EA Sports 500 - Joe Nemechek Notes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE: Joe Nemechek is hoping to celebrate his 40th birthday with a pole position on Friday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Nemechek, who was born Sept. 26, 1963 in Naples, Fla., has earned six career poles in NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, including fall triumphs at Talladega time trials in 1999 and 2000.

NEMECHEK OK AFTER DOVER CRASH: Nemechek finished 43rd at Dover following a frightening crash on Lap 80 that put the No. 25 UAW-Delphi team out of the race. Entering Turn 1, the No. 25 Chevy blew a right-front tire, forcing the car into the outside wall. After coming to a stop, Nemechek lowered his window net and emerged safely as workers doused flames coming from underneath the torn sheet metal. The crash was so severe that it cracked the steel retaining barrier, causing a 27-lap caution period as track personnel fixed the problem.

LOOKING FOR LUCKY SEVEN: A victory on Sunday at Talladega would lift Hendrick Motorsports into a tie with Penske Racing for the lead in Winston Cup wins this season. But while Newman has single-handedly given Penske the lead with seven victories, Hendrick drivers have shared the wealth this year. Jimmie Johnson has three wins while Labonte, Nemechek and Gordon have one each.

CHASSIS NO. 2542 FOR TEAM 25: The No. 25 UAW-Delphi team will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 2542 at Talladega this weekend -- the same car Nemechek raced in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in July, starting 15th and finishing 22nd. He also drove the car at Talladega in April, starting 29th and finishing 21st.

DELPHI FAST FACT: Delphi's energy efficient air conditioning system could help reduce American petroleum consumption by enough fuel to take an average car around the world more than three million times.

JOE NEMECHEK, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 UAW-DELPHI CHEVROLET: (ON HIS ACCIDENT AT DOVER.) "I lost the right-front tire going into the corner. I don't know if I ran over something. We had been just a little bit tight and I'd been taking it real easy on that right-front. It just let go going into the corner. It was one of those deals that when it let go, there was nothing you could do."

PETER SOSPENZO, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 UAW-DELPHI CHEVROLET: (ON NASCAR ALLOWING ALTERNATIVE DRIVER EXITS, OR ESCAPE HATCHES, BEGINNING AT TALLADEGA.) "We've looked at it, but we're not going to make any changes. Our man can get out the window -- he's not (Michael) 'Waltrip-sized.'"

SOSPENZO: (ON NASCAR RAISING THE REAR SPOILER HEIGHT AND INCREASING THE DIAMETER OF THE RESTRICTOR PLATE HOLES.) "The good news is that fans should see a little more passing because we'll have more horsepower, but I think you'll still have that big pack of cars. I really hope everyone keeps their head and avoids the 'Big One,' but it usually does happen, more likely than not. You're constantly holding your breath at Talladega, hoping nobody messes up."

SOSPENZO: (WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SAW NEMECHEK HIT THE WALL AT DOVER?) "The first thing you think is, 'Boy, I hope he's OK.' In situations like that, everything just stops until you know. Once your driver climbs out and you're sure he isn't hurt, you can go back to thinking about the car and how to get back out there. But we knew there was no fixing that car."

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