Ted Musgrave's recent trips to Bristol Motor Speedway have been a marked improvement over his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races there. With the changes the track has made to the racing surface, he and crew chief Rick Gay Jr. are looking for another very strong showing at the half-mile high-banked oval in Wednesday night's O'Reilly 200.

"When I heard what they wanted to do (to the racing surface at Bristol), my reaction was 'Great,'" said Truck Series veteran Musgrave. "After testing on the track, it is great. Bristol Motor Speedway is a race track where I always wanted to see two grooves of racing, a second lane, a passing area. I really don't think it is going to change the racing we expect at Bristol. I think the 'bump and run' and 'push' to get by will still be there - the action won't change. The place is still Bristol, and we are looking forward to racing the Team ASE/Germain Tundra there."

Rick Gay Jr., who joined Musgrave and the Team ASE/Germain crew last fall at Bristol for the first time, says the new track surface is good, and it won't change his approach to racing there.

"We'll run the race the same as last year," said Gay, who led Musgrave to his highest Truck Series career finish at Bristol, finishing third. "My initial reaction (to repaving Bristol) was 'wow, that will be a project.' Now, after seeing the job they did with the track, it's still Bristol, but with less bumps. They did a nice job. The track looks different, but it's really the same Bristol - and that's a good thing."

In last year's race, Musgrave ran third, behind teammate Todd Bodine, who was in the throws of an ever-tightening points battle. The two were racing after last year's race winner, Mark Martin, and according to Musgrave, the Team ASE/Germain Tundra may have been the best truck by race's end.

"It was Rick Gay's first race with the team last year at Bristol and our Team ASE/Germain Tundra was really close to being the winning truck," explained Musgrave. "At the end we were just as good if not better than the leader and second, but with Todd, my teammate in front of me, I wasn't going to take a chance to rough him up to get by him. The top three trucks were pretty equal at the end of the race. We expect to be every bit as good this year as last year. We know our truck is as good, no question."

For Musgrave, the question will be overall racing strategy. He's cautious about predicting how the newly repaved racing surface will affect the race results.

"How will pit stratregy come into play? Will the tires wear the same? We don't know, but we're taking a great Team ASE/Germain Tundra and we're hoping to be up front all race long again," said Musgrave, who is currently eighth in NCTS standings.

Crew Chief Rick Gay Jr. on Bristol Motor Speedway's track re-surfacing: "My initial reaction was 'wow, that will be a project.' Now, after seeing the job they did with the track, it's still Bristol, but with less bumps. They did a nice job. The track looks different, but it's really the same Bristol - and that's a good thing."

Ted Musgrave on Bristol's re-surfacing: "When I heard what they wanted to do, my reaction was 'Great.' And it is. Bristol Motor Speedway is a race track where I always wanted to see two grooves of racing, a second lane, a passing area. My first reaction was cool, then, after testing, I really don't think it is going to change the racing we expect at Bristol. I think the 'bump and run' and 'push' to get by will still be there- the action won't change. The place is still Bristol, and we are looking forward to racing the Team ASE/Germain Tundra there."

No differences at all?? Musgrave: "The track is a little bit easier to drive now. Whether that's good or bad, I'm not quite sure. Sometimes the person that wins at Bristol is the one that has the best handling truck under extreme conditions. Now I think track position will mean more."

How Will Rookie Racers Fair vs. Veterans…Musgrave: "The new surface should even the playing field - first-time racers there will have an easier time adjusting to the track. But I believe the spins and wrecks will still be there, they will probably just come more from contact - I don't think you'll see many single-truck spins."

How Close Was the Team ASE/Germain Tundra (finished third) to being a winning truck in 2006, Musgrave: "Real close. It was Rick Gay's first race with the team last year at Bristol and our Team ASE/Germain Tundra was really close to being the winning truck. At the end we were just as good if not better than the leader and second, but with Todd, my teammate in front of me, I wasn't going to take a chance to rough him up to get by him. The top three trucks were pretty equal at the end of the race."

Expectations for O'Reilly 200, Musgrave: "We're a decent truck again. There are too many unknowns to say, yes, we expect to be every bit as good as last year. We know our truck is as good, no question, but until we actually run a race there we aren't going to know. How will pit stratregy come into play? Will the tires wear the same? We don't know, but we're taking a great Team ASE/Germain Tundra and we're hoping to be up front all race long again."

Mystique of Bristol, Musgrave: "The size and the banking of Bristol produce more action as far as contact between race trucks, spins, crashes and for some reason a lot of people like to see that first-hand. At Bristol no seat in the house is bad - you can see action all the way around, hear it and smell it. The seat of the Team ASE/Germain Tundra might be the best seat, though! The track is just very exciting for race fans, and the action is nonstop for the drivers as well."

Re-paved Strategy?: Musgrave: "My strategy won't change until we run a race on the new surface. It's always been my strategy at Bristol to race the race track and to survive. If you do, you'll have a good day."

Re-paved Strategy?: Rick Gay Jr.: "We'll run the race the same as last year."