Checker Auto Parts 500 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green Notes, Quotes: Phoenix 500

‘Racing in the ‘Valley of the Sun’’

This weekend Jeff Green and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team head west to the one-mile Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway for Sunday’s 500-kilometer race. It will be Green’s fourth start in NASCAR Winston Cup competition at the track, with a career-high 28th place finish. This will be his sixth start in the #43 Cheerios Dodge and he has already qualified twice in the top 10.

The 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National champion, Green is known for a winning driving style and a true ability to “bring the car home.” In his first full season of NASCAR Winston Cup racing last season, he failed to finish just two races, both of those due to engine problems. He won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500 this year, and has won over $2 million.

The thoughts of #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge driver Jeff Green heading into Phoenix:

“We had a pretty good race a few weeks back at Martinsville, and this week we are going into a track that is a lot more similar than it is different - Phoenix. It is another flat track, and I like those types of tracks. You get pretty excited anytime you go to a track where you feel you can have a good race. I am looking forward to this weekend.

“I really like going to the Phoenix area, and to the race track. It’s a good track. It’s a bit different. Both ends are completely different from each other. Turns One and Two are pretty different from turns Three and Four. It’s just more of a unique track on the circuit as far as layout, shape, and size. That makes it a little bit more challenging, but at the same time, fun too.

“It’s also geographically different from what we are used to. We don’t go out west that often in the season, and only come to Phoenix once. It’s a bit of a geographic change. I guess they call Phoenix the ‘Valley of the Sun’ because it’s right out there in the desert land. This time of the year we need to be in this part of the country. It’s starting to get cooler in the Southeast, it’s even colder in the Midwest, and it’s really cold in the Northeast about this time of the year. Phoenix makes a lot of sense to go to in early November as far as weather is concerned.

“I think one of the biggest things that we chase at the track so much in Phoenix is the weather. It’s pretty cool in the morning, but it gets really warm in the afternoon. That really affects the track and how the cars handle. Once the sun comes out, and beats on the track in the afternoon, it makes it pretty slick. You’re chasing the weather all weekend and adjusting to the track’s conditions.

“The city is great- everything from the great fans in the city to the rattlesnakes in the desert sand. You know it’s a pretty unique place when you have to watch out for rattlesnakes. But even that’s pretty fun. It’s just a fun place to visit. I remember a few years ago the Arizona Diamondbacks were in the World Series at the same time we raced out there. I was able to watch a game, and that was something different to do. It’s a fun city with activities everywhere. It makes it more enjoyable to go out there.

“I’ve had some pretty good runs in the Busch Series, but I haven’t had a lot of luck in the Winston Cup car. But, hey, it’s different circumstances this time around. I am going into the race with this Petty Enterprises Cheerios team and hopefully that is going to make a difference. This team has won out there and has always run pretty well. Hopefully everything will come together for us and we’ll give this Cheerios team a reason to celebrate on Sunday.”

©Copyright 2003 Race 2 Win