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NASCAR WCUP: Dodge Completes Pre Season Testing at Daytona

19 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -With 31 days remaining until the Daytona 500, Dodge and its five teams wrapped up their pre-season test at the Daytona International Speedway. During the two days, the five teams focused on engine durability and race set-up in preparation for the Daytona 500.

Second year drivers Stacy Compton and Dave Blaney turned the fastest laps out of the 10 Dodge drivers. Compton topped the chart today at 180.821 mph, while Blaney was close behind at 180.643 mph.

"I felt like we could come down here and be pretty competitive. We unloaded and ran descent yesterday. We made some changes and ran a little bit better today. We made more changes by the end of the day and sort of leveled off," said Compton.

Dave Blaney, driver of the No. 93 Amoco Dodge, mirrors Compton's confidence for the future, "We haven't thrown everything we've got at it, we're getting there, we're gaining and that's the main thing. We ran two different cars here, one car is testing motor-related things, the other car has been used to test the body, overall we're happy about the results," said Blaney The one-team approach that Dodge has adapted through its 500-day countdown has shown many benefits during the manufacturer test.

"When everybody is a little slow, you tend to work together a lot more than with one guy really fast. Dodge is leading the one-team concept, they've got people networking. Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises have a close relationship that will continue to grow. I don't think there's a real big spread between us and hopefully that will show everybody we're working together," said Ray Evernham, team owner of the No. 9 and No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/Ts.

Casey Atwood also has high hopes from his new Dodge, "Today was a lot better. We've picked up our car quite a bit. We're gaining on it every time we go out," said Atwood.

As the newest manufacturer in NASCAR Winston Cup Racing, the Dodge teams spent the two-day test session trying a number of things to find out exactly what the Dodge Intrepid R/T will bring to the table February 18, 2001. The next plan of attack-off to Talladega.

"We're going to Talladega for sure. I don't know if we have any wind tunnel time left before we come back for the 500. If we do have some, we probably need to start using that on our downforce stuff," said Evernham.

While the countdown is winding to a halt, all five teams are looking forward to completing what they started only a short 469 days ago. "The most I'm looking forward to about the next 31 days is when the green flag drops for the Daytona 500, I get to smash that clock and the countdown is over," said Ray Evernham.

Text Provided By Molly Morter

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