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Pennzoil Dodge Race Preview: Raines Heads to Colorado as Hottest Rookie

16 July 1997

Raines Heads to Colorado as Series' Hottest Rookie


   In winning "rookie of the race" honors Saturday at Louisville, 
Pennzoil Dodge driver Tony Raines showed veteran patience, gaining 
three positions in the last 75 laps to finish fourth.  He'll need that 
same patience when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series visits the 
3/8-mile Colorado National Speedway Saturday for the Colorado 250.

   Raines won five "rookie of the race" awards during the first half 
of the 26-race schedule, including the last three.  That string of 
performances vaulted him to a third-place tie in the battle for Cintas 
Rookie of the Year with 13 races to go.   

Raines on...

...his goals for the second half of the season:

   "For starters, I want to have three solid finishes on the road 
courses.  I won a race on the road course at Topeka in ASA (American 
Speed Association), so I know it can be done.  If we could go out and 
put the Pennzoil Dodge in the top five, two or three times on the road 
courses, I think we would be in good shape.  I also think we need to 
win another race to really make this year an accomplishment.  

   "I think the rookie title is definitely within reach, but I want it 
to come with another win.  If you're going to be considered top 
rookie, you want to be the best in all aspects.  I don't want a 
`gimme.'  Kenny [Irwin] set the stick up pretty high when he won his 
first race at Homestead, but then I matched it at I-70.  Then he won 
another one at Texas.  So, now we have to go out and get our second 
one."

...keys to maintaining patience on a short track:

   "I really think it is a matter of whether you want to finish or 
not.  It's just common sense.  You can't lose your head, because if 
you do, you'll tear up your stuff and you won't finish.  As the old 
saying goes, `to finish first, you must first finish.'  That is the 
key to the way I think and the way I drive the Pennzoil Dodge.  You 
just have to be cool.  That's just part of it.  You're going to have 
situations that test you all the time, and you have to deal with them 
correctly."

...competing for Cintas Rookie of the Year:

   "If I would win this rookie title, I would feel like I won a 
championship.  This series has a bunch of good drivers and a bunch of 
good teams that are rookies.  This rookie class should be 
long-remembered because it is a very talented bunch."

Cintas Rookie of the Year Standings (Top Five)
   1. Kenny Irwin     149
   2. Rick Crawford   127
   3. TONY RAINES     112
      Boris Said      112
   5. Stacy Compton    98


For More Information
Contact: Al Larsen
Cohn & Wolfe
(404) 880-5267
al_larsen@cohnwolfe.com