This time a year ago, Travis Geisler (No. 36 DCT Motorsports Chevrolet) was graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Today, hes heading into the June 12 Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway looking forward to returning to his home track. Geisler made his debut with DCT Motorsports when the NASCAR Busch Series made its first stop at the Middle Tennessee venue in April. Since then, hes made two other starts, splitting time with 1993 NASCAR Busch Series champion Steve Grissom in the ride owned by Cleveland, Ohio businessmen John McGill and Carl Natale. Although hes a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Geislers time at Vanderbilt made Nashville a second home. Maybe I take this track more personally than some others, Geisler says. I think any time you race your home track, you want to do your very best. My confidence level is pretty high going into this weekend. I have a lot more experience at this track. Ive raced the All Pro Series here, and now the NASCAR Busch Series, too. I have a lot of laps at this track. It makes you feel comfortable to know that you can race well at a certain track. Just walking around the pits, seeing your friends, being familiar with your surroundings, it makes it more comforting. I can relax a little bit knowing that Ive got my close friends there to support me, and also knowing what I need to get out of the car for a good race. Obviously, Geislers degree is being put to good use both on and off the track. I feel having a mechanical engineering degree has really helped me in a lot of ways with my racing career, Geisler says. I understand the physics of how the car is handling and can relate that back to the team. Engineering makes you think differently a little more outside the box. You take big problems, and break them down into smaller problems and fix them. Its a different thought process that just really fits into preparing a race car. Having a college degree also helps off the track as well. You have a lot more confidence when youre speaking with CEOs of major companies, trying to get sponsorship. You understand more of what they are looking for. You have to be articulate and knowledgeable in marketing, sales and public relations. The college degree has already helped me fill that role, and it will just become more and more important as I progress.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Chevrolet builds on lead in manufacturers standings Chevrolet has built a fairly comfortable lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings for manufacturers in the NASCAR Busch Series. Chevrolet has nine wins and 109 points. Following the June 7 win by Greg Biffle (No. 60 Charter Communications Ford) at Dover International Speedway, Ford has four wins and 84 points. Dodge is in third place with 60 points and one win, while Pontiac is in fourth, with 55 points. The standings are determined by a scoring system in which the highest-finishing manufacturer receives nine points, the second-highest gets six, third-highest receives four and fourth-highest receives three.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 25 U.S. Marine Corps Ford) leads all drivers at Nashville in most starts in the top five (four), top-five finishes (three) and top 10s (four, tied with Scott Wimmer). Hes also led during all six races held at the track, for a total of 233 laps, both of which are also tops at the facility. Hamiltons best finish at the track is a second in June 2002. Martin Truex Jr. (No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) set the track qualifying record at Nashville in April, with a speed of 166.516 mph. Greg Biffle (No. 60 Charter Communications Ford) collected the first NASCAR Busch Series win of his career at Nashville in April 2001. David Green (No. 37 Timber Wolf Pontiac) finished first and second in last years races at Nashville, and 10th in April. Ford has three wins at Nashville Superspeedway, while Chevrolet has two and Pontiac has one.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
With his 14th-place finish in the June 2003 race at Nashville Superspeedway, Jason Keller (No. 22 Miller High Life Ford) became the first and only NASCAR Busch Series driver to pass the $7 million mark in career winnings. Keller has since passed the $8 million plateau.
Fast Facts
What: Federated Auto Parts 300 (Race No. 15 of 34 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.
When: 8:00pm/et, Saturday, June 12, 2004.
Track layout: 1.333-mile banked concrete oval.
Race length: 300 miles/225 laps.
Posted awards: $1,058,203.
TV: FX, 8:00pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: Scott Riggs.
2003 polesitter: Johnny Sauter.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday Practice, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Qualifying, 5:05 p.m.; Final Practice, following conclusion of NASS event.(NASCAR PR)(6-10-2004)
