Pennzoil's Tony Raines . . . Short Track Royalty
14 July 1997
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is fast becoming one of America's most exciting racing circuits. One of its most exciting up and coming stars is CINTAS rookie of the year candidate Tony Raines. The '97 season didn't start well for the Pennzoil Dodge team. Raines failed to qualify in two of the first four events this year. This summer, however, Raines' career has bloomed like an Indiana cornfield. The Laporte Indiana (recently moved to Concord, NC), native has garnered 4 top 10 finishes in the last 7 starts. The most significant of these being a win at I-70 Speedway in Odessa Missouri, the first major NASCAR win by a Dodge vehicle since Neil Bonnett's 1977 California 500 victory. Raines is no stranger to the winner's circle. His 9 year ASA career is almost as impressive as his Pennzoil Winston Cup counterpart Johnny Benson Jr. Raines earned top honors in that circuit last season.For Tony, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) and Pennzoil sponsorship is a "step up" from what he's used to. "This is a higher calibre of driver." He's not kidding. The competition includes top drivers who have previously competed in nearly every stock car, open wheel, or off road class imaginable. Raines attributes his successes this year to a combination of things; one of which is the sponsor. "Pennzoil works well with this team (Roehrig Motorsports)...they push hard. They wanted me to drive because I can offer performance." Tony believes Pennzoil has helped the Roehrig Motorsports Dodge Team "avoid pitfalls" other teams experience during a long racing season like the NCTS. Besides sponsorship, Tony's racing experience has helped push this Dodge team to the upper tier of the circuit. Raines will tell you he's not the "King of the Short Track" his successes would indicate. But looking at his I-70 race (where he led 148 of 200 laps to win the event) and his most recent 4th place finish at the 7/16 mile Louisville Motor Speedway (starting 2nd in the grid and never out of the top 10 the entire 225 laps), Raines has certainly earned his place in NASCAR's short track royal family.
His end of the season plans might include a trip overseas with NASCAR. "Japan is still up in the air... If (team owner) Kurt Roehrig goes, I go." Japan not withstanding, his off season plans will certainly include some deer and duck hunting. He also enjoys aviation and motorcycles. "I found a Harley store in Louisville. One of those might leave town with us." But the Louisville NCTS race only marks the halfway point in the season. Tony Raines will have to continue his short track successes at Colorado, Indianapolis, and Nashville. He'll have to extend his prowess to the super speedways of California and Las Vegas. He'll also have to tackle road courses like Sears' Point, Topeka's Heartland Park, and Watkin's Glen. It's a lot different than the "Saturday Night Short Track" racing of his past. It's the path Tony will take to become one of NASCAR's newest stars.
Brian Yesowitch -- The Auto Channel
