Texas: Joe Nemechek preview

Pageantry To Fuel Nemechek and Army Team

FT. WORTH, TexashMarch 30, 2004) -- As the featured attraction on the United States Army Racing Team, Joe Nemechek knows that he will have a tough act to follow Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Prior to the start of the Samsung/Radio Shack 500, fans will be entertained with a spectacular pre-race show presented by the U.S. Army. (See below for details of pre-race activities.)

"The strong presence of Army personneland pageantry inspires us to do better," said Nemechek. "We all take pride representing the Army and come Sunday I would like nothing more than to cap off a special day with a memorable performance in the U.S. Army/USG Chevrolet."

And speaking about success at the 1.5-mile Texas track, Nemechek knows what it's like to taste victory there. He is the defending Busch Series champion and will defend the title Saturday in his No. 87 Cellular One Chevy.

"No question, this is the kind of track we could have some success at," said Nemechek. "It's a very fast track and you have to be on the ball there. Handling and having a good motor areparamount.

"What has me encouraged is that not only have I done well at Texas, but the Army team has also had success there."

Last year, the 01 team with driver Jerry Nadeau finished fourth in Texas, the best result for the Army team during the 2003 campaign.

"The potential is there to do well this weekend," said crew chief Ryan Pemberton. "We have the data and the driver. We just need to execute and make sure the car is dialed in at the start of the race."

Nemechek dropped from 14th to 19th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver point standings following a 27th-place finish in Bristol.

"That was a long day," said Nemechek. "We know we're better and hopefully Texas will be the race where we'll get back the positions we lost in the point standings."

The U.S. Army Pre-Race Ceremonies will include:

* A 30-minute medley of patriotic, military and popular music selections performed by the 82nd Airborne Division "All American" a cappella chorus from Ft. Bragg, N.C.

* A 20-minute patriotic flag story presented by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington from Ft. Meyer, Va., The flag story will feature more than 100 soldiers, dressed in period uniforms -- Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm and ongoing missions.

* The U.S. Army's world famous Golden Knights parachute team

* A four AH-64 Apache helicopter flyover by the 1-149 Aviation RegimenthTexas Army National Guard) from Ellington Field in Houston.

* TheContinental Color Guard from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and the 504th Military Intelligence Battalion Color Guard from Ft. Hood, Texas

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