October 23, 2003

Hamilton Can Make History at Phoenix

Temperature Sensitive: “This track is like Indianapolis because of the way the weather affects the racing surface. Both of the tracks are flat and go from one extreme to the other when the sun comes out or goes back in. When the sun is out, it gets very hot and slick. When that happens there is a challenge with gear ratios and the way the truck is set up to predict how the racetrack is going to be. If there are clouds, then the truck will push. Drivers don’t like that at all, but then again we’re all finicky people by nature. It’s a hard prediction because we practice in the morning and race late in the afternoon. It’s a tricky place; it’s hard on tires like a short track. It’s got four distinctively different corners, and it has a dog-leg straightway on the back. Phoenix is a fun race and one we’ll see some excitement at for sure.”

2004 and Beyond: “Right now we are working really hard on our new 2004 trucks. I would like to get as much of them done before this year is out that we can. I’ve been spending a lot of my time in the fab shop making sure things are going according to my plan. Our goal next year is to get our trucks as close as they possibly can be so we can use the same setups and strategies all year. Chad and I are taking similar trucks this weekend so we can test the waters. I feel like that will give us the best base setup and we can try more things during practice that way. The new common template rule will be a different deal for the truck series. So we want to be on our toes in the off season.”

100th top 10: “I think it’s says a lot for our organization to even be in contention for 100 top-10 finishes. I’m proud that my name is attached to this organization and that I’ve had a hand in all that we’ve accomplished since 1996. Phoenix has a lot of history for me. I got my start there in a Winston Cup car, I’ve won a race there and one of my trucks has won there as well. It would be really unique to claim 100 top-10 finishes at the same track that I’ve accomplished so much.

Notes:

· Scarface is once again the chosen truck for Phoenix. Hamilton has raced it 10 times this year. His best finish is third (Indianapolis, Loudon). He has finished in the top five with this particular truck five times.

· Hamilton’s finish in the top five at Martinsville inched him one step closer to history. All he needs to do this weekend is have one of his teams finish in the top ten and BHR will have 100 top-10 finishes on the charts.

Weekend Off: “I’m going to the race track on my weekend off. Bobby Junior is racing in Atlanta and so I’ve decided I’m going there to watch him. You know me, I can’t get enough racing in on any given weekend. Atlanta is a track that is very fast. These young whipper snappers don’t have all the same fears that us old guys do, so I’m sure that Busch race will be one of the best this weekend. Bobby Junior is also trying to make the Winston Cup race, so I’ll hang around on Sunday if he does. I would like to see him have another strong run and Atlanta is the type of track he can do it. He’s had a great season, and shown that he is one of the best drivers out there. Sunday morning I have an appearance at the Square D hospitality tent, and then you never know what I might do. If Bobby Junior qualifies for the Cup race, I might go to the grandstands with them to watch it.”