CAIN COMPETING IN IRWINDALE WINSTON WEST EVENT

Rookie years are rarely easy, and it has certainly not been an easy one for driver of the No. 71 Chevrolet, Jerry Cain. It seems he has had the knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for most of the NASCAR Winston West season. Still, Cain has one of the fastest cars out there and that car is capable of doing better than the stats show; the driver is, too.

Perhaps this weekend's race will afford Cain the opportunity to show the racing world just what he is capable of doing. He had a decent run going in a late model event at this same track last month and that little extra seat time may have given him the knowledge he needs to run upfront. If he can shake the bad luck, he may just be driving Irwindale to his best finish of the season.

RacingWest: What was your impression of the first Irwindale Speedway and what did you like or dislike?
JC: I liked it, what a great facility. I ran a late model race a couple of weeks after the West Race, that track is a lot of fun to run.

RW: What will you do to improve your finish over the last race at Irwindale. What did you learn?
JC: Truthfully not much, we broke a rod after 5 laps, we have not done that ever. To improve would be easy, anything past 6 laps is an improvement.

RW: How important are tires at this track and do you feel one brand has any advantage over another?
JC: The last race proved that Hoosier was faster on short runs and Goodyear was faster on long runs.

RW: Who will be in charge of the tires for you during the Irwindale race?
JC: Joe Grigsby.

RW: What did you find the most technically challenging part of the track?
JC: The fact that the track changes from day to evening.

RW: Have you had any practice at the track since the last race?
JC: Not other that the Super Late Model Race.

RW: What do you like the most about the Irwindale Speedway?
JC: The width, giving plenty of racing room.

RW: Do you ever get a chance to practice pitstops and if you do what kind of time have you been averaging?
JC: Our team has been practicing regular. We average 11 to 13 seconds for two tire stops, with occasional mind blowing speed stops and the once in while we can't get out of our way stops.

RW: After Irwindale you have 2 short-tracks and 2 super-speedway races coming up. Care to predict if your best finishes will be on the bullrings or super-speedways?
JC: We should be prepared to well at both. I like the action of the small tracks and the nerve you need at the big tracks.

RW: How difficult is it for you and the crew to have two races, back to back?
JC: Does it present any special problems? It would have at the beginning of the season when we did not have enough equipment. Our team has worked very hard at having back cars race ready in case we need them.

RW: This is the last time you will race in Los Angeles (Calif.) this season. Where can the fans see you or get an autograph?
JC: NASCAR provides an autograph session that we will attend, and of course we are available after the race until the last 71 car fan leaves. We are bringing a special item for kids this weekend as a give away. We are also available to special events for autograph sessions. That can be set up by contacting us through our website.