Sharpie Professional 250 - Steve Grissom Notes

Steve Grissom Notes, Quotes: Sharpie Professional 250
Two-Time Winner Returns to Demanding Track

A two-time winner at the track, this weekend Steve Grissom and the #36 DCT Motorsports Chevrolet team head to the .533-mile high-banked Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Sharpie Professional 250. Grissom knows what it takes to win this Busch race after sweeping both Busch races at the track in 1995. The concrete-surfaced track is regarded as one of the most exciting and demanding tracks on the NASCAR circuit.

DCT Motorsports is led by championship veterans Grissom and crew chief Ricky Pearson. Named for the idea “Dreams Come True,” owners John McGill and Carl Natale - “two guys from Cleveland building a future in motorsports,” as they refer to themselves - have developed the sport’s most cost-efficient, sponsor-friendly marketing setup. It is based on giving full value to sponsors, and utilizing the many business-to-business contacts McGill, a developer, and Natale, a major earthwork contractor, have in place.

DCT Motorsports, seeking sponsorship for next year, plans on running at least a 29-race schedule in 2004, hitting all of the major NASCAR Busch Grand National events and markets. One of the most comprehensive sponsorship packages in any form of motorsports, DCT offers a complete package of top racing equipment, hospitality, public relations, publicity, appearances and show cars.

The thoughts of DCT Chevrolet driver Steve Grissom heading into Bristol:

“It’s great that we go to places like Atlanta, Texas, and Charlotte. It’s fun to race on tracks like that, but anytime you go to Bristol it’s something special for everyone. Sure, I’ve had some success at the track, and maybe that’s why I like it better than some others, but I don’t think I am the only one that thinks that Bristol is pretty unique. I think I have a lot of people in my corner when I say that Bristol is one of the most exciting tracks to go to.

“There are a lot of tracks now that just look the same. Bristol brings something different to the table. It’s that short-track atmosphere, and I think that’s a big part of what makes it so exciting for the fans. There are a lot of short tracks throughout the country that race on any given Friday or Saturday night. It is there where we get a lot of our fan base. The racing that they are accustomed to seeing at those tracks is the beating, banging, fender-bumping racing like what we all see at Bristol. Now you take that short track atmosphere, come to Bristol and see some of the best drivers do that, and now you have something to talk about. Its great entertainment for the fans and it’s a tremendous challenge as a driver.

“It’s great to win at Bristol. Anytime you win at Bristol you know that you’ve done more than just beat everyone, but more importantly you survived everyone. You weren’t just the fastest car out there, but you avoided all the wrecks, you were aggressive all day, and you just outraced everyone else out there. It means a lot to be successful there. It’s a track where you can really showcase your skills and make it count on the track.

“You just can’t put any blame on anything at Bristol. It’s not a fuel mileage race, it’s not a tire conservation race, and it’s for sure not an aerodynamic race. It’s a track where a good car and a whole bunch of driver skill count. It’s a tough track to get around and you have to be up on the wheel all day long. It’s a racer’s race track and that is something that I enjoy the most about Bristol.

“I think we are all excited to get to Bristol. This team raced here last year and to get back to another familiar track for us will only help. Everyone gets a little more excited to go to Bristol. It’s one of the most exiting tracks that we go to all year and everyone wants to do well there.

“I am excited to get to the track. A track like Bristol, where I’ve had some really great runs, it gives you a lot of confidence going back there. I know what it takes to win from a driver’s standpoint. I’ve been in the situation before and have been fortunate enough to come out on top on a couple of occasions. Hopefully we’ll be in that same situation this weekend.”