Crew Chief Danny Rollins Looks Forward To Racing At Home
07-27-2009 7:06 pm
Lebanon, Tenn., native Danny Rollins is looking forward to being back in his
home state. The veteran crew chief heads up the HT Motorsports No. 25 Cajun
Industries team with driver Terry Cook.
Rollins talks about winning on his home turf:
What is it like to race at home? "Its probably more pressure to
race at home because of my hometown friends and family being there watching.
They all have high expectations every week when watching on TV but when they're
right there, it's even more. At the same time though, its nice to go back home
and visit and see all those people who do support you through thick and thin."
What is it like to win at Nashville? "I've done it once before with
Bobby Hamilton in 2004 and it was a really cool experience. I looked through
Victory Lane and saw my friends and family there with me enjoying it. We have
our racing family there all the time but to be able to experience a win with my
real family and friends, too, it was that much more exciting. The guitar is such
a unique trophy and you hear them talking about it in all the NASCAR racing
divisions. Everyone wants to win a trophy but one as unique as the Gibson guitar
is like a notch in the belt."
What does it take to make it Victory Lane at this track? "Usually
at Nashville you fight being able to turn in the middle of the corners the whole
weekend. You have to work on making the truck turn without being loose off the
corners and that poses a challenge. The track requires more discipline for the
driver usually because he has to drive with a different style and use more
finesse to get around it. You can't over-drive it and if you do, then you will
use valuable time. The track changes when the temperatures do but not as bad as
other tracks we go to."
Your driver is currently ninth in the standings. What do you think it takes
to stay among the top 10 in such a competitive series? "I think
consistency is key to staying in the top 10 in points. We can't be having all
the damage wrecks that we have been having to stay up there heading into the
second part of the season. We have to capitalize on finishes and finish in the
top 10 each week with no DNF's. It's so competitive out there and teams and
drivers have to step up and use everything they have and make the most out of
the finishes."