Making a big mystique

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002 | 9:55 a.m.

Most wins: Richard Petty 7; Cale Yarborough 4; Bobby Allison and Dale Jarrett 3; Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin and Jeff Gordon 2.

Wins from the pole: Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott 2; Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett 1.

Consecutive wins: Richard Petty (1973 and 1974); Cale Yarborough (1983 and 1984); Sterling Marlin (1994 and 1995).

Most starts without a win: Dave Marcis, 32.

Active winless streaks: Dave Marcis 32; Ricky Rudd 24; Terry Labonte 23; Kyle Petty 20; Rusty Wallace 19; Mark Martin and Ken Schrader 17.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR stands alone as the only major sport that starts its season with its biggest event -- the Daytona 500.

"The Great American Race," as it is known, is to NASCAR what the Super Bowl is to the NFL. It may be just one of 36 points-paying races on the Winston Cup Series circuit each year, but the Daytona 500 is far from just another race.

Drivers have a hard time articulating why Daytona -- considered the birthplace of stock-car racing -- is so special. But all agree that the race is steeped in tradition and a win in the 500 can define a driver's career.

Michael Waltrip won last year's Daytona 500 after making 462 Winston Cup starts without a victory. To this day, he struggles to explain what winning the race has meant to him.

"It has changed people's perception of me," Waltrip said of his 2001 win. "It has helped me to feel good about my career. It's like putting something good on your resume (and) anytime you can do that, it's a good thing."

Watching a Daytona 500 often can be as difficult as trying to describe the race's mystique. There typically are as many storylines as cars in the field -- 43 -- and this year's race should prove to be no different.

In no particular order, here are a few of the major stories that will play out during Sunday's 44th running of the Daytona 500:

Last Sunday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona was the first time cars have run competitively under the new rules and most drivers agreed the new aero package will allow for safer racing.

"I think the new rules reward the teams that worked harder and smarter over the off-season," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second in the Shootout. "Anybody could lead the race under the old rules but now the best cars will really come to the front and, hopefully, stay there."

Fans may prefer to see cars bunched up, with multiple passes for the lead, but two-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon said the drivers prefer racing under the current rules.

"It's not what we had before but you're not going to make everyone happy," Gordon said. "If they're going to make the drivers happy, a rules package similar to this will make more of the (drivers) happy.

"If they want to make the fans happy, then go back to the old rules. I'd rather be a spectator, actually, with the old rules. I felt more comfortable out there and enjoyed it (with these new rules)."

But "Junior," as he is known in the garage area, has backed up his newfound celebrity with results on the track. He won two races as a rookie in 2000 and scored two of his three wins last season at restrictor-plate tracks -- including the July race at Daytona.

Earnhardt comes into the Daytona 500 as the favorite and the brash 27-year-old doesn't shy away from being placed in that position.

"I think we should be among the favorites," he said. "I'm proud of that, mainly because this is only our third year in Winston Cup.

"We were so dominant on the superspeedways last year that I was worried about being competitive this year with the new aerodynamic rules. But we showed in the Budweiser Shootout that we were just as strong as we were before."

Jimmie Johnson, a 26-year-old with only three Winston Cup starts, captured the pole during last Saturday's first-round qualifying. Johnson is driving a Chevrolet that is co-owned by Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick.

Starting beside Johnson will be another 26-year-old -- second-year driver Kevin Harvick.

"Could be one heck of a wreck, couldn't it?" Johnson replied when asked about having two such youthful drivers on the front row for Sunday's race.

While Johnson has made only three Cup starts, Harvick made 35 starts for Richard Childress Racing following Dale Earnhardt's death last February. Harvick won two races last season and had 16 top-10 finishes in Winston Cup and also won three races and the championship in the NASCAR Busch Series.

The Fords have picked up speed during practice, but at least one Chevy driver said the rules change doesn't necessarily mean the Fords will have the car to beat on Sunday.

"It hasn't changed (the balance of power) much," Gordon said. "In the draft, I don't even think you'll be able to see a difference there. You might see a little bit of speed that helps them, and that's fine."

Ford drivers say they believe the playing field has been leveled with the rule change, but now some Dodge and Pontiac teams are claiming they are at a disadvantage because of their spoiler heights.

The rear spoiler height for Fords is now 6 inches. Chevrolets have a 6 1/4-inch rear spoiler while Dodges and Pontiacs are at 6 1/2 inches.

It is believed NASCAR may make another rules change for the Dodges prior to Sunday's race if today's 125-mile qualifying races show they are at a disadvantage.

At least one team owner, Richard Petty, said enough is enough.

"(The playing field) never has been level and it sure ain't this time," Petty said. "I don't think there is any one answer.

"This year (NASCAR has) been jacking around with the rules like they do every year. It's going to be good for somebody and it's going to hurt somebody. There's no way of making it even all the way through."