Kevin Richards, driver of the No. 85 Monaco Monte Carlo stormed onto the NASCAR Winston West scene in 1997 bringing with him an element of excitement. Richards tackled every track with enthusiasm. He won his first event in the series at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe (Wash.), a track the Spokane (Wash.) resident was familiar with.
That win seemed to shake the proverbial "monkey off his back" and his stats began to tell the world of motorsports that his win at Monroe was not a fluke. Not only did he back it up with a win number two on the 1 1/2-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he brought Hoosier their first win on a super-speedway.
Those two wins made Richards the only driver in 1999 to win on both a short track and super-speedway and although it is said the first victory is the sweetest, you have to wonder how Richards and his team feel, for they closed out the season with a bang winning $83,470 in the finale at Twin Ring in Motegi, Japan.
Since that incredible season, Richards and Team Monaco have continued to accumulate top-fives including a win at Phoenix. All of Richards wins have come on different tracks. This Wednesday (February 28th, 2001) the NASCAR Winston West Series will be battling on The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is an inaugural event and another opportunity for Richards to conquer a different track.
Think of putting 20+ Winston Cup cars on a 1/3 mile oval! That is exactly what the Winston West will do Wednesday night. If you are planning to be in Vegas for the Winston Cup race, don't let the NAPA Auto Parts 300 pass you by! Head on out to The Bullring and find out why NASCAR's Winston West keeps gaining exposure! Stop by after the race and meet Kevin Richards and the entire Monaco team. Get an up close look of a Cup car, fresh from competition, with tires still smoking! The excitement you feel will have you leaving the track feeling like a winner!
RacingWest: What are your goals for this season?
Kevin Richards: To win the Championship, to add another major sponsor to our program... or several minor sponsors who will benefit from our operation, and to set a good example to help attract new Winston West teams.
RW: How did the season-opener at Phoenix International Raceway go for you and the team?
KR: Felt it went really well. We had a good car... had passed into third on the last lap and then got to visit the "marbles", so ended up fifth. We have a few new crew members and they fit in very good. We are looking forward to the Las Vegas race.
RW: Have you had a chance to test at The Bullring in Las Vegas?
KR: Yes, to me, it was different than anything we raced on last year.
RW: What are you expecting at the event and what do you think it will take to win?
KR: I am expecting it to be a closer physical race than what happened at Phoenix... Mr. Patience should be the winner.
RW: How do you feel now that the series is on one tire?
KR: Going to one tire puts everyone on an even playing field...
RW: Do you think there is less of an advantage for the Winston Cup drivers on a short-track that a larger track like PIR and why or why not?
KR: I don't think they have less of an advantage.. The two big advantages Winston Cup drivers have is that they are in race cars 3 to 5 days a week and have access to the latest technology through their WC team. The latest in aerodynamics at both large and small tracks is a definite factor, engine technology should always be a factor, and the mindset that comes from being a WC driver should make a big difference. However, they don't always win... they are governed by Murphy's rules also.
RW: Do you like running with or without the Winston Cup drivers in a Winston West event?
KR: I personally like to race with them... I learn from them, am not threatened or intimidated by them. If they are promoted properly, all of us can gain by their presence... the fans because they are able to get closer to a Winston Cup Driver at a WW race than at a WC race, the promoter because he draws more people to his track, and the drivers because they can learn.
RW: Do you have a car or driver appearance scheduled at Vegas?
KR: Unfortunately not at this time. Fan Cards will be available all day at the track, I will be happy to autograph them for the fans. Our web site, www.monaco.com, has Phoenix race photos and by Tuesday will have information on the car we will be running at the Bullring.
RW: What is your favorite thing to do at Vegas when not busy with the car?
KR: My favorite thing is to ride on roller coasters.
RW: What is your game-plan now that one race is down and your goals may have to be adjusted?
KR: Our goals will remain the same... the bottom line goal is to win the Championship. One of the major goals we have been working on all winter is better communications among the team members... we feel good about that progress. We have several intermediate goals that will always require "tweaking" on throughout the season.
CREW CHIEF: Rodger Ulteschi
SPONSORS: Monaco Enterprises, Penske Racing Shocks, Oxarc, All Western Industrial
TRANSPORT DRIVER: John Ames
SPOTTER: David Hamstra
CREW: Alex Telles - Chief Tire Technician, Chem Telles - Tire Technician and Tire Carrier, Sheila Abariotes - Scorer, Zan Sharp - Jackman, Noelle Monaco - Window Washer, Marti Wiggins - Travel/Public Relations/Accounting, Joe Monaco - Signman/Cook, Michele Geesink - Statistician, Wolt Geesink - Gasman, Randy Lavering - Tire Carrier, Jeremy Wildes - Tire Changer, Gene Monaco - Owner/Electronics, Billy Hess - Consultant
