Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302140091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
EARNHARDT HOPES THIS YEAR'S STORY HAS HAPPIER ENDING
DALE EARNHARDT, one of the more successful Winston Cup drivers of his generation, has won everything but his sport's biggest prize - the Daytona 500. Today, he is among the favorites to add the crown jewel to his list of accomplishments.\ A distinct pattern has developed in the 1990s during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, which concludes today with the 35th annual Daytona 500.
If that pattern holds true, Dale Earnhardt again will fail to win NASCAR's biggest race.
For the fourth straight year, Earnhardt and his Richard Childress-owned Chevrolet Lumina has made the top 10 in qualifying for the 500, but failed to win the pole.
For the fourth straight year, Earnhardt has won his Twin 125 qualifying race.
For the fourth straight year, Earnhardt has won the Goody's 300 Grand National race.
But for the past three years - and throughout his entire career - Earnhardt has failed to win the Daytona 500.
In 1990, he lost the race on the last lap when he cut a tire.
In 1991, he lost the lead to Ernie Irvan late in the race and crashed trying to catch up.
In 1992, the year of the Fords, he finished ninth, a lap down.
Despite his record of futility in the 500 - no victories in 14 starts - Earnhardt is more eager than ever to run in today's race, which starts at 12:15 p.m.
"I'm like waiting on Santa Claus here," he said Saturday after winning the Goody's 300. "I'm more eager about this race than I've been in a long, long time. I'm a lot more fired up than I've ever been."
There are at least a couple of reasons for his optimism. Earnhardt's team has a new crew chief this year in Andy Petree, who was Harry Gant's crew chief for the past four years and replaced longtime Earnhardt crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine. And unlike last year, the Chevys seem to be equal to, or perhaps better than, the Fords.
However, Earnhardt's pattern here in the 1990s is almost spooky.
"It puts more pressure on you," he conceded. "But I take [the Speedweeks races] one at a time as they come. I can't try to save that luck for Sunday.
"We're in good shape. We'll be better than we were on Thursday [in his Twin 125 win]. The Fords are getting faster. That's good. That'll make a better race."
The Fords won't be Earnhardt's only problem.
Kyle Petty, hungrier and more competitive than ever, put his Pontiac Grand Prix on the 500 pole last weekend with a speed of 189.426 mph. It was Pontiac's first pole since Benny Parsons did it in 1982.
Petty has been carrying his father's famous No. 43 on the trunk of his car this week, along with the message: "Thanks, Dad." He seems to have adopted his father's attitude as well.
"I can win this race," he said. "I have just as good a chance as 40 other guys out there. I mean, everybody thinks they can win right now, but I think we've got a good shot."
If there is a long shot in this 41-car field, it is rookie Jeff Gordon, who surprised himself and nearly everybody else by winning the first Twin 125 on Thursday.
Gordon fell ill Friday and went to bed about 6 p.m. "I didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning and I feel great now," he said Saturday.
"My life really changed in about a two-hour period on Thursday," he added. "People kept asking me how I was going to handle the success, and I guess I handled it by getting sick. Things have been hectic down here, and I haven't gotten much sleep."
Defending champion Davey Allison has not been particularly strong this week, but he said his team has made a lot of progress. "Things have changed enough for us that we're pretty positive about our chances," he said.
However, if the Ford contingent's complaints here are on target - if NASCAR really has given the General Motors teams excessive concessions in aerodynamics - then the Fords don't stand much of a chance.
Today will be the Daytona 500 debut of Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Jr.
Unser had a spectacular debut here in January testing, but he struggled this past week. He crashed in his qualifying race Thursday but made the race in the 40th and last starting spot on the basis of his qualifying time.
"Little Al is a real long shot, and it's a shame because he's a really great driver," said Waddell Wilson, Unser's crew chief. "If we could come home with a top-10 finish, I'd be tickled to death."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING