2011-04-05

TEAM PR: Joey Doiron North Wilkesboro Race Preview

Joey Doiron: PASS North Series

North Wilkesboro Race Preview

Joey Doiron of Berwick, Maine, joins drivers from two divisions for the PASS-sanctioned $75,000-to-win “The Race” at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, N.C., on Friday and Saturday, April 8-9. The reigning PASS North Series Rookie of the Year is guaranteed a starting spot in the lucrative event for both PASS North and PASS South Series teams. Doiron has never competed at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, which has sat nearly dormant since the last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event there in 1995, though he and his family-owned Super Late Model team tested there last month.

WHO: Joey Doiron, Berwick, Maine

TEAM: No. 73 JBJ Machine/Rescue Welding/Dale Shaw Race Cars Chevrolet

BEST CAREER NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY FINISH: N/A

LAST RACE AT NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY: N/A

WHAT: PASS-sanctioned “The Race” 300-lap Super Late Model event

WHERE: North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

WHEN: Qualifying – Friday, April 8, 5 p.m.; Race – Saturday, April 9, 6 p.m.

PASS NORTH SERIES

NEXT RACE: April 30, PASS 150, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine (.333-mile oval)

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JOEY, HOW DID YOUR TEST AT NORTH WILKESBORO GO LAST MONTH?

It went a lot better than I expected. We went with a setup we've never really used before up here (in the PASS North Series). I think we found something – and I'm really excited to go back. We were one of faster cars there during the test, too. Something like that always give you confidence.

The fact that we're already locked into the field was the main reason why we went to test. Yeah, we're locked into the show, but I don't want to get into the show just based on that. My goal is to time trial in the Top-15. It's possible for us. We really played around with our setups (at the test). We tried to go in a different direction than what we had been doing in the past, something a lot more radical.

WHY IS THIS RACE SO IMPORTANT TO TEAMS? IS IT JUST ABOUT THE PURSE MONEY?

The money is probably a big part of what makes this special, but it's more than that. Not many people can say they've ever raced at North Wilkesboro, and being able to say you raced there is a big deal.

The other thing is that there are not many slouches entered in this race. Everyone that's coming could probably win it. I don't think you'll see another Super Late Model field this tough all year until maybe the Snowball Derby (in the winter).

IS YOUR TEAM CAPABLE OF WINNING THE 300?

Everyone goes to the race track with the expectation of winning. I think it's possible for us. It doesn't matter who it is, Augie Grill or Bill Penfold, or how good your car is – you've still got to have luck on your side. You need a lot of luck, too, especially in a race like this. Anything can happen.

At this time last year, I didn't think our program was good enough (to compete for the win). But I think we turned a corner at the end of the season. We didn't have the finishes at the end of the year maybe that we wanted, but we were definitely a Top-5 caliber car at some of the tracks we were going to for a second time.

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