SNOHOMISH, Washington -- If idle hands are the devil's workshop then the Powell Motorsports USA team spent the off season in heaven. The # 87 Raybestos Brakes Northwest Tour Team spent part of the off season working for NASCAR legend Morgan Shepherd.
The opportunity presented it's self work along side Morgan Shepherd's crew at the Craftsman Truck race in Las Vegas. Travis Powell and his crew, Bill and Pat Shaw, Jeremiah and Lynn Moore and Sabrina Lathrop acquired a fair share of knowledge while Travis and Pat gained true over the wall experience. After that race the team was asked if they could help out a double race in Phoenix where Morgan planned to run both the Truck and his Winston Cup Car. The truck qualified but the car did not but, the experienced gained was vast.
The paramount event of the off season was Speedweeks at the "Beach", however it did not start in Florida. The Thursday prior saw Powell's Crew Chief, Bill Shaw, in Conover North Carolina getting Shepherd's truck ready for the Daytona "Florida Dodge Dealers 250". Shaw added another notch to his already extensive resume as Crew Chief for Shepherds #21 V.I.J. NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series Team. The truck was running a solid 9th when it was forced up into the wall heading into the Tri-oval ending a potentially good run.
The experience as a whole was one to remember but, the Crew did not forget their primary function, to get the # 87 NW Tour Monte Carlo Ready for the 2003 season. The results of their labors resulted in the beast roaring to life last week and all that's left to do is a little window dressing before the inaugural race of season at Evergreen Speedway, Monroe WA March 29, 2003. Follow the exploits of the Powell Motorsports USA Team throughout the 2003 season at www.racefans.net/powellmotorsports .
