#88-Dale Jarrett , a 21-year veteran, said this is “a very critical year” in terms of whether he will return to race in Nextel Cup next season at age 50. “I don’t want to be out here driving around. I want to be competitive and that’s why I continue to do it,” he said. “These race cars have no idea how old I am when I sit down. I should be smarter, better driver as years go on. There’s nothing I can’t do in a race car at 49 that I couldn’t at 39.” Jarrett, the 1999 series champion, won at Talladega last fall, but finished 15th in points for the second consecutive year in a frustrating, inconsistent campaign. He finished in the top 10 in points seven straight years before slumping to 26th in 2003. Daytona has provided a good starting point for Jarrett in the past. He won the Daytona 500 in 1993 and finished fourth in the standings; again in 1996 and finished third. He won the race and the championship in 2000. He also won the Bud Shootout in 1996, 2000 and 2004.(St Petersburg Times)(2-11-2006)
