Motorsports special The next generation [AP photo] Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands out from other drivers with his all-out party attitude off the track. Now he wants to stand out on the track, too. Expect better efforts in NBC's second season NBC didn't have to do much to earn high Winston Cup ratings last season. Between the attention surrounding Dale Earnhardt's death and the structure of the new TV package, the network was bound to reap the benefits of a larger viewership. Teaching old drivers new tricks Drivers Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace have turned to young crew chiefs in hopes of jumpstarting their careers. One-two punch Veteran Jack Sprage and newcomer Ricky Hendrick worked well together as a truck team last season. Now they look to do the same on the BGN circuit. Can they catch him? When Jeff Gordon is good, he's very, very good. So much so, his winning another championship seems a matter of when, not if. But his peers won't let it be that easy. Fast track Driver Travis Kvapil expects to contend for the series title in just his second season. Downshifting Drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein wraps up his career this season and turns the wheel over to his son, Brandon. Eyes on the prize Ralf Schumacher dons glasses to get an edge on his competition -- namely his brother, Michael. Circuit coup The first thing Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves must remember is this: The boss, Roger Penske, says he's making the right turn for his racing team -- but, whatever you do, don't turn right. Coming soon ST. PETERSBURG -- Imagine making a right-hand turn in downtown St. Petersburg, and by the next block, you're going more than 100 mph.

Bucs
McKay poised to leave Bucs
TAMPA -- Rich McKay was 16 years old when he first ran onto the field at One Buc Place. But his lifelong affiliation with the franchise that took him from ballboy to general manager appears over.

Devil Rays
Rays' goal: sustain
ST. PETERSBURG -- As his young Rays established themselves and their aggressive style of play over the second half of last season, the idea began to bounce around Hal McRae's head.

TV schedule long on glamor foes
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays' home opener against Detroit on April 2, a dozen interleague games against first-time opponents and every game against the Yankees highlight the Rays' television schedule this season.

Back troubles continue to slow Hamilton
ST. PETERSBURG -- Top outfield prospect Josh Hamilton is sidelined again with back troubles.

Golf
Classic thrives as golf attraction
LUTZ -- There's a glitzy new ad campaign, an effort to be fan-friendly, more live events on cable television.

Classic may lose Verizon name
LUTZ -- The Verizon Classic has known nothing but success in its 15 years in the Tampa Bay area, including 11 straight at the TPC of Tampa Bay.

Players give course high marks
Factors such as the need for strategy and the final 4 holes make the TPC of Tampa Bay a senior favorite.

Motorsports
These twins are not same
DAYTONA BEACH -- Two qualifying races and 250 miles later, the starting lineup for Sunday's 44th Daytona 500 is set. The race itself remains a mystery.

Yellow lines a gray area for drivers
DAYTONA BEACH -- Four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon lobbied for a rule change after Thursday's 125-mile qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.

Colleges
Weekend tournament key for USF softball
TAMPA -- Ken Eriksen has seen this before.

Bull bits
TAMPA -- South Florida junior golfer Kelly Martin won the individual championship at the UCF Invitational at Stoneybrook Country Club in Orlando on Feb. 9 and 10. Martin, who opened the event with 71, fired a final-round 74 to finish with a two-day total of 145, earning her the title by one stroke.

College basketball
Spartan shorts
TAMPA -- After twin 18-point, five-block performances and two wins, University of Tampa forward Sylvere Bryan was named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week.

Preps
Devils suspend two players
Two players on the St. Petersburg High team have been suspended for physically and verbally harassing another player, according to principal Linda Benware.

Regional soccer finals
All games start at 7:30 tonight and admission is $5. Winners advance to next week's state tournament at Tampa's Pepin/Rood Stadium for Class 4A and 3A, and Ed Radice Sports Complex for Class 2A and A.

Around the county
TAMPA -- Jesuit right-handed pitcher Nick Peterson has committed to Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., according to Tigers coach John Crumbley. Peterson, 6 feet 2, 180 pounds, was 5-1 last year with a 2.08 ERA. He won the Tigers' opener this season, allowing three hits in five innings and striking out nine.

Regional wrestling tournaments
Regional tournaments are Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 per session. Wrestling starts at noon Friday with preliminaries and the first two rounds of wrestlebacks. Wrestling continues at 10 a.m. Saturday with the semifinals and the third and fourth rounds of wrestlebacks. The consolations are at 6 p.m. and the finals are at 7:30.

Durant surprises Wharton
TAMPA -- Using a new zone defense and excellent ball movement, visiting Durant upset Wharton 59-42.

Clearwater wins despite struggles
CLEARWATER -- Ranked second in the state, Clearwater handled Boca Ciega for the third time this season to win Thursday's quarterfinal and continue its anticipated march to the state tournament.

Barons' depth pays off after half
St. Petersburg Catholic gets off to a slow start, but pulls away and advances.

CCC loses to Berkeley in a second
TAMPA -- Thursday's game between Clearwater Central Catholic and Berkeley Prep changed twice in one second.

Largo earns first playoff victory
SEMINOLE -- Seminole probably would have conceded Shaneisha Walton her fair share of rebounds, provided no other Largo players got into the act.

Without star, AHN no match for SPC
ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a depleted group of Academy of the Holy Names players that limped into Thursday's quarterfinal against host St. Petersburg Catholic.

Lancers claw back, but fall short 56-53
TAMPA -- For a team that never took a lead during the game, Seminole Presbyterian sure gave Lakeland Christian a headache.

Rams bruised, but not battered
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Down by two points to visiting Lecanto at halftime, the teammates around her in various stages of illness, injury and pain, Ridgewood's Joeyn Dearsman had just one thing to say in the locker room Thursday night.

Knights force 42 turnovers to rout Zephyrhills
TAMPA -- They tried dribbling around it, passing through it and heaving it down court, but in the end, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs never found an answer for Robinson's fullcourt press Thursday night.

Robinson frustrates Bulldogs
TAMPA -- They tried dribbling around it, passing through it and heaving it down court, but in the end, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs never found an answer for Robinson's fullcourt press Thursday night.