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| Ford Qualifying Notes: Daytona
02-15-2007 | TruckSeries.com Report
Erik Darnell No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150 (Qualified 5th) You have some new teammates this year. Are they going to be a big help in the race tomorrow? "Definitely, especially with Travis Kvapil coming over. He's a past champion in the series and he knows what it takes to make these trucks fast and get them going. It's just going to be a big help for us. I think we showed at testing that we've got some excellent trucks, both with myself and my teammates Travis Kvapil and Carl Edwards. John Quinn (crew chief) and all of the guys on the Northern Tool + Equipment crew have done a great job. They've given us a great truck all throughout Speed Weeks and we know it runs well in the draft. Whether or not we end up on the pole, ultimately we'd like to, but I'm just more worried about the race." How were the track conditions? "It's just kind of sprinkling right now. Not enough to get the track wet at all and you don't even notice it out there." Are you planning to hook up with the other Roush trucks from the get-go tomorrow? "We ran together in drafting today, myself Carl and Travis, and ultimately our trucks ran very well together and I think that's going to play into our favor come race time just because we know we have three trucks that we're going to be able to work with each other out there. Hopefully we'll be able to hook up in the draft and get to the front and go." Do you plan on sitting down with Travis and Carl before the race tomorrow to devise a race strategy? "I think so. Between testing and between practice yesterday and today, I got to run with Travis and Carl, and when all three of us were together and hooked up, we were pretty string. Ultimately during the race, I think we'd like to get hooked up with one another and get to the front and go. I think we have a good shot of running right up at the front." Joey Clanton No. 09 Zaxby's Ford F-150 (Qualified 17th) So you have a plan for tomorrow? "I've got my drafting partner, and if he lets me hang on, I'm going to hang on." Stacy Compton, No. 16 Melling Engine Parts Ford F-150 (Qualified 20th) So, is this a proven team with an unproven entity? "Absolutely. You think about Dave Fuge and he's won races and won championships. That team knows what it's doing. Obviously never running a Ford in the past and not coming down here and testing or Homestead testing, we were way, way behind the 8 ball when we showed up. They worked hard all weekend and we have a decent truck. Dave is extremely smart and they're a proven commodity. We just have to make sure we can get the Ford working like they did with the Chevrolet, and this team can win races definitely." Carl Edwards, No. 50 Ortho Ford F-150 (Qualified 2nd) You've won here in the past in a truck. "Hopefully we can do it again. The thing about these trucks races is that it isn't over until the checkered flag. You could be leading 100 yards from the finish line and end up fifth. That's the way that these races go, so we'll just have fun and see what happens." You compete full time in the Busch and Cup series, but you are only scheduled to run a limited truck schedule. How does that impact your mentality entering the race? "This is different than those two. The biggest thing is that we're probably going to run this full time with Peter Shepherd and me splitting it, so there's still a championship on the line for Jack. But, for me, I'm going here to. That will be awesome to win tomorrow." YOU MADE ONLY ONE LAP IN QUALIFYING. "We made only one lap. We had the Ortho Ford F-150 taped up for one lap, and some guys started going faster on the second lap, so they said to run it until it got to 240 degrees and shut it off, and it was 240 pretty quick. That's a great lap for us. Everyone knows that a truck race isn't over 100 yards till finish, so qualifying up front is all that really matters. The pole wasn't that important to burn up the motor." Travis Kvapil No. 6 Roush Racing Ford F-150 (Qualified 4th) The Roush trucks will start second, fourth and fifth tomorrow. "I'm happy with that, but I thought we had a shot a the pole, so I'm disappointed about that. In race trim I'm not worried about it at all. All three Roush trucks are performing awesome. They're driving good and we just need to get them lined up and be smart and be there at the end of the day, and then I think we'll definitely have a shot at it." Rick Crawford, No. 14 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by Int'l F-150 (Qualified 13th) Talk about having a teammate on the track tomorrow night. "We worked on that in practice today, and nothing against my teammate, and if I can help him I will and if he can help me and I know he will, but the best teammate out there is a really fast truck." David Starr, No. 10 Maxx Force Diesel Ford F-150 (Qualified 19th) Talk about the impact of having a teammate in the race track at Daytona. "Well, I think it's good. The truck series is exciting already, and they draft so well and punch such a big hole on the race track that you've just got to go and do what you have to do to advance yourself to the front. Having a teammate like Rick, if we can get hooked up in the race, we'll definitely work together. It's good to know that you can count on somebody to work with, but it doesn't always work out that way. If we come down to 10 laps to go and he's in front of me or behind me, I'm sure we'll work together to try to get one of our trucks in Victory Lane. If not, we'll just get what we can get, and hopefully we'll have one of these Ford F-150s in Victory Lane."
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