TEAM CHEVY: Atlanta Preview
03-05-2008 9:34 pm

Chevrolet Silverado drivers have scored four (4) wins in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS competition at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) - more than any other manufacturer Ron Hornaday, No. 33 Camping World Silverado, three-time and defending NCTS champion, has one victory at AMS - '05

· In six previous AMS starts, has one pole (Fall - '07), one win, two top-five and two top-10 finishes

Chevrolet Silverado has won six (6) of the 13 NCTS Manufacturers' Championships
Silverado drivers have won nine (9) of the 13 possible Series' Driver Championships
Silverado drivers have won more races than any other brand - 132 of 317 - 41.6% (1995-2007)
Quotable Quotes and Notable Notes:

Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Program Manager for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: "Last year we had some very fast Chevrolet Silverado race trucks at Atlanta. It's a tough track that requires the complete package engine, handling and aero. It also takes a great driver who can adapt as the line typically moves from the bottom to the top of the track as the race progresses. We have won this race several times, it's always exciting, and it usually comes down to the last lap. Ron Hornaday and his Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) teammate Jack Sprague had a good test at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) earlier this year. Ron was fastest the first day giving the team a comfort zone to spend the second day experimenting with adjustments to see how their Silverado would react. These guys along with the rest of the Chevrolet camp should put up a strong fight Friday night, but it's never easy in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Atlanta."

Ron Hornaday, No. 33 Camping World Silverado: "Atlanta is one of those tracks that you can run wide open. The turns there have almost as much banking as Daytona and Talladega and you can carry some really good speed going into the straight-aways. We sat on the pole and finished second down there last October with a good truck. We tested at Atlanta back in January and did really well; learned some things that I think will pay off for us when we get there for the race."
Jack Sprague, No. 2 American Commercial Lines Silverado: " "We ran really well at the test. We are taking back the same truck and one that has a winning reputation. I think we are going to go back to Atlanta even better than we tested. I would really like to get a win here. We need to begin to get the ball rolling in the right direction this season and I think Atlanta is the perfect place for us to turn our luck around."

Matt Crafton, No. 88 Menards Silverado: ""Atlanta is one of my favorite race tracks...you can run the white line around the whole track, or can run up against the fence...can race anywhere, so if you catch someone, you can get around them, not have to follow them until they make a mistake to get around them. Tires are a key at Atlanta...at beginning of a run, you have lots of grip, but by about 10 laps in, they are wearing out, so there's lots of slipping and sliding. We're racing the same truck we had at California...we fought a balance-issue with it at California, but the guys brought it back to the shop and cut it up and made a bunch of changes...we think it's better, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we run with it at Atlanta."

Chad McCumbee, No. 8 MRD Silverado, 7th in point standings: "I think the team and I both are looking forward to Atlanta. We had a very strong performance there last fall and look to do the same this coming weekend. We have had a chance to look and review California and find ways to make us better. Atlanta has always been one of my favorite tracks on the Truck schedule. The guys at MRD had me a great test truck there in January so that always makes you eager to go back."

Scott Speed, No. 46 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Silverado - NOTE: Former Formula One and open wheel driver making career-first start in NCTS and at AMS: "I've never tested or raced at Atlanta, and I've never even been behind the wheel of a NASCAR Truck before, but I'm super excited to try it out! The great thing about this Truck race for me is that there's zero pressure for me to go out there and bring home some amazing finish. The objectives are for me to learn how the Truck handles and to get more racing experience. I know what I'm up against - I have about two hours of practice, then I have to be ready to race. I love throwing myself off the deep end every once in awhile."

SILVERADO ON THE TRACK: A key component to the success of Team Chevy Silverado teams is the in-depth aerodynamic data accumulated in wind tunnel testing supervised by GM Racing Silverado Program Engineers. In providing this invaluable tool to key partner Silverado race teams. GM Racing continues its winning ways with the best drivers and teams in NCTS competition.