As has been previously reported, the CSK blue team will put their second “special edition” car of the year on the track in the upcoming month, running the popular “Madman Murray” car in both Chicago (June 7-10) and Norwalk (June 29-July 1. ) The team had originally planned to use the same Murray’s Discount Auto body they utilized in 2006, after some small “tune-ups” to the vinyl wrap which has remained on that particular Monte Carlo since last year. Once the team began racing with new ‘07 Chevy Impala bodies, however, it became clear they did not want to penalize their performance on two very stout race tracks, just for the sake of taking the easy way out by running an older body.
After receiving their first new Impalas in January, Team CSK placed an order for additional Impala SS bodies and put the designated Madman car on the fast track, in their in-house fabrication and mounting shop. Under the guidance of chassis and body guru Grant Downing, the body is currently 90% complete and is due to receive its rear wing assembly today. It will be completed and out the door at the Orange, Calif. shop, on Friday, when it will be shipped via truck to Square One Designs in Indianapolis. While the team is racing in Topeka next week, the Madman design will be wrapped on the new body, and the team will stop in Indy to pick it up between Topeka and Chicago.
“It’s going to be tight, but we all agree it’s worth the effort, the time, and the money to do this, ” said Marc Denner, blue team co-crew chief. “We had the old Murray’s car just sitting here, and could put it on and go, but it’s quite a bit heavier and it’s not an Impala. Once we started getting our additional Impalas at the shop, it was just a matter of looking at the calendar and making it happen.
“I’m sure we’ll be finishing up the contingency decals, and the final bit of work on this car, right up until we run on Friday afternoon at Route 66, but we’ll get it done. If the conditions in Chicago are anything like they normally are, you’ll want to have your best stuff ready to go, so this year the Madman will be grinning from the hood of an Impala. ”
| 
|