Legendary absence

Monday, Feb. 26, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

Last year's NASCAR Winston Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was cut short because of rain.

This year's race also will start under a dark cloud.

The stars of the Winston Cup Series will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the fourth annual UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 without their biggest star.

Dale Earnhardt, a larger-than-life American icon whose popularity transcended auto racing, was killed eight days ago in an accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

His death has rocked a sport that many critics claim has grown accustomed to losing its stars.

"Dale Earnhardt's shoes will never be filled," said former Winston Cup champion and radio and television analyst Ned Jarrett. "Dale Earnhardt was the best race driver there has ever been."

NASCAR president Mike Helton agreed.

"Dale Earnhardt was the driver for NASCAR," Helton said. "He played such an important role in all of our energy level and enthusiasm that has built NASCAR to what it is today.

"It's hard to comprehend that the statistic sheets for Dale Earnhardt are now permanent, but it's real easy to understand that Dale Earnhardt will be a part of this sport for many generations to come."

Earnhardt, who would have turned 50 in April, was to have played a big role in this weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. As the winner of the Winston 500 last October at Talladega Superspeedway -- his last Winston Cup victory -- Earnhardt was to have been one of the five drivers eligible to claim a $1 million bonus if they were to win Sunday's race in Las Vegas.

Earnhardt no doubt would have given the other eligible drivers -- Kenny Wallace, Joe Nemechek, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte -- a run for the money; in his three Winston Cup starts in Las Vegas, Earnhardt finished in the top 10 in all three races.

Last year, Earnhardt made one of his trademark charges in a race that was plagued by rain. After starting 33rd, Earnhardt drove his No. 3 Chevy Monte Carlo to eighth place before NASCAR officials called the race just past the halfway point.

LVMS officials plan to pay tribute to Earnhardt this weekend by planting 33,333 white and red flowers in the shape of the number "3" on the berm overlooking Turn 4.

There no doubt will be other tributes to Earnhardt this weekend as an estimated 130,000 racing fans will converge on the 1.5-mile superspeedway for the start of Sunday's race. But the passing of a legend won't be the only storyline this week:

The race weekend gets under way Wednesday with the NAPA Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Winston West race at the 3/8-mile Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Pennzoil World of Outlaws opens a three-night show at the half-mile dirt track at LVMS on Thursday.

Practice and qualifying for the Winston Cup and Busch Series cars will be held Friday.