Mike McLaughlin Talladega Preview

MIKE McLAUGHLIN'S RECIPE FOR SPEED

1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo stock car 1 Ron Hutter built NASCAR Busch Grand National engine 1 Monte Carlo body hung by Charlie Bruenholzl 6 Veteran Cicci-Welliver crew members A sprinkle of well built shocks 1 veteran race car driver with a high desire to go fast A big helping of good racing luck

A few months before the big race, begin preparations on the recipe. Like a fine wine, a fast racecar takes time to build and you must pay attention to details along the way. As the frame of the car is finished, hand car to Charlie Bruenholzl and his staff to hang the body. After Charlie has perfected the body, add the engine, shocks and other parts as desired. Upon arrival at track, add driver and hold the gas pedal to the floor for 113 laps. With a large dose of racing luck added to the mix, one can expect good results and a chance at visiting Victory Lane.

That's the recipe to success used by #34 Goulds Pumps driver Mike McLaughlin as he prepares for the Touchstone Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. McLaughlin's recipe has worked well in the past. Over the last nine restrictor plate races, McLaughlin has qualified inside the top-ten nine straight times, including winning one pole position and three outside poles.

McLaughlin has the qualifying package down to a science, it's the strong finishes that have eluded the driver of the Goulds Pumps Chevrolet. Only twice in 14 total restrictor-plate races has McLaughlin finished inside the top-ten. McLaughlin has been plagued by accidents and other freak occurrences during the races.

"We have almost perfected the recipe," McLaughlin said. "I think it's the good racing luck that we have left out of our recipe in the past. We are lucky at Cicci-Welliver Racing to have all the key ingredients for speed. With Ron Hutter building the engines and Charlie Bruenholzl hanging our bodies, we know we will have a chance for victory this weekend."

Mike McLaughlin and the Goulds Pumps Team will spend this week perfecting their recipe before heading to Talladega. McLaughlin will qualify on Thursday and take the green flag on Saturday at 2:30 EDT. If McLaughlin finds himself in Victory Lane on Saturday afternoon, you will know his recipe has passed all the judges tests.