How important is it to run well at the Daytona 500? Consider this: Of the top-five finishers in last year’s race, none finished in the top five in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship standings. Jeff Gordon won the race and finished sixth in the points, while Dale Earnhardt was second in the race and seventh in points. Kenny Irwin finished third in the race and 19th in points, while Mike Skinner was fourth in the race and 10th in the standings and Michael Waltrip was fifth in the race and 29th in the standings. On the other hand, Dale Jarrett won the championship after finishing 37th in the race; Bobby Labonte was second after finishing 25th in the race; Mark Martin was third after finishing 31st in the race; and Jeff Burton was fifth after running 35th in the race.(Times-Union/AP) pretty wild(2-12-2000)
