NASCAR WWEST: Craig Raudman Comes Back With Brother Chris on Standby
22 June 2000
Rancho Santa Margarita, California (June 20, 2000) - Craig Raudman, driver of Dave Reed Racing's #2 Yerf-Dog/ITP Chevrolet in the NASCAR Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring, whose injuries in an early May incident at California Speedway required surgery, fully intends to be a competitive force in this Saturday's Snap-On Tools/AAA 200 Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring event at Sears Point Raceway. The surgery was a success, his foot has healed, the doctor has given him the go-ahead, and Raudman is ready to race. Just in case he needs a backup, however, younger brother Chris, the 1996 Southwest Series champion, will be on standby. Veteran Southwest Series racer Craig Raudman would like nothing better than to relive his 1997 win at the Sonoma road course. It was an incredible day, one in which the team turned a potentially disastrous wreck during a practice session into a winning effort. Another win at Sears Point would be great. Just in case he can't quite make it to the end, however, Chris will be there, ready and waiting to draw on his experiences during the 1996 season, when he finished in third place at Sonoma, then went on to take both Featherlit e Southwest Series Rookie of the Year honors and the championship. All kidding aside, the two brothers are looking forward to working together for the weekend. Really. Just don't ask too many questions about the 1996 Southwest Series championship chase. Both were strong contenders. Both took their turns leading the point standings. The two brothers exchanged the lead, and took turns winning races and pole positions until almost the end of the season. Either one could have been champion. It was sibling rivalry at its best. In the end, the championship went to Chris. "I'm actually looking forward to working with Chris, which is something we've never really done," said Craig Raudman. "I feel good about having him take over, if that needs to happen. You can bet I'll run the race to the end, though, if I can." The elder Raudman continued, "This is a great test for this car. We're going to run the same car we took to a second place finish in last year's L.A. Street Race. It's a straight up road course car built just for road racing. I'm anxious to get it back out on the track." Chris Raudman said, "This weekend should be great, even if I never get into the car during the race. Working with Craig, instead of competing against him, will be new for me, but fun. I felt honored that he asked me to step into the car for him if he can't finish the race. His health matters more than the racing to us all." Honestly, Craig Raudman is comforted by knowing that his younger brother will be there to stand in for him, if needed. He just hopes he doesn't have to ask. Check out the team's Web site at http://www.davereedracing.com for more information. Saturday's Snap-On Tools/AAA 200 will be broadcast live by ESPN2 beginning at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Dave Reed Racing operates NASCAR Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring teams featuring Craig Raudman as driver. Raudman's 1999 season results included one win, three top five finishes and one Bud Pole award. He finished the 1998 season in seventh place out of fifteen drivers competing for the Sears Point Raceway Winston West Rookie-of-the-Year Award and thirteenth in the points standings. Raudman finished in the top five in final points standings in four of his past five full NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series seasons.