UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green
America Online Racing
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, March 2, 2003
Venue: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Winston Cup Points Position: 40th

Notes:

7 Jeff Green, driver of the #30 America Online Chevrolet, will start in his 96th Winston Cup race this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the Winston Cup teams compete in the UAW/DaimlerChrysler on Sunday, March 2. Live broadcast is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EST on FOX.

7 Testing at Las Vegas in January, Green and the AOL team bring a brand new chassis to the 1.5-mile oval. Working on race trim throughout most of the test, both crew chief Mike Beam and Green were pleased with the results.

7 In his first outing at Las Vegas, Green not only earned the pole position but he went on to win the Busch Series race in 1997. Since then, he's posted top-10 finishes in each of the Busch Series events he has competed in; however, this year will mark the first time he's not scheduled to compete on Saturday.

7 Sunday's race will be Green's third Winston Cup start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Seeking to improve upon his two previous 33rd-place finishes, he hopes Beam will be the answer for a better posting this weekend.

2002 Race Recap:

Starting 22nd, Jeff Green fought for positions late in the race and came away with a 33rd-place finish. Working his way toward the front, Green had gained seven spots when the first caution fell at lap 11 but with the car tight off the corners, he was challenged getting the Monte Carlo to turn on the flat, 1.5-mile track throughout most of the three-hour race. Two laps down during the first round of green-flag pit stops due to a caution five laps after coming in for service, Green tried to get back on the lead lap but the handling sometimes created too much of a challenge. His best chance to gain a lap back occurred when the yellow flag came out for debris on lap 62, enabling him to get in front of the leaders on the restart three circuits later. Green kept the AOL car out in front for the next12 laps before succumbing to leader Ryan Newman. As one of three drivers two laps behind, Green ran in the 38th position until more cars fell to the leaders and he was able to pick up more spots.

Quotes:

"I hate that we are having such bad luck," said Green, who is 40th in points after tire problems in the first two races. "Mike Beam has done a great job adjusting the AOL Chevy during the race and we've been able to move toward the front. We've just got to get those finishes. Although I've struggled some in the Winston Cup events at Las Vegas, I really like the track and think we can pull ourselves together for a great finish this weekend.

"The AOL team has improved over last year," continued Green. "Our pit stops are better and we're gaining positions nearly every time we make a stop. It's still very early in the season and, with a couple of good races, we can be right back up where we need to be in points.

"Last year, the car was just way too tight and very difficult to turn. We kept making adjustments and we finally were able to gain some positions late in the race. It wasn't the finish we were looking for, but we completed the race and gained some experience. I'm just hoping we can bring some of my Busch success into the Winston Cup garage.

"Las Vegas offers a very different type of animal to what we have seen so far. The flat tracks are challenging to set up but I like that type of racing. You've got to find the right line and get into a rhythm around the track. I really hope we can leave Las Vegas with smiles on our faces."

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