NASCAR: Jarrret ready to resume competition at Dover

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 19, 2001

DOVER, Del.- With hearts still heavy and a renewed realization of sport's relative importance in American society, members of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series resume competition Sunday at Dover Downs International Speedway.

Items of note heading into Sunday's MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 (NBC; 1 p.m.):

The UPS shield on the hood of driver Dale Jarrett's car will be replaced by an American flag in honor of our nation and out of respect for all those affected by last week's tragic attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Jarrett and team owner Robert Yates have agreed to donate $10 for every completed lap at Dover Downs International Speedway on Sunday. Jarrett's teammate Ricky Rudd will also participate in the $10/lap program with Yates.

Jarrett has visited Victory Lane on four occasions already in 2001, but his fifth-place run at Dover (on June 3) rivals those winning finishes as arguably his best of the season. On May 26, Jarrett suffered a serious rib injury (serratus anterior muscle tear in his right side) and his status heading into Dover's first event was uncertain. Ultimately, he overcame the pain to finish in the top 5.

Overall, Jarrett has handled the demands of the "Monster Mile" well since running his first Winston Cup race there in 1987. To wit: he owns one victory (spring 1998), nine top 5's and 11 top-10 finishes in 29 career starts at Dover Downs International Speedway.

On his June 3rd run at Dover: "Our race team did a great job keeping me up front," Jarrett said. "It was frustrating for me because (the injury) definitely hurt my performance at the end. Usually, because of (strength and cardiovascular) training, that's a time where I'll get stronger and have an advantage. But, it was a real struggle that day...you do what you have to do and sometimes you've got to play hurt."

Text provided by Kris Johnson

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