AND drivers refute – Although Hillenburg admits the guarantee of a paycheck — last place here a year ago paid almost $45,000 — he wants to finish the race and go on to attempt to make at least 20 events this year. “I don’t want to look like we’re trying to capitalize on anything, but this is our window of opportunity,” he said. “We’re not here to go two laps and try to get a check. We’re here to do the best we can.” But Shelmerdine doesn’t share the same outlook. Although he’s taking the season one race at a time and hopes to be at the Las Vegas event in two weeks, he has no delusional ideas of winning. “If we get lapped twice in the first 100 miles, there’s probably not much point to finishing the race,” Shelmerdine said. “But we’re not going to park on the first lap. We didn’t come here to park; we came here to do the best we can.”(NASCAR.com/AP)(2-22-2004)
AND II: “With this short spoiler on it, and if other cars get around me and get me out of control, then I’ll just pull it in because it’s no use of me going out there and wrecking and taking out some people with a lot on the line,” Long said. “If I can get tires [from other teams] and the car drives good, I’ll race all day long.” Hillenburg admits his team is not as prepared as it needs to be. He said the team hadn’t planned to make its season debut until Atlanta next month. That changed after questions surfaced whether this race would have a full field. Hillenburg said the team needed to come here to earn series points, which could help it earn provisionals and make future races. “There’s a small window of opportunity to get back into this garage for a few teams and that window will probably be closed by Atlanta,” he said. “More cars will come.”(Roanoke Times), this is in no way a SLAM on these drivers, just some notes I found, nothing wrong with keeping their name in the press. Hope thay all finish and do well.(2-22-2004)
UPDATE: The so called field-fillers? (where they started): and where they finished at the Rock:
#80-Hillenburg (43): 34th, -17 laps
#46-Long (42): 38th and out after a spectacular accident
#72-Shelmerdine (41): 42nd and out after 20 laps
#09-Ruttman (40): 43rd and out after 2 laps.(2-22-2004)