Rusty's Rundown: The Rock

What to watch for

There are two things to watch for this weekend. With the points battle being as tight as it is, you're going to watch every move us top point guys make on the track and in the pits. The other reason is to see how quickly the tires wear this weekend.

	Rusty Wallace. Credit: Autostock

Rockingham just eats the Goodyears up so quickly because of its abrasive surface. Once the tires go away, you'll see the cars start to slip around some. But the good thing is that it puts the race back into the driver's hands.

I know it's going to be a crucial race for me this weekend to make sure I get out of there with a good finish. I'm trying to climb higher up in the points spots. That's my goal.

There's also going to be some serious passing. Rockingham is the type of track you can pass real easy on. There won't be any follow-the-leader racing going on here.

What to watch for once we get rolling

The entries into the turns are unlike any other track we race. You feel like you're right up against the wall and all of sudden if feels like you're diving down into a ditch.

You have to dive right off the top of the wall right to the bottom of the race track. It's a bigger difference and transition than any other track. Sometimes, I feel like the entry going into the corner at Dover is just like that at Rockingham. It's a unique feel.

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You need to watch for track position and pit stops. One time we raced here, ran like 12 laps and stayed out. When they dropped the flag, the guys who pitted after 12 laps from the start of the race just blew by everyone and took the lead. I never thought in a million years that tires would've been that important with so few laps on them.

Having fast pit stops is going to be real important. Look for how handling plays out in this race.

How to race the Rock

The trickiest part of the track, to me, is between Turns 3 and 4 exiting off the corner. There are a lot of bumps and waves in the track right there.

You can be wide open in the throttle early and as you go over those bumps and waves the car will start to get out from underneath you. As the car compresses on the springs, you hit a bump and it tries to come up out of the springs and the car gets all sideways.

Teams work real hard to get the balance between the front and rear springs and shocks so the cars can get through those big bumps.

Where's Wallace

This weekend, I will be out at the souvenir rig sometime on Saturday evening. I usually go out there right after Happy Hour, but this time I'm going to go out there a little later.

	Credit: ASP

If you're by there, stop by and they will be able to tell you exactly what time because we haven't quite figured that out with somethings I have to do on Saturday afternoon.

Ok, I'll be honest. I am so into this dang golf game lately that I just have to go play at least nine holes while in Rockingham. There are so many great courses out there that I just can't pass them up.

I appreciate you all for your understanding, and I'll see you at the rig on Saturday night. Bring a jacket, it's supposed to be a little chilly this weekend.

Last Call

With Rockingham being called the Rock, I think I'll answer a question so many people ask me.

What's my favorite music?

Rock n' roll all the way. I especially like the southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and groups like that. I've been to a bunch of Molly Hatchet shows and we've done some promotional work together with Miller Lite and them.

Let's just hope I can rock at The Rock this weekend.

Rusty's Rundown appears each Wednesday on NASCAR.com. For more info on Rusty Wallace, please visit his Web site at www.rustywallace.com.