It’s Go-For-Broke Time Says Nemechek

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 16, 2006) -- Joe Nemechek and the U.S. Army team have one goal in mind for this weekend's all-star racing activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

The 01 team will be putting everything they have into winning Saturday night's preliminary All-Star Open and advance into the Nextel All-Star Challenge. The entry list for the 30-lap Nextel Open is currently at 31 drivers with only the winning driver gaining a berth in the main event.

Along with the Nextel Open winner, the 20-car field for the All-Star Challenge will consist of teams which have won a race in the past year (16), past champions of the All-Star Challenge in the last 10 years (1), past NASCAR Cup champions in the last 10 years (1) and a driver voted in by the fans (1).

"There's no secret about our objective this weekend -- we're just going to mash the pedal and go for broke in the Nextel Open," offered Nemechek. "It's a short race with a tough field and only one team advances. I am confident that we can be that one team. It’s a dogfight type of race and there will be no holding back in the Army Chevrolet."

One thing in Nemechek’s favor is his performance in the last two point races at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He nearly came away with a victory in each race. In last year's Coca-Cola 600 he had a comfortable lead before suffering a flat tire with eight laps remaining. In the fall race at the 1.5-mile oval, Nemechek led late in the race before finishing third.

"We know how to attack Lowe's,” said Nemechek. “Had we not had the flat tire with eight laps to go last year, we wouldn't be in this position to qualify for the All-Star Challenge. Our backs are to the wall and I like to think we're like our soldiers who never quit and thrive on fighting through adversity."

Nemechek is coming off an upbeat performance in last Saturday night’s race at Darlington Raceway.

“We finished 16th in Darlington, but we were much better than that,” said Nemechek. “Two runs in the middle of the race hurt us. But in the beginning and the end the Army car was stout. In fact, at the end of the race we were as fast the leaders. Hopefully we’ll look back at the Darlington race as the turning point of our season.”