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BUSCH: McLaughlin Watkins Glen preview

McLaughlin shoots for 7th straight top-five in Watkins Glen WATKINS GLEN, NY -- (July 5, 2001) -- Growing up as a child in Waterloo, NY, Mike McLaughlin always had dreams of going fast and turning left. Little did he know that he would grow up ...

Edited: Apr 16, 2008, 12:40 AM

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McLaughlin shoots for 7th straight top-five in Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, NY -- (July 5, 2001) -- Growing up as a child in Waterloo, NY, Mike McLaughlin always had dreams of going fast and turning left. Little did he know that he would grow up to drive fast and turn left and right on the tricky road course located just 45 minutes away called Watkins Glen International.

As he enters the GNC Live Well 200 on Sunday, McLaughlin has built a reputation as the best NASCAR Busch Series regular at road course racing. With six consecutive top-five finishes at Watkins Glen, including a win, McLaughlin will be among the favorites for the win on Sunday.

Sunday will also mark the debut of McLaughlin in the # 18 MBNA Pontiac after driving an unsponsored # 20 car all season long. Joe Gibbs Racing announced this week a move to a one car team and a number change for McLaughlin.

"Watkins Glen has always been a good place for me in the past and now with MBNA on our car, I am really looking forward to Sunday's race," McLaughlin said. "The last few races we have run into problems out of our control, hopefully this weekend, we can run up front and contend for a win."

McLaughlin believes there is a good reason for his past success at Watkins Glen.

"I have always had very good, consistent racecars here and that is key to finishing up front. We have always been well prepared in the past. I know it will be the same this weekend, the MBNA Racing Team will give me a great racecar."

McLaughlin realizes this weekend's race will bring an influx of road racing specialists to the track. In order to win, he will have to beat the likes of Ron Fellows, Robby Gordon, and Boris Said.

"I look forward to competing against those guys, they are all great racers. In the past when we came here we had to worry about racing against Winston Cup drivers, now it's the road racing guys we have to beat, but that's an exciting challenge."

Sunday will be a big race in the life of the driver they call "Magic Shoes", the hometown fans and family will be cheering him on as he turns left and right, searching for another win at Watkins Glen. Sunday's race takes the green flag at 1:00pm EDT. TNT and MRN will provide live coverage of the event.

-JGR-

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