‘Twins’ supply record-breaking racing

Sterling Marlin's Dodge won the first 'Twin' after getting the jump on 125-mile master Dale Earnhardt in a final lap restart, while Mike Skinner got the nod in a race two photo finish with Dale Earnhardt Jr by just 0.004s.

Add in 10 lead changes among six drivers in race one and 11 changes among nine drivers in race two and it seems that after several moribund Daytona races, Sunday's '500' could be shaping into a classic. As a point of reference, last year's 'Twins' supplied just one lead change between them.

What the 50-lap races didn't provide were any clear answers as to whether Winston Cup newcomer Dodge has a distinct aerodynamic advantage, or whether Ford really has the drag disadvantage its drivers have mentioned at just about every opportunity over the last week.

Roush Racing Ford driver Jeff Burton took third in the second race, but figured that Dodge still had plenty left in the tank for the 'Big One'.

"I'm surprised that Dodge didn't win both races," said Burton. "That 9 car [of '500' pole-sitter Bill Elliott, who finished 20th in the first race] looked suspicious to me, finishing that far back... But I expect come Sunday, with a big trophy on offer, there's going to be three or four of those guys there or thereabouts."

On the subject of Ford, the previously outspoken Virginian was slightly more circumspect.

"It's a shame we're not sat here talking about how competitive the Ford is," he said, "But the evidence is now there to support our belief that we're behind on drag. Anyway, I've said enough this week - I just want to go racing now."

Race one had looked to be another Gatorade victory to add to the dozen Earnhardt Sr already has, but a coming together between Dale Jarrett, Robby Gordon and Ron Hornaday brought out the caution and set it up for a final lap dash to the chequered flag. At the restart, Earnhardt attempted the merest hint of a brake test on the rest of the field, but Marlin and Jerry Nadeau both got the drop on 'The Intimidator', pushing him to third before Turn Three.

"I was just a sitting duck," rued Earnhardt, who had also been pipped to a win in last Sunday's Bud Shootout. "At those final lap restarts, they get a run on you and there's nothing you can do. Heck, I'm surprised to come out third.

"That win was down to the last lap deal - it wasn't really a Dodge advantage thing," he added.

Marlin had been the sleeper in the pack until that point. The Ganassi Dodge had been there or thereabouts, but it wasn't until his final lap move that the Intrepid actually took the lead.

"I timed it just right," said Marlin. "But one more lap and I'd have been down in seventh or eighth. When we were set up for the restart, I just radioed the guys: 'Heck this, I'm going for it'.

"After this, I'm going to predict that Sunday's race is going to be the best ever. It's great for the fans, but I'd prefer to be racing four or five guys for the lead, rather than the twenty I'll end up racing, but it'll be great to watch."

Second was the black sheep of Saturday's pole qualifying, Jerry Nadeau. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had been thrown to the back of the grid for suspension irregularities, but was in the thick of the lead battle before the halfway mark.

"We've had the dunce's cap on for five days," said Nadeau, "but what a way to turn our week around. When I got behind Marlin, he just had a heck of a run. I'm happy for second."

Mixing his metaphors spectacularly, Nadeau described the frenetic action in the twenty-car lead draft as "like a bunch of cannibals chasing after a deer." Quite...

Race two looked for a while like Tony Stewart would add another victory to Sunday's Bud Shootout win. But when he tank-slapped on the back stretch and tagged Elliott Sadler into the wall, the final 10-lap sprint after the caution set up the closest Daytona finish in years, and the closest ever in the history of the 125-mile qualifiers.

On the final lap, Earnhardt Jr dived for the lead under Skinner in turn three, but Skinner braved it out on the high line and took the chequered flag just inches ahead of 'Little E' after a side-by-side Chevy drag race through the tri-oval section.

"When I went to pass Skinner, he was kind of blocking me," said Earnhardt Jr. "You sit in line, wait for somebody to make a mistake, then you've just got to go for it."

In the run-up to the Daytona 500, 'Junior' has admitted to a vivid dream about winning this year's 'Great American Race'. After his close call in the 125-miler, his belief hasn't shifted.

"That dream was as real as hell," he said. "I woke up and thought 'Oh man, I'm back in bed', but the last thing I remember in the dream is standing there saying 'I won it at my second attempt'. It was cool.'

The 125-milers finalised positions three to 30 for Sunday's '500', with the remainder of the grid decided by qualifying speed and by provisional slots. (See separate story for full Daytona 500 grid)


Daytona (USA), Feb 15


1 Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 50m51.930s, 147.448mph
2 Jerry Nadeau, Chevrolet, +0.103s
3 Dale Earnhardt, Chevrolet, +0.270s
4 Andy Houston, Ford, +0.612s
5 Jimmy Spencer, Ford, +0.622s
6 Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, +0.650s
(3 cautions for 8 laps; 10 lead changes among 6 drivers)


Daytona (USA), Feb 15


1 Mike Skinner, Chevrolet, 46m12.606s, 162.302mph
2 Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevrolet, +0.004s
3 Jeff Burton, Ford, +0.141s
4 Ward Burton, Dodge, +0.201s
5 Rusty Wallace, Ford, +0.202s
6 Ken Schrader, Pontiac, +0.248s
(1 caution for 4 laps; 11 lead changes among 9 drivers)