| Big changes are taking place over NASCAR and | | | | |
| for this coming weekend at the Texas Motor | | | | When asked if the new engine produces more |
| Speedway another transformation will be | | | | horsepower and torque or is more fuel |
| taking place. While the Nextel Cup drivers | | | | efficient, Cronquist replied, "it's just |
| are driving their old familiar cars which | | | | better all over. We're finally more even with |
| they have been driving for years after the | | | | what Dodge and Toyota have. It kind of got us |
| first two races in the Car of Tomorrow, the | | | | back in the same playing field, back in |
| rest of the Chevrolet entries are to be | | | | what's considered NASCAR's box. We were |
| powered by a new engine. | | | | outside of the box, actually below the box. |
| | | | We had disadvantages and they finally let us |
| Chevrolet maker of the quality Chevrolet | | | | get the same advantages that other |
| exhaust system, has been developing an engine | | | | manufacturers had over us. I don't think that |
| for nine years now and for the first time it | | | | we've really gotten into much of the |
| will make its racing debut in Samsung 500. | | | | performance part about it. A lot of it is |
| "This engine now called the R07 actually | | | | that the shop needs just a lot less time to |
| started out as R99 because we ran it the | | | | work on the parts and pieces of it. There's a |
| first time in 1999," said Mark Cronquist, | | | | lot of stuff in this block that's already |
| chief engine builder for Joe Gibbs Racing. He | | | | cast into the block that we used to have to |
| also added, "There was an R03. There was an | | | | make ourselves and try to fit into our |
| R05 that never got off of the chalkboard, | | | | blocks. That took a lot of time and effort to |
| basically. We had it all designed, but never | | | | do. If the performance comes, it will come |
| made it. Then there's this one, R07. So | | | | because we're going to have a lot more time |
| really, this R07 has been worked on by GM | | | | in our shop to work on it." |
| teams since 1998. I've got notes in my office | | | | |
| from the very first time we talked about this | | | | Cronquist further added, "A lot of it is that |
| engine. It was January 1998." | | | | the shop needs just a lot less time to work |
| | | | on the parts and pieces of it. There's a lot |
| The process was rather frustrating but at the | | | | of stuff in this block that's already cast |
| end it was worth the wait said Cronquist and | | | | into the block that we used to have to make |
| "the awesome thing is that, if you look at | | | | ourselves and try to fit into our blocks. |
| R09 and R07, they don't even look alike, so | | | | That took a lot of time and effort to do. If |
| I'm glad NASCAR never approved it. It had | | | | the performance comes, it will come because |
| some updates, but every time NASCAR didn't | | | | we're going to have a lot more time in our |
| approve it, we went back and worked harder on | | | | shop to work on it." |
| it and changed more things on it." | | | | |
| | | | Chevrolet's 5 of 6 |
| For this coming weekend it is expected that | | | | |
| six teams will run the new engine. Gibbs | | | | The Chevrolet team has gotten to a great |
| Racing will place an R07 in the cars of Tony | | | | start this year in Cup winning five of the |
| Stewart, Denny Hamlin, and J.J. Yeley | | | | six races. The reigning champion Jimmie |
| Hendrick Motorsports' Casey Mears and Kyle | | | | Johnson has won three of the five races while |
| Busch, and Scott Wimmer, driving a fourth | | | | Hendrick with teammates Kyle Busch, and RCR's |
| Richard Childress Racing entry. | | | | Kevin Harvick have won the other two for GM. |
| | | | The victory of Matt Kenneth's at California |
| General Motors world's largest automaker and | | | | Speedway in a Ford is the only blemish on |
| distributor of Chevrolet exhaust is hoping to | | | | Chevrolet's record for this season. |
| have the engine ready for this season's | | | | |
| upcoming race but unfortunately a few | | | | Out of the eight Chevy drivers that are |
| technical difficulties slowed the progress of | | | | currently in the top 10 in Cup points, two |
| the project. Cronquist is very much excited | | | | have won at Texas. Jeff Burton won the |
| to get the new engine into competition. He | | | | inaugural Cup race in Fort Worth in the year |
| said, "With a motor we've been running, the | | | | 1997 but he was a driver of Ford at that |
| block part of it was actually designed in | | | | time. Stewart won on the 1.5 mile Texas track |
| 1955. We've made a few modifications to it, | | | | last fall. The different drivers winning each |
| but it would still bolt into a 1955 Chevy Bel | | | | of the 12 Cup races at Texas only two others |
| Air. The new block has got a lot more | | | | have been in Chevrolets namely Terry Labonte |
| technology in it. Its more updated block than | | | | who won in 1999 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who |
| what we've ever had before." | | | | won in 2000. |