Chevy Rock and Roll 400 - Greg Sacks Notes

GREG SACKS NOTES, QUOTES: Rock & Roll 400
‘New Team, Old Track’

This weekend Greg Sacks and the #13 ARC Dehooker/Vita Coca Dodge team head to the .750-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway for Saturday night’s Richmond 400.

Daytona Speed, Inc., which fields Sacks’ car, is preparing for a strong charge throughout this year and into next season in NASCAR’s top series. The team is planning on a full-schedule, two-car effort in 2005 following a limited schedule the rest of this year.

Sacks, the only Long Island, N.Y., native in racing’s most popular series, drives the Dodge for the team owned by himself, Ed Raabe and James Wilsberg. Sacks, a former NASCAR Nextel Cup winner at Daytona International Speedway, is well known throughout the racing world as a winner in every series he has attempted. From his championship days of NASCAR Modified racing – which many consider the most exciting stock car racing – to his major league days, the Mattituck, N.Y., native who now lives in Port Orange, Fla., has never failed to prove his talents.

Ed and Ann Raabe, commercial and residential contractors, head the marketing ventures of the team through their family-owned Anga M’hak Publishing, along with the team’s Director of Marketing, veteran Rick Turbin.

James Wilsberg, owner of Mattituck Plumbing and Supplies, was also the owner/crew chief of the now famous Wilsberg #5 car piloted by Greg Sacks. In 1982 together they took the Modified Series by storm racking up an incredible 28 wins in 38 races. As Sacks recently said, “What excites me the most about having Jamie with us is that he brings his own winning attitude and formula for success to our organization”

The thoughts of ARC Dehooker/Vita Coca Dodge driver Greg Sacks heading into Richmond:

“Richmond is one of the finest short tracks in the country. It’s fast, wide, and produces great racing for the drivers and fans. It’s an awesome facility and a great place for this team to race. I’m excited to get back to racing, and Richmond is a great place for us to get back on the race track and continue moving forward with our program.

“The track has a lot of history to it - a lot that you just can’t see anymore. They have made so many changes throughout their history, but still it’s a vintage track. It still sits on the fairgrounds, it’s a Saturday night race and it’s a short track. It brings back memories of the old three-quarter mile track that used to be inside the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. I used to race Modifieds on that track. Richmond reminds me a lot of that.

“There is so much history built around so many of these tracks today. Richmond is a great example. The track just wasn’t always what it looks like today, but it’s still on its foundation. That’s what makes this place so special. The configuration might have changed, but the magic and tradition is still here. It’s still inside the fairgrounds. It’s still where Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson all raced. It’s hallowed ground in a lot of different ways for a driver.

“Growing up and racing Modifieds in New England, and throughout the Northeast, there were a lot of storied tracks that I’d race. Winning on them was important. It established you and your racing career. Moving up and winning at a track like Daytona - that helped define my racing career. Milestones are set and then made to be broken. I’ve accomplished many throughout my racing career, but now I’ve got new goals and new ambitions.

“Bringing this new ARC Dehooker/Vita Coca Dodge team to Richmond is a part of taking steps to accomplishing those goals. We’re a new team, but we have big things in mind. We’re going to Richmond with an open mind, but looking to start a tradition of our own. I am here to win and be competitive. Racing is all I’ve ever wanted to do. We’ve spent a lot of energy to make this team a reality and I take it very serious.

“We have certain goals for this new team. Like the ones I’ve met in the past, they all come with their own certain challenges. Fortunately I’ve been able to meet them in the past. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it once more. We’ll be looking to go forward this weekend.”