Sears Point: Trans-Am Champ on the podium

2003 Trans-Am Champion Scott Pruett Third in NASCAR Nextel Cup Race at Infineon

SONOMA, Calif. (June 27, 2004) -- 2003 Motorock Trans-Am Series Drivers' Champion Scott Pruett finished third in Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Pruett, who dominated the 2003 Trans-Am season, winning eight of 11 races en route to his third title, started 39th, and drove through the field to secure the podium finish, his second in NASCAR's top division. Jeff Gordon won the race, ahead of Pruett's Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Jamie McMurray.

"This race really kept us on our toes," said Pruett, who drove the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR to victory at Infineon Raceway last season. "This Chip Ganassi team did a really great job today.

"The drivers over here are really taking road racing seriously now," added Pruett. "All of these drivers are working really hard because they know to win a championship you can't give up those points. There are two races on road courses in the Nextel Cup Series. You have to do what you can to do well at those races."

Pruett's best NASCAR Nextel Cup finish came last year at Watkins Glen. He finished second in that race.

Boris Said, who won the pole for today's Trans-Am 100 in the No. 33 Applied Computer Solutions/GE Access Ford Mustang, finished sixth in the NASCAR run. Robby Gordon, who won in his sole Trans-Am start in 1992 at Long Beach, suffered several mechanical failures and finished 34th.

-ta-