Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 - Scott Riggs Notes

RIGGS PREDICTS DARLINGTON WILL BE TOUGHER TO TAME THAN USUAL

DARLINGTON, S.C. (March 16, 2004)b" Darlington Raceway is known as the track "Too Tough To Tame," and Driver Scott Riggs believes the addition of new safety barriers at the 1.366-mile oval will make the task even harder.

Riggs will drive the No.10 Valvoline Chevrolet in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 this weekend and predicts drastic changes in the way drivers pilot their machines around the egg-shaped oval.

"Darlington's one of my favorite tracks, but it's tough," said Riggs, who finished third in last year's Darlington Busch race. "The addition of these safety barriers, and the room they've taken from the track, is really going to shake things up. It will almost force drivers to find new ways of getting around."

By adding the soft walls, 24 inches of asphalt was eliminated from the already slim racing surface.

"It's a narrow track anyway, so this is going to make things tight," Riggs explained. "All of the skills it takes to be a good driver are put to the test at Darlington. This just adds one more challenge."

"The barriers are a great thing," Riggs continued. "NASCAR's done a great job with safety and the tracks have followed its lead. It will be interesting to see how it plays out Sunday. I think it will make for an exciting race."