Subway 500 - Joe Nemechek Notes

NEMECHEK AT MARTINSVILLE: Joe Nemechek will drive the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet in his 19th career race at Martinsville on Sunday. In 18 appearances, the Lakeland, Fla., native has earned one pole position, one outside pole and led for 97 laps.

25 BRINGING RICHMOND WINNER: Team 25 will race Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 2544 this weekend at Martinsville. It is the same car Nemechek raced in the May event at Richmond International Raceway, where he qualified on the outside pole and went on to Victory Lane for his third career Winston Cup win.

LOOKING FOR LUCKY SEVEN: With five races left in the 2003 season, Hendrick Motorsports trails Penske Racing 8-6 in the chase for most Winston Cup wins. Ryan Newman has each of Penske's victories this year, while all four of Hendrick's full-time drivers -- Labonte, Nemechek, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson -- have won at least once.

STARTING UP FRONT: Nemechek has started in the top 10 in his last four races at Martinsville, including consecutive sixth-place starts in the last two events. He has eight career top-10 starts at the .526-mile track.

VICKERS IN 25 AT ATLANTA: Brian Vickers will drive the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet in the final four Winston Cup races of 2003. Originally scheduled to race the No. 01 car in those events, Vickers will pilot the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy at Atlanta, Phoenix, Rockingham, N.C., and the season finale at Homestead, Fla. Nemechek was named driver of the No. 01 on Monday and will drive the final four events for MB2 Motorsports.

HENDRICK AT MARTINSVILLE: Rick Hendrick is third all-time with nine Winston Cup car-owner victories at Martinsville, two ahead of fourth-place Holman-Moody. Petty Engineering is first with 17, while Junior Johnson is second with a dozen.

DELPHI FAST FACT: Delphi manufactures wire at almost the speed of sound -- more than 600 mph.

JOE NEMECHEK, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 UAW-DELPHI CHEVROLET: (ON THE DRIVER CHANGE AFTER MARTINSVILLE.) "I feel like I'll always be part of the Hendrick organization. We'll be using Hendrick engines and I know they'll help us out whenever they can. I am sad that I'm not finishing the year in the No. 25 car, but I think it will work out for both myself and Brian (Vickers) to get a jump on 2004."

PETER SOSPENZO, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 UAW-DELPHI CHEVROLET: (ON THE DRIVER CHANGE AFTER MARTINSVILLE.) "Everyone here has a lot of respect for Joe. He has a great opportunity with another good team, so we're all happy for him. Working with him has been a great experience. He's a pro."

SOSPENZO: (ON MARTINSVILLE.) "We'd love to go to Victory Lane with Joe one more time. We've started sixth in our last two attempts at Martinsville and we're bringing the Richmond-winning car, so we're looking forward to this weekend. Track position will be important and we'll have to take care of the brakes. If we can keep tabs on those things, I think it'll be a good day for us."

©Copyright 2003 Race 2 Win