Shane Huffman
Nicorette 300 Preview
HUFFMAN AND NAVY TEAM READY TO RACE IN ATLANTA
Fresh off of a top-10 finish at Las Vegas, Shane Huffman will make his first start at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR Busch Series Nicorette 300.
While Saturday will be Huffman’s first race at the track, he’s no stranger to the Atlanta, Ga., track. However, all of Huffman’s previous trips to the 1.5-mile facility have been as a fan.
Last year the Navy team worked their way up to finish 15th in the spring race at Atlanta after starting 43rd.
The Navy team will run chassis No. JRM 028 at Atlanta. The car was last on track in February at California Speedway, where the team finished 21st.
Last weekend in Las Vegas, Huffman finished ninth in the Navy Chevrolet. It was the team’s first top 10 of the season and the third of Huffman’s career. The finish moved Huffman up to 13th in driver points and the JR Motorsports team to 18th in owner points.
In 15 career NASCAR Busch Series races, Huffman has earned one top five and three top-10 finishes. His best-career start and finish came in last season’s Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park. Huffman started that race third and finished fifth.
Shane Huffman, Driver, No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
What was your first experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway?
“I went to my first race in Atlanta in the late ’90s with a bunch of friends. We bought tickets and sat in the stands in what used to be the middle of Turns 1 and 2. I’ve probably been to a handful of races there as a fan in the last 10 years. The racing is always great there.”
What was the view of Atlanta like from the stands?
“Atlanta looks like a really fast track that’d be a lot of fun. The racing has always been pretty exciting to watch. I can only imagine that it’ll be an even bigger thrill from behind the wheel of my Navy Chevy.”
What are your goals for this weekend?
“Just like the first few weeks, Atlanta will be a new experience for me. I’ve been there many times, but competing there will be a totally different experience. JR Motorsports has a great mile-and-a-half/two-mile program, so I know we’ll have a great car to start off. It’ll just take me a few laps to get adjusted. The first part of the season the focus is more on me getting seat team and get accustomed to the tracks and the tires we run in the Busch Series. Once I get acclimated at Atlanta, I think we’ll bring home a top-10 finish.“
Event Information
Nicorette 300
3/17/07
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta, Georgia
1.54-mile oval
TV – ABC at 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio – PRN at 2:30 p.m. ET
Navy Notables
The fleet honoree for Saturday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway is SEAL Team THREE.
Team Information
Chassis – JRM No. 028
Chassis Info – 21st at California
Engine – RCR
Primary Sponsor – U.S. Navy
Associate Sponsors – Chevrolet, Champion, R&B, Puma, Snap-On, Miller, Wix Filters, Sherwin Williams, Racing Radios
