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BUSCH: Richmond: Round 12 preview
NASCAR Busch Series News and Notes - Richmond CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS PRESS RELEASE IN MICROSOFT WORD FORMAT. Three Virginia natives in top 10 heading to Richmond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 10, 2005) -- Heading into Friday's FUNAI 250 ...
Edited: Apr 16, 2008, 12:40 AM
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NASCAR Busch Series News and Notes - Richmond CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS PRESS RELEASE IN MICROSOFT WORD FORMAT.
Three Virginia natives in top 10 heading to Richmond
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 10, 2005) -- Heading into Friday's FUNAI 250 at Richmond International Raceway, four NASCAR Busch Series full-time drivers have a little extra incentive.
Returning to their "home" track are Jon Wood (No. 47 Clorox/Wisk Ford), Stacy Compton (No. 59 Kingsford Ford), Denny Hamlin (No. 20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet) and Ashton Lewis, Jr. (No. 25 Team Marines Ford).
Add to that a friendly competition amongst the four and, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver and Virginia native Elliott Sadler (No. 90 CitiFinancial Ford) joining the mix and this Friday's race will produce extra excitement under the lights.
All agree, though, that there isn't a rivalry among the four.
"I'm friends with Stacy, Jon and Denny," said Lewis. "But I want to be the highest finishing Virginia driver each week. It would be great to win this weekend in front of a lot of Marines (with Washington D.C. being so close) and in my home state."
Lewis, who is fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings, leads the way for the Virginia natives and is joined in the top 10 by rookies Hamlin and Wood.
For Hamlin, racing at Richmond has a couple of added bonuses.
"I grew up in Chesterfield (20 miles south of Richmond), so I am going to have a chance to see a lot of family and friends," said Hamlin. "My family purchased 125 tickets for all of our family and friends, so I should have a pretty good cheering section. Also, having an off weekend next week gives me a couple of extra days after the event to hang out with them.
"The other reason I'm looking forward to Richmond is it is a short, flat track similar to what I cut my teeth on. Richmond is the type of track I should excel at."
Wood, who spent the last three seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is looking forward to this weekend's race.
"We had a good test last week at Richmond and feel confident that we can finish in the top five," said Wood, who has won in his home state before (at Martinsville in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series).
If Lewis, Hamlin and Wood continue to excel, that friendly competition could become a fierce rivalry.
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