PHOENIX, ARIZ -- A lot of owners have to take their driver's word on how difficult the track is to drive. Joe Nava, owner of the #77 Banks Power Ford Taurus, has found a solution to this problem. Get behind the wheel and give the track a spin, only in Nava's case it is a joystick.

Armed with Electronic Art's NASCAR '99 video game, he is able to get a virtual lap around Phoenix International Raceway. Even though the differences between the game and actual driving conditions may very severely, he still thinks it gives him a realistic enough feel for the track. As long as there is a steering wheel in the car and not a joystick, Joe Bean's job should be secure.

RacingWest: What do you like the most about racing at PIR?
Joe Nava: It's a nice track and the fans are great.

RW: On a scale of 1 to 10 in difficulty, what would you rate PIR overall?
JN: Phoenix is not that tough. Maybe a 5 in difficulty. Not hard on the brakes or chassis. I can really get around that track on my NASCAR 99 [game].

RW: Do you race PIR like a short-track or superspeedway?
JN: We race it with our short track set-up. But we would like super speedway speeds.

RW: Have you made any special preparations for this race, like a new car or testing?
JN: Our team has tested @ Bakersfield, Las Vegas & Irwindale Speedway.

RW: Considering that PIR has two distinctly different corners, which do you, set your car up for to be the best you can, or can you get both?
JN: We try to find a happy medium so that the does the same thing thru both corners. No sense spooking the driver.

RW: How will your team be the "team to beat" in PIR? What's your plan of attack for this race?
JN: We ran in the top 5 at Tucson and then we qualified in the top 10 at Vegas and actually got up to 5th drafting with Hornaday when we ran over debris cut down a tire and spun into the infield. We still managed to finish 13th. We looked a lot like Earnhardt spinning thru the grass.

RW: What's your favorite memory of you racing at PIR or racing in general at PIR?
JN: A few years back we were running our tour car there. It was raining, so we pull our hauler up to the pits to get out of the rain. Bobby & Davey Allison were pitted next to us so they got into the back of the hauler and sat with us and bench raced for a couple of hours. What a thrill!

RW: If you had the choice of racing the oval at PIR or the road-course at PIR, which would be your preference?
JN: I don't like the road course at Phoenix. 'nuff said!

RW: Do you have any new sponsors or team members you'll be introducing at Phoenix?
JN: We hope to be making an announcement about some new sponsors before the Phoenix race.

RW: Will you or your team be enjoying the sites in Phoenix, and if so, which ones?
JN: I think our team has eaten at every restaurant in Phoenix and by the looks of our guys they haven’t found an eatery that they didn’t like. After the races our guys are usually too pooped to go out and see the sights.

RW: What hotels do you recommend?
JN: We have stayed at a lot of the Best Westerns, but this time we are staying at the new Super 8.

RW: What NASCAR official has the best sense of humor?
JN: No comment. Just kidding. I think Mike Verlatti has a dry sense of humor that kind of matches mine.

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 3/18/99