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Forget The BBQ and the Blues, It's Time For Memphis To Pay Its Dues
Houston, Team ASE/CARQUEST Dodge Set Sights On Tennessee Short Track
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Emmett Byrd
704.792.2091 (office)
704.425.3262 (cell)
emmettbyrd@aol.com
MOORESVILLE, NC- (June 14, 2004) Memphis is a town known best for its
savory BBQ and soulful blues. But when NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
competitor Andy Houston visits this steamy southern city later this week,
he'll be seeking racing redemption rather than culinary enjoyment or
musical enlightenment .
"The last time I competed at Memphis was in 2000," Houston remembers. "We
were running fourth in the No. 60 truck with a couple of laps to go and
the No. 2 Team ASE/CARQUEST Dodge wrecked me on the last lap. We had what
you might call an old fashioned altercation after the race. As a result
maybe Memphis owes me one, and maybe the No. 2 truck owes me one. Now that
I am driving the No. 2 Team ASE/CARQUEST Dodge I plan on capitalizing on
that."
Houston is coming off two straight top-ten finishes in NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series competition and as a result has seen a significant tightening
in the series points scenario. Houston currently sits 15th in the NCTS
standings but is only 62 points out of the 10th place position and only 91
points out of the 7th spot. Now the series heads to Memphis Motorsports
Park, a short track full of character and challenges.
"It's not all that old but it is rough," Houston, a 33-year-old native of
Hickory, NC claims. "It has a lot of bumps. It has a big bump going into
turn one. That corner is pretty flat, so you have to stay right around the
bottom of the race track. It's a big broad corner and you carry a lot of
speed through there and you sweep around it and down the backstretch.
Getting into three there is a huge bump where the crossover gate is
located on the end of the backstretch and it really upsets the truck when
you drive over it. Getting down into three it is a really tight corner
with a lot of banking to hold you, but it's a real sharp corner so you
have you use a lot of brakes going into three. In this corner again you
are right on the bottom of the track and it seems like it tightens up
considerably coming off of turn four. I have never felt like I have
figured Memphis out 100% but we have been competitive there in the past."
While Houston may feel he doesn't have Memphis' tricky .75 mile layout
exactly dialed in he can take solace in his supporting cast. Ultra
Motorsports has had tremendous success there, and three-time NCTS champion
crew chief Dennis Connor is dangerous on any circuit.
"Ultra Motorsports won the Memphis race last year with Ted Musgrave and I
am sure we're going to utilize the notes and the data that was so
effective for them last year," Houston said. "I am excited about going
back there. We're taking the same truck that we used at Martinsville and
Mansfield with a new snout on it and we think we will be good there. We're
excited about the rest of the year. We think we have everybody headed in
the right direction and pumped up. The crew is all on the same page and
working positive."
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park is
scheduled for Saturday June 19th. The event will be broadcast live
nationally on the Speed Channel, MRN Radio and XM Satellite Radio at 3pm
ET.
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