NASCAR WCUP: Rudd believes he has best chance ever to win Daytona

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

NASCAR WCUP: Rudd believes he has best chance ever to win Daytona Daytona Beach, Fla. - On Sunday, February 18, the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prestigious event, will kick off when a voice over the loudspeaker announces, "Gentlemen, start your engines." With a phrase that sends cold chills down the spines of NASCAR fans everywhere, the 2001 Winston Cup Series will begin.

Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford, is optimistic about his chances to garner a win at Daytona.

"I've been going to the Daytona 500 a lot of years, and I've never had a better chance to win than I do this year," Rudd said.

"I'm lucky to be a part of an organization that puts so much effort into performing well at Daytona. There are a handful of car owners whose teams have consistently won races at Daytona and Robert Yates is one of them."

Robert Yates has three wins in the Daytona 500: Davey Allison and the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford in 1992 and Dale Jarrett in the No. 88 Quality Care Ford Credit Ford in 1996 and 2000. In the past 12 Daytona 500's Yates' cars have finished in the top-five six times.

"I think every driver feels nervous or excited heading into Daytona," Rudd said. "But I can honestly say I have never been so excited as I am now, just knowing that we have a legitimate chance to win.

"The Yates team had a great performance last year at Daytona. Dale won the Daytona 500, Dale and I swept the front row for qualifying and the 28 team won the twin 125-mile qualifying race.

"We ran really well last year at the Bud Shootout until we came into some bad luck. We've kept all our crew from last year and they are the most exceptional crew I've had in my entire career. These things combined with the fact that every Yates program is second to none make my chances at Daytona look pretty good.

"All I need now is for luck to finally be on my side."

Text Provided By Whitney Cochrane

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