Time to hail Dale?
At age 40, Daytona 500 could produce historic firsts
Posted: Fri February 13, 1998 at 4:52 PM ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (CNN/SI) -- The opening week of the racing season has traditionally been dubbed "Speed Week" in Daytona. But this year it's been anniversary week, a weeklong party celebrating 50 years of NASCAR and 40 years of the "Great American Race," the Daytona 500.
For a couple of promising rookies -- and one notable veteran -- Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500 marks a chance to celebrate a first.
"It's very overwhelming," rookie Kenny Irwin, starting in his first Daytona 500, told CNN/SI. "Just going out on the race track for the first time -- it's just very special."
Irwin, a front-runner for rookie of the year, will pilot the Robert Yates No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford Taurus from the 19th row (position 38).
"[I just want] to fit in, to earn the respect of all the veterans," he said. "You want to be able to go up and run with them and them draft with you and not be afraid you're going to do something stupid."
Sunday's race will be the first of an anticipated season-long duel between Irwin and fellow rookie Steve Park, who will be in the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet, starting out of position 33 (row 17).
"I can't tell you how many times I have to pinch myself to make sure this isn't a dream," Park said. "Those days and nights I spent working on my modified car, owning and running my own business and suffering through some pretty lean times all are about to pay off."
While Park and Irwin wage their rookie duel, the Labonte brothers, Bobby and Terry, will jump off the front row as early favorites. Close behind, in the No. 4 position, will be veteran Dale Earnhardt, who still is looking for his first trip to the Daytona 500 winner's circle.
Earnhardt has won a Daytona 500 qualifying race for nine straight years -- including one of Thursday's twin 125s -- but hasn't broken through in NASCAR's biggest race in 19 previous tries. He also has a streak of 59 straight winless races he's trying to snap.
"I want to win the race; I want to win it real bad," Earnhardt said. "But if I end my career without winning the Daytona 500, it won't mean I've failed or anything."
Earnhardt, 46, winner of 70 career races, sounded more and more confident as the week wore on, especially after winning the qualifier.
"I'm ready," he said. "I can't wait to get started. Maybe this will be my year at Daytona."
Defending 500 champion Jeff Gordon, 26, is starting his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet out of the 15th row (position No. 29). It's an unusual spot to be in for the defending Winston Cup champion.
"I've got to be real patient on the racetrack," Gordon said. "We have to really take our time and make smart decisions and let it all come together late in the race."
The winner of this $7 million race will pocket $1 million, and five drivers -- both Labontes, Ken Schrader, John Andretti and Ernie Irvan -- have a chance to grab the "No Bull 5" $1 million bonus from RJR if any of them wins.
Fans also will get a chance to see if the Pontiac Grand Prix can make its way back to the top of the Winston Cup points race, where it hasn't been a factor for more four years. A Grand Prix finished in the top three in the last eight races of 1997, and many are looking for bigger things in 1998.
Sunday's race also could be the coming-out party for the Taurus, which replaces the Thunderbird this season. Dale Jarrett, in Row 3, will run in one as will Rusty Wallace in Row 6, who gave the Taurus a win in its racing debut Sunday in the Bud Shootout.
Whoever wins it, in whatever car, Sunday's 500 promises to live up to its moniker. That's one thing that hasn't changed in the past 40 years.
"They have a race down here, they come. Somebody wins it and goes home with all the money," racing legend Richard Petty told CNN/SI. "We thought it was a big deal in 1959. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger every year. This is basically our Super Bowl."
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