Pennzoil Dodge Preview: Raines Heads for Watkins Glen
20 August 1997
Raines Continues Road Course Education at Watkins Glen Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines knows to go faster on a road course the driver sometimes has to slow down. His first few laps in a NASCAR Craftsman truck at Topeka in July were in his words "eye-opening." It's not like road courses are new to Raines. During his nine years in the American Speed Association (ASA), Raines thrived on road courses including a 1995 victory at Topeka. But racing a 3,400-pound truck on that track took a little different approach than racing a 2,800-pound ASA car. Raines hopes to improve upon the 10th place he earned on Topeka's road course when the trucks take to the track Sunday in the in the Parts America 150 in Watkins Glen, N.Y. -- the second of three road courses included in the truck series. The trucks will race the road course at Sears Point in October. Raines on... ...difference between a truck and an ASA car at Topeka: "That was an eye-opener. You can't approach the corners with the same speed and determination that you would in a short-track car. I really had to slow down a little mentally and physically and be prepared to do what I had to do. After I got comfortable, it wasn't a problem. But, I had been to that track in a different vehicle, and for the first few laps of practice, I was pretty over-zealous." ...running a road course with mostly right-hand turns: "I've run the road course at Brainerd, Minnesota, so I have a little experience with it. The biggest disadvantage is that the trucks are set up to be left-handed, and with you sitting on that side, most of the weight is over there. You can move a lot of lead over to the right side, but it's still tough to get the truck balanced out right." ...the key to returning to Victory Lane: "To get there, you have to have a good truck and we've had that several times this year. Realistically, we also need to be at a track that compliments the Dodge, which is most likely a short track. But if you get to the end of one of these truck races and you're in the top three or four on the same straightaway as the leader, then you're in a position that if something happens, you could come out of it with a victory." ...the importance of a good finish this weekend: "Every race is important. You just have to go one race at a time. The last couple races have started well, but haven't finished well. But, we're still pressing forward. When we get everything to fall our way, we've proven that the Pennzoil Dodge is very competitive, and we hope that's the case this weekend at Watkins Glen." For More Information Contact: Al Larsen Cohn & Wolfe (404) 880-5267 al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com