Friday's Federated Auto Parts 200, in Nashville, Tennessee was Tina Gordon's first appearance at the 1.3 mile Superspeedway. The Craftsman Truck Series rookie made the most of her debut. After a three race hiatus due to lack of funding, posted a 32.029 qualifying time with a speed of 149.827mph for a 21st place starting spot.
Gordon raced her No. 31 Microtel Inns & Suites Chevrolet to a 13th place finish, tying her former season-best 13th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte earlier this year. The entire team was pleased with the weekend's results and were glad to be back at the track. Gordon's finish keeps her at the 20th spot in the Craftsman Truck series points standings and in fourth position in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.
Team owners Bob and Shelly Brevak are currently seeking sponsorship to finish out the 2003 season as well as for 2004. due to a lack of sponsorship, the team will not race at Bristol, but will back on the track at Richmond with sponsor Microtel Inns and Suites. Shelly Brevak hopes that Gordon's strong run at Nashville will catch the eye of a potential sponsor looking to break into the Craftsman Truck Series.
Quotes
Driver Tina Gordon on her Nashville debut: "Nashville turned out to be a very good week for us. I was very pleased with the way the team worked so well together. Everyone really worked so hard this weekend and it paid with a thirteenth place finish."
"It was great to get to go to a new track I've never been on and get some valuable seat time and experience there."
Team owner Shelly Brevak on the weekend's results: "It was a great weekend for the No.31 Microtel Inns & Suites Chevrolet. I couldn't be prouder of Tina and the entire team. Our crew chief Jack Smith and truck chief Joe Slonkosky did a great job to put a solid truck under Tina all weekend and it showed on the track during the race. I'm sure our Microtel guests in the grandstand as well as all of the SPEED channel viewers were as excited as we were."
"Although it would be good to carry this momentum to Bristol, due to a lack of sponsorship, our next event is not scheduled until Richmond."