THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160518
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
NASCAR Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway unfold in a series of episodes.
With today's Twin 125 qualifying races for Sunday's Daytona 500, the story switches from displays of speed to pure racing.
We already know, for instance, that pole-winner Dale Jarrett has the fastest car on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Jarrett won the top starting spot Saturday in the Robert Yates-owned Ford Thunderbird with a speed of 193.494 mph.
But it's altogether another question whether Jarrett will race the best. In fact, that's one of the more intriguing questions making the rounds in the garage.
Jarrett has been wrestling with a loose car while practicing in traffic on the high banks. He's been struggling ``big time,'' as he put it.
``It's no secret we've been chasing the car around,'' Jarrett said Wednesday.
The team's initial efforts to correct the handling problem slowed the car.
``I think we've got a handle on it now and I think we're in great shape,'' he said.
Jarrett, who starts on the pole of the first 125-miler, is not unique in having a loose-handling car.
``Everybody's loose, and everybody's been loose,'' Kyle Petty told Pontiac's Brian Hoagland. ``It's been bad before, but it's been bad from the very beginning, so everybody was used to it by now. But this time, I don't think it got bad until Monday or Tuesday. I don't know what the deal is, but it's a lot looser than everybody needs it to be.''
Different drivers have different objectives in these qualifying races.
Those starting near the front, like Sterling Marlin, who starts second in the first race, can go for the victory.
``We want to win it,'' Marlin said. ``It pays 50 grand. We're running good, driving good. We're in pretty good shape.''
Those further down the starting lineup simply want to have a decent race and finish among the top 14. The first 14 finishers in each race earn starting spots in Sunday's 500. The final eight spots in the 500 (not including provisionals) are determined by qualifying speeds.
``I'm just trying to get into the Daytona 500,'' said John Andretti, who starts 14th in the second race. ``And then I want to find a drafting partner who wants to get into the Daytona 500 as much as I do. Last year, I didn't have a plan. This year, I've got a little bit of a plan.''
Dale Earnhardt qualified on the outside pole Saturday, so he's already in the 500.
``I'm locked in for the 500, so we don't have to worry about what happens in the 125,'' he told Chevy's Ray Cooper. ``You want to stay out of trouble, and the best way to do that is to stay out front.
``You have to look at it like a 125-mile practice session. We'll race to win, but you don't want to take any chances and mess up your 500 car.''
Steve Kinser didn't wait until today to mess up his 500 car. He hit the wall in practice Wednesday and will have to start his backup car in today's first race, which means he'll have to drop to the back of the field before the start.
Thirty-two cars will start in each of the qualifying races. The first race starts at 12:30 p.m. MEMO: The Twin 125s will be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network (1310-AM,
1250-AM and 101.7-FM), beginning at noon. They will be shown on
tape-delay at 2 p.m. Saturday on CBS.
by CNB