Pop Secret 500 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green Notes, Quotes: Pop Secret 500
'A big weekend for General Mills'

For the first time in NASCAR Nextel Cup history the series heads to the two-mile California Speedway, located in the city of Fontana, for Sunday's Pop Secret 500. This will be the first time in NASCAR's modern era that the series has not raced at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Labor Day weekend. The change is a big one for General Mills, not only the sponsor for Jeff Green's #43 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn Dodge this weekend, but also the event sponsor. The race will be held at one of NASCAR's newest tracks and in front of nearly 150,000 fans.

Green, 41, is the only driver to have raced for the sport's biggest names. Throughout his career, he has driven for Cup's most legendary names, such as Junior Johnson, Felix Sabates, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, and now Richard Petty. Green is in his first full season driving the legendary Petty Enterprises #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge. The 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National champion, he holds the record for the largest points margin after winning the championship by 616 points. He is also a two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup pole winner, winning poles at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and the pole for the 2003 Daytona 500.

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

"We were really good there the first race. We qualified in the top three, and raced pretty well too. We eventually had some motor problems later in the race, but I think we know that we can still have another good run this weekend. We've improved in some areas and we're still as strong in the areas that put us third on the starting grid the first time. Anytime you've had some success at a track you look forward to coming back. I have had some good runs at the track, and I am looking forward to getting back to the track for a second time this season.

"It's a really big race for Petty Enterprises and General Mills too. Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn is sponsoring this race. With them being on the sides and hood of our Dodge this weekend - we want to impress them. We'll have a lot of folks there. It's not that we want to do better just because of that - we're trying just the same each week. It'd be pretty cool, however, to do well in front of all the folks that support us year round. This is their race. I want to be celebrating with them in victory lane.

"That's really our focus. We want to go out there and do the best job we can. We're building for next season and right now we're racing for wins and good finishes. We want a good race for General Mills. Their participation in this race gives me just that much more incentive to go out there and do the best job we can.

"It's going to be different and a new experience for everyone to be in California on Labor Day weekend, but for sponsors like General Mills, it's a good thing. We're in front of a large crowd and we're right in the Los Angeles market. For us to be in California racing twice a year, giving our sponsors and race team added exposure, it's tough to argue against that added presence. I think it's good for our sponsors and everyone involved with out sport.

"Sure, it's hard to imagine us not ever racing at Rockingham or not being at Darlington this weekend, but times change. The sport has really grown and we have to account for that. This weekend is a part of the change. Our job as racers still remains the same. We're here to win. We're just in a different part of the country.

"NASCAR has a lot of tradition at tracks like Rockingham and Darlington, and now we're looking forward to starting our Labor Day tradition in California with Pop Secret. It's a change, sure, but I think everyone is excited. I know I am ready to get to California and have a good run with this Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn Dodge."