Kansas: Patrick Carpentier preview

Carpentier Readies for Charlotte Test & Race At Kansas Speedway

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- While most drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series were rushing home on their private jets after Dover on Sunday night, Patrick Carpentier had a different idea. The Quebec-native loaded up all his gear and took to the open road, driving his own motorhome back to Charlotte where he will participate in the open test on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

"I just thought it would be cool," he explained. "It's something that is a little different. I have a friend of mine who normally drives my coach but I just thought it would make for a fun time. I want to enjoy every moment of being a part of NASCAR so I decided to drive it back to Charlotte for the test session this week."

After the test, Carpentier will fly with the team to Kansas Speedway where the Sprint Cup Series will race on Sunday. Carpentier continues his drive for Rookie of the Year and a spot in the top-35 as he looks ahead to Kansas.

PATRICK CARPENTIER:

"The LifeLock team has had a couple weeks to forget lately. We've continued to keep our heads up and eyes on the end of the year goals. Even though we've had some tough races, I still try to learn as much as I can from them. If I'm not learning something new each week, I'm doing something wrong. So we're continuing to make the best out of it.

"Kansas is the last track on the circuit that I haven't race at. It's great to have come this far through the year. At the beginning of the season, there were so many tracks that I hadn't even seen before showing up to race on them. It presented quite a challenge but this LifeLock team was still able to run competitively and we expect nothing different this weekend at Kansas.

"The Charlotte test is really important everyone. Getting time on any of these tracks is so valuable but that is especially true at a track like Charlotte. The work done this week will pay off next month when we are here racing."

Carpentier's Season: In 23 starts, has one pole, has led eight laps and earned four top-20 finishes. He has three top-five and five top-10 starts plus Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors in six races. Carpentier remains as the only rookie to win a pole in the 2008 season. Additionally, he was the only rookie to ever win a pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

-credit: gem