GILLILAND GOOD TO GO

While some teams have to prove who they are, the Ralph's Food4Less team is fortunate to have one of the three current NASCAR Winston West champions piloting their No. 1 Taurus. Any fan of the Winston West easily recognizes their driver, they know who Butch Gilliland is. And what a year the team has had. With a win and two poles they have shown their strength. With a DNF at Portland they have shown they are human.

Gilliland has not practiced at Irwindale Speedway since the first NASCAR Winston West race at the track earlier this season. But it doesn't matter. He proved at the last event that he knew how to get around the 1/2-mile. He scorched the track with a record breaking speed and put his name in the books as the inaugural Winston West Bud Pole winner. Now if you would ask Gilliland how he thinks he will do, more likely than not he will down-play it. Never wanting to be over-confident his standard answer is "We should be OK." But ask anyone familiar with racing in the west and they will tell you he is one of a handful with a shot at the win.

Gilliland and his car have made several appearances around the Southland (Los Angeles Area) this week leading up to the Snap-On 250. This weekend he will be visiting the children at the City of Hope. After the race he will be handing out driver cards and signing autographs. If you are at the race this Saturday night, it is your opportunity to meet one of the nicest drivers racing the series today. Stop by and say hi to him and the team. They would love to meet you.

RacingWest: What was your impression of the first Irwindale Speedway and what did you like or dislike?
Butch Gilliland: I liked the wide corners and fast speeds

RW: What will you do to improve your finish over the last race at Irwindale. What did you learn?
BG: Try to be around on the lead lap at the end of the race

RW: How important are tires at this track and do you feel one brand has any advantage over another?
BG: Tires are one of the most important things the team and driver have to manage

RW: Who will be in charge of the tires for you during the Irwindale race?
BG: Ed Hill, who will change our front tires

RW: What did you find the most technically challenging part of the track?
BG: Trying to make the car run in both the top and bottom line

RW: Have you had any practice at the track since the last race?
BG: No

RW: What do you like the most about the Irwindale Speedway?
BG: Everything about the track is first class

RW: Do you ever get a chance to practice pitstops and if you do what kind of time have you been averaging?
BG: Yes, 11 seconds

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?
BG: No

RW: How difficult is it for you and the crew to have two races, back to back? Does it present any special problems?
BG: No, we have backup cars