The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Pretty solid result at Texas considering you didn't know if you'd qualify or not! Hope that momentum carries into Bristol!

A little luck is always nice. Bristol we can work on race setup straight off because our testing speeds should be plenty quick to get us in the race. Martinsville is iffy but Talladega should be a good shot at a top-10. Got Sears Point in that stretch between Martinsville and Talladega and I don't expect to make the road courses this season.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Food City 500 at BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Caution Flags: 3 (13 laps)
Lead Changes: 5 (4 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 79 °F, Southeast 6 mph

1997 Food City 500 Race Results
POS	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	START	LED	PTS	BONUS
1	Geoff Bodine	7	250	1	196*	185	10
2	Kyle Petty	44	250	5	0	170	0
3	Ted Musgrave	16	250	20	0	165	0
4	Ricky Craven	25	250	18	0	160	0
5	Dale Jarrett	88	250	6	0	155	0
6	Mark Martin	6	250	19	0	150	0
7	Jeff Gordon	24	250	12	8	151	5
8	Sterling Marlin	4	250	23	0	142	0
9	Ernie Irvan	28	250	17	0	138	0
10	Jeremy Mayfield	37	250	15	0	134	0
11	Dale Earnhardt	3	250	8	1	135	5
12	Johnny Benson	30	250	13	0	127	0
13	Michael Waltrip	21	250	16	0	124	0
14	Jeff Burton	99	250	2	0	121	0
15	Bobby Labonte	18	-1L	10	0	118	0
16	Ricky Rudd	10	-1L	21	0	115	0
17	Bill Eliott	94	-1L	4	0	112	0
18	Brett Bodine	11	-1L	24	0	109	0
19	John Andretti	98	-1L	29	0	106	0
20	Ward Burton	22	-1L	25	0	103	0
21	Dick Trickle	90	-1L	39	0	100	0
22	Joe Nemechek	42	-1L	26	0	97	0
23	Steve Grissom	41	-1L	22	0	94	0
24	Robby Gordon (R)	40	-1L	37	0	91	0
25	Mike Skinner (R)	31	-1L	32	0	88	0
26	Todd Bodine	35	-1L	36	0	85	0
27	Chad Little	97	-1L	40	0	82	0
28	Rusty Wallace	2	-2L	3	0	84	5
29	Hut Stricklin	8	-2L	35	0	76	0
30	Larry Pearson (R)	15	-2L	31	0	73	0
31	Dave Marcis	71	-2L	33	0	70	0
32	Derrike Cope	36	-2L	28	0	67	0
33	Bobby Hillin	77	-2L	38	0	64	0
34	Terry Labonte	5	-3L	7	0	61	0
35	Jimmy Spencer	23	-3L	9	0	58	0
36	Ken Schrader	33	-3L	14	0	55	0
37	Darrell Waltrip	17	-3L	27	0	52	0
38	Robert Pressley	29	-3L	34	0	49	0
39	Lake Speed	9	-3L	41	0	46	0
40	Bobby Hamilton	43	-3L	30	0	43	0
41	Steve Fulton (R)	83	-3L	11	0	40	0
42	Kenny Wallace	81	-7L	42	0	37	0

DID NOT QUALIFY
1 | Morgan Shepherd
75 | Rick Mast
96 | David Green (R)

GEOFF BODINE WINS FROM POLE AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWA

Bristol, TN | Race 7/32

Geoff Bodine's victory Sunday was the 4th time this year someone started on the pole and went on the win the race. The #7 QVC Ford was hooked up all day but at the end it looked like Rusty Wallace was going to take home another short track victory but a late pit stop took him out of the running for the win.

Rookie of the Race honors went to Robby Gordon who edged out fellow rookie Mike Skinner at the line. This marks the second straight race that Skinner has not been top rookie after dominating the first few races of the season. Maybe we will have a rookie battle after all!

There were no DNF's this week. Next race up is from Martinsville, VA and we look forward to seeing you there.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

NASCAR LIVE DRIVER Q&A

Eli Gold: Tonight's guest is Geoff Bodine, driver of the QVC Ford and fresh off a dominating performance in the Food City 500. That was a great run Geoff.

Geoff Bodine: Thanks Eli, it was much needed as we haven't gotten off to the start we had hoped for here in 1997. I thought we had let it slip through our fingers but Rusty had a problem there at the end and we were able to put a exclamation point on the race.

Eli Gold: Both you and Ricky Rudd have won this season as Owner/Drivers. Does this success keep hope alive for the little guys out there as y'all go up against the giants like Hendrick and Roush week in and week out?

Geoff Bodine: Well, wins sure do show that we are capable but we need to be more consistent if we want to dethrone those guys. We just want to be competitive and so far I think we are doing OK.

Eli Gold: Thanks for coming on Geoff, good luck as the tour heads to Martinsville. Ladies and Gentleman that's all for tonight's episode of NASCAR Live.

Driver: Geoff Bodine
Hometown: Chemung, NY
Experience: 16th Season | 17 Career Wins
Team: 7 | QVC | Ford | Geoff Bodine Racing

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

#83 FULTON MOTORSPORTS WEEKLY RECAP

Bristol, Tennessee | Race 7/32

Bristol was the first time we had been confident since we left Daytona Beach. We rolled off knowing we had the stuff to make the race so we got straight to work on race setup. We tinkered with a few things and got ready to qualify.

Qualifying went WAY above expectation as we ran 11th. It was our best feeling since finishing 5th in the Busch Clash in DW's car. We were pumped up and ready to race for a change!

The start was typical Bristol and lucky we were already on the bottom groove. We raced between 9th and 15th the first 50 laps. That is where this feel good story ends. We drove our tires off trying to hang up near the top-10 instead of just taking it easy. We dropped like a rock similar to what happened at Rockingham. We were now 2 laps down.

I think in reality we had a 20th-30th place car but we overdrove it early because the rest of the race we were able to run with those guys. Lesson learned for next time I guess. Not too optimistic with Martinsville. I feel we can qualify but the race is a wild card. Sears Point road course is a definite DNQ for me. I look forward to the high banks of Talladega for sure!

[Careless Whisper]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Great qualifying effort at Bristol! Sucks that you couldn't hold it in that position and overdrove the car a bit, but now you know for next time. Love seeing Kyle Petty in the Hot Wheels car finish second there, haha.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Great qualifying effort at Bristol! Sucks that you couldn't hold it in that position and overdrove the car a bit, but now you know for next time. Love seeing Kyle Petty in the Hot Wheels car finish second there, haha.

Yeah, it's been a while since I raced long races on this game and forgot some of the characteristics of each track. Things I know for sure about this season is the Superspeedways are my best chance for top-10's and I don't have a prayer at the road courses. Other than that it's pretty much try and qualify and then go from there. I will be more patient for the next time. I think qualifying as well as I did made me think my car was better than it was.

I love seeing the old cars while I'm racing too. The Hot Wheels Pontiac is a classic for sure.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Goody's Headache Powder 500 at MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
Caution Flags: 3 (13 laps)
Lead Changes: 6 (5 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 78 °F, East 10 mph

1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500 Race Results
POS	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	START	LED	PTS	BONUS
1	Dale Earnhardt	3	250	5	74*	185	10
2	Johnny Benson	30	250	8	64	175	5
3	Mark Martin	6	250	6	2	170	5
4	Jeff Burton	99	250	7	0	160	0
5	Bill Elliott	94	250	17	0	155	0
6	Ernie Irvan	28	250	13	0	150	0
7	Ted Musgrave	16	250	15	0	146	0
8	Ricky Craven	25	250	14	0	142	0
9	Kenny Wallace	81	250	40	0	138	0
10	Robert Pressley	29	250	41	0	134	0
11	Chad Little	97	250	42	0	130	0
12	Hut Stricklin	8	250	37	0	127	0
13	Rusty Wallace	2	-1L	2	63	129	5
14	Dale Jarrett	88	-1L	11	0	121	0
15	Jeremy Mayfield	37	-1L	3	0	118	0
16	Terry Labonte	5	-1L	4	0	115	0
17	Ken Schrader	33	-1L	12	0	112	0
18	Michael Waltrip	21	-1L	18	0	109	0
19	John Andretti	98	-1L	28	0	106	0
20	Sterling Marlin	4	-1L	25	0	103	0
21	Brett Bodine	11	-1L	19	0	100	0
22	Geoff Bodine	7	-1L	9	0	97	0
23	Ward Burton	22	-1L	24	0	94	0
24	Kyle Petty	44	-1L	23	0	91	0
25	Derrike Cope	36	-1L	29	0	88	0
26	Rick Mast	75	-1L	39	0	85	0
27	Jeff Gordon	24	-1L	1	0	87	0
28	Bobby Labonte	18	-1L	16	0	79	0
29	Mike Skinner (R)	31	-1L	27	0	76	0
30	Lake Speed	9	-1L	32	0	73	0
31	Ricky Rudd	10	-1L	21	0	70	0
32	Steve Grissom	41	-1L	10	0	67	0
33	Joe Nemechek	42	-1L	22	0	64	0
34	Darrell Waltrip	17	-2L	26	0	61	0
35	Todd Bodine	35	-2L	31	0	58	0
36	Dave Marcis	71	-2L	34	0	55	0
37	David Green (R)	96	-2L	38	0	52	0
38	Dick Trickle	90	-2L	36	0	49	0
39	Bobby Hamilton	43	-2L	30	0	46	0
40	Jimmy Spencer	23	-2L	20	0	43	0
41	Larry Pearson (R)	15	-2L	35	0	40	0
42	Robby Gordon (R)	40	-2L	43	0	37	0
43	Steve Fulton (R)	83	DNF	33	0	34	0

DID NOT QUALIFY
1 | Morgan Shepherd
77 | Bobby Hillin

DALE EARNHARDT WINS AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

Martinsville, VA | Race 8/32

Dale Earnhardt took his first win of the season today at Martinsville Speedway. He outlasted surprise sophomore Johnny Benson to take home the Grandfather clock. Each winner at Martinsville Speedway gets a handmade Grandfather clock as a gift from the speedway. This was his 6th clock he has received in his great career. I think he may be running out of space at the house for them all.

Mike Skinner was once again your rookie of the race coming home in 29th place.

Only one driver failed to finish and that was fellow rookie Steve Fulton who parked his #83 Ford around the halfway mark with brake problems. The series heads west this week to wine country in California for the first road course of the season Sears Point.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

NASCAR LIVE DRIVER Q&A

Eli Gold: Welcome race fans, tonight we have 7-time champion "The Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt on the program. Congratulations on the win Dale, you must be running out of room for those Martinsville clocks.

Dale Earnhardt: Thanks Eli. Yeah, we have a few extras that we have out in the shop at the house. We gave a couple away but they are probably the most unique thing you can win on the Winston Cup Series.

Eli Gold: What do you attribute to your success at Martinsville?

Dale Earnhardt: It's got to be those Martinsville hot dogs or little red gut grenades whichever you want to call them. Nah, we just really run good there and I think it has alot to do with patience and be able to make a hole where there aint a hole.

Eli Gold: You edged out sophomore sensation Johnny Benson. He is really running well this year.

Dale Earnhardt: Yes he is. He is a good driver and has a long career ahead of him.

Eli Gold: How do you feel about that 8th championship this year?

Dale Earnhardt: We are sitting in a good spot. We just need to keep running good and see what happens. We should be good at Sears Point and Talladega so we are looking forward to the next 2 races.

Eli Gold: Thanks for coming on the show Dale. We will see you fans back here next week after Sears Point. Goodnight

Driver: Dale Earnhardt
Hometown: Kannapolis, NC
Experience: 19th Season | 7-time Champion
Team: 3 | GM Goodwrench | Chevrolet | Richard Childress Racing

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

#83 FULTON MOTORSPORTS WEEKLY RECAP

Martinsville, Virginia | Race 8/32

Martinsville Speedway is my home track having grown up about 15-20 minutes south down Hwy. 220 near the VA/NC state line. We wanted to run good in front of the home crowd.

We were slow in practice, only getting up to 41st quick on the charts. Not alot of room to get in a good mock qualifying run so we felt optimistic we could make the show for sure.

We qualified 33rd and went to work on race stuff in final practice. The AI in this game wrecks alot in practices here at Martinsville since there are no cautions in practice the cars keep piling up. This makes practice non-existent really once they start wrecking. We will have to have a test session here before the next race so we can get better on our race setup with a clear track.

We were by far the slowest car on the track during the race and I just parked it at the halfway mark while 4 laps down. We were pretty much just staying out of the groove and out of peoples way. Got to get a good look at all the cars though as they passed me non-stop. We will test before the fall race and hope to improve but glad to have made the race for sure.

[GravesFan9]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Man, you're not taking any shortcuts, are you? I'm enjoying the honesty and rooting for you every qualifying sesh, every race!

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Point Standings after 8/32 Races Standings - Updated: Apr 21, 1997
RK	DRIVER	POINTS	BEHIND	WINS	POLES	TOP 5	TOP 10
1	Mark Martin	1204	--	0	1	4	6
2	Dale Jarrett	1147	-57	2	1	5	5
3	Ted Musgrave	1112	-92	0	0	1	6
4	Rusty Wallace	1111	-93	0	0	3	5
5	Johnny Benson	1106	-98	1	0	4	4
6	Jeff Burton	1094	-110	0	0	3	4
7	Dale Earnhardt	1078	-126	1	1	3	3
8	Ernie Irvan	1036	-168	0	0	2	4
9	Bobby Labonte	1032	-175	1	1	2	4
10	Michael Waltrip	1001	-203	0	0	1	3
11	Jeff Gordon	986	-218	1	3	1	3
12	Kyle Petty	954	-250	0	0	1	2
13	John Andretti	921	-283	0	0	0	2
14	Bill Elliott	919	-285	0	0	2	3
15	Ricky Rudd	897	-307	1	0	1	2
16	Ricky Craven	890	-314	0	0	1	3
17	Sterling Marlin	876	-328	0	0	0	1
18	Terry Labonte	835	-369	0	0	2	2
19	Brett Bodine	829	-375	0	0	0	1
20	Jeremy Mayfield	821	-383	0	0	0	1
21	Geoff Bodine	800	-404	1	1	1	1
22	Jimmy Spencer	782	-422	0	0	0	3
23	Ken Schrader	780	-424	0	0	1	2
24	Ward Burton	774	-430	0	0	0	1
25	Derrike Cope	758	-446	0	0	0	1
26	Steve Grissom	748	-456	0	0	0	0
27	Chad Little	713	-491	0	0	1	1
28	Mike Skinner (R)	701	-503	0	0	0	0
29	Joe Nemechek	668	-536	0	0	0	1
30	Bobby Hamilton	655	-549	0	0	0	1
31	Robert Pressley	653	-551	0	0	0	2
32	Darrell Waltrip	650	-554	0	0	0	1
33	Rick Mast	618	-586	0	0	1	1
34	Robby Gordon (R)	520	-684	0	0	0	0
35	Dave Marcis	511	-693	0	0	0	0
36	Dick Trickle	478	-726	0	0	0	0
37	Kenny Wallace	477	-727	0	0	0	1
38	Larry Pearson (R)	450	-754	0	0	0	0
39	Todd Bodine	430	-774	0	0	0	0
40	Hut Stricklin	389	-815	0	0	0	0
41	Morgan Shepherd	371	-833	0	0	0	0
42	Lake Speed	362	-842	0	0	0	0
43	Bobby Hillin	318	-886	0	0	0	0
44	Steve Fulton (R)	290	-914	0	0	0	0
45	David Green (R)	251	-953	0	0	0	0

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Man, you're not taking any shortcuts, are you? I'm enjoying the honesty and rooting for you every qualifying sesh, every race!

I like a good challenge. We will have some better runs but this first year will be a struggle just getting qualified. Each year I will default the opponent strength down 1% until I get to a point where I can run good consistently without luck playing a factor.

Once we can get into the top-35 in points we will be "locked in" to the races but that may be next year. I enjoy the write ups whether I run good or not though.

[OliDegu2008]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Definitely following! Is there #83 merchandise to be had anywhere?

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

Save Mart Supermarkets 300 at SEARS POINT RACEWAY
Caution Flags: 1 (2 laps)
Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 82 °F, East 0 mph

1997 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 Race Results
POS	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS	START	LED	PTS	BONUS
1	Bobby Labonte	18	37	2	17	180	5
2	Jeff Gordon	24	37	1	20*	180	10
3	Rusty Wallace	2	37	4	0	165	0
4	John Andretti	98	37	10	0	160	0
5	Ken Schrader	33	37	8	0	155	0
6	Ricky Rudd	10	37	12	0	150	0
7	Dale Earnhardt	3	37	3	0	146	0
8	Terry Labonte	5	37	5	0	142	0
9	Jimmy Spencer	23	37	14	0	138	0
10	Johnny Benson	30	37	7	0	134	0
11	Geoff Bodine	7	37	18	0	130	0
12	Mark Martin	6	37	9	0	127	0
13	Ted Musgrave	16	37	20	0	124	0
14	Ernie Irvan	28	37	11	0	121	0
15	Kyle Petty	44	37	17	0	118	0
16	Bill Elliott	94	37	22	0	115	0
17	Derrike Cope	36	37	23	0	112	0
18	Ricky Craven	25	37	15	0	109	0
19	Sterling Marlin	4	37	25	0	106	0
20	Brett Bodine	11	37	30	0	103	0
21	Darrell Waltrip	17	37	19	0	100	0
22	Mike Skinner (R)	31	37	24	0	97	0
23	Steve Grissom	41	37	29	0	94	0
24	Michael Waltrip	21	37	21	0	91	0
25	Jeremy Mayfield	37	37	13	0	88	0
26	Bobby Hamilton	43	37	26	0	85	0
27	Joe Nemechek	42	37	28	0	82	0
28	Ward Burton	22	37	27	0	79	0
29	Robby Gordon (R)	40	37	31	0	76	0
30	Dave Marcis	71	37	33	0	73	0
31	Kenny Wallace	81	37	37	0	70	0
32	Larry Pearson (R)	15	37	34	0	67	0
33	Dick Trickle	90	37	35	0	64	0
34	David Green (R)	96	37	41	0	61	0
35	Todd Bodine	35	37	36	0	58	0
36	Lake Speed	9	37	42	0	55	0
37	Rick Mast	75	37	38	0	52	0
38	Chad Little	97	37	39	0	49	0
39	Robert Pressley	29	37	40	0	46	0
40	Dale Jarrett	88	37	16	0	43	0
41	Jeff Burton	99	37	6	0	40	0
42	Morgan Shepherd	1	37	32	0	37	0

DID NOT QUALIFY
8 | Hut Stricklin
77 | Bobby Hillin
83 | Steve Fulton (R)

BOBBY LABONTE WINS IN WINE COUNTRY ON THE ROAD COURSE

Sonoma, CA | Race 9/32

For the second time this season the driver of the Interstate Batteries Pontiac for Joe Gibbs was in Victory Lane. Bobby Labonte held off Jeff Gordon who led the most laps but was unable to get past Labonte in the closing laps of the race. This was the first road course win of his career.

Mike Skinner continues to dominate the rookie class with his 22nd place finish.

There were no DNF's and all cars were on the lead lap at the end of the race. Next week the Winston Cup Series heads back to a restrictor plate race on the high banks of Talladega in Alabama. These races are wild cards and the action is guaranteed to be intense going 3 and 4 wide.

[sgf83]

Re: The Career Of Steve Fulton(Nascar Racing 2002 Season) 2nd Attempt

NASCAR LIVE DRIVER Q&A

Eli Gold: Welcome to the show, tonight we have one of the real surprises of the young season. Ted Musgrave is solidly inside the top-10 in points. Do you think the team can continue the success thus far in the season?

Ted Musgrave: Thanks for having me Eli, it's good to be here and getting the spotlight but it's these guys back at the shop who are really doing the hard part. We have a good organization at Roush so we expect to run good but I would be lying if I said I wasn't surprised by this year.

Eli Gold: Consistency plays such a big factor in our sport and you have been the model of that this year. Do you think you can get that elusive first career win this year?

Ted Musgrave: Well, if we keep running near the front eventually lady luck will shine on us. We would love to win a few of these and really contend for the title but we have to keep running good because some of those guys behind us have had a lot of bad luck, especially Jeff Gordon.

Eli Gold: Yeah, we all are kind of waiting for him to just knock off wins and get right back in the title picture. It's good to see guys like you, Johnny Benson, Kyle Petty and Michael Waltrip having good seasons though. Good luck the rest of the way.

Ted Musgrave: Thanks and thanks for having me on the show.

Eli Gold: That is Ted Musgrave folks, one of this years multiple Cinderella stories. Tune in next week as we unwind from the action at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt has to be the odds on favorite going in but we know restrictor plate races are unpredictable. See you next week fans.

Driver: Ted Musgrave
Hometown: Waukegan, IL
Experience: 7th Season | 7th in 1995 Final Standings
Team: 16 | Primestar | Ford | Roush Racing