Pocono: Christi Passmore preview

Passmore and Schacht Bring Successful Car Along with Pocono Experience to Pennsylvania: When a race team comes across a car that the driver is comfortable in and the team can make worthy adjustments to and keep finding speed, the team tends to want to use that car as much as possible. This is the situation with Christi Passmore Racing and Car 15. In a season that has been filled with strong runs and disappointing finishes, Passmore has found consistency with Car 15. Of the first five races of this 2004 season, Passmore has run 15 at three of those events, qualifying in the top ten each time and finishing in the top five once at Kentucky Speedway and in the top ten once last week at Kansas Speedway. The only finish for the car outside the top ten was at it's debut event at the Nashville Superspeedway where the team experienced an engine problem after starting fourth, but had to accept a finish of 19th position.

"I just don't know what it is about this race car," said Passmore. "We have had such a roller coaster season so far with top five runs and then not having the finishes to back them up. But with 15 we have the starts and almost all the finishes we are looking for. This car is just comfortable to drive and ultra competitive. The team in North Carolina built this car over the off season and it is just a really impressive race car. I'm pretty excited about taking it to Pocono because I know how good Bob (Schacht) is at this track and I really hope we can get a solid finish again this weekend."

This weekend Passmore will pilot 15 at what is certainly her crew chief, Bob Schacht's, favorite race track on the circuit, Pocono Raceway. Schacht has one of the most impressive records at the Pocono Raceway of any driver/owner/crew chief in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. As a driver Schacht earned six wins, one pole and six top-four finishes. Schacht has also been highly successful as a team owner/crew chief at Pocono earning two pole positions with Stuart Kirby.

"Every year I get excited when the Pocono race comes around," said Schacht. "I was lucky enough to have a lot of success at this race track during my driving career and I have tried to pass those lessons along to the drivers I have worked with following that career. I think this is going to be a good weekend for our team coming off a strong finish at Kansas and bringing a car that we have had good luck with this season."

The Pocono ARCA 200 will take the green flag at 1:00pm ET on Saturday, June 12. The race can be seen on Speed Channel later the same day at 8:00pm ET.

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