IN-CAR AUDIO SITES
Fans Can Online(NASCAR Online)
looks like this is all that there is out there now….

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PREVIEW, FACT SHEETS and MISC News

• California Notes: There have been four NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at California Speedway since the track opened in 1997. Greg Sacks set the track-qualifying record in second-round qualifying for the inaugural California 500 presented by NAPA with a lap of 39.183 seconds, 183.753 mph(was broken in 2000 by Mike Skinner 186.061mph). Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race at the California Speedway in 1997 and repeated as the race winner there in 1999. Jeremy Mayfield is the defending champion of the NAPA Auto Parts 500. * Jeff Gordon is the only driver that has posted three top-five finishes at California. Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte and Jeremy Mayfield have all posted three top-10 finishes at California.(NASCAR PR)(4-25-2001)
• California News: Saturday Musical Performance – the Saturday night infield musical performance is a staple at California Speedway events. Blue Oyster Cult will rock the infield on April 28th, following the day’s on-track activities. Past performers have included Chris Isaak, Peter Frampton, The Marshall Tucker Band and Eddie Money to name a few. Blue Oyster Cult lead vocalist Eric Bloom is a self-proclaimed “huge NASCAR fan.” Legendary guitarist Stephen Stills will sing the National Anthem prior to the start of the NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 on April 29th. Stills is a two-time member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame, inducted as a member of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Prior to the start of the Auto Club 300 on Saturday, the National Anthem will be performed by the United States Navy Band Southwest, based NAS North Island, San Diego. The color guard is from the United States Marine Corp based at the Marine Corp Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. The Navy’s VFA-122 “Flying Eagles” will serve as the flyover crew on Sunday, April 29th. Based at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, Calif., “3” Super Hornets will buzz the grandstand during pre-race ceremonies(California Speedway PR)(4-24-2001)
• : NAPA Auto Parts 500 Race Info
• CBS Sportsline: NAPA Auto Parts 500 Preview
• Crew Chief Club
• Raceday Today – NAPA Auto Parts 500(4-29-2001)
• NASCAR.com: NAPA Auto Parts 500 Race Page
• Sporting News: This Week In NASCAR – NAPA Auto Parts 500
• NASCAR – NAPA Auto Parts 500 Preview(WRAL)
• Yahoo: NAPA Auto Parts 500 – Preview

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RACE ODDs

• note: this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the ‘experts’ think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season
• Don Best Sports – NAPA Auto Parts 500 and the 2001 Winston Cup Championship(4-24-2001)
• Imperial Palace NASCAR Odds – NAPA Auto Parts 500 and the 2001 Winston Cup(SportsFax News)(4-27-2001)
• NASCAR Odds – Early Odds for the NAPA Auto Parts 500(4-26-2001)
• The Regent Las Vegas – NAPA Auto Parts 500 Odds
  (4-26-2001)

• Stardust NASCAR Odds – NAPA Auto Parts 500(WRAL)(4-26-2001)
• United Bet – NAPA Auto Parts 500 Odds – click on Motorsports link(4-24-2001)
• Vegas Insider – NAPA Auto Parts 500 odds(4-26-2001)

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QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTS news and links

• Wallace Wins the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway. #2-Rusty Wallace won the race at California, his 54th career win (ties Lee Petty for 7th all time – my mistake, Gordon has 53, not 54) and his first of 2001. The win was Wallace’s first in 21 races, Bristol in Aug 2000. Wallace is the 8th different winner in 2001. It is the 16th straight year Wallace has won a cup race (see the current list on my Richmond Race Info page). The win by Wallace allows Ford to close the Manufacturers Championship to 2 points behind Chevy, each has 5 wins each. Winston Cup Points Leader #88-Dale Jarrett(finished 24th) maintains a lead of 66 points over #24-Jeff Gordon(finished 2nd). #77-Robert Pressley had his first top ten of 2001 and best finish since a 5th last June at Michigan. #90-Hut Stricklin had a nice run, finishing 12th, his best since a 9th at Michigan in August of 1999. See NASCAR.com for the Results and Drivers Standings and from the AP/: NAPA 500 Results(4-29-2001)
• Happy Hour II: sorry folks, they snuck this one in on me or I missed it somewhere. The Cup drivers had a practice session after the BGN race on Saturday. #22-Ward Burton, who was the fastest in the morning practice on Saturday, was once again fastest with a speed of 175.880mph. #66-Todd Bodine was next at 175.383mph. Slowest was #55-Bobby Hamiton at 171.743mph. See the speeds at : Saturday afternoon’s practice speeds– and the reason: An early morning layer of fog delayed the start of what was scheduled as the day’s only practice session, so the teams got about 50 minutes in the morning and 45 more after the BGN race.()(4-29-2001)
• Happy Hour Practice is over at California for the NAPA Auto Parts 500. #22-Ward Burton was the fastest at 180.018mph followed by #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr at 179.865mph. Slowest was #92-Stacy Compton at 174.010mph. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr blew an engine during the session. See the speeds at (4-28-2001)
• Qualifying is over at California for the NAPA Auto Parts 500. #18-Bobby Labonte won Pontiac’s first 2001 Bud Pole with a speed of 182.635mph. Outside pole goes to #66-Todd Bodine with a speed of 182.565mph.
  Missing the race are three drivers: #4-Kevin Lepage(33rd on Owners Points but out of provisionals); #44-Buckshot Jones(38th) ; #84- Shawna Robinson(no owners points). #55-Bobby Hamilton a week after winning at Talladega had to use a provisional, his first of 2001. Also the pole sitter last week, #92-Stacey Compton will start 43rd and last using the final provisional. To see who used provisionals and why, see my Provisional/Owners Points page. See the Unofficial Starting Lineup at MotorsportsOne, qualifying results at NASCAR.com and and see a column at : Bobby Labonte wins California pole (4-27-2001)

• Some Qualifying Notes: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr(blew a right front tire) and #77-Robert Pressley(said he simply lost it) wrecked in practice and had to go to a backup cars. #84-Shawna Robinson’s Ford broke a rearend during her attempt and missed the race. Both #44-Buckshot Jones and #92-Stacy Compton spun out before he took the green flag and was able to bring the car in and get it inspected and went back out a bit later to make their attempts. #36-Ken Schrader had a problem on his first qualifying lap and had to fall back to a provisional(MRN Radio Coverage)(4-27-2001)
• Pole Progression: the progression of the pole(who got it first, second, etc and finally won it) for the NAPA Auto Parts 500:
  #11-Brett Bodine, went out 1st, 181.023mph, will start 12th
  #43-John Andretti, went out 4th, 181.082mph, will start 11th
  #28-Ricky Rudd, went out 6th, 181.023mph, will start 6th
  #66-Todd Bodine, went out 16th, 182.565mph, will start 2nd
  #18-Bobby Labonte, went out 26th, 182.635mph, will start 1st
  (4-27-2001)

• Where did Rookies qualify?
  #01-Leffler 179.762 will start 25th
  #14-Hornaday 178.846 will start 35th
  #19-Atwood 180.764 will start 16th
  #29-Harvick 181.000 will start 13th
  #96-Houston 179.341 will start 33rd
  #97-Busch 179.359 will start 32nd
  (4-27-2001)

• Friday Cup Practice UPDATE: no speeds yet, but hearing the top ten are: #28-Rudd, #24-Gordon, #1-Park, #22-Burton, #99-Burton, #29-Harvick, #10-Benson, #66-Bodine, #9-Elliott and #12-Mayfield. Heard #77-Pressley wrecked but no idea how bad the car is.
  UPDATE: top 10 speeds – #28-Rudd 182.043mph; #24-Gordon 181.713; #1-Park 181.644; #22-Burton 181.529; #99-Burton 181.474; #29-Harvick 181.474; #10-Benson 181.324; #66-Bodine 181.301; #43-Andretti 181.082; and #9-Elliott 180.082; (#12-Mayfield was 11th at 180.659. #84-Shawna Robinson was slowest(46th) 176.220mph. #30-Jeff Green was 15th at 180.415mph. See speeds at : Friday’s Winston Cup practice speeds(4-27-2001)

• Qualifying Order is available for the NAPA Auto Parts 500. See the links above. Scheduled out first is #11-Brett Bodine, out last is #97-Kurt Busch. #84-Shawna Robinson is scheduled to go out 19th and #30-Jeff Green goes out 41st.. 46 drivers are to make an attempt. Qualifying starts at 5:00pm/et and can be followed on NASCAR.com and MRN Radio. Qualifying will be taped delayed on FX at 8:00pm/et (at 5:00pm/et you can watch a stirring episode of Married with Children on FX)(4-27-2001)
• Entry List is up for the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway. See above for the link. 46 car/drivers will attempt to go for 43 starting spots, including #30-Jeff Green and #84-Shawna Robinson. Missing include #50-Rick Mast and #71-Dave Marcis(4-25-2001)

• an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau’s qualifying time yesterday, it raised an interesting question. With the Winston Cup series having only one round of qualifying the rest of the season, what happens if an unapproved part is found? According to NASCAR, drivers no longer have to post an official qualifying time to use a provisional, they only have to practice. So a driver could have a penalty on a qualifying issue but still have access to one of the seven provisionals for the race(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-11-2001)
• How to break a tie during qualifying?(same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski Provisional Status page(2-20-2000)
• Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these
  sites: NASCAR Online, Racin Network, and

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TRACK/RACE NEWS

• California Cup Race Sold Out: California Speedway announced that all 92,000 reserved grandstand tickets for the Sunday, April 29th NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race have been sold; however, tickets remain for Saturday’s two races and Friday’s qualifying. It marks the fifth straight year the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race has sold out at the two-mile D-shaped oval. With the addition of 5,800 new grandstand seats near turn four, this Sunday’s event will be the largest in the history of the speedway, which opened in 1997(California Speedway PR)(4-25-2001)
• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski’s Past Track News/Rumors – California

DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• No #4 – First time since 1988: Kevin Lepage’s #4 Kodak Chevy, owned by Morgan-McClure Motorsports, missed the Cup race at California, the first time that team has failed to qualify for a race in 408 races – since Rick Wilson missed the field at Richmond in February of 1988. Robby Gordon began the season as the team’s driver but was replaced by Lepage after five races. The team was expected to make Lepage its permanent driver this week, but that announcement had been put off until at least next week before Friday’s disappointment. “The results of this weekend will not affect the signing of Kevin Lepage as our driver, from our standpoint,” McClure said. “The contract is not signed yet, but we are close to signing a deal()(4-28-2001)
• #100 for Park: #1-Steve Park will start his 100th Winston Cup race this weekend at California Speedway(Pennzoil PR)(4-26-2001)
• Midwest to Skip Calif: The #50 Midwest Transit Racing / Blair.com team and driver Rick Mast will skip Califonia to focus on
  the races at Richmond and Lowes Motor Speedway(4-25-2001)

• Mayfield to be Honored: Last year’s NAPA AUTO PARTS 500 champion Jeremy Mayfield will join past champions Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin in the California Speedway Walk of Fame at Gate 12 on Friday, April 27th at 9:30 a.m. Mayfield will have a plaque permanently installed in the ground along with his footprints and autograph.(California Speedway PR)(4-24-2001)
• Robinson Sponsor for California and three other races: Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership and MK Racing have announced their partnership for the # 84 Aaron.s Dream Machine Taurus for four NASCAR Winston Cup races this season with driver Shawna Robinson when she attempts to make the Apr. 29 California 500 at Fontana, CA., when she becomes the first female in nearly 12 years to start a NASCAR Winston Cup race. With the Dream Machine debuting at California, Robinson will run five additional races three (Michigan, Indianapolis and Atlanta) under the Aaron’s banner to become the first female to run more than a handful of races in over 20 years. Robinson is not new to the Aaron’s Dream Team. She ran the #99 Aaron.s Dream Machine (Michael Waltrip Racing) in the BGN Series in Texas, Nashville and this weekend at Talladega. She also ran the #8 Dream Machine (MK Racing) in the ARCA/REMAX Series race in Nashville where she finished third(Williams Company PR)(4-21-2001)
• Green in the #30 AOL car: Richard Childress announced the races Jeff Green will be running in the #30 (AOL) Winston Cup car this season. Green will attempt to make his (2001 Cup) debut at California Speedway on April 29. He also will run the races at Dover (June 3), Chicago (July 15), Indianapolis (Aug. 5), Bristol (Aug. 25), Richmond (Sept. 8) and Lowe’s (Oct. 7).(Richmond Times Dispatch) AND Richard Childress Racing Saturday named 2000 NASCAR Busch Series champion Jeff Green as the driver for the #30 America Online NASCAR Winston Cup team for a limited schedule this season. Childress said plans for the 2002 season and beyond will be forthcoming(NASCAR.com)(4-1-2001)
• Robinson and Burton test California: #99-Jeff Burton tested at California Speedway Monday and Tuesday of this week in preparation for the NAPA 500 on April 29 in Fontana, Calif. They not only became familiarized with the track, but they learned a number of things that will be helpful at other NASCAR tracks. “This was probably the most effective test we’ve ever had,” Burton said. “We went there with some goals, and we achieved all of them while we were there. We used this test for many things, one being to learn more about the tire. I am happy with the results we got, and I feel more comfortable with the tire.” Burton spent the first day of the test working on his qualifying setup, while the second day of the test was spent specifically on his race setup. The team tested its Atlanta car that competed in the Cracker Barrel 500 last month along with the Atlanta car that raced last season. #84-Shawna Robinson was the only other driver to participate in the two-day test with Burton at California Speedway.(Roush Racing)
  AND Some quotes from Shawna Robinson regarding her test at California Speedway and her desire to be the first woman in 12 years to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Robinson tested at the speedway in preparation for the upcoming NAPA AUTO PARTS 500. (On how her test is going): “The car is getting better and better, but not where it needs to be. We are making progress; small gains, but gains nonetheless. Every time I think I have the track figured out, we change something in the car and the comfort level goes down. One run could be fine and the next could be completely different. Basically, we’ve been concentrating on short runs and not focusing on time right now. This is my first experience with a Cup car, and my first time at this track. I have a pretty good comfort level at Michigan and this place is similar, but this place is really fast. Getting into the corners is very important here. We are going to stay tomorrow and do some more work. We need it. We need every minute of track time we can get.” and (On her desire to compete in the Winston Cup Series): “My goal is to drive full-time next season. That is what it takes to be successful. I would not be at this level if I didn’t think I deserved to be. My time is now. I have a lot of experience, but things have to be done right. That is why we are testing – to get a good feel for the car and get the team working together and on the same page. I feel I’m in my place when I’m in a race car. It is what I’m supposed to be doing.”(California Speedway PR)(4-5-2001)

• See the 2001 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team

PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• #36 and Snickers: To promote its newest candy brand, Snickers Cruncher, M&M/MARS, Inc. has a special paint scheme this weekend at California Speedway. The “M” Characters are taking a one-week break while the #36 Pontiac with driver Ken Schrader, displays the chocolate and caramel colors on the Snickers Cruncher wrapper.(MRN Radio Site), also see an image of the scheme on my Paint Schemes Gallery(4-25-2001)
• The Mummy Returns? hearing that #26 Jimmy Spencer will drive a Mummy Returns (the sequel to The Mummy) / Kmart Ford at California to promote the release of the movie. The car will supposedly feature characters from the movie, most notably Duane Johnson better known to WWF Fans as the ROCK, (he’ll be playing the “Scorpion King”) and be be black and gold(4-25-2001)
• Eagle One: Johnny Benson is flying the black-and-white colors of Eagle One car care products three times in April. The usual blue-and-white #10 Valvoline Pontiac first took on the different look last Sunday in Texas, and that will continue in this Sunday’s (April 8) race at Martinsville, and again April 29 in the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway(Valvoline PR)(4-4-2001)
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news

STATS and STUFF thru the race before this one

• Pole but No Wins: did ya know? No pole winner has gone on to win the race in which he won the pole this season(4-24-2001)
• Interesting UPDATE: In the past four Winston Cup seasons, the top 10 in points after seven races has provided a good indication of which drivers will be in the top 10 at season’s end – 33 of 40 drivers in the final top 10s were there seven races into the season: see the chart at : Signs of things to come?
  UPDATE: and an addition to the story: Others in early season points peril by David Poole(4-6-2001)

• A Championship Outlook: Only five times in the modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won in the first six races. The winners in the first 6 eaces this year: Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler. When did a driver win the Championship and not win a race in the first six? 1973-Benny Parsons; 1984 and 1996-Terry Labonte; 1985-Darrell Waltrip; and 1999-Dale Jarrett(3-25-2001)
• Top Fives: There have been 26 different Cup drivers(add #6-Martin at Talladega) who have scored a Top-5 so far in 2001….2000’s total was 28, 1999’s total was 28 and 1998’s total number was 27(4-22-2001)
• Top Tens: There have been 34 different Cup drivers(add #33-Nemecek at Talladega) who have scored a Top-10 in 2001…..2000’s total was 41, 1999’s total was 40 and 1998’s total number was 41(4-22-2001)
• Provisional Finishes in 2001: In 56 provisional starts(8 races x 7 no qualifying at Darlington 3/2001), drivers have accumulated 1 Win, 2 Top 5’s and 6 Top 10’s. See my Provisional Finishes Page for each race finish by the provisionals starters(4-22-2001)
• Lap Leaders and Bonus Points: Two Drivers have made all 9 races so far in 2001 an NOT led a lap: #5-Labonte; #12-Mayfield. Two drivers have led a lap in all 9 races so far in 2001: #6-Mark Martin and #40-Sterling Marlin. Three drivers led aa lap for the first time in 2001 at Talladega: #33-Joe Nemecehk; #96-Andy Houston; and #97-Kurt Busch. 39 drivers have now led a lap in 2001. See my Bonus Points/Lap Leaders/Laps Led by Race Page(4-23-2001)
• Consecutive Winston Cup Starts: Ricky Rudd leads with with 617 followed by Rusty Wallace at 526, Ken Schrader with 496 and Mark Martin 410. Terry Labonte had 655 but sat out the 2000 Brickyard 400 to end his record streak. Dale Earnhardt had 648 consecutive Winston Cup starts until his death at Daytona(4-22-2001)
• No Top Fives Since…. It has been a while since some drivers have had a top five finish on the Winston Cup circuit. Here are those with the longest streak of races without a top-five finish:

  
     Driver          Races  Finish    Track           Date
                     Since
  
     Dave Marcis*     315     3rd     Watkins Glen    8-10-87
     Brett Bodine     208     2nd     Indianapolis    8-6-94
     Rick Mast        130     4th     Martinsville    9-22-96
     Kyle Petty        96     3rd     Dover           9-21-97
     Chad Little*      87     2nd     Texas           4-5-98
     Ken Schrader      85     4th     Richmond        9-12-98
     Hut Stricklin     72     2nd     Darlington      9-1-96
     Ted Musgrave*     52     5th     Phoenix         10-25-98
     Dick Trickle*     49     5th     Rockingham      10-27-97
     Derrike Cope*     46     5th     Atlanta         11-16-97
     Steve Grissom*    45     4th     New Hampshire   9-14-97
     Mike Wallace      30     5th     Atlanta         11-13-94
  
  Dave Marcis has not had a top 10 since April 10, 1994 in the Food City 500 at Bristol, he finished 10th.
  
  Regular Drivers Without a Career Top Five
  
     Driver         Races
     Dave Blaney     42
     Stacy Compton   36
     Buckshot Jones  26
  Cup drivers(not including 2001 rookies)
  (* not full time Cup in 2001, data compiled from UMI Press Guides, Winston Cup Updates)(4-22-2001)
  

  
  

• No Wins Ever…. Some regular drivers in Winston Cup who have never won a Cup race and how many starts they have:

Active Drivers	
Driver        Races Run
Rick Mast        341
Ted Musgrave     298*
Hut Stricklin    276
Dick Trickle     266*
Kenny Wallace    227
Wally Dallenbach 225*
Chad Little      216*
Robert Pressley  179
Johnny Benson    171
Mike Skinner     154
Ricky Craven     153
Steve Grissom    141*
Todd Bodine      118
Kevin Lepage      100
David Green       78*

All Time - Over 400 Starts	
Driver          Races Run
JD McDuffie       653
Buddy Arrington   560
Neil Castles      497
Jimmy Means       455
Cecil Gordon      450
G.C. Spencer      415


*not a full time or regular Cup driver
(4-22-2001)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)

• Drivers with the longest streak since they won a CUP race:

   Driver          Races Run   Last Win   Track

   Dave Marcis      480*       2/21/82    Richmond
   Brett Bodine     336        4/22/90    North Wilkesboro
   Ken Schrader     312        6/2/91     Dover
   Derrike Cope     272*       6/3/90     Dover
   Jimmy Spencer    211        7/24/94    Talladega
   Bill Elliott     202        9/4/94     Darlington
   Kyle Petty       167        6/4/95     Dover
   Sterling Marlin  157        7/6/96     Daytona
   Geoffrey Bodine  120*       8/11/96    Watkins Glen
   Ricky Rudd        84        9/27/98    Martinsville
   John Andretti     69        4/18/99    Martinsville
   Terry Labonte     69        3/28/99    Texas
   Joe Nemechek      51        9/19/99    New Hampshire
   Mark Martin       35        4/9/00     Martinsville

   *not a full time or regular Cup driver
(4-22-2001)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)

• Drivers with the current streak of consecutive seasons with at least one win a year:

Have already won in 2001 and extended or started their streaks:
   Driver          Years   Last Win
   Dale Jarrett       9    Martinsville, Apr 2001
   Jeff Gordon        8    Las Vegas, Mar 2001
   Steve Park         2    Rockingham, Feb 2001
   Michael Waltrip    1    Daytona, Feb 2001
   Kevin Harvick      1    Atlanta, Mar 2001
   Elliott Sadler     1    Bristol, Mar 2001
   Bobby Hamiton    1    Talladega, Apr 2001

Thru 2000 season:
   Rusty Wallace     15    Bristol, Aug 2000
   Bobby Labonte      6    Charlotte, Oct 2000
   Jeff Burton        4    Phoenix, August 2000
   Mark Martin        4    Martinsville, Apr 2000
   Tony Stewart       2    Homestead, Nov 2000   
   Ward Burton        1    Darlington, Mar 2000
   Dale Earnhardt Jr  1    Richmond, Apr 2000
   Jeremy Mayfield    1    Pocono, June 2000
   Matt Kenseth       1    Charlotte, May 2000
   Jerry Nadeau       1    Atlanta, Nov 2000
   
Streaks that ended in 2000 that were thru 1999 season:
   Driver          Years   Last Win
   Terry Labonte      6    Texas, Apr 1999
   John Andretti      1    Martinsville, Apr 1999
   Joe Nemechek       1    New Hampshire, Sept 1999


All Time Record is Richard Petty – 18 years from 1960-1977
(4-22-2001)(info gathered using the 2000/2001 UMI Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide and 1999/2000 Winston Cup Updates)

• Top 10’s in restrictor plates: Only three drivers have finished in the top 10 in the two restrictor plate races run so far in 2001 (Daytona and Talladega): #55-Bobby Hamilton(8th at Daytona, win at Talladega); #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr (2nd at Daytona, 8th at Talladega); and #7-Mike Wallace (6th at Daytona, 9th at Talladega)(On Track from Lowe’s Motor Speedway)(4-23-2001)
• Single Car Winner: Even though the #21 Wood Brothers team uses Roush chassis and engines, they are considered a single car team, and before Elliott Sadler’s win at Bristol. the last time a single-car team scored a victory was by Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in September 1998(3-25-2001)
• Hendrick Motorsports Double wins: Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have won at least one Winston Cup race for seven consecutive seasons. No other current multi-car team has done that.(Gordon 1994-2000, T Labonte 1994-1999 and Nadeau in 2000)(11-22-2000)
• Four 1st Timers: The four first-time winners in 2000 was the most since 1988 when there were also four, those winners: Ken Schrader(Talladega), Alan Kulwicki(Phoenix), Phil Parsons(Talladega), and Lake Speed(Darlington). Parsons and Speed have not won in Cup since and are out of the series. Kulwicki died in an aircraft accident in 1993. Schrader is still active on the Cup circuit and has four career Cup wins. The winners in 2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr(Texas), Matt Kenseth(Lowes), Steve Park(Watkins Glen) and Jerry Nadeau(Atlanta)(11-21-2000)
• Pontiac Win Record: Pontiac Grand Prix, which clinched its third NASCAR Winston Cup Driver championship and first since 1989, thanks to driver Bobby Labonte, could had set a NASCAR modern-era standard for itself with a victory in Atlanta. Pontiac had 11 wins this season, matching the highest number of wins in a season that was set in 1993(Rusty had 10 of those). Tony Stewart, Labonte’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, had a series-leading six wins this season, while Labonte had four and Ward Burton one(AP), The All-Time Pontiac Record is held in 1961 with 30. Ford holds the all-time mark of 48 in 1965 while the all time modern-era(1972 to present) is held by Buick with 25 wins in 1982(Winston Cup Updates)(11-18-2000)
• Different Winners in 2000: There were 14 different race winners in 2000, the most in a single season since 1991 when there were 14, which is a record for NASCAR’s modern era, which began in 1972.
  The drivers who won in 2000: Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Steve Park, Jeremy Mayfield, Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon and Jerry Nadeau.
  Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti are the drivers who earned victories in 1999 and did not win in 2000. Two drivers who won in 1998 Bobby Hamilton and Ricky Rudd, have not won since(11-21-2000)

• 43rd Fact: Last driver to win from the 43rd starting spot was Fonty Flock at Raleigh, NC in 1953, the only other driver to do so was Johnny Mantz in the 1950 Southern 500
• Backstretch/Provisional/Backup Car Winner: Only two drivers in the history of Bristol had ever won a race after pitting on the backstretch. Davey Allison(started 19th) in the spring 1990 race and Dale Earnhardt(26th) in the 2nd 1999 race, and now #21-Elliott Sadler who came from 38th, pitting on the backstretch and having to use a provisional to make the race in a backup car only the 4th ever Provisional Starter to gain a win in a Cup race(3-25-2001)
• Provisional Starting Winners: Jeff Burton was the first driver to win from a provisional starting spot EVER at New Hampshire in 1999 and that is the farthest back any driver has won from since Kyle Petty won from 37th at Dover in June 1995(in 1995 37th was not a provisional starting spot). Bill Elliott also won from 38th spot in the 1988 Pepsi 400. In fact ALL the provisional starters for the race finished in the top 25 at NHIS(7-11-1999)
  UPDATE: Add Bobby Labonte as the 2nd ever provisional winner by winning the 1999 NAPA 500 at Atlanta(11-21-1999)
  UPDATE 2: Add Bobby Labonte as the 3rd ever provisional winner by winning the 2000 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-3-2000)
  UPDATE 3: Add Elliott Sadler as the 4th ever provisional winner by winning the 2001 Food City 500 at Bristol(3-25-2001)

• Amazing Finishes: Races won from a starting position of 35 or worse in the history of NASCAR

Starting Position  Race                                 Driver
 43                1950 Southern 500, Darlington        Johnny Mantz
 43                1953 Raliegh, NC                     Fonty Flock
 38 provisional    2001 Food City 500, Bristol          Elliott Salder   
 38 provisional    1999 Jiffy Lube 300, Loudon          Jeff Burton
 38                1988 Firecracker 400, Daytona        Bill Elliott
 37 provisional    1999 NAPA 500, Atlanta               Bobby Labonte
 37 provisional    2000 Southern 500, Darlington        Bobby Labonte
 37                1995 Miller 500, Dover               Kyle Petty
 37                1959 Lakewood Speedway, Atl, GA      Lee Petty
 36                2000 Diehard 500, Talladega          Jeff Gordon
 35                2000 Cracker Barrel 500, Atlanta     Dale Earnhardt
(3-25-2001)

• Championship and no poles? ever happen? With Dale Jarrett winning the Cup championship and not scoring any poles in 1999, I was asked, has it ever happened before? Yep, five times, most recently, in 1991 when Dale Earnhardt won the Winston Cup Championship with four wins and NO poles. It also happened in 1983-Bobby Allison; 1980-Earnhardt; 1973-Benny Parsons; and 1950-Bill Rexford(The Stock Car Racing Encyclodepia)(11-14/21-1999)
• Stats: Only five times in NASCAR’s modern era(1972-present) has the eventual champion not won by the sixth race of the season. Those champions were Benny Parsons in 1973, Terry Labonte in 1984 and 1996, Darrell Waltrip in 1985 and Dale Jarrett in 1999
• Did ya know? When Bobby Labonte won the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, he and his brother Terry, who won it in 1984 and 1996, have become the first brothers to do so in Winston Cup history. There have been two father-son pairs; Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and Dale Jarrett AND Bobby Labonte is the first former BGN champ(since the series began in 1982, not counting the old Sportsman division) to win the Winston Cup championship(11-12-2000)