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Jury out on idea of falling back

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2001

Tony Stewart balked at the suggestion.

Why didn't he allow another driver to take the lead in the closing laps of the Talladega 500 on Sunday, then mount his own draft-aided charge back to the front?

Stewart, who took the lead on Lap 162 of 188, instead was passed by Bobby Hamilton with two laps remaining.

"I'm not going to voluntarily give up the lead anywhere, any time for any or no reason," Stewart said.

Though nobody intentionally relinquished a lead, a handful of drivers (Stewart and Hamilton included) purposefully dropped to the back at points during the race.

Last October, NASCAR mandated a series of aerodynamic rules to slow cars and improve racing at Talladega and Daytona. The rules make for closer racing, but also give drivers the ability to make up ground quickly by using the draft.

Thus drivers can ride in the back during these races, hoping to avoid trouble, and then speed toward the front late in the race.

"It's a lot more pleasant back there," said Stewart, who finished second.

The approach is nothing new.

Dale Earnhardt perfected it during the Winston 500 in October when he charged from 18th place to the win in five laps.

Winston Cup points leader Dale Jarrett nearly did the same Sunday.

Clearly one of the fastest cars, he dropped from sixth to 43rd by Lap 10 and stayed there most of the race. Jarrett quickly made up ground in the final 30 laps and was eighth with 15 laps remaining before settling in 18th.

"Earnhardt taught us all a lot," Stewart said. "He was the best at restrictor plate racing. That's what got both of us in this position in the end and that's what also took the win away from us."

RELIEVED: Seven points races remain before Winston Cup teams return to Daytona International Speedway July 7 for the Pepsi 400.

NASCAR may make a rules change before going back for the first-time since the Daytona 500, but a caution-free Talladega 500 did much to ease drivers' reservations.

"Having everybody take care of each other (Sunday) meant a lot for all of our mind-sets leaving here and for when we come back here in the fall and when we go to Daytona," Stewart said. "Daytona is probably going to be a little bit different deal. But when we come back here we're all going to have a little bit of a short sigh of relief at least knowing that we did it once and knowing that we can do it again."

MORE SUCCESS: Andy Petree admitted he was in a "dream world" when Hamilton gave him his first victory as a car owner.

Maybe it had something to do with the track.

Between victories there with Harry Gant and Earnhardt, for whom he served as crew chief, the 2.66-mile track has become one of Petree's most successful venues.

"This is the sweetest one yet," he said. "This means more to me than any win I've ever had. And to come here (and win after Earnhardt's death) was almost appropriate."

ODDS AND ENDS: How fast did the 188 caution-free laps pass at Talladega? "Faster than a quarter could go in Las Vegas," said rookie Kurt Busch, who finished a career-high third. ... Jarrett has finished 22nd and 18th in restrictor-plate races this season. ... The Talladega 500 was the first caution-free race since Jarrett won at Michigan Speedway in June 1999. ... John Force's 94th career Funny Car win on Saturday at the Gatornationals gives him 60 more than any other Funny Car driver in NHRA history. The victory, his seventh in 10 years at Gainesville, propelled him to the points lead. Bruce Sarver, who went into the event as the Funny Car leader, lost to Frank Pedregon in the first round of eliminations and trails Force by 70 points ... Pro Stock Bike rider Matt Hines took the points lead from defending champion Angelle Savoie with his victory. He leads by 23.

- Staff writer Keith Niebuhr contributed to this report.

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