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1999 In Review
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Points: 10th
Wins: None
Best Finish: 3rd (Charlotte)
Poles: 2
Top 5s: 5
Top 10s: 14
Earnings: 2,214,824
What Went Right?
Everything in the first month of the season when Skinner finished no worse than sixth, and came home fourth twice in grabbing the Winston Cup points lead. But, alas, the run of good fortune was short lived and Skinner slowly fell back into the second five in the standings. Skinner, however, continued to throw in strong runs all the way to the finale in Atlanta, where he finished sixth. Along the way, he grabbed two poles (Pocono, Richmond) and enjoyed his finest season to date in Winston Cup.
What Went Wrong?
Nothing Skinner could put a finger on, really. Crew chief Larry McReynolds gave the No. 31 team two goals in 1999 -- finish in the top 10 and win a race. Well, one out of two ain't bad. Skinner's propensity to get into trouble on the track may have prevented him from reaching Victory Lane. He had the best car on several Sundays, only to find himself behind the wall because of driver error, mechanical failure or just bad luck.
-- Ron Buck
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NEW YORK -- As much as Mike
Skinner tried to blend in at the Winston
Cup Series awards banquet, one
couldn't help but think of Skinner as a
pledge at a fraternity function. While
he'd more than earned his seat among
the top 10 drivers of the 1999 season, it
was clear Skinner still hadn't completed
the required tasks to become a
full-fledged member.
Something was missing from Skinner's
resume. The banner above his table
made it clear exactly what it was.
Mike Skinner: 2 Bud Pole Wins
In this room filled with winners, Skinner
remained a winless driver. Two fast laps
was the best Skinner could manage in
1999. OK, maybe that's selling
Skinner's season a bit short. But despite
a season that included two poles and a
career-best finish in points, Skinner still
couldn't tell you what it feel like to win
an official Winston Cup race. He hopes
to find the words in 2000.
Everything is in place for Skinner to
reach Victory Lane in his fourth
Winston Cup season. His crew chief
Larry McReynolds has put his future
plans on hold to help build a
championship team around Skinner over
the next three seasons. Skinner has the
backing of championship team owner
Richard Childress. And the 42-year-old
Skinner has proven he can run up front.
Oh, and there is the added bonus of
watching, and learning, from teammate
Dale Earnhardt.
It seems it's just a matter of time before everything falls into place on race
day. For that reason, Skinner doesn't dwell too much on his winless
career. Instead, Skinner wonders if his future could include much more
than simply winning Winston Cup races. And with that in mind, Skinner's
thought process doesn't start, or end, in Victory Lane.
"Obviously, we want to win races. I think everyone wants to win races,"
said Skinner, who has won twice in a Winston Cup car -- both coming in
exhibition races in Japan (1997-98). "But we also have to look at the big
picture. It's pretty awesome being here (in New York) in the top 10 in
Winston Cup points.
"If I had a choice: 'OK, you are going to win
three races, but finish 11th in points next year.'
I'd take the three races. But if I had a situation
where we weren't going to win a race in 2000,
but we are going to win the championship, or
finish fifth in points -- I'd probably stay after
that big picture.
"Because if you keep on knocking on the door,
and we're doing that, we'll win some races. We
were in contention win about five races this
year. You put yourself in contention to win races, eventually you'll win
races."
The big picture wasn't so clear for Skinner just three years ago when the
1997 Rookie of the Year finished 30th in points. The 1998 season was
an improvement, but 21st in points still wasn't where Skinner felt he
belonged after winning the '96 Craftsman Trucks crown.
McReynolds' switch from Earnhardt's to Skinner's garage midway
through 1998 signaled the start of Skinner's climb up the standings. The
1999 season actually started with Skinner leading the points standings
through the first month of the season.
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What About 2000?
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"I'm going to race as smart as I can each week and if these guys can make the race car capable of winning the race, I'm going to win some races."
-- Mike Skinner
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Now, Skinner knows McReynolds will
be there whenever he reaches Victory
Lane. McReynolds delayed his plans
to become a team owner by signing a
three-year contract extension midway
through '99. Having the well-respected
crew chief remain in his shop excites
Skinner more than anything else in
2000.
"I have a lot of reasons to be excited
about next season. But having Larry
McReynolds and myself together for
the next three years is really exciting,"
Skinner said. "We can try to keep a
race team glued together and try to
keep a situation on our team that
allows us to improve each year."
Skinner then looked across the
Waldorf Astoria conference room
toward the space Dale Jarrett occupied. He couldn't help but compare
his young developing team to that of the No. 88 team just three years
ago. "They managed to keep the same guys in their (team) and they
learned how to get it done."
While Skinner can compare the No. 31 team to that of the No. 88, it still
remains to be seen if he'll follow the path of Jarrett to the top. But with a
crew chief like McReynolds, an owner named Richard Childress and a
teammate with seven Winston Cups, Skinner has a support group with all
the makings of a championship.
Ah, but there is still that little matter of winning a race. Not to mention the
pressure of maintaining the level of performance that allowed him to
receive the final invitation to New York. Skinner, however, doesn't intend
to push his way into Victory Lane, or into a better table at the banquet.
"The pressure has been there all along. (But) I'm not going to say there is
going to be any more pressure next year, because I don't think you can
put any more on yourself," Skinner said. "What I have to do is not let the
pressure get to me and do the best I can do.
"I think in 1997, I let that pressure make me make mistakes that I
shouldn't have made. So I'm not going to do that in 2000. I'm going to
race as smart as I can each week and if these guys can make the race car
capable of winning the race, I'm going to win some races."
Skinner will then feel like a brother in the fraternity.
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ALSO SEE
Ward Burton: A foundation built for success
Emotional Jarrett collects big money for first title
Winston Cup at home in Big Apple
No. 88 in '99: Jarrett's championship season
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