Veteran Bill Elliott is as much an authority as anyone when it comes to racing at Daytona International Speedway.
He will make his 53rd career start at the 2.5-mile speedway in Saturday's Pepsi 400 and leads active drivers with five poles. He's also tied with Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett at four victories. Elliott set the track speed record of 210.364 mph Feb.9, 1987.
That, of course, was before restrictor plates were used to limit speeds at Daytona and Talladega. Elliott, 46, wouldn't mind going back to those unrestricted days.
"I'm asked that all the time," said Elliott, driver of the No.9 Dodge. "I always say unrestricted, but you just can't do that with the way things are today. Something's got to give. I don't think you'll see us running unrestricted any time soon."
BROTHER ACT: Kerry Earnhardt, older half-brother of Dale Earnhardt Jr., will attempt to qualify for the Pepsi 400 driving the No.83 Chevrolet. Kerry is a Busch Series regular ranked 19th in his second season with the FitzBradshaw team.
BUCKSHOT IS BACK: Buckshot Jones, who left Winston Cup after being released by Petty Enterprises early last season, will drive the No.09 Dodge owned by James Finch.
Jones, a two-time Busch winner, struggled in Winston Cup. Unable to land a ride, he started a land development business while waiting for a racing opportunity.
"I've got two kids," Jones told the Associated Press. "I had to start bringing home a paycheck."
Though not a full-time entry, Finch's car has been strong in restrictor-plate events. In the past two Daytona 500s, Geoffrey Bodine finished third and Mike Wallace ninth.
SCORECARD, PLEASE: Others who will attempt to qualify today include Busch points leader David Green in the No.60 Chevrolet, a Hendrick Motorsports entry, and Mike Bliss in the No.80 Chevrolet, a Joe Gibbs entry.
Also, Stacy Compton makes his debut in the No.4 Pontiac, replacing recently released Mike Skinner. Shane Hmiel will drive the No.43 Dodge for Petty Enterprises while Christian Fittipaldi fulfills a sponsor commitment in the team's No.44 car.
