NASCAR Winston Cup Bud at Watkins Glen Preview: #2, Rusty Wallace
7 August 1997
#2 Rusty Wallace, Miller Lite Ford Thunderbird
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The Bud at the Glen Advance
Watkins Glen International
WATKINS GLEN "HOMECOMING" HAS CREW CHIEF PEMBERTON
LONGING FOR ANOTHER NEW YORK WIN
WATKINS GLEN, NY - Miller Lite Team Penske crew chief Robin Pemberton counts
the win on August 9, 1992, at Watkins Glen International as one of his
favorite victories and among his top fond memories in his 12 years of leading
NASCAR Winston Cup efforts. It isn't because of the particular team or the
scenario of the race, but rather the place where the win occurred.
Some 265 miles up I-88 and I-87 is the town of Ballston Spa, N.Y. The small
town of 4,900 residents is the place where Pemberton was born and raised.
"That was a special win and one of my most treasured races because it came at
the track there closest to my old stomping grounds," said Pemberton. "Even
though my immediate family has relocated to North Carolina, I still have a
bunch of uncles, aunts, cousins and old running mates still living there.
"There's nothing more that I'd like than to get a win with Rusty there under
a little different circumstances than what that last one had. I guess to some
people, there needed to be an asterisk by that win. But, not to me."
The 1992 edition of the NASCAR Winston Cup series' annual trip to the Glen
saw Pemberton heading the team of Kyle Petty at Sabco Racing. Petty started
second and was leading when rain halted the race after only 51 of the
scheduled 90 laps had been completed. After a brief waiting period, NASCAR
officials ruled the race as official and Petty, Pemberton and crew as the
winners.
"Yes, it did rain and yes, the race was cut short, but even though the record
book doesn't spell it out, we had the best car there that day and earned the
win," said Pemberton. "I know that Rusty's won twice there and earned 'em in
those races. They might have been close, but there wasn't any rain, there
wasn't any doubters about the wins and there darn sure weren't any asterisks
by those victories.
"That's what I want this time around. I'd love a home state win in dominant
fashion with Rusty and this team. Now, that'd be cool."
Wallace should be considered among the favorites in Sunday's 90-lap,
220.5-mile race at Watkins Glen International. In 11 previous races held on
the 2.45-mile road course, he has posted the two wins, four top-five finishes
and six top-10 finishes.
"We had a car capable of winning there in the last race, but I just didn't
use enough patience," said Wallace of the day which saw a sixth-place start
lead to a 33rd-place finish. "We got behind by running off the race track and
then really screwed up by crashing the thing in a big rush to try to make up
all the ground that we lost.
"We're bringing the same car, the car we call 'Killer.' We've won with it at
Sears Point last year and then took her over to Japan and won the thing last
fall. We'll be contenders, I'll guarantee you that."
Qualifying for Sunday's Watkins Glen race begins on Friday at 2:00 p.m. with
positions 1-25 up for grabs. Saturday's 10:45 a.m. qualifying session will
fill the potential 43-car starting field. Sunday's race, carrying live
coverage by ESPN and MRN Radio, has a scheduled 1:10 p.m. EDT starting time.
Rusty Wallace Career Records WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL (2.45 miles)
Date Event Car St Fn Laps $Won Status
8/11/96 Bud at the Glen Ford 6 33 74/90 24,430 Running
8/13/95 Bud at the Glen Ford 4 26 88/90 25,935 Running
8/14/94 Bud at the Glen Ford 5 17 90/90 19,950 Running
8/8/93 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 6 19 90/90 16,105 Running
8/9/9 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 8 6 51/51 18,240 Running
8/11/91 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 21 4 90/90 16,680 Running
8/12/90 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 4 34 46/90 15,590 Engine
8/13/89 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 13 1 90/90 56,400 Running
8/14/88 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 2 2 90/90 49,625 Running
8/9/87 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 2 1 90/90 52,925 Running
8/10/86 Bud at the Glen Pontiac 4 6 90/90 14,350 Running
Races Wins Top-5 Top-10 Poles $$$$$
TOTAL 11 2 4 6 0 310,230
Lap Completion percentage: 889/951 = 93.5%
By Tom Roberts Public Relations