ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Winn Dixie 500k: Post Race Quotes
11 October 1997
ARCA
Post-Race Quotes
Winn-Dixie 500k
Talladega Superspeedway
October 11, 1997
TALLADEGA, AL
JOHN WILKINSON (#2 Day Motorsports Chevrolet) - Started 21st, finished 39th -
Retired car after five laps due to engine failure. - "This is disappointing
for me and the rest of the team. We worked so hard and to have something
break on the car like a $10 part is disappointing. The car was awesome, we
made a lot of changes from first-round qualifying and practice and during the
race the car was just magnificent. The motor was running real strong and I
thought we were going to be in good shape. But it's just bad luck that got us.
DOUG REID (#97 Toys "R" Us/Birmingham Auto Show Chevrolet) - Started 34th,
finished 37th - Was black-flagged after start of the race for passing cars
before the start/finish line. Retired car after 35 laps completed due to
rear end failure. - "At the start of the race, we got a pretty good start.
This is my first time to run an ARCA race in a while and I don't know if I
was confused about the rules or what. I might not have been clear on the
rules, but we got a black flag and that kind of got me a little frustrated.
We had a good car, and I believe we could've made the lap back up. Then we
had an oil fire coming out of two going into the backstretch and I smelled
some smoke. I thought it might be an ignition and the car filled up with
smoke."
KEVIN RAY (#43 Richard Petty Driving Experience Chevrolet) - Started 18th,
finished 31st - Retired car after completing 66 laps due to engine
failure. - "We had a good shot, but we got a lap down early. We made a pit
stop under green and the caution came out on the next lap, racer's luck on
that. Then we had a right front shock mount break. There is nothing we could
do but just get ready for the next one.
JIMMY KITCHENS (#47 Dunlop Golf Ford) - Started 6th, finished 21st - Was
involved in multi-car accident on lap 98. - "We had a restart and we were
trying to just keep up with the lead pack. I think going down the back
straightaway everybody was trying to stay packed up during those last couple
of laps. When you run three-wide, you're going to run out of room sooner or
later. I think I got clipped on the back, but I'm not really sure."
MARK THOMPSON (#66 Midway Island/Phoenix Air Ford) - Started 2nd, finished
2nd - "It was a good race. We had a car that if we could get to the lead, Tim
(Steele) couldn't get by us. He used the No. 1 (Matt Hutter) car to draft by
that one time. The Phoenix car worked with him all day and not a lick with
us. At the end there, after the No. 1 car crashed out, I thought we would be
able to get him. Earlier in the day, we could drive by him, but we just
couldn't get a run on him. He had a good car. He came out on that first pit
stop and made an adjustment and picked up about a half a second, so he was
stronger."
MARK GIBSON (#59 Cunningham Historic Motorcars Ford) - Started 5th, finished
5th - "It was like a demolition derby out there. I don't know, lapped cars
trying to race with the leaders and people going four wide in the corners, I
don't know. We didn't have a motor today. We lost a cylinder and changed
motors last night and I guess it was the wrong choice. We didn't have
anything. Yesterday, we were fast in practice and thought we would be better
with a new motor and it just got us in the back where all the wrecks happen.
You just can't run back there. We're just thankful we got fifth. I thought we
had a chance to win if it went green there because we could go the rest of
the way. Everybody else had to stop, then that caution came out."
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