Winston Cup points race tightening

David Jones

Sunday, July 2, 2000 | 4:20 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - While Jeff Burton took home his first career victory at Daytona International Speedway in Saturday night's Pepsi 400, Winston Cup points leader Bobby Labonte claimed enough points to hold a narrow lead against the two Dales.

But as the Cup season reaches the halfway point, the points race tightened even more in what could be one of the closest competitions ever.

Labonte leads the field with 2,527 points in his attempt to win his first points title. Dale Earnhardt is second with 2,475 points, while defending champion and Saturday night's Pepsi 400 runner-up Jarrett (2,446) sits third. Ward Burton (2,247) and Jeff Burton (2,199) also are close behind.

A bad weekend for any of the top five could reverse the order drastically and move some others up. Winston Cup has reached that point where any small mistake now can mean a fall of several notches in the standings.

"We're happy where we are," Labonte said. "We didn't have the best run (in the Pepsi 400) but we are halfway through."

Labonte, the runner-up to Jarrett in the points race last season, finished 12th on Saturday night - the worst showing of any among top five in the points standings. But he was close enough not to lose the lead.

Labonte led by 67 points entering the Pepsi 400.

Consistency could be the key this year. NASCAR chief operating officer Mike Helton says the new parity that Winston Cup has discovered this season - with 12 different winners after 17 races - is healthy for the sport.

Sharing the wealth - and the victories - however means the drivers that pile up the thirds, fourths and fifths will have a better shot at the points championship.

"We've got a lot more racing to go," Labonte said. "We know that we've got some good racing coming up for us and anything can happen. We're definitely looking forward to each weekend right now.

"We're positive about it and looking forward to it. (Saturday night), we probably figured was not going to be our best night and you figure that Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett are going to be the favorites (in restrictor plate racing). They beat us, but not as bad as it could have been."

All of the top five cars are capable of scintillating performances to run away from the field. So far though, the parity has kept anyone from dominating the points race as Jarrett did a year ago.

And don't think the drivers are not aware how important each race could be from here on out. For now, Earnhardt Sr. sits in second but all eyes are on Jarrett - who appears to be coming on strong with eight consecutive top 10 finishes.

"Lost 15 or 20 (points) to the 88 (Jarrett) didn't we?" Earnhardt said after Saturday night's race. I want to beat (Jarrett and Labonte). We lost ground on that 88."

As for Burton, Saturday's win proved a personal point. It was his first victory at Daytona and a gutsy decision to change just two tires during the final pit stop was a key.

With little opportunity for passing, Burton's crew chief, Frank Stoddard decided to go for the lead by putting on just two new tires. After the final caution flag came out, creating a sprint to the finish with four laps to go, Burton was uncomfortable with his spot up front.

"I did not want to see the caution coming out," Burton said. "I thought we were better off staying under green. The guy that's leading the race on a restart in a restrictor plate race is a sitting duck and it's hard to do a whole lot about it.

"I was able to watch (Jarrett) and turn when he turned and block him. All of that worked perfect. Some of that was luck, some of that was skill, some of that was being too dumb not to worry about wrecking. It just all worked out."

For Labonte, Saturday worked out well enough, too. He stayed close enough to the front to keep his spot atop the points standings.

And that will be the goal for him the rest of the way. In a year where racing has been more balanced than ever before, staying near the top - and not necessarily finishing there - has become the goal in the Winston Cup points race.