Funai 250 - Tony Raines Notes

Top-Five, Four, Three, Two …
Raines Strives For “One” At Richmond

MOORESVILLE, NC (May 11, 2004) – In his last six NASCAR Busch Series starts at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, Tony Raines has posted four top-10 and three top-five finishes including a fourth, third and a career-best second place effort. As Raines strives to capture his first win at Richmond, the same holds true for the Indiana native in the NASCAR Busch Series. With 146 starts to his credit, the most coveted position has eluded Raines – first. For a former ASA Champion and four-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner, the withdrawal from Victory Lane has been a bitter pill to swallow.

“I only have one goal this season -- to win a Busch race,” said Raines. “Last year, my main focus was on the Cup Team (#74 BACE Motorsports) and building a foundation for that program. This year, I’m back in a Busch car on a consistent basis. We’re not competing for a championship so the sole reason this team shows up is to win.”

“When you are not running for a championship, there is no big picture,” Raines continues. “So a top-10 or top-five finish doesn’t really mean as much. As a driver, I know you approach a race differently when your not points racing. You might see a team take more chances in pit strategy or you might race a little harder because you’re not worrying as much about ‘bringing home a solid finish’ because there is only one position you’re concerned with.”

Simply stated, Raines short track stats have been impressive. In the past two seasons, he has not finished outside the top-10 at either Richmond or Bristol in a Busch Series entry and scored his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Race award last year at RIR in the Spring event after finishing 14th. Returning with the same car that has brought the BACE Team such success, Raines believes his chances are strong to bring The Outdoor Channel Chevy home in the top spot.

“Richmond has been very good to me, especially over the past couple of years,” said Raines. “It is one of those places that I wished we raced at four times a year instead of just twice. The momentum in the shop picks up when we are headed to Richmond because of the past success we have had here. I thought we had the car to win last spring but with the late race cautions, we didn’t have enough green flag laps to catch Harvick (race winner). The expectations are high so I know bringing home anything other than a win will be a disappointment.”

BACE FAST FACTS

Ø The Ride… BACE Motorsports crew chief Mark Tutor selected chassis #7401 for this weekend’s upcoming Funai 250 at Richmond International Raceway. This is the same chassis that competed in both Richmond Busch events last season for BACE Motorsports, finishing in the third and eighth positions respectively at the spring and fall events. Chassis #7401 has also been the workhorse at Bristol in the three last Busch outings for BACE with an average finish of fifth place.