SETZER: 13th Atlanta Start on Tap for Veteran Driver
03-05-2008 9:06 pm

►The North Carolina native will make his 12th NASCAR start this weekend at Atlanta. In seven previous NCTS starts Setzer has scored one top-five finish and two top-10 finishes. In four Nationwide Series starts he has one top-10 finish at Atlanta.

►Setzer will pilot "Magnum" this weekend at Atlanta. "Magnum" first debuted at Gateway International Speedway last September with Mike Bliss behind the wheel. Setzer ran this particular chassis two weeks ago in California.

►In the first two races Setzer has scored two top-20 finishes. After dodging several wrecks at Daytona, Setzer scored a 10th place finish and followed that up with a 16th place finish at California.

In The Loop: According to NASCAR loop statistics Setzer currently holds the top spot at AMS for the number of laps a NCTS driver was within the top 15 during the course of a race with 675 laps. He also has an average running position of eighth at the 1.54-mile oval.

New Plate Presents New Challenge for Drivers: "One of the biggest challenges I think we will face at Atlanta is how long we can hold it wide open. Since NASCAR added the restrictor plate to our engines in February to slow us down I have not been able to hold it wide open as often in the past. Usually we only have restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega, but now we have them for all races. I know you will be able to hold it wide open for qualifying and the first 10 laps or so of the race, but after that I am not sure. It will definitely affect the handling of the trucks at Atlanta. We are use to being able to run wide open there a majority of the race, but I have feeling that will change this weekend."