Wednesday, November 15, 2000
Wednesday, November 15, 2000 |
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NAPA 500 this weekend By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
The Winston Cup points race is over and the champion has been decided. Though Bobby Labonte clinched his first championship last weekend, he isn't about to coast in the season's final race, the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Last March, Labonte finished just inches behind Dale Earnhardt in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 in one of the closest finishes in Winston Cup History. Labonte is looking forward to a rematch and finishing first at AMS this go round. During the last two races at AMS, there have been 68 official lead changes among 32 drivers - and that doesn't include the unofficial back and forth swapping of the lead position on the backstretch or through the sweeping turns. The action begins on Friday, Nov. 17. The gates will open at 8 a.m. and qualifying for the NAPA 500 begins at 3 p.m. There will be practices for the NAPA 500 and the Georgia Boot 400 in between. Legends and Bandolero races will begin at 5 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 18, the gates open at 8 a.m. and will be followed by practice for both races. The Georgia Boot 400, which is 162 laps of ARCA racing, begins at 1 p.m. and will be followed by the last NAPA 500 practices. On Sunday, Nov. 19, the gates open at 8 p.m. and willmbe followed by the pre-race activities at 9 a.m. The driver introductions begin at 12 p.m. and the race starts at 12:30 p.m. Jeff Foxworthy is the Grand Marshal of the race and the honorary starter is TNN's Wade Bourne. Though the top spot is locked up, there are several key battles to watch for in the top ten standings. Earnhardt and Jeff Burton are fighting for second place in the points standings with only eight points separating the two. Dale Jarrett is in fourth place, 40 points ahead of Tony Stewart, who only leads Ricky Rudd by 37 points. In seventh place, Rusty Wallace leads Mark Martin by 36 points. The entire area is getting excited about the race as well. Richard Petty will have the #43 car with a classic paint design that will be featured in the race at ESPN Zone in Buckhead on Thursday. Petty will also make a special presentation to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps on behalf of the Richard Petty Driving Experience. he will unveil a special new "sleigh" at 11;30 a.m. at the infield media center. Southtowne Newnan will get into the act as they will showcase the 2000 Winston Cup Conseco Wide Track pace car, the #14 Conseco Winston Cup Pontiac Grand Prix owned by A.J. Foyt and the #20 Home Depot Winston Cup Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Tony Stewart on Friday from 12-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. There are stillt ickets available for all three days of racing at AMS. Call 770-946-3950 or visit www.gospeedway.com
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