Credit: Autostock

Time is ripe to settle score in Texas

Taking care of unfinished business will be the battle cry for Joe Nemechek and the U.S. Army team at this weekend's Samsung / RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Last year at the 1.5-mile oval Nemechek was running third and in contention for the win, but a power level problem to his 01 Army Chevrolet with 70 laps remaining interrupted his charge to the front.

"That's the first order of unfinished business that we need to take care of," said Nemechek, whose career best finish at Texas was fourth in 1998. "Texas is fast, just the way we like it and this could be the breakthrough race that we've been looking for this season. The second order of unfinished business is to showcase the potential of the car that we will bring to Texas."

Nemechek's Texas car will be the same machine that he had in California and Atlanta -- two races where he contended for the win.

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He was leading the California race when his engine failed and he was running with the leaders when a punctured radiator ended his day prematurely in Atlanta.

"I just can't wait to get back into that California/Atlanta car," offered Nemechek. "It's a thoroughbred -- one of the best cars I have ever driven. The car is due and I'm due -- this could be the weekend."

Nemechek is also a little more chipper about his chances in Texas due to his 10th-place result in Sunday's short track race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

"Historically, we haven't been that good on short tracks, but this time we got a decent result," said Nemechek. "We're taking some momentum to Texas and hopefully those demons that plagued us earlier in the year have gone someplace else."

With momentum on his side, Nemechek wants to make sure that his favorite fans -- the U.S. Soldiers -- continue to be proud of their 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet.

"This is their car and they deserve to see it running up front," said Nemechek. "As a team, we take immense pride in knowing that we represent more than one million American Soldiers who are protecting our liberties every single day. Now it's our job to make them just as proud of us. I have the best sponsor and want to thank the U.S. Army for their continued support in this fantastic partnership."

Nemechek will also be competing in Saturday's Busch Series race at Texas, an event he won in 2003.