Two for the road

Junior, Harvick ready to challenge for Winston Cup

Two drivers, linked by The Intimidator, will be watched closely as the Bud Shootout lifts the lid on the 2003 NASCAR season.

One, Dale Earnhardt Jr., because he is a preseason favorite to not only win the Great American Race, but also the Winston Cup.

The other, Kevin Harvick, because after taking over the GM Goodwrench ride, he's been up and down more times than an elevator operator at the Empire State Building.

Little E. has become the face of NASCAR for those who tap their feet to MTV2. Harvick has people tapping their feet, waiting for him to capitalize on the flashes of brilliance shown in 2001 after Dale Earnhardt's death.

Not surprisingly, Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick have different views on the famed 2 1/2-mile track.

"I don't exactly remember the first time I came here, but the first I can recall was when Greg Sacks won [the Firecracker 400 on July 4, 1985]," says Junior, who was 10 years old at the time. "I watched it in that little scoring stand down there in Turn One. That's where all the kids and wives went.

"The first time you came in here, you didn't see it all. Every time you come in here you see something different -- just because this place is so big. It's a good feeling [being here]."

As for Harvick, he's not much for looking back. He appreciates the legacy of Dale Earnhardt -- six Bud Shooutout wins, 12 qualifying race victories and three points-race wins at Daytona -- but prefers to focus on his future with Richard Childress Racing.

"The way I look at that, things have changed so much in the past couple of years at RCR that you can't look at it like that anymore. We need to be looking toward what happens in 2003 and beyond, then make distinctions using those records."

While Earnhardt Jr. hangs with the likes of rap star Ludacris and shows his home for Cribs, Harvick continues to battle a perceived image problem, stemming largely from his one-race Winston Cup suspension last season for rough driving in a Truck series race.

As SpeedWeeks get under way, both drivers know a good start is paramount to a good season. Earnhardt Jr. finished 29th in the Daytona 500 last year, but rebounded with top-five finishes in six of the next eight races. He went on to finish 11th in points.

Harvick, who finished 36th in the season opener, continued to struggle through the early part of the season, not truly getting back on track until Chicago, where he began a string of six top-10s in seven races. He evantually finished 21st in points.

The drivers' first chance to knock the rust off comes under the lights Saturday in the Shootout, a made-for-TV event featuring the previous season's pole winners and past champs of the Busch Clash/Bud Shootout.

"First off, it's a great way to get some race practice in before qualifying and the big one the next weekend," says Harvick. "Also, everyone is in it to win, whether there are points involved or not, because this race kicks off our season.

"You can only learn so much from testing, and after a while you need times like this to make sure you're going in the right direction. It's really when you get in the action with cars around you that you know it's time to go racing again. All we can do is hope we're ready. Honestly, I've never felt as prepared for a season as I do this year."

Qualifying is Sunday, when the front row will be set, then the Twin 125s on Feb. 13 will fill out the field.

Little E. contends being a Daytona 500 favorite is "a great feeling."

"I think we should be favorites, based on performance the last few years," he says. "I like walking into the garage on the first day and holding my head high because the DEI [Dale Earnhardt Inc.] teams are the ones to beat on superspeedways. It's almost like we have half the field psyched out before we start."

Both drivers sound confident enough, but doesn't everyone before the green flag drops? Now it's time to step into the spotlight and see who blinks first.

B. Duane Cross is a senior producer for CNNSI.com.

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