Rockingham II: Ward Burton preview

CAT Team ready to rock at The Rock.

"After as well as we ran last weekend in Atlanta and our track record here at Rockingham, I'm ready to get racing.`I hope we can qualify this week.`We've rained out qualifying three of the last four races and that hasn't helped us at all.`We've had cars capable of starting up front and I hope we can do that this week.`That would certainly help us get to the front faster."
-Ward Burton, driver of the Caterpillar Racing Dodge

BURTON ON ROCKINGHAM...
"The fall race has been a better race for us then the spring race.`We won this race back in 95' and I think we have a good shot at making a run for another win this weekend.`This is one of those tracks that I really like racing at.`We had a great car here in the spring, but I got into the wall a couple of times and we were only able to salvage a 13th-place finish.`I think we can turn that around this weekend and get the finish we deserve."

STODDARD ON THIS WEEKEND'S RACE...
"I know I am really looking forward to heading to Rockingham.`Both Ward and the CAT team have run well there in the past and I look for us to continue that this weekend.`Ward and all of the guys have doing an outstanding job at and on the track.`We have had a "never give up attitude" and that has really shown throughout the last few weeks.`I look for us to run well this weekend and finish the season on high note and be ready to come out of the box next year with a very competitive team."

TALK ABOUT A WHEEL MAN...
Ward Burton looked to have one of the fastest cars last Sunday in Atlanta until the car began to fade, virtually unresponsive to any changes that were made during the rain shortened event.`Burton continued to report that the car felt like it was just snapping loose in the corners.`It is no wonder it didn't, when the team returned to the shop they noticed that a left-rear jack bolt had backed out, which left the car with only 45% wedge in it.`"Any other driver would have drove that car to the lift gate and told them to load that heap up and go home, but Ward showed he wasn't going to give up and he didn't," said Bill Davis.`"I don't know how I didn't wreck that thing, I was maybe three inches from the wall those last few laps," said Burton.`"I'm just thankful for the true wheel man that Ward is," said Stoddard.`"I'm also glad we found that, so we can make sure it won't happen to him again."

CAT EQUIPMENT...
Ward Burton and the Caterpillar Racing team returns to North Carolina Speedway with the same car they ran here in the spring, it finished 13th.`

-bdr-