Texas: Scott Riggs preview

RIGGS ENERGIZED ABOUT TAKING MOMENTUM TO TEXAS

FT. WORTH, Texas (April 11, 2005)-- Coming off his first Nextel Cup Series Budweiser Pole, Scott Riggs couldn't ask for a better place than Texas Motor Speedway to continue his momentum in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

In the past, Riggs has found successon the 1.5-mile tri-oval, claiming both pole positions in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series eventsin 2001 and collecting top-five finishes in his two Busch Series starts there.

"I really like Texas and feel comfortable on the track," said Riggs, who isq4th in Nextel Cup driver point standings. "We were really surprised thatMartinsville was where we won our first pole. We knew one was coming, but we honestly thought it would be somewhere like Texas. Maybe we can make it two weeks in a row."

Aside from his career-first pole, Riggs' sophomore season has already produced three top-10 finishes, one more than the total for the team last season. With Riggs' past successes in Texas, the Valvoline crew has a good feeling heading into this weekend's action.

"I can drive the Valvoline Chevrolet 100 percent every single week," explained Riggs. "I tell the guys what's wrong, they fix it andwe go a little faster. We're not going to set our goals too highand say we're the man to beat, but we are going to keep on digging as hard as we can. I think we not only keep impressing people and showing them we're a force to reckon with, but we keep helping out our own confidence as well. Right now everyone is having fun and smiling.

"I don't see any reason why the Valvoline Chevrolet shouldn't have another solid finish this weekend. We can check winning a pole off of our list of things to do this year-- but winning races is still there and we're ready to go after it. We're energized and full of optimism -- it's a lot of fun to be part of this team right now."

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