Boris Said starts fifth Sunday at Sonoma. Credit: Autostock

Things coming around for Said's upstart team

Strong qualifying, Happy Hour runs have road-course ringer smiling

SONOMA, Calif. -- Robby Gordon did it. Now, Boris Said is trying to follow suit, but his road to driver-ownership is stacked with the usual landmines.

Said, the popular, colorful, Brillo-haired Californian, is attempting to emulate Robby Gordon by building his own Nextel Cup operation from the ground up. This weekend's event at Sonoma is the first step for his team, which has technical help from Roush Racing.

	Credit: CIA Stock Photo
	Happy Hour Speeds Dodge/Save Mart 350 Pos. Driver Make Speed 1. T. Stewart Chevrolet 92.691 2. J. Gordon Chevrolet 92.527 3. Junior Chevrolet 92.418 4. G. Biffle Ford 92.253 5. Ky. Busch Chevrolet 92.173 6. K. Kahne Dodge 92.141 7. B. Said Ford 92.076 8. R. Gordon Chevrolet 91.984 9. Truex Jr. Chevrolet 91.911 10. Nemechek Chevrolet 91.808 • Complete speeds, click here

Said, who had to make Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 on speed, qualified fifth on a hot, slippery day. He was terrified he'd spin out, fail to qualify and watch two months of work go down the drain.

"Yesterday was one of the most nerve-wracking days," said Said. "There was more to it than just driving for somebody else. To qualify good, it's like the weight of the world is off my shoulders and now I just can't wait to go race."

Former Roush Racing crew chief Frankie Stoddard is working with Said on a handful of Nextel Cup races with the goal of eventually securing full-time status on the circuit.

It won't be easy. Said's team has a number of issues to deal with, mainly Said's lack of experience on ovals and the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow in 2007.

Said, 43, has always showed up twice a year for road course events -- he finished a career-high third at Watkins Glen last year -- but he is trying to make it on ovals as well.

Said ran seven oval races with 2005 and struggled badly, failing to record a top-25 finish. But Said has run a limited Busch schedule with Evernham Motorsports this season, and says he had improved markedly.

"I know the absolute limits of the car and my limits and on an oval, I don't, because I don't have the experience," said Said. "But every time I get in I'm getting better and better.

"Driving [for Evernham] the last few weeks has been a big help and last week I had a lead-lap finish, 14th place, so I think I'm really starting to get it."

He will need all the help he can get. His new team is planning to attempt to qualify at Daytona next week and at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen in August. He will try to run about a dozen races in 2007 but will have to work his schedule around the Car of Tomorrow.

"First, we're going to try to wait until there is more Car of Tomorrow stuff, so we don't have to have that extra expense of building cars that are only good for one year," said Said. "Next year, we're hoping we get to do 10 or 15 races. That's kind of what we're looking for because we're basically looking for sponsorship."

Roush Racing has traded equipment in exchange for road-racing consulting work that Said performs with Roush's young drivers.

"Jamie [McMurray], Greg [Biffle], and Matt [Kenseth] went to Road Atlanta and then I actually came here and spent two days one-on-one with Carl Edwards," said Said. "I would think we'll do more with the other guys before Watkins Glen."