BUSCH: Tim Fedewa's Makes 200th Career Start

CONCORD, N.C. -- Tim Fedewa will hit a milestone in his career as a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division when the green flag drops for the first race of the season at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. The seven-year veteran will mark his 200th career start at the NAPA Auto Parts 300 behind the wheel of the Stanley Racing car. "It's hard to believe that when I walk out onto the track in Daytona on February 19th that it will be the 200th time I've seen them wave the green flag," said Fedewa, driver of the No. 36 Stanley car. "That's a lot of races. An almost unbelievable number of miles around a lot of tracks when you sit back and think about it.

"And when I do think about it, I realize how lucky I've been. I've enjoyed success out on the track and celebrated in victory lane several times. I hope I can celebrate in Daytona with the Stanley Racing team."

Fedewa, 32, knew early on that racing was the choice for him. As a third generation race car driver, it was only natural that Fedewa would follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. As a young boy, he dreamed of building cars, speeding around the race tracks and being crowned a champion. His road to NASCAR started on Michigan dirt tracks in his late teens. He quickly proved to be a promising young driver with a deep-seated passion about racing. He captured several different titles in various car racing series and then 199 races ago, Fedewa made the jump to the NASCAR Busch Series.

He made his Busch Series debut in 1992 and became a Busch Series regular in 1993 when he drove for car owners Ray and Dianne Dewitt. Fedewa scored his first pole at Darlington (S.C.) Speedway in March of 1995 and won his first race on his 67th career start at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway that May. His second and third wins came in 1998 at Nazareth Speedway and South Boston (Va.) Speedway.

In the past 199 races, Fedewa has posted three wins, three poles, 18 top fives and 48 top-10 finishes.

"I started with four races in 1992, and I immediately knew that the Busch series was the perfect fit for me," Fedewa said. "The series has changed a lot - there's more travel, more cars, more fans and more competition. This year, there will be more than 100 cars trying to get the pole for Daytona - that's amazing.

"But regardless of all the changes, I love my job. This was what I dreamed of doing since I was a little boy, playing with toy cars in the dirt. I love the thrill of competition, and I wouldn't trade the opportunities I've been given for anything.

"I'm living my childhood dream. Now, how many people can say that?

"I'm already looking forward to the next 200 starts."