NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cintas Rookie Report (Week of 7/7/97)
10 July 1997
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year Program Notes & Quotes Week of July 7, 1997 CHARLOTTE, NC - Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year points chase is heating at midseason of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with a number of drivers closing in on points leader Kenny Irwin who has won twice this year. Irwin leads all Cintas Rookies with 146 points; Rick Crawford has one top-five finish and four top-10 finishes and is curretnly in second position with 123 points. Boris Said, driver of the #44 Federated Auto Parts Ford is in third position in the Cintas Rookie standings with 101 points, 35 behind leader Irwin. - "What a place, there's no good way to describe this track, it's unique. I've never been comfortable here, but I always seem to be very fast. The way we've been the last three weeks, I would race anywhere if it meant we could win." -- Kenny Irwin, driver of the #98 Raybestos Ford on Louisville Motor Speedway. - "This place owes us one." - Tammy Jo Kirk, driver of the #7 Lovable Ford referring to las year's All Pro race. Kirk had the lead at the white flag and was taken out by lapped traffic. The #7 team has the same truck they had at Portland, earlier this season. - "We have the right set-up with the rear-end gear for Louisville. I cut my teeth on short tracks, so I should have a good race." - Stacy Compton, driver of the #86 Valvoline Instant Oil Change Ford. Compton feels fortunate that he hasn't used a provisional this season." - "This is a racer's race track. You can be off a little with your set-up or off with the horsepower, but it comes down to the driver. You can catch somebody in a mistake and have a good run. Everybody will be making adjustments all day." - Rick Crawford, driver of the #14 Circle Bar Motel & RV Ford. CINTAS ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR POINT STANDINGS 1. Kenny Irwin 146 10. Kelly Denton 33 2. Rick Crawford 123 11. Terry Cook 32 3. Boris Said 101 12. Mike Cope 24 4. Tony Raines 95 13. Randy Tolsma 22 5. Stacy Compton 84 14. Kenny Hendrick 13 6. Tammy Jo Kirk 83 7. Tony Roper 74 8. Bob Rizzo 46 9. Lonnie Rush 44 By Muhleman Marketing