Phoenix: Bobby Hamilton preview

Win at Phoenix would be great birthday gift to United States.

HAPPY 227TH BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS!

The United States Marine Corps will celebrate its 227th birthday at Phoenix International Raceway on November 9, 2002. As a tribute to all Marines, past and present, that have made personal sacrifices protecting our country, Team Rensi Motorsports will help the Marine Corps celebrate 227 years of service with a birthday message on the No. 25 Team Marines Ford Taurus.

Bobby Hamilton, Jr. on PIR:
While Hamilton, Jr. does not have the stellar stats at Phoenix that he would like, he admits that he enjoys the challenge that the uniquely shaped track offers.

"I have always enjoyed coming out here and racing even though I don't have the best finishing average out here," said Hamilton, Jr. "I always seem to run pretty well on the flat tracks. Phoenix is a different track from the so called cookie-cutter tracks that we go to. It's unique in the fact that both corners are different. Turns one and two are totally different from turns three and four. That means the car the needs to be set up with that in mind. You're not going to be perfect at both ends of the track, but if you can get it close you'll have a good day."

Fred Wanke on The PIR:
"Finding the right set-up for a place like Phoenix can be quite a challenge. It's a tough track. You have two different corners, one being more wide and sweeping and the other being more narrow. So you are setting a car up to get around a track that is different everywhere you go. If you are really good in one and two, you might have to give a little in three and four. During practice, you'll spend all of your time looking for where you can be the fastest. We learned some things during the our test at Homestead a couple of weeks ago that I think will be useful to us this weekend in Phoenix, so that's an added advantage for us. We have a great car that gave us top-ten finishes at both Atlanta and Charlotte so hopefully we can keep that streak going and maybe even add a win to that. It would be nice to give the Marine Corps a win on their 277th Birthday!

Equipment:
The No. 25 Team Marines will compete with chassis No. 19 in the Bashas' 200. This is the same chassis the team competed with Atlanta Motor Speedway where they finished 8th and Charlotte where they finished 9th.

Special Appearances:
Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will appear at "NASCAR Zoomfest" in downtown Phoenix on Thursday, November 7, 2002 from 7-8pm where he will greet fans and sign autographs.

-tr/bhr-