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DAYTONA BEACH - It just doesn't make sense to Jeff Burton. He finished 12th in the NASCAR points standings last season. He drives for Roush Racing, one of his sport's most resource-rich teams. In a series that once seemed awash in dollars, his team cannot find enough sponsorships to keep his No.99 Ford on the track for a full 36-race schedule.
"The thing we have to come to grips with is the chances of having one major sponsor come in is pretty slim," he said. "We have commitments enough to get us into the year and be in good shape, but we need some help in getting us through to the end."
Turner Network Television will sponsor Burton during the Feb.15 Daytona 500 and Twin 125s on Feb.12 at Daytona International Speedway, and Burton said at least one other "four-or-five-race" package has been sold.
As worried as Burton is for the immediate job security for him and his team, he expressed greater concern about the nature of NASCAR economics. Though he said he thinks the sport is not in trouble, it is under great pressure.
"If this team can't get sponsorship and this team isn't good enough to get sponsorship for the whole year, then this sport's got a problem," he said. "That's more scary to me than the individual, "Oh, my God."'
TIMES: Ricky Rudd's No.21 Ford produced the fastest speed of the five testing days when he covered the 2.5-mile superspeedway at 188.198 mph. Michael Waltrip's 187.731, set last week in the No.15 Chevrolet, held as top speed until the afternoon session Wednesday.
"We've been at the bottom of the sheet enough," Rudd said. "You come here to do well and get better. We unloaded fast and got faster. What does it mean? You don't have a (Daytona 500) pole wrapped up, but if we come back here with the same things we did today, we can have a chance for a pole."
SPAM BLOCKER: Several haulers in the garage area are without their typical ornate paint schemes and driver faces, either because sponsors changed or teams bought new transporters.
Rookie Johnny Sauter's hauler is ready, sort of, but illustrates the transient nature of his peers. The side of his No.30 hauler still bears the America Online colors and the head of a driver. But the driver is Steve Park, whom he replaced this offseason. The solution: A large blue square was pasted over Park's head.
FIRM COMMITMENT: BAM Racing's No.49 Dodge landed a full-season associate sponsorship deal with LaPlata, Md.-based law firm Jenkins, Jenkins & Jenkins. The law firm, the first to sponsor a NASCAR team, also will support Hermie Sadler's No.02 Chevrolet Nextel car and Busch series entry and Ward Burton's No.0 Chevrolet in four races. The firm also will have associate sponsorships with other Busch and truck series teams.
PIT STOPS: Bill Elliott, who wants to run a 10-15 race schedule but has sponsorship for three, may run some dirt races for amusement. ... Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced Martin Truex will contest a full 34-race Busch Series schedule for the Chance 2 Motorsports team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa.