JON WOOD GEARS UP FOR THE NEXTEL OPEN AT LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Jon Wood is slated to drive the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford this weekend in the Nextel Open, and hopes to earn the transfer spot into the prestigious All-Star Challenge—which is set to get underway around 9 p.m. at the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

In addition, the practice laps and competition will help prepare him for the double duty he’ll pull next weekend. Wood will make his second official NASCAR Nextel Cup start in the Coca-Cola 600 main event next weekend on the biggest day for auto racing fans all year long. Wood debuted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he started 41st and finished 29th in the No. 21 Air Force Ford Fusion.

Jon Wood has seen the Lowe’s Motor Speedway four times in the past, all in the NASCAR Busch Series, with a best finish of seventh in the 2005 season.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY
Jon Wood, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford:
“I’m pretty excited to get behind the wheel this weekend. This race isn’t for points and that takes a little of the pressure off so that you can concentrate on hanging it all out there for a win. I think it’ll also be a good baseline for finding out what will work for us next weekend in the [Coca-Cola] 600.

It’s a 20-lap shootout for the transfer spot and it should be a wild one out there. That’s not a lot of time to figure things out. If we can get a setup underneath us, I’ll push it as hard as I can.”

Ernie Cope, Crew Chief of the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford:
“I’m kind of glad to be going back to the old car this week, though it is tough to keep switching back and forth. We’ve tested so much lately that we’re a little tired of the COT car right now. I think we’ve got some pretty good notes and we’re going to go into this race on Saturday from the standpoint that we need to learn as much as possible to help Jon next weekend.”

FAST & FUN FACTS: