Pressley Finishes Out 2001 Season Strong

Loudon, NH (November 23, 2001) - During a week normally spent comprised of spending time with family, reflecting on the past Winston Cup season and gearing up for the next one, the NASCAR Winston Cup teams instead spent Thanksgiving Day traveling to New Hampshire International Speedway for the running of the New Hampshire 300. The tragic events of September 11th forced the postponement of the September event and added yet another few days of racing to the already long season for drivers, crew and fans.

The starting line up was determined based on owner points as of September 9, 2001. 43 cars were originally scheduled to start the race but due to the closure of the #27 team, only 42 cars would take the green flag on Friday afternoon. The Jasper Engines & Transmissions Racing team lined up in 21st spot, while Jeff Gordon, Ricky Rudd, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart lined up first through fifth, respectively.

The teams were given a 45 minute practice session Friday morning, with temperatures ranging in the mid 30s. Robert Pressley posted the 27th quickest time in that session.

The green flag flew and Pressley, who was driving his last race in the #77 Ford after filling that seat for four and a half years, quickly let his crew know that he had a car to beat. No changes were made to the Taurus during the first pit stop, which came at lap 33 or on lap 51, during a competition caution thrown by NASCAR to give teams the opportunity to evaluate their cars and tires. About half of the field did not make stops, including the Jasper team. When the green flag flew on lap 56, Pressley was in 12th.

Due to blistering tires seen by many teams, NASCAR once again threw a competition caution on lap 94. This time, however, Crew Chief Ryan Pemberton chose to bring the car down pit lane for four tires and fuel. Again, Pressley asked that no changes be made to the car. He took the green on lap 106 and patiently worked his way towards the front. It wasn’t until lap 200 when the #43 car driven by John Andretti hit the wall and brought out a yellow flag that Pressley asked for any changes be made to the car. A very small air pressure adjustment to both the right rear and right front tires of the car was made in an effort to remedy a tight handling condition that had arisen. The team performed great pit stops all day, a tribute to their hard work all year, especially considering a new rear tire changer was added to the roster early in the week to substitute for a regular crewmember that was unable to make the trip.

The changes made to loosen the car up did not meet the team’s expectations and Pemberton waited as long as possible to bring Pressley down pit road for the last stop of the day. Pressley was in 12th place on lap 267 when he made his last trip down pit road. Tires were changed and fuel was added to the Jasper Engines Ford. Unfortunately, a yellow flag came out on lap 272, when all the leaders had not yet made their final pit stops and the team went down one lap. Only eight cars remained on the lead lap. Another caution only four laps later, due to an incident with leaders Robby and Jeff Gordon after the green flag had flown, enabled Pressley and several others to make up their laps. Pressley worked his way up to 7th place in the closing laps of the race for one of his best finishes of the year.

"We were in the top five all day because we pitted short," said Pressley. "We could have been a hero if it would have played into our hands, but we ended up seventh. We were about a fifth to seventh place car. We just got off on one set of tires and that got us behind, but we're happy. This is a good way to end our deal with this team. We started in Loudon four and a half years ago and had a good run with this Jasper team. Now we'll go on and see what we can do from here."

Robby Gordon drove to his first career Winston Cup victory, followed by Sterling Marlin, Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. Teammates Rusty and Mike Wallace, who utilize Penske Jasper Engines finished 18th and 33rd respectively.

The Jasper Engines & Transmissions Racing team finished out the 2001 season 23rd in owner point standings, it’s highest finish ever. Robert Pressley finished the season a strong 25th place in driver point standings.

The first points event of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season will take place at Daytona International Speedway in a mere 11 weeks. The Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on February 17th, 2001.