THE NEXT Winston Cup RACE
NEWS, STATS and INFO

THE RACE: MBNA All-American Heroes 400

Winston Cup Race #28 of 36 for the 2002 Winston Cup season

Updated: often, leading up to the race

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• Race: Sunday, September 22, 2002 in Dover, DE
• TV: TNT – 1:00pm/et
• Race re-air: TNT on Tues, Sept 24th at 1:00am/et; Speed Channel on Wed, Sept 25th, 8:00pm/et; Thurs, Sept 26th, 1:00am/et
• Pre-Race Show: TNT – 12:30pm/et – Hosted by Bill Weber
• Pay Per View/NASCAR In Demand: www.indemand.com
• NASCAR.com’s NASCAR on TV
• Announcers: Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
• Pit Reporters: Bill Weber, Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Dave Burns
• Posted Awards/Purse: $3,920,256 (was $3,321,928 in 2001)
• Entry List Link at: NASCAR.com
• 2001 Race Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr, 101.559mph, started 3rd
• Track Race Record: Mark Martin, Sept 1997, 132.719mph
• Track/Race Length: 1.0 concrete oval, 400 laps, 400 miles
• Pit Road Speed: 35mph
  

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  Practice

• Practice: Friday, September 20th, 10:20am – 12:20pm/et; Saturday, September 21st, 9:30 – 10:15am/et.
• Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, September 21st, 11:15am – 12:00noon/et on TV-TNT at 12:00noon/et.
  

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  Qualifying

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, September 20th, 9:20am/et
• Qualfying Order: at or NASCAR.com
• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday, September 20th at 2:05pm/et, TV-TNT and live via MRN Radio, XM Satellite Radio and via NASCAR.com’s Racecast (paid). No re-air date/time found.
• NASCAR Online will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Winston Cup qualifying via the web (NOTE: this is a paid subscription service).
• Second-Round Qualifying: there is no longer a 2nd round of qualifying (since the 2001 season)
• Track Qualifying Record: Rusty Wallace, Sept 1999, 159.964mph
• Last Year’s Pole Sitter: #88-Dale Jarrett, 154.919, finished 12th.
  

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  Track Specs:
  Superspeedway: 1.0-mile oval
  Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 9 degrees
  Straights: Frontstretch – 1,076 feet; Backstretch – 1,076 feet
  Pit Stalls: 42 (1 shared) 15″ wide x 28″ long
  Attendence: ~140,000

• Track Homepage: Dover International Speedway
  

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  PAST RACE/POLE WINNERS at Dover

• All Time Dover Winners

  
  

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  RACE BONUS INFO

• The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $230,000 at Dover for leading the points and winning the race (Sterling Marlin last won the award, $20,000 at Darlington on March 17, 2002). The $360,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if he is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finisher in the point standings. The all time record WAS $190,000 for Bobby Labonte’s win at Indy in 2000.(9-15-2002)

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• Once again….. nice Patriotic Pre-Race show at Dover International Speedway, great to see all those USA flags in the crowd.(9-22-2002)
• Johnson wins at Dover: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover and sweeps both Cup races at Dover in 2002. It is Johnson’s third win of 2002 and ties him with Tony Stewart [1999] for the most ever wins by a Rookie in a season. #6-Mark Martin finished 2nd and increases his points lead to 30, with Johnson taking over 2nd in the points. All 4 Roush Racing drivers finished in the top 7. The top ten stood at (this is unofficial of course):

  #48-Jimmie Johnson (170 laps led)
  #6-Mark Martin (5 laps led)
  #88-Dale Jarrett (13 laps led)
  #17-Matt Kenseth
  #20-Tony Stewart (34 laps led)

  #99-Jeff Burton
  #97-Kurt Busch
  #12-Ryan Newman
  #32-Ricky Craven (46 laps led)
  #10-Johnny Benson

  where are the top six in points finished (as they stood before the race)
  #6-Martin 2nd
  #40-Marlin 21st, 2 laps down
  #48-Johnson 1st
  #20-Stewart 5th
  #24-Gordon 37th, 62 laps down
  #2-Wallace, 15th, 1 lap down

  Drivers on the lead lap: 8
  DNF’s: #44-Nadeau(accident-out); #22-Burton(accident-out); #18-Labonte(engine-out); #26-Bodine(engine-out); #66-Hideo Fukuyama(transmission-out); #5-Terry Labonte(handling-out); #24-Gordon (accident-out); #49-Lapage (engine-out);
  Lap Leaders (7): #2-Wallace (15); #8-Earnhardt Jr (116); #20-Stewart (34); #32-Craven (46); #88-Jarrett (14); #48-Johnson (170); #6-Martin (5);

  Cautions 6 for 37 laps
  Caution 6 Lap 319-328: #2-Rusty Wallace slapped the wall hard, may had cut a tire down. The track also blew off the track during the caution.
  Caution 5 Lap 147-150: Debris on the back stretch.
  Caution 4 Lap 115-120: #18-Labonte lost an engine, a big plume of smoke from behind the car.
  Caution 3 Lap 67-70: #26-Bodine got loose in turn four and spun, #24-Gordon checked up and got hit by #1-Park and spun, then hit the front stretch inside wall head on. Bodine drove off with no damage. Gordon is behind the wall with quite a bit of damage to the nose of the car.
  Caution 2 Lap 55-58 : #12-Newman got lose and spun in turn two but didn’t hit anything or anybody.
  Caution 1 Lap 28-35 : #44-Nadeau got into the front stretch wall bounced off and #22-Burton came up a bit and they crashed, with Burton hitting the outside and inside walls on the frontstretch, the #44 slammed into the inside wall, neither driver is injured.
  NOTES: Around lap 284 #41-Spencer came in as fluid was leaking from rearend cooler, the team took it to the garage to repair, Spencer later returned to the race. Green flag pit stops occurred around lap 235-240. #4-Skinner hit his jackman when entering his pit stall with the jackman falling on his back, but he got up and completed the pit stop and was just shook up. Around lap 230, #55-Biffle slide up the track and slapped the outside wall, no caution thrown. #24-Gordon is back on the tack as of lap 120. During the Caution 2 pit stops, #2-Wallace over shot his pit stall and lost time as they had to push the car back in the box. The leaders have pitted during the first caution. #14-Wallace is having power steering problems and #18-Labonte is having serious handling problems and both have been in and out of the pits during the first caution.
  Race Re-Air: The race will be re-aired on TNT, Tues, Sept 24th, 1:00am/et; Speed Channel on Wed, Sept 25th, 8:00pm/et (enhanced) and Thurs, Sept 26th, 1:00am/et.
  Race Results: at and NASCAR.com.(9-21-2002)

• Rumblings – Dover: Mark Martin (2nd) had his best finish since he won at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May. Mike Skinner (19th) had his best finish since he was 12th at Infineon Raceway in June. Tony Raines (31st) equalled his career-best finish today (only 4 events). He was also 31st here back in June. STREAKIN….Ryan Newman has 4 Top-10’s in a row. Kurt Busch has 4 Top-10’s in the last 5 races. This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week is Mark Martin (+30) for the second time this season. He was followed by Jeff Burton (+25) and Michael Waltrip (+25). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Greg Biffle (-28), followed by Todd Bodine (-22) and Dale Earnhardt Jr (-21). (Stock Car Fans)(9-23-2002)
• Unofficial Top Six in Drivers Points after Dover:
  #6-Martin 3720
  #48-Johnson -30
  #20-Stewart -74
  #40-Marlin -81
  #24-Gordon -190
  #2-Wallace -198
  See for Driver Standings.(9-22-2002)

• Happy Hour Practice is over at Dover. #2-Rusty Wallace was the fastest at 152.053mph followed by #12-Ryan Newman at 151.841 and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr at 151.643. Slowest were #66-Hideo Fukuyama at 145.885 and #71-Tim Sauter at 146.377. Geoffrey Bodine helped the #66 team in practice and drove the car to help set it up. For speeds see (9-21-2002)
• Atwood crashes in Happy Hour and will go to back up: #7-Casey Atwood got loose in Happy Hour practice and slapped the wall with the drivers side of the #7 Dodge, it was unknown at the end of practice if Atwood would have to go to a backup car. Atwood is due to start 20th.(TNT Happy Hour Coverage), Casey Atwood hit the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4, damaging the right side of the No. 7 Dodge. Atwood, who qualified 20th, will now start last because the team was forced to use the backup car. He was complaining about soreness in his right arm and inside of his right knee.(NASCAR.com), no word on any engine changes or anyone else going to the back.(9-21-2002)
• Saturday AM Practice is over at Dover. #12 Ryan Newman was the fastest at 151.566, followed by #24 Jeff Gordon at 151.007 and #18-Bobby Labonte at 150.823. Slowest were #66-Hideo Fukuyama at 141.404 and #23-Kenny Wallace at 147.071. For speeds see .(9-21-2002)
• Rusty wins pole at Dover for the MBNA All-American Heroes 400. #2-Rusty Wallace won the Bud Pole at Dover with a speed of 156.822mph, his 37th of his career, first of 2002 and first since Phoenix in Nov 2000, a span of 65 races. #88-Dale Jarrett is on the outside pole with a speed pf 156.767. #66-Hideo Fukuyama made the race, using the final provisional as #11-Brett Bodine missed the race as he is out of provisionals (until Martinsville). #27-Scott Wimmer and #51-Morgan Shepherd also missed the race. #23-Kenny Wallace is also out of provisionals, but made the field by speed using the 36th spot (and last spot for speeds).

  Pos
  Sched
  Qual
  Pos
  Actual
  Qual
  Pos
  Car#
  Driver
  Manu
  Qual Speed
  Friday
  Practice
  Speed
  Practice
  Speed
  Rank
  Provisional
  Rank

  1
  17
  17
  2
  Rusty Wallace
  Ford
  156.822
  157.902
  4
  6

  2
  29
  29
  88
  Dale Jarrett
  Ford
  156.767
  158.249
  2
  12

  3
  37
  37
  8
  Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  Chevy
  156.610
  158.249
  2
  14

  4
  19
  19
  12
  Ryan Newman
  Ford
  156.576
  158.437
  1
  8

  5
  14
  14
  55
  Greg Biffle
  Chevy
  156.318
  157.027
  7
  28

  6
  25
  25
  97
  Kurt Busch
  Ford
  156.196
  155.266
  28
  11

  7
  38
  38
  32
  Ricky Craven
  Ford
  156.196
  156.774
  9
  16

  8
  16
  16
  9
  Bill Elliott
  Dodge
  155.945
  157.522
  5
  7

  9
  4
  4
  25
  Joe Nemechek
  Chevy
  155.858
  156.508
  12
  37

  10
  40
  40
  1
  Steve Park
  Chevy
  155.615
  155.999
  19
  34

  11
  6
  6
  30
  Jeff Green
  Chevy
  155.528
  156.182
  16
  18

  12
  10
  10
  43
  John Andretti
  Dodge
  155.400
  157.095
  6
  30

  13
  9
  9
  77
  Dave Blaney
  Ford
  155.367
  155.669
  23
  20

  14
  27
  27
  19
  Jeremy Mayfield
  Dodge
  155.273
  155.602
  24
  29

  15
  8
  8
  21
  Elliott Sadler
  Ford
  155.226
  155.132
  30
  27

  16
  33
  33
  28
  Ricky Rudd
  Ford
  155.213
  156.413
  13
  10

  17
  3
  3
  17
  Matt Kenseth
  Ford
  155.139
  156.917
  8
  9

  18
  35
  35
  26
  Todd Bodine
  Ford
  155.012
  156.774
  9
  32

  19
  31
  31
  48
  Jimmie Johnson
  Chevy
  154.872
  156.189
  15
  3

  20
  21
  21
  7
  Casey Atwood
  Dodge
  154.865
  156.027
  17
  35

  21
  46
  46
  14
  Mike Wallace
  Pontiac
  154.812
  155.086
  32
  38

  22
  45
  45
  10
  Johnny Benson
  Pontiac
  154.799
  156.678
  11
  26

  23
  7
  7
  20
  Tony Stewart
  Pontiac
  154.732
  156.359
  14
  4

  24
  20
  20
  24
  Jeff Gordon
  Chevy
  154.726
  155.501
  25
  5

  25
  28
  28
  18
  Bobby Labonte
  Pontiac
  154.726
  155.266
  28
  17

  26
  43
  43
  40
  Sterling Marlin
  Dodge
  154.606
  155.079
  34
  2

  27
  41
  41
  36
  Ken Schrader
  Pontiac
  154.606
  155.966
  20
  31

  28
  42
  42
  31
  Robby Gordon
  Chevy
  154.480
  156.020
  18
  21

  29
  11
  11
  45
  Kyle Petty
  Dodge
  154.460
  155.052
  35
  24

  30
  23
  23
  99
  Jeff Burton
  Ford
  154.308
  154.659
  39
  13

  31
  22
  22
  41
  Jimmy Spencer
  Dodge
  154.261
  154.919
  37
  23

  32
  1
  1
  6
  Mark Martin
  Ford
  154.123
  155.831
  21
  1

  33
  2
  2
  44
  Jerry Nadeau
  Dodge
  154.090
  155.420
  26
  39

  34
  24
  24
  4
  Mike Skinner
  Chevy
  154.004
  155.086
  32
  36

  35
  34
  34
  29
  Kevin Harvick
  Chevy
  153.787
  154.460
  43
  19

  36
  39
  39
  23
  Kenny Wallace
  Dodge
  153.774
  155.750
  22
  33/out

  37
  15
  15
  15
  Michael Waltrip
  Chevy
  153.761
  155.347
  27
  15

  38
  18
  18
  74
  Tony Raines
  Chevy
  153.603
  154.599
  40
  46

  39
  13
  13
  22
  Ward Burton
  Dodge
  153.400
  154.480
  42
  25

  40
  12
  12
  49
  Kevin Lepage
  Dodge
  153.198
  154.959
  36
  42

  41
  32
  32
  27
  Scott Wimmer
  Dodge
  153.191
  155.119
  31
  62

  42
  5
  5
  66
  Hideo Fukuyama
  Ford
  153.074
  152.931
  45
  50

  43
  26
  26
  11
  Brett Bodine
  Ford
  152.957
  154.553
  41
  40/out

  44
  36
  36
  5
  Terry Labonte
  Chevy
  152.646
  154.759
  38
  22

  45
  44
  44
  71
  Tim Sauter
  Chevy
  152.536
  153.629
  44
  45

  46
  30
  30
  51
  Morgan Shepherd
  Dodge
  149.582
  149.173
  46
  61

  PROVISIONALS and MISSES

  Pos
  Sched
  Qual
  Pos
  Actual
  Qual
  Pos
  Car#
  Driver
  Manu
  Qual Speed
  Friday
  Practice
  Speed
  Practice
  Speed
  Rank
  Provisional
  Rank

  37
  15
  15
  15
  Michael Waltrip
  Chevy
  153.761
  155.347
  27
  15

  38
  36
  36
  5
  Terry Labonte
  Chevy
  152.646
  154.759
  38
  22

  39
  13
  13
  22
  Ward Burton
  Dodge
  153.400
  154.480
  42
  25

  40
  12
  12
  49
  Kevin Lepage
  Dodge
  153.198
  154.959
  36
  42

  41
  44
  44
  71
  Tim Sauter
  Chevy
  152.536
  153.629
  44
  45

  42
  18
  18
  74
  Tony Raines
  Chevy
  153.603
  154.599
  40
  46

  43
  5
  5
  66
  Hideo Fukuyama
  Ford
  153.074
  152.931
  45
  50

  miss
  26
  26
  11
  Brett Bodine
  Ford
  152.957
  154.553
  41
  40/out

  miss
  30
  30
  51
  Morgan Shepherd
  Dodge
  149.582
  149.173
  46
  61

  miss
  32
  32
  27
  Scott Wimmer
  Dodge
  153.191
  155.119
  31
  62

  (Speeds compiled from watching Speed Channel and listening to MRN radio)

• Lineup’s at other sites:
  
  NASCAR.com(9-20-2002)

• Pole Progression at Dover: (who had the pole first, who got it next and who ended up with it)
  #6-Martin, 1st out to qualify, 154.123mph, starts 32nd
  #17-Kenseth, 3rd out, 155.139, starts 17th
  #25-Nemechek, 4th out, 155.858, starts 9th
  #55-Biffle, 14th out, 156.318, starts 5th
  #2-Wallace, 17th out, 156.822, starts 1st on the pole.(9-20-2002)

• Rookies where do the Rookie of the Year Candidates start?
  #12-Ryan Newman, 156.576, starts 4th
  #48-Jimmie Johnson, 154.872, starts 19th.(9-20-2002)

• Friday Practice at Dover is over. Fastest was #12-Ryan Newman at 158.437mph, followed by #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr and #88-Dale Jarrett both at 158.249. Slowest were #51-Morgan Shepherd at 149.173 and #66-Hideo Fukuyama at 152.931. For Speeds see .(9-20-2002)
• Qualifying Order is up for the MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover, see above for the links. 46 cars/drivers are listed. #6-Mark Martin is scheduled to go out first, last scheduled out is #14-Mike Wallace. #66-Hideo Fukuyama is scheduled out 5th..(9-20-2002)
• 47 for Dover including Fukuyama UPDATES now 46: As expected, #26 [ and #66] Cup team owner Travis Carter has entered former Japanese GT champion Hideo Fukuyama in this weekend’s MBNA All-American Heroes 400 at Dover International Speedway. Fukuyama, 47, of Suzuka City, Japan, will drive a #66 Ford from the Haas Carter Motorsports shops. Fukuyama, who was hooked by stock car racing when NASCAR staged a series of exhibition races in his country in the late 1990s, hopes to make his Winston Cup debut in at least one of three races this fall. Fukuyama has already tested at Dover with crew chief Teddy Brown. With 47 entries in the NASCAR Competition Department for the Dover race, they would more than likely have to qualify in the top 36 cars to make the race. Since only three entrants, #89-Cindy Shepherd [Morgan], #127-Kirk Shelmerdine and Bill Davis’ #27-car for Scott Wimmer, have fewer owner points than Haas Carter’s #66 car, the team would have no provisional protection to make the field. Fukuyama has Japanese backers that were interested in possibly attempting races at Martinsville and Rockingham.(NASCAR.com),
  NOTE: Three teams are also OUT of provisionals for Dover and until Martinsville (unless a field is 43 or less), #23-Kenny Wallace, #11-Brett Bodine and #90-Donlavey Racing(will not race at Dover)(9-16-2002)
  UPDATE: Entry list is up at NASCAR.com, see above for the link. 47 cars/drivers are entered, the 40 full time teams, along with #27-Scott Wimmer, #27(owners #127 will probably use #72 if both he and Wimmer make it)-Kirk Shelmerdine; #49-Kevin Lepage, #66-Hideo Fukuyama, #71-Tim Sauter, #74-Tony Raines and #89-Morgan Shepherd.(9-17-2002)
  UPDATE 2: add #51-Carl Long to the Entry List (per NASCAR.com) so that makes 48 drivers/teams now.(9-18-2002)
  UPDATE 3: back to 47 as Shepherd will be in the #51 and will withdraw the #89.(9-19-2002)
  UPDATE 4: down to 46 as the #127 of Kirk Shelmerdine was removed from the entry list.(9-20-2002)

• 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’s Provisional Status page
• an interesting point: When NASCAR officials decided to disallow Jerry Nadeau’s qualifying time at Daytona in Feb 2001, 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)
• Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these
  sites: NASCAR Online and on my Race Results/Points page

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TRACK/RACE NEWS

• Book gives high marks to Dover: Jay Ahuja’s book, Speed Dreams: A Guide to America’s 23 NASCAR Tracks, gives high marks to Dover International Speedway and the surrounding areas. Ahuja lists Dover No. 4 on his Favorite Tracks to Watch a Race “because this track is tough on cars, tires and drivers, but the action is tops.” Ahuja spent the past two seasons traveling to all of the Winston Cup tracks across the country to get a fan’s perspective of the best places to see a race, the local attractions, nightclubs, and hotels. The book evaluates the good and the bad of each track and provides many phone numbers, addresses, traffic routes, as well as several lists of the author’s favorites. Dover ranked No. 12 in the Top Family-Friendly Winston Cup Race Cities, because of its location in relation to the beaches and the large camping areas provided near the track. The first printing of Speed Dreams is sold out and the second printing is nearly gone as well. Whether there will be a third printing or a
  revised edition has not yet been decided.(See more at the Dover Post)(9-18-2002)

• Dover Plans Special Weekend: The time has almost come for what will prove to be one of the largest celebrations of American heroes in the history of sporting events. MBNA is about to unveil a multi-faceted tribute to our military, fire departments, police departments and emergency technicians that will no doubt turn the September 20-22 NASCAR tripleheader race weekend at Dover International Speedway into one of the most memorable races in quite some time. Certainly, it will be one of the most memorable races this year. Remember a year ago at Dover, when 150,000 American flags were handed out to race fans, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400, and circled the track waving a large American flag of his own? It was a heartfelt response to the horrible tragedy of 9/11.
  Now, a year later, MBNA is planning to join with Dover International Speedway to give race fans an opportunity to see, hear, and interact
  with military vehicles, firetrucks, rescue trucks and tankers, and learn more about heroic organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the American Red Cross. All of these will be located in Heroes’ Alley, a special area that encompasses over 50,000 square feet, to help MBNA honor the many everyday All-American heroes who are part of our lives. Race fans will get to see a 5,000-pound bell that was rung on 9/11/02 in New York City to honor the victims of the Twin Towers tragedy. The “Let’s Roll” show car will also be on hand, a replica of the race car Bobby Labonte will be driving on September 22 in the MBNA All-American Heroes 400. And a 65-foot Blackhawk helicopter is also scheduled to be on hand. That’s just what will be happening at Heroes’ Alley.
  Inside the racetrack fans will once again be handed American flags and the pre-race parade lap and ceremony will be equally powerful. Multiple vehicles from police, firefighters, EMS units and the military will make their way around the track in the pre-race parade. The U.S. Coast Guard Cadet Glee Club will perform the national anthem on Sunday as well as an American medley on both Saturday and Sunday. Country singer and budding actress Coley McCabe from Nashville will sing the national anthem on Saturday and join with country star/actor Mark Collie to perform a very special version of “Wind Beneath My Wings” on Sunday. “We really hope that race fans will arrive early to visit Heroes’ Alley and get to their seats in time for one of the biggest parade laps in NASCAR history,” said Dave Elgena, director of MBNA Motorsports. It certainly shapes up to be a race weekend to remember.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(9-16-2002)

• New Tire for Dover: Goodyear plans to bring a new tire to Dover International Speedway for the MBNA America 400 [actually renamed to the All American Heroes 400] on Sept. 22. That decision could leave teams scrambling with their setups. The new tire will be softer, allowing for more grip in the turns, but also will wear faster. That means lap times should slow dramatically during green-flag runs.(/AP)(8-18-2002)
• Dover fall race to honor heroes of 9/11: Joe Gibbs Racing and MBNA are working together to honor the heroes of Sept. 11 and to help children who lost parents in the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington. In a press conference today [1:00pm at Indy] in Indianapolis, MBNA and Gibbs Racing will announce plans for a promotion Sept. 20-22 at Dover International Speedway. The name of the Sept. 22 Winston Cup race will be changed from the MBNA America 400 to the All American Heroes 400. Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte will drive a car with the race’s name and the words “Let’s Roll” emblazoned across the hood. The car will be unveiled today at Indianapolis.[see my Paint Scheme Gallery for an image of the car posted a few weeks ago]. Proceeds from special race events organized by Gibbs and MBNA will benefit the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, created in honor of a passenger on one of the hijacked flights of Sept. 11. The foundation helps children who lost parents in the Sept. 11 attacks. All profits from sales of models of Labonte’s special No.18 car will be donated to the Beamer Foundation. Every organization involved in the All American Heroes 400, including Action Performance, the maker of the No.18 model die cast, is donating 100 percent of profits from the event to the Beamer Foundation, Alpern said. Before the race, NASCAR.com will give fans the opportunity to sponsor Labonte per lap in the race, with all donations going to the foundation. After the race on Sept. 24, eBay will hold a live auction where fans may bid on Labonte’s race uniform, helmet, shoes and gloves, in addition to the hood of the car, all of which will be autographed, with the proceeds going to the foundation. Alpern said Gibbs Racing and MBNA hope Beamer’s widow, Lisa, will serve as grand marshal of the event. MBNA has also invited President Bush.(Hartford Courant)(8-2-2002)
  IMAGE see my Paint Scheme Gallery for a real image of the car taken at Indy.(8-5-2002)
  
  Will run at Dover to honor the 9/11 heroes. Photo by Alan Stewart of The Corydon (Ind.) Democrat.(8-6-2002)

• Dover and Coolers: Fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR events at Dover International Speedway will face tight security, but will be allowed to carry coolers into the grandstand. Each spectator may enter the track with one cooler or bag not larger than 14 inches in width. Such items were banned at last September’s races because it was NASCAR’s first race weekend after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The speedway was inundated with complaints when concession stands ran out of bottled water well before the Winston Cup race started on Sept. 23. Many fans sit in the grandstands for up to eight hours during a Winston Cup race. In addition to coolers, spectators may bring in one clear plastic bag, not larger than 18 x 18 x 4 inches, to carry items such as food. The bags cannot contain ice. Fans can bring one seat cushion. Headsets, scanners, cameras and binoculars are still permitted, but not if carried in a bag. They must be worn around the neck or belt. Bags and coolers are still subject to search as fans enter the track. McGlynn would not discuss specifics regarding the number of police officers and security guards on duty at Dover International Speedway this weekend, but said it will be no fewer than in September. NASCAR fans said they have come to expect tighter security because of the threat of terrorism.(News Journal)(5-31-2002)

• 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 – Dover International Speedway

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DRIVER/TEAM NEWS

• TV Camera Wire Causes Problem on the #29 car: During TV camera installation a TV wire was clamped over a brake wire and when driver Kevin Harvick flipped a switch it caught fire under the dashboard burning some rollbar padding, the team fixed it and Harvick went back out and practiced.(TNT Happy Hour Coverage)(9-21-2002)
• Shepherd in the #51 at Dover: Morgan Shepherd announced today that he will attempt to qualify the #51 Winston Cup Series Dodge owned by Rick Ware.. “This is a one race deal,” stated Shepherd. No other details were made available at this time. Shepherd will take the weekend off from driving duties with his #21 Craftstman Truck Series Ford, and #89 Winston Cup Ford Taurus. This will be Shepherd’s seventh Winston Cup attempt for the 2002 season.. Future plans for the remainder of this season include additional Winston Cup events, as well as entries in the Craftsman Truck Series.. Details will be released as soon as they become available.(STB Marketing)(9-19-2002)
• Dale Jr’s Flag in the Pits: Since #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last fall’s Dover race – NASCAR’s first after the Sept.11 attacks – the American flag with which Earnhardt Jr. drove his victory lap has been set up in the team’s pit box for every race.(Roanoke Times)(9-18-2002)
• Tim Sauter back in the #71 at Dover: What does it mean to compete at the Cup level: “It is a thrill just to be a part of it. Millions of people wish they had the opportunity to run a Winston Cup Race. I am lucky to have the chance. I will try my best for Marcis again in Dover, hopefully we can put a good run together.”(Tim Sauter Site)(9-16-2002)
• BAM Racing and Billy Ray at Dover: BAM Racing and MNR Productions have teamed up to bring the first in a series of special race weekend concerts to compliment their NASCAR Winston Cup program. Billy Ray Cyrus, star of the hit TV show “Doc” shown Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST on the PAX TV network will launch the weekend with a LIVE performance at the historic DuPont Playhouse in Wilmington, DE, on Saturday Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Then he will appear trackside at Dover Downs Speedway on Sunday to follow the Winston Cup action and the BAM Racing “Doc” racecar. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 1-800-338-0881.(Williams Company PR), no word on who is driving the #49 Dodge, Shawna Robinson? Ron Hornaday? Stuart Kirby? Won’t be Derrike Cope as he is injured.(9-16-2002)
• Reverse Pit Stop: On Sep. 19, 2002, Air Mobility Command and Dover Air Force Base [where Jayski used to be stationed] will conduct a “Reverse Pit Stop” with the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Team. Events will begin at 2:30 pm, on the Base flight line where the Air Force will display the tremendous capabilities of the C-5 aircraft. The Air Force and Wood Brothers will be demonstrating and comparing the similarities between a NASCAR and an Air Force “pit stop.” The opening will show the enormous capacity of the C-5. Then the #21 “gas man” will fuel the C-5 as an Air Force maintainer fuels the #21. A #21 pit crew will climb the maintenance stand to wash the C-5 windows as the Air Force maintainer cleans the grill and windshield of the #21. Following that will be C-5 and #21 oil checks and tire changes and when both vehicles fail to start, they may have to be pushed. #21 driver Elliott Sadler and the Wood Brothers will be in the cockpit of the C-5, while Air Force maintenance folks take a spin in the #21. There might even be some “pit stop” competition and the end of the demonstrations. Participating in the Pit Stop for the Air Force will be Air Mobility Command’s and Dover’s best C-5 maintenance people. Participating for NASCAR will be the legendary Wood Brothers #21 Racing Team, including driver Elliott Sadler.(Wood Bros Site)(9-5-2002)
• Carter, Japanese Driver….and a twist…Toyota? Winston Cup team [#26 and #66] owner Travis Carter hopes to put Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama in a Haas-Carter Motorsports Ford for three races later this season. Fukuyama, a road racing driver in Japan, has competed in two Winston West races, but the last was three years ago. Fukuyama tested a car for Carter at Dover International Speedway last week in hopes of competing at that track Sept. 22. He’ll also try to make the races at Martinsville, Va., and Rockingham, N.C. If Fukuyama proves himself, it could lead to backing from Toyota. Toyota officials are considering entering Winston Cup racing by 2005. The one immediate problem with Fukuyama is the language barrier. He speaks little English and probably would need a spotter and someone in the pits who speaks Japanese.(Dallas Morning News)(9-5-2002)
• Papis and Fukuyama in NASCAR? Travis Carter said his Lakeland, FL test with Indy-car driver Max Papis was inspiring: “He is the most dedicated race-car driver I have ever seen.” Carter said he wants to put Papis, who has a rigorous weight-training program, into a Busch car next season if he can put together a sponsorship package. Carter will head to Japan this week for some PR appearances with Hideo Fukuyama, one of that country’s top drivers, who would like to run the Winston Cup tour next season in one of Carter’s two cars. “He’s real cautious and doesn’t want to get in over his head,” Carter said of Fukuyama. “He wants two little mirrors – but said he figures he won’t need them for at least the first 10 laps.” One problem: Fukuyama speaks very little English, and Carter speaks very little Japanese. Spotting could be a problem. Danny Culler spotted for the team on the Motegi-Suzuka trips.(Winston Salem Journal)
  UPDATE: Former Japanese GT champion Hideo Fukuyama has tested a Haas Carter Motorsports Ford in hopes of making his Winston Cup debut this fall. Fukuyama, 47, was able to test one day last week at Dover before rain interrupted the test. Owner Travis Carter has hired young crew chief Teddy Brown, who at the beginning of the season worked on the turnaround by BAM Racing with Shawna Robinson, to engineer Fukuyama’s program. Carter, who was planning a trip this week to Japan, would like to test Fukuyama again at Dover and at Rockingham before he attempts Winston Cup races at Dover, Martinsville and Rockingham [in the #66 Ford?]. Fukuyama has also raced in a couple NASCAR Winston West Series events, including one at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan and another at Pikes Peak International Raceway. He met Carter at the first NASCAR exhibition race in Japan, at the Suzuka Circuit road course and drove his #23 Team Camel Ford. Fukuyama competed in both Winston Cup style exhibitions at Suzuka and also drove in the Winston Cup race at the 1.5-mile Motegi oval in 1998 and the final NASCAR appearance in Japan, the Winston West finale in 1999.(NASCAR.com)
  AND Winston Cup car owner Travis Carter plans to enter Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama in his No. 66 Ford in three races this season, at Dover, Martinsville and Rockingham. Fukuyama has two starts in Winston West series events, November 1999 at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan and July 1998 at Pikes Peak in Colorado. His best finish was 15th at Motegi. He also competed in the NASCAR exhibition race at Suzuka, Japan, in 1996. The team expects to have a sponsor in place for the races soon.()(9-1-2002)
  UPDATE 2: Winston Cup car owner Travis Carter said he hopes to field a car for Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama in a race this season and possibly more in 2003. Carter, who owns the #26 DiscoverCard Ford driven by Todd Bodine, recently took Fukuyama to a test session at Dover Downs International Speedway and was impressed with Fukuyama’s ability to adapt both to the track and a
  Winston Cup car. “Dover’s a tough race track, but we made a lot of progress,” Carter said, adding that Fukuyama is being patient. “He’s not going to dive in cold turkey,” Carter said. “He wants to be pretty comfortable [that] he knows what he’s doing . . . and what he’s dealing with.” Teddy Brown, who has worked in the Craftsman Truck Series and in Winston Cup this year with Shawna Robinson, will be the crew chief. Carter said Fukuyama likely will drive the #66 car, which Carter parked earlier this year because of a lack of sponsorship.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(9-3-2002)

• See the 2002 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team and info on each team. And see my 2003 Team Chart

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

• Air Force Scheme at Dover and crew changed a C-5 tire: The Air Force will be the primary sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s #21 Ford during this week-end’s events at Dover International Speedway. The branch served as the primary sponsor during the Coca-Cola 600 in May and has a smaller sponsor-ship during the other Cup races. Besides sponsoring the #21 Ford, the Air Force sets up recruitment booths at NASCAR tracks and conducts a fly-over on race day. Len Wood, a co-owner of the car with his brother Eddie, said his team’s relationship with the Air Force has a special quality. He and Eddie have taken rides in fighter jets, he said. Members of the #21 pit crew, who will don flight suits instead of their usual uniforms Sunday, and maintenance troops at Dover Air Force Base traded places Thursday. The pit crew taught the troops how to handle a two-tire pit stop on the car and the troops showed crew members how to do a pit stop on a C-5 cargo plane [what Jayski used to work on when stationed at Dover in 82-85] – refueling, changing tires and climbing a tall stair-case to wash the windshield. Maintenance troops completed their NASCAR-style pit stop in 18 seconds. “It’s a whole different world,” Airman 1st Class Alleem Humber said about the difference between work-ing on a large cargo carrier and a Winston Cup car. Airman Humber said the power tools used on race cars are not suitable for the C-5s because the plane is too delicate. Instead of using gas cans to refuel, the C-5 needs a tanker to pump gasoline into it. Mike Smith, the #21’s car chief, said working the C-5 had some similarities to a car, such as having to use a jack to change the tire, but not many. Mr. Smith and the rest of the #21 crew completed their plane pit stop in about 90 seconds. The Air Force also sponsors the #34 Chevy in the BGN driven bt Steve Grissom.(Dover Newszap)(9-20-2002)
  
  The #21 Air Force/Motorcraft Ford and a C-5B at Dover AFB, photo by Jason Minto of Dover Newszap
• #66 Crew; and Flags on the car: Should Hideo ‘Joe’ Fukuyama qualify for Sunday’s race, crew members from the #10 BGN team will stay over and pit for the #66 Ford. The car will not bear a sponsor’s logo, rather it will have an American and Japanese flag on the hood with Hideo Fukuyama in Japanese characters on the rear quarter panels and TV panel. Team Owner Travis Carter plans to enter Fukuyama at the upcoming Winston Cup races at Martinsville (Oct. 20) and North Carolina Speedway (Nov. 3).(Cox Marketing)(9-20-2002)
• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery, choose current news

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• Some Dover stats: Thirty-seven of 65 Winston Cup races at Dover have been won from the first four starting positions. Only 13 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. A Chevy won three straight races at Dover (fall 1995 and both
  races in 1996) but did not win in the first seven races after the switch to the 400-mile race format. A Ford won four of the seven races
  with Pontiac winning three. Chevy has posted three consecutive victories since 2001. Three drivers have won three straight races at Dover: David Pearson (fall of 1972 and both races in 1973), Rusty Wallace (fall of 1993 and both races in 1994) and Jeff Gordon (fall of 1995 and both races in 1996). In the 31 years of twice-a-year NASCAR Winston Cup racing at Dover (1971 to 2001), a sweep occurred seven times. Tony Stewart is the most recent driver to win both Dover races in the same year (2000). Jeff Gordon (1996), Rusty Wallace (1994), Dale Earnhardt (1989), Bill Elliott (1988), Bobby Allison (1983) and David Pearson (1973) are the other sweepers.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(9-20-2002)

• Aero Rules for GM to get another look UPDATE: NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said that NASCAR would would review the kick-out on front air dams allowed on the Chevy and Pontiac in Sunday’s Southern 500. Hunter said, however, that early indications point to allowing the rule to remain in effect for the rest of the season. A 1-inch kick-out was given to the Chevrolets at Michigan as was a 1/2-inch allowance on Pontiacs. It was retracted last weekend at Bristol, then reinstated this weekend at Darlington on a week-to-week basis.()(9-2-2002)
  UPDATE: the GM front air dam rule will stay for the remainder of the 2002 season.(Fox Sports Net Totally NASCAR) AND NASCAR officials have announced that recent NASCAR Winston Cup Series rules modifications regarding Chevrolet and Pontiac air dams, in effect for races at Michigan and Darlington, will be in effect for the remainder of the season. The modifications were not in effect for the Aug. 24 event at Bristol. For the remainder of the season, the leading edge of the Chevrolets’ air dam must not extend more than 3½ inches forward of the bumper. For Pontiacs, the leading edge of the air dam must not extend more than 1½ inches forward of the bumper. Prior to the race at Michigan, the Chevrolets’ air dams could extend 2½ inches forward, while the Pontiacs’ air dams could extend 1 inch forward of the bumper. The leading air dam for Dodges and Fords must not extend more than 1½ inches forward of the bumper.(NASCAR PR)(9-4-2002)

• Provisonals Rules changed a bit: NASCAR Officials announced this week that teams in the Cup and BGN will not be charged for using a provisional starting position if the entry field for an event is equal to or less than the number of starting positions provided by the official entry blank.[such as 43 at a Cup race]. A team is granted a maximum season allotment of eight provisionals [charged provisional, if not in the top 25 in Owners Points] and under this amendment, provisionals assigned to fill starting positions 37-43 will not count against this allotment. Prior to this amendment, teams were charged for a provisional regardless of the number of entries at an event.(NASCAR.com). For more info on provisionals, see my Provisionals Status page.(3-21-2002)
• New Pit Road Rules: NASCAR will change its policies for speeding violations on pit road following confusion over an infraction for which eventual race-winner Sterling Marlin was never penalized a week ago at Las Vegas. NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the changes Sunday morning at the drivers’ meeting prior to the MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The new rules go into effect next weekend at Darlington Raceway. The key change is that, under green-flag conditions, the penalty for speeding on the way onto pit road will now be the same as the penalty for speeding off the pit lane. The new penalty will be what NASCAR is calling a “pass through,” meaning the offending car will have to come off the track and travel the length of pit road at its speed limit without stopping. Under the old rule, a car speeding on the way onto pit road during a green-flag stop was held for 15 seconds in its pit stall. A car speeding off pit road was brought back to its pit box for a stop-and-go penalty. During last week’s UAW 400 at Las Vegas, NASCAR officials said Marlin was speeding as he came to his pit stall after being spun out in Turn 4. NASCAR’s race control officials called for the 15-second penalty, but that message was not heard by the official working in Marlin’s pit stall. Marlin left without serving a penalty and NASCAR decided not to enforce any further sanction, saying that bringing Marlin back to pit road would be too severe of a penalty. Since the usual penalty for speeding on the exit to pit lane was to bring a car back in for a stop-and-go, that raised the question of why the sanction for speeding on the way out should be more severe for speeding on the way in. The rule change announced Sunday addresses that issue. Helton admitted Sunday that not giving Marlin a penalty last week might not have been the right decision. Helton said the change was made to avoid the kind of confusion and miscommunication that happened at Las Vegas. Under the rule that goes into effect next week, a driver speeding on the way in and on the way out on the same pit stop will be brought back in for a stop-and-go penalty. A driver who exceeds the pit road speed limit as he serves the “pass through” penalty for speeding will also get a stop-and-go. The penalty for speeding in or out of a pit stop made under yellow-flag conditions will not change – the offending car will be sent to the end of the longest line of traffic for the restart.()(3-10-2002)
  UPDATE: plus a nice breakdown at RacingOne:
  The New Pit Road Rules

  Speeding Entering Pit Road
  Current Penalty: 15 seconds
  New Penalty: Pass through at correct pit road speed.

  Speeding Exiting Pit Road
  Current Penalty: Stop and Go
  New Penalty: Pass through at correct pit road speed

  Entering and Exiting Pit Road
  Current Penalty: 15 seconds after stop; brought back for stop and go
  New Penalty: Stop and Go

  Speeding on Pass Through
  New Penalty: Stop and Go
  Multiple Violations: NASCAR’s Discretion.(RacingOne)(3-11-2002)

• Spoilers – not at Daytona/Talladega: the spoilers on the Winston Cup cars are as follows:
  Chevy: 6 1/4″ height, 55″ wide
  Dodge: 6 1/4″ height, 55″ wide
  Ford: 6 1/4″ height, 55″ wide
  Pontiac: 6 7/8″ height, 57″ wide
  70 degrees at intermediate tracks.(2-22-2002)

• Crew Chief Club

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• 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

• America’s Line – Odds for the MBNA All-American Heroes 400
• Winston Cup and the MBNA All-American Heroes 400
• NASCAR Odds – Early Odds for the MBNA All-American Heroes 400

• Racebook: MBNA All-American Heroes 400 – Odds To Win and the Winston Cup
• Sports Network: Stardust – Odds to win 2002 Winston Cup Championship and the MBNA All-American Heroes 400

• Vegas Insider – Odds to Win the 2002 Winston Cup Championship and Vegas Insider – MBNA All-American Heroes 400

• World Sports Exchange:MBNA All-American Heroes 400 odds and other NASCAR odds

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STATS and STUFF

See the STATS and STATS Links page