PHOENIX, AZ -- With a top-5 at Las Vegas, Austin Cameron will be carrying something into Phoenix International Raceway that all teams crave, momentum. This weekend's Napa Auto Parts 100 is one of his best opportuinities for to pull off his first win. Although he hasn't been able to test at Phoenix International Raceway, he does have lots of track time. The added track time has come in many different racing series, but the added time behind the wheel will still be an advantage for Cameron.

With the help of his momentum and his extensive knowledge of PIR, it may just add up to his first win.

RacingWest: What do you like the most about racing at PIR?
Austin Cameron: I like the PIR because it is a one mile course which is right in between a superspeedway and a short track. That means you have to bring two kinds of knowledge to the track. You really have to drive deep into the corners and carry your speed throughout the course. Patience is a big key at PIR because the lap times are so quick that you can really use the tires up easily.

RW: On a scale of 1 to 10 in difficulty, what would you rate PIR overall?
AC: I would probably rate it at a 7 because it is so fast but the corners don't have much banking to hold your speed that your carry from the straightaways.

RW: Have you made any special preparations for this race, like a new car or testing?
AC: I have personally raced this track quite a bit in different types of cars so I feel pretty comfortable racing there. If time was allowing I definitely would have tested if the funding was ample.

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?
AC: You really have to get corner #1 and #2 down as far as the handling of the car goes and corners #3 and #4 is so flat you just have to find the best line that you as a driver are comfortable with and go with it. RW: How will your team be the "team to beat" in PIR? What's your plan of attack for this race?
AC: We have really been focusing on our shock program and our team has been practicing pit stops constantly, and hopefully that will pay off. Our team has been getting better with each race since we had a lot of newcomers at the beginning of the year.

RW: If you had the choice of racing the oval at PIR or the road-course at PIR, which would be your preference?
AC: The road course would be my favorite since that is the kind of racing I have grown up around since I started racing go karts at the age of 9.

RW: Will you or your team be enjoying the sights in Phoenix, and if so, which ones?
AC: We don't have a lot of time to do anything except focus 110% on racing and get some decent sleep so we can be fully prepared for Saturday's race.

RW: What hotels do you recommend?
AC: The hotels in Goodyear because you are so close to the track but with this weekend being so big with the IRL cars you will be lucky to get a hotel anywhere near the track!

RW: What NASCAR official has the best sense of humor?
AC: Mr Patterson definitely! He really makes it fun because he is so serious sometimes and then at other times he really can catch you off guard when he cracks a joke.

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 3/24/99