| ESPN Network: ESPN | NBA.com | WNBA.com | NHL.com | ABC | Radio | EXPN | Page 2 | INSIDER | Shop | |
|
| | Friday, June 2 Title drive heats up over next five | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special to ESPN.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Martin has won three of the last five Dover events. The bad news? They were all in the fall and points leader Labonte won this race last season. So Dover could be a push for everyone except Bobby Labonte. One year ago, Labonte and Martin finished first and third, the same spot they currently reside in the points. Ward Burton could be in trouble, he has only one career top-10 finish and averages about 25th on The Monster Mile. Burton has turned in strong runs, but not
productive finishes. Last year, he was in third around the 300-mile mark, but a cracked tailpipe ruined his day. Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt could be the sleeper. Heck, that has been the story of his season, strong but quiet
runs. Of the drivers in the top five, Earnhardt is second behind Labonte's
11.6 with an average finish of 12.1. Still, Labonte has seven top-five finishes
in the last 8 Dover races.
Kmart 400
Christmas could come early for the Pontiac camp when it arrives in Michigan. After several tests of various body modifications in the wind tunnel and lobbying NASCAR, the Pontiac will have a new rear bumper for Michigan. Labonte has won three times at Michigan, while Martin has won four times in the Irish Hills. Burton's best Michigan finish is fourth, but he does have two poles at the track. Earnhardt could have won the race last fall, as he Jeff Gordon and Labonte waged a spirited battle in the late
going. Then Labonte decided he had had enough, pulled away, and scored the
victory. The Big E has two victories at Michigan, but his last was during
the Bush administration. Score Michigan to Labonte.
Pocono 500
This one is easy, score Pocono's triangle to Labonte right away. But give Burton at least a shot to
knock off his fellow Pontiac driver. Over the past two years, Burton has won a pole, and had the car to beat more than once. Bad luck and being in the wrong place at the wrong time has resulted in only one top-five finish -- a second
place in 1994 during the Goodyear vs. Hoosier tire war.
Save Mart/Kragen 350K
This is the "X Factor" when it comes to these five races. If there is a slight advantage to anyone in the top five, it might go to Martin, who in the last 10 visits to the wine country has done anything but whine about his chances. Martin has finished first or second at Sears Point five times, including a victory back in '97. Again, Labonte has never won a
road course race on the Winston Cup circuit, but he did test well at Sonoma this spring.
Burton is a big question mark. He's still searching for his first career top-five
finish on a road course. Earnhardt has showed off his road racing
prowess in recent years. He has four top-four finishes at Sonoma, including
a victory in '95. Earnhardt followed up that victory with a fourth place in
'96. But that was his last top five at Sears Point.
Pepsi 400
Daytona's mid-summer classic is anybody's game. Dale Jarrett will try for the three-peat, after winning last year's Pepsi 400 and this year's Daytona 500. But when you think of Daytona, the first guy to think about is always Earnhardt. He is the all-time dominator at Daytona. He had won two Pepsi 400s, but those were when the race was held under the sun. The only thing he hasn't won at
Daytona is a Winston Cup race under the lights. Advantage: Earnhardt. But Labonte has run well at the beach, and Burton has shown hints of what could be. Each hope that new rule change will work wonders at Daytona. Recent wind tunnel tests have given the 22 team led by Tommy Baldwin hope of a first restrictor-plate victory. Jeff Burton (no I haven't forgotten about the younger Burton who is currently fifth in points) finished third in last
year's Pepsi 400. Let me say this, "The Firecracker 400" -- it kills me to say Pepsi
400. I am a traditionalist, so to me it will always be the Firecracker.
So, after all that, who will win it all? I guess that is the $2 million question. It depends on momentum, which is a funny thing. It is hard to get momentum, tough to keep, and easy to lose. Jarrett had the momentum last season by
top-fiving the competition to death. This year, no one has proven to be that consistent.
So whoever can hit upon the right momentum at the right time will win it all. But in this wacky world of Winston Cup racing, anything can and usually will happen before the season finale in Atlanta.
Call me after Daytona, when I am booking my travel for New Hampshire. We will probably have
a clear picture of the title chase. Then again, keeping with the 2000
season, it still might be cloudy. | ALSO SEE Weber: A crucial stretch Kenseth's boss in way of record at Dover Speed doesn't always decide Dover's winner MBNA Platinum 400 Breakdown  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
