JOE BEAN COMPETING IN NASCAR EVENT AT MESA MARIN RACEWAY

Source: RacingWest / Janet Peery
Date: 03/22/2000

Joe Bean, driver of the No 77 Ford Taurus, will be a part of Bakersfield's Downtown Festival this Thursday night, March 23, to celebrate the return of NASCAR racing to the community. This weekend fans will see 3 divisions of NASCAR competing on the high-banked historic Mesa Marin raceway. The exciting and competitive NASCAR Southwest Tour cars will open on Friday night, the NASCAR Winston West will shine under the lights on Saturday night and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series will make their only appearance on a California short-track this Sunday.

Bean will be competing in the NASCAR Winston West event, where he will be looking to turn his luck around. A cut tire cut all hopes of his being a contender for the win at the PIR season opener. Now Bean is ready to make up lost ground at the track that has been the kindest to him; his only win in the series, came in his rookie season at Mesa Marin. At the time of the win, he was working with long-time NASCAR Winston West veteran, John Krebs.

Bean began his sophomore year as part of a two-car team fielded by Raymond Claridge. Hopes were high, but a broken leg suffered in a racing accident side-lined him for the year. Then in 1999 he joined car-owners Joe Nava and Jan Quakenbush. It turned out to be one of the most successful unions in the series with the team finishing the season 3rd in the standings.

If you are looking for something to do Saturday, this is your chance to see NASCAR racing at it's finest and you just might see Bean take win number two!

Racing West: NASCAR has announced Speed Vision will be covering a majority of the events. In what ways will this benefit you/ your team.
Joe Bean: We are really pleased that NASCAR put this TV package together. It gives our series the well deserved coverage that we need in order to support our sponsors, Food4Less, FoodsCo, City of Hope, Coca Cola and Cacique Cheese, who have kept this series going.

RW: If you participated in the season opener at Phoenix, what did you think of the event?
JB: We were running in the 9th position on lap 50, when we cut down a right rear tire coming off turn 4. We had a top 5 car and actually posted the third fastest lap of the race on lap 81.

RW: Phoenix was tough on a lot of cars; will you have a car ready for this event?
JB: The good news is that we didn't have a mark on our car, so it looks like we will run this car at Mesa Marin. We finished 3rd with this car in October.

RW: What do you like about Mesa Marin?
JB: I have a Winston West win at Mesa Marin, so it's always a pleasure to come back and try to win again.

RW: What is the secret to passing at Mesa Marin?
JB: In testing and practice we always try to make our car work in all the grooves. Mesa Marin has two grooves and I plan on using them.

RW: Who drives your car to the track? (Name, how long with team and race day duties.)
JB: My Crew Chief, Larry Lally will be driving our Featherlite Hauler to the "Downtown Festival" on Thursday afternoon. This is Larry's second year with our team. His race day duties include, set-ups, directing the crew and calling the race.

RW: Where can the fans find you at Bakersfield for driver cards, autographs, appearances, etc.?
JB: I will be at the "Downtown Festival" on Thursday from 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm and at the track on Friday and Saturday. Come on down to the pits after the race for a visit.

RW: If you could choose to have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?
JB: Since I'm single, it probably would be Shania Twain. (boy, am I going to hear about that one!)

RW: What was the best advice your mother (or care-giver) gave you when growing up?
JB: Always wear clean underwear. Seriously, my Mom is my biggest fan and attends most of the races that I run in.

RW: If you chose the song of the millennium, what would it be?
JB: Come by our hauler after the race and you will hear it playing on our system.

Owner: Joe Nava/Tom Brunner

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