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Around NASCAR circuit

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2001

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- The helicopter was waiting and Kevin Harvick was in a rush to leave North Carolina Speedway moments after a 14th-place finish Monday.

The 25-year-old rookie and his fiance, DeLana Linville, were scheduled to catch a 5 p.m. flight to Las Vegas, where they will marry Wednesday.

So there really wasn't much time to reflect on his first career Winston Cup start in the No. 29 Chevrolet, a car that would have been painted black with a No. 3 if not for Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash eight days before at Daytona.

"I wanted to stay on the lead lap and finish in the top 10," said Harvick, named Earnhardt's replacement Friday. "But with the circumstances that we've got, I think the whole team did a hell of a job.

"I know I learned a lot today. ... Once we get to know each other, it'll probably go a little bit better."

Harvick, who started 36th and was 33rd when the race was red-flagged on Sunday, was in the top 15 by Lap 180. He stayed there the rest of the race.

"I believe there is a lot of talent there," crew chief Kevin Hamlin said. "To run like he did today, for his first Winston Cup race and doing it at Rockingham, I think there's a lot of hope there."

PRESIDENT HELTON: NASCAR president Mike Helton was overcome with emotion for a few moments after Steve Park won.

The victory was the second straight for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Michael Waltrip won the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.

"It was a bit emotional realizing that there were two weekends where Dale would have been very proud of the guys that worked for him," Helton said. "I think it speaks to the depth of Dale Earnhardt himself, not only as a driver, but his ability to put together a successful racing organization."

Helton also said there were no new developments on safety or the broken left lap belt that might have contributed to Earnhardt's fatal basal skull fracture.

A news conference is expected this week in Las Vegas.

HANS ALTERNATIVE: With drivers continuing to resist wearing the HANS device, an alternative has gained popularity.

Bobby Hutchens, an engineer at Richard Childress Racing, created a multiple-strap head and neck device that hooks into the seat-belt system. Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler, Mike Skinner and Harvick were among an unspecified number of drivers who wore the device.

"They've tested it in sled tests, so I felt pretty confident with it," Labonte said. "It's just a matter of working with it, making it a little bit more comfortable to fit me. ... So far, I give it a thumbs up."

The HANS device, designed to prevent the basal skull fractures that have killed four NASCAR drivers in 10 months, is a bulkier restraint system that has to be form-fitted. It rests on a driver's shoulders and hooks into the helmet.

THE KING'S REACTION: In 1,177 career Winston Cup races, Richard Petty never had a seat belt break.

That was why news of Earnhardt's broken belt shocked Petty, who said he has known of instances in which the lap belts have pulled away from their bolt in the roll cage. Earnhardt's broke between the adjuster and the buckle.

"It's a freaky deal," Petty said. "I think it's about one in about 10-billion."

ODDS AND ENDS: Ricky Craven's fifth place was Cal Wells' first top 5 as a Winston Cup team owner. ... Sunday's coverage on Fox received an overnight 7.0 rating (percent of all TVs) and 15 share (percent of TVs in use). It was the highest rating of any sporting event last weekend. ... Gordon Gibbs, chief mechanic for Jerry Nadeau, and Andy Graves, team manager for Jason Leffler, took over as crew chiefs for Tony Furr and Kevin Cram, respectively. Furr and Cram were suspended four races after rules violations. ... Mike Skinner will replace Earnhardt as the fifth driver eligible for the $1-million bonus at Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas. Kenny Wallace, Joe Nemechek, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte also are eligible.

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