INTERVIEW I GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPION JORDAN ASHBURN
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pretty incredible. I think it says a
lot for him and the whole Magna1
Motorsports team."
Lack of resources is one thing
but being short on manpower is
another disadvantage.
"We have a limited number of
helpers in the woods, actually
just a couple guys, really, and
that's a big disadvantage," said
Ashburn. "For us to beat all the
factories, is a pretty big state-
ment. We're pretty good with
picking out the lines, but as far
as having the radio communica-
tions between the mechanics,
the split times, just having all
of that is a pretty big advan-
tage, and we don't have that.
Not having to make decisions
for yourself but having a group
of mechanics making the call.
That's huge."
Having smooth fuel stops,
which are very important in
GNCC racing, was another
major factor in Ashburn and the
team's success.
"We figured that out pretty
good last year with our time and
how long we could go between
stops," said Ashburn. "There
were a couple races we cut
it pretty close, but we always
made it. Here towards the end of
this year, we were kind of con-
servative on our fuel, too. So,
most of the tracks, they keep
pretty close to the same dis-
tance every year, either a long
track or a short. So, if it's short
we can pit whenever we want,
because the laps don't add up
"I've got some help
from some outside
guys, but it's still kind
of a self-motivated,
do-it-yourself-kind
of program."
Of the 12 of 13 GNCC rounds
Ashburn started, he finished no
worse than sixth with an average
finishing position of third. He did
not race the final round due to an
injured hand. Ashburn clinched the
title the previous round.
