Dodge Charger 500 - Jeff Green Notes

Jeff Green Notes, Quotes: Dodge Charger 500
‘There isn’t any other place like Darlington’

This weekend, Jeff Green and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team head to the 1.366-mile Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for Saturday night’s Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. It will be the first time in the track’s history that they have held a Nextel Cup event ‘under the lights.’ Green will be making his 10th career NASCAR Nextel Cup start at the track.

Green 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 second 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 point’s 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 driver Jeff Green heading into Darlington:

“I think a lot of the guys are looking forward to Darlington because it’s close to home. We can drive back after the race and be in our own beds on Saturday night. We can take some time and be able to enjoy Mother’s Day on Sunday. I think that’s a big deal. We’ve been traveling so much lately that we really haven’t had a chance to enjoy our homes. It wears on everyone, but it really takes a toll on the crew guys. They are the ones that have to work in the garage all day and sleep in the hotels at night. I think they need a chance to catch their breaths, and hopefully this is a good opportunity to do it.

“We used to race Darlington twice and Rockingham (North Carolina Motor Speedway) twice, but now we’re down to one race between the two tracks. That is, what used to be four races that were pretty close to everyone’s home, are now cut down to only one. That’s a big difference this season. We have always had this entire weekend off for Mother’s Day, but now we’re racing part of this weekend too. That doesn’t leave too many opportunities for anyone to get some rest. I think being closer to home, and having Sunday off, is going to be a big deal this weekend.

“We are still looking forward to this weekend’s race. It’s one of those places where the driver really makes a difference. You have to have good car control. I like that. You really slide around and the track is really slick. I enjoy that challenge, and Darlington is probably the most challenging track we race. You see guys up near the wall, racing in the middle, and some down low. You just have to do what works and go where the car works on the track. It’s a challenge, but it is pretty fun too.

“It’s just such a different track. The shape, size, and surface of Darlington are all unique. There isn’t any place like Darlington. That’s why is has so much tradition and why it is so special. We race at so many tracks that look like each other that it makes a place like Darlington really stand out. It’s a demanding track, but it’s different and that makes it a highlight of the season.

“I think Darlington is important to NASCAR because it is so unique. It stands for so much in the sport too. It’s steep in tradition and it’s a huge part of where this sport started. I can’t imagine a schedule without Darlington on it. I think it was a shame that we lost Rockingham. I hope the same never happens to Darlington. That would really take a lot of history away from the sport. It’s hard to imagine not racing the #43 around Darlington each year. Racing and Darlington go hand-in-hand, and it’s something we all grew up on. I want to keep racing there.

“I want to win there too. I want to win everywhere, but to have my name listed as a winner at place like Darlington is a great honor. It puts you next to the greats. Winning at places like Daytona and Darlington, tracks that hold so much history, is something we all think about. I’d love to have my first Cup victory come right here.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday night. It’s going to be cool to see this ‘Lady in Black’ all decked out in lights. She’ll be ready to go dancing, and I’m sure she’ll have plenty of partners. I just hope she is pretty nice to this Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge.”