GFS Marketplace 400 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green Notes, Quotes: Michigan 400
‘New ideas for old Belief’

Making his 10th career start at the track, this weekend Jeff Green and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team head to the two-mile Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s Michigan 400.

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 Michigan:

“We just never really got our Cheerios Dodge where we wanted it on the first visit to Michigan. We tried a lot of different things, but we were never really able to get it to where I like to drive it. I think we’re going to be better this time. We’ve made a lot up with our engines and that has helped. Our engine will be better this weekend and I think that’s going to help us go a long way.

“We’re bringing a different car too. After everything was all said and done, I don’t think that particular car was the one we needed. We’re going to bring a different car and see what happens.

“Looking at where we are at right now, compared to before, I think we are going to have a better weekend all of the way around. Basically, we should race better than what we did the first time. That’s the goal right now. We need to keep getting better and get some good finishes.

“We’ve made some changes with this #43 team. We have got a new team than what we started the season with. This is really going to be the first race where we can really start a ‘new’ season with these guys. We all started together at Watkins Glen, but with that track being a road course, and being so different, Michigan is where we are really going to start doing some normal, routine work.

“We’re building to win races and doing everything that it takes. Everyone knows that we’ve got to get better and we’re heading in that direction. Getting into victory lane is important. I want to win with this team. We still believe in winning, but we’re taking some new ideas and new people to help us get there. It’s what happens when we finally do win that I can’t predict.

“There has been a lot of talk lately about victory lane procedures. It’s important to have rules and guidelines to help out our supporters, and the sport in general, but as a driver we’re pretty excited when we win. We’ve earned that win, and it’s tough to say that we don’t deserve to celebrate the way we want with the people we want. Everybody is in this together, sure, but we want to celebrate with the ones who got us there to begin with.

“Nextel Cup racing isn’t an easy level to win at on a consistent basis. Winning races is something special for everyone involved with putting that together. We should be able to celebrate all of our hard work the way we want to. We all have to abide by rules and guidelines, and that’s understandable, but it’s nice to be able to celebrate the way we feel when we win.

“It’s a tough call sometimes, and NASCAR is looking out for the good of the sport. There is a way that we can do it and all get along fine. We’ve done it before so it shouldn’t be a big deal now. I just know that it’s going to be a pretty happy day when we get this #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge back in victory lane. I think Michigan is as good of a place as any.”