1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Texas 500

>>> IT'S RACE DAY, IN TEXAS. THE LAST MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MADE. ♪♪ ROUCH RACING TEAMMATES MARK MARTIN AND JEFF BURTON HAVE TERROR ICED THIS MATERIAL. BURTON CRUISED TO HIS FIRST WYNTON CUP WIN AND LAST YEAR MARTIN CARRIED THE CHECKERS. THIS YEAR, JEFF GORDON. TEXAS TERRY LABONTE. DALE JARRETT. AND POLE SITTER KENNY IRWIN ALL REVVING UP TO TAME THIS TEXAS TORNADO OF A TRACK. IT'S THE TEXAS 500, NEXT. CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CBS. >> THEY ARE HERE, SOME 200,000 STRONG. NASCAR'S ARMY. THE FANS THAT MAKE UP THE TEXAS CHAPTER MEETING FOR THE THIRD TIME TO WAVE THEIR COLORS FOR THEIR AMERICAN HERE ROSE, EARN HARLT, JARRETT, GORDON, THE BURTONS, THE LABONTES. THEY ARE READY TO FIGHT AND FLY THEIR WAY AROUND THIS 1.5 MILE TRACK JUST NORTH OF DALLAS. YESTERDAY, 100,000 ENDURING RAIN AND COLD TO SEE MARK MARTIN VICTOROUS. DOUBLE THAT NUMBER ON ANOTHER GRAY AND COOL DAY AND YOU HAVE THE SETTING FOR THE TEXAS 500. A GOOD, GOOD DAY TO YOU. KEN SQUIER AS WE AWAIT THE START OF THE THIRD ANNUAL TEXAS 500. $4 MILLION IS AT STAKE THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE 43 STARTERS ON THIS MILE AND A HALF TRACK THAT HAS BEEN TOTALLY RECONFIGURED. IT'S A DIFFERENT TRA THAN WE HA SN BEFORE. THEY MADE EVERY EFFORT TO AVERT THE HAVOC WE SAW IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS. IT'S WORKING VERY WELL. WE WILL GET BACK TO MORE ON THAT SHORTLY. WE WANT TO GET RIGHT NOW TO THE MAN ON THE POLE, THE GUY EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT. BACK ON FRIDAY, 28, THE ROBERT YATES CAR. REMEMBER ROBERT YATES HAS GONE WITH RELATIVE UNKWN BEFORE. YEARS AGO A GUY NAMED DAVEY ALLISON. NOW IT'S KENNY IRWIN. 190-PLUS MILES AN HOUR TO GO ON TO THE POLE. IT WAS ONE BEAUTIFUL RUN. LET'S FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT. RALPH SHEHEEN. >> IT'S ACTUALLY THE SECOND CAER POLE FOR KNY HIS FIRST 199. TELL ME ABOUT THE LAP ON THIS NEW TRACK. HOW TOUGH IS THE TRACK TODAY? >> I MEAN IT'S FAST. DON'T GET ME WRONG. IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR. THAT'S PROBABLY THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FIXES THAT THEY DID IN TURN ONE MADE IT SO MUCH FASTER. WE JUST -- ON FRIDAY WE CUT A GOOD LAP. IT DIDN'T FEEL GOOD BUT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO SIT ON THE POLE. >> YOU WILL START ON THE INSIDE. IS THAT A BIG ADVANTAGE IN THE OPENING LAPS? >> I BELIEVE EVERYBODY ON THE INSIDE WILL HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER AND LETS EVERYBODY GET DOWN. I THINK BY 500 MILES ON THIS TRACK AND WEARING A SECOND GROOVE IN, IT WILL MAKE FOR SOME RACING ON THE OUT SIDE. YOU WON'T SEE IT ALL DAY LONG. >> Reporter: KENNY WON THE INAUGUST YOU AREAL TRUCK SERIES RACE HERE. >> THIS MAN HAS WON THREE RACES HERE. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LUCK HERE. WHAT'S THE SECRET? >> SOME OF WHAT U SAID, LUCK. THE BUSCH CAR WORKED WELL HERE. WE HAVE A GOOD CHASSIS SETUP GOING THROUGH THE CORNER. VALVOLINE HAS A GREAT CAR FOR THIS RACE. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW YOU FINISH THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL. AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING. WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT TODAY. >> MARK WON THE BUSCH RACE YESTERDAY. FOUR TIMES HE WON THE BUSCH AND WINSTON CUP RACE IN THE SAME WEEKEND. BACK TO YOU. >> HIS 36th VICTORY YESTERDAY WAS ONE THAT WAS MARKED BY A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK, A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS ABOUT THE WEATHER. MUCH OF THE DAY THEY PLAYED THE RAIN GAME IN THE MAIN STRAIGHTAWAY. WHEN THEY GOT TO RACING, IT WAS SERIOUS STUFF. THE FIRST 73 LAPS, UNMARKED BY CAUTION. THEN THEY HAD A SCATTER OF THEM ALL OVER THE TRACK. WHEN IT WAS OVER, MARK MARTIN WAS PRAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO FURTHER. 33 LAPS SHY, THEY CALL TTD A DAY. THERE YOU SEE THE STANDINGS FROM THAT EVENT WITH MARK MARTIN COMING OUT VICTOROUS. NOW AS TO THIS TRACK, DRAMATIC CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS FACILITY. THE FIRST TWO YEARS THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS ABOUT IT. THE TRACK MANAGER HAD A CHANG TO TALK WITH HIM. OR DICK DID. THIS IS HOW IT WENT. >> YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A JOB HERE. YOU HAVE BUILT THE SECOND BIGGEST STADIUM IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU BUILT A BIG SPEEDWAY CLUB, A CONDO PROJECT HERE. HOW BIG A RISK WAS IT PUTTING ALL THIS MONEY IN? >> NASCAR DOESN'T AWARD YOU A DATE. YOU HAVE TO BUILDHE SPEEDWAY AND APPLY FOR YOUR DATES. THAT'S WHAT WE DID. IT'S A BIG LEAP OF FAITH. IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR US. FOR US AND FOR NASCAR. >> ALL OF THAT'S BEEN GREAT. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS HERE. THE DRIVERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SURFACE OF THE TRACK, THE WAY THE STRAIGHTAWAY TRANSITION INTO THE TURNS. YOU HAVE DONE WORK TO FIX THAT AND PRESENT THE CRASHES WE HAVE SEEN. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? >> LAST YEAR WE TOOK UP THE TRACK IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RACE. WE REPAVED THE WHOLE PLACE. WE CHANGED THE TRANSITION. HERE WAS A CRITICAL POINT IN ONE. IT STARTS EARLIER THAN IT DID BEFORE. BEFORE THE GUYS WOULD TURN THE CAR INTO THE CORNER, BUT IT WAS FLAT. THE LAST SECOND THE BANKING CAME UP AND CAUGHT THE CAR. IN TURN FOUR THEY CAME OFF THE CORNER AND IT WOULD DROP. NOW WE HAVE PULLED IT FURTHER DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. IT'S A SLOWER TAPER. WE HAVE HOPE THEY LIKE WHAT WE HAVE DONE. THROUGH THE TESTING WE HAVE HEARD GOOD TESTING. WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES TODAY. >> HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU SPENT DOING THIS? >> YOU ARE ON ABOUT A QUARTER BILLION DOLLAR DOLLARS HERE. THAT'S THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN MOTORSPORT IN ONE PLACE. >> WATER WAS A PROBLEM. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? >> WHEN WE TOOK UP THE ASPHALT, WE BUT IN A DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THAT WAS A WET SPRING LAST YEAR. WE HAD TO GET THE WATER A PLACE TO GO. WHAT WAS UNDER THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT. THERE IS A DRAINAGE SYSTEM. IT DUMPED INTO A STORM SEWER. SINCE WE HAVE DONE THAT, NO PROBLEMS. >> IT'S YOUR THIRD TRY. ARE YOU CONFIDENT ALL THE PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED? >> THIS IS RUNNING A CITY OF 220,000 PEOPLE TODAY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. WE HOPE THE DRIVERS LIKE WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GRACE RACE THIS AFTERNOON. >> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THE DRIVERS FACE IS EVERY TIME THEY HAVE COME TO TEXT, THE TRACK HAS HAD SOMETHING OF A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION. THAT HAS MEANT THAT EACH DRIVER HAS HAD TO FIND THE LINE WITH WHAT AMOUNTS TO A NEW TRACK. WE WILL SEE WHO IS TO GO THE BEST JOB OF FINDING THE LINE TODAY. >> THANK YOU. DICK. THIS FELLOW HAS QUITE A BUSY TO-TO DO LIST. SOMEHOW LAST NIGHT HE FOUND TIME GET HIMSELF MARRIED OVER HERE IN THE SPEEDWAY CLUB. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL THE BEST FOR A GOOD LIFE. >> WE ARE BACK FOR THE TEXAS 500 LIVE THIS AFTERNOON. 58 DEGREES AND OVERCAST HERE. THE DALLAS AREA. COUNTDOWN IS CONTINUING. EVERYBODY'S HEART BEGINS TO BEAT FASTER. LET'S GO TO THE FOLKS WHO CALL THE RACE FOR YOU TODAY. NED JARRETT, BUDDY BAKER AND MIKE JOY. >> THANKS. HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO TEXAS. A PRERACE SHOW GOING ON RIGHT NOW AS WE CSE DOWN ON THE TEXAS 500 GREEN FLAG IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE. THE FIVE RACES SO FAR THIS SEASON HAVE BEEN WON BY TWO TEAMS. MULTICAR TEAMS HAVE COME TO THE FOREFRONT OF NASCAR RACING. NEVER MORE THAN THIS YEAR. IN THE FIVE RACES SO FAR, ONLY SIX DRIVERS PACED BY WARD BURTON FROM SINGLE CAR TEAMS HAVE SCORED TOP TEN FINISHES. WE TURN TO NED JARRETT WHO I DON'T BELIEVE HAD A TEAMMATE. NED, THIS IS QUITE A TREND. EVERYTHING THE WAY WE'RE GOING WITH THE MULTICAR TEAMS. >> WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE. THE MULTICAR TEAMS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. THEY GET MORE TEST DATES. NASCAR RESTRICTS EACH TEAM TO SEVEN TEST DURING THE SEASON. IF YOU HAVE TWO TEAMS, YOU GET 14 AND SO ON DOWN THE LINE. IT GIVES THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS FAR AS ENGINES ARE CONCERNED AS WELL. THE TWO TEAMS THAT HAVE WON THE ROUSCH AND HENDRICK TEAMS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SOME OF THE OTHER TEAMS IN ADAPTING TO THE RULES THAT THEY ARE RUNNING UNDER THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR, THEY RAN UNDER A 5 AND 5 RULE. THE SPOILER HAD 5 IFRNS HIGH AND FRONT AIR WAS 5 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. NOW THEY HAVE CHANGED THAT. IT HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT FOR MANY OF THE TEAMS IT SEEMED LIKE THOSE TWO TEAMS MAYBE HAVE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS BETTER. >> SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL. BUDDY, WHO ARE SOME WHO HAVEN'T WON THAT ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT AND READY TO WIN? >> YOU SAID RIGHT, DALE JARRETT, MIKE SKINNER, MAYFIELD, RUSTY. GEOFF BODINE. HE WAS THE QUICKEST ALL WE'RE HERE. THEY ARE READY. YOU MIGHT SEE THAT TODAY. >> LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 1999 SEASON TO DATE. THE FIVE RACES THAT HAVE BEEN RUN. THE SEASON STARTS OUT WITH THE BIGGEST RACE, THE DAYTONA 500. JEFF GORDON BETWEEN RUDD AND RUSTY TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 11 LAPS TO GO. THEN ON THE FINAL CIRCUIT, GORDON HOLDS OFF DALE EARNHARDT. HE SCORES HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500 WIN. SFLAP PI PIT WORK PUT MARK MARTIN OUT FRONT. HE WON IT AFTER JEFF BURTON HAD LED MOST OF THE WAY. THE BURTON BROTHER WOULD TANGLE IN LAS VEGAS. THAT'S JEFF AND WARD IN 22. IT WAS JEFF WHO PICKED UP HIS FIRST SEASON WIN. RACE FOUR, IN ATLANTA, GORDON BIDED HIS TIME EARLY. TOOK THE LEAD PAST THE HALFWAY POINT AND WON ATLANTA GOING AWAY. LAST WEEK AT DARLINGTON, RAIN FALLS, CAUTION COMES OUT. JEFF BURTON WRECKS INTO THE WALL. THE RACE IS RED FLAGGED. BURREN TON DOES A RAIN DANCE. IT POURS DOWN. HIS UNRACEABLE CAR IS DECLARED THE WINNER. BURTON IS THE POINT LEADER. GORDON 7 POINTS BACK. >> LET'S GO TO PIT ROAD AND DICK BERGRREN. >> THANKS. THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE BIG LEAGUE STOCK CAR RACES HERE IN TEXAS. WHILE MOST TEAM OWNERS WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO FINISH. JACK ROUSCH HAS WON FOUR OF THOSE RAIGSS. HOW HAVE YOU HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS HERE? >> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS GOD BLESS TEXAS. THE SECOND THING I GUESS IS TO NOTE THAT EACH TIME WE HAVE COME HERE IT'S BEEN TO A NEW TRACK THAT WAS CONFIGURED UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CIRCUIT. OUR GUYS HAVE REACTED BETTER TO THE CHANGES THAN -- OR THE ADVERSITY AS THE CASE MIGHT BE THAN THE COMPETITORS AND HAVE MADE US THE WINNERS. I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO TENNISLY. I HAD A CHANCE TO -- ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I HAD A HANS TO MEET THE GOVERNOR TODAY, GEORGE W. BUSH. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN. THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ON THE SPEEDWAY HERE. BRUTON SMITH AND GOSSAGE ARE TO BE COMMENDED. >> YOU HAVE FIVE CARS IN THE RACE. WHICH ONE SHOULD WIN? >> I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME THAT QUESTION. I TEND NOT TO REMEMBER THINGS GOING RIGHT AS MUCH AS WRONG. I WILL REMEMBER THAT WE SHOT TOO SHORT, WE HAD A BAD PIT STOP, EVEN IF WE WIN. >> LET'S GO TO MIKE JOY. >> JACK ROUSCH'S CARS HAVE WON THREE OF THE FIVE CUP RACES SO FAR THIS SEASON. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO TEXAS AFTER THIS. >> WE'RE BACK WITH YOU. TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. IT'S HAPPENING TODAY ON CBS. ALL 43 CARS ARE UP ON PIT ROAD. THE ONE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT WILL BE STARTING IN 20th POSITION, 99, THE POINT LEADER, JEFF BURTON. BUDDY HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND CHAT WITH THE WINSTON CUP POINT LEADER. INTERESTING CONVERSATION. >> THIS YEAR EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING A LITTLE SMOOTHER FOR YOU GUYS. LAST YEAR IT WAS A GOOD YEAR. ARE YOU BETTER THIS YEAR? >> THE REASON THAT WE'VE COME OUT AND BEEN BETTER THIS YEAR THAN IN THE PAST IS BECAUSE WE'RE MORE PREPARED. IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN BUILDING EVERYTHING ELECTRIC SCRATCH. THE RULES HAVE CHANGED. EVERYTHING WE HAD WAS WRONG. THE TAURUS CAME OUT. WE HAD TO BUILD NEW CARS. WE WERE BUILDING CARS. THIS YEAR WE WERE FINE TUNING. WE MADE PERSONNEL CHANGES THAT RAISED THE BAR FOR OUR TEAM. WE HAVE BETTER PIT STOPS. WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING A LITTLE BIT BETTER BASED ON THE TIME WE HAD TO SPEND ON IT. >> THE STORY STARTED FOR YOU RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS. HOW SPECIAL WAS THAT WIN? >> IT WAS REAL SPECIAL. WE WON THE RACE. WE GOT HOME LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. I WENT TO THE SHOP MONDAY MORNING AND EVERYBODY WAS WORKING. IT WAS ANOTHER DAY. THAT WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN I HAD IMAGINED. I THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. IT ENDED UP BACK TO WORK. IT WASN'T AS GLAMOROUS AS I THOUGHT. YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK. IF YOU DON'T, WHEN YOU SHOW UP NEXT SUNDAY, YOU WON'T BE AS COMPETITIVE AS YOU NEED TO BE. >> HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR CHANCES THIS WEEK? >> I HOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ANY RACE. I LIKE THE TRACK. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG RACE. A LOT OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN. I FEEL GOOD. >> A FOCUSED RACE DRIVER. THAT'S YOUNG JEFF BURTON. THAT'S THE CAR, 99. YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THE GUY EVERYBODY IS AIMING AT IN THE FIELD. THAT IS JEFF GORDON WHO KEEPS ON WINNING. DICK IS WITH HIM. >> HE HAS WON 44 TIMES, BUT NEVER HERE. TWO WINSTON CUP STARTS, HE HAS CRASHED BOTH TIMES. YESTERDAY AT A BUSCH RACE HE CRASHED AS WELL. WHAT IS THERE ABOUT YOU AND THIS PLACE AND CRASHES? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. IN THE FIRST YEAR WE WERE RUNNING SECOND OR THIRD. THOUGHT WE WERE IN GREAT SHAPE OUT OF TROUBLE. A COUPLEsAé >> OUTSIDE OF THE 12th STARTING POSITION WILL BE DALE JARRETT TODAY. MANY SAY HE IS THE FAVORITE TO PULL THIS ONE OFF. IF YOU ARE A FAN, HEY, TAKE YOUR CHOICE. 43. LET'S GO DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND CHECK IN AS WE GET READY WITH BILL FOR THE INVOCATION AND NATIONAL ANTHEM. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STAND AND REMOVE YOUR HATS AND MOTOR RACING CHAPLAIN JIM CODY DELIVERS TODAY'S INVOCATION TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED BY TRACY BYRD. JETS FROM TEXAS WILL ACCOMPANY TODAY'S ANTHEM. >> LET'S BOW FOR PRAYER. FATHER, WE GATHER TOGETHER TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN A GREAT MOTORSPORT COMPETITION. AS WE DO, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE GREATER STILL FOR YOU ARE AN AWESOME GOD. WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GOODNESS TO US. THE KIND OF GOODNESS THAT GIVES US THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT ONLY BEING HERE BUT THE PLESINGS OF THIS COUNTRY, OUR FAMILIES, JOBS HEALTH AND FRIENDS. WE REALIZE, FATHER, OUR DEPENDENCE ON YOU. YOU WHO GOVERNS THE AFFAIRS OF MEN AND NATIONS, YOU ARE GOD. AS WE REMEMBER THAT FACT, WE WOULD BE REMISS TODAY BEFORE ALL THE FUN BEGINS TO NOT ASK YOUR SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR OUR FORCES IN YUGOSLAVIA AS WELL AS THEIR PROTECTION OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT. MAY THERE BE A QUIT RESOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT. CONCERNING THIS EVENT TODAY, WE ASK FOR YOUR PROTECTION FOR OUR DRIVERS AND CREWS AND ALL WHO WILL COMPETE TODAY. GIVE THEM WISDOM AND SKILL, GIVE THEM COOL HEADS AND FAIR PLAY. WE MIGHT ALSO ASK FOR A RAINLESS DAY. WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL THAT WE CAN HAVE FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS AND LIFE WITH YOU BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF YOUR SON. WE PRAY IN HIS NAME, AMEN. ♪ OH SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ OVER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ OH SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE. ♪ OVER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪ >> WE'RE READY TO GO RACING IN TEXAS. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US FOR THE PREGAME SHOW. 500 UPCOMING ON CBS. >>> IN TEXAS, THE ADRENALINE IS UP. OVER 200,000 ARE PUMPED FOR THE LONE STAR STATE, THE WAIT IS OVER. ♪ IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME ♪ ♪ IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME LET ME GET BACK LET ME GET BACK ♪ ♪ WHERE I'VE COME FROM IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME BEEN A LONG TIME BEEN A LONG LONELY TIME ♪ >> THE BIG DOGS ARE BACK. TEXAS 500 NEXT. CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CBS. >> AN ESTIMATED QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FILLED EVERY SEAT IN THE INFIELD HERE AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. ABOUT TO WITNESS RACE NUMBER SIX OF THE 1999 SEASON. FOR THE MOST COMPETITIVE SERIES IN MOTORSPORTS, THE WINSTON CUP IS HERE. THERE GOES THE ROCKET MAN. ABOUT TO DELIVER THE STARTER'S FLAG. THE GOVERNOR GEORGE BUSH, NOW THERE IS AN ARRIVAL. I HOPE HE HAS A TICKET. AND A GOOD DAY. KEN SQUIER WELCOMING YOU TO TEXAS. THEY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR BEFORE ONE OF THESE EVENTS. INDEED, AT THIS MOMENT, IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE AT A WINSTON CUP RACE, CAN YOU FEEL THE ELECTRICITY DOWN THE SPINE TO THE SMALL OF YOUR BACK. WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT VERY SHORTLY, AT 195 MILES AN HOUR, THESE 43 GREAT DRIVERS WILL BE ADDRESSING INCHES APART TURN ONE. LET'S GO DOWN FRONT AND MEET THE GUYS WHO WILL KICK IT OFF TODAY IN THE 500 MILE RACE. THEY ARE STANDING BY NOW. LET'S GET WITH THEM. HERE IS DICK. >> THANKS. BOBBY LABONTE WILL START ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT ROW. HE IS PLAYING HURT. BROKE HIS SHOULDER LAST WEEKEND AT DARLINGTON. CAN YOU RUN THIS RACE TODAY? >> I DON'T KNOW. WE WILL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT. WE HAVE MATT KENSETH TO FILL IN IF I NEED TO. WE WILL PLACE IS BY EAR. >> IT'S BEEN A WEEK OF THERAPY AND REHABILITATION FOR BOBBY LABONTE. STARTING ON THE POLE IS KENNY IRWIN. HE'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN TEXAS HAVING WON A TRUCK RACE IN '97. FIFTH YESTERDAY IN THE BUSCH RACE. WILL YOU WIN TODAY THE FIRST WINSTON CUP RACE TODAY? >> IF TODAY IS THE DAY, I WILL TAKE IT. WE HAVE A GOOD CAR. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE TO BE AROUND AT 500 MILES. >> WE HAVE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF FIRST-TIME WINNERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. >> BURTON HAS TWO WINS AND THE POINTS LEAD COMING INTO THIS ROUND. JEFF, YOU HAVE BEEN THE MASTER OF THE RAIN LATELY. USING IT TO WIN DARLINGTON AND SECOND PLACE YESTERDAY. WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY DO YOU HAVE? >> WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE WEATHER. WE DON'T SEE REALLY A PROBLEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT MIGHT BE AS THE RACE GOES ON. RIGHT NOW WE ARE APPROACHING THIS LIKE IT WILL GO 500 MILES >> HOW WILL YOU ATTACK THAT? WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY? >> WE HAVE TO GAIN TRACK POSITION. WE HAVE TO GET IN POSITION TO WIN THIS THING. YOU WON'T WIN IN 20th. IT'S A LONG RACE. PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THE FORD UP FRONT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD PIT STOPS. YOUR CAR HAS TO RUN FAST MUST HAVE TO GET BY GUYS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU CAN'T GET IN A BIG RUSH. IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO. WE MADE CHANGES THIS MORNING TO MAKE THE CAR BETTER BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. IF WE HIT IT RIGHT, IT WILL GO FAST. IF NOT, WE WILL WORK A DAY. >> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A GROOVE AND A HALF. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO PASS ON THE OUTSIDE? >> THAT'S A HALF MORE THAN LAST YEAR. WE WILL TAKE IT. >> TO BILL. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT ANY WINSTON CUP FIELD, YOU CAN FIND A COUPLE OF DARK HORSES. HERE IS ONE, GEOFF BODINE. IN THE SECOND QUALIFYING SECTION SESSION, HE WAS THE FASTER. IF HE HAD ONE THAT IN THE FIRST QUALIFYING SESSION, HE WOULD START THIRD. YOU COULD MAKE IT INTERESTING TODAY. >> WE WILL TRY. WE WILL TRY TO GET TO THE FRONT. IT'S A LONG RACE. THE CAR HAS BEEN FAST. WE DID TEST HERE. WE HAD A GREAT TEST. EVEN WITHOUT HAPPY HOUR YESTERDAY, I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. >> WITHOUT THAT HAPPY HOUR YESTERDAY, DID YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE CAR GOING INTO RACE DAY TODAY? >> OUR QUALIFYING SETUP AND RACE SETUP ARE DIFFERENT. WE HAVE THE RACE SETUP IN HERE. IT HASN'T BEEN TESTED THIS WEEKEND. WE TESTED HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOT YESTERDAY. WE'RE -- THERE IS CONCERN HERE, BUT WE'RE CONFIDENT WE HAVE A GOOD SETUP. >> CONFIDENCE, THAT'S IMPORTANT. BACK TO YOU, KEN. >> THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS BEFORE THIS DAY IS OVER. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A STIFF BREEZE COMING OUT OF THE NORTH AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. THAT'S PUTTING STARCH IN THE STARS AND STRIPES HERE AT THE START/FINISH LINE. THAT WILL CARRY THE CARS TWO OR THREE MILES AN HOUR QUICKER DOWN INTO THE FASTEST PART OF THE TRACK, TURN ONE. IN TURN TWO, IT'S THE TRICKIER PART OF THE TRACK. EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN KICKED OUT. TWO THE SAME. THAT TRANSITION ENDS A LITTLE SHORT. FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE, EIGHT OF NINE ACCIDENTS IN TURN TWO. THAT IS THE CRASH CORNER ON THIS TRACK AT THE PRESENT TIME. WE WILL SEE HOW THE GUYS ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT. TEMPERATURE IS AT 58 DEGREES. BIT ON THE COOL SIDE. OVERCAST. THAT WILL HELP THEM A BIT OUT HERE TODAY AS WE GET READY FOR THE START. WE WILL GO DOWN TO THE TRACK WHERE WE ARE JUST ABOUT READY FOR THE COMMAND THAT WILL PUT THE TEXAS 500 ON ITS WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS. >> AND NOW FOR THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS, HERE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS INCORPORATED MR. BRUGAN SMITH. >> GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! >> IT'S HAMMER DOWN FOR 500 MILES. LET'S JOIN THE FOLKS WHO WILL FOLLOW THE RACE TODAY, TWO-TIME WINSTON CUP CHAMPION NED JARRETT. THE GREAT WINSTON CUP STAR BUDDY BAKER AND MIKE JOY. >> THANKS. HELLO, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO TEXAS. THIS BEAUTIFUL SPEED PLANT RISEN OUT OF THE PLAINS. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE COME THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING NEW, ESPECIALLY A NEW TRACK CONFIGURATION. SINCE LAST YEAR, TURN FOUR'S EXIT HAS BEEN WIDENED AS HAS THE ENTRANCE TO TURN ONE. THE WEATHER IS NEW. THEY PRACTICED IN SUN AND HEAT. TODAY IT IS OVERCAST AND CLOUDY. I WILL TURN TO NED JARRETT. EVERYTHING IN TEXAS THAT'S NEW, IT'S NEW ALL OVER AGAIN. >> YES. IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE DRIVERS AND TEAMS KNOWING HOW TO ADJUST THE CAR DURING THE DAY. THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF GUESS WORK BECAUSE THEY DID MISS HAPPY HOUR YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. IT RAINED HARD. WASHED ALL THE RUBBER OFF THE TRACK. A SETUP YESTERDAY MIGHT NOT WORK SO GOOD IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS RACE HERE TODAY. IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR BOTH THE DRIVERS AND CREW MEMBERS. >> BUDDY, PUT YOUR HELMET ON. THIS STARTS OUT AS A ONE GROOVE TRACK. TO PASS, YOU NEED A SECOND GROOVE. >> YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE ONE. YOU HAVE TO WAIT. IT WILL DICTATE AS YOU START BY LAP TRAFFIC. YOU WILL HAVE TO MOVE UP TO GET BY SLOWER TRAFFIC. RIGHT NOW, IT'S TREACHEROUS OUT THERE. THE TRACK WAS WASHED DOWN LAST NIGHT. THERE IS NO OUTSIDE GROOVE. THE FAST WAY AROUND THE TRACK IS AROUND THE WHITE LINE. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AT FIRST. >> NED, THE POLE SPEED WAS 5 MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN LAST YEAR. THE CARS AREN'T THAT MUCH FASTER. THE TRACK IS. >> YES. THEY RENOVATED TURN FOUR AND TURN ONE. THE BANKING COMING OFF TURN FOUR DOESN'T GIVE THEM THE UPSET THE WAY IT DID LAST YEAR. AS A RESULT, THEY ARE CARRYING MORE SPEED INTO TURN ONE THAN THEY DID BEFORE. IT'S MADE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM IN TWO BECAUSE THAT TURN IS VERY SHARP. THEY HAVE MORE SPEED THAN BEFORE. THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE, TOO. >> IN PRACTICE TURN TWO HAS BEEN CALAMITY CORNER HERE. THE FIELD BEGINS TO ASSEMBLE, TO ROLL OFF. THEY TOOK AN EXTRA MINUTE TO WARM THINGS UP ON THIS COOL DAY. NOW 43 CARS PULL OFF PIT ROAD TO FORM UP BEHIND THE CHEVROLET SAFETY CAR. WE'RE SET FOR THE THIRD YEAR TO GO WINSTON CUP RACING IN TEXAS LIVE ON CBS. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE STARTING LINEUP. >> WELCOME BACK TO CBS SPORTS COVERAGE OF THE TEXAS 500. HERE IS THE STARTING LINEUP. >> THEY ARE ON THEIR LAST LAP BEFORE THE GREEN COMING AROUND. THERE WERE FIVE DRIVERS WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE FIELD. >> LAST PACE LAP. WE WILL GET SET TO GO GREEN UNDER CLOUDY SKIES, REAL COOL COMPARED TO PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING. >> YES. 58 DEGREES. THE HUMIDITY HIGH. A LITTLE BIT OF WIND. IT'S OVERCAST. ALL OF THAT CAN PLAY INTO THE SETUP OF THE CARS. >> YOU CAN SEE THEM GOING BACK AND FORTH GETTING HEAT INTO THE TIRES. >> THAT'S KENNY IRWIN THE POLE SITTER, THE TEXACO HALF OLIN. BILL ELLIOTT THE SUPER 8. AND WALLY DALLENBACH. FROM BILL ELLIOTT HERE IS DALLENBACH STARTING IN 10th POSITION. DALE JARRETT FORD QUALITY CARE CAMERA. AND ROBERT PRESSLEY, JAS TER ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS 77. AND TONY STEWART, TOP ROOKIE ON THE TOUR. THE HOME DEPOT CAMERA FROM JOE GIBBS RACING. PACE CAR PULLS IN. GEORGE W. BUSH ON THE FLAG STAND WAVES THE GREEN FLAG. WE'RE RACING IN TEXAS. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO TEXAS. NOW THIS CBS NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. NOW BACK TO THE TEXAS 500. >> WE'RE NRT GREEN FLAG IN TEXT. FIVE LAPS COMPLETE. KENNY IRWIN, POLE SITTER HAS LED THEM ALL. JEFF GORDON AND GEOFF BODINE HAVE BEEN MOVING UP. TERRY LABONTE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS GOING TO MOVE INTO THE LEAD. HE IS RUNNING VERY STRONG TODAY. >> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO GET INTO SINGLE FILE AS WE HEARD MANY DRIVERS SAY IT WILL BE A ONE-GROOVE TRACK. THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. WE SEE GORDON RUNNING ON THE BOTTOM. HE IS RUNNING IN THE FOURTH POSITION. >> BEHIND KENNY IRWIN, TERRY LABONTE AND WARD BURTON, THE OLDER OF THE TWO BROTHERS. TIGHT PACK. THIS IS FOR THE LEAD, SIX LAPS INTO THE TEXAS 500. ALL RUN UNDER GREEN. IRWIN TAKES THEM ACROSS THE STRIPE AS GORDON, THE BRIGHT CAR LOOKS FOR THIRD PLACE. >> HE MOVED TO THE INSIDE. GORDON DOWN TOWARDS TURN ONE AND THOUGHT BETTER OF IT. DROPPED BACK IN THROUGH THE CORNER. >> WAS HARD TO GET MORE TO THE INSIDE THAN WARD BURTON WAS. >> RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE GUYS THAT ARE RUNNING FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO LEAD A LAP, GET THE FIVE BONUS POINTS FOR LEADING A LAP HERE. GORDON WANTS TO TAKE THE LEAD IF HE CAN. >> SIXTH RACE OF THE NASCAR SEASON HERE IN TEXAS. LET'S GO TO PIT ROAD. >> THE GREEN 18 OF BOBBY LABONTE HAS SLID BACK TO FIFTH PLACE. HE DEVELOPED A PUSH IN THE CAR. THEY WILL TRY TO GET HIM TO HANG ON AS LONG AS HE CAN IN THE TOP FIVE. >> THE RAIDS YO CHATTER IS HEAVY. THE LAST PRACTICE SESSION WAS WASHED OUT YESTERDAY. THE DRIVERS DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TRY THE SETUPS UNDER MANY OF THE CARS. MARK MARTIN, VERY, VERY LOOSE. 21 ELLIOTT SADLER, PUSHING VERY BADLY. IT'S ALL ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM. MANY ARE NOT YET RIGHT. THEY WILL GET THEM RIGHT BEFORE THE RACE IS OVER. A LOT AREN'T RIGHT NOW. >> BOBBY LABONTE'S CAR GOT RIGHT. HE SLIPPED UNDER 24 OF GORDON. LABONTE, NURSING A CHIPPED SHOULDER, HAS MOVED UP TO FOURTH. >> HE SAID HE SNEEZED AND ALMOST KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT IT HURT SO BAD. HE RAN LAST WEEK AND WAITED UNTIL THE FIRST PIT STOP TO COME IN. THAT'S A GOOD TEST TO SEE WHETHER YOU WILL MAKE IT. HE WAS BACK THERE FOR A SECOND. NOW HE'S GOING TOWARD THE FRONT. >> BILL? >> I SPOKE TO THE CREW CHIEF FOR TERRY LABONTE. WHAT'S HE TELLING YOU ABOUT THE CAR? HE SAID HE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING. IS THAT A GOOD SIGN? HE SAID IT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN. >> SO FAR SO GOOD. JEFF BURTON, WON TWO RACES SO FAR, STARTED IN 20th. FINDS HIMSELF WAY BACK TO 37th SPOT. HE IS THE POINT LEADER. THAT CAR IS NOT WORKING. >> HE GOT CAUGHT ON THE OUTSIDE ON THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRACK. ALMOST A TRAIN WENT BY HIM ON THE INSIDE. HIS CAR IS NOT FEELING WELL EVEN THOUGH HE DID GET UP ON THE OUTSIDE FOR A GOOD WHILE. >> WATCHING THE REAR VIEW OF KENNY IRWIN, TERRY LABONTE IN THE TWO TEXAS APPEARANCES, A FOURTH AND SIXTH PLACE FINISH. BATTLE HERE MARLIN INSIDE WALTRIP IN THE 66. >> KEVIN LEPAGE COMES ALONG IN 16. >> DALE EARNHARDT MOVES UNDER WALTRIP. HERE COMES BURTON IN 99 TRYING TO GAIN BACK A POSITION. >> WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THE CARS -- THE TRACK WAS CLEANED OFF LAST NIGHT BY A HARD RAINSTORM. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE A PUSH CONDITION, IT WON'T RIGHT ITSELF. IT WILL TRY TO GO OUT TOWARD THE WALL. IF YOU ARE LOOSE, IT WILL SLIDE THE BACK OUT BAD. UNTIL THEY CAN ADJUST ON THE FIRST PIT STOP, IF YOU HAVE A HANDLING PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO RIDE IT OUT. >> AS YOU LOOK AT OUR RUNDOWN, NOTE THE DRIVERS WHOSE POSITION NUMBER HAVE A GREEN BACKGROUND HAVE MOVED UP A POSITION THE LAST LAP. WHILE A RED BACKGROUND HAVE LOST A POSITION OR MORE. IN THE LAST LAP. 13 LAPS HAVE BEEN GREEN SO FAR HERE IN TEXAS. KENNY IRWIN LEES LABONTE AND BURTON. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO TEXAS. >> 18 LAPS COMPLETE HERE IN TEXAS WITH A FRESH VIEW. FRIRB BEER TASTES BETTER. KENNY IRWIN HAS LED ALL THE LAPS. >> WE ARE OFF TO A BETTER START. IN THE FIRST TWO, THEY WRECKED ON THE FIRST LAP IN THE FIRST TURN. WE HAVE GONE 18 AND NO MISHAPS. >> YOU CAN SEE, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY TROUBLE ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. TERRY LABONTE ALMOST COLLECTED KENNY IRWIN COMING OUT OF TURN TWO. HE KENNY GOT TO PUSHING AND ALMOST RUN IN THE BACK OF HIM. >> A COUPLE OF INCHES BETWEEN THOSE CARS. >> AT 200 MILES AN HOUR, A COUPLE INCHES DON'T GET THE JOB DONE. >> TERRY IS A PATIENCE DRIVER. I BELIEVE HE IS FASTER THAN KENNY BUT HE HASN'T FOUND A WAY TO MOVE AROUND. >> YOU CAN HEAR THEM BOTH ON THE THROTTLE. IN THE CENTER OF THE CORNER, YOU SAW LABONTE CLOSE TO THE BUMPER. BUT ROBERT YATES HORSEPOWER TAKES OVER AND HERE IS LABONTE COMING BACK UP ON IRWIN. >> WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE 5 CAR OF TERRY LABONTE PUSHED OUT A LITTLE BIT AND AWAY WENT THE LEADER KENNY IRWIN. HENDRICK HASEE CARS IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE SECOND, FIFTH AND SIXTH. >> GOOD SHOWING FOR ONE STABLE. >> THAT THIRD PLACE CAR OF WARD BURTON, THIRD CAR FROM THE LEFT ON YOUR SCREEN, THAT IS THE TEAM THAT HAS DONE THE BEST AMONG THE SINGLE CAR TEAMS IN THE FIVE RACES SO FAR THIS SEASON. BURTON HAS THREE TOP TEN FINISHES. NOW HERE ARE TWO HENDRICK CARS AS MENTIONED, 24 AND 25. DALLENBACH IS LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST TOP TEN FINISH OF THE SEASON TODAY. >> OF COURSE, THAT OTHER HENDRICK CAR IS TERRY LABONTE RUNNING IN SECOND PLACE. >> LOOKING AT WALLY'S CAR IN THE CORNER, HE IS ABLE TO RUN LOWER THAN GORDON. HE IS HOOKED UP. IRKNOW HE HAS TO BE PROUD OF THE WAY THE CAR IS WORKING RIGHT NOW. >> NO PRACTICE LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. EVERYBODY HAD TO GO TO THEIR NOTEBOOKS AND THEIR BEST GUESS AS TO HOW TO SET UP AND CHOOSE SPRINGS, SHOCK ABSORBERS, SWAY BARS AND SUSPENSIONS. LET'S CHECK WITH KEN. >> THAT WILL DEMAND A CAUTION AT LAP 34. 51 MILES INTO THE EVENT. NASCAR IS PLANNING, AS WE UNDERSTAND, TO BRING THE CARS DOWN ON PIT ROAD. GIVE THESE MECHANICS A CHANCE AT THEM FOR A MOMENT HERE. SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON A SETUP YESTERDAY. HAPPY HOUR BEING ELIMINATED FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR. KENNY IRWIN CONTINUES TO LEAD. AGAIN HERE IS MIKE JOY. >> THAT'S MORE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY THAN THE COMPETITION BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EXTENDED PRACTICE, NASCAR WANTS TO GIVE THE TEAMS A CHANCE TO LOOK AT TIRE WEAR AND HAVE THIS EARLY PIT STOP, UNLESS THERE IS A CAUTION FLAG INCIDENT PRIOR TO LAP 34, ABOUT TEN LAPS FROM NOW. >> THEY WANT TO PUT ON A GREAT RACE FOR THIS HUGE CROWD THEY HAVE TODAY. THE WAY TO DO THAT IS LET THEM ADJUST ON THE CARS AND MAKE THE CHANGES TO THEM. ABSOLUTELY A GOOD IDEA. >> I SENT WORD DOWN TO SEE IF I COULD BORROW ROCKETMAN'S SETUP. DICK BEAT ME TO IT. THERE ARE OVER 200,000 FANS IN HERE. THEY HAD A HUGE CROWD FOR THE BUSCH RACE YESTERDAY. WON BY MARK MARTIN. RAIN SHORTENED IT. MARTIN PICKING UP THE VICTORY OVER JEFF BURTON. >> TERRY LABONTE HAD A RUN COMING OFF TURN FOUR. THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL UP BESIDE IRWIN. HE COULDN'T QUITE DO IT. IRWIN KEEPING THE CAR ON THE BOTTOM. THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO TO HANG ON TO THE LEAD. LABONTE HAS ANOTHER RUN OFF THE TWO. HE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PASS. >> AT THIS POINT, IF YOU COULD PASS HIM TO THE OUTSIDE, WOULD YOU? >> NO. YOU BETTER NOT TRY THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE DARK PART OF THE TRACK THROUGH THE CORNER THERE. THAT IS THE GROOVE. UP ABOVE THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF RUBBER AND DUST UP THERE BECAUSE NOBODY IS RUNNING UP THERE. TERRY LABONTE IS TRYING TO RUN EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE 28 CAR OF IRWIN. MAYBE GET HIM A LITTLE LOOSE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER. TAKE THE DOWN PRESSURE OFF THE BACK OF THE CAR AND MAKE HIM A LITTLE WHERE HE SLIDES A LITTLE OFF THE CORNER AND GET UP BESIDE HIM. IF HE DOES THAT, HE CAN GET BY HIM. >> THERE ARE SEVEN CARS IN THE LEAD DRAFT. THERE IS TWO OF THEM. WALLY DALLENBACH, THE 25, AND MARK MARTIN'S FORD, NUMBER 6. MARTIN WINNER AT ROCKINGHAM IN THE SECOND EVENT OF THE YEAR. >> MARK MARTIN IS SO VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS IN THE EARLY PARTS OF A RACE. HE CONSERVES HIS TIRES VERY WELL. HE IS RUNNING EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTS TO RIGHT NOW. >> THEY ARE SEPARATED BY THREE OR FOUR CAR LENGTHS. DALLENBACH IN SIXTH, MARTIN IN SEVENTH. TAIL END OF THE LEAD DRAFT. LOOK AT THE NEXT PACK. PARK, WHO HAD A GREAT QUALIFYING RUN THERE WITH BILL ELLIOTT. >> THEY HAVE BEEN PICKING UP ON MARK MARTIN AND RUSTY WALLACE WAS FAR BACK AND HE HAS CAUGHT THEM NOW. RUSTY IS IN 10th PLACE. >> LET'S LOOK AS HE GOES THROUGH TURN ONE. HE IS BEHIND STEVE PARK IN FRONT OF HIM, THE YELLOW CAR THERE. AS THEY COME DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, YOU SEE THE CARS ARE VERY, VERY EVENLY MATCHED DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. IN THE CORNER, BILL RIGHT BACK TO THE WHITE LINE. STEVE IS BEGINNING TO DANCE AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN THE BACK PART OF HIS CAR THERE. >> WHY IS THE CAR DOING THAT? >> HE'S GOING IN REALLY HARD AND BILL ELLIOTT IS BEHIND HIM. HE IS DRIVING A LITTLE HARD RIGHT NOW. IT'S MAKING THE BACK OF THE CAR LOSE GRIP. >> PARK RUNS IN EIGHTH, ELLIOTT NINTH. RUSTY IN TENTH. DALE JARRETT IS IN 11th. BACK AT THE FRONT, LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN IS KENNY IRWIN. CAUTION HAS COME ON THE SPEEDWAY. >> THIS IS WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT AFTER 30 LAPS. THIS IS A CALL TO CAUTION BY NASCAR TO LET THEM COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TIRES AND HOW THE WEAR IS AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CARS. >> THE ENTIRE FIELD WILL SLOW TO PACE CAR SPEED. ALL OF THE CARS THAT STARTED, 43 ARE RUNNING ON THE SAME LAP AS THE RACE LEADER. THEY WILL COME DOWN PIT ROAD WHEN THE PACE CAR BRINGS THEM AROUND. IRWIN IS YOUR LEADER. I HAS LED EVERY LAP. TERRY LABONTE IN SECOND. WARD BURTON IN THIRD. BOBBY LABONTE IN FOURTH. THEN GORDON, WALLEN BACK AND MARK MARTIN. >> YESTERDAY, THE TIRE WEAR WAS EXTREMELY GOOD. THE TIRES DIDN'T LOSE A LOT OF TIME. YOU THINK SOMEBODY MIGHT COME IN AND MAKE A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AND NOT TAKE ON TIRES? >> INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO. I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY MIGHT TAKE FOUR TIRES. SOMEONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO LEAD A LAP MIGHT DO IT. >> HOW CAN YOU CHECK THAT TIRE WEAR AND WHETHER THE PRESSURES HAVE CHANGED IF YOU DON'T TAKE THEM OFF THE CAR? >> IF YOU ARE 12th OR BACK, YOU NEED TRACK POSITION TO RUN WITH THE LEADERS. I WOULD GAMBLE IF I WAS BACK IN THE PACK. >> GOOD POINT. RALPH? >> HERE COMES KENNY IRWIN DOWN PIT ROAD. READY WITH THE GAS. THEY WILL MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE RIGHT TRACK BAR. HE HAS BEEN LOOSE GOING IN. THEY WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL AS FOUR STICKER TIRES TO TRY TO GET THE CAR HANDLING BETTER AS HE GOES INTO THE CORNERS. THERE IS THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE TRACK BAR. THE LEFT SIDE. TO BILL. >> SAME DEAL UP HERE. FOUR TIRES FOR TERRY LABONTE. THEY WILL RAISE THE TRACK BAR. HE IS OUT. TO DICK. >> MARK MARTIN IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE CHASSIS. SCHRADER WILL BEAT THE CROWD. NO CHANGES TO THE MARTIN'S CHASSIS. THEY HAVE CHANGED AIR PRESSURE. MANY TEAMS HAVE HAD THEIR CARS CHANGE AS THE RACETRACK HAS WORN IN. LET'S GO TO MIKE. >> RUSH OFF THE PIT ROAD. WE WILL SORT OUT OF THE OUT THE FIELD WHEN WE COME BACK. FIRST CAUTION MANDATED BY NASCAR. >> WITH ALL THE PIT STOPS, KEN SCHRADER TOOK ON TWO TIRES, HE IS THE NEW LEADER OF THE RACE. STEVE PARK'S CAR IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. ERNIE IRVAN HAD REPAIRS ON PIT ROAD AS DID GEOFF BODINE AND CRAVEN. >> CRAVEN IS COMING BACKN. GEOFFREY BODINE COMING BACK IN AS WELL. >> LOOK AT GORDON'S PIT STOP. THEY HAD TO BACK -- ROLL HIM BACK TO GET CLEAR ANSWER TO LEAVE. >> WHEN ALL THE CARS COME ON PIT ROAD, AS PREDICTED, YOU GET THAT SITUATION. I SAW SEVERAL CARS HAVE TO BACK UP. GORDON CAME OUT IN SEVENTH POSITION. >> KENNY IRWIN CAME IN FIRST, CAME OUT FIFTH. THAT'S BECAUSE SCHRADER AND ELLIOTT TOOK TWO TIRES. WARD BURTON LOST TWO SPOTS FOR THAT REASON. BOBBY LABONTE TO NINTH, JEFF GORDON THREE SPOTS TO SEVENTH. HERE IS BODINE AND STEVE PARK BACK IN. FIRST LAP THAT SCHRADER HAS LED ALL YEAR. THEY WILL CRAWL UNDER STEVE PARK'S CAR TO SEE IF THEY CAN FREE UP THE TRANSMISSION SO IT WILL SELECT HIGH GEAR. >> IT WILL COST A LAP. THE CARS ARE COMING OFF TURN FOUR. HE WILL GET THE GREEN FLAG AND STEVE PARK IN THE PITS. THAT'S TOO BAD. HE HAD A GOOD RUN. GREAT QUALIFYING EFFORT. HE GOES A LAP DOWN. >> BIG GAIN ON THE PIT STOPS. JEFF BURTON, HE WAS RUNNING 29th WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT. HE IS NOW THE EIGHTH PLACE CAR. >> AFTER TAKING ON TWO TIRES, I GUARANTEE IT WILL MOVE YOU TO THE FRONT. TRACK POSITION IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN THE GROOVE IS AS NARROW HAS HERE. >> MARK MARTIN SLIES UNDER ELLIOTT TO TAKE IT AWAY AS THEY COME BACK UP TO OVER 180 MILES AN HOUR. >> HERE IS WARD BURTON MOVING AROUND BILL ELLIOTT. >> ELLIOTT'S CAR MAY BE PUSHING UP A LITTLE IN THE TURNING. >> HE IS ON THE OUTSIDE GROOVE WHERE NOBODY HAS RUN. YOU CAN SEE THE GRIP IS NOT THERE. A TRAIN OF CARS GO BY ON THE INSIDE. >> TERRY LABONTE AND GORDON TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ELLIOTT. NOW BOBBY LABONTE TRYING TO MOVE IN. MARK MARTIN IS ON THE MOVE. KEN SCHRADER GOT TWO TIRES. HERE COMES MARTIN HEAD HUNTING THE LEAD. HE HAS IT. >> AND FIVE BONUS POINTS FOR LEADING A LAP, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MARK MARTIN. HE IS IN THE POINTS RACE THIS YEAR IN A BIG WAY. LOOK AT -- I'M TELLING YOU -- I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WARD BURTON IS RUNNING LIKE HE IS ON THE OUTSIDE TRYING TO GO BY MARK MARTIN. >> THAT WAS A GUTSY MOVE. >> WARD BURTON AND HIS CREW CHIEF HAVE REALLY CLICKED AS A TEAM FOR THE CAR OWNER BILL DAVIS. THIS IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGLE CAR TEAM OF THE YOUNG SEASON. HE IS FLYING. TODD HOLBERT IS THE TEAM ENGINEER FOR THAT GROUP. THEY HAVE CRATE A LOT OF YOUNG TALENT AT THE TRACK AND IN THE SHOP. JEFF BURTON WAS THE BIG GAINER ON PIT STOPS. HE MOVES UNDER BILL ELLIOTT. >> ELLIOTT SAYS, IF HE GET BACK IN THE BOTTOM GROOVE, I WILL NEVER LEAVE IT. >> HE GOT DOWN THERE FOR A MOMENT GOING INTO ONE TURN. THE CAR WENT UP ON HIM. THE CARS WERE THERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. HE IS BACK IN THE FIELD. >> DALE JARRETT GOING ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. BEHIND HIM RUSTY WALLACE AS THEY COME OFF TURN TWO. >> THAT'S TENTH PLACE THAT THEY ARE BATTLING FOR. JARRETT AND ELLIOTT. RUSTY WALLACE WAS FAST BEFORE THE CAUTION CAME OUT. HE WAS GAINING ON THE LEADERS. SEE WHAT HE IS ABLE TO DO NOW. HE IS BACK IN THE FIELD. HE WAS BACK ABOUT NINTH POSITION BEFORE THE CAUTION CAME OUT. >> IT'S MARK MARTIN SLIPPING UNDER WARD BURTON. BURTON GOT FIVE POINTS. MARTIN BACK TO THE FRONT. THEY SWITCHED IT UP. THEY WILL HAVE COME. TERRY LABONTE IS RACING HARD INTO THE PICTURE. >> HE IS. JEFF GORDON COMING WITH HIM. THOSE TWO TIRE CHANGES DIDN'T WORK SFARZ SPEED. KENNY SCHRADER IS GOING BACK. HE HAS DROPPED BACK TO THE SIXTH POSITION, SEVENTH POSITION. MORE THAN THAT. DALE JARRETT GOES BY AND OTHERS. THE TWO TIRE CHANGE DIDN'T WORK AS FAR AS SPEED WAS CONCERNED. >> RIDING WITH JEFF GORDON. HIS TEAMMATE TERRY LABONTE JUST AHEAD. BACK DOWN IN THE CORNER. THEY HOLD THE LOW LINE. DID IT SURPRISE YOU THAT MOVE WARD BURTON MADE? >> HE KNOWS MARK MARTIN RACES LIKE THAT. IF HE SEES YOU WITH MOMENTUM, HE WILL GET YOU GO. HE KNOWS LATER IN THE RACE, IF HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE, YOU WILL RETURN THE FAVOR. >> RALPH? >> BOBBY LABONTE SAID TO TELL MATT KENSETH TO GET READY. HE IS NOT SURE HOW LONG HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CAR. HE IS FEELING SORE IN HIS BACK. THEY DID MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CAR. THEY TOOK ONE POUND OF AIR OUT OF THE TIRES AND MOVED THE TRACK BAR OUT. WE'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CAR. HE WILL GUN IT OUT AT LEAST UNTIL A CAUTION FOR MORE TIME TO MAKE A DRIVER SWITCH. >> I HAVE HAD A SHOULDER INJURY BEFORE. I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, WHEN THEY JACK THAT CAR UP AND DROP IT DOWN AND GO RUN TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOUR BODY SHIFTS OVER AND IT FEELS LIKE A MUL KICKS YOU IN THE SHOULDER WHEN THAT HAPPENS. IT'S NOT A PLEASANT THING OUT THERE. THE BEST -- WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BEST CONDITION YOU CAN BE IN, IT'S HARD TO DRIVE THESE CARS AND KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL FOR 500 MILES. WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE A BROKEN SHOULDER, IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO EVEN SIT UP. >> THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL EXERTION REQUIRED IN DRIVING. IF YOU HAVE A PART OF YOUR BODY HURT, IT HAS TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM YOU. EVEN THOUGH HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB. HE IS BATTLING WITH THE POLE SITTER RIGHT NOW. BOBBY LABONTE IS DOING A GREAT JOB. IT HAS TO HURT. >> HE HAS THAT BROKEN SHOULDER. HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CAROLINA'S PANTHER TRAINER. I TALKED TO MATT KENSETH WHO SAID HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET IN THE CAR. HE THOUGHT BOBBY FELT WELL MUST HAVE TO GO THE DISTANCE. >> I THOUGHT CREW MEMBERS EXPECTED HIM TO GO THE DISTANCE AS WELL. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL HE GETS IN THERE AND GETS IN COMPETITION HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT HIM. >> HE'S A BRAVE YOUNG MAN. HE IS THINKING ABOUT HOW BAD IT HURTS. HE IS JUST STARTED. HE TOLD MATT TO GET READY. HE IS READY TO GET OUT IF THEY HAVE A CAUTION. >> 46 LAPS COMPLETE. ONCE AGAIN, UPPER LEFT, THE NUMBERS IN GREEN ARE DRIVERS WHO HAVE MOVED UP A POSITION IN THE LAST LAP. IN RED, THEY HAVE DROPPED A SPOT OR MORE. UP TOWARDS THE FRONT, FIFTH PLACE, FOR NOW, WE WATCH MARK MARTIN AND WARD BURTON GO AT IT HERE. ONCE AGAIN FOR THE LEAD. >> YOU CAN SEE JEFF GORDON MAKE THE PASS ON TERRY LABONTE DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. YOU CAN SEE JEFF GORDON IS IN THIRD PLACE AND MOVING UP, TRYING TO CATCH WARD BURTON. >> RALPH? >> THE CREW CHIEF FORWARD BURTON. YOUR BOY HAS BEEN MAKING STOUT MOVES. HOW IS THE SETUP? >> WE ARE HAPPY. WE WILL DO MORE ADJUSTMENT ON THE NEXT STOP. I THINK WE WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. >> DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAY UP THERE ON THE OUTSIDE? EVERYBODY SAID THEY COULDN'T RACE UP THERE? >> I THINK HE'S GOING TO TRY TO BUILD CUSHION FOR LATER IN THE RACE. WARD IS DOING A GOOD JOB THIS YEAR. WE WILL MAKE A COUPLE MORE ADJUSTMENTS, TRYING TO BEAT THE 6 CAR. WE NEED IT FROM YESTERDAY'S PRACTICE. WE WILL TRY OUR BEST. >> INTERESTING STRATEGY DEVELOPING HERE ON PIT ROAD. WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE SMART WAY TO GO AS THE RACE NEARS ITS END? THE 99 CAR OF JEFF BURTON TOOK TWO. HE IS RUNNING FINE OUT THERE. HE IS HANGING IN THERE WITH ALL THE LEADERS. SCHRADER IN THE 33 TOOK TWO. HE HAS GONE BACK. I ASKED HIS CAR OWNER WHAT HAPPENED? WAS IT THE TIRES? HE SAID, I WISH I KNEW. BILL ELLIOTT WENT STRAIGHT BACK. I DON'T KNOW. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THE RACE UNFOLDS AS TO THE PIT STRATEGY. TWO TIRES, FOUR TIRES, NO TIRES. MIKE? >> THAT TRACK POSITION GETTING GAINED BY TAKING LESS OR MORE TIRES WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NOW CARS THAT TOOK FOUR FRESH TIRES ARE BACK AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. >> IT SEEMS TO WORK THAT WAY RIGHT AT THE MOMENT. THE TRACK IS VERY GREEN RIGHT NOW. YOU NEED AS MUCH GRIP AS YOU CAN GET. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SHOT. LOOK AT MARK MARTIN. BEHIND HIM WARD BURTON. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. IF YOU WERE IN THAT CAR, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE GOING DOWN INTO TURN ONE. >> SIZE THAT GUY UP. SEE IF HE HAS A WEAK POINT ANYWHERE AROUND THE TRACK. IF SO, THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR MOVE. IF YOU ARE IN POSITION TO DO SO. >> A LITTLE WHEEL MARK ON THE WALL. >> LET'S WATCH HOW HE GOES THROUGH THE CORNER. JEFF GORDON ON THE BROT TOM. YOU CAN SEE THE 22 CAR, DANCING JUST A LITTLE BIT. GREAT RUN OUT OF THE CORNER. THROUGH THE DOG LEG ON THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. OUT TOWARDS THE WALL. RIGHT DOWN TO THE WHITE LINE. THAT'S GOING AROUND THIS TRACK, YOU CAN SEE THE PREFERED LINE. THE DARK PART OF THE TRACK, THAT IS THE GROOVE RIGHT NOW AGAINST THE WALL COMING OFF TURN TWO. >> 52 LAPS COMPLETE HERE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. MARK MARTIN'S FORD LEADS WARD BURTON AND JEFF GORDON AND TERRY LABONTE. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXT TESTIMONY. 57 LAPS COMPLETE. MARK MARTIN LEADING WARD BURTON UNDER PRESSURE FROM JEFF GORDON. LET'S CHECK WITH KEN. >> 6 MARK MARTIN OUT IN FRONT. HE CAME BACK TO ROUSCH IN 1988. BECOME AWAY FOR A WHILE. MARK SAID THEN, I CHANGED MY LIFE. I WANTED TO BE THERE SO BAD, I CHANGED EVERYTHING TOTALLY. I CHANGED THE WAY I ATE. I QUIT DRINKING ALCOHOL. I QUIT EATING CHEESE BURGERS AND FRENCH FRIES, MY FAVORITE THINGS. I GRADUALLY GOT SFRONGER. THE STRONGER I GOT, THE CLEANER I GOT, THE MORE COMPULSIVE I GOT ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE SHAPE I WAS IN BACK IN THAT '88 PERIOD. HE TRAINS 70 MINUTES A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. IT'S SHOWING RIGHT NOW. >> MARK MARTIN IS ON A TEAR. HE HASN'T WON THE WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. HE HAS SO CLOSE MANY TIMES. HE IS POISED FOR A GOOD SEASON. HE HAS BEEN TO VICTORY LANE THIS YEAR. >> JEFF GORDON TRYING TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE ON MARK MARTIN. RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT A DOZEN CAR LENGTHS. GORDON IS PULLING AWAY FROM WARD BURTON. >> WARD HAS DROPPED OFF. TERRY IS GAINING ON HIM. THIS IS LOOKING OUT THE FRONT OF JEFF GORDON'S CAR YOU SEE MARK MARTIN THERE, HE IS GAINING A LITTLE BIT ON MARK. MARK WILL LET HIM RUN UP ON HIM AND HE WILL PULL OVER AND CHECK HIM OUT AND PASS HIM BY. >> IT'S 1 SECOND FROM FIRST TO SECOND PLACE. RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, BURTON IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM TERRY LABONTE TO SURRENDER THIRD SPOT. TERRY LABONTE BACK ON THE MOVE AFTER THAT CAUTION FLAG. WE HAVE HAD ONE, ISSUED BY NASCAR SO THE TEAMS COULD CHECK TIRE WEAR. THEY HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE. NO PRACTICE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. >> ONE THING WE HADN'T HAD THIS RACE IS WHEN THEY GET IN HEAVY LAP TRAFFIC, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LONG BEFORE THE LEADERS ARE IN TRAFFIC, CARS SOMETIMES CHANGE AS FAR AS THE HANDLING. WHEN YOU CHANGE HOW YOU RUN THE TRACK. >> WE TALKED ABOUT JEFF BURTON TAKING ON TWO TIRES. HE DID SLIP BACK AT THE BEGINNING. HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RUN RIGHT THERE WITH DALE JARRETT. HE IS TRYING TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO PASS JARRETT. THEY ARE BACK IN THE EIGHTH AND NINTH POSITIONS. THOSE TWO TIRESOME IN QUICK FOR JEFF BURTON. THAT'S WALLY DALLENBACH IN FRONT OF THEM TO THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN. HE IS IN THE SEVENTH POSITION. THIS IS EIGHTH AND NINTH RIGHT NOW. THEY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT ON JARRETT'S FORD. IT'S NOT RUNNING THE TIMES IT MADE BEFORE. >> YOU CAN SEE FIRE COMING OUT THE 99 EXHAUST PIPE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THAT'S UNSPENT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST PIPE. THAT EXHAUST PIPE IS CLOSE TO 1,100 DEGREES. IT WILL IGNITE ANY UNBURNED FUEL. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. >> THERE IS JEFF BURTON. HE IS THE POINT LEADER. CRASHED AT DAYTONA. FOURTH IN ROCKINGHAM, WIN IN LAS VEGAS, FOURTH IN ATLANTA AND VICTORY LAST WEEK IN THE RAIN. DALE JARRETT INVOLVED IN THE BIG DAYTONA WRECK FINISHED 37th. HE HAS A SECOND AND 11th AND 5th AND 4th. >> GOOD RUN OFF TURN FOUR. >> THAT'S WHERE HE HAS BEEN BEATING JARRETT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OFF TURN FOUR. IT WON'T COME OFF THE WAY IT DID. >> THEY ARE RUNNING 7.5 SECONDS BEHIND MARK MARTIN. >> MARTIN EXTENDS HIS ADVANTAGE OVER GORDON. NOW IT'S 1.2 SECONDS. LET'S CHECK WITH RALPH. >> THE RAINBOW WEARIERS HAVE BECOME WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO SHINE IN THE SUNSHINE. JEFF BURTON'S CREW HAS BEEN DOING WELL IN THE RAIN. WINNING AT DARLINGTON AND SECOND IN THE RAIN YESTERDAY. THEY DECIDED TO CALL THEMSELVES THE RAIN WARRIORS. DICK? >> NED JARRETT, YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT YOUR BOY'S CAR AS HE IS RUNNING AROUND THE TRACK. THE PROBLEM IS A COMMON ONE HERE IN TEXAS. THE CAR IS TIGHT COMING OFF. HE TURNS THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE CAR WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT. THEY CAN ADJUST THAT OUT. >> WHEN YOU ARE TIGHT COMING OFF THE CORNER, THE CAR WANTS TO PUSH INTO THE WALL INSTEAD OF COMPLETING THE TURN. >> CERTAINLY, IT SCRUBS OFF SPEED. BURTON MOVES TO THE INSIDE. HE WILL MAKE THE PASS. TAKES OVER THE EIGHTH POSITION. >> NED, WHAT WILL THEY DO TO CHANGE THE CAR? >> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS. THEY CAN ADJUST THE TRACK BAR, WHICH JUST RUN IT UP AND DOWN AND CHANGE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WEIGHT. THEY CAN CHANGE AIR PRESSURE, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON THING THEY DO. THEY CAN CHANGE A HALF A POUND OF AIR PRESSURE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY OF CAR DRIVES >> OR TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING SO IT WILL GET A LITTLE BIT BITE ON THE CORNER. A LITTLE BIT ROLL OVER, PUT PRESSURE ON THE TIRE SO IT DOESN'T SKID ACROSS THE TRACK. >> HOW DO YOU DRIVE A CAR THAT HAS A PUSH COMING OFF THE CORNER. >> YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO SETTLE IT. YOU HAVE TO EASE OUT AND MAKE SURE IT WILL TRACK. >> ONE THING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS ABUSE IT. JEFF GORDON JUST GOT INTO THE WALL OFF TURN FOUR. HE IS IN THE GRASS. HE IS SLIDING TOWARD PIT ROAD. >> CAUTION IS OUT. >> A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER. SEE THE HOOD BENT WAY OVER ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF JEFF GORDON'S CAR. >> I THINK THE LEFT FRONT IS DOWN AS WELL. IT APPEARS TO BE BENT IN. JEFF GORDON, TWO WINS, TWO-THIRDS AND OUT OF THE RACE EARLY WITH A BLOWN ENGINE IN ROCKINGHAM. FIRST IN OVER A YEAR. GORDON'S DAY MAY BE OVER. HE MAY BE THE 43rd AND FINAL FINISHER OF THE RACE. >> HIS THIRD RACE HERE IN WINSTON CUP COMPETITION, THIRD TIME HE HAS HAD A WRECK. >> BEST FINISH 30th. HE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE CONCLUSION OF EITHER RACE IN '97 OR '98. >> I HAVE A FEELING HE RAN OVER SOMETHING AND CUT A TIRE. SOMETHING HAPPENED. HE SHOT INTO THE WALL COMING OFF TURN FOUR. >> HE IS GRIM ASING. HE HIT VERY HARD. YOU CAN SEE HIM KIND OF GETTING THE COBWEBS OUT. HE IS TAKING HIS EARPLUGS OUT. >> THE REST OF THE FIELD COMES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CAUTION CAR AT 70 LAPS COMPLETE. MARK MARTIN IS THE LEADER. WARD BURTON, TERRY LABONTE, KENNY IRWIN, BOBBY LABONTE. WE MAY SEE THE DRIVER CHANGE IN THE BOBBY LABONTE CAR. >> JEFF GORDON, HE IS TAKING HIS TIME IN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. HE IS HURTING SOMEWHERE. >> HE IS. YOU CAN TELL HE'S REALLY HIT THE WALL HARD. THE SEATS FIT AGAINST YOU AND TAKE A LOT OF ABUSE. WHEN YOU HIT THE WALL LIKE HE HIT, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING OUT THE RIGHT DOOR, YOU HIT SO HARD. >> THE DOUBLE WALL ALUMINUM SEATS -- THERE IS RAY EVERNHAM. THOSE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO FLEX IN A CONTROLLED FLEX IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT ON THE DRIVER. LOOK AT THE RIGHT FRONT OF HIS CAR. LET'S SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO BRING OUT THIS SECOND CAUTION FLAG. FROM TURN FOUR. >> HE WILL COME INTO THE PICTURE HERE VERY SHORTLY. THERE HE IS. ALL AT ONCE THE CAR SLIDES UP INTO THE WALL. >> THAT LOOKED LIKE A TIRE WAS CUT DOWN. HE NEVER TURNED THE WHEEL. WHEN HE STARTED OFF THE CORNER, IT WENT UP. IT WOULD NOT WORK. WATCH THIS. >> YOU HEAR HIM OUT. >> HE DOES HIT THE WALL HARD. WHAT A TOUGH BREAK FOR THE THREE-TIME CHAMPION. >> PIT STOPS UNDER THIS CAUTION FLAG. KENNY IRWIN IS FIRST OUT OF THE PITS, THE POLE SITTER. LET'S HAVE ANOTHER LOOK HERE. >> THIS IS AT REGULAR SPEED. HERE HE COMES. LOOK AT HIM. JUST SHOOTING RIGHT STRAIGHT UP INTO THE WALL. NOT STRAIGHT UP INTO THE WALL, BUT A LICK. HE WENT THERE VERY QUICKLY ONCE THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN. >> RAY EVERNHAM RUNNING TOWARD THE CARE CENTER. THAT'S A MANDATORY TRIP FOR ANY DRIVER WHO CRASHES ON A SUPERSPEEDWAY. CBS SPORTS COVERAGE CONTINUES AFTER THIS MESSAGE AND A WORD FROM YOUR LOCAL STATION. >> THREE YEARS OF RACING IN TEXAS. IT HAS PROVEN TOO TOUGH TO TAME FOR JEFF GORDON. HE HAS YET TO FINISH ONE OF THESE 500 MILERS. TWO YEARS AGO. SLOW CAR. CRASH AND GORDON TRIES TO MISS IT. UNSUCCESSFUL. HE WAS LEADING THE RACE AT THE TIME. ENDED UP 30th IN THE GARAGE. LAST YEAR, 31st, OUT OF THE RACE EARLY. AND TODAY BEING ATTENDED TO AT THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. DICK? >> A LOT OF ACTIVITY DOWN ON PIT ROAD. MARK MARTIN HAD A TERRIFIC STOP. THEY HAD A 16.3 STOP FOR FOUR TIRES AND A CAN OF FUEL. WARD BURTON ALSO HAD A GREAT STOP. A MINOR CHANGE IN THE TRACK BAR. HE IS OUT IN GOOD POSITION. THE 28 IS REALLY RUNNING WELL. THEY HAD A GREAT STOP. A MINOR WEDGE CHANGE. THAT'S YOUR POLE SITTER. >> I SAID KENNY IRWIN WAS FIRST OFF PIT ROAD. MARK MARTIN WAS LONG GONE OFF PIT ROAD. RICKY CRAVEN STAYED OUT. SO MARK MARTIN IN THE ROUSCH 6 WILL LEAD THEM DOWN FOR THE RESTART AHEAD OF IRWIN, THIRD IS TERRY LABONTE, FOURTH BOBBY LABONTE AND DALE JAIR ROT UP TO FIFTH. >> THAT'S BUCKSHOT JONES ON THE INSIDE. HE HAD BEEN LAPPED. STARTED DOWN ON THE INSIDE. THEY PASS HIM QUICKLY. >> KENNY IRWIN UNDER PRESSURE FOR SECOND PLACE. ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. HERE COMES LABONTE. >> THE CAR 00 OF BUCKSHOT JONES GOT HIM UNDER IN TURN TWO, THE LAP CAR. THAT ALLOWED LABONTE TO COME BY AS WELL. BOTH LABONTES GOT BY IRWIN, BOTH TERRY AND BOBBY. OF COURSE, THAT LET MARK MARTIN PULL AWAY A LITTLE BIT. HE HAS A GOOD LEAD. >> 75 LAPS COMPLETE. WE WILL SEE IF THE LABONTE BROTHERS, WHO ARE NOT TEAMMATES, CAN LINK UP. >> MIKE, WE HAD A REPORT THAT THE FLAGMAN DROPPED THE BLACK FLAG BY MISTAKE ON THE TRACK. MAYBE ONE OF THE DRIVERS MIGHT HAVE SAW THE BLACK FLAG. ANYWAY, THE BLACK FLAG DID FALL OUT OF THE FLAG STAND. >> THEY HAVE A SPARE. RALPH? >> THAT YELLOW WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR BOBBY TO CRAWL OUT OF THE CAR AND MAKE THE CHANGE WITH MATT. BOBBY, RUNNING AS WELL AS HE IS, YOU KNOW HOW ADRENALINE IS, YOU CAN FEEL STRONG. HE DECIDED TO STAY IN THE CAR LONGER. THEY TOOK FOUR TIRES. >> ONE OF THE INDICATIONS THAT THE LOSS OF HAPPY HOUR HAS THE TEAMS FINE TUNING THE CARS. THE LAST PIT STOP TERRY LABONTE MADE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR AIR PRESSURE. THEY RAISE THE TRACK CAR. THE CAR IS NOT PERFECT. >> IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A TIRE BEING LIKE A BASKETBALL. IT'S A SPRING. SO A POUND OF AIR PRESSURE ADDED OR TAKEN OUT OF A TIRE WOULD BE THE EFFECT OF HOW MUCH A SPRING CHANGE? 30, 50 POUNDS? >> LIKE 70 POUNDS. >> THE REASON FOR THAT, BACK WHEN WE HAD THE OLDER TIRES, IT HAD A SOFT SIDE WALL. NOW IT'S VERY RIGID. >> HERE ARE DRIVERS MOVING UP. STERLING MARLIN. HE HAS GAINED 24 POSITIONS. >> AND THE 31 CAR, THE BLUE AND YELLOW CAR OF MIKE SKINNER, HE HAS BEEN MOVING UP THROUGH THE FIELD. HE IS IN THE EIGHTH POSITION. HE STARTED IN 23rd. >> I ASKED JIMMY THIS MORNING WITH MARK MARTIN'S CAR, HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT SKINNER. HE WAS THE FASTER IN PRACTICE. FASTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. >> SKINNER LED THE POINT STANDINGS FOR THREE WEEKS. HE FINISHED FOURTH TWICE AND TWO SIXTH AND A DNF DROPPED HIM OFF THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD IN THE POINTS. >> TERRY LABONTE IS CLOSING DOWN ON MARK MARTIN. THEY HAD A DEAL WITH THE LAP CAR OF BUCKSHOT. LABONTE IS CLOSING THE GAP. >> I USED TO GET EXCITED WHEN SOMEBODY WOULD CATCH MARK MARTIN. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE TIRES AND COOL THEM DOWN AND GO AGAIN. >> LAST TIME BY, HALF A SECOND BETWEEN THAT LEAD GROUP, TERRY PULLING AWAY FROM BOBBY LABONTE. THIS TIME, THE GAP IS CONSTANT. KENNY IRWIN BEHIND THE GROUP IN FOURTH AND DALE JARRETT IN FIFTH. THOSE ARE THE OTHER TWO CARS IN THE LEAD PACK. THEN A GAP TO WALLY DALLENBACH IN SIXTH, WARD BURTON, MIKE SKINNER, BILL ELLIOTT AND RUSTY WALLACE, THE TOP TEN. THERE THEY ARE. IN THE GROUP OF SIXTH ON BACK, JEFF BURTON MAKES A MOVE UNDER RUSTY WALLACE. >> RUSTY WAS GOOD IN THE FIRST RUN BEFORE THEY MADE THEIR FIRST PIT STOP. HIS CAR HASN'T WORKED AS WELL SINCE THEN. HE IS DOING OKAY BUT NOT AS GOOD AS HE WAS. >> LOOKING AT JARRETT IN THE 88, JUST IN FRONT OF HIM IRWIN. JARRETT QUICKER FROM THE CENTER OF THE CORNER STRAIGHTAWAY. YOU CAN SEE HIM CLOSE UP. AS THEY HIT THE STRAIGHTAWAY, IRWIN'S CAR IS REALLY QUICK. >> THREE DIFFERENT MAKES OF CARS IN WINSTON CUP RACING. ALL RACE LONG, WE HAVE HAVE HAD ONE IN THE TOP THREE. NOW IT'S FORD CHEVY PONTIAC. A LOOK BACK AT JARRETT. BOTH CARS OWNED BY ROBERT YATES. >> WATCH AS THEY GO IN THE CORNER. YOU SEE JARRETT UP ON THE BACK BUMPER. WATCH AS THEY HIT THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THEY WILL LEVEL OUT. IRWIN PULLS HIM ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. >> THAT PUSHING PROBLEM THAT JARRETT HAD THERE BEFORE THE CAUTION APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT AT LEAST ON THE NEW TIRES. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AFTER THEY RUN IF HE STILL IS ABLE TO GET OFF THE CORNER THE WAY HE IS NOW. >> I'M IMPRESSED WITH IRWIN'S RUN. YOU SAW IT THROUGH THE CORN ERX, IT DIDN'T SLIP OR SLIDE. IT'S JUST LIKE ON RAILS RIGHT THERE. >> HE HAS A GREAT CAR. HE IS DOING A GOOD JOB DRIVING IT. >> 84 LAPS COMPLETE, MAKE THAT 85. MARK MARTIN LEADS. >> TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY GETS GORDON FOR A THIRD TIME. WE HAVE A NEW LEADER, TEXAS TERRY LABONTE HAS BROUGHT THE CROWD TO ITS FEET AS THE PUTS THE 5 ON THE POINT. HERE IS THE MOVE THAT DID IT. DOWN TO THE INSIDE AND UNDER ARKANSAS'S MARK MARTIN FOR THE LEAD. WE'RE NOW AT LAP 91 AND BACK TO THE ACTION ON THE TRACK LIVE. HERE IS MIKE JOY. >> THANKS. YOU SEE LABONTE HAS A HALF SECOND LEAD. BOBBY LABONTE, IRWIN AND JARRETT. DALLENBACH THEN WARD AND JEFF BURTON AND MIKE SKINNER. JEFF GORDON, EVEN IF HE IS OKAY, THAT CAR MAY BE TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO CONTINUE IN THIS RACE. EXTENSIVE REPAIRS MAY BE NEEDED. THIS WOULD BE HIS SECOND DID NOT FINISH THIS SEASON. IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAC A CHAMPIONSHIP RUN, HOW MANY CAN YOU STAND? >> NOT TOO MANY. I THINK HE HAD TWO LAST YEAR AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT'S TWO HERE IN THE FIRST SIX RACES. YOU SEE THEM WORKING ON HIS CHEVROLET. HE HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM, THAT'S HIS OTHER DNF. HERE ARE THE BURTON BROTHERS GANGING UP ON WALLY. GOING RIGHT BY. WARD IN THE 22 AND JEFF IN THE 99. >> THEY ARE NOT TEAMMATES. THEY AREN'T DRIVING THE SAME MAKE. ONE IS A PONTIAC, ONE A FORD. >> I TAKED TO BOTH OF THEM THIS WEEK ABOUT RACING EACH OTHER. IT IS DIFFERENT RUNNING AGAINST YOUR BROTHER. YOU RACE AS HARD AS YOU CAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT HIM IN THE WALL. >> THEY HAVE DONE THAT. THE TWO OF THEM, HAD A BANG RACING FOR THE LEAD. BOTH CARS ENDED UP IN THE FENCE IN THEIR YOUNGER DAYS. WARD SAID HE HAD JEFF UP AGAINST THE FENCE AND HERE CAME HIS DAD. >> HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANTED TO PUT MY BROTHER DOWN AND MAKE SURE I GOT IN THE TRUNK BEFORE DAD GOT THERE. >> HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO DAD? >> SO THE LABONTE BROTHERS ARE RUNNING -- THEY WERE RUNNING NOSE TO TAIL. NOW TERRY HAS TAKEN THE LEAD. THE BURTON BROTHERS SIXTH AND SEVENTH. AT 95 LAPS. >> THE BURTON BROTHERS ARE GAINING ON EVERYBODY EXCEPT TERRY LABONTE RIGHT NOW. >> CHAD LITTLE, THAT GREEN 97, HIGH HOPES FOR CHAD. BASKETBALL FANS DIDN'T KNOW WHERE GONZAGA STATE WAS. BUT THAT'S WHERE CHAD LITTLE WENT TO SCHOOL. >> THERE IS KEVIN LEPAGE IN THE 16, JUST IN FRONT OF HIM. >> LEPAGE CAME FROM 40th TO 17th FELL BACK TO 37th. HAD TO PIT TWICE IN THE LAST CAUTION. HE IS NOW UP TO 27. THAT'S A ROUSCH CAR. THEY ARE DOWN TO TWO. DUKE AND CONNECTICUT. >> DUKE, DUKE, DUKE. >> EXCUSE ME. I'M FROM CONNECTICUT. >> AND I'M FROM NORTH CAROLINA. >> I BLEED BLUE AS WELL AS YOU DO. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME TO GET TO THE FINALS. MOST OF THE GARAGE IS FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I DIDN'T WALK AROUND WITH MY HALT THIS WEEK. >> MANY LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA NOW. MANY COME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THAT SHOULD BE A GREAT BASKETBALL GAME. >> CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT. THERE IS RUSTY AND TONY STEWART. WALLACE IN 11th. TONY STEWART RIGHT THERE THE TOP ROOKIE IS 12th. HE MAY HAVE MORE LAPS THAN MANY WINSTON CUP DRIVERS, STEWART. HE RACED HERE IN THE INDY RACING LEAGUE. HE SAID NONE OF HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE LIGHTWEIGHT CARS TRANSLAILTS TO WINSTON CUP RACING. HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE BES WELL OFF IF HE HAD NEVER BEEN HERE. AS FAR AS GETTING EXPERIENCE TO RUN HERE. >> A DIFFERENCE IN THE CARS, THE POWER, WEIGHT. ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I CAN SEE WHERE THAT IT WOULD NOT HELP HIM. >> HE IS RUNNING WITH A GUY RIGHT NOW, RUSTY WALLACE, WHO HAS A TON OF EXPERIENCE IN THESE TYPES OF CARS. LAST WEEK, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TRANGS IN THE WORLD, DARLINGTON, DON'TY STEWART GOT UP TO SECOND. ENDED UP SIXTH. >> HAD A GREAT RUN THERE. HE IS THE BEST SO FAR OF GREAT ROOKIE KROOP THAT CLUES SADLER AND BUCKSHOT JONES DRIVING FOR HIS FAMILY RACE TEAM. RALPH? >> THAT'S CAPTAIN RUSTY WALLACE WHO JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO COMPLETED ENOUGH HOURS AND SCHOOLING IN A LEER JET TO QUALIFY FOR CAPTAIN STATUS. HE HAS NOT ADDED THE BARS AND STRIPES TO HIS DRIVER'S SUIT. >> HE IS FLYING PRETTY HIGH RIGHT NOW. SERK LATING THIS TRACK AT OVER 185 MILES AN HOUR. WALLACE IN 11th PLACE. HE HAS AN EIGHTH, NINTH AND TENTH. EIGHTH IN DAYTONA. LOOKING TO POST HIS FIRST WIN. LOOK AT TERRY LABONTE AT 101 LAPS, OUR RACE LEADER. >> IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING RACE. AS KEN POINTED OUT, SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEADERS AND CHANGES. IT SEEMS ON WHO HAS THEIR CAR HOOKED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME OF THE RACE. WHO CAN STAY ON THAT BOTTOM LINE ACCELERATE OFF THE TURNS LIKE TERRY IS ABLE TO DO. IT'S LETTING HIM PULL AWAY. >> I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW THAT MARK MARTIN, HE LED SOME OF THE RACE, I THINK HE'S KIND OF CONTROLLING EVERYTHING, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CAR. DECIDING WHAT CHANGES HE WANTS TO MAKE ON THE NEXT STOP TO MAKE THE CAR EVEN BETTER YET. >> IS MARK STARTING TO REMIND YOU OF DAVID PEARSON WHO -- HE LED A LOT OF LAPS. PEARSON WOULD NOT ABUSE THE CAR AND BEING THERE TO WIN. >> TO WIN, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WIN. YOU GET SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN TO RUN HARD, WHEN TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TIRES WHEN TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS ON THE TRACK. >> THEY CALLED PEARSON THE SILVER FOX. HE WON 105 WINSTON CUP RACES. SECOND ONLY TO RICHARD PETTY. >> IT TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE. MARK HAS A LOT OF PATIENCE. HE'S A SMART DRIVER. HE IS PHYSICALLY FIT AS WELL. HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN. >> HE HAS PROVEN THAT. BOBBY DRIVING HURT. MATT KENSETH STANDING BY IN RELIEF. LET'S GO DOWN TO HIS PIT. >> I'M WITH JOE GIBBS WHO HAS WON SUPER BOWLS. HE KNOWS ABOUT INJURED ATHLETES. HOW IS YOUR DRIVER DOING? >> HE IS SORE. BUT SO FAR HE IS TRYING TO KEEP THAT CAR UP FRONT. HE SAID HE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SUPPORT WE GOT BUILT INTO THE CAR RIGHT NOW. >> THEY BUILT EXTRA BRACING INTO THE SEAT. THAT'S THE WORST PROBLEM. HE IS TRYING TO GET USED TO THE SEAT. >> THAT'S NO ROCKING CHAIR RIDE FOR BOBBY. >> THESE GUYS UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES IN SPORTS, YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH BEING HURT. I DON'T THINK BOBBY LIKES IT. NONE OF US DO. I THINK HE WILL GO AS FAR AS HE CAN. SOMETIMES IN SPORTS, YOU GET HURT AND YOU HAVE TO PLAY HURT. >> THAT'S WHAT HE IS DOING. >> HE HAS A GOOD COACH. >> WHEN HE GOT IN THAT CAR TODAY HE WAS VERY, VERY SORE THEN. WE HEARD EARLY ON IN THE RACE THAT HE IS CALLING FOR HIS RELIEF DRIVER, MATT KENSETH TO STAND BY. AFTER HE DRIVES, SOME OF THE SORENESS WILL GO AWAY. I HAVE SAID A LOT OF TIMES, THAT CARS ARE THE BEST MEDICINE CAN YOU HAVE. GO INTO THEM AILING AND COME OUT IN GOOD SHAPE. >> A GOOD RUNNING RACE CAR. WHEN THEY ARE RUNNING BAD, YOU ARE IN THERE GO THE TO THE HOSPITAL GOING, MY SHOULDER. WHEN IT IS RUNNING GOOD, YOU WON'T GET OUT. >> GOOD POINT. >> I WAS JOKING WITH BOBBY. HE SAID IF THE CAR ISN'T RUNNING WELL, I MAY NOT FEEL GOOD. HE FEELS GOOD NOW. 107 COMPLETE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> OVER 200,000 FANS PACKED INTO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS THE BUDWEISER BLIMP PROVIDES YOU WITH THESE LIVE SHOTS 1,000 FEET ABOVE THE RACING SURFACE. 112 LAPS COMPLETE. A COUPLE OF DRIVERS HAVE BEEN MOVING UP AS WE WATCH LABONTE MOVE IN ON FORMER BUSCH SERIES CHAMPION DAVE GREEN DRIVING THE 41. >> THAT'S 38th POSITION THAT HE IS PUTTING A LAP ON. HERE IS DARRELL WALTRIP. HE HAS FOUND A GROOVE. THAT TIME HE IS TRYING TO PASS ON THE INSIDE. HE PASSED SEVERAL ON THE OUTSIDE. >> THE SIX CARS BEHIND HIM, HE PASSED EVERY ONE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRACK. HE MIGHT HAVE USED HIS TIRES UP BY GOING ON THE HIGH SIDE. LOOK AT HIM MOTOR OFF THE CORNER. HE IS HAVING A GOOD TIME TODAY. >> THIS WAS MAKE OR BREAK WEEKEND FOR WALTRIP. HE WAS OUT OF PROVISIONAL SPOPS. HAD TO TIME TRIAL INTO THE FIELD AND DID SO YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST FALL'S RACE AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY. DARRELL WAS TICKLED ABOUT HOW HARD HE RAN TO GET INTO THE SHOW. GIVING A GOOD ACCOUNT. HE IS IN 32nd ON THE LEAD LAP. STARTED TO RUN HARD BECAUSE THE LEADER IS ON THE WAY. >> HE HAS FOUND SOMETHING ON THE HIGH SIDE. HE IS NOT RUNNING WITH THE LEADERS RIGHT NOW. BUT HE HAS MOVED UP ON THE TRACK. HE IS A FULL LANE HIGHER THAN THE GUYS RUNNING UP FRONT. I AM SURPRISED. I KNOW AGOOD DRIVER WILL LOOK FOR A PLACE ON THE TRACK WHERE HIS CAR WORKS THE BEST. APPARENTLY, WALTRIP FOUND SOMETHING ON THE HIGH GROOVE. >> AND WE WILL SEE OTHER DRIVERS DOING THAT AS TIME GOES BY. RALPH? >> WE HAVE HAD THE FIRST UPDATE FROM THE CARE CENTER ABOUT JEFF GORDON WHO HIT THE WALL SO HARD A FEW LAPS BACK. THEY ARE DOING X-RAYS ON HIS SHOULDER. MORE FOR YOU WHEN WE GET MORE. HE IS AWAKE. THEY ARE X-RAYING HIS SHOULDER. >>ER WIN IS HAVING A GREAT DAY. HE IS IN FOURTH. THAT'S A BIT OF A SURPRISE EVEN THOUGH HE STARTED FROM THE POLE. WITHOUT THE LAST PRACTICE SESSION, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, THEY REALLY ROLLED THE DICE. CHANGED THREE SPRINGS, THE WEDGE THE GEAR, ALL THAT STUFF GOT CHANGED FOR THE RACE THIS MORNING. THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BEHAVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS A NEW CAR. IRWIN, HAVING ONE OF THE BEST RUNS HE HAS HAD ALL YEAR. LET'S GO DOWN TO TERRY LABONTE'S PIT. >> THE CHANGES THEY HAVE MADE TO THE 5 CAR, OBVIOUSLY PAYING OFF. HE IS IN FIRST PLACE. WHEN HE MADE THE PASS A LITTLE WHILE AGO, HIS CREW CHIEF SAID, THAT'S THE WAY TO LET THE RACE COME TO YOU. >> LABONTE PULLING STEVE PARK THERE. STEVE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE PITS. HE PULLS OVER TO GIVE THE LEADER THE TOP OF THE TRACK. >> HE HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. LOST A LOT OF LAPS BEHIND THE WALL. HAD A GREAT QUALIFYING EFFORT HERE. TOO BAD THAT HE HAD THAT PROBLEM. A CAR WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT HAS BEEN COMING UP THROUGH THE FIELD, THE 31 CAR, COMING UP ON 22 OF WARD BURTON. MIKE SKINNER CONTINUES TO MARCH TOWARDS THE FRONT. HE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST CARS ON THE TRACK. HE STARTED 23rd. HE IS SEVENTH. >> JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO I TALKED TO HIS CREW CHIEF. IT'S BEEN MARCH MADNESS DOWN THERE. THEY MADE THREE CHANGES TO THE CAR. THEY WILL MAKE A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT. AT THIS POINT, LARRY TOLD ME THEY HAVE ENOUGH TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE AND MAYBE PICK UP ANOTHER PLACE OR TWO BEFORE THEY COME IN AGAIN. >> 120 LAPS UP ON THE BOARD. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HIS WINSTON CUP CAREER, JEFF GORDON WILL FINISH 43rd AND LAST. THAT'S WORTH 34 POINTS. THE WINNER GETS 175 PLUS UP TO 10 BONUS POINTS. THAT IS 150 POINT DEFICIT JEFF SUSTAINS TODAY. HERE ARE DRIVERS MOVING UP IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING MIKE SKINNER. THERE IS THE DAMAGE TO GORDON'S CAR. EXTENSIVE. >> THEY HAVE GIVEN UP ON MAKING REPAIRS. THEY ARE LOADING IT ON THE TRANSPORTER. HEADING BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA. THAT'S A TOUGH BREAK. >> THAT WAS A NEARLY BRAND NEW CAR. THEY HAD ONLY RUN IT AT ATLANTA. >> YOU CAN SEE WHY THE CAR WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS OUT FROM UNDER THE FENDER THERE ON THE BACK. THEY COULDN'T FIX THAT CAR. >> RICKY RUDD, ONE OF THREE OWNER/DRIVERS IN THE FIELD GOING A LAP DOWN TO TERRY LABONTE AT LAP 122 OF THE TEXAS 500. WE'LL BE BACK LIVE RIGHT AFTER THIS. >> WE'RE UNDER CAUTION. MIKE SKINNER HARD INTO THE WALL IN TURN ONE IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT THAT BRINGS OUT THE CAUTION FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY AT LAP 124. SKINNER HAD BEEN THE POINT LEADER FOR THREE OF THE FIVE RACES. 32nd LAST WEEK. HE TOOK A HARD SHOT INTO THE WALL. LEAD LAP CARS MAKING PIT STOPS, MARTIN AND THE LABONTES AS THE RESCUE CREWS HELP MIKE SKINNER OUT OF HIS RACING CHEVROLET. >> SKINNER WE MENTIONED HOW HE WAS COMING TOWARDS THE FRONT. HIS CAR WAS RUNNING FAST. HE HAD GOTTEN UP TO SEVENTH FROM 23rd STARTING POSITION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE WENT RIGHT INTO THE WALL. THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HIT THE WALL AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >> HE HAS CLIMBED OUT OKAY. HE IS A PAST CHAMPION OF THE TRUCK SERIES. THEY HAD THEIR RACE YESTERDAY. RON HORNADAY THE WINNER. JACK SPRAGUE THE RUNNER-UP. NASCAR'S REGIONAL TOURING SERIES BEGINNING WITH THE MODIFIED TOUR. 62-YEAR-OLD POLE SITTER. HERE IS A LOOK IN TURN ONE. >> HE IS BY HIMSELF. LIKE JEFF SHOT INTO THE WALL. >> I MEAN THE RIGHT FRONT WENT DOWN ON THAT CAR GOING INTO THE CORNER. IT SHOT STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE WHEEL WAS DRAGGING BEFORE HE GOT TO THE WALL. >> I SAID IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME HE GOT INTO THE WALL HERE, A YEAR AGO HE HIT INTO THE WALL AND BROKE RIBS AND INJURED HIS BODY AND WAS OUT OF COMPETITION FOR A LITTLE WHILE. >> COMPARE THE IMPACT ON THIS CAR TO GORDON'S. GORDON'S CAR HIT THE WALL COMING OFF THE CORNER ACCELERATING. SKINNER WAS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK WHEN THAT LET GO AND HAD A LONG WAY TO TRAVEL. >> 200 MILES AN HOUR, ALMOST 200 MILES AN HOUR, HE WAS NEVER OUT OF THE THROTTLE WHEN IT DROPPED OVER AND MADE THE RIGHT TURN TOWARDS THE WALL. >> THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. WE ARE ASSUMING HE DID CUT A TIRE. >> I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THIS IS PRECAUTION. THEY MAKE THEM GO TO THE HOSPITAL IF HE HAS ANY PAIN. THEY ISOLATE THAT PART, PUT HIM ON A STRETCHER RATHER THAN HE WALK AROUND AND REINJURY JURY SOMETHING. MAKE IT WORSE THAN IT SHOULD BE. >> ALMOST THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MIKE SKINNER LAST YEAR. >> VERY, VERY SIMILAR. THAT HURT HIM. HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK AT MIKE SKINNER'S ACCIDENT. IN TURN ONE. >> YOU CAN SEE THE SPARKS WHERE HE HAS THE BRAKE LOCKED UP. WHEELS SLIDING ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER. THAT'S A HARD LICK. YOU COULD SEE THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW COME OUT HE HIT SO HARD. >> PRECAUTIONARY TREATMENT FOR MIKE SKINNER WHO CLIMBED OUT OF THE CAR UNAIDED AFTER THAT HARD HIT INTO THE TURN ONE WALL. RALPH? >> MIKE, JEFF GORDON HAS BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO UPDATE US. THAT LOOKED LIKE A HARD IMPACT. >> THE HARDEST I HAVE HIT A WALL. I'M NOT SURE. SOMEHOW THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT DOWN. WE'RE NOT SURE WHY YET. WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT. THANK GOODNESS MY RAINBOW WARRIORS BUILT A GOOD CAR. NOT ONLY A FAST CAR BUT A SAFE ONE. I HIT A TON. I'M SORE. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS BROKE. WE TOOK X-RAYS. THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS I WILL BE STIFF. I BELIEVE WE WILL BE ALL RIGHT AND READY TO GO NEXT WEEK. >> WE LOOKED AT IT AGAIN. WHAT WAS THE SENSATION THAT CAME TO YOU? >> JUST UNBELIEVABLE IMPACT. THE WHEEL -- EVERYTHING WENT TO THE WALL. INCLUDING MYSELF. THE SEAT DIDN'T. THE SEAT STAYED THERE. THAT'S WHERE I'M HURTING THE WORST IS IN THE RIBS. LIKE BOBBY WITH MY RIGHT SCAPULA. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS CHIPPED OR BROKE OR CRACKED. KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF ME. I WAS SORE. HOPING NOBODY WAS GOING TO HIT ME WHEN I CAME ACROSS THE TRACK. >> THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME. >> GOOD TO SEE JEFF IS OKAY. SUFFERING ONLY LOSS OF A CAR AND A LOT OF WINSTON CUP POINTS. 128 LAPS COMPLETE UNDER CAUTION. CBS SPORTS COVERAGE OF THE TEXAS 500 CONTINUES AFTER THIS MESSAGE AND A WORD FROM YOUR LOCAL STATION. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. MIKE JOY HERE. 129 LAPS COMPLETE. AFTER PIT STOPS AND THIS CAUTION FOR MIKE SKINNER'S CRASH, MARK MARTIN LEADING BOBBY AND TERRY LABONTE. THEN KENNY IRWIN. DALE JARRETT, WARD BURTON AND ROOKIE TONY STEWART. THERE IS A LOOK AT MIKE SKINNER'S CAR. HERE IS DICK. >> BOBBY LABONTE HAD A GREAT PIT STOP, 17.12 ON FOUR TIRES. A COUPLE OF CANS OF FUEL. MATT KENSETH STILL IN THE PIT SHAKING HIS HEAD. HE HAD TO FILL IN LAST WEEK. YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT CAR IS RUNNING SO WELL, BOBBY MAY STICK WITH IT THE WHOLE TIME. KENNY IRWIN HAD A FINE STOP, 16.95. THEY AREN'T CHANGING THE CARS A LOT. THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER TO WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO RUN LIKE. LABONTE IS VERY STRONG. >> THE LABONTE BROTHERS ARE FROM TEXT. AT THE OLD TEXAS WORLD SPEEDWAY, TERRY RAN THERE THREE TIES, DID WELL. STARTED SECOND IN '79. FINISHED FIFTH IN 1980 AND IN 1981. HE FINISHED 23rd DUE TO A CRASH. BOBBY NEVER RACED AT TEXAS RURAL. BOTH LOOKING FOR A HOME STATE WINSTON CUP WIN. >> WE SEE RUDD PULLING DOWN. TERRY LABONTE WAS LEADING WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT. HE HAD JUST LAPPED RUDD. RICKY RACED HIM BACK TO THE LINE BUT COULDN'T GET BY. HE IS A LAP DOWN AND WILL TRY TO GET IT BACK. >> YESTERDAY A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT LAPPED CARS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL FOR? >> THE ONE THING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS, YOU HAVE THE CARS TRYING TO GET BACK A LAP. YOU HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS NOT TO PULL DOWN INTO THE GUYS LIKE RURD RIGHT NOW, HE IS EVEN WITH MARK MARTIN TRYING TO GET THE LAP BACK. >> HE HAS DONE SO. >> HE HAS FOR THE MOMENT. IF HE CAN STAY OUT THERE AND GET A CAUTION, BOBBY IS GOING TO PULL TO THE INSIDE. HE WANTS TO LEAD THE RACE. >> MARTIN GOT CAUGHT TO THE OUTSIDE. I THINK MARK WANTS SOMEBODY ELSE TO SET THE PACE. HE WANTS TO RIDE ALONG. THESE TWO BROTHERS GO AT IT RIGHT HERE FOR THE LEAD. >> IN NASCAR RULES ON A RESTART, THE CARS ON THE LEAD START ON THE OUTSIDE. THOSE DOWN A LAP OR MORE ARE ON THE INSIDE. THE INSIDE IS THE FASTEST PART OF THE TRACK. >> TROUBLE OFF TURN TWO. >> KEVIN LEPAGE -- >> A BUNCH OF CARS. I SAW SPENCER. GEOFF BODINE. >> JOHN ANDRETTI, SCHRADER. RACING AFTER THE RESTART. THE CALAMITY IN TURN TWO. BOBBY LABONTE LED THE GROUP BACK TO THE CAUTION. RUDD WILL GET HIS LAP BACK. LOOK AT THE CARNAGE, WHAT WE DEEMED AT THE START OF THE SHOW CALAMITY CORNER. >> HERE COMES GEOFFREY BODINE. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. IT WILL TAKE A LOT TO PUT IT BACK ON THE TRACK IN RUNNING FORM. >> THAT WAS THE FASTEST CAR IN PRACTICE ALL WEEK. HE HAD AN EARLY DRAW IN TIME TRIALS AND HAD TO REQUALIFY SECOND DAY. JOHN ANDRETTI -- >> HE IS IN THE PITS. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE CENTER OF THE FRONT. >> A LOT OF STEAM COMING OUT THERE. THAT MEANS THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FIX IT AS QUICK AS THEY THINK. >> THERE IS KEVIN LEPAGE WHO HAS DROPPED THE WINDOW NET TO SIGNAL HE IS OKAY. THE CAR IS NOT. >> THE DRIVER'S SIDE, HE HAS THE NET DOWN. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. >> GEOFFREY BODINE WILL GET ATTENTION TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THAT CAR LOOKS LIKE IT CAN GET BACK INTO THE RACE. IT WILL BE HARD TO RUN THAT AT OVER 185 MILES AN HOUR WITH THOSE ARROW DIE NAME INS. >> HE CAN'T BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE WAY THE SHEET METAL IS BANGED UP. IT STILL IS GOING TO BE A -- HARD TO GET IT TO WHERE IT WILL RUN FAST. >> KEVIN LEPAGE CLIMBED OUT OF HIS CAR AND HE IS OKAY. UNHURT. BUT OUT OF THE RACE. BOBBY LABONTE PICKS UP THE LEAD. HE HAS LED EVERY RACE IN 1999. LET'S LOOK ALT TURN TWO. SEE WHAT HAPPENED. >> THAT'S KEVIN LEPAGE RIGHT THERE. YOU SEE HIM LOSE IT ON THE OUTSIDE. THE CARS BEHIND HIM GOT TANGLED UP. KEVIN STARTS THIS. THEY PILE UP AS EVERYBODY GETS ON THE BRAKES. THEY RUN INTO EACH OTHER. >> THERE WERE A LOT OF CARS SIDE BY SIDE BACK THERE. THAT WAS A SECOND LAP AFTER THE GREEN FLAG. WATCH IT AGAIN HERE. THERE IS LEPAGE SPINNING AROUND. >> RICK MAST AND GEOFFREY BODINE GET TOGETHER THERE. YOU SEE SCHRADER AND JOHN ANDRETTI IN THE BACK OF HIM. >> LOOK AT SPENCER. >> LOOK AT HIM GO THROUGH THERE. >> COULDN'T BELIEVE HE FOUND A HOLE. >> I THOUGHT HE WAS TOO WIDE TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE. >> DID A GREAT JOB. THERE YOU SEE, 16 CAR SPINNING AROUND. EVERYBODY ELSE IT'S A CHAIN REACTION. MAST SLIDING AT YOU IN THE 98 THERE. AND YOU CAN SEE WHY EVERYBODY SLOWS DOWN IN A WRECK LIKE THAT. LOOK AT THE DEBRIS. LOOK AT THE METAL FLYING AROUND. >> SPENCER COMING RIGHT THROUGH THERE. THE HOLE OPENS UP. HE JUST DROVE RIGHT THROUGH. >> BRETT BODINE IN THE WHITE CAR ALSO RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WRECK. >> KENNY SCHRADER, THE GREEN 33, ALMOST HAD IT STOPPED. HE ALMOST MISSED IT. THE ACCORDION AFFECT GOT HIM. HE GOT SWEPT UP INTO THE CRASH. >> KEVIN LEPAGE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE BACK COMES AROUND. >> LOOK HOW FAR THE LEFT FRONT IS PUSHED IN. AT SPEED. FOLKS, THAT'S A FIXED CAMERA RIGHT THERE. NONE OF OUR PERSONNEL ARE MANNING THAT ONE, THANK GOODNESS. 135 LAPS COMPLETE. BOBBY LABONTE LEES BROTHER TERRY DOING THE TEXAS TWO STEP HERE. >> I DON'T WANT TO SIT NEXT TO YOU TWO MONDAY NIGHT. DUKE AGAINST UCONN. >> THAT LOOKED LIKE US EATING DINNER LAST NIGHT. >> 137 LAPS COMPLETE. WE'RE UNDER CAUTION. A LOT OF DAMAGE. >> THE NECK INS AND THE BODY MEN WILL BE VERY BUSY IN NORTH CAROLINA TOMORROW. THE 43 OF JOHN ANDRETTI HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE UP FRONT, SO MUCH THE RADIATOR IS COCKED IN THE CAR. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ROSE. THEY WILL TRY TO GET IT GOING WITH THE RADIATOR IN IT. SCHRADER, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY LANDED ON HIS HOOD. IT'S FLAT. THEY TRIED TO TAPE IT IN PLACE. WE HAVE NECK INS JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON THE NOSE OF THE CAR TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. WE ARE GOING AT THEM WITH TAPE AND SLEDGE HAMMERS. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN THESE SITUATIONS. LET'S GO TO BILL. >> THIS LOOKS LIKE A RUGBY SHOW. THIS IS GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTING >> WE HAD A GREAT CAR. WE WERE RUNNING GOOD. WE HAD TO COME IN AND FIX THE SPARKPLUG. THE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB. WE WERE UP TO 19th ON THE RESTART. WORKING OUR WAY TO THE FRONT LIKE WE NEEDED. I GUESS THE 16 CAR LOST IT UP HIGH COMING OFF TURN TWO AND CAUSED A WRECK. WE HAPPENED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE. >> ANOTHER THING AT TEXAS WHERE WE ARE ALMOST GETTING USED TO IT. >> RICHARD CHILDRESS HAS COME OUT. HOW IS MIKE? >> HE LOST THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. IT WENT DOWN ON HIM. WHATEVER HAPPENED. JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED HERE LAST YEAR, WE BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HE IS THE LUCKIEST, TOUGHEST GUY AROUND. RIGHT NOW, HE HAS A BROKEN SHOULDER BLADE. HE IS ALERT. THEY THINK HIS SHOULDER IS BROKE. OTHER THAN THAT, HE IS ALERT. NOT LIKE LAST TIME. HE SAYS HIS NECK FEELS GOOD. NO LEG INJURY. >> ANY IDEA HE WILL BE OUT OF THE SEAT? >> THEY ARE DOING X-RAYS. HE IS A TOUGH GUY. >> OF COURSE, THEY DO HAVE NEXT WEEK OFF, THE DRIVERS DO. >> ANOTHER LOOK AT MIKE SKINNER. 98 OF RICK MAST. THERE IS LEPAGE'S CAR COMING TO REST AND OUT OF THE RACE. JOINING JEFF GORDON, GEOFFREY BODINE. AND LEPAGE. AND A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CARS OF MAST, ANDRETTI AND SCHRADER. RALPH? >> LEPAGE HAS COME OUT OF THE CARE CENTER. WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? >> I'M NOT SURE. THE GUYS BUILT ME A GREAT CAR FROM LIBERTY. I DIDN'T QUALIFY WELL. WE WERE RACING UP TO THE FRONT. I GOT ON THE OUTSIDE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE FLUID DOWN FROM THE SKINNER DEAL OR WHAT HAPPENED MUCH THE CAR JUMPED OUT. WE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING IT WAS TIGHT. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ON THE TRACK. I HATE IT BECAUSE WE HAD A GOOD CAR. OUR DAY IS ENDED NOW. >> TOUGH BREAK. ELLIOTT SADLER LED A LAP. FIRST TIME IN WINSTON CUP COMPETITION. THE EIGHTH LEADER OF THE RACE. >> HE HAS BEEN INTO THE PITS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS CAUTION PERIOD. HE JUST CAME BACK IN NOW, TOPPED OFF FUEL AND HEADED BACK OUT. ABOUT READY TO GET THE GREEN. >> SEE EVERYBODY MAKING SURE ALL THE TIRES ARE UP AND GOOD. THEY ARE GETTING AULT DEBRIS OFF. AFTER YOU HAVE SO MUCH METAL ON THE TRACK, YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH, MAKE SURE YOU SCRUB THE TIRES BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE NEXT CORNER. >> AGAIN A SITUATION OF THE DOUBLE FILE RESTART. LEAD LAP ON THE OUTSIDE, THAT'S THE LABONTE BROTHERS, MARTIN, IRWIN, JARRETT, STEWART, WARD BURTON, WALLY DALLENBACH. LAP DOWN CARS ON THE INSIDE. >> IT'S NOT SO BAD INTO TURN ONE. THEY AREN'T UP TO FULL SPEED THEN. IF THEY ARE OUT THERE WHEN THEY GO INTO THREE, THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL. >> COMING UP THROUGH THE GEARS AND TO THE GREEN FLAG AT 140. >> A HARD TIME MAKING A LAP UP ON BOBBY LABONTE THE WAY HE TOOK OFF, LEADING THE PACK AROUND THROUGH TURN ONE. YOU CAN SEE HIS BROTHER CHASING AS THEY COME OFF TURN TWO. >> A LITTLE BIT OF BREERNLING ROOM. HERE COMES TERRY AFTER LITTLE BROTHER FOR THE LEAD. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THERE IS BLOOD THERE OR NOT. A GOOD RUN OFF TURN TWO AND RIGHT OUT IN THE LEAD. >> BACK UP TO FULL SPEED NOW. THEY COMPLETE THIS FIRST GREEN LAP. BEHIND THE LABONTE BRONS THAT'S TED MUSGRAVE. HE IS IN THE 75 WHO IS ONE LAP DOWN. >> AND BUCKSHOT JONES IN THE 00, HE IS A LAP DOWN. THEY ARE IN BETWEEN MARK MARTIN WHO IS IN THIRD PLACE RIGHT NOW. >> MARTIN HAS A CUSHION. COPE IN THE 30, ONE LAP BACK. >> 29 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. THAT MEANS MUSGRAVE IS IN THE 30th POSITION. YOU MENTIONED COPE IN 31st POSITION. >> THE LABONTE BROTHERS ARE TRYING TO CHECK OUT ON THE FIELD. THEY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE, ABOUT .3 OF A SECOND. LOOK AT THIS BATTLE. 14, THAT'S A NEW PAINT JOB. RANDY LaJOIE. >> DOING A GREAT JOB FIRST TIME OUT HERE. A VERY GIFTED DRIVER. HE RAN A FEW RACES LAST YEAR. IT WAS THE 50 CAR LAST YEAR. IT'S THE 25 THAT WALLY IS DRIVING NOW. HE WILL MAKE AN IMPRESSION. >> WE SEE NEMECHEK UP IN THE HIGH GROOVE. BUCKSHOT GOT INTO THE WALL A LITTLE BIT OFF TURN FOUR. SCRAMBLING AROUND UP THERE. CARS TRYING TO GET AROUND HIM. HE IS BACK IN THE PACK. I DON'T THINK HE HIT HARD. >> BACK AT THE FRONT. THE LABONTE BROTHERS FROM TEXAS. TERRY, TWO-TIME WINSTON CUP CHAMPION. BOBBY, THE WAY HIS CAREER IS GOING LIKELY WILL BE SOME DAY. BEHIND THEM, THE TWO LAP CARS CONTINUE TO BATTLE. >> MARK MARTIN GOT BY THE LAP CARS. YOU SEE HIM CLEAR AND FREE THERE IN THIRD PLACE. HE HAS A FREE TRACK TO MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT. ONE THING HE IS DOING RIGHT NOW, MAKING SURE THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE TIRES ON HIS CAR. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT AND MOVE UP AT HIS OWN DISCRETION. >> THEY RAN A COUPLE LAPS AFTER PUTTING NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. FOR THE FIRST FIVE OR SIX LAPS, YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AS HARD AS YOU CAN. YOU HEAT UP THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. IT WILL HEAT UP. MARK MARTIN IS A MASTER AT THAT. GOING INTO THE TURNS EASY. NOT GET THE AIR PRESSURE OUT OF WHACK. THEN HE CAN COME BACK AND RUN VERY GOOD. >> WE NEED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN RACERS AND DRIVERS. THEY CONSERVE AND TAKE CARE OF THE CAR EARLIER WE MENTIONED PEARSON. DOES MARK MARTIN STRIKE YOU AS A GOOD BALANCE? >> HE'S A VERY SMART PERSON. ALSO, HE DIDN'T GET REAL QUICK. HE MADE AN ATTEMPT TO BE A WINSTON CUP DRIVER AND FAILED DOWN HERE. WENT HOME. REGROUPED HIMSELF. CAME BACK. GOT A RUN WITH ROUSCH. HE WORKED INTO BEING ONE OF THE NATION'S TOP DRIVERS. >> MARTIN IN THIRD. HERE IS EARNHARDT MOVING UP ON NADEAU. CRAVEN IN THE 26 AND BENSON. >> THEY HAVE BEEN GOING HARD AT IT BACK IN THE FIELD. THERE IS WALTRIP. >> DARRELL IS RACING EVERYBODY HE C FIND AND GET CLOSE TO. YOU SEE HIM LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE. HE HAS MADE GREAT PASSES UP ON THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRACK. >> THAT'S WHY THERE'S MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE HERE. NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIM BUT BECAUSE THE BATTLE FOR 22nd THAT WE'RE WATCHING IS AS GOOD AS THE BATTLE UP FRONT. >> YOU CAN SEE DARRELL WALTRIP. HE SAW THE 98 CAR OF RICK MAST RUNNING A LOT SLOWER. JUST EASED UP IN BETWEEN TWO CARS. THAT'S EXPERIENCE. >> FOR FOURTH PLACE. >> DALE JARRETT TOOK IT AWAY FROM IRWIN. GOT A RUN OFF TURN FOUR. >> I TELL YOU, THE STORIES RIGHT THERE IN THE 20 CAR. I THINK STEWART, HE HAS SO MUCH TALENT AS FAR AS A RACE CAR DRIVER. RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM. LOOK HOW QUICK HE IS IN THE CORNER COMING UP ON IRWIN. DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. >> ASKED HIM HIS PLAN FOR SUNDAY HE SAID MAKE LAPS. AND FINISH. FOR A DRIVER THAT IS USED TO BEING SO AGGRESSIVE, AS HE TAKES THE BOTTOM FROM WARD, HE IS USED TO BEING SO AGGRESSIVE. IT MUST BE TOUGH TO MAKE LAPS AND BE STEADY AND CONSISTENT AND LEARN AND GET THE CAR TO THE FRONT. >> HE SITS ON THE OUTSIDE POLE AT DAYTONA. WE WERE ALL AMAZED. IF YOU THINK BACK, HE STARTED HIS CAREER WHEN HE WAS 8. HE WAS A GO-KART CHAMPION. EVERYTHING THIS KID HAS DONE, HE HAS BEEN A WINNER AT. >> THIS IS AN AGGRESSIVE TEAM THAT TONY IS DRIVER FOR. THEY WERE AT THE AIRMT. THE ENGINE BUILDER SAID, I FOUND AN EXTRA TEN. THEY WENT BACK TO THE SHOP IN NORTH CAROLINA. CHANGED THE ENGINE. RAN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THEN JUMPED ON THE PLANE. THEY FOUND IT AND IT WORKED. THE SAME ENGINE THEY USED THEN IS IN THE CAR TODAY. >> ALL HE NEEDS HERE IN TEXAS IS LUCK. HE RAN INDY CARS HERE THREE TIMES. HA@@E ENGINE FAILURES. WHEN THEY PULLED INTO THE GARAGE THEY COULDN'T -- CRASH ON THE TRACK. >> IT IS THE 14 OF RANDY LaJOIE WITH A LOT OF SMOKE DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. I BELIEVE HE KEPT IT OFF THE WALL AS HE CAME ALONG AND SOMETHING WENT OFF. >> DID A GREAT JOB OF GETTING OUT OF THE GROOVE. THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THERE IS A LOT OF OIL. THERE HE IS COASTING DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. HE HAS THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. COASTING BACK INTO THE PITS. >> I THINK IT WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CAR. >> FOR FEAR OF LIQUID ON THE TRACK, THE CAUTION IS OUT. >> DOWN INTO TURN ONE, AND DOWN ON THE FLAT THERE, THERE'S A BIG BLACK MARK OF OIL WHERE IT GOES DOWN ON THE FLAT PART OF THE TRACK. HIM BEING AWARE OF WHAT IT DOES TO THE SURFACE, HE GOT OFF BEFORE HE GOT TO THE CORNER. >> FIFTH YELLOW FLAG OF THE DAY. FORMER BUSCH SERIES CHAMPION, RANDY LaJOIE. FROM CONNECTICUT. >> GO DUKE. GO DUKE. >> HE WAS HAVING A GREAT RUN HERE TODAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT'S A NEW TEAM. ERNIE IRVAN IS AN OWNER OF THE TEAM. A LOT OF PEOPLE QUESTION WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE FIELD. HE QUALIFIED AND WAS RUNNING WELL. A TRIBUTE TO THE TEAM AND RANDY HIMSELF. FOR DOING A GOOD JOB. UNFORTUNATELY, DIDN'T HEADED TO THE GARAGE AREA. >> HE WAS A FIRST DAY QUALIFYING. 14th POSITION IS WHERE HE STARTED. THE FIELD COMES ON PIT ROAD. >> WATCH 66 OF DARRELL WALTRIP. >> WAY UP HIGH. HE GETS INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL THERE. YOU CAN SEE NEMECHEK IN THE 42 HAD TO CHECK UP AND DIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE HANDLING ON THE CAR. >> BILL? >> DOWN IN TERRY LABONTE'S PIT. FOUR TIRES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS UP. HE JAMMED HIS THUMB BADLY. TALK ABOUT PLAYING IN PAIN. HE HAS THE CAR UP AND DOWN. THEY ARE AWAY. TO RALPH? >> FOUR TIRES ON BOBBY LABONTE'S CAR. IRWIN MAKES CHANGES AS WELL. HE HAD SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE COCKPIT. THEY GAVE HIM A STRIP OF TAPE TO FIX IT OUT ON TRACK. >> REMEMBER HOW WE TOLD YOU TIRES CAN PLAY INTO THIS? MARK MARTIN HAD AN 8.03 PIT STOP. OUTSIDE TIRES ONLY. >> THERE IS THE STRATEGY COMING INTO PLAY. TWO TIRES VERSUS FOUR OR NONE. >> IF YOU OF A FEW LAPS ON A TIRE, IT DOESN'T GET AS HOT. SOMETIMES YOU LEAVE THE TIRE ON THERE -- IF YOU KNOW THE INSIDE TIRES ARE WORKING WELL, AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE RIGHTS TO GET INTO THE CORNER AND KEY THE POWER ON THE CAR, IF YOU CAN GET TRACK POSITION, TAKE IT. >> PLUS THE FACT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE THAT LONG ON THAT SET OF TIRES. A MAD SCRAMBLE OUT OF PIT ROAD. 77 CAR OF ROBERT PRESSLEY COMING OUT. RAN OVER A TIRE. >> THAT TIRE WAS PERHAPS LEFT FROM BILL ELLIOTT'S CAR OR THE CAR IN FRONT OF ELLIOTT. WE'RE NOT SURE. WE'RE UNDER CAUTION AT 154 LAPS. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> GET READY KPOR CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY. HERE ARE THE TWO GUYS, RUDD AND WALTRIP, THERE IS A TEXAS JACK RABBIT MISSING BOTH OF ITS FEET BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THOSE CARS. A LAP BACK WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT. DARRELL SLAPPED THE WALL AND THEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT. SO HE COULD COME IN AND CHECK AND SEE IF THEY HAD DAMAGE. LET'S SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO DARRELL. >> HE IS THIS CAR. WATCH HIM, HE GETS WIDE. RIGHT INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL. THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE A TOUGH SHOT. LOOK ON THE WALL WHAT A BLACK MARK HE LEFT ON IT. >> WHEN HE COMES PAST START/FINISH, WE WILL LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. IT'S AGAINST THE PANELS. THE FIELD TAKES ONE LAP TO GO. 157 LAPS. >> YOU CAN SEE THE DAMAGE IN THAT AREA. THE TIRES ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER THAN I WOULD WANT IT TO THE FENDER. >> WHEN HE GOES INTO THE TURNER, BODY WILL GO DOWN AS THE FORCE AND THE G FORCE WILL CAUSE IT TO GO DOWN. YOU WONDER IF IT WILL GET DOWN ON THE TIRE. >> YOU WANT A FLAT SIDE ON THE CAR. HE HAS IT. >> HE WILL HAVE MORE DOWN FORCE WHEN HE GETS UP TO SPEED. HOPEFULLY THAT CAR IS OKAY. DICK? >> A FEW MOMENTS AGO THERE WAS SMOKE AND STEAM POURING OUT OF JOHN ANDRETTI'S CAR. RIGHT NOW MECHANICS OVER THE CAR. JANUARY HAD TO EVACUATE. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? >> WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT WE KNOCKED OFF THE RADIATOR HOSE. WE TRIED REFILLING IT. IT OVERHEATED. IT BLEW THE HOSE UP AGAIN. TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AND GET OUT THERE TO GET POINTS. >> HE DOESN'T GIVE UP. >> THAT'S TRUE. I WILL POINT OUT, DICK GREW UP IN MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT, 15 MILES FROM UCONN. HE WILL LEAVE THIS ALONE. WE WILL TUNE IN MONDAY NIGHT. >> WE'RE FROM NORTH CAROLINA. >> THAT STORY WILL BE TOLD TOMORROW NIGHT. THE CAUTION IS STILL OUT. THEY HAD GIVEN THEM ONE LAP TO GO. FOR SOME REASON THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN. ONE LAP TO GO THIS TIME BY. >> TRACK CREWS WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK AROUND AND MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DEBRIS. NOW WE'RE BACK ON A ONE TO GO. >> GETTING SET TO GO BACK TO GREEN. DRIVERS THAT TOOK ON TWO TIRES ARE THE FRONT FIVE AT LEAST. MARTIN, WARD BURTON, JARRETT, MARLIN IS UP THERE. THE 99 OF JEFF BURTON AND RICH BICKLE IN THE TOP TEN FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. SPENCER, MAYFIELD AND THE 7 OF MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> THE REASON FOR THE TAPE FOR IRWIN WAS THE WINDOW NET IS LOOSE. THEY NEEDED TO TAPE IT TO KEEP IT SHUT. IT'S NOT HOLNG THE WAY THEY WANT IT TO. NEXT TIME THEY WILL TRY TO USE A WRAP TO GET IT IN POSITION SO IT WON'T COME LOOSE. IT WOULD BE AGAINST THE RULES TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOW NET DOWN. >> CLICK IT OR TICKET. >> BLACK FLAG IF IT FELL DOWN. THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. >> HE LOST A LOT OF POSITIONS ON THE PIT STOP. HE IS IN 17th POSITION NOW. BOBBY LABONTE IS 12th. HE WAS LEADING BEFORE THE PIT. HE TOOK ON FOUR TIRES. WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. >> A BLACK FLAG MEANS YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND FIX THE PROBLEM. >> GETTING SET FOR THE RESTART. 159 LAPS COMPLETE. GREEN FLAG. MARK MARTIN TAKES THEM TO TURN ONE. >> I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH WARD BURTON. HE HAS -- THE 22 CAR IS IN SECOND SPOT RIGHT NOW. WHAT A GREAT RUN. JUST ABOUT THE WHOLE YEAR THIS YEAR. HE HAS BEEN SO COMPETITIVE. BILL DAVISAS HIS ACT TOGETHER. THAT'S A SINGLE CAR TEAM RIGHT THERE. >> THEY HAVE IMPRESSED THEIR ENGINE PROGRAM. THEY HIRED TOM BALDWIN LATE LAST YEAR. HE TEAM HAS BEEN COMING TOGETHER. NOW HE WANTS TO LEAD THE RACE. >> MARK MARTIN WILL LET HIM. IF HE IS RUNNING THE RIGHT PACE, HE WILL WATCH HIM DO HIS THING. >> HE WILL DO HIS THING RIGHT THERE. WARD BURTON GETS PAST. TED MUSGRAVE GOES BY AS WELL. >> WHO IS THIS IN THIRD PLACE? DALE JARRETT IS IN THIRD PLACE IN THE 88 CAR. >> GOOD PIT STOP WITH A TWO TIRE CHANGE. GAVE HIM TRACK POSITION. HE WAS RUNNING FOURTH INTO THE PITS. >> SOMEBODY ELSE IS HAVING A GOOD RUN JUST BEHIND THE 88 CAR, STERLING MARLIN. >> HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF HIM TODAY. >> TROUBLE. JOE NEMECHEK SPINS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. CAUTION COMES OUT. THEY WILL RUN BACK TO THE FLAG. WARD BURTON OUT FRONT. TED MUSGRAVE WILL TRY TO GET A LAP BACK. HERE HE COPS. MUSGRAVE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. HE WILL DO IT. >> WARD BURTON DID NOT CHALLENGE HIM TO KEEP HIM BACK. HE LET HIM MAKE THAT LAP UP. >> THAT WAS A COURTESY THING. YOU HAVE TO RESPECT HIM FOR DOING THAT. >> LOOK AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF NEMECHEK'S CAR. THE RIGHT FRONT IS FLAT AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS FLAT THERE. >> ONE OFS A BE A TA CARS. THE OTHER MARLIN. >> HE IS COMING IN ON A TRY SICKLE GEAR. >> THAT'S PURE MONEY WHEN YOU SEE THE SPARKS LIKE THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF VALUABLE PARTS HE IS DRAGGING. >> YOU WANT TO GET IN THE PITS IN A HURRY TO FIX IT. YOU DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION BEFORE YOU GET THERE. >> NEMECHEK ON PIT ROAD. THEY WILL WAVE HIM BEHIND THE WALL, IF THE CAR WILL TURN TO GET THERE. >> WE'RE UNDER CAUTION AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. SIXTH OF THE DAY. 162 LAPS COMPLETE. >> SPEAKING OF HARD HITS IN THE WALL, LOOK HERE. OUT OF TURN FOUR. IT'S NOW BEHIND US, JOE NEMECHEK 42. READY TO RESUME AND GET US TO THE HALFWAY, WHICH WILL COME AT LAP 167. RIDING WITH ROBERT PRESLEY IN 77. LET'S GO BACK TO MIKE. >> CAUTION FLAG FEVER HERE IN TEXAS. 165 LAPS. WE WILL CLOSE IN ON HALFWAY, WHICH WILL MAKE THIS RACE OFFICIAL. THE FORECAST WAS DISMALL. IT HAS BEEN OVERCAST BUT NO PRECIPITATION TODAY AS THEY WORK ON NEMECHEK'S CAR BEHIND THE WALL. BILL IS WITH JOE. >> RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE EMPTIED THEIR POOL BOX GETTING JOE'S CAR BACK INTO THE RACE. IT WAS STRANGE WHAT HAPPENED. >> I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE TO PUT IT PLIGHT. A BUNCH OF LAP CARS OUT THERE SO SLOW, THEY GET IN THE WAY. EVERYBODY GETS BOTTLENECKED. GOT THREE WIDE. EVERYBODY PUT THEIR BRAKES ON. ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE ON THE BRAKES, YOU GET SIDEWAYS. JUST TRYING NOT TO HIT ANYBODY. THE THING SLID UP AND HIT THE WALL. TOO BAD FOR THE BELLSOUTH TEAM, LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES. WE HAD A GOOD CAR. >> LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE ON THE MOVE. >> WE WERE. WE WERE UP TO 15th. WE WERE RUNNING GOOD. WE HAD ONE ADJUSTMENT THAT GOT US TOO LOOSE. A BUNCH GOT BY. THAT'S HOW IT GOS >> BACK UPSTAIRS >> JOE WAS LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST TOP TEN OF THE YEAR TODAY, WON'T GET IT. >> WARD BURTON WILL LEAD THEM TO THE RESTART GREEN FLAG. HE IS WHEELING THE BILL DAVIS 22 AHEAD OF MARK MARTIN. HE IS IN SECOND PLACE, ONE OF BILL DAVIS' EARLIER DRIVERS. >> COPE TRYING TO GET A LAP BACK. >> NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS TIME. IT WAS MARK MARTIN WHO GOT BILL DAVIS INTO RACING IN THE BUSCH SERIES. DAVIS MOVED UP TO WINSTON CUP. WE ARE HALFWAY AT TEXAS. NICE CLEAN RESTART. BACK TO TURN ONE WITH WARD BURTON YOUR LEADER. COPE RUNNING RIGHT BEHIND THERE. HERE IS BURTON, COPE ONE LAP DOWN. THERE IS SECOND PLACE MARK MARTIN AND THIRD PLACE 88 DALE JARRETT. STEVE PARK IS WAY DOWN, 41st, 35 LAPS BACK. >> IF YOU HEAR A NOISE, WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BOOTH UP HERE. THERE WAS ALMOST A WRECK OFF TURN TWO A SECOND AGO BY CARS RUNNING THREE WIDE. THEY GOT A LITTLE EXSITD LIKE WE DO. >> ALMOST AROUND HERE IS LIKE USED TO COULD. RICH BICKLE 45, HAVING A GOOD RUN IN FOURTH PLACE. STERLING MARLIN UP TO FIFTH. THAT'S THE EFFECT OF THE TWO TIRE CHANGES WHEN OTHER TEAMS TOOK FOUR. >> THERE IS MARTIN AND JARRETT GOING BY COPE. PARK WILL GO BY COPE AS WELL. PARK IS MANY LAPS DOWN. >> RIDING WITH JARRETT. COPE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE 99 THERE, JEFF BURTON, 20th, NOW IN FIFTH WORKING TO THE FRONT. WE KNOW HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN. HE WON THE FIRST RACE AT THIS SPEEDWAY. >> HE HAS WON TWO THIS YEAR. HE IS THE POINT LEADER. HE IS IN JACK ROUSCH'S 99 FORD. >> WE SAW THEM WORKING ON ANDRETTI'S CAR. HE IS BACK OUT ON THE TRACK. NOT AT FULL SPEED. AT LEAST HE'S IN THE AK. >> HERE COMES BURTON TO THE INSIDE. THAT'S JOHN WAYNE ON THE HOOD. >> YOU SEE STERLING ROLL OUT OF THE THROTTLE. BIDING HIS TIME. HE HAS A GOOD CAR. IT'S GOOD SEEING HIM HAVE A GOOD RIDE. >> DOING A LITTLE FUND-RAISING FOR THE JOHN WAYNE INSTITUTION. >> HE LOST HIS MOTHER TO THAT AWFUL DISEASE. HE IS FIGHTING IT EVERY WAY HE CAN. >> BACK IS MAYFIELD AND THE LABONTE BROTHERS. >> BOBBY WAS 12th ON THE PIT STOP. HE HE IS BACK UP TO NINE. >> TONY STEWART, BOBBY LA BON TOO'S TEAMMATE, JUST HAMMERING AWAY. >> DOING A GREAT JOB. >> TEAMMATES CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER, ALSO. THESE GUYS, THEY WILL SAY, WHAT'S IT DOING? THEY WILL ANALYZE THE TWO CARS. HOW DOES IT LOOK? LOOKS GOOD TO ME. >> HERE COPS STEWART UNDER MAYFIELD -- RATHER LABONTE UNDER MAYFIELD. LET'S MOVE UP TO FOURTH PLACE WHERE RICH BICKLE AND JEFF BURTON BATTLE. IT'S A STRONG RUCH FOR BICKLE TODAY. >> GOOD TO SEE HIM RUNNING THAT WELL. THAT'S A SINGLE CAR TEAM AS WELL. A NEW TEAM FOR THIS YEAR. MISSED A COUPLE OF RACES. HAD A GOOD QUALIFYING RUN HERE. ABOUT TO LOSE FOURTH POSITION. >> BICKLE IS KIND OF LIKE ANOTHER FRIEND FROM UP THAT WAY, DICK TRICKLE. RICH BICKLE HAS WON A TON OF RACES. IT'S GOOD TO SEE HIM GET A CHANCE IN WINSTON CUP. >> BURTON MOVES ON BY AND PICKS UP A SPOT. MOVES TO FOURTH. STEVEN PARK, UP TO SPEED AFTER THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HE HAD HIS BEST WINSTON CUP START TODAY, SECOND ROW CRAVEN RUNNING WITH HIM. CRAVEN IS TWO LAPS BACK. KENNY WALLACE ON PIT ROAD. THERE IS SPEN TER AMONG THE LEAD LAP CARS. >> MAYFIELD BEHIND HIM AND RUSTY AND MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> HE IS THE ONLY DRIVER TO SCORE TOP TEN FINISHES IN BONE THE RACES WE HAVE HAD HERE. NOBODY ELSE HAS DONE IT. >> SINCE HE HAS GONE TO THE 7 CAR, THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HE AND THE CREW CHIEF IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD. I THINK MICHAEL WALTRIP -- LISTEN CAREFULLY. I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR. I THINK HE WILL WIN A RACE. >> BOBBY LABONTE AND HIS BROTHER TERI HAS TWO TOP TENS HERE. HE'S THE ONLY NONLABONTE. >> IT'S HIS 400th START. RICK MAST IN 98. HE WAS DAMAGED IN THE WRECK. NOT UP TO FULL SPEED. >> KENNY IRWIN ON THE LEAD LAP. POLE SITTER. BILL ELLIOTT, THEY ARE 16th AND 17th. LOOKING ONE TO THE OTHER. >> OF COURSE, THEY ARE -- >> THAT'S 16 AND 17. I DIDN'T LOOK FAR ENOUGH DOWN. >> ANDRETTI BACK ON PIT ROAD. HE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT TWICE SINCE WE SPOKE TO HIM. >> BOBBY LABONTE'S CAR. LOOK AT MARLIN. HE ROLLS OFF THE THROTTLE AND LETS HIM TAKE THAT POSITION. >> DALE EARNHARDT, 3, RUNNING IN 20th POSITION, ABOUT 9.5 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER. >> JUST BEHIND HIM ROBERT PRESSLEY IN THE 77 CAR. >> LET'S RIDE WITH PRESSLEY A BIT. >> THAT'S LOOKING AT EARNHARDT. LET'S SEE WHAT HE DOES IN THE CORNER. DOWN ON THE WHITE LINE. WE HAVE THAT NICE -- THEY CALL THAT THE EARNHARDT BAR. THAT'S AN ACTUAL ROLL CAGE BECAUSE ONE TIME WHEN EARNHARDT GOT UPSIDE DOWN, ANOTHER CAR ALMOST GOT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THEY MADE THEM PUT THAT BAR IN ALL THE CARS. >> ROBERT PRESSLEY HAD A CAREER BEST THIRD PLACE FINISH HERE LAST YEAR. 178 LAPS COMPLETE IN TEXAS. >> 183 LAPS COMPLETE. BUDWEISER, OFFICIAL BEER OF NASCAR, PROUD TO PROVIDE ARIEL SHOTS. WARD BURTON HOLDS THIS FIELD. HERE IS DICK. >> RACING, AS IN MOST THINGS IN LIFE, HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE. IN SEPTEMBER 1998, TOMMY BALDWIN CAME ON AS CREW CHIEF FORWARD. SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN UPHILL FOR THE TEAM. IN THE LAST SEVEN RACES OF LAST YEAR, HE PICKED UP SEVEN SPOTS IN POINTS, PULLED OFF A SECOND. THIS YEAR HE HAS A SECOND IN LAS VEGAS. THREE TOP TENS IN A ROW COMING INTO THIS EVENT. THIS IS A TEAM THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CLICKING. TOMMY HAS BEEN A KEY INGREDIENT IN THE CAR LEADING RIGHT NOW DRIVEN BY WARD BURTON. >> HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AS A CREW CHIEF. HE WORKED FOR THE 90 TEAM AND PRIOR TO THAT WORKED FOR HIS FATHER AND OTHER NASCAR MODIFIED TEAMS. BILL DAVIS TOLD ME IN DAYTONA, HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYBODY WITH THE WORK ETHIC, THE 24-HOUR A DAY, LET'S GET IT DONE, LET'S MAKE IT BETTER WORK ETHIC THAT TOMMY HAS. HE AND WARD HAVE CLICKED. >> THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE THE COMMUNICATION LINE THAT YOU LOOK FOR. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WARD WANTS IN THE CAR AND WARD NEEDS TO TRUST HIM WITH WHAT HE PUTS IN THE CAR. THEY HAVE THAT. >> THESE GUYS THAT COME FROM THE WEST COAST TO THE EAST COAST, THEY ARE THE BEST OF THE BUILDERS IN THAT AREA OUT THERE. THEY RUN THE SHORT TRACKS. THEY LEARN THE CHASSIS. THEY MAKE GREAT CREW CHIEFS WHEN THEY COME TO THE EAST COAST. >> LET'S RIDE WITH DALE JARRETT ON OUR FORD QUALITY CARE RACECAM. >> HE HASN'T LED A LAP SINCE DAYTONA. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, HE CROWDED THAT CORNER COMING OUT OF TURN TWO. HE GOT UP AGAINST THE WALL. HAD TO EASE OUT OF THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT. HE IS ON THE WHITE LINE. AS HE STARTED DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY, HE IS RUNNING THIS PART OF THE TRACK VERY WELL. TURN TWO A SECOND AGO HE GOT A LITTLE HIGH. >> HE AND MARK MARTIN HAVE MOVED IN ON WARD BURTON. A LITTLE BIT ON THE LEAD THAT WARD HAS. ALL THOSE CARS RUNNING ABOUT THE SAME SPEED. SO IS THE CAR OF JEFF BURTON. HE IS ABOUT THREE SECS BEHIND THEM. >> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WARD BURTON HAS DECIDED IT'S TIME TO CONSERVE HIS CAR A BIT? >> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK HE'S RUNNING AS HARD AS IT WILL GO RIGHT NOW. >> 188 LAPS COMPLETE. WARD BURTON FROM SOUTH BOSTON, VIRGINIA. 37 YEARS OLD. HE LEADS HERE AT TEXAS. >> WELCOME BACK TO THE TEXAS 500. MIKE JOY WITH BUDDY AND NED. KEN, BILL, AND RALPH YOUR COVERAGE TODAY. WARD BURTON OUT IN FRONT OF MARK MARTIN AND DALE JARRETT. THE LABONTE BROTHERS, BOBBY AND TERRY HAVE BEEN LAPPING THE SPEEDWAY A FULL MILE AN HOUR FASTER THAN THE LEADERS. >> NED JARRETT HAD HIS WATCH OUT A SECOND AGO. HE SAID KEEP AN EYE ON THESE TWO GUYS. THEY ARE OUTRUNNING THE LEADER BIG TIME RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE WHY. LOOK WHERE THEY ARE RUNNING IN THE CORNER. >> RALPH? >> THIS IS TOMMY BALDWIN, THE CREW CHIEF FORWARD. HOW AGGRESSIVE WILL YOU BE IN THE NEXT HALF? >> I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. >> HOW AGGRESSIVE WILL YOU RUN? >> WE HAVE 20 LAPS LEFT ON THIS RUN. CAR FEELS GOOD. WE GOT OUT IN THE CLEAN AIR. LOST THE PUSH IN THE CAR. CAR IS HANDLING GOOD RIGHT NOW. PROBABLY STOP EARLIER THAN ANYBODY ELSE, GET FRESH TIRES TO KEEP THE GAP. >> YOU AND WARD WORKED HARD ON THE COMMUNICATION. WHAT'S BEEN THE KEY TO THAT. >> WE TRUST EACH OTHER. IT'S WORKED OUT GOOD SO FAR WITH THIS TEAM. >> HIS DAD WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST MODIFIED RACERS EVER. STILL IS. >> I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE -- BOBBY LABONTE LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED. HE LET HIS BROTHER BY. >> HE DROPPED DOWN TO LET HIS BROTHER GO BY. TERRY WAS RUNNING FASTER. HE CAME UP. BOBBY WITH THE INJURED SHOULDER DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT IT. HE JUST MOVED OVER AND LET HIM GO. >> WHAT TOMMY SAID THEY MIGHT SHORTSTOP WARD. THEY MIGHT BRING HIM IN A FEW LAPS BEFORE HE NEEDS FUEL SO HE CAN GET FRESH TIRES ON BEFORE THE OTHER LEADERS AND MAINTAIN THE ADVANTAGE OVER THE FIELD. KEN? >> HES BUILDING ON THAT ADVANTAGE. HE LEES MARK MARTIN BY A FULL SECOND. WARD HAS BEEN WAITING A VERY LONG TIME, SINCE 1995, WHEN HE WON AT ROCKINGHAM TO TASTE THE CHAMPAGNE IN VICTORY LANE. HE IS LOOKING BETTER ALL THE TIME. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE CAR OWNERS, BILL AND GAIL DAVIS, THAT ARE THE FOLKS THAT BACK THAT 22, IF THEY HAD A GUY TO ROOT FOR, IT WOULD BE MARK MARTIN OUT OF ARKANSAS. THEY HAVE FOLLOWED HIS CAREER. THEY WERE WITH HIM IN THE BEGINNING. FOR THEM, THIS IS QUITE A DAY. THERE IS MARTIN IN SECOND. THEIR CAR WITH WARD BURTON LEADING AS WE COME TO 300 MILES IN ANOTHER LAP. MIKE? >> TONY STEWART, 20 ON THE INSIDE OF RICH BICKLE. THEY FIGHT FOR SEVENTH PLACE. THERE IS NO GIVE AND TAKE HERE. TONY HAD TO OUTMUSCLE HIM. >> HIS CAR IS GOOD IN THE CORNER. ONE THING ABOUT WARD, I WOULDN'T GET THE GLASSES OUT JUST YET. THOSE CARS BACK, THE TWO LABONTE BROTHERS ARE CLOSING IN ON THE LEADERS, ALMOST HALF A SECOND A LAP. >> ANYWHERE FROM .2 TO .4 SECONDS A LAP. THEY HAVE COME FROM A SEVEN SECOND DEFICIT TO A LITTLE OVER FOUR SECONDS. >> I THINK RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TWO BROTHERS, THEY DIDN'T VERY HARD AS THEY RESTARTED. YOU START OUT WITH AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES LOW. THEN THEY BUILD UP. THE CAR GETS TO GOING. WHAT YOU DO IS PROTECT THE TIRE AND NOT GET HOT AND MAKE THE AIR PRESSURE GROW AND MAKE THE CAR ILL. THEY ARE FLYING AROUND THE TRACK. THEY TOOK PATIENCE ON THE RESTART THERE. >> THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHO WILL MAKE THE FIRST PIT STOP IN FIRST GREEN FLAG OF THE DAY, COMING UP. ONCE ONE OF THE LEADERS COMES IN EVERYONE ELSE WILL BE IN SHORTLY THERE AFTER BECAUSE NEW, FRESH TIRES ARE QUICKER THAN WORN TIRES. >> THERE'S A LOT OF THEORIES FLOATING AROUND ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO JEFF GORDON AND MIKE SKINNER'S TIRES. THOSE ARE THEORIES. GOODYEAR WON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY GET THE TIRES BACK AND CHECK THEM OUT. THEN THEY WILL HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WENT WRONG. FOR NOW, THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THE TIRES FOR GOODYEAR HAS TOLD ME, HIS ENGINEERS ARE GOING UP AND DOWN PIT ROAD, MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE TEAMS RUN THE AIR PRESSURES THAT GOODYEAR RECOMMENDS, 44 POUNDS IN THE RIGHT FRONT, 40 IN THE RIGHT REAR AND 24 ON BOTH TIRES ON THE LEFT. >> PART OF THE EQUATION IS TIRES BUT PART TWO IS THE CHASSIS SETUP. THEY CAN LOAD ONE TIRE MORE THAN ANOTHER AND ABUSE IT. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. WHAT YOU DO IS, YOU DROP THE AIR PRESSURE AND MAKE THE TIRE GRIP MORE. IT WILL GET AGAINST THE METAL PART ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL AND BLOW THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE OUT. >> CAN HAPPEN. 203 LAPS COMPLETE HERE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. WARD BURTON UP FRONT. TERRY LABONTE, 5, IS CLOSING IN. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. THE LEADERS LAST PITTED AT LAP 154. 54 LAPS AGO. SOME OTHER CARS ON THE LEAD LAP MADE A STOP AT 163. IT WON'T BE TOO LONG. HERE IS BOBBY HAMILTON WHO IS MAKING A STOP. HE IS FOUR LAPS DOWN. WARD BURTON CONTINUES TO LEAD HERE IN TEXAS. >> THE ORDER HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE LAST SET OF PIT STOPS. ON THE LAST ROUND WARD TOOK ZERO TIRES. MARK TOOK TWO TIRES. DALE TOOK TWO. THEY WILL COME IN SOON FOR MORE OF THOSE TIRES, ABOUT 15 LAPS OR SO FROM NOW. >> WOULD THEY TAKE TWO OR FOUR? ON THE LAST STOP THEY TOOK TWO OR NONE. THAT WILL DETERMINE A LOT. HOW MUCH TIME THEY SPEND ON PIT ROAD AND WHERE THEY END BACK UP. >> TERRY LABONTE IS THE FASTEST ON THE TRACK. HE TOOK FOUR DURING THE LAST CAUTION. HE COULD POSSIBLY TAKE TWO ON THE GREEN FLAG. LET'S GO TO THE PITS AND RALPH. >> YOU ARE RIGHT. TERRY LABONTE TOOK FOUR AND DID BOBBY. I CHECKED WITH JEM MEE. HE SAID TWO OR FOUR? HE SAID HE WILL TAKE FOUR. MIKE, ONE OTHER NOTE, BOBBY HAMILTON HAS FUMES IN THE CAR. HE WAS COMING DOWN TO GET A RELIEF DRIVER. WE EXPECT IT TO BE RANDY LaJOIE. >> THE FIRST OF THE LEAD LAP CARS TO PIT IS ERNIE IRVAN. THE REST OF THE TEAMS WILL SEE IF THE FOUR TIRES PICK HIM UP AND IF THEY NEED TO COME? >> THE OTHER THING, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FUELS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE WATCHING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT'S EXHAUST FUMES HE IS TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S THE BURNED GAS. IT PULLS OUT A VAPOR. IT COMES UP IN THE CAR. IT WILL GIVE YOU A HEADACHE THAT YOU CAN'T STAND. MAKE YOU SICK, TOO. >> IRVAN IS A LAP DOWN AS HE COMES UP TO SPEED AFTER THE FIRST GREEN FLAG PIT STOP. >> AS WE CAN SEE, TERRY HAS CAUGHT DALE JARRETT FOR THIRD PLACE. HE HAS BEEN GAINING EVERY LAP. NOW HE IS PICKING UP ON THE THIRD PLACE CAR. THEY COME UP ON DARRELL WALTRIP WHO HAS GONE A LAP DOWN. HE IS IN 27th POSITION. 26 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> 5 IS LIKELY THE FASTEST CAR ON THE TRACK RIGHT NOW. HIS BROTHER BOBBY IS NO SLOUCH EAR. TERRY RUNS 3.1 SECONDS OFF THE LEAD. BOBBY 4.7 SECONDS BACK OF LEADER WARD BURTON. >> AT ONE TIME TERRY WAS OVER 7 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER. >> SOMEWHERE ELSE HE IS HANDLING GOOD, DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. WARD COMING IN THE PITS. >> LEAD CAR ON PIT ROAD. WARD BURTON AS TOMMY BALDWIN SAID, THEY WILL SHORTSTOP WARD AND BRING HIM IN EARLY. HE IS IN. >> 4,000 RPMs IN SECOND GEAR DOWN PIT ROAD. THEY ARE PLANNING FOUR TIRES AND FUEL. THEY WILL TAKE STICKER TIRES ON THE CAR. NO PLANNED CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. JUST TIRES. TO THE LEFT SIDE. UPS GO THE LEFT SIDE. THE CREW CHIEF CHANGING TIRES ON THE BACK END. THE FRONT IS COMPLETE AND AWAY HE GOES. >> A CAR IN THE WALL. >> MARK MARTIN IS IN THE WALL. TURN ONE. THAT IS A TERRIBLE BLOW TO WARD BURTON WHO LOSES A LAP BUT WORSE FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THIS RACE. >> HE MIGHT HAVE STRETCHED IT TOO FAR ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE. I'M SURE HE WAS COMING IN. MAYBE THE NEXT TIME AROUND. >> CAUTION IS OUT. ERNIE IRVAN AND WARD BURTON AND DARRELL WALTRIP, THEY STOPPED UNDER THE GREEN FLAG, LOSING A LAP TO THE LEADER. NOW OFF THE LEAD LAP. MARK MARTIN COMES TO EITHER THE PITS OR THE GARAGE. >> THAT'S A FAMILIAR SIGHT, THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE DRAGGING. RIGHT FRONT TIRE FLAT. >> TWO OF THE THREE DRIVERS WHO HAVE WON WINSTON CUP RACES THIS YEAR IN TROUBLE. GORDON FIRST CAR OUT OF THE RACE IN TURN FOUR. NOW MARK MARTIN. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. THAT'S HIS JACK ROUSCH FORD. THE REST OF THE FIELD COMES TO THE CAUTION CAR. THREE OF THE TOP FIVE DRIVERS IN THE POINT STANDINGS HAVE CRASHED TODAY. >> WHAT A TOUGH BREAK. ANOTHER CAR IN TROUBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS. HE IS MANY LAPS DOWN, STEVE PARK IN THE CAR 1. HE WENT INTO TURN ONE SMOKING. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE THE CAR. >> I CAN'T SEE WHAT IT IS AT THE MOMENT. HE HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE RACE. RIGHT NOW HE IS TRYING TO GET BACK AROUND HERE. >> LEADERS WILL COME TO PIT ROAD. HERE IS A LOOK AT MARK MARTIN. >> RIGHT STRAIGHT UP. SEE THE RIGHT FRONT IS DOWN. UP INTO THE WALL. IT LOOKED JUST LIKE MIKE SKINNER'S WALL. RIGHT FRONT WAS DOWN. >> THERE YOU SEE IT AGAIN. VEERS RIGHT UP INTO THE WALL. DIDN'T HIT AS HARD AS SKINNER. MAYBE NOT AS HARD AS JEFF GORDON. >> FROM DALE JARRETT'S CAR. >> OW. NOW YOU CAN SEE HIM COMING DOWN THE RACETRACK. EVERYBODY GOING TO THE FLAT TO GET BY HIM. >> IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO TO THAT WALL WHEN THAT HAPPENS GOING INTO THE CORNER. >> WATCH BOBBY LABONTE. BROKEN SHOULDER AND ALL, HE GETS ON THE FLAT TO GET BY. >> WE ARE UNDER CAUTION AT 217 LAPS. WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. >> THERE IS THE TIRE THAT WAS IN THE GRASS FROM STEVE PARK'S CAR ROLLED BACK. WE'RE STILL UNDER CAUTION, ONE LAP AND WE'LL BE BACK TO GREEN. TROUBLE ON TED MUSGRAVE'S CAR. HE GOES BACK BEHIND THE WALL. >> HE BACKED ALL THE WAY DOWN PIT ROAD. HE HAD SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. THEY ARE BEHIND THE WALL. STEVE PARK COME IN AND THE CREW HAD TO GRAB HIM. HE HAS NO BRAEBS. >> MARK MARTIN HAS CLIMBED INTO HIS CAR. HE HAS DECLINED CONVERSATION. THE CAR IS TORN UP. THEY WILL CHANGE THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE. THERE IS CONCRETE IN THE WHEEL. LET'S GRAB JACK ROUSCH. IS THIS CAR REPAIRABLE? >> IF WE CAN GET IT BACK OUT THERE -- WE CAN'T WIN THE RACE. WE HURT OURSELVES AS FAR AS POINTS. THIS IS A DAY WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING TROUBLE. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID THE TROUBLE OR TO CAPITALIZE ON IT. NOW WE'RE PART OF THE SAME TROUBLE. >> THEY ARE WORKING HARD. THEY WILL GET IT OUT IF THEY CAN. A LONG STOP BEHIND THE WALL AS THEY TRY TO BEAT THE FENDERS OUT AND CHANGE THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE. >> THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THAT MARK MARTIN HAS FINISHED OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN. HE HAS ONE WIN. TERRY LABONTE AND WARD BURTON ON THERE. >> HE IS ON THE LEAD LAP. HE IS AT THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY OUT THERE. TERRY LABONTE IS LEADING THE RACE. HE HAS A VERY FAST CAR. WHAT WARD WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HOPE FOR A CAUTION EARLY. HIS CAR DIDN'T GO THROUGH ONE AND TWO VERY GOOD. >> YOU CAN SEE TERI WANTS TO PUT THIS CAR OF WARD BURTON A LAP DOWN. HE MAKES A CHARGE IN THREE. >> WARD BURTON WAS A LAP DOWN WHEN THEY CAME TO THE CAUTION. ALL THE LEAD LAP CARS PITTED. THAT PUTS HIM ON THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP UNTIL JUST NOW. >> HIS CAR IS PUSHING UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE CORNERS WITH THE NEW TIRES. IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE -- A FEW LAPS TO GET THE CAR SETTLED DOWN AND THE TIRES TO WHERE THEY SUIT HIM SO HE CAN RUN THE SPEEDS HE WAS RUNNING BEFORE HE WENT INTO THE PITS. >> JUST BEHIND HIM IN THE GREEN CAR, THAT'S HIS BROTHER BOBBY LABONTE RUNNING IN SECOND PLACE. AND THIRD PLACE, TONY STEWART. >> TONY HAD A GREAT PIT STOP. >> GREG IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE NEW ENGLAND CREW CHIEFS, SUDDENLY ON THE WINSTON CUP SCENE. HERE IS JERRY NADEAU TRYING TO GET A LAP BACK. >> HE MADE A GREEN FLAG PIT STOP. HE IS TWO LAPS DOWN BUT NOW WILL BE ONE. THAT OPENED THE DOOR FORWARD. >> TONY STEWART GAINING ON BOBBY LABONTE IN THE CORNER. YOU CAN SEE HIM CLOSING IN. AS FAR AS BRAVERY, THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON BRAVER THAN A MAN YOU ARE RIDING WITH AT THIS MOMENT. >> WARD BURTON UNDER TERRY LABONTE. TO GET THAT LAP BACK AS YOU WATCH FROM TONY STEWART'S CAR. HERE IS TERRY AND BOBBY NOW RUNNING NOSE TO TAIL, ONE, TWO. >> DALE JARRETT LOOKING TO THE INSIDE OF STEWART DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> TAKES THE SPOT AWAY. JARRETT MOVES UP TO THIRD. THAT MAKES HIM THE FIRST FORD IN THE RACE BEHIND THE CHEVY AND PONTIAC. >> BROTHERS WILL BE BROTHERS. BOYS WILL BE BOYS. ON EVERY CAUTION, WHEN TERRY IS OUT IN FRONT OF BOBBY, WHILE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO GO TO GREEN, BOBBY -- TERRY WAITS THEN MOVES OVER GETS A GOOD SHOT AT BOBBY AND THROWS HIS CUP OUT THE WINDOW SO IT SPLASHES ON BOBBY'S WINDOW. >> KID STUFF. >> THEIR DAD WILL BE IN THERE TO TELL THEM TO NOT DO THAT. >> I SAW HIM AT THE GARAGE AREA. HE IS HERE. THEIR DAD, BOB. >> A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE AND BEING SPENT. RACING HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS. THAT HELPS US REMEMBER IT'S A SPORT. IT'S A GAME. THAT'S NEAT. >> IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT DALE JARRETT HAS PICKED IT UP. YOU SEE HIM ON THE BACK BUMPER OF BOBBY LABONTE. HE'S MOVING? >> I'M SURE THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS DURING THE LAST STOP. >> HE HAS BEEN FIING A PUSHING PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRACKING WELL. HE LOOKS TO THE OUTSIDE DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. >> LABONTE INTO TURN ONE. JARRETT LOOKING LOWER. HERE IS TONY STEWART. LOOKING BACK FROM THAT 20, YOU SEE RUSTY WALLACE LOOMING LARGE. WALLACE IS COMING. PULLING DOWN ON STEWART. >> HE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAD A GREAT PIT STOP. HIS CREW ALWAYS PERFORMS GOOD. WE SEE THE THREESOME UP FRONT. RUSTY IS COMING. BOBBY WANTS THE LEAD. COULDN'T QUITE MAKE THE PASS. I THINK DALE JARRETT LED A LAP AS THE CAUTION CAME OUT. HE PITTED PAST THE START/FINISH LINE. HE LED ON PIT ROAD REALLY. TERRY PITTED BEFORE YOU GET TO THE START/FINISH LINE. SO WHEN D.J. WENT ACROSS, THAT LET HIM LEAD A LAP. >> 227 LAPS COMPLETE. TERRY AND BOBBY LABONTE LEAD THE FIELD. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXAS. HERE IS THE BEST BATTLE ON THE TRACK. RUSTY WENT INTO TURN ONE OUTSIDE TONY, GOING INTO TURN THREE UNDER. >> RUSTY IS FAST RIGHT NOW. FASTEST WE HAVE SEEN HIM ALL DAY. >> I KEEP TALKING ABOUT, WE GO IN THE GARAGE AREA TO TALK TO THESE GUYS. THE JACK MAN FOR THIS TEAM TODAY SAID RUSTY WALLACE WILL SEE YOU IN WINNER'S CIRCLE. >> ALL BUT GUARANTEED IT. >> ONE OTHER THING RUSTY SAID THIS WEEK, THE RULES NOW ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE WAY THEY WERE BACK IN 1993 AND '94. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR RUSTY. IN THOSE TWO SEASONS HE WON 18 RACES. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS, THE AERODYNAMIC PACKAGES ARE SO DIFFERENT THAT THE DOWN FORCE IS DIFFERENT. EVERYTHING THEY KNEW THEN DOESN'T FACTOR INTO HOW YOU SET UP THE CARS. HE HEADED DOWN TO SOUTH CAROLINA THIS PAST WEEK AND PUT IN OVER 200 LAPS OF TESTING TO GET READY FOR THIS RACE. IT'S PAYING OFF. >> WALLACE COMING TO THE FRONT. IN FOURTH PLACE. TRYING TO CLOSE ON DALE JARRETT. HAS A WAYS TO GO TO GET THERE. AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD, IN FRONT OF TERRY LABONTE -- THE TWO CARS IN FRONT OF HIM ARE HOLDING THEIR BREATH, NADEAU AND WARD BURTON, THEY ARE HOPING FOR A CAUTION BECAUSE LABONTE WOULD HAVE TO SLOW FOR THE PE CAR. THEY COULD COME AROUND BACK ON LEAD LAP. THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP RIGHT NOW. >> WARD BURTON, IT WASN'T BEEN THAT LONG SINCE HE WAS LEADING. >> TWO OR THREE CARS WENT BY JEFF BURTON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF LAPSE. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POINT LEADER? >> OR IS HE BEING VERY CAGEY RIGHT NOW? >> THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE. AFTER MARK MARTIN GOT INTO THE WALL, HE MIGHT BE COOLING IT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW. HE IS NOT THAT FAR BEHIND THE LEADERS. HE IS IN CONTENTION. HE IS FIVE SECONDS BEHIND IN EIGHTH PLACE. >> RIDING WITH THE BUDWEISER CAMERA ON DALLENBACH'S CHEVROLET. PAST MAST WHOSE CAR WAS BATTERED UP IN AN ACCIDENT. DALLENBACH RIGHT NOW IN NINEth PLACE. LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST TOP TEN OF THE SEASON. >> HE WAS ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY BEFORE HE GOT OPEN. THE CAR IS PUSHING OUT OF TURN TWO. HE GOT VERY CLOSE TO THE WALL. >> I UNDERSTAND ERNIE IRVAN HAS LOST A CYLINDER. RUNNING ON SEVEN NOW. HE MADE A GREEN FLAG PIT STOP BEFORE THE CAUTION CAME OUT. HE IS A DRIVER THAT GOT CAUGHT A LAP DOWN. HE IS BEING SHOWN TWO LAPS DOWN NOW. BACK IN THE 28th POSITION. >> OUT OF THE RACE, KENNY WALLACE, MIKE SKINNER AND JEFF GORDON. KENNY WALLACE FOR RELIEF DUTY FOR HAMILTON. OVERCOME BY EXHAUST FUMES. THEY TRIED TO GET LaJOIE IN BUT HE WOULDN'T FIT. KENNY WALLACE IS ABARD. BACK AT THE FRONT. STILL NADEAU IN THE 9. ROAD RACER OUT OF CONNECTICUT. WARD BURTON TRY TO HOLD OFF THE RACE LEADER TERRY LABONTE. >> THEY ARE RUNNING VERY HARD. IF A YELLOW COMES OUT, THEY WILL GET TO CIRCLE AROUND AND BE BACK IN CONTENTION. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE RUNNING IN FRONT OF THE LEADER, NOT PULLING OVER AND LETTING HIM GO. >> DICK? >> I HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH THE CREW CHIEF FOR 99, JEFF BURTON, WHO IS IN EIGHTH SPOT. I SAID HOW IS THE CAR? HE SAID THE CAR IS FINE. WE HAVE MADE A DECISION TO FINISH THE RACE. I SAID, IS THIS CRASHING STUFF BECAUSE OF TIRES? WHAT'S GOING ON? HE LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND SAID THEY ARE JUST RUNNING TOO DARN HARD. HE DIDN'T SAY DARN. >> THE SPEED FOR THIS RACE WAS FIVE MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN LAST YEAR. RECORD SPEEDS WHEN WE ARE UNDER GREEN FLAG RACING HERE -- >> THEY RUN FAST HERE ON THIS TRACK. NO DOUBT. >> FRANKIE I THINKING POINT LEAD WHICH THEY HAVE AND CHAMPIONSHIP WHICH THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BY BACKING OFF. JEFF BURTON -- 241 LAPS COMPLETE. CBS COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS MESSAGE. >> 246 LAPS COMPLETE HERE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TERRY AND HIS BROTHER BOBBY OUT FRONT. THEY HAIL FROM THE LONE STAR STATE. NEITHER HAS WON HERE. DALE JARRETT RUNNING IN THIRD. RUSTY WALLACE UP FOR FOURTH. ROOKIE TONY STEWART IS FIFTH. THERE IS A LOOK AT WALLACE WHO CLIMBED TO FOURTH. >> RUSTY WALLACE IS RUNNING WELL. HE HAS HAD TWO TOUGH WEEKS FINISHES 35th AND 33rd. HIS CREW CHIEF IS ROBERT PEMBERTON. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE TAIL END OF THE RACE TO PULL IT OUT OF THE WATER? >> WE WILL -- IT WILL BE LONG ENOUGH TO DO FOUR TIRES. HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO ADJUST ON THE CAR. WE HAVE DONE THAT. >> ARE YOU FAST ENOUGH TO WIN THIS THING? >> I CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >> CAN YOU GET FAST ENOUGH TO WIN? >> IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE. THIS IS THE BEST WE'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME. WE HAD TO LOOSEN UP. WE WILL GIVE THEM A RUN IF WE CAN. >> THEY WON'T GIVE UP. >> BUDDY NOTICED HE IS RUNNING A DIFFERENT LINE THAN SOME UP FRONT. >> WHEN RUSTY WON AT CHARLOTTE, HE FOUND A PLACE THAT HE COULD GET MAXIMUM OUT OF THE CAR. HE IS RUNNING HIGH ON THE TRACK. WE NOTICED THAT. IT'S GETTING THE JOB DONE. HOPE IT'S NOT LEANING ON THE FRONT TIRE TOO MUCH. GO UP TRACK TO THE GREAT PART IN THE CENTER OF THE CORNER. >> HE IS SEARCHING FOR DIFFERENT GROOVES TO TRY TO GET A PLACE THAT'S COMFORTABLE AND ONE THAT HE CAN RUN FASTER SPEEDS. A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE OTHERS. >> NED, HIS LAST LAP, 180.8. TERRY 180.1. RIGHT NOW, RUSTY WALLACE IS THE FASTEST CAR ON THE TRACK. WARD BURTON IS STILL OUT IN FRONT OF TERRY. NADEAU HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE LEADER. BURTON IS HANGING ON TO THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. >> WE WERE TALKING, YOU HAVE A LAP CAR THERE, RICK MAST, WHO WAS IN A WRECK. YOU SEE TERRY ON THE WHITE LINE THROUGH THE CORNER. HIS CAR IS WORKING THERE. HE WILL STAY THERE BECAUSE THAT IS THE PREFERED LINE. SOMETIMES THE DRIVER HAS TO REGULATE WHERE HE RUNS ON THE TRACK TO WHAT THE CAR WANTS. >> WARD IN 22nd POSITION, THE LAST CAR ON THE LEAD LAP. >> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVER WHO LED A GOOD SESSION OF THIS RACE IS IN 22nd. THE CAR IS AS FAST AS IT WAS BUT BURTON MADE A GREEN FLAG PIT STOP BEFORE MARK MARTIN'S CAUTION CAME OUT. THUS, HE ENDED UP ON THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP BECAUSE THE REST OF THE TEAMS COULD PIT UNDER THE CAUTION. HE PITTED UNDER THE GREEN. HE IS TRYING TO HOLD OFF TERRY LABONTE. LET'S LOOK AT EARNHARDT. >> HE IS AT 11th PLACE. IN THERE FIGHTING. >> THAT IS STEVE PARK BEHIND HIM. EARNHARDT'S TEAM OWNS THE 1 CAR THERE. THEY BUILT IT AT EARNHARDT'S SHOP IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> EARNHARDT SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON THIS THING. DIDN'T QUALIFY WELL. HAVEN'T PRACTICED TOO WELL. WE CAN KEEP ADJUSTING. THEY ADJUSTED UP TO 11th PLACE. JUST AHEAD OF HIM IS CHAD LITTLE IN THE TOP TEN TODAY. ONE OF THE ROUSCH FORDS. >> CHAD LITTLE HAD A GREAT RUN LAST YEAR IN THAT PARTICULAR CAR THE 97. >> THEY ARE RUNNING 10.5 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER TERRY LABONTE. >> CHAD LITTLE FINISHED SECOND HERE LAST YEAR, A CAREER BEST. THERE IS TERRY LABONTE. 80 LAPS TO GO. THE THIRD ANNUAL TEXAS 500. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. ot >> WE'RE BACK WITH YOU AT THE TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. $4 MILLION IS AT STAKE. 259 LAPS. 388.5 MILES COMPLETED. YOU WATCH THE BATTLE BETWEEN 88, DALE JARRETT AND 2, RUSTY WALLACE. THAT'S FOR THIRD SPOT. WHAT A DIFFERENCE $25 MILLION WILL MAKE. THAT'S WHAT THEY SPENT IN IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS TRACK. IN 1997, 22 OF THE 43 STARTERS, ALL INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF INCIDENT ON THE TRACK. ALL SHOWED A LOT OF BRUISES WHEN IT WAS OVER. TODAY 38 CARS IN CONTENTION. 22 IN THE LEAD LAP. WE GET DOWN TO DECISION TIME. LET'S GO BACK TOP SIDE WITH NED JARRETT, BUDDY BAKER AND MIKE JOY. >> THANKS. THE LABONTE BROTHERS HOLD THE FIELD BACK HERE AT TEXAS. TERRY AND BOBBY THE LEADERS, DALE IN THIRD. RUSTY IS FOURTH. ONE CHANGE IN THE TOP FIVE, MAYFIELD PASSED TONY STEWART FOR FIFTH PLACE. THAT GETS CLOSE IN TURN ONE. >> IT DOES. VERY CLOSE. >> WARD BURTON TRYING TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. TERRY LABONTE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CAR A LAP DOWN. YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE EVENLY MATCHED. >> TERRY LABONTE HAD A HANDFUL OF RESTRAINT. BILL? >> I'M WITH THE CREW CHIEF FOR TERRY LABONTE. HE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF CARS GO OUT TODAY. SPECULATION, TIRE PROBLEMS. ANY CONCERN WITH TERRY AT THIS PACE? >> OUR TIRES ARE LOOKING GOOD. WE DON'T HAVE STORIES ABOUT TIRE WEAR. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO. TERRY SAYS HE IS COMFORTABLE. >> THIS IS TERRY LABONTE'S 608th CAREER START. EVERY TIME HE GETS INTO THE CAR IT'S A MILESTONE. >> JIMMY MAY CAR IS THE CREW CHIEF FOR BOBBY LABONTE. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. HOW IS HE SET UP? >> HE IS NOT SAYING A LOT. YOU ARE RIGHT, HE HAS HELD ON GOOD FOR US. HE IS SUFFERING. THE CAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE OFF. WE HAVE BEEN LOOSE IN AND TIGHT OFF. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES TO BALANCE THAT. WE HAVEN'T HIT IT. WE HAVE ONE MORE STOP TO MAKE ONE MORE ADJUSTMENT. >> HOW HAVE YOUR TIRES BEEN? YOUR TIRES? >> TIRES LOOK GOOD. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE SO FAR. EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. I THINK PART IS THAT WE HAVEN'T PUSHED HARD. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. >> MIKE? >> TERRY'S LAST SPEEDWAY WIN WAS TALLADEGA. THE DRIVER WHO FINISHES IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR IS HIS BROTHER BOBBY. THEY FINISHED ONE, TWOED ON THREE OCEANS. TENTH PLACE CHANGES HANDS. >> DALE EARNHARDT HAS BEEN RACING WITH CHAD LITTLE. EARNHARDT IN THE 3. NOW HE WILL GET THE POSITION. CHAD TRYING TO COME BACK. EARNHARDT HAS IT. TOP TEN FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. >> CHAD ON THE OUTSIDE. EARNHARDT -- TAKES THAT SPOT AWAY FROM HIM. MOVES UP A LITTLE BIT. DALE WILL TAKE THAT SPOT FROM YOU. >> YOU SAW CHAD TO TO LIFT COMING OUT OF FOUR. THAT ALLOWED COPE AND SADLER TO POUNCE. HERE COMES SADLER FOR POSITION. >> THAT'S THE BEST RUN SADLER HAS HAD THIS YEAR. HE QUALIFIED WELL. HAS HAD GOOD RUNS GOING. FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER GOT CAUGHT UP IN WRECKS. HIS BEST RUN OF THE YEAR GOING. HE IS A ROOKIE DRIVER IN THE WINSTON CUP SERIES THIS YEAR. HAS A GOOD CAR AND DRIVING IT WELL TODAY. >> TERRY LABONTE HAS PASSED WARD BURTON INTO TURN ONE. THAT WILL PUT BURTON ONE LAP DOWN LABONTE THE RACE LEADER. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXAS WHERE THERE IS A NEW THIRD PLACE CAR, RUSTY WALLACE. MOVING PAST DALE JARRETT. WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW IT HAPPENED. >> RUSTY HAS BN RUNNING A HIGHER LINE. HE GOT OFF TURN TWO FAST AND GOT UP ON THE INSIDE OF JARRETT GOING INTO TURN THREE AND DROVE AROUND. >> DALE GOES BACK TO THE BOTTOM. LOOKS AT RUSTY. THINK DALE IS RUNNING A VERY SMART RACE. HE KNOWS THEY HAVE ANOTHER PIT STOP TO MAKE. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE CAR. THIS RACE IS NOT BASED ON THE FASTEST CAR. I HAVE MY OWN OPINION. I WON'T SHARE IT. >> 21 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. PIT STOPS WILL COME UP SOON. IF WE HAVE GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS, IF WE REMAIN CAUTION FREE. SEE RUSTY WALLACE, ANOTHER GROOVE HIGHER UP THE TRACK. TERRY LABONTE, BOBBY SECOND. RUSTY, DALE JARRETT AND MAYFIELD. THE TOP FIVE. THEN STEWART, JEFF BURTON. THE POINT LEADER RUNNING SEVENTH. WALLEN BACK. >> I CAN'T HOLD BACK. I HAVE TO SHARE. BOBBY LABONTE IS RUNNING IN SECOND PLACE. HE IS INJURED. I THINK HE IS SAVING HIS BODY. HE HAS THE FASTEST CAR ON THE TRACK. ANY TIME HE WANTS TO MOVE UP, HE CATCHES HIS BROTHER. THE CAR IS RUNNING ABOUT A HALF A LANE LOWER THROUGH THE CORNER. IT SEEMS TO BE DOING -- THE CREW CHIEF GAVE A TIP AWAY. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE CORNER. HE SAID THAT WE HAVEN'T RUN HARD YET. >> PIT STOPS BEGINNING. WARD BURTON, ONCE HE GOT LAPPED HAS MADE A STOP. GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS ARE BEGINNING. 60 LAPS TO GO. >> THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO THE REST OF THE WAY AS FAR AS FUEL AND TIRES ARE CONCERNED. >> TONY STEWART OUT TOWARD THE WALL. LAP 275. DARRELL WALTRIP ABOUT TO SURRENDER A LAP TO TERRY LABONTE. >> THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER LAP. THAT MAKES HIM TWO LAPS DOWN AT LEAST. >> GEOFF BODINE MAKES A STOP. JEFF GORDON FIRST CAR OUT OF THE RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER. >> D.J. ABOUT TO COME IN FOR A PIT STOP. >> HE IS TALKING ABOUT HIS SON DALE JARRE. >> DICK? >> HE SURE WILL. HE IS ON HIS WAY DOWN PIT ROAD. THE LAST PIT STOP. >> NADEAU SPINS COMING IN THE GARAGE. >> JARRETT WILL STOP. HE WILL STOP ON PIT ROAD. CAUTION FLAG NOT OUT. JARRETT IS MAKING HIS STOP. RUSTY'S GUYS ARE READY TO PIT. IT'S A FOUR TIRE CHANGE. MINOR CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT ON THE 88. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, GET OUT WITHOUT A MISTAKE. DON'T TAKE TOO LONG. GOOD STOP, 17.22. NICE STOP FOR THIS BUNCH. >> NO CAUTION FLAG. THERE MAY BE A PENALTY ON NADEAU. JERRY NADEAU WILL BE HELD FOR ONE LAP. BY THE OFFICIALS AS A PENALTY. >> JARRETT, WHAT WE CALL SHORT PIT. HE COULD HAVE GONE ON AS LONG AS THE LABONTE BROTHERS OUT THERE. HERE COPS RUSTY WALLACE DOWN PIT ROAD. HE IS SHORT PITTING AS WELL. GET THE NEW TIRES ON. GO OUT AND HOPE CAN YOU PICK UP ENOUGH IN THE FEW LAPS UNTIL THEY COME IN TO BE IN FRONT WHEN THEY COME IN. LET'S GO BACK TO THE PITS >> THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PIT CREWS IN AULT MOTORSPORTS. THE GUY THAT PREDICTED THIS GUY WOULD WIN THE JACK MAN. FOUR TIRES FOR RUSTY WALLACE. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SIDES ON. LEFT IS GOING UP. NO ADJUSTMENT ON THE CHASSIS. HE IS DOWN AND AWAY IN 18.1. >> BOBBY LABONTE MAKES HIS WAY DOWN PIT ROAD. 4,000 HPMs. HE BRINGS IT TO A STOP LIKE HE IS SUPPOSED TO. STICKER TIRES ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THEY WILL MAKE A SLIGHT CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT TO GET THE CAR THE WAY THEY WANT IT. THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT FOR TERRY. THEY DECIDED TO COME IN QUICKER. LEFT SIDE TIRES. AND OFF HE GOES. 16 EVEN. WHAT A GREAT STOP FOR BOBBY LABONTE. >> KENNY WALLACE IN RELIEF OF BOBBY HAMILTON HAS COME IN. KENNY SCHRADER HAS PITTED. BURTON IS ON PIT ROAD. >> I WILL BETTERRY WON'T WAIT VERY MUCH LONGER. HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS SLOWING DOWN. >> HE IS COMING ON PIT ROAD. HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO STAY OUT TOO LONG. THE CARS WITH NEW TIRES ARE RUNNING FASTER THAN HE WAS RUNNING. >> KENNY IRWIN IS IN PIT LANE FOR ROBERT YATES. >> TERRY COMES IN FOR HIS LAST PIT STOP OF THE DAY. THEY WILL GO WITH FOUR TIRES. THEY MADE A SMALL CHANGE TO THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE LAST STOP. AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING AS LOW ON THE TRACK AS THEY WANTED. THEY ARE TAKING MORE AIR PRESSURE OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE TIRES THIS TIME AROUND. JACK MAN GETS THE CAR UP AND DOWN EVEN WITH A BAD THUMB. THEY ARE OUT IN 17.2 SECONDS. >> THIS IS WHERE THE PIT CREWS EARN THEIR MONEY. EVERY SECOND THEY SAVE ON PIT ROAD, THAT'S A FOOTBALL FIELD LENGTH ON THE TRACK. YOU CAN GAIN YOUR DRIVER NOT ONLY TRACK DISTANCE BUT POSITION WITH A GOOD STOP. MARLIN IS IN. HE IS UP IN TURN FOUR MAKING HIS STOP. HE IS A LEAD LAP CAR. THAT WILL MAKE MAYFIELD IN THE 12 THE LEADER. >> HE IS SAYING, I HAVE TO GET IN THE PITS MYSELF. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP COMES AROUND. >> I BELIEVE JEREMY IS COMING IN RIGHT NOW. COMING OFF TURN FOUR. HE WANTED TO GET THE FIVE BONUS POINTS. >> BILL WILL WAIT FOR MAYFIELD. >> HAVING A GREAT RUN TODAY. AS HIGH AS 5. HE STARTED 27th. FOUR TIRE STOP. THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE CHASSIS. THEY WILL PUT IN THE FUEL AND GET THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TIRES ON. HOPEFULLY GET OUT OF HERE. THEY HAVE HAD GREAT PIT STOPS AVERAGING 16 SECONDS TODAY. THIS TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER. A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT. THE CAR IS DOWN AND HE IS OUT IN 18.1. >> SADLER IS IN. DAVID GREEN HAS BEEN IN. NEMECHEK COMES TO PIT LANE. GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS CONTINUE. BRETT BODINE, ONE OF THREE OWNER/DRIVERS, HE TIMES IN 17th IN HIS FORD. HE HAS PICKED UP THE LEAD. HE WILL PIT. >> DALE JARRETT, AFTER ALL OF THIS, WILL BE THE LEADER, IF HE CAN HOLD TERRY LABONTE OFF LONG ENOUGH. THAT WILL GET HIM OUT FRONT. >> SPENCER MAKES A STOP. AS YOU RIDE WITH DALE JARRETT. >> ROBERT PRESSLEY IN THE 77 GOES DOWN ON THE WHITE LINE. YOU ARE RIDING WITH THE LEADER THROUGH TURNS ONE -- RIGHT DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK AS THEY START OFF TURN TWO. >> PRESSLEY IS TRYING TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. HE HAS HAD A GOOD RUN TODAY. >> STEVE PARK IN THE 1 CAR MOVES TO THE YOUD SIGH AND LETS DALE JARRETT TAKE THE LOW LINE GETTING IN THE CORNER. >> JARRETT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING PRESSLEY FOR SEVERAL LAPS TRYING TO GET BY. SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO. THE LABONTE BROTHERS ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM. HE RUNS ALONG BEHIND PRESSLEY. PRESSLEY IS RUNNING IN THE 21st POSITION ON THE LEAD LAP. >> TERRY LABONTE IS A FULL MILE AN HOUR QUICKER THAN DALE JARRETT RUNNING THEM DOWN. >> HE IS COMING, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. I'M SURE THE 77 IS HOLDING DALE UP SOME. ROBERT IS TRYING TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. >> ONE MILE AN HOUR DOESN'T SOUND VERY FAST. IT'S NOT. WHEN YOU SEE THAT CAR GETTING BIGGER IN YOUR MIRROR, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. 11 LEADERS TODAY. THAT IS THE -- MORE THAN THE RECORD. 286 COMPLETE. DALE JAUR RECEIPT OUT IN FRONT. >> LOOKING AT THIS GRANDSTAND, YOU WOULD THINK HALF OF STATE OF TEXAS IS HERE. THEY MAY BE. THE BUD 1 AIR SHIP REMINDS YOU FRESH BEER TASTES BETTER. OVER 200,000 FANS. HERE TO WATCH DALE JARRETT TRY TO HOLD OFF TERRY AND BOBBY LABONTE AND RUSTY WALLACE AND HIS TEAMMATE MAYFIELD. >> FAST CLOSING LABONTE IN THE 5. HE IS CLOSED UP A LITTLE BIT ON D.J. THEY ARE GOING THROUGH LAP TRAFFIC. YOU CAN'T TELL WHO HAS THE SUPERIOR CAR. IF YOU CATCH LAP TRAFFIC AND HAVE TO BREAK MOMENTUM, IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU PUT ON THE BRAKES >> TERRY IS THERE. HE IS TWO CAR LENGTHS BACK RIGHT NOW. BOBBY IS A LITTLE OVER A SECOND -- JUST ABOUT A SECOND BEHIND THEM IN THIRD PLACE. >> NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE TWO D.J.s OUT THERE. IN THE BUSCH SERIES GARAGE, HIS CREW CALLS DALE EARNHARDT JR. D.J. FOR DALE JR. >> OKAY. >> WE ARE AT LEAST 293. DALE JARRETT LEADING. >> AS HE LEADS, NO DOUBT ON HIS MIND IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM AT TEXAS IN THE LAST TWO RACES. HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO WIN BOTH RACES. IN '97 HE LOST THE CLUTCH, LOST THIRD GEAR. SECOND SPOT BUT DIDN'T WIN. LAST YEAR, STRONG ENOUGH TO WIN AND RIGHT AT THE END HE LOST THE CYLINDER. WOUND UP IN 11th. HE NEEDS THAT CAR TO HOLD TOGETHER FOR A FEW MORE LAPS. DALE JARRETT COULD WIN HERE AT TEXAS. >> HE IS NO HUNGRYER THAN TERRY WHO HAS A FOURTH AND SIXTH AT THIS TRACK IN TWO APPEARANCES. LOOKING FOR A HOME STATE WIN. >> TERRY HAS HAD A FAST CAR ALL DAY LONG. IT SEEMS LIKE THE LONGER THE RUN ON THE TIRES, THE BETTER HIS CAR COMPARED TO OTHERS. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE LONG ENOUGH THAT IT SEEMS TO BE COMING IN. D.J. HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AROUND ROBERT PRESSLEY. >> THERE IS MARK MARTIN. HE IS ON THE TRACK AFTER EXTENSIVE RIGHT SIDE REPAIRS. >> LOOKING BACK FROM PRESSLEY'S CAR, DALE JARRETT, AS THEY GO DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY, YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST TWO CARS LOOKING THEM OVER RIGHT NOW. TERRY ENTERS THE CORNER LOWER THAN DALE. ROBERT PRSLY LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST TOP TEN. TRYING TO STAY ON THE LEAD LAP. 19th PLACE CAR. HE HAS NOT BEEN HOEING UP THE TWO LEADERS. WE WILL SEE HOW THAT SORTS OUT. THE LEADER ARE NOSE TO TAIL. CBS COVERAGE CONTINUES AFTER THIS MESSAGE. >> 48.5 MILES LEFT IN THE THIRD ANNUAL TEXAS 500 HERE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. 200,000 TEXANS ARE STAYING IN THEIR SEATS. THE ICEMAN, TERRY LABONTE, WHO IS COOL ABOUT EVERYTHING, HAS GOT THEM AT FEVER PITCH AS HE CLOSES IN ON DALE JARRETT. RIGHT BEHIND TERRY, BROKEN SHOULDER AND ALL, IS BOBBY LABONTE IN THE PONTIAC RUNNING IN THIRD. THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT FINISH. LET'S GO TO MIKE JOY. >> KEN, IT IS. THE GAP IS CONSTANT BETWEEN THOSE THREE AND RUSTY WALLACE. EACH DRIVER RUNNING AS HARD AS THEY CAN AS THE LAPS WIND DOWN. LABONTE TWO CAR LENGTHS BEHIND JARRETT AND JARRETT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET PAST PRESSLEY AND PUT HIM A LAP DOWN. >> THE NICE PART, YOU SEE TERRY IN SECOND PLACE. HE IS RUNNING AS HARD AS HE CAN. HE IS NOT CLOSING IN ON JARRETT RIGHT NOW. IT SEEPS THAT HOWEVER THEY CATCH LAP TRAFFIC THE ADVANTAGE GROWS ON DECREASES. BOBBY LABONTE, I THOUGHT WAS THE FASTEST CAR OUT THERE, HE IS HOLDING HIS OWN ALSO. HE IS NOT CLOSING IN LIKE I THOUGHT HE WOULD. >> HE IS ABOUT 1.1 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER. HE MIGHT BE RIDING NOW, SAVING TIRES. THEY STILL HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF LAPS TO GO. >> 19 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. TWO ARE JUST IN FRONT OF OUR LEADERS YOU IRWIN AND ROBERT PRESSLEY. THEY ARE BATTLING FOR POSITION. >> THEY ARE RUNNING VERY GOOD. PRESSLEY, YOU HAVE TO BE IMPRESSED. HE IS HAS BEEN OUT IN FRONT OF JARRETT FOR -- EVER SINCE THEY MADE THE GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS. >> THE STAGE IS GOING TO GET CROWDED. THEY ARE COMING UP ON LAP TRAFFIC JUST IN FRONT OF THIS GROUP. THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE ZBLMT COULD WELL DO IT. IT'S A DIFFICULT TRACK TO PASS ON. AS YOU SAID, DEPENDS HOW YOU CATCH THE TRAFFIC. IF YOU CATCH IT GOING INTO THE CORNER AND GET BY, THAT'S GOOD. IF YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW IN THE CORNER AND THROUGH, THAT'S BAD. >> THERE ARE FOUR CARS THERE IN FRONT OF THE LEADERS ON THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. SPENCER, ELLIOTT, IRWIN AND PRESSLEY ARE THE FOUR CARS RIGHT -- THERE COME THE LEADERS. THERE IS SPENCER ON THE BUNCH. WE ARE AT 305 LAPS COMPLETE. DALE JARRETT IS THE LEADER AHEAD OF THE LABONTE BROTHERS AND JUSTY WALLACE. EARLY IN THE DAY JEFF GORDON WENT OUT, FIRST TIME EVER BEEN THE LAST PLACE FINISHER IN A WINSTON CUP RACE. WE WILL GET -- HE WILL GET FEW POINTS HERE. LAPS WINDING DOWN. RECORD NUMBER OF LEADERS FOR THE RACE. WHO WILL BE THE WINNER? JARRETT'S FORD? TERRY LA BON TEASE'S CHEVY. BOBBY'S PONTIAC. RUSTY'S FORD? >> IRWIN PUSHED UP OUT OF TWO. THE LEADERS WENT BY HIM. THAT TOOK ONE OF THE CARS OUT FROM IN FRONT OF THE LEADERS. >> AT LAP 307 WE WILL TAKE A FINAL PAUSE FROM TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND COME BACK AND RUN TO THE FINISH. DALE JARRETT OUT IN FRONT. >> 312 LAPS COMPLETE. 22 TO GO. DALE JARRETT HAS PASSED ROBERT PRESSLEY. HE PAID A HEAVY PRICE. LOOK HOW CLOSE TERRY AND BOBBY LABONTE GET AS HE GOES PAST THE 77. >> HE HAD TO TAKE THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE TRACK THERE. HE DID GET BY HIM THERE. TERRY LABONTE WILL COME ON THE BOTTOM AND CLOSE RIGHT UP ON JARRETT. >> HE IS CLOSING UP AGAIN AS THEY COME TO THE START/FINISH LINE. HE IS TRYING TO MAKE A MOVE. COULDN'T DO IT. TERRY LABONTE IS THERE. >> BOBBY WAS THE BIG BENEFICIARY. CLOSED IN ON THOSE TWO. RIGHT NOW DALE JARRETT HAS ONE LABONTE TO WORRY ABOUT. IN TEXAS, THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH. BOBBY CAUGHT THE 77 AND HAD TROUBLE. HE IS BACK ABOUT 20 CAR LENGTHS OR SO. >> NEXT CAR THEY WILL CATCH IS SPENCER. THEY WILL MOVE PAST GEOFF BODINE AND CHARGE DOWN ON SPENCER. 20 LAPS TO GO. >> MIKE, I HAVE BEEN IN THE SECOND PLACE CAR MANY TIMES. WHAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW WHEN THESE CARS ARE THIS EVEN, WHAT YOU THINK TO DO IS MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE IN THE MIRROR TRYING TO GET HIS EYE A LITTLE BIT OFF SO HE WILL MAKE A MISTAKE SO YOU GET THE PREFERED LINE. >> I DO RECALL A RACE WHERE YOU TOOK THE MYER AND BROKE IT OFF TO SHOW THE SECOND PLACE CAR -- >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN'T THINK I WAS WATCHING HIM. >> WHAT I'M OBSERVING AS THEY COME UP ON SPENCER IS THROUGH TURNS ONE AND TWO, THAT D.J. HAS BEEN BEATING TERRY. MAYBE NOT THIS TIME. BUT THE LAST COUPLE OF TIES. HE BEATS HIM. TERRY HAS BEEN PICKING UP ON DALE COMING OFF TURN FOUR. ONE HAS A STRONG IN ONE PART WHILE ANOTHER IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> NOW WE GET A SNIFF OF A DRAFT FROM SPENCER TO HELP PULL HIM UP. SPENCER IS RACING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, 7, MICHAEL WALTRIP. THAT IS A BATTLE FOR 14th POSITION. SPENCER GOES FOR IT. >> IF THEY GET UP SIDE BY SIDE IN FRONT OF THE LEADERS, THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD. >> DALE JARRETT WILL PROBABLY TRY TO TIME THIS WHERE HE CATCHES THESE CARS WHERE HE CAN MAKE A PASS ON THEM AT A GOOD PLACE ON THE TRACK. AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY ARE RUNNING VERY WELL. WHEN WE SAY A LAP CAR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T RUNNING WELL. >> THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING GOOD ALL DAY LONG. IT'S ALMOST 500 MILES TO GO A LAP DOWN. >> BILL? >> INTERESTING STRATEGY. TERRY LABONTE IS STAYING PUT. HE TALKED TO ANDY AND SINCE THEY TOOK THEIR TIRES SIX LAPS LATER THAN DALE, THEY BELIEVE THAT THAT DIFFERENCE WILL GIVE THEM AN ADVANTAGE IN THE CLOSING LAPS >> LOOK AT LABONTE ON THE OUTSIDE OF SPENCER. >> THAT'S A POWER MOVE. HE HAD TO GO. >> JIMMY MOVES DOWN TO LET DALE GO BY ON THE OUTSIDE AND STAYED DOWN ON THE INSIDE. MICHAEL GOES HIGH. SPENCER DID LET BOTH OF THE LEADERS GO. HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE A FACTOR IN THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE. YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE HIM FOR THAT. >> TERRY MIGHT HAVE HAD A RUN. HE IS NOT LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE JUST YET. >> MICHAEL WALTRIP MOVES OUT OF THE WAY AND LETS THE TWO LEADERS GO AT IT HERE. >> THEY CAN'T GET CLOSER WITHOUT SOMETHING HAPPENING. A CAR LENGTH APART FOR THE LEAD. 15 LAPS TO GO. GOOD RUN FOR ROOKIES TODAY. STEWART SIXTH. SADLER IN THE TOP TEN AS WELL. >> TERRY LABONTE LOOKED AT A HIGHER GROOVE THROUGH ONE AND TWO AND CLOSED IN ON THE 88 OF JARRETT. HE GOT A GREAT RUN OFF THE CORNER. NOW YOU SEE HIM EXPERIMENTING WITH THE HIGHER LINE. >> HE IS LOOKING TO SEE WHERE HE CAN GET THE MOMENTUM THAT HE NEEDS TO MOVE PAST. BOBBY ABOUT A SECOND BEHIND. >> WHAT HE MAY DO THERE IS JARRETT WILL PROTECT THE LOWER LINE. HE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOVE -- YOU SEE HIM GAIN A LITTLE BIT THERE. IF HE CAN MAKE THAT MOVE WORK, HE WILL GET MORE MOMENTUM OFF THE CORNER TO RUN HIM DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY QUICKER THAN A CAR THAT KEEPS A TIGHT LINE. >> HE IS RUNNING THAT CAR -- TERRY RAN VERY HARD INTO TURN THREE. USING THE TIRES UP. THE TIME HAS COME, YOU HAVE TO USE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE. YOU CAN'T LEAVE NOTHING ON THE TABLE NOW. >> DICK? >> I'M WITH ROBERT YATES. HE OWNS THE CAR IN THE LEAD. CAN YOU HANG ON? >> IF HE CAN STAY IN FRONT, HE NEEDS THE CLEAN AIR. HIS CAR IS TIGHT. IF HE CAN HOLD OFF AND GET AHEAD OF LAP CARS, CLEAN AIR WILL HELP. TERRY IS STRONG. IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD RACE. >> IT HAS BEEN SO FAR. >> TERRY ALMOST GOT INTO THE WALL COMING OFF TURN TWO. >> HE DID THAT. DALE WAS COMING OUT OF THE CORNER. HE IS USING ALL OF THE TRACK. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO. IT'S YOUR TRACK WHEN YOU ARE THE LEADER. >> CLOSE. DALE JUST SLAMMED THE DOOR IN TERRY'S FACE IN TURN ONE. >> YOU ARE SEEING SOME OF THE BEST RACING YOU WILL SEE IN WINSTON CUP RACING AS THEY GO AT IT, A FORD AND A CHEVROLET. A PONTIAC NOT TOO FAR BEHIND. BOBBY LABONTE HAS CLOSED IT DOWN HIMSELF. >> ALL I'M SEEING IS TERRY LABONTE MAKING A MOVE ON THE OUTSIDE AS THEY COME BY THE START/FINISH LINE TO TAKE THE LEAD. >> LABONTE GETS THE LEAD AND SLICES TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK AND DIVES UNDER CHAD LITTLE. >> HE SAW HIS OPPORTUNITY. TOOK ADVANTAGE AND MOVED INTO THE LEAD. I DON'T THINK HE CAN BE CAUGHT NOW. >> DALE JARRETT HAS TO DISPENSE WITH CHAD LITTLE IN A HURRY IF HE HAS ANY CHANCE. >> HE CAN'T GET MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR CAR LENGTHS BEHIND. THAT DRAFT CAN HELP HIM. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DISPENSE OF CHAD THAT TIME IN TURNS THREE AND FOUR. THAT WILL HURT. >> A FEW LAPS BACK, WE WERE TALKING. YOU USE THE LAP CARS OR CARS YOU ARE RACING WITH AS A PICK. A LOT OF TIMES IT GETS AN ADVANTAGE. >> DALE JARRETT KEYED HIS RADIO AND TOLD THE CREW, IT'S PUSHING TOO BAD. THE HANDLE HAS GONE AWAY ON 88. >> TERRY HAD TO KNOW THAT, THAT TIME WHEN HE CAME OFF TURN TWO AND ALMOST RAN UP THE BACK OF DALE JARRETT. HIS CAR WAS PUSHING. HE HAD TO BE OUT OF THE THROTTLE. LABONTE KNEW WHERE HE COULD HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. HIS FATHER, BOB LABONTE. >> BIG BOB. >> NEXT WEEK ON CBS, SATURDAY, TERRY'S SON, JUSTIN WILL TRY TO MAKE HIS BUSCH SERIES DEBUT. >> RIGHT HERE ON CBS. IN NACHLVILLE, TENNESSEE. >> RICH BICKLE A LAP DOWN. HE HAD BEEN IN THE TOP TEN MOST OF THE DAY. TRYING TO GIVE THAT TEAM ITS FIRST TOP TEN FINISH. BICKLE GOES A LAP DOWN. >> I WILL TALK FOR A SECOND. I WON MY FIRST MAJOR RACE IN CHARLOTTE, MY HOMETOWN. TERRY NEVER WON A MAJOR RACE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WHERE HE WAS BROUGHT UP. THIS IS HUGE FOR THIS GUY. >> HE IS TAKING OFF. >> THAT CAR -- AS I SAID EARLIER THE LONGER YOU RUNS -- -- THE LONGER HE RUNS, THE BETTER HE RUNS. JARRETT'S CAR PUSHES WHEN THE TIRES GET OLDER. >> GREAT JOB. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A TRANSITION WHERE THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT CREW CHIEFS. ANDY HAS NEVER LOST WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. HE WANTED TERRY BACK IN THE WINNER'S SICKLE. THAT CAR HAS BEEN ON A RAIL ALL DAY LONG. >> HE WORKED VERY WELL. HE MAD A FOUR TIRE CHANGE WHEN OTHERS MADE A TWO TIRE CHANGE. GOT BACK TO 15th. HE CAME RIGHT BACK TOTS FRONT. >> ANDY ANOTHER YOUNG NORTHEASTERN GUYS WHO MADE A MARK. HIS DAD EARNED RON HORNADAY A CHAMPIONSHIP. WAS A GREAT SUPER MODIFIED DRIVER AND BUILDER. >> WHEN THEY COME BY THE FLAG, A HANDFUL OF LAPS TO GO. >> DON'T GIVE THIS RACE AWAY. JARRETT IS GAINING SOME. >> LAST SPEEDWAY WIN FOR LABONTE 1997. FIVE LAPS TO GO. ONE LAPPED CAR UP THERE AHEAD. >> I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. WHAT WORKED FOR TERRY COULD WORK FOR DALE JARRETT. THEY ARE COMING UP ON A LAP CAR NOT TOO FAR AWAY. IF YOU BREAK THAT MOMENTUM, THAT SECOND PLACE CAR WILL TAKE YOU IN. >> IF YOU HAVE TO BACK OFF, IT CAN MAKE A DFERENCE. THEY WILL CATCH THE LAP TRAFFIC BEFORE THE RACE IS OVER. >> THAT WELL BE COPE AND THEN BENSON WHO IS THE LAST CAR ON THE LEAD LAP. TROUBLE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. PRESSLEY AND SPENCER COLLIDE AND SLAM INTO THE WALL. THEY HAD BEEN RACING HARD FOR THREE LAPS. THEY ARE IN THE FENCE. >> A RACE TO THE FLAG AS WHO WILL WIN THE TEXAS RACE. I THINK. >> IT COULD END THE RACE. THEY RACE BACK HERE. THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT CLEANED UP IN TIME. CAUTION IS OUT. THEY MIGHT NOT GET IT CLEANED UP FOR A RESTART. HERE IS LABONTE. HE WILL GET BACK TO THE FLAG FIRST. >> TERRY LABONTE COMES TO THE CAUTION FLAG AT LAP 331. THREE LAPS TO GO. THAT COULD BE THE SHOW. >> ROBERT PRESSLEY'S CAR HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE. SPENCER RESTING AGAINST THE WALL WITH A LOT OF DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. >> PRESSLEY COMES BY IN A SHOWER OF SMOKE AND SPARKS, TRYING TO STAY ON THE TRACK AND FINISH UNDER CAUTION. ONCE HE GOT LAPPED BY THE LEADER PRESSLEY, WHO NOW HITS THE WALL IN TURN ONE -- THE RIGHT FRONT WAS DOWN ON THE CAR. ROBERT WAS TRYING TO PINBALL IT AROUND HERE TO GET A FINISH. PRESSLEY, WHO LAST YEAR FINISHED THIRD, THEN THAT LOCKED HIM IN A BATTLE WITH SPENCER FOR 12th POSITION. FOR THOSE TWO CARS, IT TURNED INTO COMBAT. THEY ARE WRECKED, EVEN THOUGH PRESSLEY'S IS RUNNING. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. THEY WILL TAKE TWO LAPS TO GO WHEN THEY COME AROUND. >> SPEN SPEAKER'S CAR IS ON THE TRACK. I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY COULD GET HIM OFF THE TRACK AND GET IT CLEANED UP THAT QUICK. >> SPENCER WAS INJURED LAST YE. RIGHT NOW, YOU SEE THE WORKERS THERE INSIDE THE CAR HELPING HIM GET UNHOOKED. >> THE GUY AT THE REAR IS TRYING TO GET THE LID UP TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL CELL. LET US SHOW YOU TWO RACERS GOT TOGETHER. >> OF COURSE, THEY WERE TOGETHER. THE ACCIDENT WAS HAPPENING. SPENCER, REALLY A LOT OF DAMAGE TO HIS 23 FORD. >> HE WAS ON THE OUTSIDE. ROBERT WAS ON THE INSIDE. RIDE WITH PRESSLEY. THAT'S SPENCER TO HIS RIGHT. >> THEY MAKE CONTACT. YOU CAN SEE THE TWO CARS COME TOGETHER. PRESSLEY INTO THE OUTSIDE. HE IS ABLE TO GO INTO THE CORNER. HE GOES UP AND HITS THE WALL A SECOND LATER. >> THE WALL STRAIGHTENED HIM OUT. THAT SMOKE IS FROM THE TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN. HE IS IN THE WALL IN TURN ONE. >> YOU COULD SEE HIM TURNING THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS FLAT. IT WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE BUT TOWARDS THE WALL. >> COPE'S CAR IS ON THE TRACK. COPE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT HE HAD GOTTEN A LAP BACK. SPENCER CLIMBS OUT. TOUGH GUY. MODIFIED CHAMPION. HE IS WON ON THE SPEEDWAYS OF WINSTON CUP. HE IS TAKING HIS TIME GETTING OUT. >> WHEN YOU HIT THE WALL HERE, YOU HIT HARD. THE SPEES ARE SO HIGH HERE. >> EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS INCLUDING THE CRASHES. >> HOPE JIMMY IS OKAY. CERTAINLY, HE IS RATTLED. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. IT WAS A HARD HIT. THERE HE IS STANDING UP. >> HE IS GOING TO WALK AWAY. >> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. >> THAT IS ONE TOUGH CUSTOMER. MR. EXCITEMENT THEY CALLED HIM ON THE MODIFIED CIRCUMSTANCE KIT. HE LIVED UP TO THAT NIM. WHITE FLAG WITH THE YELLOW. THAT MEANS THAT ALL TERRY LABONTE NEEDS TO DO IS COMPLETE THIS LAST LAP UNDER CAUTION TO WIN THE TEXAS 500. >> HE WILL DESERVE THE WIN. HIS CAR HAS BEEN GOOD ALL DAY LONG. HE FOUGHT FROM BACK IN THE FIELD. DALE JARRETT PULLS UP TO CONGRATULATE HIM. >> BOBBY LABONTE BROKEN SHOULDER WILL COME HOME THIRD. >> HE HAS TO GET THE AT A BOY AWARD. MOST PEOPLE COULDN'T SIT IN AN EASY CHAIR THIS LONG IN A 500 MILE RACE. HE SOLDED ALONG AND BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THIRD, BOBBY LABONTE. >> TERRY WILL BE THE ONLY ONE OF THE HENDRICK CARS TO FINISH IN THE TOP TEN TODAY. JEFF GORDON WAS THE FIRST CAR OUT. NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN THE LAST FINISHER BUT THE LAST TIME HE FINISHED LAST IN A 43 CAR FIELD. WALLY DOWN TO 23rd. DALE JARRETT WILL BE SECOND. HIS ROBERT YATES RACING TEAMMATE WAS THE POLE SITTER, KENNY IRWIN. HE WILL BE WELL BACK IN 16th IN THE FINAL TALLY. >> RUSTY HAS TO FEEL GOOD. HE HAD A TERRIBLE RUN LAST WEEKEND IN DARLINGTON. COMES HOME TODAY IN -- REALLY HAD A GREAT ONE. AT ONE TIME WAS THE FASTEST ON THE TRACK. >> HE IS FOURTH AND HIS TEAMMATE IS FIFTH, MAYFIELD. THEN BOBBY LABONTE IS THIRD. AND TONY STEWART IS THE ROOKIE OF THE RACE IN SIXTH. TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. TERRY LABONTE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. TWO-TIME WINSTON CUP CHAMPION. SCORES A HOME STATE WIN. >> VERY POPULAR WITH THE FANS HERE. AND, OF COURSE, WITH HIS CREW. >> DALE JARRETT WILL PICK UP GROUND IN THE POINTS STANDINGS WITH A SECOND PLACE FINISH TODAY. BOBBY LABONTE GOES THE DISTANCE. LIKE JOE GIBBS SAYS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PLAY HURT. HE DID AND WAS REWARDED WITH A THIRD PLACE FINISH. IT ALL HAPPENED AT LAP 323. HERE IS THE 5 TRYING TO MAKE A PASS FOR THE LEAD. >> CHAD LITTLE ON THE OUTSIDE. D.J. HAD TO BACK OFF. MOMENTUM ON THE SIDE OF TERRY. HE MAKES THE PASS ON THE OUTSIDE. >> FROM DALE'S CAR. HERE IS THE WINNING PASS. >> HE CAME UNDER THE 97 CAR. COULDN'T GET THE TRACTION. HE HAD TO BACK OFF. TERRY HAD THE MOMENTUM AND WENT BY ON THE OUTSIDE. THAT'S ALL HE NEEDED TO GET A VICTORY. >> YOU COULD HEAR THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ENGINE AS DALE EASED UP TO SEE WHERE CHAD WOULD GO. THAT MOMENT'S HESITATION ALLOWED TERRY LABONTE THE CHANCE TO CAPITALIZE. THE 21st CAREER VICTORY FOR TERRY LABONTE. THERE IS HIS CREW CHIEF ATOP THE TOOLBOX READY TO GET HARDWARE IN VICTORY LANE. JEFF BURTON CAME IN THE POINT LEADER. HE FINISHES SEVENTH. EARNHARDT EIGHTH. BICKLE, GOOD RUN IN 12th AHEAD OF LITTLE. MICHAEL WALTRIP AND ROBERT PRESSLEY. BIG CROWD OF WELL WISHERS AS TERRY LABONTE MAKES HIS WAY INTO VICTORY LANE. >> LET'S JOIN THE TEXAS SIZE CELEBRATION WITH KEN SQUIER. >> IT IS A TEXAS SIZE CELEBRATION, MIKE JOY. TEXAS TERRY LABONTE HAS DONE IT. HOMETOWN TRACK. WELL, IT'S FAIRLY CLOSE. READY TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR. THE ONE RACE HE HAS REALLY WANTED. FOR THREE YEARS, IT BELONGS TO TEXAS'S OWN TERRY LABONTE. LET'S GET A WORD WITH THE CHAMPION OF THIS DAY BEFORE THIS CROWD. CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT A RACE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I TELL YOU WHAT, I HAVE TO THANK THE GUYS IN THE CREW. THE KELLOGG'S CHEVY RAN GREAT ALL DAY LONG. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD GET PAST DALE. HE WAS STRONG. I HAVE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS CHEVROLET, GMAC. KRAIKER STATE, MOUNTAIN DEW. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY ELSE. I WANT TO SAY HELLO TO ANDREW JACKSON'S FAMILY. A GOOD FRIEND OF THE HENDRICK FAMILY. HE PASSED AWAY. I WANT TO SAY HIGH TO RICK HENDRICK. THIS IS AWESOME. >> HOW MUCH DOES IT MEAN TO WIN IN TEXAS? >> I TELL YOU WHAT, WE PICKED PLACES TO TEST. I SAID I WANTED TO GO HERE BECAUSE THIS IS HERE I WANTED TO WIN. FOR ME, THIS IS AWESOME. >> IT WAS AN AWESOME RACE. BEAUTIFULLY DRIVEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.& TERRY LABONTE, A GREAT DAY. >> THANK YOU. >> TERRY MENTIONED A FELLOW WHO LOST HIS BATTLE WITH LEUKEMIA THAT AFFECTED TERI LABONTE'S CAR OWNER RICK HENDRICK. THEY RACED IN MEMORY OF ANDREW TODAY. >> WELCOME BACK TO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. TERRY LABONTE CELEBRATES. >> DALE JARRETT HAS BEEN HERE FOR THREE OR FOUR MINUTES. HE HAS NOT CRACKED A SMILE. SECOND IS NOT THAT BAD, IS IT? >> WELL, WHEN YOU WANT TO WIN IT IS. WE DID A TERRIFIC JOB IN THE PITS TODAY. CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM ADJUSTING. WE NEVER GOT THE PUSH OUT. I THOUGHT I COULD HOLD TERRY OFF. IT KEPT PUSHING. I GOT ON THE INSIDE OF A SLOW CAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO TERRY. KIND OF FITTING THAT TEXAS TERRY WOULD WIN HERE. >> LET'S GO TO BILL. >> I'M WITH BOBBY LABONTE. YOU ARE SMILING NOW. I HAVE A FEELING NOT A LOT OF SMILES IN THE CAR UNTIL YOU GOT TOLT FINISH LINE. >> IT WASN'T. TOUGH FOR A WHILE. THE BRACE GOT OLD. IT WAS GETTING TOUGH ON MY BACK. THE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB IN THE PITS. GREAT STRATEGY. CAR WORKED WELL ALL DAY. DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE GUYS AT THE END. TERRY WON THE RACE. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE FINISHED THIS THING. LOOKED LIKE BEING UP FRONT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE TOO GOOD WITH WHAT MARK DID AND SKINNER WITH HIS TROUBLE. WE HOPE EVERYBODY IS ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GLAD WE CAME OUT OF HERE OKAY. >> A COURAGEOUS DAY FOR BOBBY LABONTE. >> ONE TOUGH GUY REWARDED WITH A THIRD PLACE FINISH. WE'LL BE BACK TO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS THE LABONTES CELEBRATE. >> THE TEXAS SIZE CELEBRATION CONTINUES AS OVER 200,000 FANS FILE OUT OF TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. --<font color="#FFFF00"> Captions by VITAC --</font><font color="#00FFFF"> Burbank, Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.</font> >> MARK MARTIN HAD PROBLEMS. IT WILL SHUFFLE UP THE POINTS STANDINGS IN TWO WEEKS. >> THEY HAVE A WEEKEND OFF TO GET THE CARS FIXED AND DRIVERS REPAIRED AFTER HARD HITS TO THE WALL TODAY. >> MIKE, WE DON'T HAVE A WEEKEND OFF. WE WILL BE IN NASHVILLE WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR., ADAM PETTY. >> THE BUSCH STARS WILL BE AT THE SHORT TRACK. I LOVE THAT RACING. I THINK THE EXCITEMENT OF BRINGING NASHVILLE TO CBS IS GOING TO BE FUN. >> THIS IS WHERE NASCAR RACING STARTED ON THE SHORT TRACKS. NO BETTER THAN NASHVILLE TO SEE THEM BEAT AND BANG AND A LOT OF GOOD RACING. >> NOT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BEAT AND BANG ON EACH OTHER BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO. >> THERE'S BEEN MORE MAJOR LEAGUE STARS DEVELOPED AT NASHVILLE THAN ANY OTHER TRACK IN THE -- THAT I CAN THINK OF. BIRMINGHAM, THOSE TYPE OF TRACKS I COULD NAME TEN PEOPLE THAT RUN IN WINSTON CUP THAT STARTED RIGHT THERE AT NASHVILLE. >> NEXT WEEK WE WILL. THAT WILL BE A FUN ONE FOR THE NASHVILLE 320 FOR THE BUSCH SERIES NEXT SATURDAY HERE ON CBS. >> HERE IS THE PASS THAT SET UP THE WIN. DALE JARRETT WAS TRYING TO LAP CHAD LITTLE. HAD TO BACK OFF. TERRY LABONTE SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY. MOVED BY ON THE OUTSIDE AND STAYED IN FRONT UNTIL THE CAUTION AT THE END. >> AS NICE AS NED IS, HE GAVE ME A KICK. HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIS BOY GOING AGAIN. >> LABONTE NOT ONLY PASSED JARRETT, LOOK HOW HE HAD TO DIP TO THE INSIDE TO TAKE THE LOW GROOVE AWAY FROM JARRETT AND GET PAST LITTLE AND PROTECT THAT LEAD. TERRY LABONTE IS THE WINNER TODAY. HE AND THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORT TEAM GET TO CELEBRATE. MONDAY NIGHT, THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL, MONDAY NIGHT ON CBS. >> MONDAY NIGHT ON CBS SPORTS, COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. >> FOR NED, BUDDY, BILL, STEVE, AND KEN SQUIER, I'M MIKE JOY CONGRATULATING TERRY LABONTE IN

Channel: Michael McIntyre

Views: 20,534

Rating: 4.9055119 out of 5

Keywords: Auto, Racing, NASCAR, Winston, NEXTEL, Sprint, Cup, Series, 1999, Primestar, Texas, 500, Motor, Speedway

Id: NlByiPhIiFc

Length: 203min 35sec (12215 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 05 2015