DAYTONA REVIEW � The anticipated Dale Jr./Tony Stewart showdown did not last long. Stewart blew a motor on Lap 2, a horrible break as it would had happened during Saturday Happy Hour had that not been rained out. Surprised that Tony didn�t head straight up to the broadcast booth to work on his budding second career as a race commentator. That should be left for true scrubs (and I don�t mean the sitcom) such as Wally Dallenbach. Dale Jr.�s chances of contention would go by the boards not much later when a stray piece of debris shredded a right front, the resulting damage getting back to pit road would cripple the race car for the rest of the day.

BIG-TIME WRECK...

Then the fun truly begins on Lap 151. As NBC was heading for commercial, the race cam on the back of Kevin Harvick�s car captured his blocking attempts on Jeff Gordon. Two seconds later Harvick goes out of control, six seconds after that the network rushes back to capture the 18-car carnage (second year in a row the Big One hit during commercial). So much for the new rules package, we wreck them all again. Gordon would blame Kurt Busch for the melee (called him a "wildman"). Meanwhile Geoff Bodine and Ryan Newman would improve their lot by driving through the grass to get past the wreck. Then came a couple more incidents, as even the pace car was not immune asa skidding #15 car almost got it on pit road. That brought back '70's Indy 500 memories ("Oh my God - the pace car has crashed, and Schenkel's in it!!!) Everythig cuminates on the Lap 195, where seemingly four cars spun out just as they cross the start/finish line. Ahead of that, Sterling Marlin (ducking below the yellow line in the process) spins out Jeff Gordon and with smoke visible from the damage manages to beat Ward Burton back to the line for what appeared to be a heart-stopping victory. But of course NASCAR red-flags everything within five laps of a finish so the field parks it in the backstretch. What happens next will be etched forever in Daytona history. �Hey Sterling, check out your right front!!!� Marlins jumps out of the car as if shot by a cannon and attempts to pull the sheet metal away from the tire, as an official jumps out of the pace car. BUSTED!!!!! Marlin goes to the back of the line. Gordon is also forced to the back of the line for pitting with pit road closed. Race restarts and on the final lap Dale Jarrett (fourth at the time) spins on the infield while W. Burton beats the field back to the stripe for the win, edging Elliot Sadler and Geoff Bodine.

The other pre-race development that would dramatically change the race landscape involved �the Incredible Shrinking Spoiler� and the �Jack Rosch Invitational�, as Fords (along with Dodges) were allowed to take another � inch off. That was enough to finally make the Fords more than competitive. Even the Roush cars (Busch, Martin, and Kenseth in particular) that were saddled with provisionals would steadily move up all afternoon, along with #43 starter Ricky Craven. As it ended up, Fords would claim five of the top seven spots, along with 10 of the top 18. So much for the Chevy show. Shawna Robinson proved at times that she could race with the big boys, overoming several problems (including running out of gas) to post a respectable 24th place finish, while Dave Marcis ended his career with an early exit and a 42nd place finish. Jimmy Spencer would biff out of the qualifying race and missed the show altogether. The real shock though was 52-year old Geoff Bodine, operating with limited sponsorship, darn near winning the whole thing , placing third. Not to mention that Geoff is only two years moved from his near-death experience (mean that literally) after his horrifying wreck in the truck race.

Speaking of near-death experiences, Joe Gibbs dodged a bullet earlier in the weekend when a helicopter that was going to pick him up for a speaking engagement crashed on the way to Daytona. That underscores yet another danger of the profession, besides racing itself. Drivers and teams regularly hopscotch around during the week in private planes and copters for various engagements. In 1993 both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison were lost in separate aviation accidents, after both drivers fought for the points title the year before.

ROCKINGHAM PREVIEW � I imagine we will see Subway icon Jaret Fogle at some point during the race. If he waves the green flag, that would be a gigantic step down from Angie Harmon. Recent race history favors the Chevys, and perhaps DEI cars in particular. But with the recent adjustments the other makes must be considered as well. In last years Spring race Jeff Gordon won the pole while Steve Park (#1 car) won. In the fall race, Joe Nemechek (#33 car) won while Kenny Wallace (replacing Park in the #1) placed second. The Spring Race was a rain delayed affair, and the atmosphere was dampened as well due to the aftermath of Dale Earnhardt�s passing. Dale Jr. would crash out in the first lap that weekend. Also, as with Darlington tire wear will be a huge issue and all four skins must be changed at every opportunity.

THREATS TO WIN

Jeff Gordon � The #24 car is a three-time Spring race winner (�95, �96, �98) along with a win in the Fall �98 outing. Gordon finished third in the Spring race last year.

Kenny Wallace � Obviously, the #1 car was wired in 2001. A win will be his first in 245 career starts.

Tony Stewart � Don�t be shy just because of last weeks banana peel, the glitch in Joe Gibbs motor program will be rectified. Stewart qualified sixth and tenth and finished fourth and seventh in �01.

Johnny Benson � Coming off sixth and third place finishes at the Rock. Will come into his 199th career race still looking for win #1

Dale Earnhardt Jr. � Not a great record at this track, but maybe he can catch some of the DEI magic from the #1 car. One bright spot from his Daytona weekend was holding off Waltrip to win the Busch race, bringing #3 back to victory lane.

Dale Jarrett � Previous success plus rules are in his favor.

POSSIBLE LONGSHOTS

Kurt Busch � A potential steal at 85-1. Led for 45 laps in the Fall race, also coming off a strong 4th place run in Daytona. The shrinking spoiler is definitely helping this emerging talent.

Joe Nemechek � Driving the #26 car, will be looking to secure potential sponsors.

Matt Kenseth - Like I said, pit crews will be even more crucial than normal, and Robbie Reiser's crew is one of the best around.

Ken Schrader - Led the herd for quite a while early in Daytona. He should have another decent run on the Rock's tricky surface.

Mark Martin � Another Roush driver, reports of his demise were premature.

Mike Wallace � Be sure to check on his race status (sponsorship issues), but if he does race keep an eye for him, for Nemechek took the #33 to victory in the Fall. Mike is winless in 108 career races.

STEER CLEAR FROM

Jimmy Spencer � Stay away from Jimmy for another week. In �01 Spencer qualified 32nd and 17th and finished 30th and 26th.

Dick Trickle - TRICKY DICK MAY BE BACK, as he will try to qualify the #71 car this week. Just don't get carried away.

Petty Enterprises � Would anyone not on drugs even consider the #43, #44, or #45 at this point??? It�s getting embarrasing.

Look for things to end up something like this: 1. J. Gordon, 2. Stewart, 3. B. LaBonte, 4. K. Wallace, 5. Benson, 6. Dale Jr. 7. Jarrett, 8. Marlin, 9. Busch, 10. W. Burton

And the early odds (for information purposes early) are as follows: Jarrett 3-1, B. LaBonte 4-1, J. Gordon 9-2, Stewart 5-1, W. Burton 6-1, K. Wallace 7/1, Rudd 8-1, R. Wallace, 9-1, Harvick 10-1, Marlin 11-1, Newman 12-1, Kenseth 13-1, Dale Jr. 14-1, Benson, 15-1, J. Green 16-1, Martin 17-1, Burton 18-1, Nemechek 19-1, Hamilton 20-1, Nadeau 22-1, Elliott 24-1, Waltrip 26-1, Sadler 28-1, Andretti 30-1, Mayfield 35-1, Schrader 40-1, Atwood 45-1, Johnson 50-1, Craven 55-1, Pressley (quest) 60-1, R. Gordon 65-1, M. Wallace (quest) 70-1, Skinner 75-1, Spencer 80-1, Busch 85-1, T. Labonte 90-1, B. Bodine 95-1, T. Bodine 100-1, Petty 125-1, Blaney 150-1, Compton 175-1, Stricklin 200-1, Mast 250-1, Buckshot 300-1

ANDY HOUSTON AWARD

Goes to the driver(s) who manage to get knocked out of a race seemingly before the opening invocation is delivered. This weeks winners are Mike Wallace (car stalled due to ignition switch on parade lap) and Tony Stewart (lap 2). An honorable mention goes to Shauna Robinson (ran out of gas, let me find my purse!!!!! � just kidding). Wallace, Stewart and Shauna all qualify for the 2003 KAC/Mickey D�s/Andy Houston Shootout, where all drivers will manage to get eliminated in the first lap, much like an Olympic Short-track skating event.