Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Smaller fuel cells to be used at Talladega

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

In an attempt to break up the big packs of cars that are commonplace in restrictor-plate races, NASCAR is reducing the size of the cars' fuel cells for Sunday's Winston Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

John Andretti, whose first Winston Cup victory came in a restrictor-plate race at Daytona in July 1997, said he believes the smaller fuel cells (about 13 gallons as opposed to 22) will change racing at Talladega but is not convinced it will produce the desired result.

"The smaller fuel is going to make things different," Andretti said. "If the packs are broken up (by pit stops), I think it will be better but the jury is still out on that happening.

"There have been a lot of times when we have seen a lot of guys race pretty hard to pit road, and things can happen there, too. Nothing is a perfect scenario but at least NASCAR is trying something."

Andretti said he doesn't think the smaller fuel cells and increased number of pit stops will handicap the teams that historically have been strong -- such as Dale Earnhardt, Inc. -- at restrictor-plates tracks.

"I don't think this is going to be such a 'wild card' race like so many have been saying," Andretti said. "I still think the guys who have good plate programs will run up front. If you're at the front, you pit at the front. You can have a little problem and still be all right.

"There will probably be a caution or two mixed in there, especially with everyone continuing to pit. Other guys are going to have other problems, too. It's just going to keep spiraling around. I mean one bad pit stop could take you out of the race if it ends up going green all day. I don't know if that's going to happen, especially with the number of times we are going to be hitting pit road."

NASCAR reportedly was fed up with ESPN's failure to promote the Truck Series this year after moving its Winston Cup and Busch Series telecasts from ESPN to FOX and NBC last season.

Larry Black won the 200-lap Bullring Bomber Grand Enduro and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Carl Edwards won the 25-lap Baby Grands main event.

"Going straight ahead at 215 miles per hour isn't that big of a deal after a while. Going sideways after running 215 is a major deal, believe me."