Go to content Go to navigation Go to recent PR reports Go to search

This Week in Ford Racing - Sprint Cup

Tuesday March 4, 2008

 


Your browser may not support display of this image. 

Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion, and Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion, have combined for 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.  As the schedule shifts back east for this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, both drivers talk about why the track is so popular among competitors and fans. 

GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 3M Ford Fusion -- ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO ATLANTA?  “Yeah.  Atlanta is a fun place to race.  It’s almost like Michigan or one of those other places.  The track surface is abrasive and the tires wear and the cars slow down a second or two, and that makes really good racing.  It makes tire management an issue.  It makes car control an issue and it puts on a good, good race.  We hope that more of our race tracks get looking like that because they put on fantastic races.” 
 
IS THAT A TRACK THAT PUTS DRIVING BACK IN YOUR HANDS?  “A little bit.  You definitely have to have a car handling well and balanced to be able to strut your stuff.  It’s a little bit more of a driver-oriented race track.” 

CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion -- ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO ATLANTA?  “Atlanta is fun.  I love Atlanta for all the reasons – me winning there.  That weekend was unbelievable.  It really got our whole Cup program going and I think it’s gonna be good.  We were terrible in our test, so, hopefully, we’re better but we were terrible.  Kyle Busch was head and shoulders faster than anybody there, so I hope we’ve caught up to him.” 

DO YOU LIKE HAVING THAT LANE BUFFET WHERE YOU CAN GO FROM BOTTOM TO TOP AT THAT TRACK?  “I just think everyone feels comfortable at Atlanta.  Everybody is familiar with exactly where to run and how the lanes all work.  I’ve never heard the term lane buffet, but I’m gonna use that one.  You kind of choose whatever you want there.  It’s pretty fun.  With the way these cars drive, it seems like they run pretty well and kind of open up lanes at every track.  You can kind of run all over the place with them, so Atlanta is gonna be fun.” 

Your browser may not support display of this image. 

David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion, is coming off a 10th-place finish in last weekend’s Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and enters this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide event fifth in the point standings.  Ragan, who cut his racing teeth at Atlanta Motor Speedway, recently recalled what those early years were like. 

DAVID RAGAN – No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion – DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST TRIP TO ATLANTA AS A KID?  “It was probably back with I was 12 years old and the first few races on the quarter-mile track at Atlanta was a tough task trying to figure out.  I can remember tearing up a car in a heat race and then trying to get ready to run the feature.  And then I remember the first time I made it through practice, then the heat race and then I won the feature.  That was a lot of fun, so there are a lot of good memories from Atlanta and I look forward to going there again soon and picking up where we left off.” 

IS THE FEELING YOU HAVE AS A 12 YEAR OLD LOOKING AT THE QUARTER-MILE TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME THE SAME AS A CUP ROOKIE LOOKING AT THE BIG TRACK?  “Yeah, that’s about right because you didn’t have much experience of really doing anything, so the first few laps were just trying to figure out where to go and how to drive and how to race other guys.  Then by the time you got that figured out, it’s time to move on to the big track, so I think going there as a rookie last year I had somewhat the same kind of feeling.” 

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK IN LAS VEGAS FROM KURT AND KYLE BUSCH ABOUT HOW SPECIAL A WIN IN THEIR HOMETOWN WOULD BE.  DOES ATLANTA HAVE THAT SAME MEANING FOR YOU?  “Yeah, it’s very similar.  Obviously, you have a lot of family and a lot of friends there that if you won, it would be a lot of fun.  Certainly any win at the top level of NASCAR would be a good feeling, but if you can do it with friends and family to help you celebrate would just make it a lot better.” 

Your browser may not support display of this image. 

Colin Braun, driver of the No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150, has his sights set on the fastest track on the circuit for this weekend’s American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Braun makes his fourth career start this weekend in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. 

COLIN BRAUN – No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150 – WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR OFF WEEK? “We had a chance to go down to the Athletes’ Performance Center in Tempe, Arizona, where the Red Sox players work out.  I learned a lot about nutrition and how to be prepared from a fitness level and nutrition stand point.  I really had a good time.  I enjoyed myself and learned a lot about my body and looking forward to put those things to good use as the races get harder, hotter and longer.” 

CAN YOU APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED THERE TO YOUR REGULAR TRAINING?  “I think so.  They taught me a lot about how to eat right, how to prepare for a four-hour race in terms of what to eat and how to drink.  Also, the working-out aspect of things, and even just being fit and prepared.  I think a lot of that carries over into driving these race cars.” 

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A RACE WHERE YOU HAVEN’T RACED BEFORE? “Luckily for us, we had the chance to take the No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150 to Atlanta and test there in January.  For me, being able to test on a race track that I’ve never been to, it was a big help. To have my teammate Erik Darnell there was very helpful.  I learned a lot and I think I have a good understanding of the race track when I go out there this week in the first session.  It won’t take me a full tire or fuel run to kind of figure out where the race track goes. I should know a little bit better about where to drive and what line sight I need to be running on.  In California I was able to watch some of the Nationwide practice on top of Carl Edward’s trailer. When you watch practices up there, it gives you a chance to see what the race track is doing.  In addition to seeing what the track is doing, it gives me a chance to be a part of what is going on.” 

ATLANTA IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FASTEST TRACK ON THE CIRCUIT.  WHAT HAVE YOUR ROUSH FENWAY RACING TEAMMATES SAID? “Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle have been helping me out quite a bit and so have my truck teammates Erik Darnell and Travis Kvapil.  Those guys have been real helpful.  They’re helping me out in how to drive this fast race track.  Obviously having a crew chief like Mike Beam and a spotter like Bobby Hudson, there are quite a few people who all want to help me out and trying to do everything they can to teach me how to drive that race track.  I’m looking forward to going there and getting the chance to run again.  It was kind of weird to have an off week, so I’m looking forward to getting back to driving again.” 

WHILE TESTING, DID YOU GET THE SENSATION THAT THE TRACK WAS THAT MUCH FASTER THAN OTHERS?  “I really didn’t get that sensation in Atlanta when we were there for the test.  It felt fast but it didn’t feel unbelievably quick.  I think that has a lot to do with the new restrictor they put in this truck.  When we went out at tested in Las Vegas, we were flat out around the whole race track, pretty much, and we were flat out around the whole race track in Atlanta as well.  I’m not really sure that there’s a big difference in the trucks in terms of the speed or the sensation of the speed.  When we were at the open test in Atlanta, we were the fastest Roush truck, so we were pleased with that.  I hope what we learned at the test can apply to the race this weekend.” 

CAN YOU USE WHAT YOU LEARNED IN TESTING DURING THE RACE? “I think testing, for us, carries over quite a bit.  We learned some things and the biggest thing was that I was able to go out on the race track and figure out how it feels and where to drive.  I was able to race with a few people and that was really helpful for me.” 

ARE YOU GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE DRAFT?  “Yes, I’m getting more comfortable in the draft.  We’re starting to figure out a little more about the draft every weekend. Every race I’m in, I learn more about driving these trucks in traffic and how they feel in traffic and around other trucks.  The more laps I can do, the better.” 

ON THE NO. 6 CON-WAY FREIGHT FORD F-150 TEAM.  “I think the whole team is doing a great job at adapting and I think just having guys like Mike Beam and Bobby Hudson and all the drivers at Roush Fenway Racing help has been just a huge help for me.  Getting used to these race tracks, I feel like I go out to these race tracks and at least I know a little bit about what these guys are talking about.  I can do a few laps, and then I can kind of figure out what I know.  I’ll take what I’ve learned and what they’ve taught me and everything clicks and it really makes sense.  Being on the track, then talking with the crew, I really understand more of what they are telling me.”

Still haven’t joined the Frontstretch Forums? Here’s a peek at what you’re
missing this week:

How does Jimmie Johnson compare to Cale Yarborough?

Ten things we hated about the 2008 season

Ten things we loved about the 2008 season

Make sure to join us during the offseason as we follow any news and stories that come out.

Click here to join the forums and tell us what you think. Don’t miss out on a chance to share your opinion with a growing community of fans just like you!

This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Beth Lunkenheimer.

 

©2000 - 2008 Beth Lunkenheimer and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!