And a happy Saturday to all!  I don’t normally do the list on weekends, but because it’s the Daytona 500 and so much is happening, I decided to do a special issue.  Hope you all enjoy it!

Bits and Pieces

NASCAR DOCKS WALLACE TEAM
NASCAR said late this afternoon that Rusty Wallace's fourth-place finish in yesterday's second Gatorade 125 qualifying race has been thrown out. The sanctioning body said he was disqualified from the event after an illegality in the carburetor was discovered during a post-race inspection of Penske Racing South's No. 2 Dodge. NASCAR said Wallace would still start the Daytona 500 since he had posted a qualifying speed and did have a provisional. Crew chief Billy Wilburn was fined $10,000 and the team lost its winnings from the qualifying race, but NASCAR said Wallace would not lose any points because the 125-mile race was considered an extension of the qualifying session. Instead of starting eighth in Sunday's 500, Wallace will now have to use a provisional starting spot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ BENSON, MARTIN TO USE BACKUP CARS
Johnny Benson and Mark Martin will be dropping to the back of the field and starting Sunday's Daytona 500 in backup cars. Benson wrecked MBV Motorsports' No. 10 Pontiac during practice this morning, while Martin lost Roush Racing's No. 6 Ford at the end of yesterday's Gatorade 125 qualifying race after a tire problem. Martin was to have started 28th, while Benson was to have lined up 40th. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ WATCH SKIES SUNDAY
Weather forecasters, who had expected clear skies this weekend, now say there's a chance of scattered showers for Sunday's Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The Weather Channel's Weather.com puts the chance of rain at 50 percent, and the National Weather Service calculates it at 60 percent. The good news is that forecasters expect clear skies for Saturday's Koolerz 300 Busch Series race and say the Sunday showers will be scattered. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ LAS VEGAS TO ADD SEATS
In the wake of this week's announced sellout of reserved seats for the March 2 UAW/Daimler Chrysler 400 Speedway Motorsports officials have decided to build 10,000 more seats above the front straightaway at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Work is scheduled to start after the March 2 running of the Winston Cup race and should be completed before the track hosts its 2004 Winston Cup/Busch Series weekend. Published reports say the track has more than 125,000 reserved seats. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ SHOOTOUT TOP TV DRAW
Fox's broadcast of Saturday night's first prime-time airing of the Budweiser Shootout proved to be the most-watched sporting event last weekend, according to today's Sports Business Daily. Final Nielsen ratings show the race recorded a 5.5 rating and a 10 share to easily outdistance the 3.5/8 for Sunday's final round of the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach tournament on CBS. The rained-out qualifying session, also carried on Fox, tied for fourth with a 2.1/5. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ MARTIN WINS IROC OPENER
NASCAR's Mark Martin scored a record-tying 11th IROC victory today as he came home ahead of Roush Racing teammate Kurt Busch to capture Round 1 of True Value IROC XXVII at Daytona International Speedway. Rounding out the top five were Danny Lasoski, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Crawford wins Truck opener in photo finish
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rick Crawford passed Robert Pressley coming to the line to win the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at Daytona on Friday.

In a spectacular finish, Crawford won a three-wide battle with Pressley and Travis Kvapil. Kvapil beat Pressley by inches for secopnd place.

The win is Crawford's first in 120 starts -- he last won at Miami in 1998.

Only 17 trucks finished the event.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ TV Network Optimistic On Daytona 500 Going Prime Time: If the Daytona 500 is moved to prime time to accommodate television, it may be run on Sunday night, Fox Sports president Ed Goren said this week. Drivers support more night races in general and are receptive to a prime-time start for the Daytona 500, but overwhelmingly, they prefer Saturday night races. NASCAR, which is in the third year of a six-year, $2.4 billion contract with Fox, NBC and their cable partners, is looking at ways to increase value for the networks. That could mean more night races, later starting times for Sunday afternoon races and running the Daytona 500 in prime time, NASCAR president Mike Helton said recently. Fox officials were thrilled with the ratings for the first nighttime Bud Shootout last Saturday. The race drew a 5.5 nationally, winning the night for Fox by a wide margin. And that was against upgraded programming two networks offered as part of their February sweeps packages. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Mixed Emotions On Whether It Be Saturday Or Sunday Nights: Goren said that for night races in general, Sunday may be more attractive to television because ratings are higher than on Saturday. "It depends on the network,'' he said. ``The difference between Saturday and Sunday night is eyeballs. The 5.5 we did [for the Shootout] came on probably the lowest-rated night of the week, which means that number is all the more impressive. If the Bud had been on Sunday night, it probably would have been a point and a half higher just because of the number of households watching on Sunday night." Sunday night races would present logistical problems for NASCAR and for fans, however. There would be almost no weekend cushion for rain delays, and fans needing to get home by Monday for work might be deterred from coming. Racing fans often travel longer distances than fans of other sports and they face heavier traffic getting home. - The Tampa Tribune ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Toyota has plans to build racing facility in the Triad of North Carolina: Toyota officials said yesterday that they plan to build a major Southeastern racing center in the Triad of North Carolina. Toyota announced plans to step up to NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series next year, and there is intense speculation that it will step up to the Winston Cup tour by 2006. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Also... ABC trying to win back some TV rights: Despite that well-publicized flap two years ago over NASCAR's barring ESPN cameras from the Winston Cup garage, ABC officials are saying they're ready to take another shot at winning back some TV rights in coming negotiations with NASCAR. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Also... Chassis Dyno Results Not Up To Par: NASCAR's chassis dyno runs of nine cars after Thursday's 125-milers are being dismissed by many in the garage, with complaints that the dyno was some 30 horsepower off. According to one engine builder, the "winning" engine on the dyno came from David Green's Chevrolet, out of the Randy Dorton shops. But NASCAR officials changed some key parts on the dyno midway through the lengthy runs, leaving the results in question. - The Winston-Salem Journal ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Owners delay depositions in Gordon Case: Ray Evernham, Felix Sabates and Chip Ganassi did not have to give depositions Friday in the Gordon divorce case. The three Winston Cup team owners had received subpoenas -- Evernham got his at Daytona International Speedway -- from lawyers for Brooke Gordon. They filed motions to quash the subpoenas in Palm Beach County on Friday. Brooke Gordon lawyer Terry Young said only the owners of the car driven by Johnny Benson were not served. The owners have objected to the subpoenas because they do not want to give information about how much they pay their drivers and the value of their teams in general. - The Daytona Beach News-Journal ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Stewart avoids ticket: Tony Stewart said he was driving 72 mph in a 35-mph zone last Saturday night when he was stopped by an Ormond Beach police officer. The police department said the defending Winston Cup champion wasn't ticketed because there was another car between Stewart and the officer's radar. Stewart said he got out of the ticket after agreeing to have his picture taken with the officer. - The Florida Times-Union ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ When I pit, will you marry me?: Riding around on the pace lap before the start of Friday's Craftsman Truck Series Dodge Dealers 250, Randy Briggs decided to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day. He hit his radio button, got his girlfriend Mary Ward on the radio and proposed. It wasn't until 106 laps later that he got his answer and a hug. "She did say yes, but I had to make sure I heard her right on the radio," Briggs said. "She gave me a hug and said, 'You bet.' " - The Orlando Sentinel ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Green takes issue with remarks, fires back at Earnhardt Jr.
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer

The Dale Earnhardt Inc. vs. Richard Childress Racing story line for Sunday's Daytona 500 picked up steam Friday with Jeff Green firing back at comments Dale Earnhardt Jr. made after Thursday's Gatorade 125s.

"I heard what he said," said Green, who will start first in Sunday's 500 alongside Earnhardt Jr. on the front row. "I think it's pretty chicken (expletive), to tell you the truth."

Earnhardt Jr. and DEI teammate Michael Waltrip finished first and second in Thursday's second race after the RCR Chevrolets driven by Robby Gordon and Green took the top two spots in the first 125-miler.

"I always will wish Richard well," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don't necessarily see eye to eye with every one of his drivers, but they haven't been there that long and they might not be there for much longer."

Earnhardt Jr.'s father, seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, won six of those titles with the Childress team.

Earnhardt Jr. said he was "upset" in 2002 with how RCR drivers "worked against each other," singling out Green and Kevin Harvick for being "too competitive with each other at times."

“You've got Richard Childress over there busting his butt for all these years to get what he's got," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don't think those guys appreciate what the man is in this sport and the opportunity they have in his race cars."

The comments clearly didn't sit well with Green.

"If it wasn't for his dad, he wouldn't be here either," Green said of Earnhardt Jr. "He's got a fast race car, but if it wasn't for Michael Waltrip helping him out every race he probably wouldn't have won the races he won. He'd better count his blessings."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Teresa Earnhardt addresses autopsy photos, more
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - In an interview aired Friday night on "Dateline NBC," Teresa Earnhardt recounted how she came to find out about the death of her husband, racing legend Dale Earnhardt, and spoke of her efforts to prevent the publication of his autopsy photos and preserve his legacy.

Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup champion, was killed in a last-lap wreck in the Daytona 500 two years ago.

In the interview, NBC's Katie Couric asked Teresa Earnhardt what she was thinking when her late husband's accident unfolded.

Earnhardt said she did not think anything serious at first. "I know the cars are safe," she said. "And in racing, things happen so quick that there's no time to like dwell on anything."

Asked why she became so deeply involved in the efforts by the Florida legislature to prevent the publication of her husband's autopsy photos, Earnhardt replied:

"I just think it's a privacy issue, and a dignity issue. And it should never have even been an issue. But it was."

Earnhardt went on to explain her efforts to preserve her husband's legacy through the creation of a foundation that will work to further causes her husband held dear.

"I hate it so bad, feeling bad, that I just turn it off. I mean, I miss him, and I always will," Teresa Earnhardt said. "Just terribly. But I'm not going to feel bad about it. I'm going to feel glad about what I had."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Earnhardt Jr. fighting hard to stay optimistic
By DUSTIN LONG, Staff Writer
News & Record

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-- Winning his first career 125-mile qualifying race Thursday only made Dale Earnhardt Jr. think of losing.

Although his victory reaffirmed his status as the favorite for Sunday's Daytona 500, Earnhardt Jr. was not in a celebratory mood. He threw his right arm up in victory lane after exiting his car but it was more reflex than revelry.

"It seems like every time we do something good, it stacks the odds against us even worse to win the 500," Earnhardt Jr. said in a monotone voice that matched the drama in the final 18 laps he led to win.

Based on what he says and the week he's had, Earnhardt Jr. would be a long shot in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup season opener.  Consider:
 

• He surged by Jeff Gordon to lead the final five laps and win Saturday's Budweiser Shootout.

• Earnhardt Jr. qualified second for the Daytona 500.

• He qualified second for Saturday's Busch Grand National race.

• He won his qualifying race.

There's a familiarity to this stepladder success at Daytona International Speedway. It's too personal for Earnhardt Jr., who watched his father often dominate Speedweeks only to lose the 500 late several times.

In 1986, Dale Earnhardt won the Shootout (then called the Busch Clash), the BGN race and his qualifying race only to run out of fuel with three laps left while running second in the Daytona 500.

In 1990, Earnhardt won his qualifying race and the BGN event and started second in the 500. He lost the lead in turn 3 on the final lap when he cut a tire, allowing Derrike Cope to win.

"It hurt when he cut the tire in front of Cope that year," said Earnhardt Jr., who was 15 when that happened. "Those were tough, tough times. It was awful. Everybody can look back at that day and remember what it felt like, and you can imagine what it felt like for him."

A crash two laps from the finish while racing for second ruined Earnhardt's chance to complete a week of winning in 1991. Dale Jarrett passed him for the lead on the final lap of the 500 to end Earnhardt's chance at winning four events two years later. In 1994 and '95, Earnhardt won three events leading up to the 500 only to finish in the top 10 in the 500 both times.

That luck seems to have been passed to Earnhardt Jr.

Last year, he won the BGN race and finished second in the Shootout and his qualifying race. He placed 29th in the 500 after running over debris from teammate Michael Waltrip's car and later spinning across the infield grass.

"It was our race to lose last year," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We lost it. I can't say I knew it was coming, but it's just so weird.

“Everybody puts so much emphasis on this race and you talk about the favorite to win. It's not easy to win it. You're singling out one event that you'll run 20, 30 times, maybe in a full career. What are the chances you're going to win the race with everything that can happen in 500 miles? That's like saying before my career is over, I'm not going to be satisfied unless I win at Watkins Glen. What are the odds there? You're really stacking yourself up against some pretty strong odds."

It makes Earnhardt Jr. wonder what will happen this year. That doesn't mean he won't try to win the 500, though.

"I want to win anything I'm competing in," he said. "I'm a terrible loser. I was disappointed we didn't get the pole, especially to get beat by Jeff Green, who wasn't somebody you expected to get beat by.

"That's my competitiveness. We go into the 500 the favorite to win the race. We just want to back it up."

Something it took his father 20 years to do and what Earnhardt Jr. hopes doesn't take as long for him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kyle Busch says he had to step out of brother's shadow
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Kyle Busch is a young man in search of his own identity.

Although only 17 years old, Busch has spent much of his racing career in the footsteps of his successful older brother, Kurt, who enters his third Winston Cup season with Roush Racing.

Kyle, too, was expected to join Roush, but NASCAR's adoption of a minimum-age requirement prior to the 2002 season disrupted his plans. Instead of running his first full season in NASCAR's Truck series last year, Kyle moved to the America Speed Association.

He was still expected to rejoin Roush following his 18th birthday in May, but earlier this month he surprised the NASCAR community by announcing he would immediately join Hendrick Motorsports.

"Basically, it was a decision I had to make on my own," said Kyle, who has been acclimating himself with the Hendrick organization during Speedweeks at Daytona.

"We talked to Kurt about it," Kyle Busch said, "and he kind of stepped back away into the closet and didn't want anything to do with it. He said, 'It's your decision, it's your career. You are either going to help it or hurt it.' "

Kyle decided he would make the change for two reasons - to establish himself as a driver on his own terms and the ability to do so on a faster timetable.

"I needed to step out of the shadow of Kurt and say, 'Hey, I'm my own person out here. I'm Kyle Busch.' Everything Kurt has ever driven, I've followed his steps right into that car," Kyle said.

"It was kind of like Kurt was leading my way and I was going to follow him up into a Roush Cup car. I need to be own person and make my own way and show everybody that I can drive."

The best way Kyle knew how to accomplish that goal was to get in a car as soon as possible.

Roush wanted Kyle to sign a nine-year contract that would put him in Trucks for two to three seasons. Hendrick offered him a chance to run a limited Busch schedule this season and full time in 2004.

"At Hendrick, in 2004 I'll be in the Busch series and at Roush in 2006 I'd still be in the Trucks," he said. "It's an exciting time frame to look at."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Well, that’s it for now.  Everyone have a happy and safe Race Weekend….enjoy the DaleTona 500.  Until the next time, I remain,

Your  Momma

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