No. 10 LifeLock Dodge Charger
Talladega Preview

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will see restrictor plate racing action for the second time in 2008 this time at the legendary 2.66-mile track at Talladega on Sunday. Patrick Carpentier and the No.10 LifeLock crew have been making headway on the top-35 in owner points, but still must qualify for the 43-car field on time. The LifeLock Dodge moved up a spot to 41st in owner points after Phoenix and is 165 points outside of the top-35. A cut tire prevented Carpentier from starting in the Daytona 500 so Sunday marks his first restrictor plate race start. The Canadian is watching DVD of past races in preparation.

TV and Radio Times: Qualifying is set for Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (ET) on SPEED TV and MRN Radio. Race time on Sunday is 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Fox and MRN Radio.

DRIVER PATRICK CARPENTIER QUOTES:

ON THE POINTS SITUATION “We have made some gains over the past few races. They may not be huge but it shows that the LifeLock crew is up to the challenge of getting back in the top-35. We’ve gained four spots since Martinsville a few weekends ago. My communication with Mike [Shiplett, team director] and the whole crew is getting better each week. For us, our main goal each week is to get in the race, so we have a different mindset then the other teams inside the top-35.”

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO TALLADEGA? “I think it will be a neat experience. I have been watching a lot of the races on DVD. All I can say is ‘wow’! It looks like so much fun and such a big place. My teammate, Elliott Sadler says it takes a few years off your life every time you go there. I pray we can keep all four wheels on the ground.

“We’ll be realistic and smart. I still have a lot to learn about racing in the draft and the last thing I want to do is get caught up in a big wreck. But you don’t always have a choice on that. So we’ll be respectful and try to keep the car clean. Hopefully by the end we’ll still be hanging around in a position for a good finish.

“My teammates have told me the racing surface is really, really smooth. So there is a lot of grip out there and the tires certainly won’t be an issue. A good handling car isn’t always key at Talladega, like it is at Daytona. You need a car then sucks up well in the draft and you need to have a lot of patience to position yourself at the right place and at the right time for the finish.”

NOTES

Chassis