Tying up loose ends with the Aaron's 499 just a few hours away. ..RULES SHMULES
Each time a restrictor-plate race is held, drivers debate the pros and cons of the rules package. The loudest cry this week has been from the Ford camp, who think an increased spoiler will put them at a disadvantage today.
Former Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett, who drives the UPS Taurus, isn't necessarily grinning but he's willing to bear it.
"It really doesn't matter what I think about the rules because they're not going to change them," Jarrett said. "I guess they added a little bit back to our spoiler. I don't know why they'd have done that, but we'll just go out and see.
"The Fords weren't fast in qualifying, but maybe things will work out for us during the race. We worked on our cars and our engines are great. Doug Yates makes sure we have what we need, and we found a few things a couple of weeks ago that should help us here."
Since joining Robert Yates Racing in 1996, Jarrett has an average finish of 11th at TSS and has logged six top-5 finishes here.
BROTHERS, CHAMPS
Terry and Bobby Labonte are the only brothers to win Winston Cup championships, and the duo was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Feb. 26 during ceremonies in Waco. Both Texans also have victories at Talladega Superspeedway.
Terry has accomplished the feat twice, while Bobby broke a long Pontiac drought at the 2.66-mile venue with a checkered flag here in 1998.
GOOD SHOW
Phil Barkdoll, auctioneer for Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind's Race Fever event, got an unprecedented $15,000 bid on a rare autographed Dale Earnhardt helmet Friday night during festivities at the Speedvision Dome.
"Preliminary estimates put this year's gross profit at $118,000, not counting gift-in-kind gifts," said AIDB President Joe Busta. "Race Fever was a huge success due to our sponsors, driver attendance, patrons and the continued enthusiasm of auctioneer Phil Barkdoll and master of ceremonies Ned Jarrett."
Approximately 1,200 fans participated in Race Fever 2002, which featured a barbecue dinner and silent auction. Drivers on hand included Jeff Green, Tina Gordon, Shawna Robinson, Bobby Labonte, Casey Mears, Robbie Gordon, Johnny Benson, Bobby Allison, Jerry Nadeau, Ashton Lewis Jr., Scott Riggs and Jack Sprague.
Former basketball coach Sonny Smith hosted the evening, greeting guests from 38 states and Canada.
FEELIN' GOOD
Stacy Compton finished second in yesterday's Busch race, but hopes to go one better than that in today's Aaron's 499.
"I think we've got a good race car," he said. "What we saw in practice was pretty good. It's by far the best car that this Conseco Pontiac team has ever had at a speedway race.
"We ran OK in the first practice. Speed-wise we weren't that good, but we could race with them and that's all we need to do."
NOTHING BUT RACING
Be sure to look for The Daily Home's all racing edition Monday morning. It'll be 12 pages chock full of anything and everything from Talladega Superspeedway, with the story of the Aaron's 499, a feature on the race winner, how the points shake out and plenty of other articles and photos from Race Day at Dry Valley.
Buy a bunch of them. . .
