| | By Ron Buck
ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
Pepsi 400 |
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When |
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (CBS) |
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Where |
Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles, 31 degrees banking in turns).
Daytona Beach, Fla.
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Distance |
400 miles (160 laps) |
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Defending champion |
Dale Jarrett |
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1999 Pole Sitter |
Joe Nemechek, 194.860 mph
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Qualifying |
First round, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET; Friday, second round, 6:30 p.m. ET |
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Track Records |
Track qualifying record: Bill Elliott, 210.364 mph (1987)
Race qualifying record: Sterling Marlin, 203.666 mph (1986)
Race record: Bobby Allison, 173.473 mph (1980)
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On the Track
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Thursday, June 29
For 49 weeks out of the year, Daytona Beach is the destination for sun, fun and seafood. But it's the other three weekends that race fans love and driver cherish.
A win Saturday night by Dale Jarrett will tie a Daytona International Speedway record of three straight victories. But he'll have stiff competition from 42 others -- including Jeff Gordon. The Rainbow Warrior would like to play the spoiler to DJ, who ended Gordon's bid for the same Cale Yarborough record last year in this race.
Gordon won the last restrictor-plate race at Talladega this year. Jarrett tested here because his 500 winner is in Daytona USA. But, the big thing about the Pepsi 400 is that it comes at the middle of the season, and teams have had the
opportunity to spend time in the wind tunnel, on the
track and in the garage tinkering with those new 2000
body styles that caused such a commotion at the Daytona
500.
Teams know what they have for this midsummer classic. The Pepsi/Firecracker 400 is a race every driver wants to win. Jarrett is trying to make history, and in the last four events at Daytona have been won by a guys named either Jeff or Dale. So, I'd say those two guys are the two to beat.
The Pepsi 400 will be a different race than the 500, simply because it's run at night. It should be a better race.
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Ah, back where we started the 2000 season. Let's hope NASCAR's rule changes since the Daytona 500 keep Saturday night's race, formerly known as the Firecracker 400, from turning into another dud.
Yes, restrictor plates and NASCAR's decision to mandate teams use specific springs and shocks, transformed Daytona International Speedway into a "No Passing Zone" in the season-opener. But since Dale Jarrett won his third Daytona 500, Winston Cup officials have allowed teams to alter their shock packages in an effort to make restrictor-plate tracks less of a single-file parade.
Daytona also started the great "Aero Debate."
Jarrett's Ford Taurus was the first of five Fords to cross the finish line first at Daytona. As a result, NASCAR altered the nose of the new 2000 Monte Carlos three weeks later, giving the Chevy two more inches of front air dam. But as soon as Dale Earnhardt won in Atlanta with the new-look Monte Carlo, the Pontiac teams started voicing their concern over their Grand Prix's wind-tunnel numbers. Again, Winston Cup's body shop went to work and shaved a few inches off the Pontiac's bumper.
What does all this mean for Daytona? Well, we can only hope more passing and parity.
Chevy, and for that matter the Pontiacs, were well off the pace in February. Fords had four of the top five qualifying speeds, and as mentioned above, made up the top-five finishing spots (Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin). Mike Skinner was the only Chevy driver to lead the race -- for all of three laps (2-4) -- and while Johnny Benson's late bid in his Pontiac for victory was inspiring, he had no chance of holding off the Fords.
Since the rule changes, the three manufacturers appear on a level playing field. Earnhardt's win in Atlanta was followed by a 1-2-3 Chevy finish (Jeff Gordon, Skinner, Earnhardt) at restricted Talladega and Little E's win in Texas. Pontiac leads the points with Bobby Labonte out front, and has won five races this season -- including two straight by Tony Stewart (Dover and Michigan).
So, now that the cars are perceived as equal, we can expect more high-speed thrills of the past. Sure, the restrictor plates will keep the cars at around 190 mph, but with the car setups back in the hands of crew chiefs, there should be plenty of passing and drama Saturday night.
That means the Earnhardt will once again be his usual self after failing to win either a Twin 125, or the Daytona 500, for the first time in a decade. So will Gordon, who saw his chances at winning a third Daytona 500 end early with an faulty oil line fitting. Gordon and Earnhardt have each won two Pepsi 400s.
Saturday night will also mark the final Daytona race for Darrell Waltrip. The '89 Daytona 500 winner finished 32nd in his final 500.
10 Drivers to Watch
Dale Jarrett: Nobody's had more success lately at Daytona than the driver of the No. 88 Quality Car Ford. Sure, he won last year's Pepsi 400 under caution, but he was clearly the class of the field in February in winning his third Daytona 500. Just happens to come back during his most consistent streak of the season, which has seen him finish eight straight races in the top 10. Looking to tie Cale Yarborough with a record third-straight Daytona race win.
Dale Earnhardt: If the Chevy is indeed equal, Earnhardt's performance will prove it. The master of the draft has 30 wins at Daytona International Speedway. And while only three have come in Winston Cup points races -- the 1990 and 1993 Pepsi 400s
and the Daytona 500 in 1998 -- he has been in contention to win several more. Was second in the Pepsi 400 last year and had less luck in February this year. Still, he's scored the most top-10 finishes this season of any driver with 13.
Jeff Gordon: Comes off his sixth straight road-course victory last weekend at Sears Point. So, he'll carry plenty of momentum into Daytona, which has always been a good track for the 24 team. Still, an up-and-down season sees three-time Winston Cup champion 10th in points -- 341 behind Bobby Labonte. Has nine top-10 finishes in 16 races, but is one of four repeat winners in 2000.
Bobby Labonte: Speaking of the points leader, Labonte should be in contention after finishing sixth in Daytona 500 -- the highest of any non-Ford driver. Finished second at Daytona in both 1998 races. Increased his lead over Earnhardt to 67 points with solid run on the road last week.
Jeff Burton: Started the season with a runner-up finish to DJ and would like nothing better than to take the checkered flag this time. Was third in last year's Pepsi 400. Enjoying another solid season with six top-five finishes, including a victory at Las Vegas. Currently fifth in the standings with 2,134 points.
Mark Martin: The Daytona Beach resident is still looking for his first victory at Daytona International Speedway. He was fifth in the 500 and third in last year's Pepsi 400. After horrible run in May and early June saw him slip from second to ninth in points, Martin was third last week -- his second straight top-five finish after six races out of the top 10.
Tony Stewart: Flu-like symptoms kept him from finishing last week's race at Sears Point. But in three races prior to California, he won twice and finished sixth at Pocono. In three career races at Daytona, he has started in the top seven and his best finish was sixth in last year's Pepsi 400.
Ricky Rudd: Was the story of Speedweeks, winning a Twin 125 and qualifying on the outside of Row 1 for his first race with Yates power. Didn't have a strong 500, however, finishing 16th. Still, he's enjoying a solid season with five top-five finishes. But, he remains the only driver in the top 10 points standings (8th) without a victory. Finished 13th in last year's Pepsi 400.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Isn't it time for this kid to have another outstanding run? Ran strong in first Daytona 500, finishing 13th after starting eighth. Another driver to win twice this season (Texas and Richmond).
Johnny Benson: If for nothing else, it'll be interesting to see if Benson can duplicate his stirring run in the Daytona 500 when he led 38 late laps before being overtaken by Jarrett on the final restart. Since his storybook Daytona, Benson has been solid if not spectacular.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor. | |
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