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By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 2001
Through a series of aerodynamic rules changes, NASCAR accomplished its goal of making racing more exciting in October at Talladega Superspeedway.
There were 49 lead changes among 21 drivers, and Dale Earnhardt went from 22nd place to the lead in the final 10 laps to win.
"I think everyone pretty much would agree that it was the best race in the history of NASCAR," said Michael Waltrip, who won the Daytona 500, the most recent race with the rules package. "I mean, Dale Earnhardt came from 18th to win in the last four laps. It was just a really entertaining race. It was fun for me as a driver and fun for the fans to watch."
But many Winston Cup drivers are feeling uneasy about their return to the track for the Talladega 500 on Sunday. Earnhardt's death on the last lap of the Daytona 500, which also had 49 lead changes, is only part of the reason.
"It's a very, very strenuous race," said Jeff Gordon, the defending champion who finished fourth in October and has two career wins at Talladega. "Last time I was there, my eyeballs hurt. When the race was over, my head hurt just because I was having to use my concentration level so much."
The rules that produced such white-knuckle action in October and contributed to a 19-car pileup in the Daytona 500 will be in place this weekend. Expect cars bunched up in packs three and sometimes four wide.
"I don't really care for the rules that we have right now for the superspeedways," Gordon said. "But I've made my car as safe as I can get it."
Still, Robbie Loomis will be holding his breath.
"I feel like I've won the race if the driver comes out of there in one piece," said Loomis, Gordon's crew chief. "We're looking forward to going down there, but at the same time, it's one of those racetracks where you look forward to leaving, too."
ANOTHER TORN BELT: Two months after they found a separated left lap belt in Earnhardt's car at Daytona, NASCAR officials are informing Winston Cup and Busch Grand National teams of a torn left lap belt in driver Mike Harmon's BGN car.
Harmon broke a shoulder blade in a crash during the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. He told the Charlotte Observer that the belt, made by Simpson Performance Products, had a three-quarter-inch tear but did not come apart.
"It did its job," Harmon said. "If it hadn't, I wouldn't be talking to you."
Simpson Performance Products founder Bill Simpson felt vindicated when an independent expert examining Earnhardt's autopsy photos for the Orlando Sentinel said a broken left lap belt did not contribute to Earnhardt's death. Simpson told the Charlotte Observer that Harmon's crew members told him their driver's belt had a quarter-inch nick, not a tear the size Harmon cited. "Sometimes in a massive crash, the metal adjuster can nick the fabric," Simpson said. "That doesn't mean the belt failed."
BACK TO GAINESVILLE: The Gatornationals, rained out in March, resume with a test and tune session for all classes at noon Friday.
"Friday's session will mean everything in the world because we only have two passes to get set up for eliminations," said NHRA Top Fuel driver Gary Scelzi, who qualified first (322.58 mph) and advanced to the semifinal round.
Top Fuel driver Mike Dunn, who drives for Darryl Gwynn and is sponsored by the Yankees, boasts a 58-point lead over Darrell Russell in the Top Fuel standings. He qualified No. 3 with a track-record 326.79 mph run.
ODDS AND ENDS: Reserved seats for the Pennzoil 400 weekend (Nov. 9-11) at Homestead-Miami Speedway go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday. To order reserved tickets, call (305) 230-RACE, visit http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or check Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at (727) 898-2100 and (813) 287-8844. ... Clearwater driver Donny Morelock is 10th in the ARCA Series after 22nd-place performances in the first two races (Daytona, Nashville).
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.