1-800-PIT-SHOP.COM 300 - Mike Bliss Notes

Mike Bliss
No. 20 Rockwell Automation CHEVROLET
CALIFORNIA Quotes and Notes

Event: CaliforniaSpeedway.com 300 Date: April 26, 2003
Track: California Speedway TV: FOX 4:00 PM EST
Laps/Miles: 150/300 Radio: MRN 3:30 PM EST

QUOTES

Driver Mike Bliss on driving at California Speedway…
“I am really looking forward to going to California. Growing up in Oregon, it is nice to be back on the west coast. I am going to take a couple days and visit with my family. I spent the weekend off messing around in my yard and I am ready to get after it again.

California is similar to a really big Las Vegas. It has two grooves, so if your car is not handling well, you can move your car up the track and try to find the fastest line. It is a wide track with plenty of speed. I have run well here in the Truck Series, so I hope that success will continue in the Busch Series.”

Crew Chief Tim Shutt on California Speedway…
“I am excited to be going back racing. California is one of those fast tracks where you have to make smart decisions on the car. The track is so fast, if your handling is off you can easily go a lap down before you have a chance to fix it.

The two keys to this weekend are going to be qualifying and pit stops. You really need to start up front and keep it up front. It is also known for its long green flag runs. It is not rare to only have one or two cautions in this race. That puts a lot of pressure on the crew to turn around fast, flawless stops under green, to help the driver pick up some positions on pit road.”

NOTES

Last Race…Mike Bliss returned from the Nashville Superspeedway with his fourth top-five finish of the 2003 season. After wrecking his primary car in qualifying, Bliss drove his back up car from a 43rd starting position to the lead with 15 laps to go. After dipping on pit road for a splash of gas, he returned to the track and battled with the leaders before the car became too tight and he was forced to a fourth place finish.

Drive it like a Truck!… While competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Mike Bliss has experienced a lot of success at California Speedway. During his four races, he has captured one pole position, one win and has finished in the top-10 all four times. He also has completed every lap in those four races and led 117 of the 400 laps he has completed.

Points Charge… After leaving Daytona in the 33rd position in Driver’s Points, Mike Bliss has used a string of consistent finishes to help him hammer his way back into the title hunt. After his fourth place finish at Nashville, Bliss has moved into the fourth position just 102 points behind leader Todd Bodine.

Chassis Info… This week the #20 team is bringing Chassis 1833. This will be the second race of the 2003 season for this car. Car 1833’s first race was two weeks ago at Nashville Superspeedway where it unloaded fast before getting damaged in a qualifying incident. The crew worked hard in the off weekend to repair the nose and the rear end to have it ready for California.

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