Race 2 Win: Sam's Town 300 - Reed Sorenson Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Sam's Town 300 - Reed Sorenson Notes

Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Discount Tire Dodge
Sam’s Town 300 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 03.11.06

Discount Tire Team Fast Facts:

Meet Reed in Vegas: Reed Sorenson will stop by the Discount Tire store located at 7295 W. Azure Drive in Las Vegas to meet area race fans and sign autographs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. PT Thursday, March 9.

Rankings: Sorenson and the No. 41 Discount Tire team were derailed from finishing their run in Mexico City this past weekend. Due to mechanical problems, the team ended its day in 36th place. Sorenson now stands 15th in the overall NASCAR Busch Series drivers’ points and 17th in the owners’ standings. Sorenson and the Discount Tire team are less than 30 points out of 10th place.

Back to NEXTEL Racing: Along with his Busch’s series run this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sorenson will return to NEXTEL Cup competition. Two weeks ago at California Speedway, Sorenson and the No. 41 Target Dodge team finished 21st in Auto Club 500. Sorenson is currently tied for fifth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings and is seven points behind leader Clint Boyer. He also stands 24th in the overall NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship standings. Sorenson’s NEXTEL Cup teammates, Casey Mears and David Stremme finished seventh and 33rd respectively at California. Mears still holds second place in the NEXTEL Cup championship standings, just 39 points behind first-place, Jimmie Johnson, and Stremme stands 33rd. Along with Sorenson, Stremme is also tied for fifth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, seven points behind Boyer.

Chassis: This weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brian Pattie and the No. 41 Discount Tire team will enter Chassis No. 557 in its first race ever. The team tested the car earlier this year at the Las Vegas track, but this weekend will mark its first official competition.

Reed Sorenson Q&A

Reed, you are getting ready to head back to Viva Las Vegas. This will only be your second time, so what have you done to prepare for the second time around? “I really like racing at Las Vegas. I had fun running it last season. The Discount Tire crew really had our car dialed in and it was stout on the long runs. We had a little stumble in the pits with a lug nut falling off, but we overcame it and pulled out with a top-10. As far as what I learned, our car wasn’t the strongest on the high-side of the track so we had to find what did work for us, and we did. Testing there earlier this year went well, so if we play our cards right we will hopefully be able to make up for what we lost last weekend.”

How disappointing was your outcome in Mexico City this past weekend? You guys were running so well, came all the way from the back of the field to only fall out in the last 20 laps due to mechanical problems. “We had a really tough weekend in Mexico, and I really just want to put that behind us. Brian always does a good job getting me and all of the guys to shake off things that hinder us because once they’re done, they’re done and the only thing all of us can do is learn from them. It was tough because I know we were going to get out of there with at least a top-10, if not a top-five, but it’s over. We just move on.

“One thing for sure is we were gaining on the other teams there and a lot of that was due to our pit strategy and the guys turning things around for us in one day after we had the problems earlier in the weekend. Road-course racing is very challenging. After a weekend like we had, I admit I’m looking forward to running on an oval track again.”

Do you have any special plans away from the track while staying in Vegas? “I know I have a few sponsor dinners and appearances here and there, and plan to catch a show for sure. Other than that, I don’t have anything nailed down, but I’m sure I’ll find something to do with the little free time I have.”