Carson Woods Jr and his team have tested at the new Irwindale Speedway in preparation for the upcoming Irwindale 100 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race. They learned a few tricks that they will try when they get started on practice.

But the real test will begin on Saturday when 30-cars head for the green flag. The 100-lap event will be high-speed action for both the fans and the competitors, but no one knows what to expect for the event. Getting everything as squared away as he could, Woods has worked hard putting together a new brake package to prevent the headaches he suffered with them at the 3/8-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Team: Woods Motorsports
Car: #: 39
Driver: Carson Woods Jr.
Owner: Delbert C. Woods

RacingWest: What are your impressions of the facility by either seeing it or hearing about it?
Carson Woods JR: I think the facility was beautiful, and the track was smooth.

RW: What do you expect from the fans at Irwindale Speedway? Will they know the SWS drivers or not?
CW: I hope the fans will be impressed with our class. I think some of the fans will know a few of the drivers that are from around that area.

RW: How has your team prepared for this new track?
CW: We put a new brake package together for this race because we had a major problem in Las Vegas.

RW: Did you have time to take advantage to utilize the test days at the new track and what did you think?
CW: We tested on opening night and the track is very smooth, with a couple of high and low lines.

RW: Being that Irwindale is new and smooth and shocks play a big part in the balance of the cars, what will your plans be for shock combinations soft, stiff? Will you start with a set up from another track that has similarities?
CW: We are going to start with the set up we tested with on the opening night of practice.

RW: What changes do you regularly make between practice, qualifying and the race? Will this new track be any different?
CW: We always start with a basic set up and fine tune the car for qualifying, and then put our race set up in for the race.

RW: Rumor has it there are 3 groves and typically to win you must start up front, can any car win from the back with three groves?
CW: Being the track has 3 grooves if you start from the back, you had better have a good car for the race to work up through the field.

RW: Does it work better for your team to race in LA as opposed to other destinations on the SWS?
CW: Yes, because after the race we can drive home and we don't have any hotel bills.

RW: Will your team be doing any special promotions for sponsors during this weekend?
CW: Team 5 Star has been doing a lot for us and I would like to thank them very much!!!!

RW: Where can the fans find you for autographs? (Which hotel are you staying at, with room number?)
CW: I can be found at our trailer with pictures of the car and signed autographs.

RW: How has your team progressed this year? Are you on track with your goals?
CW: We have had it tuff! We have had some bad luck, and we have NO notes to go back on from last year, because we have never been to these tracks with this car before. Our goal this year is to finish in the top 20 in points this year, and learn every thing we can from our mistakes!!!

RW: What do you see as most challenging about Irwindale Speedway?
CW: I think there will be a lot of cars there, and qualifying for the race is going to be tuff!!!

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 5/14/99