PORTLAND EQUALS TIGHT QUARTERS

Joe Bean must be wondering what it takes to catch a break in this series. After a good qualifying effort, 8th, Joe managed to keep the Rudolph Foods, CPR Engines running like a top.

Portland is a very tight track that has a few unevenspots in the corners that upset the cars as they enter the turns. As a result there was a lot of contact and rubbing at this race.

After getting hit and spun like a top a few times, Joe and the crew never gave up and managed to keep the # 77 Taurus up in the front lead pack.

At one point the crew brought the car into the pits in the 7th position, took on tires and gas and came out in the 2nd position. "I can't say enough about this crew" said Joe. "They have been the best crew out there. If I can put this Ford out in front, I know that we'll pick up positions every time on our stops."

The crew has it's work cut out for them this week with the next scheduled race at Irwindale Speedway. The team plans on racing it's short track car that they ran in Portland, but it needs a trip to Tommy's Bodies in Long Beach. The incident came with 25 laps to go. "We were in 4th and looking for a podium finish, when the leaders got crossed up in turn three. The car in front of us checked up and there was no place to go. We wrecked the right side body and cut down the right side tires. The crew got the tires changed but we lost a lap. We still managed to get a 10th place finish out of it." said a obviously disappointed Joe Bean.

Joe Bean also managed to hold on to the 6th place position in the points chase.

Goodyear Tires also played an important roll this past race. "The tires were awesome" said Crew Chief Larry Lally. "Tire wear was not a factor at this race, and the times were real consistant. We probably could have run the left sides the whole 200 laps."

The team is proud to have on board the City Of Hope and their affiliate sponsors for the next race.

The driver and team will be making appearances at the City of Hope along with other teams and will also make an appearance at the speedway on Aug. 24th to sign autographs at the driving school.