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Actually ok at Atlanta... | More >> | 2004 Recap Archive | 2003 Race Archive

Start - 9th | Competitors - 28| High - 1st | Low - 18th | Finish - 6th

Reconfigured in 1997, everyone makes a point to tell you that Atlanta is the fastest track on the circuit. This maybe true but when racing at Atlanta, you don't concern yourself with speed, you concern yourself with finesse. Atlanta is one of those tracks where tire wear factors into the equation and strategy from fuel and track position can make the difference between a great day and a disaster.

The ECI team came to Atlanta with trepidation and left with a fair finish and huge gains in the points. Historically Atlanta is not one of the teams stronger tracks but every year it's a new opportunity. The qualifying effort was typical as the AMSOIL Chevy started ninth on the grid. Seems the team's consistently in the mid to top half of the charts and improving each week. The race game plan was to conserve tires, hope for long runs, and see if we could drive our way to a top five. The strategy was a good one as the race unfolded in long green flag runs and only three short cautions were encountered and they were at timely intervals. Kevin dropped to 18th in the first segment but over the long run climbed back to the ninth position when the first caution waved. The team decided to leave Kevin out to lead a lap and bonus points were obtained on lap 51. Restarting in fifteenth, Kevin dropped to sixteenth and then methodically worked his way back through the field. The second caution waved on lap 108 and Kevin had worked his way to the ninth position.

Making the final pit stop, the team executed an outstanding stop and put Kevin back out in the sixth position for the restart. Kevin hung with the lead pack until the final caution waived on lap 140. with seven to go, the team decided to stay out and see if they could sneak away with a win. The restart proved challenging however and the tires lost traction which resulted in enough of a slip to slow the pace and allow three cars to get by. Sixth place was the result and although it wasn't a win, it was a satisfying run at the troublesome Atlanta speedway.

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Actually ok at Atlanta ... | << back | 2004 Race Archive | 2003 Race Archive

Kevin Inglin

"I feel really really good about that one. Not a bad weekend at all for our AMSOIL team. We weren't the fastest but there's nothing to be ashamed of as our team put in a solid performance and came away with a significant gain in the points race. I think we left a bit on that qualifying run. We ran faster in simulated qualifying runs and expected a bit more but our qualifying efforts have been getting better and that's good.

I noticed early that the tire situation was critical here this weekend. If you heated up the tires too much then they tended to drop off quick fast and in a hurry. Saving tires was paramount but we figured if we got in a situation where we needed to run hard, we could answer up. We confirmed that for ourselves by doing a sprint run in happy hour and topping the speed charts.

Atlanta may be fast but we've noticed that there just aren't many cautions so we planned for the long runs. It played right into our hands. We conserved tires and played it safe. It just feels so good to be honking on a long run and making so much ground up. I hated to see that last caution come out as we had the top five in site and plenty of tires left. We might have been able to pull off an upset there. Still all-in-all, it was a great run. Just a bit of a slip on that last restart cost us a top five. Not sure what the deal was there but the car broke loose going into turn one and we had to breathe the throttle. It cost us three spots as the cars that pitted for fresh tires got to me on the backstretch of the last lap. If we wouldn't have slipped, I think we could have gotten the leader. We were closing on him fast prior to the yellow.

No complaints here. Hat's off to Olson and his bunch for the win. They played it smart too and it paid off for them. For us, it's going to come. Our programs coming together and we're making steady improvement each and every week. We'll have our bumps in the road but I'm confident that this AMSOIL team has got the stuff to be there in the end. "