Odessa Friday Notes

O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 Friday Notebook By Brett Borden

ODESSA, Mo. (May 21, 1999) Notes from Friday's action at I-70 Speedway, site of Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 200.

The teams have been allowed to purchase an extra set of tires of their choice for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 at I-70 Speedway. The move comes to allow for the heavy rain the western Missouri area has received recently, and the fact that the track has recently had a 1/2-inch of surface grounded from the turns.

Greg Biffle has had a bad week leading up to Odessa. Aside from a disappointing 14th-place finish at Pikes Peak after leading the NAPA 300K there early, he crashed in a test in Toledo, Ohio when the throttle in his truck stuck. He arrived at I-70 Speedway in a soft cast. It didn't affect him too badly, as he ran 2nd fastest in the first Friday practice session and then fastest in the second session.

"The track is really fun, but tough because it's bumpy, fast and has high banks," Biffle said. "You really need to have the truck turning good but you need grip coming off the corners, too. You need endurance, too, because that track will wear you out. It's going to be hot and you have to keep putting fluids in and try to keep your concentration.

"I come from short track racing. It's a lot of fun and it's what makes this series unique because the way these trucks are, you can bump and bang and still run well. I expect to see a lot of that on Saturday."

Jay Sauter became the 8th member of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Millionaire Club when his winnings last week at Pikes Peak boosted him over that milestone mark. "It's great to be included in the Million Dollar Club," Sauter said. "We haven't had much luck at I-70, so it would be great to turn things around here this weekend and add to the million.

"This year's event at I-70 will be the first time that the truck series will have hot pit stops here. All of the teams will be on an equal basis this weekend between the open pit stops and the work that has been done on the track. It should make for good racing."

Craftsman announced that they will host the first annual Craftsman "Over the Mountain" Poker Run to Bristol on June 3, starting in Mooresville, N.C. and concluding with an autograph session and "Craftsman Convoy" hauler parade at the Sears store in Johnson City, Tenn. It is a motorcycle poker run for charity, with the best hand getting to pick the charity. Craftsman tools will donate $2,000.

Source: NASCAR Online