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Pennzoil Dodge Preview: Raines Heads to IRP

30 July 1997

Raines Has to Handle Competition and Burns at IRP

   The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is competitive enough without 
having to race with the pain of second-degree burns.  But that's what 
Tony Raines faces Thursday as he takes the Pennzoil Dodge to 
Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) for the Cummins 200.

   Raines received burns to his lower back Sunday in the extreme heat 
at Topeka's Heartland Park.  The Laporte, Indiana-rookie hopes to 
block out the pain and build on his strong mid-season performance, 
which includes five straight top 10 finishes.

Raines on...

...dealing with the burns he received at Heartland Park:

   "I don't know how we'll deal with it.  I'm not the only driver who 
got burned.  Moving around will be the worst part.  Once I get in the 
Pennzoil Dodge I won't worry about it.  Then, we'll just focus on 
getting another good finish.  It's hurts, but it's not as bad as I 
thought it was going to be."

...returning to race in Indiana:

   "It'll be nice.  I used to race in South Bend, so they've lined up 
a bus trip for 30 or 40 people to come down on Thursday.  I guess 
there are quite a few people that are making a special effort to get 
to the track to watch me race the Pennzoil Dodge. A lot of my friends 
a relatives will be there, so once the race is over, I will have a 
chance to visit with a lot of people."

...Indianapolis Raceway Park:

   "IRP is a really difficult place to pass.  The fast groove is up on 
the high side, and to pass someone, you have to pull down underneath 
them.  It's real hard to keep it there.  Because it is fast, the truck 
wants to wash up and it's real easy to get in to somebody if you're 
not careful.

   "It's a track where handling is a premium because the corners are 
real pushy.  You have to be able to get your stuff to turn and be 
smooth.  It's not a heavy braking track, it's more of a momentum 
track."

...single-day events versus multi-day events:

   "One-day shows are alright -- they're just long.  You're in there 
at 8 a.m. for a rookie meeting, then you practice, then you qualify, 
then you race, and you're not out of there until midnight.  But, that 
gives you the rest of the weekend off, so it's good and bad."

For More Information
Contact: Al Larsen
Cohn & Wolfe
(404) 880-5267
	
al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com