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Pennzoil Dodge Racing Preview: Raines Heads for Phoenix

30 October 1997

Motivation No Problem for Raines at Phoenix

Motivation comes easy for Tony Raines as he begins preparing today 
for his second event at Phoenix International Raceway with the NASCAR 
Craftsman Truck Series.  Back in April, Raines was among the top 10 in 
practice, but struggled in qualifying and failed to make the show.  

But, the Hoosier-rookie knew he was better than that showing, which 
he proved a month later when he captured a win at I-70 Speedway in 
just his seventh series start.  Now with only two 1997 events left, 
Raines finds himself 15th in series points and fourth in the battle 
for Cintas Rookie of the Year.


Raines on...

...his goals for this trip to Phoenix:

"I definitely want to redeem myself by putting up a good qualifying 
run and having a competitive race.  We want to finish this thing as 
far up front as we can, and if we can get our second win here, I'd be 
tickled to death.  

"My goal is not just to make the race.  I'm not looking at the 
first obstacle, I'm looking at the big one, and that's the race 
itself.  When I came here in the spring, we had a good truck and had 
practiced real well and I might have let my guard down in qualifying.  
That won't be a problem this time."  


...finding a good set-up at Phoenix:

"It's really a fairly easy track to run.  It's a lot of fun to 
drive.  It's big, it's fast and it has long corners.  It's a little 
tricky to get it `really hauling the mail,' but that's what we're 
going to try to do with the Pennzoil Dodge this weekend."


...what he has learned since the fourth race of the season:

"I'm certainly a lot more comfortable in the Pennzoil truck now 
than I was this spring.  I've learned a lot about how to help the crew 
set the truck up and how to adjust it to make it better.  I think with 
what I've learned, plus the laps I have run here over the years, I 
think we'll have a good weekend.  I've got a ways to go as far as 
learning in the truck, but that goes for everybody, because you never 
stop learning."

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