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NASCAR WCUP: W.Burton/B.Elliott Quotes Winston Cup Preview

11 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

WARD BURTON (No. 22) Caterpillar Dodge Intrepid

.....Last year with a top 10 finish upfront for the better half of the first year, little slide in the second half, but what's it going to take this year for that consistency, 34-36 races?

I learned from the mistakes that sometimes we kind of created on our own. As the team matured, I think we added to the support group of the whole Bill Davis organization. Probably more than anything is that the cars and everything are in really good shape, but we are a little bit behind on the motor development. That's going to be the make-it, break-it for at least the first part of the season, the reliability to run 500 miles.

How concerned are you about the Dodge engine and what exactly seems to be the problem with it?

I think on my side, we've run for 2-1/2 years and we've only had two motor failures, so Terry and those guys have done one hell of a job. It's just the unknown. Yes, we've done some tests in Kentucky, but we'd like to have ten or 12 motors built by now and done a lot more testing. There are still a few things that we've experienced. We know that the horsepower numbers are close to where we had them at GM camp, so we'll be fine there and learn as we go.

You're coming off the year where you finished 10th in the points. How much does that worry you going into the season with so many unknowns?

Cautiously optimistic. When the team decided to do it, this time last year it was because of the amount of support, amount of dedication that the Dodge camp was willing to put into this program and the amount of support that they were giving Bill Davis Racing is why we did it. It is a little bit risky, but I think in the long run it will pay off. I do have some concerns just because there are some unknown things, and I don't want to take a step backwards. With all the people that we've got working on it from Sterling's team, Bill's team, and the Dodge camp, I feel like whatever happens we've got enough folks that will get down on it and fix it.

The benefits or hassles of winter testing?

Anytime you can test with your team, there are some benefits. The only thing is that at some of the tracks that you test you can't run the groove without a lot of cars making the groove and the weather is so much colder in some places. Atlanta would be the exception. You wouldn't want to test that in the summer time because it would always be warm there. It adds some stress to the team. It's one of those things that everyone needs some time on the track.

BILL ELLIOTT (No. 9) Dodge Dealers Intrepid

After being team owner for a while and turning the program over to Ray, he's pretty much got a reputation of being thoroughly demanding and all that. He seems to be a guy who wants to excel so bad that he drives the workhorse pretty hard.

He's a pretty demanding guy. I haven't had any problems with him. We both have the same goals, going out running well and winning races. I don't think anything will get in the way of that. As long as you see past and through that, no matter how rocky the road is you're going to have a future there. He's got his hands full putting his program together, both the engine and chassis and when you've had a good relationship to this point, we haven't had any problem whatsoever.

The way your team is set up, you're going to kind of be a mentor to Casey. Talk a little bit about that role?

Well, Casey seems to have done a very good job with the Winston Cup races he has run in this past season and he's done extremely well. Ray is a good enough teacher by bringing Jeff into this Winston Cup Series and running well pretty much right off the bat and I don't foresee him being more in the Rookie role than having to lead him along. He's good enough and smart enough that he could probably teach us some stuff, because a lot of times in this business, you get used to doing things one way and sometimes you need to look at a different approach. That's what the new guys bring to you. You're in and you're out. I don't foresee any problems.

How concerned are you about the Dodge engine and what exactly seems to be the problem with it?

I haven't seen any problem with it. I haven't followed it as close as the other guys have.

What is your take on the fans out here waiting in the cold overnight to get your autograph and take your picture?

It's always gratifying from our standpoint. It didn't start here this morning. I know Sterling can remember back years and years ago, I'd go into Rockingham Sunday morning and it would be raining, and at 6:00 in the morning there would be people sleeping on the cars in the cold. It's just the dedication of NASCAR race fans. I've had a good strong support group over the last number of years that has been able to help me and stand behind me through thick and thin. I think that's a typical NASCAR fan.

Having been an owner for so long with the trials and tribulations, you come with a different perspective when you get in that seat where the owner is concerned, where the team is concerned and the things that have to be done, and in your mind are we past the days when a driver can now be an owner based on the competition out there?

I think a driver could survive in this business today, but I never could make it work. We had some pretty successful times at points in time, but we couldn't make it consistently happen week-in and week-out. That's where even a low-budget team can probably come in and survive for a short span in this sport, but to do it week-in and week-out at the level you have to do it at, that's where it starts separating the stronger well-funded teams from a guy who just has enough bucks to make it week-in and week-out. This business has changed so much that you need every possible resource you can possibly find to run well week-in and week-out. As a driver, I think I can bring a lot of perspectives to the table as far as being owner/driver and as many roles as I've played over the last several years, but still it's going to be the amount of group effort the chemistry that comes within that group effort to make and win and go out and do well week-in and week-out.

The last couple of years you've had some physical problems on and off the racetrack. I saw you stand for two hours signing autographs this morning and I don't think I saw you sit down. Is that a residue from your injuries?

I just enjoy standing up meeting and greeting the fans. It's easier for me and a lot of them want pictures. It makes it more accommodating for the race fans also. I feel great and I'm ready for the season. I don't know of anything I can do different that could make things any better. We've had a relatively good year last year. All in all, I look back at the strong runs we had, but we just couldn't make it consistent. I think now that Ray is in there and can keep plugging at it, it can make a difference.

Text Provided By Marie Mason

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