Changes to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car and the Kansas Speedway racing surface should combine for a fast and fun race weekend. That’s what David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford, believes.
The new, lighter and faster Gen-6 car of 2013 will take to the 1.5-mile oval in Kansas City, Kan., for Sunday’s STP 400. The track produced higher speeds after being smoothed out in a 2012 repaving project and should see even higher speeds with new car this weekend.
Sunday’s race will be Gilliland’s ninth start at Kansas. His best result was 22nd (2006).
Comments from Long John Silver’s team driver David Gilliland heading to Kansas:
“I know the speeds are going to be very fast at Kansas, especially with these new Gen-6 cars. I think you’ll probably see another track record broken. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I really enjoy racing this Gen-6 car. It’s got the feel that I like in a racecar overall, so it’s been a plus for us.
“Kansas is going to be good and fast. The progressive banking on the kind of new surface allows you to go out and not just be stuck on the bottom. So that’s what probably a lot of people are looking forward to going back to Kansas.
“Last fall I believe some people were able to run up high and find speed up high, and that’s kind of unusual for a freshly paved track. So, I think as the years go by, it’s just going to produce even better racing.
“I like the progress we’re making as a team on these intermediate tracks. Frank Kerr, my crew chief, has brought a lot to our team this year. We’re approaching some tracks differently and taking new packages, and it’s really helped our performance this year. And it’s only going to improve as we go to more tracks that are similar where we can carry over some things that we learn in this new car.”
FRM PR
