There’s Plenty of Incentive for Jarrett in Qualifier

Dale Jarrett will be on the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500, but today he is nothing more than a contender in a qualifying race to make the field for the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

Fourteen drivers, all of whom earned at least one pole in the 1999 Winston Cup season, will race 25 laps for $570,000 in the Shootout.

Twelve others--including Jarrett--will race in an earlier 25-lap qualifier, known around the garages as the Hooligan Race. It is for all drivers who posted the fastest time in a second-round qualifying session last season. Only the winner gets into the Bud Shootout and he will start last.

Jarrett was the second-day leader at the Pepsi Southern 500 at Darlington, S.C., and the MBNA Gold 400 at Dover, Del.

“If I can win that qualifier tomorrow and get in the Shootout, it will give me twice as much track time getting our Ford Taurus into racing trim,” said the always optimistic defending Winston Cup champion.

Mark Martin, who has not driven in a race since undergoing back surgery after last year’s final race, will start on the pole in the Bud Shootout. Starting positions were determined by a drawing.

Martin is also defending champion.

Although the Shootout is only 25 laps of green-flag racing (yellow caution flag laps do not count), it has a mandatory green flag pit stop in which crews must change right-side tires.

Alongside Martin on the front row will be Sterling Marlin in a Chevrolet. Others in the lineup, in order, are Tony Stewart, Ward Burton, Mike Skinner, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, David Green, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, Kevin Lepage, Joe Nemechek, Kenny Irwin, Rusty Wallace and the qualifying race winner.

Jarrett will start from the third row in the qualifier. Ricky Craven will be on the pole in a Chevrolet, followed by Fords driven by Jimmy Spencer, Jeff Burton and Rick Mast. Starting last will be two-time Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte.

The Bud Shootout winner will receive $115,000, the qualifier winner $26,000 and a chance to race 25 more laps.