New Breed of Drivers To Compete At Texas

NEW BREED OF NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK DRIVERS TO COMPETE AT TEXAS

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (June 3, 1999) -- The next wave of top drivers from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is ready to pound the shores of Texas Motor Speedway.

The Friday night, June 11 Pronto Auto Parts 400 is the first of two visits the truck series will make to Texas this year, and the drivers are excited about returning to one of their favorite speedways.

"We are so glad to race here, this is such an awesome track," said Greg Biffle, who drives the # 50 Grainger Ford for owner Jack Roush. "I was running second at Texas last year right behind (Tony) Raines when I got tapped from behind and was knocked out of the race. I'd do anything to win at Texas." Biffle is currently fifth in points.

Andy Houston, driver of the #60 The Cat Rental Stores Chevrolet, is currently fourth in the point standings. Houston, who finished second in last year's Pronto Auto Parts 400, says Texas is special to him.

"Texas is the first time we ever led a race," said Houston. "The truck was good enough to win, but we finished second. Second was great in one way, I guess, but it still stinks. "We're starting the Hendrick engine program this week. It's the same as what Jack Sprague runs, and everyone knows how well he does on the big tracks. So now we're really ready to come to Texas."

David Starr, a native Texan who lives in Arlington, Texas, is always happy to run at his "hometown" speedway.

"It's special to be racing in front of so many friends -- hopefully so many that I can't count them all," said Starr, driver of the #73 Sonntag Redi Mix Concrete Chevrolet. "It's nice to come home to a track where you know the set-up before you get there. So many tracks we're racing this year is the first visit for me and the team. We'll be ahead of it here at home.

"We just picked up a new body for our truck. It's more of a superspeedway body which will help us considerably at Texas."

Starting positions for the Pronto Auto Parts 400 and the Longhorn 500 Presented by MCI WorldCom will be determined on Thursday, June 10 during Bud Qualifying Night. Tickets for both races as well as qualifying or available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket hotline at (817) 215-8500, online at www.texasmotorspeedway.com or through local TicketMaster locations.