LaJoie and pain
Veteran wins Busch race as rookies falter at finish
Posted: Saturday February 13, 1999 04:14 PM
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LaJoie (right) captured his 12th career victory and second in three years in this race. AP |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- For Randy LaJoie, winning the wild Busch Series season opener was simply a matter of experience -- and survival.
The two-time series champion avoided the wrecks that wiped out half the field Saturday at Daytona International Speedway on the way to his second victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 300.
"What a great way to start a season," said LaJoie, who won ahead of Jeff Green and Andy Hillenburg. "I seen them coming, but I could keep them at bay a little bit."
Reigning series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr., who unseated LaJoie last season, was among drivers whose chances were destroyed by crashes.
Another was 18-year-old Casey Atwood, whose airborne, end-over-end wreck with a lap remaining was the most spectacular of all the accidents.
Atwood, one of many young, inexperienced drivers in NASCAR's second-tier series, was tapped on his rear bumper by Hillenburg, sending him into the wall on the front straightaway. The car turned onto its roof, skidded to the infield grass and rolled over four times.
"It was a pretty wild ride," said Atwood, who was not injured. "I always wondered what that felt like."
The crash brought out the last of six cautions, giving the 37-year-old LaJoie his 12th career victory and second in three years in this race.
Earnhardt, a winner seven times last year, wound up 14th. That was still an accomplishment since he had to start near the rear of the field because of a five-car accident he caused a day earlier in practice.
The 24-year-old driver had an impressive run. He moved all the way to second, but was involved in a seven-car accident as the field was coming up to speed for a restart on the 77th of 120 laps.
After a 10-car wreck 11 laps later, only 23 of 43 starters were on the track.
While Earnhardt dominated NASCAR's second-biggest series last year, Lajoie searched in vain for the combination that brought him championships in 1996-97.
The victory came in LaJoie's first effort for James Finch. LaJoie left BACE Motorsports, for whom he won his titles.
With the victory Saturday, LaJoie continued a run of success in the race for series regulars. Busch Grand National drivers have won three of the last five years after Winston Cup crossover racers took 14 in a row.
Seven of those victories and five straight through 1994 were by Dale Earnhardt, who on Sunday defends his Daytona 500 title. The seven-time Winston Cup champion owns his son's car but no longer drives in the Busch Series.
Finishing fourth was Matt Kenseth, followed by Bobby Hillin and another of NASCAR's kiddy corps, 18-year-old Adam Petty, grandson of seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty.
"This is like a bunch of kids jumping into go karts and running around," said the 34-year-old Hillin. "They were doing everything out there except spinning each other out."
The payoff of $90,950 from a record purse of $1.3 million was the largest of LaJoie's career. He has now earned $2.8 million in more than 11 seasons on the Busch circuit.
LaJoie started second, and moved to the front immediately. He led four times for 61 laps, including the final 20.
His average speed, slowed for 27 laps by the six cautions, was 138.391 mph. There were 11 lead changes among seven drivers.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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