Catchfence

Teams Discuss How Race Preparation Is Altered During Short Weeks

Huntersville, N.C. (August 11, 2009) – With back-to-back races postponed until Monday due to rain, teams have had less time to prepare for the following weekend’s race. These shorter weeks have varying impacts on teams, drivers and crews depending on the size of the team and the tracks they are going to.

Bobby Labonte

Bobby Labonte, Driver No. 96 Ask.com Ford and President of Breaking Limits:

“Well, for one thing, it sure makes the week go by faster. That could be a good thing or a bad thing, I guess. As far as a team is concerned, their timeline might be crunched a little. I think it can also depend on the size of the team. Bigger teams are able to prepare their cars weeks in advance, so they might not be affected as much. Whereas the smaller teams might be caught playing catch-up a little bit more.

“It’s just tough on the crew guys. They don’t get a day off and have less time with their family back home. It’s been like this the past two weekends. I’m sure they are looking forward to some sun this Sunday.”

John Andretti

“You expect rain delays to happen once a year, but definitely not back-to-back weekends. It certainly turns things upside down, especially for smaller teams. On smaller teams, the guys that work on the road also do most of the prep work at the shop to get the car ready for the next track. When you have one less day to turn things around for the next race, it means teams have more to catch up on and longer hours. It’s a big challenge for the Nationwide teams because most of them are smaller teams this year. Logistically, all of the hotels and flights have to be changed as well, which can be a big headache. Somehow everyone seems to battle through it.

“From a driver’s standpoint, the makeup races seem to have a different attitude to them. The makeup race usually has a lot less cautions than a race run on Sunday. I don’t know exactly why that happens, but it seems like everyone has the attitude that they just want to race and go home. It’s almost like there’s an understanding among the drivers that if we stop ‘playing nice’ then we’ll have to stay at the track longer.”

Crew Chief Eddie D'hondt talks with ARCA RE/MAX Driver Alli Owens

“The hardest part after a race has been delayed is turning everything around. For example, after Pocono the guys had to be home by Tuesday morning and be up at Watkins Glen on Thursday. There’s a lot that needs to be done in the shop before they can leave. The only way to get it all done is to work longer hours, coming in early and working late. It can really wear a team down when you have multiple rain delays like we’ve had this season. The team members have even less time to spend with their children and wives at home. It’s kind of a slow grind, like a branch rubbing on a fence. It just wears you out after a while.”

- Breaking Limits Marketing, Press Release