Running down a dream
Drivers continue pursuit of NASCAR's crown jewel
Posted: Monday February 15, 1999 03:40 PM
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Dale Earnhardt celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the 125-mile qualifying race. AP |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (CNN/SI) -- It covers just 2,000 feet of the facility's 20 million-plus square feet, but the mystique of Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway is immeasurable.
It is a sacred place. Only 26 drivers ever have visited NASCAR's shrine. Just six have been there more than once. The magic of climbing out of the car at Victory Lane will do wonders for a driver's career.
Just ask the drivers who have been there.
"No matter what takes place before or after a Daytona 500 win," said '93 and '96 champion Dale Jarrett, "you're always talked about as a Daytona 500 champion."
In this decade, seven different drivers have felt the glory of taking the checkered flag at Daytona 500, which is the first race of the NASCAR season. Three times, it was the only race the driver won all season.
But it was the one that mattered.
"When I did it I said, 'Wow, what do I do now?,'" 1985 champion Geoff Bodine said. "I mean, it meant the world to me. It meant I fulfilled my dream."
And to the guys who have never been to Victory Lane, the dream is magnified that much more. Ask the guys who haven't been there.
- Ricky Rudd: 0-for-21
- Terry Labonte: 0-for-20
- Kyle Petty: 0-for-17
- Rusty Wallace: 0-for-16
- Mark Martin: 0-for-14
This veteran quintet has combined for 125 Winston Cup wins -- but not one in NASCAR's premier event. Like Dale Earnhardt before them, they are constantly hounded by that one annoying question.
When are you going to win the Daytona 500?
"It would mean a lot to me to win the Daytona 500," said Wallace, who will start from the 10th spot Sunday. "It wouldn't be everything in the world. But it would be dog-gone close to it."
Labonte, meanwhile, has finishing second at Daytona down pat. He has been the runner-up on three occasions, including to Jeff Gordon in 1997.
NASCAR's "Ironman" will start in his 603rd straight race on Sunday. He has won 20 career races. He has won two Winston Cup championships. There is only one little thing missing from his illustrious career.
OK, one big thing.
"If I could pick a race to win, this one would be at the top of the list," Labonte said. "If you could win this race it would definitely be the biggest win of your career."
Martin, meanwhile, has won 29 races. He has finished in the top 10 in the points standings for 10 straight years. He doesn't think that failing to drive his Ford to Victory Lane at Daytona will diminish his accomplishments.
Then again, he doesn't want to think about not ever winning the Daytona 500.
"I've had a great career and I'm real proud of what I've been able to accomplish," Martin said. "I don't lose any sleep over not winning one yet."
Earnhardt still insists he didn't need last year's win -- which came in his 20th attempt -- to validate an already stellar career. But this year, that opinion is open for debate.
"Earnhardt lie? Come on, give me a break," Bodine said. "I'm not going to touch that one."
And last year, no one could touch Earnhardt. Or his car.
As part of a pre-race agreement, the Daytona 500 winner is required to donate his car to the Daytona USA Museum for one year. That means in the early hours of Sunday morning, Dale Earnhardt will reclaim this black magic Chevrolet and one very special item -- the lucky penny he taped to the dashboard the morning of the race.
Whatever works. This year, 42 other drivers will be searching for their lucky charm -- as well as Victory Lane.
"All the emphasis really goes to this race," said Sterling Marlin, one of three drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s. "It's our Super Bowl. It's the biggest paying race that we've got and everybody wants to win it."
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