TSN 10: the 10 big races to watch this year

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2002

Daytona at a glance

Race: Pepsi 400, No. 17 of 36.

Length: 160 laps, 400 miles.

When: 7:30 p.m. (Eastern) Saturday.

TV: Fox.

Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.

The track: 2.5-mile trioval. Frontstretch, 1,900-foot chutes to and from the trioval; backstretch, 3,000 feet. Banking: turns, 31 degrees; trioval, 18 degrees; backstretch, 3 degrees.

Last year's winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 157.601 mph.

Top active race winners: Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon--two each.

Putting on the air brakes

Because the explosion of fuel and the creation of fire make an internal combustion engine work, the introduction of air into the motor is essential. That's where NASCAR's restrictor plate, used for races at Daytona and Talladega, comes in. The thin metal plate, 6 inches square, has four seven-eighths-inch holes, one for each barrel of the carburetor. When bolted to the carburetor, it restricts air flow and the amount of oxygen available to burn, decreasing horsepower and speed.

--Mark McCarter

CONTENDER CHECKLIST

Michael Waltrip is racing for his job next season, but that's not the reason to pick him at Daytona. He actually likes restrictor-plate races, which gives him an advantage over about 40 other drivers. Waltrip is coming off a second-place finish in the last plate race, at Talladega, and he ran fifth in February at Daytona. Last season, he finished first and second at Daytona. The team isn't a threat to win every week because it lacks consistency, but its restrictor-plate program makes it a favorite at this track. Waltrip will be challenged by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

                                   Dale        Jeff Gordon   Jimmie
                               Earnhardt Jr.                 Johnson

                                     8             24          48

Runs well at Daytona              [check]        [check]
Restrictor-plate proficiency      [check]        [check]     [check]
Ability to block competition      [check]
Ability to make up ground         [check]
Crew/pit stops                                   [check]

                               Sterling    Mark     Micheal
                                Marlin     Martin   Waltrip

                                  40         6        15

Runs well at Daytona           [check]    [check]   [check]
Restrictor-plate proficiency   [check]              [check]
Ability to block competition                        [check]
Ability to make up ground                           [check]
Crew/pit stops                            [check]

DALE EARNHARDT JR. GIVES US THE RUNAROUND

Dale Earnhardt Jr., winner of last year's Pepsi 400, took contributing writer Lee Spencer for a virtual lap at Daytona International Speedway.

You come through the trioval to start the lap, and it's a very simple, very easy corner, but you don't want to sling back out to the wall. The closer you get to the wall, the less cowl pressure (air into the engine) you have, and cowl pressure is everything, especially in the draft. So you want to stay at least one car length off the wall, if not more, in the corner. A lot of times we'll run around at the bottom, but your car wants to get real loose getting into (Turn) 1, so you need to be careful. Then you choose to go to the bottom or run at the top; I like it either way. Sometimes it's more fun at the top because that's where they used to run in the old days. It's really good through the center of the corner, but then it gets really tight, and you get a big push going through Turn 2. If you're on the high side of the draft, you have to be very careful not to slide into the wall there.... Then you go down the back straightaway, trying to stay in the draft. It's very simple, and if you've got a good run on the outside there's the opportunity to get by some guys. If your car is turning well on the bottom, you've got a chance to make some passes on the back straightaway. You don't want to make it three wide because Turn 3 is kind of a narrow corner. Still, there's room to make some moves going through the center of the corner. (Turns) 3 and 4 are nothing like 1 and 2; you don't really get tight until 3 and 4. You basically have to run around the bottom there. There's a big bump coming off of Turn 4, where tunnel is, and the ground is sunken a little there, Your car might bottom out some in 4. That's something you have to deal with all day long.