DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR responded to Ford's complaints of a disadvantage at Daytona by cutting a quarter-inch off the Tauruses' rear spoilers following their poor showing in Sunday's Budweiser Shootout.

The spoilers will be reduced to six inches, a full half-inch smaller than they were when NASCAR first introduced its new aerodynamic package late last fall. NASCAR took the first quarter-inch away last month after the Fords tested poorly under the new rules.

"We've been leapfrogged so many times, it's about time we get to do some of the jumping," said car owner Robert Yates, whose two Fords finished sixth and 21st in Sunday's non-points event at Daytona International Speedway. "We've had our fingers crossed since we pulled the cars off the trucks that we'd get some help because what we brought here was not going to be competitive."

The Fords can begin using the smaller spoilers Tuesday, and NASCAR will monitor their progress in the 125-mile qualifying races Thursday. Should the change shift the disadvantage to any of the other three car makes, NASCAR president Mike Helton said more changes could be made before the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

"We're making these changes based on results on the track," Helton said. "This action is coming from what we've seen in Daytona so far."

The Fords have been slow since the first practice here Friday. Only two Fords cracked the Top 20 in the first round of qualifying on Saturday and Dale Jarrett's Yates-owned Taurus was the top finisher in Sunday's shootout.

But three-time Daytona 500 champion Jarrett's sixth-place finish was almost four seconds behind race-winner Tony Stewart.

"I applaud NASCAR for realizing that we had a need and for taking the initiative to make a change," Jarrett said. "This should give us a chance in the Daytona 500."

The other three makes reacted angrily to NASCAR's decision, which most knew was coming. Several drivers and crew chiefs stopped by the NASCAR trailer after the shootout to oppose the Fords getting any help.

"I was already disappointed they got the first quarter-inch of help," said Greg Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief. "They should have been left alone from the start and forced to do their homework a little better before they got here."

Dodge, which had just one Intrepid finish in the Top 10 of the Shootout, immediately claimed it would now be the make with the biggest disadvantage.

"The Dodge camp is now basically behind the eight ball across the board," said Tony Glover, team manager for Chip Ganassi Racing. "It's disheartening and it's disappointing when you start into a situation as an underdog."

Yates fired back at the opposition, saying, "We've worked extremely hard. We didn't sit back or sandbag."

Referring to the owner of four Chevrolet entries, including Gordon's, Yates added, "My good 'ol buddy Rick Hendrick can get his towel out and cry about it all he wants to, but the bottom line is that physics is hurting us. Thank goodness NASCAR is making some adjustments for that. There are a lot of good Ford teams and a lot of other teams that are good, but you can't erase too much of a handicap."

Ford teams have complained since the end of last season that they are at an aerodynamic disadvantage under the new rules for Daytona and Talladega, NASCAR's two biggest and fastest ovals.

The new package was introduced late last fall after driver complaints about dangerous racing at the two tracks in 2001. Those events had three- and four-wide racing and passing throughout the pack on just about every lap.

That resulted in a 19-car pileup near the end that resulted in Stewart flipping on the backstretch. Seven-time champion Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the race.

Park's Progress
Steve Park has a timetable for his return to racing, but officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. won't reveal it in case there's any lingering effects from his severe head injury.

Park was critically injured in a September accident at Darlington Raceway, bruising his brain. His recovery has been marred by double vision, but DEI vice president Ty Norris said Park's return isn't too far away.

"He's made some huge improvements and you can really see it," Norris said. "I think we're talking in terms of weeks, not months, before we have him back into a car. But we don't want to announce any dates to prevent calendar-watching."

Park, who missed the final 12 races last season, already has two tests in a car. Norris said NASCAR planned to work with the team in evaluating Park's status before he returns.

One of the plans is to let Park test with teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip.

"We need to get a gauge on his mental toughness, his reflexes and his physical condition," Norris said. "The best way to do that is to get him on a track with everyone around him and create some situations for him to deal with."

Meanwhile, Kenny Wallace is driving the No. 1 Chevrolet in Park's place.

Rousch's new deal
Jack Roush announced Sunday that the U.S. Navy will sponsor his Craftsman Truck Series team with 20-year-old driver Jon Wood.

Capt. Jake Ross, director for the Navy's Center for Career Development, said Wood will help in recruiting by making appearances with the truck at career fairs.

"One of my greatest heroes is my father, who served with honor and distinction in the Navy during World War II," Roush said, adding that his father was awarded a Purple Heart.

Wood is the son of Eddie Wood, co-owner of the Wood Brothers Winston Cup team. He's also the grandson of one of NASCAR's founding drivers, Glen Wood.