NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, NORTHWEST SERIES
Source — RacingWest
Date Posted — September 25, 2005
- RacingWest: Are they going to run the Northwest Series again next year?
- 1 Ed Thompson:
- I most likely will not be back next year because of money.
- 18 John Bender:
- I am going to run again next year.
- 25 John Dillon:
- Yes, I will run next year.
- 33 Travis Bennett:
- Yes, I will be returning.
- 38 Steven Howard:
- Yes I will run.
- 42 Jeff Jefferson:
- If nothing is going on, yes.
- 46 Jeff Barkshire:
- I am planning on running a partial Northwest and a partial West Season next year.
- 76 Roger Habich:
- Yes.
- RW: Will there be an Elite Division next year?
- 1 ET:
- There will be a series next year!
- 18 JB:
- Yes it will be back, and it will be the same.
- 25 JD:
- It will be back next year because the car counts have been good.
- 33 TB:
- I hope so, at least with the Northwest & Southwest combined if not the way it is now.
- 38 SH:
- I sure hope so.
- 42 JJ:
- I just don't know.
- 46 JB:
- I hope there will be a tour.
- 76 RH:
- Yes, this kind of talk has been going on for ten years. I just hope they let us know what is going on earlier then in the past.
- RW: What could be done to improve the Northwest Series?
- 1 ET:
- NASCAR could be more straight forward with issues and address the rumors.
- 18 JB:
- Eliminate the two day shows and increase the purses.
- 25 JD:
- If NASCAR would be stricter with the driving habits.
- 33 TB:
- Schedules could be released sooner. Answers from NASCAR to the news and rumors that come up about the series. When a schedule is released if Feb. It is too difficult to promote to a corporate sponsors as most of them have the budgets done by October or November.
- 38 SH:
- Add more tracks to the schedule.
- 76 RH:
- Open communication between NASCAR and the teams. More grace in tech and l ess grace with the black flag.
- RW:Did you like the impound rule and is it fair?
- 1 ET:
- It has it's advantages, but when the cars are not impounded it gives you something to do.
- 25 JD:
- It is good and fair
- 33 TB:
- No it is not fair. For example, one race where the cars were impounded I was put on a clock and ended up being forced running the biggest track we run on with only seven cylinders. That ended up hurting us in the points.
- 38 SH:
- I like it and it is fair
- 76 RH:
- I like it. It eliminates teams that are working on separate qualifying and race setups. I think NASCAR is trying to be fair.
- RW:What is your strategy for this race?
- 1 ET:
- Keep the fenders on!
- 18 JB:
- Nothing, except to finish with fenders on.
- 25 JD:
- I want to cruise about 100 laps to save the car and make my move in the last 50 to 75 laps.
- 33 TB:
- Stay out of trouble. I want to go to the showdown again this year more than anything. I am just outside of the top ten. I will do whatever it takes this race to make a position in the Showdown.
- 38 SH:
- Stay alive
- 76 RH:
- Survive; miss the wrecks; stay on lead lap for 150 laps then race hard.
- RW:The NASCAR Grand Natioanl Divison, West Series is going to a composite body and spec motor, is that going to peak your interest?
- 18 JB:
- I have no interest in that series and I am faithful to my engine builder, Bill Hunt. The changes for the guys in the West will be very expensive.
- 25 JD:
- It is a stretch, but I will look at it.
- 33 TB:
- Right now I have two good rides in the NW and SW but if I was given the opportunity to run the west I would have be there yesterday. The costs are just too high.
- 42 JJ:
- Yes, I really miss racing the West, it all hinges on sponsorship. It is going to be hard on the guys that have been loyal to their engine builders.
- 46 JB:
- I think the the costs of the composition body and spec engines will make the costs more affordable.
- RW: What happened to you this year?
- 33 TB:
- Flat tires, blistered tires, just one of those sophomore blues years.
- RW: How is the surface, what is the race going to be like?
- 7 Ron Eaton:
- The surface of the track, is a great surface. The problem with this race is that they are running so many divisions that they are putting so much oil and other material down on the track that it is going to change the surface from when we practiced to when we race. We are allowed two sets of Hoosier tires, the tires will last forever. Even though it is a 200 lap race, you won't see anyone pitting unless they have trouble.
