CNNSI.com's B. Duane Cross offers three points to ponder for Darlington

1	Will being on the pole make a difference this week?

Dale Jarrett AP If history is any indication, no. Since Darlington began running two races (1957), the pole-sitter has won nine times in the spring race. In fact, only two drivers have tamed Darlington from the spring's top spot more than once: David Pearson won in 1972, '73 and '76, and Fred Lorenzen in 1961 and '64. Dale Jarrett (1997) was the last driver to win from the pole in this race. Bill Elliott (1985) is the only other active driver with a No. 1 starting spot win. Richard Petty (1966) and Dale Earnhardt (1993) also won from the pole.

2	Will this be where Jeff Gordon steps up?

Jeff Gordon AP Y'all remember Jeff, the four-time Winston Cup champion last seen celebrating in Victory Lane on Sept. 30, 2001, at Kansas City -- a span of 12 points races. After beginning the season with consecutive top-10s, Gordon has posted finishes of 17th and 16th. He now stands 11th in the standings, the second week in a row that he's fallen. But change may beckon at the track "Too Tough to Tame." Gordon has five wins at Darlington, tied with Bill Elliott for the most among active drivers. However, all of Gordon's victories came during a seven-race stretch between 1995-98.

3	Which points contender may stumble this week?

Sterling Marlin David Taylor/Allsport Sterling Marlin rules the roost after four races, but Darlington probably isn't his favorite track. His fifth-place finish in this race last year was only his fifth top-five at Darlington since he became a series regular in 1983. And aside from his victory in 1995, he hasn't finished higher than fourth. In all Darlington races, Marlin has eight top-fives (still, nothing better than a fourth), so it's not like he gets better in the fall. That's good news for Ward Burton and Mark Martin, who trail Marlin by 74, 80 and 88 points, respectively. Burton won this race in 2000, while Martin has eight top-five finishes in the spring.