DISNEY WINNER MIKE BLISS JOINS ROUSH TEAM IN NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK TEST AT HOMESTEAD         HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Jan. 15, 1999) -- Mike Bliss visited Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex Monday for his first test with Roush Racing, his new team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Mike Bliss (left) chats with Randy Goss, crew chief on teammate Greg Biffle's truck, and Roush engine builder Tom Ghent.

Bliss was one of 11 Ford drivers testing on the 1.5-mile oval, preparing for the March 20 Florida Dodge Dealers 400, the opening event of the 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

"It's kind of like going on your first date," explained Bliss, who had driven for Team ASE Racing since the inception of the series in 1995. "They've got to get used to me and what I like in a truck."

The 33-year-old Oregon native joins Ron Hornaday as the lone drivers to win in each of the four years of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition. He finished fourth in the championship in 1997, with his best finish at Homestead a second place behind Kenny Irwin Jr., also in 1997.

Bliss will drive Roush's No. 99 Exide Batteries Ford F-150 this year, with '98 series rookie of the year Greg Biffle piloting the other Roush entry, the No. 50 Grainger Ford.

1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Rookie of the Year Greg Biffle tests at Homestead.

"It's good to work with a teammate, where you can work back and forth," added Bliss, who won a USAC Silver Crown race Sunday at Walt Disney World Speedway. "That way, you've got two ideas instead of just one. Both of our trucks were running loose today. We'll get a handle on it. We're just trying to test as much as we can. Realistically, we just want to get to the first race, try to win it, and go on from there."

Mike Wallace posted the fastest unofficial lap of Monday's testing in the Team ASE Ford, running a lap of 36.8 seconds (146.739 mph).

Tim Steele, a three-time ARCA champion, tested two of his own trucks to began a bid for 1999 rookie of the year honors. Steele is the leading superspeedway winner in ARCA history, winning the championships in 1993, 1996 and 1997. One of his top rivals for '99 rookie honors was also testing Monday. Mike Stefanik, who won both the NASCAR Featherlite Modified and NASCAR Busch North championship in 1997 and 1998, tested the No. 66 Carlin Burners and Controls Ford.

Tim Steele at the wheel of his new truck. The three-time ARCA champ is launching a new team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Also testing at Homestead Monday were 1998 Florida Dodge Dealers 400 winner Rick Crawford; 1997 ASA champion Kevin Cywinski; sports car veteran Rob Morgan; 1998 NASCAR Winston West titlist Kevin Harvick; and Naples, Fla., driver Richard Hinds.

The Florida Dodge Dealers 400 joins the CART FedEx Championship Series in the Speedway's season-opening March 19-21 weekend. Sunday's event schedule features the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota, plus the PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Series. For ticket orders, call (305) 230-7223. For additional information, visit the Speedway's official website,
www.racemiami.com.