Attitude is everything at Nazareth

NAZARETH, Pa. -- The ability to put a happy face on a difficult situation may be the best attribute a NASCAR Busch Series driver can have this weekend at Nazareth Speedway.

Sunday's Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200 presents the unique challenge of trying to deal with a truly unique five-cornered, one-mile oval while also battling the traditional Nazareth traffic.

Jason Keller proved how important a positive attitude could be a year ago when he guided his No. 57 Albertson's Ford to Victory Lane.

	Jason Keller

And for Keller, coming back to the Lehigh Valley for his 300th career Busch Series start couldn't come at a better time. His ppc Racing team hasn't won since last May at Nazareth, but he is fifth in the standings, only 99 points out of the lead.

"You have to go in with an open mind or you're in for a very long day," said Keller, who has six top-10 finishes in his last seven starts at Nazareth. "Nazareth is just a fun track. It doesn't compare to any track on the circuit.

"You can't set your car up for any particular corner or straightaway -- to be successful you almost have to be uncomfortable in the car. We just make sure the car is loose with plenty of adjustability and I adjust as a driver."

Bud Pole Qualifying for the 44 entered cars begins at 3:35 p.m. ET.

Defending pole winner Jack Sprague is running in the Winston Cup Series' Winston Open at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night, so qualifying is a wide-open affair.

Shane Hmiel has the highest incentive to grab his first pole of the season as the Nazareth race sponsor, Goulds Pumps, is also on his No. 48 Innovative Motorsports Chevrolet.

Hmiel has a string of nine straight top-15 finishes in progress, is third in the standings, only 50 points out of the lead and has a certain comfort level at Nazareth.

	Shane Hmiel

"I enjoy racing at Nazareth because it reminds me of Concord Motorsports Park, with each corner being unique," Hmiel said of the North Carolina short track. "It's a tricky little racetrack."

Nazareth's tricks include a blind entry to the second turn, a downhill run to Turn 3, an uphill run to the start/finish line and several camber changes.

"Nazareth is a great place to race," said the series' most recent pole winner, Ashton Lewis Jr. "My background is in the road course events, and Nazareth is about as close as we get to that in the Busch Series. The unique shape of the track and the inclines (it has) make it challenging, but a lot of fun."

Nazareth will present an emotional challenge to new Busch Series point leader David Green's Brewco Motorsports team because its previous driver, Jeff Purvis, was critically injured in a crash here a year ago, an incident which has derailed his career, possibly permanently.

"I really like the position that I'm in right now," Green said. "It's still very early in the season, but I really like the way our team is communicating and coming together. I believe our best is yet to come."

Green grabbed the point lead from Todd Bodine, who had led the standings since March 17. For his part, in eight Nazareth starts Bodine has a victory in 1992, a Bud Pole in 1993, along with four other top-10 starts.

"Nazareth is a challenging track," Bodine said. "I've had a fair amount of success at the track in the past, but the last two or three times I've run here I've had some bad luck.

"This team is really focused on remaining consistent, and I'm extremely optimistic that we can continue the good run we've been having."

Veteran Mark Green will make his 2003 season debut at Nazareth driving Akins Motorsports' No. 98 Deka Batteries Ford. Green made 21 starts last season in Akins' No. 38 Great Clips Ford now driven by Kasey Kahne.