|
North Carolina 400 preview
| NASCAR Winston Cup Series -- North
Carolina 400 |
| When:Sunday, Oct. 22 -- 12:30 p.m. ET
on TNN |
| Where:North Carolina Speedway |
| Distance: 400 miles/393 laps |
| Posted Awards: $2,217,736 |
| The Field: |
| Field consists of the fastest 36 cars through
time trials. Also, seven provisional starting positions
based on 2000 owner points, for maximum 43-car field. The
43rd position is reserved for a past NWCS champion, if
needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
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| The Schedule: |
| Friday, Oct. 20 |
| 10:30am Practice until 12:15pm |
| 2pm Qualifying (pos. 1-25, one
lap) |
| Saturday, Oct. 21 |
| 8am Practice until 9am |
| 9:30am Qualifying (pos. 26-36, one
lap) |
| Sunday, Oct. 22 |
| 12:15am Start of the North Carolina
400 |
| Track facts |
|
North Carolina Speedway is a 1.017-mile banked paved
speedway with 22-degree banking in Turns 1 and 2 and
25-degree banking in Turns 3 and 4. North Carolina
Speedway has hosted the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
since 1965.
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| North Carolina 400 Notes |
- The NASCAR Winston Cup Series Leader Bonus is
worth $20,000 this weekend at North Carolina Speedway in
Rockingham, N.C.
- Out of the 34 races at North Carolina Speedway,
10 have been won from the pole position.
* Mark Martin and Kyle Petty lead active drivers with the
most pole positions (5) at NCS.
- In addition to Bill Elliott, three drivers made
their NASCAR Winston Cup debut at NCS; Raybestos Rookie of
the Year Candidate Dave Blaney (1992), Ricky Craven (1991)
and Ricky Rudd (1975).
- Junior Johnson leads all car owners with 14
victories at NCS, while Petty Engineering has collected 12
victories.
- Curtis Turner won the very first race at NCS in
1965.
- The Union 76 World Pit Crew Competition will be
held this Saturday at Rockingham for the 33rd straight
year. The teams began four-tire changes in 1985 (only
two-tire changes were required prior to 1985). The No. 18
Interstate Batteries team, led by crew chief Jimmy Makar,
are the reigning champions of the event with a record time
of 19.166 seconds. This event started in 1967 with Cale
Yarborough (driver) and Leonard Wood's (crew chief) team
winning what has now become an annual event.
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| Other Notes |
- With a 210-point lead over second-place Dale
Earnhardt and only four races remaining, Bobby Labonte
continues to lead the NASCAR Winston Cup Series point
standings.
- The top-three drivers are separated by 308
points. One year ago, Dale Jarrett led Bobby Labonte by
246 points and the top-three drivers were separated by 319
points.
- Winless in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series -
although he has yet to make it to victory lane in the 2000
season, Ricky Rudd has been a proven contender each week.
He climbed one spot in the point standings to fifth - the
only driver in the top 10 that has not scored a win this
year. Rudd is only 33 points behind teammate Dale Jarrett.
- Six drivers in the top 10 in the points changed
positions following Sunday's Winston 500: Dale Earnhardt
to second (from third), Jeff Burton dropped to third (from
second), Ricky Rudd to fifth (from sixth), Tony Stewart to
sixth (from fifth) and Jeff Gordon and Ward Burton
continue their almost weekly switch of ninth and 10th -
(Gordon to ninth, Burton dropped to 10th).
- And the rookie battle... Matt Kenseth's lead over
Dale Earnhardt ,Jr. is 27 points in the Raybestos Rookie
of the Year battle.
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