The Dollar General Corporation’s sponsorship of driver Randy LaJoie and the Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly NASCAR Busch Series organization in 2005 is just five races old, but already the combination appears to be jelling. Optimism reins, and their expectations for this weekend’s Pepsi 300 test at the Nashville Superspeedway run high.

LaJoie, the 2-time NASCAR Busch Series champion who is competing in his 18th season, has completed all but two laps over this season’s first five events. He has enjoyed solid outings in the last two races in soaring up to eleventh place in the driver’s points standing, posting an eighth place finish at Las Vegas and then a 15th in last weekend’s Aaron’s 312 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Combine these performances with an excellent test LaJoie had last week in the #34 Dollar General/Polaroid Batteries Chevrolet at Nashville Superspeedway, and there is every reason to believe that the Norwalk, CT driver could be on the threshold of bigger and better things.

“We had a very good test for about half the day in Nashville last week, so I am optimistic that we will have a car capable of a top five finish next Saturday. At least that is what I am expecting. The last time I raced in Nashville in a Busch Series race (spring 2003) I sat on the pole and had a very good car. By the end of our test last week, we had a car that was better than the one in 2003 attitude wise and grip wise, so I am really looking forward to this weekend”, LaJoie said confidently.

Not known for his optimism during much of his highly successful NASCAR driving career, LaJoie’s comments should raise some eyebrows. This optimism, however, is genuine, especially with the improvement that this Dollar General team has exhibited the last few outings despite starting in the back of the pack for virtually every event.

“Even though we still have plenty of work to do to become a contending team, we are getting better with each race”, LaJoie explained. “We have not been totally prepared for most of the races so far and have had to play catch-up, and that’s one of the reasons why we have had to start so far back every weekend. But changes are being made, and that is what has helped us in Las Vegas and Atlanta. I passed a lot of cars in those two races, so we obviously have the equipment to be competitive.

One of the changes LaJoie was alluding to had veteran suspension specialist Teddy Brown succeeding John Bland as Crew Chief following the Las Vegas event, one in which Todd Bodine served as interim Crew Chief in an effort to get the team headed in the right direction. LaJoie felt that something had to be done.

“We have not enjoyed very good work in the pits so far, and that is to be expected with a young race team. However, you cannot afford to wait until you get to the track to get a car ready to compete, so something had to change there. We are getting closer with our race cars, though, and if we can continue to improve in the areas that we are lacking, who knows how good this race team can become”, LaJoie added. “It would be neat, though, to win another one of those guitars”, ended LaJoie, alluding to the unique trophy that goes to the winner of races at the Nashville Superspeedway.

LaJoie and his team will also have a little extra motivation when they hit Nashville’s concrete oval for the Saturday afternoon affair, and that is a crowd of several hundred Dollar Corporation employees who will attend the race. Dollar General is based in the Nashville suburb of Goodlettsville, TN, so the yellow and black colors of Dollar General and LaJoie’s racecar should be prominent.

The prominence that LaJoie and his Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly mates would love to enjoy this weekend would be that which comes to the winner in Victory Lane.