The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NASCAR WCUP: Budweiser NASCAR Winston Cup Race Preview

30 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Quotes from Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I like the configuration (of Phoenix International Raceway). It's not a perfect oval - it has a dogleg on the backstretch -- and I think that adds a little excitement for me as a driver and for the fans as well. This is one of the tracks that I really like. We did pretty well here last year." (Earnhardt Jr. clinched his second Busch Series championship at Phoenix last year with a second-place finish.)

"The track is relatively flat - and we've struggled on flat tracks this year. We've been improving as a team, and I think the challenge is to get a handle on it in the short time we have to practice. I think we'll be good, but if you miss the set-up, it can be a wild thrash all weekend."

This Week's Race

  • What: Dura-Lube 500, Winston Cup Race 32 of 34
  • Where: Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, AZ
  • When: Sunday, November 5, 2000
  • Watch: The National Network (TNN), 2:00 P.M. Eastern

BUD Pole qualifying will be live on TNN on tape delay at 9:00 am Saturday morning. To follow the qualifying live Friday afternoon, you can tune into your local Motor Racing Network (MRN) affiliate or online at NASCAR.com.

What to Watch

Following Sunday's race, Dale Jr. will jet to Los Angeles for two days of national television appearances.

He will appear as a special guest on "The X Show" on the FX network Monday night, November 6. The show will air at 11 p.m. Eastern time.

He will also be the featured guest on "Turn Ben Stein On," the 30-minute talk show that is seen on Comedy Central. The laconic Stein once wrote speeches for Richard Nixon but is now more famous for appearing in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Win Ben Stein's Money" on Comedy Central. The show is scheduled to air sometime in January.

While in LA, Dale Jr. will also tape a segment with the Fox Sports Network for their "National Sports Report."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Phoenix

This will be the first Winston Cup race for Dale Jr. and the Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) Budweiser team.

Busch Series Starts: 1 (1999)

Start: 5th
Finish: 2nd
Dale Jr. led 4 laps in last year's Busch Series race at P.I.R.

Text provided by Budweiser

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