KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The second groove drivers had anticipated for NASCAR's Protection One 400 on Sunday at Kansas Speedway hasn't materialized.

In the first Winston Cup race at the oval track last year, there was only one groove, which meant very little passing.

Dale Jarrett is holding out hope there will be a second groove by the time the flag drops.

''I was really hoping when I got here that I'd see more of a second groove than what I see,'' Jarrett said Friday. ''Turns one and two seem to be a little bit wider than what three and four are right now. Hopefully, our good friends in the Busch Series will do something about that.''

Other drivers also believed the second groove would probably be in place by Sunday.

Labonte's misfortune

	Labonte

Bobby Labonte had to go to a backup car after crashing during the second of Saturday morning's Winston Cup practice sessions.

Labonte will drive the car he raced earlier this year at California Speedway and Michigan International.

''The car was just too loose to start with and I stuck with it, which was my fault,'' he said. ''But, in the first practice we were too tight, so we made a few changes.

''Stickier tires just aren't very good for me. I hate it for all the guys. We've just not been doing very good here lately, especially today, and ruined a race car.''

Experience best teacher

	Gordon

Jeff Gordon figured winning Kansas Speedway's inaugural Winston Cup event should be a big help on Sunday.

''I think any time that you've won at a track and you go back, especially at a new track like this, it gives you some confidence and makes you feel good,'' Gordon said.

''We also did a tire test for Goodyear here earlier in the year. That went well. There's just something about this place that we have a good feel for and a good set up underneath the race car.''

What's in a name
Kansas Speedway officials seem to be fighting a losing battle as far as the name of their new facility is concerned.

Instead of calling the oval ''Kansas Speedway,'' the track has been referred to as ''the Kansas Speedway.'' It's even been referred to that way in official news releases by racers and sponsors.

But that's like saying, ''the Yankee Stadium.''

''I guess people keep looking at us as a monument, like 'the' Washington Monument or 'the' White House,'' said Sammie Lukaskiewicz, public relations manager.

''My preference is not to use it because I'm an old newspaper person and I cut out all those extra words, like 'the.' You don't say we're going to the Kansas City, Kan.''

Family values
After finishing third in the Mr. Goodcents 300, Joe Nemechek was proud to be runner-up to second-place Kerry Earnhardt.

''Dale was a hero of mind, a big inspiration,'' Nemechek said ''He kind of took me under his wing like his son and showed me how to do things.

''It's great racing with Dale Jr. and Kerry and seeing them have success. Our families are very, very close. It's about family values.

''It's great seeing Kerry have some good luck. I've seen him have a lot of bad luck in the past.''

Pit stops