NASCAR WCUP: Jarrett rolls into Kansas City with hopes of Inaugural win

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 27, 2001

Kansas City, Kan. -Once again, #88 UPS driver Dale Jarrett ventures to uncharted territory as he sails into Kansas City looking to capture the inaugural win at Kansas Speedway and boost his points standings in the race for the championship.

Items to consider heading into Sunday's Protection One 400 (NBC; 1:00 p.m. EDT):

Jarrett, who remains a contender for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship, is poised to recapture his lost points after a late race bump with Tony Stewart set him back to a 12th place finish in last week's MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway.

Kansas Speedway, one of two new tracks this year, is a 1.5-mile tri-oval of the intermediate variety that Jarrett has excelled at in recent years of Winston Cup competition. The #88 UPS driver owns five career victories at the 1.5-mile distance after capturing checkered flags at Charlotte (1994, 1996, 1997), Atlanta (1997) and Texas (2001).

Jarrett will showcase a flame car paint scheme at the race this weekend. Playing on this year's wildly successful "Race the Truck" advertising campaign, Jarrett's car will sport a vastly different look with a frenzy of flames from the company's customized NASCAR package cars dominating the bold and brown vehicle.

"Going to a new track for the first time is always exciting. This has been an unfortunate time for everyone, and I am really look forward to something new and fresh," said Jarrett, whose return to the track last week was marked by his fourth pole position of the year. "I think we have a good chance to make our mark on the track-hopefully, we'll come home with that inaugural win."

Text provided by Karen Goins-Byrnes

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.