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Chad McCumbee hoping to make good impression at New Hampshire
By SceneDaily Staff
Thursday, September 11, 2008
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
Chad McCumbee has another chance to make an impression in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The 23-year-old driver who is sharing time this season behind the wheel of the No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge with Kyle Petty and Terry Labonte will attempt to make his fourth career NASCAR Cup Series start and second of the season by qualifying his way into the field based on speed.
McCumbee failed to make races at Texas and Dover earlier this year but made the cut in his most recent attempt – at Pocono in June – and went on to record a career-best 17th-place finish in the event.
“I’m not making very many Cup starts this year, but I want to show these guys that I belong on the same track as them,” McCumbee said. “So the challenge is to race hard and earn their respect but also be cautious that there are drivers out there racing for a championship. This is where I want to be. I want to race in the Sprint Cup Series and a race like this weekend can go a long way in helping me achieve that goal.”
McCumbee, who is considered a candidate for a full-time ride with the team as early as the 2009 season, could use a solid showing at New Hampshire to boost his credentials.
“This weekend for Chad is all about experience,” said Petty Enterprises Vice President Robbie Loomis. “While he can now be considered a veteran of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, it’s important for us to get him as much Sprint Cup experience as possible to get him acclimated to this style of car. I know he has a lot of talent. The more seat time we give him now will
pay off in the future for Chad and Petty Enterprises.”
While running a full truck slate this season for MRD Motorsports in addition to his cameo Cup appearances for the Petty group can make for a hectic schedule, McCumbee doesn't have to look far to see the benefit of both.
“I’m probably fortunate that we are coming off a race at Gateway last weekend in the truck,” said McCumbee, who has never made a Cup start at New Hampshire. “It’s similar to Loudon in size and that it’s fairly flat. I finished 11th in that race, so I have confidence that I can run well this weekend, too.
“You look for a different feel on a flat track because there is no banking to lean on. So having just competed on one will, hopefully, have me comfortable right out of the box.”
Mentioned Drivers: Chad McCumbee
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