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NASCAR WCUP: If Jarrett were a common race fan, Bristol is where he would go

23 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DALE JARRETT - 88 - Quality Care Service/Ford Credit Racing obviously is enthusiastic about being a participant in the show the NASCAR Winston Cup competitors put on at Bristol Motor Speedway both in the spring and when they return for the night race in August each year. He told a group of Ford guests during a hospitality visit this past Sunday, "If I were a fan, Bristol is the track I would like to go to." He described the event as action-packed close competition with the bumping and rubbing so characteristic of Saturday night short track racing. "If you can't be there in person tune in to ESPN this Saturday night" he advised.

WHILE THE 36 DEGREE BANKING ON THE BRISTOL HALF-MILE ALWAYS PRESENTS A CHALLENGE TO THE DRIVERS NOT FOUND ON ANY OTHER TRACK DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. IT IS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DEMANDING. DO THOSE CHALLENGES CHANGE FROM RACING THERE DURING THE DAY TO THE NIGHT RACE?

"To me there is not any difference really. It is just a fast racetrack. You have to work hard for 500 laps. You have to drive every lap, basically as hard as you can go. And any time you are doing that, especially at a place like Bristol, a half-mile track things can happen in a hurry and you can find yourself in trouble. You have to work hard continuously.

"The night race is cooler, but when it's cooler that means you are probably going a little faster. And you've got to work harder any time you are going faster on a half-mile track. It's a very demanding track, and you hope you are lucky enough to stay out of trouble and don't create any trouble for yourself. The times that we've done that we've been able to have good runs."

Dale stayed out of trouble, due to accidents at Bristol in the spring, but toward the end of the race a slowly deflating tire not only cost him a top-five finish but a shot at his fourth win at the Tennessee track. He finished 21st after running with the leaders most of the day and posting seven laps at the head of the field. He has led a total of 542 laps at the tough high-banked half-mile.

Text provided by Ford

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