Burton looks to defend at chief's home track

ATLANTA -- If there is such a thing as home track advantage in NASCAR Winston Cup racing, Frankie Stoddard, crew chief for the No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge, is hoping for some hometown success in Loudon.

"It's always exciting to get back to New Hampshire and race in front of a hometown crowd," said Stoddard. "I see friends and family, so I like getting back there twice a year."

	Frank Stoddard (left) and Ward Burton. Credit: Autostock

Stoddard is no stranger to the winner's circle at New Hampshire either, visiting Victory Lane with Jeff Burton three straight years in a row (1998-2000) at his previous crew chief job with Roush Racing. "I've been fortunate to have some success at this track over the years and I hope this weekend can bring the same success."

Fortunately for Stoddard, he landed the crew chief job for Ward Burton's team, who just happens to be the defending champion of the New Hampshire 300.

"Last year's win at New Hampshire was a very exciting day for us. It had always been a track where the CAT team had struggled, but last spring, our short track program really came together," commented Burton, who started that race in the 31st position.

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Until breaking through with the victory at New Hampshire last July, Burton had three straight finishes of 20th or worse at the track, with his only prior top 10 finish coming in the fall of 1999.

"We saw the results of our improving program at the Richmond spring event where we sat on the pole and led the most laps. That race at Richmond set us up for our strong run at Loudon where we were able to back it up with a win," explained Burton. "It was really great to win because we were able to conquer a place that had been an obstacle in the past."

Burton isn't the only driver that has viewed New Hampshire as a racing obstacle, especially after the track surface starting coming apart last season.

	Credit: Autostock

"The Bahre family has done a great job with the racetrack. They put Loudon on the map with a first class facility. Everything the drivers, owners and NASCAR have asked them to do, they've made an effort to accommodate their requests and concerns," said Stoddard.

And there are more improvements to the track on the way.

"They (the Bahre family) are listening and they are always making the effort to make the racing better and safer. The soft walls they are hoping to get in for the September race is something that a lot of the drivers have asked for and they, so far, are one of the only tracks taking the initiative to do it," stated Stoddard. "The Bahres are racers and they understand what it takes to have a successful racetrack."

The Caterpillar team will head to New Hampshire International Speedway with car No. 63, the same car that they ran at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Speedway, finishing 25th and 11th, respectively.