As the 2007 season nears an end, the Nextel Cup Series teams have only two stops remaining. This week, drivers will compete in the Car of Tomorrow (COT) at the Phoenix International Raceway for the final time this year. The curiously shaped oval is located in the middle of the desert, where tempers are sure to flare as the Chase for the Nextel Cup reaches a fever pitch. Dale Jarrett and his #44 UPS Team look to rebound after a solid performance was ended prematurely in Texas.
"Last week was frustrating," Jarrett said. "We had a good run going there and were running laps pretty close to the leaders. We were close to getting our lap back, but unfortunately got caught up in somebody else's mess. That is such a fast track that you just don't have much time to react. This week in Phoenix is going to be a lot of fun for me and hopefully we'll be able to get to the front and stay out of trouble."
The Checker Auto Parts 500 is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. EST start this Sunday.
Dale Jarrett Discusses Racing at Phoenix International Raceway
What do you think about Phoenix?
"It's a pretty cool place. I definitely like racing here. I like the area for sure. It's one of my favorite places that we visit. The golf out here is incredible. The views are spectacular. It's one of those places that I'll definitely come back to when I'm done racing next year. The track itself is like no other place we race at, and I like that. I like tracks that are different and this place definitely has its own character. The ‘dog leg' in the back stretch makes for some interesting racing. And I think it's the only track we go to where people have to go out and round up rattlesnakes before we get there."
With this being the final race of the year for the COT, can you assess its performance up to this point?
"Well, it's still a work in progress, but we are learning more about it every race. All the teams out here are learning every week. It's a good car though. There are still some improvements that can be made and I think NASCAR is willing to take a look at a few things if they make sense. But the biggest thing all year has just been the feel from a driver's perspective. It's been tough climbing back and forth from the old car to this new car. It's tough to reset your brain sometimes and forget about how the old car feels when you climb into the COT. So from that perspective, things should improve for next year. I like the direction this UPS Team has been heading and the strides we've made and Michael Waltrip Racing. Hopefully we can use this last trip to Phoenix this week to show those things we've learned lately and bring home a good finish."
UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest
- Dale Jarrett earned his first and only win at Phoenix in the fall of 1997.
- In 22 career starts at Phoenix, Jarrett has one win, two top fives and nine top 10s.
- Jarrett has been running at the end of every Nextel Cup race at Phoenix since 1992.
- Jarrett has led a total of 175 laps at Phoenix in his entire Nextel Cup career.
