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AP Notebook Marcis off the mark for first time since 1978
Posted: Thursday February 17, 2000 09:40 PM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Barring a last-second surprise, Dave Marcis will miss his first Daytona 500 since 1978. Marcis' 32-year string of consecutive starts probably came to an end when he finished 17th in the second qualifying race Thursday, not high enough to make the top 36 in the field. The 58-year-old driver is no longer eligible for one of the seven provisional spots in the lineup. The only way he'll make the field would be in the unlikely event he finds an owner willing to change drivers in midstream. "There are a lot of good sponsors here that have good cars in the race," he said. "Maybe they want a veteran in there." Others who missed the field included the Bodine brothers, Brett and Geoffrey, the 1986 Daytona 500 champion. But it seems there will be no more noteworthy driver missing than Marcis, who will probably remain tied with Richard Petty for the most career starts (32) in stock-car racing's premier event. "It's a big disappointment," Marcis said. "It's going to be tough even watching it. I don't know what I'll do. I guess I'll go home if I don't find a ride."
Chippy DaleDale Earnhardt also had an impressive streak stopped. The Intimidator failed to win a qualifying race for the first time since 1989. As disappointing as that may have been, it was the state of the new Chevrolets and NASCAR's new shock and suspension rules that had Earnhardt fuming after the race. "It's a joke to have to drive a race car under those conditions, to take the crew chief and the driver out of it, just throw some springs in and `go boys,' " Earnhardt said. "That's all you've got. The cars that have the best aerodynamic advantage are going to win. It's a damn joke to have to race like this." Earnhardt, who has 33 total victories at Daytona, including 12 in the qualifying races, will start 21st in the Daytona 500. "I heard he's pretty hot," said Ricky Rudd, winner of the second qualifying race. "He's a guy who obviously ought to know something about it. It's a very fine line. It used to be that you just put the shocks on and you were in business, but now you've got to think a little bit more on the deal." Earnhardt's teammate, Mike Skinner, finished second behind Rudd and will start fourth in the 500.
Nemechek makes up for lost timeA day after NASCAR officials disallowed his time for running with an illegal tire setup, Joe Nemechek recorded the fastest speed among those still trying to qualify for the Busch Grand National Series race.Nemechek sped around the 2 1/2-mile Daytona oval at 187.141 mph and will start the NAPA Auto Parts 300 in the 26th spot Saturday, the best position available during second-day qualifying. "Yesterday was kind of a tough day for the whole crew," Nemechek said. "We just want to make sure it gets back through inspection OK and we're ready to race." Nemechek drove a 189.255 mph lap Wednesday, nearly a full 2 mph faster than second-place qualifier Hut Stricklin. NASCAR tested the car for nearly two hours and determined Nemechek's car fell outside the parameters of its weight distribution requirements. The car passed muster Thursday and is the third fastest car in the field behind Stricklin (187.336 mph) and second-place qualifier Ron Hornaday (187.289).
Hope the product has better staying powerIt happens to a lot of other race cars. Really. Rookie Jeff Fuller's car, sponsored by Viagra, finished 25th in the first qualifying race, not good enough to make the field for Sunday's race. Viagra is a first-year Winston Cup sponsor.
Pit Stops
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