BURLEY, Idaho -- Ready to start the season off with a bang, Nick Lynch and the Lynch Mob Motorsports crew head to Phoenix International Raceway and Round One of the 2005 NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, Sunday, January 30.
"Phoenix is a track I really like," says Lynch. "It is wide, challenging, good for passing and fun to drive. Due to the different configuration at each end you definitely have to exercise total concentration. This event is just 75 Laps so you really have to be ready to move up each time there is an opportunity. I think we have an excellent shot of putting our No. 29 Mr. Gas Chevy in the top three. Last year at the season finale, we started in 8th and finished 5th. It is definitely one of the tracks that I am most familiar with and one that makes for excellent racing."
A graduate of Arizona State, Phoenix is almost like Lynch's second home and he has lots of friends and fans that come out to see him race. "Having a lot of friends to cheer you on tend to provide an extra special incentive," says Lynch. "Everyone on our team is really motivated this year and everything is very much together."
Entering his first full year of NASCAR competition in 2004, Lynch had an up and down season. "It sure seemed like luck was against us," says the Burley, Idaho native. "It took me some time to get used to both the car and the various tracks, but even after that it seemed impossible for us to get a break. However, I figure we paid our dues and luck should be on our side from now on."
An extremely intense young man when it comes to racing, Lynch's desire to win is evident and it is obvious that he isn't content to take a back seat in the field.
"The competition is pretty stiff in this series," he says. "But we are up for it. I gained a great deal of confidence during the second half of last season and I think, that that combined with the ability of our crew and our Mr. Gas Chevy will stand us in good stead throughout the season.
Qualifying for the Copper World Classic "75" gets underway on Sunday, January 30 at 8AM with racers taking the Green Flag at Noon. TV coverage will be live on HDNET.
