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Talladega: Dale Jarrett preview

UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest * Jarrett increased his career win total at Talladega Superspeedway to two during the last visit by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series to the 2.66-mile superspeedway. * In addition to two wins, Jarrett has ...

UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest

* Jarrett increased his career win total at Talladega Superspeedway to two during the last visit by the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series to the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

* In addition to two wins, Jarrett has 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. Five of his 11 top-five finishes at Talladega have been second-place efforts while three others have been third-place finishes.

* Finishing is the key. Jarrett has been running on the lead lap at the end of the last eight races that have taken place at Talladega. Since 1998, Jarrett has completed all laps of competition at Talladega but two.

* In his last eight starts during the spring race at Talladega, Jarrett has not finished outside the top 20. His worst finish in the last eight spring races is 18th (2001). Jarrett hasn't finished outside the top 20 at Talladega overall since getting caught up in a last-lap accident during the fall race in 2001 and he finished 25th.

Dale Jarrett Discusses Racing at Talladega Superspeedway

What are your thoughts regarding the new specifications for the front bumper area?

"I think it's a good thing. I think it's probably just a first step to see how we do with this. I don't think there are any safety concerns with the process and it will be interesting to see how things play out as a result of that. We'll probably see some guys push the issue to see how far they can go with it but it is definitely a step in the right direction."

Is it nice going back to a track where you're a recent winner?

"Well it is certainly a good feeling going back to a track where you are the most recent winner. The fall race at Talladega always seems to go better for our team. I think it's a situation where after running the first three we are able to capitalize on that information and use it to our advantage when we go back. But we were pretty pleased with our plate program during the pre-season and we're obviously looking forward to going back to Talladega this weekend."

What is restrictor-plate racing like?

"It's constant mayhem. You don't have enough mirrors. You don't have enough eyes and you don't have enough ears to keep up with everything going on around you. A lot of times you're sitting there and never move the steering wheel and change lanes. That's a strange feeling."

Crew Chief Slugger Labbe Discusses Talladega

What are your thoughts on the bumpers for this weekend?

"Well I think it's a situation where we're going back about four years with what we used to run. As the restrictor plates have gotten smaller we've been searching for ways to let the driver stay in the gas all the way around. That's one of the reasons we go so aggressive with the front bumper so guys could stay in the gas and perhaps move their line by using the bump without compromising the nose of the car. So the way I see it we're going back but NASCAR has kind of been forced into this position by guys not using a lot of good judgment out on the track."

What do you expect to see as a result?

"I think we'll definitely see guys push the issue more on Friday than any other time. We just practice on Friday and if they do any kind of major damage there's time to make repairs and get ready for qualifying still but it will be interesting."

Chassis 10

Chassis 10 is the car Jarrett will race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. It is the same car Jarrett raced in the UAW-Ford 500 last October when the team won after starting from the outside pole position. This will be the car's second start for Team UPS.

-ryr-

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