Rockingham preview: The show must go on

Just a week after Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona, 43 cars are due to take to the track on Sunday - if the weather doesn't intervene, that is. Rain storms are predicted to sweep across the densely wooded Carolina Sandhills on Sunday, and many predict a rain-delayed race will be held at the remote venue on Monday instead.

Busch Grand National standout Kevin Harvick will replace Earnhardt in Richard Childress Racing's Chevrolet, which will carry the number 29 instead of the famous number 3. It carries a white Goodwrench livery as opposed to the equally eminent silver-trimed black colours of The Intimidator.

Michael Waltrip heads the points race by dint of his Daytona 500 win, but the spotlight will be aimed squarely on his Dale Earnhardt Inc team - especially team mate Dale Earnhardt Jr, who buried his father on Wednesday.

Apart from the emotional issues, when the green flag drops attention will also be turned to the controversial Dodge challenge. Daytona showed the Intrepid has aerodynamic prowess, but the much tighter confines of the 1.017-mile Rockingham oval, where the horsepower-sapping restrictor plates are not necessary, will provide a stern test of its downforce capabilities.

Bobby Labonte won last year's corresponding event on his way to the title, but the Pontiac star will be keen to turn around his lacklustre Daytona showing. Outgoing champ Dale Jarrett was victorious in Rockingham's October race, and the circuit is renowned for its abrasiveness on the rubber, so tyre strategy will play a big part in deciding this weekend's winner.

The meeting also marks the first Winston Cup race weekend, other than the Saturday night races, to be held over just two days. Practice begins at the previously unheard time of 7.45am, and the single qualifying session begins at 10.40am.