WITH ROOM TO BREATHE, THE WOOD BROTHERS/JTG TEAM REFOCUSES THEIR EFFORTS

In lieu of Boris Said's fill-in efforts last weekend at Watkins Glen - and the 14th place finish he garnered - the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG race team finds itself once again back in the top-35 in owner points. At the present time, they remain 37 markers ahead of the 36th place team of Dave Blaney. Now in their sights is a return to the scene of their best run of the year at Michigan International Speedway. Driver Bill Elliott will once again pilot the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford on the race track where he has more wins than any other active driver - seven. Things are definitely looking up.

The Wood Brothers/JTG race team will be bringing chassis 75 back to the race track this weekend. This car has been by far their most competitive machine in the shop. The road crew affectionately calls the vehicle their "Money Car" for the way it performs on the race track and how it responds to changes. This same car was used during the last run at Michigan in June, where Elliott brought the car home in a season-best 11th place after starting 21st.

Elliott's record at Michigan is second to none - literally. At seven wins, he leads all active drivers with the number of victories at the two-mile track. He now has 55 starts, seven wins, 17 top-five finishes and 29 top-10 finishes at the Irish Hills venue. He's led over 1,000 laps and holds an incredible seven Bud Pole Awards at Michigan as well. Of those seven Bud Pole Awards, Elliott once took four straight, coming in the years 1984-1985.

Now that the team has crossed that all important threshold into safe territory, their plan is to fight as hard as possible to increase the gap and stay protected for the rest of the year. This weekend may be their best chance to take that important first step to permanent qualifying security, both this year and into the next.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY
Bill Elliott, driver of the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford:
"I've received a lot of attention for turning the wheel over last weekend, but I certainly believe it was the right thing to do. It got us back in the top-35. For those teams not mixed up in this situation, I think it's hard to appreciate the levels of concern and anxiety that comes with wondering where you'll end up, not just this year but next year as well. Now we're there and it's earned. We've got to stay on this side of the line from here on out. It's a different feeling going to the race track knowing that and we want to hang on to that feeling.

Michigan has been one of my best tracks and we're bringing the same car we took back in June. I hope that come Sunday, we'll have that point total doubled over what it is now. Hopefully, we'll keep building this momentum and moving straight up that owner point list for the remainder of the year."

Michael McSwain, Crew Chief of the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford:
"It's no secret now we're in a good position. In one way of thinking, you're happy to be on the right side of that cut-off point, on the other, it's still 35th place and this is a much better team than that. We've got a great chance to build up that lead by virtue of where we're going this weekend. We've got some good notes on the setup and we'll get Bill comfortable and fast again. It's time to look forward, not backward."

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