Strict Agenda For Brian Scott At Daytona |
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Topics: Brian Scott, Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200
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Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
Venturini Motorsports
February 3, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 3, 2009) - - Boise, Idaho’s Brian Scott doesn’t have some of the worries that some of his competitors have heading into Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t feeling the pressure.
Scott, a full-time driver for Xpress Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will continue his relationship with Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and drive a third entry for the Mooresville, North Carolina based-team in this weekend’s season opener.
“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a Venturini Motorsports-prepared machine,” said Scott, who will pilot the No. 8 Albertsons TOYOTA Camry. “Daytona is a big deal to the Venturini’s and it’s an important race for me. We’ve enjoyed success together but we’re knocking on the door of that first win. We hope to accomplish that Saturday afternoon.”
Scott is no stranger to running up front in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Last year, Scott started out his season at Daytona in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo prepared by Bob Schacht Motorsports but after charging to the front, the former USAR star was caught up in the race’s “big one” on lap 30 taking him from competition in his ARCA Daytona debut. From Daytona, Scott took a breather before returning with a vengeance mid-season. Making seven starts for Venturini Motorsports in the second half, Scott answered with four top-five finishes, 26 laps led and one pole position at Kentucky Speedway.
Another year equals another year of opportunity for the 21-year old young-gun and he looks to start off his 2009 racing season on the right foot.
“We’re not running for points, we’re going to win. It’s Daytona!,” sounded Scott, who will continue to run a partial schedule in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this season. “Restrictor plate racing is very important to the Venturini’s and I know how bad they want to return to victory lane. I’m going to do everything in my power to get us there this weekend.”
He continued, “I wasn’t able to test with the team in December, but I’m not worried. The team was very strong during the test and I know when I climb in the Albertsons TOYOTA on Thursday, we’ll be right strong. Our qualifying setup will be our main objective during practice as we don’t have a guaranteed starting spot. Qualifying up front is so crucial for this type of racing. Once we’ve dialed ourselves in, we’ll focus on getting the car to handle and run well in the draft.”
While drafting is a critical element to success in Saturday’s Super Bowl event, the veteran NASCAR driver knows that help from his teammates could be the extra push that he needs to surge to his first RE/MAX Series victory.
“I have some great teammates at Venturini Motorsports,” Scott explained. “Joey (Logano) will be in the No. 25 and Ryan (Fischer) will be in the No. 15. The plan is to work with each other during the race and hope that a Venturini Motorsports car is the first to take the checkered flag.”
Venturini Motorsports’ Billy Venturini is fired up about having Scott return to his family-owned team at Daytona. “Brian is such a superb talent,” Venturini commented. “He gets it. He has talent and it’s shown with our race team. He is determined to win in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and we’re hoping to give him a car capable of making his dream come true. A lot of attention is focused on Joey (Logano) but Brian will be an excellent teammate to him and Ryan (Fischer). Those guys know they are lucky to have Brian on their side.”
Saturday’s ARCA race will serve as a preamble for Scott as he’ll make another full-season charge in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) beginning with next Friday’s NextEra Resources Energy 250. And while the two sanctions are very different, Scott is hoping that running the ARCA race will deliver momentum that he can carry over to the his No. 16 Albertsons TOYOTA Tundra.
“Anytime you can get behind the wheel and race, it doesn’t hurt,” Scott mentioned. “With tracks like Daytona and Talladega , I can continue to learn the characteristics of the draft and rack up some more seat time. I know that running in the ARCA RE/MAX Series last year built some momentum and confidence that definitely carried over to the truck. There’s little hesitation in my mind that the same won’t happen again this year.”
Before Scott can shift his focus on his “real” job next week, the former mini-sprints ace knows that this weekend’s ARCA race is all about fun but trying to make a dream become a reality at the famed “World Center of Racing.”
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for Brian Scott for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona. Interested parties are urged to contact Emmett Byrd at 704.662.8088.
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps/200 miles) is the first of 22 events on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 46th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 5 with a five hour practice session planned from 12:00-5:00 p.m. ARCA pole qualifying is set for Friday, February 6 slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. A one hour and five minute final practice session is etched in on Friday evening from 5:10pm-6:15 p.m. The event will take the green flag on Saturday, February 7 shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local.