Quotes from ESPN Analyst Andy Petree on TMS

[NickHolt]

For Immediate Release - April 10, 2007

 

Quotes from ESPN Analyst Andy Petree on Texas Motor Speedway

 

Q – What are your thoughts on working with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Dale Jarrett this week as he debuts as an ESPN NASCAR booth analyst? (Note: Jarrett is working 10 NASCAR Busch Series race telecasts this season as a substitute for lead ESPN auto racing analyst Rusty Wallace.)

 

“I’m really looking forward to it from both a professional and personal standpoint. Dale and I started our careers together and it’s neat getting us back together in the booth. We’ve never worked together in television before, but being a good friend and someone I’ve known a long time, I think the chemistry will be automatic. Rusty comes from almost the same point of view as Dale - being only one year out of the car - but with Dale just coming out of the car during practice and into the booth, his perspective will be a little different. I’m looking forward to that and it will give us some interesting things we can talk about.”

 

 

Q – You said before the start of the season that you thought Toyota could be a threat in the NASCAR Busch Series. Is Texas a track where a Toyota could win? What driver do you feel has the best chance?

 

“Absolutely, I think they can win. Texas will be a good track for them. But, looking at the Texas entry field for the Busch Series there are so many great NEXTEL Cup drivers – Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick – that’s the only thing that may hold them up. In Nashville, if it wasn’t for Carl Edwards, they would have swept the top three spots. I do see them being strong and I think Texas is a track where their strength will show.

 

“As far as which Toyota driver will mostly likely run up front, that’s a hard one to narrow down especially after Nashville because all three took turns running up front. Dave Blaney has been the most consistent of the three and so if I had to choose one, it would be him.”

 

 

Q - Mark Martin is back with Roush Racing this week. How hard is it for a driver to "go back" just when he's gotten used to working with a new team?

 

“For Mark Martin it won’t be hard at all. He’s got a long history with Roush Racing and it will be like going home for him. He’s taken a couple of weeks off and will have a different perspective coming back. I think in the NASCAR Busch Series race he’s going to be one of the guys to beat at Texas for sure.”

 

 

Q – What is the biggest challenge teams will face at Texas Motor Speedway?

 

“Texas is a very high speed race track and an aerodynamically dependent track. The cars must have good aerodynamics and balance and have chassis setups to maximize that. It is also a horsepower track and teams will need to bring their best engines with them to do well.”

[Dawn]

Man I DIG TMS!!!!!!