Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Rusty has last chance to fill in the blank

Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 | 9:40 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.

His 0-for-22 record in the Daytona 500 notwithstanding, Rusty Wallace said he is loaded with confidence heading into next weekend's 47th running of "the Great American Race."

Wallace, who is retiring from NASCAR Nextel Cup racing at the end of this season, said he is obsessed with adding a Daytona 500 title to a racing resume that includes 55 career Cup victories and the 1989 series championship.

"I'm pretty possessed on winning that race," Wallace said. "I know I've got one shot left. I feel like I've got a great car going down there (and) I'm going down there with a lot of optimism."

But if he were to end his career without having won a Daytona 500, Wallace said he didn't feel his resume would be lacking.

"There'd be a small void in there but, hey, I've won a lot of races, you know," Wallace said. "I've got a lot of poles, a lot of wins and did a lot of cool things, so I'm real confident with all my accomplishments, I really am.

"But one void is Daytona -- no doubt about that. I think that's one of the biggest tracks we go to that I'd like to get the job done at. Daytona's the one I really want."

Not only has Wallace never won a Daytona 500, he is winless in 43 career points races at Daytona International Speedway. His best career finish on the historic track was his second-place effort in the July 2002 Pepsi 400 and his best 500 finish is third in 2001.

As he prepares for his final Daytona 500, Wallace said he couldn't help but reflect on the late Dale Earnhardt, who didn't win a Daytona 500 until his 20th try, in 1998.

"Even though we're still looking for the first win, we've been close and I can't help but think back about what all Dale went through before he finally won the Daytona 500 back in '98," Wallace said. "Man, for years before he finally pulled it off, he'd look like he had the thing all wrapped up and something would happen at the very end.

"But the bottom line is that he finally cashed in there in '98 and that year at Daytona will always be special in my mind. There were a lot of tears of joy shed at Daytona that day and it was certainly a race they'll recall forever; I know I will. It'll be a pretty emotional day for us, too, if and when we can finally pull it off."

HENDRICK TABS FERNANDEZ: Hendrick Motorsports announced this week that veteran open-wheel driver Adrian Fernandez, a Mexican native, would drive the team's No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series race March 6 in Mexico City.

"I am honored by this opportunity to be part of Lowe's, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR," Fernandez said of his NASCAR debut. "I know race fans in Mexico are excited about the race and I think everyone in the sport will see just how many fans there are in Mexico. I have watched NASCAR races on television all of my life and now I get the opportunity to see what it is all about."

Fernandez won three races and finished fifth in the Indy Racing League standings in 2004 after an 11-year career in the Champ Car World Series. Fernandez announced last month that he would not drive this season in the IRL due to a lack of funding but would concentrate as his role as the car owner for driver Scott Sharp.

Las Vegas native Kyle Busch will drive the No. 5 Lowe's Chevrolet next weekend at Daytona, March 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Aug. 13 at Watkins Glen International. Rookies Blake Feese and Boston Reid will drive the car for a minimum of 13 races each.

GAUGHAN LANDS SPONSOR: Jasper Engines and Transmissions will sponsor Brendan Gaughan's No. 77 Dodge truck for 18 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, officials from Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing announced Thursday.

In addition to the race sponsorship, the Indiana-based engine and transmission remanufacturer also has formed a technology alliance with Orleans Racing that will cover all of its racing programs this season. Jasper Engines and Transmissions served as a co-sponsor on Gaughan's NASCAR Nextel Cup car last season.

"Brendan has won truck races in the past and we look forward to partnering with him for many more," said Zach Bawel, Jasper's vice president of sales. "Our associates and customers have enjoyed our relationship this past year and we look to build on this in the future. Brendan is a competitor and I know he will be in the winner's circle soon."

Gaughan, who won six races and finished fourth in the Truck Series championship in 2003, will debut the truck's new paint scheme in the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 next Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. Orleans Racing also fields the No. 62 Dodge truck for driver Steve Park.

NEW COLORS: Crown Royal, the first hard-liquor brand to sign a sponsorship deal in NASCAR after the sanctioning body lifted its ban on such advertisements, will sponsor Kurt Busch's No. 97 Ford in Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor on Busch's car at selected races this season, including the Brickyard 400, and will be an associate sponsor for the remaining races. Crown Royal also will debut a NASCAR-themed television commercial this week promoting responsible drinking.

FULLER BACK IN TOP FUEL: Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller is returning to the NHRA Top Fuel category this season after a nine-year absence and will drive the Valvoline/Mac Tools dragster for David Powers Motorsports. Fuller reactivated his Top Fuel license Jan. 30 at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix.

"I'm still waiting to wake up from this dream," Fuller said. "I've been waiting for the right opportunity to get back into Top Fuel, and this is it."

Chris Russell, brother of the late Darrell Russell, will serve as team manager and co-crew chief with Richard Hogan.

The new team plans to compete at a minimum of 14 national events this year, including this weekend's season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

GILBERTSON FINED: The NHRA has fined Funny Car driver Bob Gilbertson $15,000 and placed him on two years probation for an incident that occurred last weekend during testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Gilbertson was fined for the "irresponsible and unsafe operation of a rental car" in the pit area, according to the sanctioning body. Gilbertson allegedly ran over a scooter, which caused his rental car to catch fire, and then failed to remain at the scene of the accident.

In addition to the fine and probation, Gilbertson is required to reimburse LVMS for all property damages and direct expenses resulting from this incident, according to the NHRA.