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2000 Season Finale......© Thomas M. Sampson
Nov 20, 2000
An era comes to a close, Kmart pulls out, and the NAPA 500 from Atlanta.
Coming to a Close.......
The season finale will be the career finale for Ned Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip, and Larry McReynolds. I have already written about Ned Jarrett in a previous article, so I have to turn my attention to "Jaws" as he ends his full time driving career. Although DW has not been very productive of late, 84 career wins and three Winston Cup Championships are something to be very proud of.
I think it will be very interesting to see the particular type of broadcasting technique DW develops during the first half of next season. His penchant for speaking his mind on some of NASCAR's rules and policies over the years has me wondering if he will continue this in the TV announcer's booth where he will have a much larger audience.
DW has let it be known that he expects to be free during the last half of next season, and may offer his services as a "back-up" driver if needed. I have to comment on the great job he did for DEI while substituting for Steve Park in the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet when he was laid up with a broken leg from his bad wreck in Texas. It just goes to show what DW can do with good equipment under him and a crew he can trust. Good luck DW, we will see you on the TV!
Larry McReynolds will be giving up his team uniform after Atlanta, ending a 14-year stint as a crew chief. He will be in the TV booth for Fox next season, beginning a new career in broadcast journalism. His attention to minute detail has made him one of the best crew chiefs in the business. In 456 races, Larry Mac has led teams to 23 wins, 98 top fives, and 183 top tens. He is also credited with guiding his teams to winning 21 Bud Poles.
We have all seen Larry on the TV quite a few times, and he seems to have a unique, down to earth style in his broadcasting efforts. I think he will be very easy to get used to watching on the tube, and we will all learn from his knowledge on the modern technical aspects of Cup racing. But, unlike Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, and Darrell Waltrip, Larry was not a Cup driver, so he will not be able to tell us much about what it is like out on the track.
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