| Scott_Pruett |
Jun 6, 2007 7:24:18 PM |
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This is WGI Moderator....Scott will be joining us in the next few minutes. Please remember that your question will not be posted until Scott answers it so please be patient. Thank you. |
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SwimRacer |
Jun 6, 2007 7:28:24 PM |
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Hey Scott, how you feeling about this weekend? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Good. One of our stronger points are the longer races. The strategy and running strong the whole. We definitely feel strong during the longer races |
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GoGrandAm |
Jun 6, 2007 7:29:15 PM |
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What does it take to win an endurance race like the Sahlen's Six Hours? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Making it to the checkered flag. The only lap that counts is the last one. Sometime drivers forget that and sometimes you see a big wreck on the first lap. Race hard and race long but wait to step up until the end and not before then. |
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pruettfan |
Jun 6, 2007 7:30:24 PM |
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Scott - can't wait for Saturday - I'll look for you in victory lane - I'll be there. Save your champagne magnum for me! What's the trickiest part of The Glen circuit, and why? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I think the long course is one of the best in the U.S. The layout, the history. You don't see that as much as you want to in sports car racing. Others are getting there but The Glen has it. You have to make the right calls especially at The Glen. Being smart and adjusting to things like the rain are key. |
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GoGrandAm |
Jun 6, 2007 7:31:17 PM |
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Will we see you in all three races during the Cup weekend in August like last year? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Yes. The only one that is a little up in the air is the Cup side of it. I will be in the Grand-Am race and be back in the JuicyFruit car for the Busch race. We are still working on things but there should be a ride on the Cup side. |
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SwimRacer |
Jun 6, 2007 7:32:02 PM |
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Feeling good about the points race so far? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Yeah. It's always a bit of a struggle with a rookie teammate. We've taken over the points lead but it's going to be a fight to the finish no questions about it. What can you say? It's going to be a close hard race right to the end of the season. Hopefully we can bring home another championship. |
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LeadFoot26 |
Jun 6, 2007 7:33:12 PM |
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What is the best part of racing in Grand-Am? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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The racing. I hate to say just the racing but Grand-Am is built on being all about the racing. You get so many different car makers like Porsche, Ford, Lexus, etc. Grand- Am and the France family keep the cars close which makes the races close to the checkered flag and that's what it is all about. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 7:33:49 PM |
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During your interviews, you always greet your family. Do they ever get to travel with you? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Seldom. They went to Laguna Seca but they have their own things going on so they look off at daddy going off to work. Only a couple races during the season. |
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LeadFoot26 |
Jun 6, 2007 7:34:58 PM |
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What is the biggest difference between racing a DP and a stock car at The Glen? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Probablly the difference between driving a Ferrari and a Cadillac. It takes a lot of different skill, strenght and finess. The number of cars is different, the cars themselves are different and the strategy is different. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 7:35:56 PM |
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Hi Scott, congratulations on your Daytona win and leading the championship in points! You always run very well at the Glen, what is it about WGI that suits your driving style? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Good question. It's funny. We seem to always have a really good set up and typically we have a really good race. We're looking for the same thing this week. We hope to have a good showing and come out of The Glen still leading the point championship. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:37:22 PM |
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Hello Scott and good luck this weekend. Was wondering if you were offered an F1 ride earlier in your career, or if you did any F1 testing. |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Yes as a matter of fact. Back in '97 or '98 I went to Portugual and tested with the Larosse. It's just a lock out for Americans. It's hard to get invovled. Even though we tested well there was really no way to make it happen so I moved on to IndyCars. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 7:38:22 PM |
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Your teammate has been doing the qualifying this season, why not you and let him start? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Well you can't. As a qualifying driver you have to start the race by rule. All the teams put their weaker driver to qualify so that they have their stronger driver to finish the race. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 7:39:21 PM |
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The GT class joins you on the track this weekend. As a driver, what are the challenges? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I think it's more exciting. There's a big different to how you lay out the race. Having the GTs certainly change your strategy. It makes a lot of excitement for the drivers and the fans. It can jam you up and also let you stretch things out. It definitely adds excitement. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:40:10 PM |
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Scott, of all the cars you have raced, do you have a favorite? Do you own any interesting street cars? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Yes I do. I have a number of street rods. 6 customs and I bought one of the IndyCars that I won in, the 1995 Michigan 500. |
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Bizoyce008 |
Jun 6, 2007 7:42:04 PM |
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Hi Scott. Whenever the the Nextel Cup series heads to the road courses, Boris Said, Ron Fellows, yourself, and other "ringers" enter into the race. Many times in the past the road course aces have come close to winner these races. What do you think has prevented the road course aces to win at Watkins Glen and Sonoma? Every race fan knows you all have the talent thats for sure! |
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Scott_Pruett |
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The biggest challenge trying work with the guys week in and week out. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon are great drivers overall and they work with their teams all season. I've finished top 5 I think everytime I've been at The Glen but since I don't work with the same guys every week it's a challenge. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 7:43:06 PM |
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You're looked to as the standard for excellence among the DP
drivers, from here, where's up? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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This is where I want to be. I've come full circle in my racing career. I started in sports cars, then went to IndyCars, then NASCAR and now I'm back. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 7:44:03 PM |
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What are your feelings about being considered a “Road Course Ringer” by the media when competing in NEXTEL Cup series? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Well I think that's exactly what we are. When we come in for a road course race the odds of finishing well are very, very high. It's rare for a road course ringer to win a race due to guys like Steward and Gordon but having a good finish is not out of the question at all. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:45:02 PM |
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Scott, you're still way too quick for this question, but... do you plan to stay involved in racing when you hang up the helmet, perhaps as an owner? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Never as an owner. I will absolutely stay in racing. I have no idea how far in the future that is but I will be racing for the foreseable future so at least 4 years. I see myself more a long the lines of TV than being a team owner. It's too much like baby-sitting. |
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Bizoyce008 |
Jun 6, 2007 7:45:41 PM |
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If you were ever given a ride in the Indianapolis 500 by your team owner Chip Ganassi or another team, would you race? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Nope. I keep getting invited and 1999 was my last year in open-wheel cars. Chip talked to me briefly this year and I said nope, not me. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 7:46:18 PM |
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Cruise night, 2nd Friday of every month all along Lincoln Way downtown! |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Is it the 1st Friday or the second Friday? |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:47:28 PM |
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Has Mr. Ganassi offered you a ride in any of the IRL road races? Have you driven the IRL cars? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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No and again, my focus first and foremost is with the Grand-Am series and then the NEXTEL Cup/Busch Series side. I want a NASCAR victory. Was close in Mexico City so I want to win one in Montreal or Watkins Glen. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 7:47:49 PM |
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2nd Friday of each month |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I'm planning on it when my schedule permits. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:49:10 PM |
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What are your favorite tracks? Do you prefer the high speed tracks, such as Road America? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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My favorite track is the last one I won at but I truly love all tracks. I've had lots of success everywhere I go. My best record is at Mosport in Canada. I have 5 wins there. But I just love racing and all tracks. |
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Bizoyce008 |
Jun 6, 2007 7:49:54 PM |
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This one is about the fans. Do you see a difference between the fans of Nascar, and the fans of sports car racing? Are they at all similar? I've always wanted to get a racer's answer to this question. |
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Scott_Pruett |
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All race fans are similar. They a love and passion for being around and watching racing. For the driver there isn't much better than that. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 7:51:33 PM |
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Some of us enjoy road course racing vs the traditional oval/tri-oval tracks. WGI has a growing attendance for events such as this weekends event. Do you see this same growing support at other tracks? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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No question. The biggest question is getting our racing in front of the fans. Once they watch the Rolex series they really get into it. I continue to see growth. You really can't take away from the great road courses in North America. Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, Sears Point. They all have history for the last 60-70 years. We can't get away from our roots and would be foolish if we do. |
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dsapoff |
Jun 6, 2007 7:52:08 PM |
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What tires last longer, NASCAR or Rolex Series, at the Glen? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Rolex Series at The Glen without a question. You get the good stuff out of a tire in about 3 laps for NASCAR. Rolex tires stay pretty good almost the entire race. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:53:15 PM |
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You mentioned wanting to get involved in the TV side of the sport. Didn't you CART/Champ Car commentary at one time? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I've done quite a bit of commentary. I've worked for ABC and ESPN.
Most recently with SPEED. I do a race day show in California. I have a
lot to talk about it since I've been in the sport for so long. Whether
or not the fans want to listen to it I do have a lot of experience. |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 7:55:13 PM |
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There seems to be such a "brain drain" of talented road racers pursuing NASCAR, like Michael McDowell, Colin Braun, etc. Do you have any thoughts on how Grand Am and other series can keep the young guns? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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At this point in time I see the Grand-Am series as a stepping stone for young drivers or a great place for people to finish off their career. You see people like Braun and McDowell you have to go with the numbers and the money. I would love to see Grand-Am be a big as NASCAR but NASCAR has been around for a long time and has just exploded the last 10 - 15 years. For guys like myself and Christian Fittipaldi we couldn't be happier. We get to have fun and beat up on the younger kids as well as teach new drivers moving up. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 7:56:58 PM |
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With your response regarding the tires, why wouldn't NASCAR follow the same tire compounds for road racing? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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That's a good question. I have never been impressed by tires in Cup. They're inconsistent and just not that great. Off the record, I would consider looking for another tire maker and it wouldn't surprise me if they are looking at that possibility. |
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dsapoff |
Jun 6, 2007 7:57:24 PM |
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Are you planning any road course races with NASCAR this year? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I will race at Watkins Glen and the week before in Montreal. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 8:00:13 PM |
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Why does NASCAR get all the attention? "turn left in 200 feet"..."turn left in 200 feet"..."turn left in 200 feet"..."turn left in 200 feet" |
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Scott_Pruett |
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I'm with you.....there's two things that have happened in motorsports. #1 That's terrible fight between IRL and Champ Car. They continue to try and find their way and they're against this machine. The one thing I love about NASCAR is that they work to make people get their money's worth. The France Family does the same with Grand-Am and I am behind that 100%. NASCAR has be holding good, hard, competitive racing for over 50 years and people understand and embrace it. By far they are entertained. I love nothing more than Grand-Am to b the NASCAR of road racing. |
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TrackTalkPete |
Jun 6, 2007 8:00:39 PM |
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Scott - I know time is running out, thank you for your participation. Good luck this weekend and perhaps we'll run into each other in the media center. |
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Scott_Pruett |
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See you at the track! |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 8:01:40 PM |
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Does Grand-Am allow any testing in the off-season, or between races? |
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Scott_Pruett |
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You can do as much testing as much as you want but the limit you to the number of tires. You get 3 sets and then about mid-season they give you another 3 sets. So while they don't limit the number of tests they do number the tires as you cannot test on any other type of tires other than the ones they provide you. I like the rule. |
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SonriseJon |
Jun 6, 2007 8:01:53 PM |
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We'll be pulling for you this weekend! Have a good, safe race. (Winning would be nice, too) |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Thank you! |
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Downforce |
Jun 6, 2007 8:02:54 PM |
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Thank you Scott for your time! |
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Scott_Pruett |
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Thanks guys! Thank you so much for participating. I have to get going so I hope to see you at the race track or at least know that you're watching the race on TV. Thanks again! |
