Bristol: Joe Nemechek preview

Nemechek Looking to Reverse Bristol Misfortunes BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 21, 2007) -- While drivers rave about how much fun it is to race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the high-banked short track can also be a cruel place with its crashfest style of ...

Nemechek Looking to Reverse Bristol Misfortunes

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 21, 2007) -- While drivers rave about how much fun it is to race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the high-banked short track can also be a cruel place with its crashfest style of racing.

Joe Nemechek, driver of the No. 13 CertainTeed Chevrolet,has taken part in the Bristol wars for many years and knows firsthand how wicked the track can be.

"I do indeed have mixed emotions about Bristol," offered Nemechek. "If you're running well and avoiding trouble, then there's nothing better than Bristol. It's a fun place to be at. But on the other hand, if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time and get collected, then it becomes the most miserable and unfairtrack."

Unfortunately for Nemechek, he has been on the wrong side of Bristol's good-fortune meter.

"I've had plenty of good cars at Bristol, but something always seems to happen to me there," offered Nemechek, whose best finish at Bristol was 12th in August 2005. "The track has been doing all of the taking. I think it's time for a reversal."

But before Nemechek can even think about Sunday's 500-lap race which will be witnessed by more thanq60,000 fans, he will have to qualify his CertainTeed Chevy.The Bristol race will be the fifthand finalrace where guaranteed starting spots are based on 2006 owner points.

Being with a new team for Ginn Racing, Nemechek has had to qualifyon speed in each of the first four races.

"The pressure to qualifygets worse each week," said Nemechek. "One more race to go and hopefully we'llhave a enough points and gain an automatic qualifying berth starting in Martinsville next week."

Entering Bristol, Nemechek is 19th in points.The top 35driversafter Bristol will automatically qualify.

The unknown aboutSunday's Bristol event will be how NASCAR'sCar of Tomorrow will perform in its first race. J J "It's going to be interesting to see how the Car of Tomorrow shakes out in Bristol," said Nemechek. "I'm not sure what to expect. All I know is that we had a pretty good test in Bristol with the COT a few weeks ago."