| | By Ron Buck
ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
NAPA Auto Parts 500 |
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When |
Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (ABC) |
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Where |
California Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 14 degrees banking in turns).
Fontana, Calif.
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Distance |
500 miles (250 laps) |
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Defending champ |
Jeff Gordon |
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Qualifying |
First round, Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET; Second round, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET |
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Track Records |
Qualifying record: Greg Sacks, 183.753 mph, (1997)
Race record: Jeff Gordon, 155.012 mph (1997)
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On the Track
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Thursday, April 27
It has been an unusual season to say the least. As we
head into California, let's look at two "Strange But True"
facts pertaining to the 2000 season.
Dale Jarrett had only four finishes of 15th or worse in
1999. This year, he already has four finishes of 15th or
worse. He is 203 points off the pace. Last year, he took
the points lead for good after the 11th race. DJ is no
where close to locking onto the top spot in two weeks.
Tony Stewart hasn't led a lap in 2000. Who would have believed that after watching him wins two of the final four races of 1999.
It has been an exciting and unusual season with nine different winners in the first nine races. What do we make of this unique season? If the current trends continue for the final 25 races, we could end up using words like amazing, dramatic, thrilling, and
history making.
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Now, where were we?
That's right, Jeff Gordon was ending his victory drought with win No. 50 ... Winston Cup was welcoming its ninth different winner in as many races to Victory Lane ... Mark Martin was overtaking Bobby Labonte in the points standings ... And half the field was repairing their cars after another "Big One" at Talladega.
Hope drivers enjoyed their Easter egg hunts. It's time to go back to hunting for success on the track this weekend. And in all places -- California.
Winston Cup teams have escaped the wet Carolinas for the sunshine of California, where Gordon defends his NAPA Auto Parts 500 on Sunday. A successful defense would end 2000's string of non-repeat winners -- but we've been saying that for a month now. Will the streak continue. Can it continue. And if it does continue, who will keep it intact?
Tony Stewart's name comes to mind. A sophomore slump has kept the 20 team not only out of Victory Lane, but also out of the top 10 nearly half the season. Stewart, fourth a season ago in points as a rookie, is currently 13th -- 321 points behind Martin and 297 behind teammate Bobby Labonte.
Last year, Stewart finished fourth in California.
Mike Skinner also can keep the streak alive. And who better than a California boy to make it a perfect 10 in 2000. Skinner, who was born in California, was 10th in his home state last year. He's coming off a second-place to Gordon at Talladega and seems closer than ever to career win No. 1.
More likely, however, is the streak ending at nine. Gordon, Martin, Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett ... you know the list of winners by now. It's just too star-studded to think nobody will taste victory for a second time in 2000 in California.
Gordon would be someone to watch. He's only won two of the three Cup races at California and has finished in the top five for all three. But only if he qualifies well. All three winners have started fifth or better in California.
Aside from different winners, a different driver has led the most laps in each race in 2000. The driver that led the most laps has also won in five out of the nine races. Jeff Burton remains the only driver to score five top-five finishes in 2000. Earnhardt and Martin have both scored seven top-10 finishes in 2000, the most of all drivers. No driver has led in every race of 2000.
Parity, my fell race fans. Parity.
10 Drivers to Watch
Jeff Gordon: Aside from his success in California, he comes to the West Coast fresh off his 50th career victory, which ended a 14-race winless streak -- the longest of his career. Could two in a row be that much of a stretch?
Jeff Burton: Is it just me? Or do Gordon and Burton always seem to run well at the same tracks? Burton was second to Gordon a year ago in California when traffic impeded his late-race charge. Currently fifth in points.
Mark Martin: Last time he led the points was in 1997 -- it lasted all of eight days. He's guarenteed to lead for 13 with the off weekend. But California has been kind to Martin, who won the IROC event and California 500 in 1998. He dominated that '98 race, leading 165 of 250 laps. Carries the momentum of two top-10 finishes in the month of April.
Dale Jarrett: He started the current streak of non-repeat winners by winning the Daytona 500. Who better to end it? Was fifth in California a year ago, and the Yates power always is a factor on superspeedways.
Bobby Labonte: Comes off his lowest finish of the season -- a 21st at Talladega -- and worst since Bristol's night race of a year ago (21 races). As a result, he's 24 points behind Martin and looking to rebound quickly. He was third a year ago in California.
Dale Earnhardt: Finished third at Talladega -- his fourth top-three finish of the season. One of nine winners this season stands fourth in the points -- 98 behind Martin.
Ward Burton: Refuses to go away. A constant car among the leaders each week has him solidly among the points leaders in third place. Burton has posted six top-10 finishes in 2000. Finished sixth at California Speedway last year.
Tony Stewart: Now for the non-winners. Last year's rookie of the year is too good not to win -- might as well come in California, where he finished fourth a year ago.
Jeremy Mayfield: Yes, Mayfield has enjoyed his annual trips out West. Surprised the field with a runner-up finish in the California 500 in 1998, and last year he also had a respectable result of seventh. Has plenty of confidence after a top-five finish and four top-10s place him ninth in the standings.
Terry Labonte: Consistent as any driver at California Speedway. In the three races, he's finished second (1997), third (1998) and ninth a year ago. California is a state he appears to enjoy, having won here at Riverside in 1984 and 1985.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor.
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