Be Safe, Not Sorry
Daytona testing, Petty Enterprises in 2002, A.J. Foyt Racing, Rolex 24, and NBC questions and comments.
Around the Track……….
Daytona Testing
The first round of testing from January 7th to the 9th at Daytona is in the books. The second round is coming up this week from the 14th to the 16th. It is really no surprise to see the Dodge with the fastest speeds. Dodges were really fast on restrictor plate tracks last season also, but so were the Chevrolets when the time came for the checkered flag to fly.
The GM people are already carping about the Pontiacs not getting any help, and they are accusing the Ford people of sandbagging. It may come to pass that some of the Chevrolet teams are also sandbagging. The fact that rookie Jimmy Johnson had one of the fastest speeds with a Chevrolet is rather mute, but Kenny Wallace was up to speed with DEI’s No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet, only four thousandths off of Burton’s speed. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was also near the top of the charts in Daytona testing, following a stellar season in restrictor plate racing.
We will know more about the testing situation next week when the second group have completed their tests. Kenny Wallace was rather guarded about his time. He made the statement that the real proof will be in the pudding when they return for Qualifying and the run the Twin 125’s. Wallace claims that the track will be really greasy and slippery from the Rolex 24 hour race. The racecars will act differently in the draft under those conditions, and then the aero changes made by NASCAR will be put to the most important test.
Petty Enterprises in 2002
Robin Pemberton has returned to Level Cross, NC to rejoin Petty Enterprises after an absence of nearly 20 years. Pemberton was tired of the constant traveling and the grueling Winston Cup schedule that was keeping him away from his family. He was Rusty Wallace’s crew chief on the Penske No. 2 miller Lite Ford for seven seasons. Pemberton’s 17 year career as a Cup crew chief amounted to 23 wins with three different drivers, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, and Kyle Petty. His best season was in 1996 when he guided Wallace to five wins, and his second best may have been Wallace’s fourth place finish in points in 1998.
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