Twilight time is a good time for Nemechek

Joe Nemechek is in his own twilight zone when it comes to night racing in the Nextel Cup Series.

And when the green flag drops for Saturday night's Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, the U.S. Army driver's aim is to continue his under-the-lights success ratio.

Nemechek won the 2003 spring night race at Richmond International Raceway. And in his last night race -- Oct. 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway -- Nemechek's U.S. Army Chevy was leading the event before finishing fifth at the 1.5-mile oval located outside of Charlotte.

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"I love night racing -- not because I'm home on Sunday -- but because racing under the lights really gets my adrenalin pumping," said Nemechek. "I'm really excited that five of our next six races will be at night."

With this weekend's event being Phoenix's first night race since the circuit started to host Cup events in 1988, Nemechek is looking for his first top-10 or better finish at the track.

His best result in Phoenix was last November when he placed 12th. He has qualified in the top 10 in the last three races at the Arizona track with a career best starting spot of third in last year's event.

"There is absolutely no excuse for not having a better career record at Phoenix," explained Nemechek. "The track is a combination of Richmond and New Hampshire and those are two venues that I have had success at. I have a good feeling that this will be the weekend to snap that Phoenix jinx."

Nemechek's U.S. Army car will be the same machine he drove in Las Vegas in March.

"I should have a great car this weekend," offered Nemechek. "It's the same car that I had a shot at winning with in Las Vegas before a set of tires on the final pit stop knocked us to the back."

Nemechek is coming off two top-20 performances -- 10th in Martinsville and 17th in Texas.

"I don't like talking about top 20s, it's top 10s or better -- that's our goal week in and week out," said Nemechek. "We struggled last week, but still salvaged a 17th-place finish. We're a much better team and we're going to prove that."