DOVER: NEWMAN "TIRED" OUT- GREEN WINS

Ryan Newman's Alltel #02 Ford was the class of the field leading most of the race, at one time he led by several seconds. That is, until a late caution with 25 laps to go when Newman and the rest of the leaders came in to the pits and took four fresh tires, while Jeff Green and Mike McLaughlin took only two. When the race restarted Newman was back in 4th place in a heated battle with Matt Kenseth and Mike McLaughlin that ended two laps after the restart with Kenseth and McLaughlin in the wall and Newman with severe left side damage.

With his top three threats taking each other out, Jeff Green had to be smiling like the cat that ate the canary! The smile was short lived after the final restart when Kenny Wallace's #48 made quick work of the Greg Biffle for second and began gaining on the lead. Fortunately for Green there wasn't enough time for the #48 to catch up and pass.

While Green and the Nestles Toll House team were celebrating in victory lane, third place finisher, Jimmy Spencer, had his usual double edged comments… "The No. 10 car didn't deserve to win this race, but they made a call and ended up winning it. That's what makes this sport exciting."

Newman's damaged Alltel Ford was only able to complete two more laps before calling it quits and ended up finishing 21st, a hard lesson that you can lead as many laps as you want, but it's only the last lap that counts.

Green made an interesting statement for Dover… "We noticed during the race that new tires didn't mean as much…" What? I have to admit that I have not been all that happy with Goodyear's racing tires the last two seasons, but it looks like they finally got something right. Especially, when you consider the rough and tire grating concrete surface at Dover.

TOP TEN

1. Jeff Green #10
2. Kenny Wallace #48
3. Jimmy Spencer #1
4. Chad Little #74
5. Greg Biffle #60
6. Kevin LePage #71
7. Tony Raines #33
8. Hank Parker Jr. #36
9. Randy LaJoie #7
10. Matt Kenseth #17

FOLLOW UP…

Greg Biffle and Jay Sauter were both fined for their altercation at Richmond 2 weeks ago. Biffle, who punched Sauter, received a $15,000 fine and lost 100 driver points. Jay Sauter was fined $10,000 and was docked 100 driver points and an additional 100 owner points. Both drivers were put on probation until December 31, 2001.

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