Rick Ren: Talking Strategy At Texas Motor Speedway
11-02-2009 6:55 pm

In 2008, Rick Ren became just the second crew chief to sweep both NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Texas Motor Speedway. His driver, Ron Hornaday Jr., hadn't previously won at the 1.5-mile speedway.

Ren also has a WinStar World Casino 350 win in 2000 with Travis Kvapil.

He talks about some of the challenges the team will face in Friday's race.

Q: Has the track changed over the years you've been coming to Texas?
"The track has changed ever so slightly. The main changes over the years have been in the tire compounds that NASCAR has chosen to bring. The tire changes have proven to be a bigger challenge than the changes in the track itself. However, anytime a track sits in the sun it will lose grip over time, and that has been the major hurdle we have faced going to Texas."

Q: Do you approach it differently with your setups?
"I start with my basic setup for Texas then move from there. We have a really good base package, so I use my setup from years past and move around the track changes."

Q: What are the pit strategy challenges with pit rules/green flag stops?
"Texas is the one track that the 2009 pit rules really become a challenge. Texas is a place where you historically have to make a green-flag pit stop, so then it becomes a question of tires or gas or both. The dual pitting is a challenge in its own right, but becomes even more of a factor when you have to make the call under green."

Q: How has racing with a big points lead changed strategy from past years?
"It hasn't changed our strategy at all. We still attack the track the same way we have in the past."