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NASCAR-BGN: Allen Looking Forward to California

15 July 1998

FONTANA, CA-Luxaire Busch Grand National driver Glenn Allen would have been willing to pay any price last season for just one more gallon of gas at the California Speedway. $100.00 a gallon? No problem, $1,000.00 a gallon? No problem. $10,000.00 a gallon? Allen would have even paid that much. With only 2 laps to go in the Inaugural Busch race at California, Allen was in second place and closing on eventual winner Todd Bodine, when his car sputtered and ran out of gas entering turn two. With that extra gallon of gas, Allen might have been able to win his first Busch race or at least finish second to his good friend, Bodine.

"We were so close last year," said Allen. "My crew chief, John Monsam, had made a great call to go for the win and pit when we did, we just came up a little short. We still finished 7th and had a great car all day."

Allen and Monsam are looking to improve on that 7th place finish and escape some of the bad luck they have been hit with over the last few races. Allen will be racing the same car he ran at Texas. With only 10 laps to go Allen was in 1st place when he was hit from behind on a restart.

"We have a great car to race this weekend, it is one of my favorites to race," Allen said. "John and the team will give me a great setup and hopefully we can record a top-five finish."

Allen and the team will arrive in Fontana on Thursday and begin practice on Friday for Sunday's race.