Thanks to www.pettyracing.com

    “This team always prepares good cars for Pocono. Last June we had a really good car and a really good shot at getting a good finish, but it didn’t turn out that way (the team was involved in a Turn One accident). It’s really frustrating when you have a good run going and have something bad happen to you. We had a fast car last year and, hopefully, we’ll have another fast one this time around.

“I have a lot of memories at Pocono, most of them good. I have driven go-karts, Indy cars, and now stock cars. I have had success and some bad luck too. We just need to stay away from the back luck there. So much has happened at the track but bad luck always seems to creep up. Maybe we just need more Lucky Charms to go with the Cheerios.

“It’s like Indianapolis. I have strong family ties there and at Pocono, but it’s amazing how much bad luck I have had at both. I can run around Pocono and have a great handling car, a strong engine, avoid debris, and still get caught up in an accident. If there was ever a place that owes me a win, it’s Pocono. It probably owes me more wins than races I have started.

“We want to be competitive and win races. This is what it’s all about. The next opportunity is Pocono. You can’t think four or five races down the road to win the next race. Our concentration is always on the next race. We are going into to this race with the goal of doing the best we can. Hopefully the best we can do will be satisfying to everyone involved with the team.

“This is a very competitive series. You see young guys like Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, and Jimmie Johnson come in and run side-by-side with Jeff Gordon - that’s unique to this series. Everybody in Winston Cup has accomplished something or they wouldn’t be here. You become surprised about how well they run, but on the other hand they are racing with guys who are past champions or are potential champions. They have a lot of experience to rely on.

“They are driving in good equipment and they have no perceptions about what their cars need to be doing. Those guys are wide open. They are like sponges and just absorb everything. They are probably the least surprised at their success.

“For me, right now, it’s short-term business at hand, which is Pocono. If you get a good car, the right strategy, and all of that, you can win Winston Cup races. Our goal is to run up front and get this #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge in victory lane.”