Driver of Year Goes to NASCAR's Best

By SHAV GLICK

Dec. 1, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Driving 500 miles around an oval track at 200 mph may not be as dizzying as what Dale Jarrett is undergoing this week in New York.

The new NASCAR Winston Cup champion is being feted, wined and dined by NASCAR, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and other assorted racing institutions for an entire week--dinner parties every night, Broadway plays, a Knick basketball game, Regis and Kathie Lee in the morning, Letterman at night, toy stores in the afternoon for the Jarrett youngsters.

Jarrett will have his two biggest moments this weekend. He will be presented a $2-million check Friday night when he is introduced as the Winston Cup champion at NASCAR’s annual victory dinner at the Waldorf. Then Saturday afternoon, he will receive the 1999 driver-of-the-year award at Le Cirque 2000.

Jarrett, who turned 43 last Friday, is the fifth Winston Cup champion in the last six years to be voted driver of the year. Only drag racing champion John Force, in 1996, broke the chain.

Only two drivers received votes from panel members this year. Juan Montoya, the CART champ car winner from Colombia, was selected by several panelists, who apparently thought his seven victories in 20 races, as a rookie, were more impressive than veteran Jarrett’s four wins in 34 races.

It was Jarrett’s remarkable consistency, however, that enabled him to take home the year’s prizes. He finished 24 times in the top five and 29 in the top 10, winning the championship by 201 points over Bobby Labonte.

Jarrett’s father, Ned, won the championship in 1961 and 1965, making the Jarretts the second father-son championship pair. Seven-time champion Richard Petty followed his father, Lee.

“My father was a tremendous asset to me, not only in giving me the support that all my family gave, but to have someone around the racetrack who understands what I was going through,” he said by phone Tuesday from New York.

Ned Jarrett is a television commentator at many NASCAR races.

“A lot has changed since he was champion in 1965, but one thing that hasn’t changed is how to drive a race car. He was always in a good position to watch what was going on, and when he saw something I could do a little better, he told me.”

The elder Jarrett even served as his son’s spotter at races where he wasn’t part of the announcing crew.

“It was quite a thrill, and quite helpful, when he was on the [team] radio at Indy [for the Brickyard 400] when I won. He doesn’t just watch me, he watches other cars and if he sees someone run a faster line, he lets me know.

“One of the neat things about this year is that I think my winning has made more people realize that Ned Jarrett was a champion too, more than just a television personality. Maybe new fans will get a better understanding of what a champion he was. He won 50 races in a very short period.

“I can remember things from 1965 that he did, like drive the truck to races as well as drive the race car. He worked extremely hard, a lesson that rubbed off on me, I’m sure.”

When Jarrett is presented the $2-million check, one of his major concerns is not forgetting it.

“I don’t think [wife] Kelly or the kids will let me do that this time,” he said. “I don’t know why, but the last two years, I’ve left the check [from the prize fund] sitting there. This time, I plan to just put it in my pocket before anything else.

“To tell the truth, though, the money isn’t the main thing about Friday night. The money’s great, sure, but even without it, I can’t imagine being any more proud over winning the Winston Cup championship and what it means to me, my family, my mom and dad, Robert Yates and Todd Parrott.”

It is the first title for Yates, the car owner and engine builder, and Parrott, the crew chief.

“What’s so exciting about being [in New York] is that all the guys from the shop will be here with their families . . . it’s going to be something we’ll never forget,” Jarrett said.”Already I can see why Dale [Earnhardt] and Jeff [Gordon] wanted to win, to get here.”

The Pettys still have a shot at being the first family with a third-generation driver in Kyle, and even a fourth generation in Adam, Kyle’s son, but the Jarretts are in the running.

Jason Jarrett, who earned his driving spurs at the same Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina that Dale started on, will drive the Busch Grand National series next year in a car owned by Dale, Ned and Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre.

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Stock Cars Reign

Drivers of the Year:

* 1999: Dale Jarrett, NASCAR

* 1998: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR

* 1997: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR

* 1996: John Force, NHRA

* 1995: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR

* 1994: Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR

* 1993: Nigel Mansell, CART

* 1992: Bobby Rahal, CART

* 1991: Michael Andretti, CART