Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen - Scott Riggs Notes

RIGGS AIMS FOR A CAREER-HIGH ROAD COURSE FINISH

WATKIN'S GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 9, 2005) -- Scott Riggs is aiming for a career-high road course finish this weekend at Watkin's Glen International, where the Valvoline team will make its second and final road course start of the season.

Riggs qualified 31st for the same event last year, but was able to stay out of trouble and collect a 23rd place result. In his only road course start this season (Infineon Raceway in June), Riggs qualified 16th and looked to finish in the same position before his No. 10 Valvoline Chevrolet ran out of gas in the final turn of the final lap, falling to 24th.

"I won't say I'm looking forward to road course races just yet but I'm not dreading them either," Riggs joked. "Staying on the racetrack is still our number one strategy, but I'm getting to the point where I can think about passing people too."

Riggs has limited experience with road races. NASCAR removed road courses from the Craftsman Truck Series schedule the year he began competing on that circuit. He did not compete in any road races during his Busch Series career.

"Every time I entered a new series, road courses were taken off the schedule," explained Riggs. "So I never got a chance to get any experience. Finally, after a few Nextel Cup road races, I've gotten some seat time and some laps under my belt and my results are getting better."

Riggs' road-course racing has improved drastically since his first career attempt last year. He started that race (at Infineon) 41st and finished 42nd. He contributes the development to hard work by the team.

"We've worked hard not only on getting the road-course cars much better but on getting the driver better," offered Riggs. "I went to a road course school for a day and did a lot of testing and practicing with Boris (Said) in the off season. I felt like I was getting to the point in Sonoma where I could do things as a reaction and not have to think about them ahead of time. I wasn't a step behind the whole weekend.

"Our best road course finish was last year at Watkin's Glen, but our best road-course weekend was by far this year at Sonoma. That gives the team confidence heading into Sunday's event. Last year we stayed on the course and were lucky enough to finish 23rd. This year we hope to be competitive and earn a career-high road-course finish."

Sunday's Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen will be televised on NBC beginning at 1 p.m. ET.