NASCAR Winston Cup Series Dura-Lube 500 Preview: #3, Dale Earnhardt
29 October 1997
#3 Dale Earnhardt, GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Winston Cup Series Dura-Lube 500 Presented by Kmart Advance Phoenix International Raceway EARNHARDT PLANS ON BRINGING THE CHECKERED FLAG HOME FROM ARIZONA PHOENIX, AZ - Entering the Dura-Lube 500, the GM Goodwrench Service Plus team is on a record-setting streak of consecutive Winston Cup finishes. Going back to the 1996 Watkins Glen Winston Cup race, Dale Earnhardt and the GM Goodwrench Service Plus team have finished 43 consecutive races making it a new NASCAR record. - With only two races remaining on the 1997 schedule, Dale Earnhardt is looking to extend his record to 16 consecutive seasons with a NASCAR Winston Cup win. His last win came in March of 1996, in the Purolator 500 in Atlanta Motor Speedway. - Crew chief Larry McReynolds has made two trips to the Phoenix International Raceway winner's circle. While Dale Earnhardt and the RCR/GM Goodwrench Service Plus team have one win at the one-mile oval in 1990. McReynold's wins came back-to-back with Davey Allison in 1991 & 1992. - With an eighth-place finish in the ACDelco 400 last weened at Rockingham, N.C., Dale Earnhardt has finished in the top-10 in five of the last six races. Those races were Loudon (8), Dover (2), Martinsville (2), Charlotte (3), Talladega (29), and Rockingham (8). QUOTES: "We know we can win," said Earnhardt. "We've finished second four times this year and now it's just a matter of time. I'd like to bring the checkered flag home from Arizona. "The crew has done a tremendous job getting the cars ready to race. Their work in the pits has been outstanding." "The racing schedule keeps us pretty busy," said Larry McReynolds, "so when you have a situation like last weekend with the rain out, it can get hectic getting ready for the next weekend. This is the third time this year we've had to wait an extra day to go racing. I'm just glad we didn't have to come back on another weekend and were able to run the full race on Monday. "The Phoenix track is similar to Loudon when it comes to structure," remarked McReynolds. "They're both flat mile ovals with little banking. We ran good at Loudon both times, and I'm looking for a win at Phoenix." "We've come to Phoenix racing for the championship and left with solid finishes," stated Earnhardt. "In 1990 we were in a tight battle and needed every point. We left Phoenix with the win, and went to Atlanta to clinch the championship. "With the schedules as busy as they are today, I don't get many chances to see Hornaday and the truck team race that much," remarked Earnhardt. "I enjoy watching him race and I'm looking forward to watching the GM Goodwrench/Delco 200." DALE EARNHARDT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY RECORD Date Event S F Laps Money Won 11/6/88 Checker 500 13 11 311/312 $ 15,100 11/5/89 Auto Works 500 7 6 312/312 16,995 11/4/90 Checker 500 3 1 312/312 51,980 11/3/91 Pyroil 500 12 9 312/312 18,200 11/1/92 Pyroil 500 19 10 312/312 21,370 10/31/93 Pyroil 500 11 4 312/312 29,980 10/30/94 Slick 50 500 8 40 90/312 19,575 10/29/95 Dura-Lube 500 2 3 312/312 49,105 10/27/96 Dura-Lube 500 24 12 312/312 29,055 By Champion Sports Group