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TOPEKA, Kan. --
"We've qualified in the top half of the field in almost all the races we've attended, the car seems to be running really well and we're getting closer and closer to our first win," Stanfield said. "I think it's safe to say that it's been a pretty decent year so far for the Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP team.
The Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP driver has been knocking on the winner's circle door since joining the Pro Stock fray in 2002. With additional resources this year, and extra hands in the shop on race weekends, Stanfield feels good about his team's chances in 2008. "At the beginning of the season we added a lot of new people to our program," Stanfield said. "We're now to the point where we're beginning to jell together as a unit and basically get on the same page. Our trackside crew has come together nicely. Tommy Lane and Mike Stryker are co-crew chiefs of the car, Larry Griffith, of course you know him as the guy who drives the truck and does the clutch, and my brother Mike does all the motor stuff. We also have some good guys in our shop now, and that's a crucial piece of the puzzle we didn't have last year. Chris Bennett, Clay Guess and Lee Latozke work on the motors, and Lefty Grice, who used to be with the NHRA Safety Safari, does all the fabrication."
"I struggled a long time in Super Stock before I finally won one," Stanfield said. "Butch Leal always taught me that once you figure out how to win, the next one comes easier. I've won in every class I've raced in, Stock, Super Stock, Comp, Pro Stock Truck, and when we do win in Pro Stock, it's not going to change anything, but it will be nice for everyone on this team including the owners, Bart Price and Greg Hill - I'd like to win for those guys." Coming into the 2008 season, Stanfield had advanced to four final-round appearances in Pro Stock; once in 2005 at Brainerd (Minn.), twice in 2006 at Atlanta and Reading (Pa.), and once in 2007 at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. Last year he slipped to 12th place in the final Pro Stock points standings after back-to-back top-10 finishes in 2005 (seventh place) and 2006 (eighth place). But additional raceshop manpower this season has also allowed the Attitude Apparel team to do some things that they weren't able to do in years past, and the results are beginning to show on the racetrack. During the first eight races of 2008, Stanfield's Pontiac GXP has qualified in the top half of the field six times and advanced to the finals twice.
As the series makes its transition to the long hot days of summer beginning with this weekend's national event at Heartland Park Topeka, only 10 races remain on the docket before the Countdown to One's final 10 spots are set at Indianapolis. Stanfield feels confident that his Attitude Apparel Pontiac team is ready to make that strong push to the Countdown's first cut at Indy. "We're looking ahead, trying to qualify for every race and turn on the win light," Stanfield said. "The engine program is headed in the right direction but it will take time to get it established. It's exciting, though. We're building something here in Bossier City, and with a little more time we'll be contenders for the championship. The guys we have at the shop are enthusiastic and focused, and with us all pulling together, we're going to be successful. My goal initially was to stay in the top 10, and hopefully our hard work would eventually begin to pay off by Indy - maybe we could peak at the right time. Right now, we're solidly in the top 10, and if we can keep the wheels from falling off this wagon, we may have something for the rest of the pack down the stretch." VIDEO - Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP team prepares for Sunday eliminator at Las Vegas; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vHXHw70WII
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