BUSCH: Mike McLaughlin Rockingham Preview

MIKE MCLAUGHLIN NORTH CAROLINA SPEEDWAY FAST FACTS

EVENT:                        Alltel 200
DATE:                        February 20, 1999
QUALIFYING RECORD:        David Green, 153.419mph, 23.864 secs., Oct, 20, 1994
RACE RECORD:                Mark Martin, 124.397mph, Oct. 19, 1996

MIKE McLAUGHLIN'S ROCKINGHAM CAREER RECORD

YEAR                START        FINISH        LAPS        STATUS
1994                   41           22        188/197        Running
1994                   32           35         80/197        Engine
1995                   10           13        194/197        Running
1995                    3           13        197/197        Running
1996                   20            2        197/197        Running
1996                    6            4        197/197        Running
1997                    4            8        197/197        Running
1997                    9            7        197/197        Running
1998                   13            5        197/197        Running
1998                   25           41         36/197        Handling

Quotes from Mike McLaughlin, 1997 Busch Series Most Popular Driver:

"The excitement level for our race team is at an all-time high. As soon as the race ended last week, everyone was ready to drive to Rockingham, unload the car and race some more. We feel like we have some unfinished business after that race-ending accident in Daytona Beach. We were within one lap of an awesome finish and had it taken away by someone getting a little bit to excited. I believe the accident has made my team grow even closer."

"North Carolina Speedway has been really good to me over the last few years. Up until the race last October, we had finished in the top-ten five straight races. We would like to start another streak this weekend with a win. In order to get to victory lane it will take a strong qualifying effort, good tire wear, and solid pit stops. If we can accomplish all three of these goals, I believe we can get to Victory Lane."

PIT NOTES

¨ Up until the last Rockingham race, Mike McLaughlin had completed 1,182 consecutive laps at North Carolina Speedway and recorded 5 straight top-ten finishes. McLaughlin's streak came to an end with an early race accident.

McLaughlin is the 2nd leading, all-time money leader in the Busch Grand National Series. McLaughlin has won $2,284,836 in 160 starts.