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Wavering economy strikes Haas-Carter

DAYTONA BEACH -- Kmart's recent decision to file for bankruptcy has a 12-year Winston Cup team scrambling to keep its cars running beyond the first two races of the season.

Haas-Carter Motorsports, which fields Fords for Todd Bodine and Joe Nemechek, recently learned the retailer will rescind its major-sponsorship commitment after the Feb. 24 event at Rockingham, N.C.

Kmart sponsors both Haas-Carter cars.

"Our mind-set is that we need to stay in business," owner Travis Carter said. "We're looking diligently for new opportunities."

Primary sponsorships in Winston Cup are estimated at $12-million, though small teams make do with half that and elite teams require as much as $20-million.

"With the economy like it is, it's tough trying to get new people in," said Nemechek, who won a race last season in Andy Petree's No. 33 Chevrolet but left when the team failed to secure a sponsor for 2002.

"When you've got the stock market down in the gutter, how can people justify coming in and spending $10-million or $15-million? How can you justify it?"

If it cannot find a long-term sponsor, the team will take one- and two-race deals as long as possible. Carter said it is not feasible to support the program out of his pocket.

"Any team at this level needs funding from sponsorships," Carter said. "It's a terribly expensive venture and I don't think there are many people doing this personally."

FAST TIMES: Rookie Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet was fastest in both Winston Cup practice sessions Friday as teams prepared for today's Daytona 500 pole qualifying. Johnson's fastest lap was the sixth of a nine-lap run, 185.033 mph.

"Our game plan was to come out and hit every test session and practice session as hard as we could, because we don't have any points for provisionals," he said. "So, we've been laying our cards out on the table."

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon (184.506), Jerry Nadeau (184.004) and Terry Labonte (184.000) were among the top six. Fastest among other manufacturers: Ricky Rudd's Ford second (184.740), Ward Burton's Dodge fourth (184.098) and Johnny Benson's Pontiac ninth (183.329).

ARCA POLE: Chase Montgomery, competing for the first time at Daytona International Speedway, won the pole for the 39th annual Discount Auto Parts 200 in the ARCA series. The race is at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Montgomery, 18, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., turned a lap of 184.543 mph in the No. 27 Pontiac, a former Winston Cup car of Johnny Benson and MBV Motorsports.

"The crew has put in an insane number of hours at the shop the past few weeks to put a good piece under me, and it showed," Montgomery said. "Hopefully, there's more to come."

Other notable qualifiers: Jason Jarrett (fourth), Justin Labonte (eighth), and Tina Gordon (ninth) MIXED SIGNALS: International Speedway Corporation's recent marketing agreement with TrackScan and Racing Electronics does not prohibit fans from using other manufacturers' scanners at ISC tracks, such as Daytona. A news release issued recently by a competing company created confusion.

PIT STOPS: Geoff Bodine's No. 09 Ford was fastest in Budweiser Shootout practice, going 186.513 mph while drafting. Jeff Gordon, who starts last in Sunday's 22-car field, was slowest. ... Larry Caudill is on the pole for today's Goody's Dash race.

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