NASCAR’s new garage access policy went into effect for the first time Friday when officials cleared the garage of guests and fans lacking proper credentials 30 minutes before the cars went on the track. A half-hour before the cars scheduled to take part in Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout went out for the first on-track appearance of 2003 for Winston Cup cars, red lights [made by Whelen , sponsor of the #31 BGN car] above each entrance and affixed to several of the team haulers in the garage area began to flash. About a dozen security people and police made a sweep through the garage compound, but there were few people without the required “hot passes” or NASCAR season credentials.( ThatsRacin.com/AP )(2-8-2003)
