NASCAR WCUP: Jarrett resumes quest for second Winston Cup title at Richmond
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 3, 2001
RICHMOND, Va. - Two years ago, Dale Jarrett ventured to Richmond International Raceway for the ¾-mile track's spring event, which he won, and left leading the Winston Cup point standings, the first time he held the number one position during the 1999 campaign.
What started at R.I.R. that year ended at the Waldorf-Astoria's head table as Jarrett never relinquished his hold on the top spot over the remaining 23 races, going on to capture the first Winston Cup Championship of his burgeoning career.
A few items to consider entering Saturday's Pontiac 400 (FOX; 7:30 p.m. EDT):
This season, Jarrett took control of the Winston Cup points lead after his first 2001 win at Darlington (March 18). Back-to-back victories ensued at Texas and Martinsville, respectively, helping the #88 UPS driver stay atop the championship standings throughout the entire month of April and now into May.
Known more for his intermediate and superspeedway prowess, Jarrett has had his share of short track success at Richmond. In addition to two victories (Fall 1997 and Spring of 1999), he's also amassed 10 top 5's and 11 top-10 finishes in 26 starts.
Most of those memorable finishes came during a remarkable run at Richmond that spanned six seasons (1995-2000). From the '95 fall event to the 2000 spring race, Jarrett finished in the top 5 at R.I.R. nine out of ten times including the aforementioned pair of victories!
Preparing to rebound from Sunday's 24th-place finish at California Speedway, where he lost a cylinder late in the event, Jarrett shared his thoughts on mechanical misfortune and the long journey that leads to ultimate success in Winston Cup racing:
"It's one of those situations where you know that, sooner or later, your number is probably going to come up, whether it's an engine problem or something happening on the track that's completely out of your control," Jarrett said. "Everybody has to deal with misfortune somewhere along the line and how you handle it determines the success of your race team."
Jarrett added, "I've been around long enough now to know that these things happen over the course of such a long season. But, you've got to find a way to persevere. I also know that we've got what it takes to overcome those situations because Todd (Parrott) and everybody associated with the #88 UPS team dedicates themselves to achieving that ultimate success (winning a championship). At the end of a day like the one we had in California, you just have to deal with the disappointment and move on. And we did. We'll be ready for Richmond."
Text provided by Kris Johnson
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