October 8, 2003

Hamilton wants to lead the most important lap in Texas this time

Square D Racing Preview: Silverado 350K
Location: Texas Motor Speedway
Qualifying: Oct. 10th 2:15 PM EDT
Race Start: Oct. 11th 3:00 PM EDT Live on Speed

Last Time I Was Here: “In the last race at Texas we had a strong truck. We are taking Butthead (the nickname for the Square D Dodge) back again this time and will hopefully get the same race results, with a better finish. Seventh place was not good enough. I led the most laps and stayed out front all day, but got really tight at the end of the race. Newt (Moore, Crew Chief) was telling me I needed to conserve fuel before the final caution came out. We didn’t want to take any chances with fuel mileage, so we pitted, made a track bar adjustment and added enough fuel to make it until the end of the race. Seventh was a pretty good finish considering that for the final restart we had only 15 laps left in the race and I was sitting in 11th position. I want to go back to Texas this time and repeat that truck race by leading the most laps, but I want to lead the most important lap this time, the last.”

Serious Setups: “It seems like every time we go to a race on a 1.5-mile oval, I’m always telling Newt to put the Texas setup under my truck. I want the same weight that was in the nose, the same tire pressures, the same shocks, springs, everything. That truck would just flat out move. I could put it anywhere I wanted on the race track and it would take off. It didn’t matter where I raced, high groove or low groove; it really stuck to the track. That is the same thing we are looking for this time. Not only am I taking back the same truck, it will have the same setup. I dare anyone to make it different (Hamilton said jokingly). This is one race that was easy to get ready for, just go back look at the old notes and do the same thing. But watch, knowing our luck something will be different about the track and we will be totally off.”

Pulling For Teammates: “At first I have to pull for someone who is out of my stable to win a race. Then after that I have to look at who else is privy to my operation and that would be Dodge, hands down. If someone from BHR cannot win a race or even the championship, then I want a Dodge to do it. They deserve it and have earned it. I owe so much gratitude to them for all they have done for me since my operation started. I would love to see them on top of the charts in both fields, driver and manufacturer champions.”

Notes:
• This weekend’s truck is Butthead. In four starts this year in this particular truck, Hamilton has finished in the top-ten positions three times.
Team Information:
• Front Tire Changer Dale Newcomb Hamilton’s Career Statistics
• Front Tire Carrier Randy Seals Starts Wins Poles Top 5’s Top 10’s
• Rear Tire Changer Tony Pinkelton 45 3 5 12 22
• Rear Tire Carrier Daniel Rankin Career Money Won: $567,460
• Jackman Stephen Douglass
• Gasman Mike Goins Crew Chief: Newt Moore`
• Catch Can David Short Spotter: Andy Dunlap
• Engine Builder Arrington Manufacturing

Points Battle: “The points battle is so different between all three of NASCAR’s premier series right now. I mean look at the differences. Matt Kenseth is 259 points ahead of Kevin Harvick. David Green just took the points lead away from Scott Riggs in the Busch Series, by only 21 points. Then the Craftsman Truck Series has had the tightest battle all year long. It’s switched around amongst several drivers and currently Brendan Gaughan is ahead of Travis Kvapil by 20 points. I think that says a lot for the Busch and Craftsman Truck series. If I were a race fan I would be watching every move made by these guys to figure out who was going to win the championship. NASCAR has done a great job with the points battle. I’m sure they would like to see the Winston Cup battle tighter, but Kenseth has been unstoppable this season. He made only minor mistakes and that is what it takes to win a championship. The rest will unfold here in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.”