than qualifying, so maybe that will be good for us."

(IS IT NICE TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT POINTS TODAY?) "Yeah, it really is. I don't think we're taking it any different than what we have any other time. It's very, very important to us that we come down here and do well. But it does feel a little bit differently to know that you don't have the pressure on the line like we did last weekend."

(ON THE CROWD REACTION TO HIM DURING QUALIFYING) "It's still sinking in. It's just pretty cool to be back at the racetrack after doing it (clinching the title) instead of waiting all winter until you get back to Daytona if you had to wait until this race to clinch it. I feel like that in itself is a lot of fun because you get to see everybody that you race with another weekend before the off-season. But so far, it's been a pretty cool deal."

DAVE BLANEY, NO. 93 AMOCO PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"We're getting better and better. These things are feeling more comfortable to me every week to where I know what to do with them. These guys are just doing a great job in this race team. Everybody at Bill Davis (Racing) is building good stuff and it's showing.

(ON WHAT IT TAKES TO QUALIFY WELL HERE) "I don't know. You just hang it out as hard as you can stand it. That's about all there is to it."

WARD BURTON, NO. 22 CATERPILLAR PONTIAC GRAND PRIX: "We've had four laps today and that one was the best we've been. The car was really good - glued to the track real well. It was a real comfortable lap. We'll try to get it like that in race trim."

TONY STEWART, NO. 20 HOME DEPOT PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"That was better than I was hoping for, to be honest. We haven't been a powerhouse since the first time we were here. But I'm real happy with that today. Like I told the guys on the cool-down lap, every time we come here we keep making gains and keep getting a little bit better. I'm just really, really happy with that lap. It's not a top 10, it's not a top five, but it gets a good safe starting spot for the race."

(WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR SUNDAY?) "I think we all want to get another win. But we've got a shot at becoming fourth in the points. I definitely want to maintain fifth, at the very least. But hopefully we can get into fourth. We'd like to finish up with a top 10 and a top five would make me really happy. I'm pretty greedy for this weekend, I guess."

SCOTT WIMMER, NO. 23 AT&T/THE DECAL SOURCE PONTIAC GRAND PRIX:

"I'm pretty excited. I got a little bit nervous before qualifying. I gave up a little bit down in (turns) one and two, but I think we've got a really good car, though. In ARCA practice, we were super good over there. I got kind of nervous coming over to the Winston Cup side. But we got qualifying in and that's good. Hopefully we'll make the show."

(FROM NOT GETTING A CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR THE ARCA RACE TO COMING OVER TO TRY TO QUALIFY FOR THE WINSTON CUP RACE TO BEING IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE WINSTON CUP RACE -- HAVE YOU BEEN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER TODAY?) "Yeah, I have been - just coming to Atlanta. We didn't test here or anything. To come to a mile and a half track where you practically hold it wide-open is something else. Unfortunately we got rained out in ARCA. I think we had a real good car over there to sit in the first couple rows and probably have a good race. But I'm happy in the sense that Bill and Gail Davis let me come to the Winston Cup side and try this out. It's an experience I'll never forget. I'm truly grateful for it."

Text Provided By Al Larsen

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