Friday started out rough with a disappointing practice session in the morning. DW and the team only reached 36th after running 15 laps, the fastest being 00:40.191 (179.144 m.p.h.). They bumped it up for qualifying with a time of 00:40.157 (179.296 m.p.h.). DW was 3rd fastest when he ran, and still came out in a strong (season best) 11th position after waiting for 37 other drivers to run. This strong start is just what this team needed, and deserves after their best finish of the season last week.

      Right from the start on Sunday DW showed that this day wasn't going to be for the faint of heart. He dove low making it three abreast on lap two and ran in the top 10 to 15 cars throughout the day. DW and Philippe often opted for four-tire stops while others leapfrogged over them taking on two tires instead. DW knew the four-tire stops would pay off over the long runs. As the race progressed, that strategy began paying dividends. DW marched through the field under long green flag runs. In the closing laps he battled and beat his boss Dale Earnhardt as well as Chad Little, Geoff Bodine and others as he posted his first top five finish since Sonoma in 1997 -- his 276th top-five finish and 389th top-ten finish of his historic career. DEI showed it wasn't too new to the Winston Cup Scene to post a top finish and Waltrip showed he still has the "fire in the belly" that propelled a Hall of Fame Career for the last three decades.

      Since DW is still in the Pennzoil Monte Carlo, we all got to see our favorite car in the competition! At least for a little while. Luckily, This was a non-point event, and has no bearing on the standings in any way. In true DW fashion, he had plenty to say about the event! (see below)

      Practice for the race did not go well for the team, as they were among the slowest cars on the track. Friday's numbers were as follows:

      Qualifying went better, as the team ended up in 9th, with a time of 1:55:671 (140.052 m.p.h.) Qualifying consisted of 3 laps, and a 2 tire change pit stop. (therefore the discrepancy in times/speeds) Unfortunately, placement isn't extremely important when your engine gives out in lap 9. Prior to that, DW and Ernie Irvan touched on lap two sending Irvan into the wall. Three later, Earnhardt spun in turn four and DW locked the brakes narrowly missing his car owner. On lap 9, both DW and Earnhardt's night came to an end when fluid from the Pennzoil Monte Carlo caused John Andretti and Earnhardt to lose control and hit the wall. Earnhardt was taken to a local hospital for x-rays, and released. Dale has a broken rib, and 5 separated one, but he will not miss any races. While addressing the media following the race, DW did elude to making a quick exit from the track to avoid the boss. (In true DW fashion, of course)

"I'm a purist. I'm a traditionalist. You drop the green flag then you drop checkered flag and that's the race. None of this hanky panky, hokey pokey, run 10 laps then wait or run ten laps and invert the field. I got my panties all in a wad when they started doing that. Then I realized that this was all for the fans. This is taking racing to the next level. This is a show. With that in mind, I always try to go over there and have a good time. I call it a Funfest. Go over and have some fun and hope nobody will try to steal it from you." When asked, "Do You Like The Winston?" "This is one of those races that is intriguing to think about. When you think about the Winston you always wonder what is it going to be like this year. Every year it has its moments. Every year something happens that makes that Winston different from the rest. Somebody wrecks somebody, something unusual happens, somebody that you don't expect to win wins, you just never know what is going to happen in that race." When asked, "Why Do Fans Like The Winston?" "Guys do all kind of things for the race like trick motors, but I don't mean illegal motors. I mean hot rod or drag motors or some guys even put in motors that blow up when the checkered flag drops. (Referring to the inaugural Winston in 1985 when just after taking the checkered flag DW's engine exploded, sending debris all over the Charlotte Motor Speedway surface!) Although, I don't know anyone who has ever done that intentionally." When asked, "Will Your Team Do Anything Special For The Winston?" "You are working in a very narrow time window. You have very few laps to get the job done. You can't be patient. You can't wait. You have to gas it up and go and if a guy gives you any semblance of an opening you got to take it even though you know it might be close or even too close. You don't have the time to wait. Whatever happens, happens." When asked, "What Is The Driver's Strategy In The Winston?" "There are no points just money. It changes the way you race. If points were rewarded for the Winston then you might race a little differently and be a bit more conservative. But at the Winston you just take out the sharpest knife you have in the drawer and go for it."

      First round qualifying was held on Wednesday, May 20th at 7 p.m. (eastern) DW failed to make the top 25, and was 43rd fastest, with a time of 00:30:248 (178.524 m.p.h.). Although the time was a tick faster than in afternoon practice, it was far from enough to be able to stand on the time. In Wednesday's practice DW was only the 48th fastest after running 27 laps, the fastest of which he ran a time of 00:30:634 (176.74 m.p.h.) The times were not much better Thursday night, and he was forced to use a past champions provisional once again. However, the crew had an exceptional day on Thursday, as they defeated 9 other teams in a pit-crew competition. This rookie team is proving to everyone just how much talent they have!

      Sunday night's race fared much better for everyone. Darrell came up to 17th from his 43rd starting position, however the car performed much better than the numbers show. So often during the race DW could be seen just ahead of the leaders, passing lapped cars just before the leader would. He hung in there and remained on the lead lap most of the day. The #1 Pennzoil was consistently one of the fastest cars on the track during long runs. The car started slowly on restarts, but with several 17 and 18 second pit times, he was able to continually pass other cars on the track, climbing as high as 10th.

      The final laps of the race may have been the most exciting for the team, as an on-board fire that filled the car with smoke.

      TBS covered this race, and they have a webpage on the Coca-Cola 600.

      Once again, qualifying was the worst part of the weekend for the Pennzoil team. On Friday, DW was the 38th fastest in the first round with a time of 00:23.916 (150.527 m.p.h.), which was roughly 4 miles an hour slower than the leader. It got slower Friday as they ran only a time of 00:23.790 (151.324 m.p.h.), now only 40th fastest. Even though Darrell has been running much better in the #1 car than he has in ages, part of the benefit of having him in Steve's car from the beginning was that the team, theoretically, could not fail to make a race. DW made the race once again using a past champions provisional; the dreaded 43 starting position.

      Advancing through the pack went slowly, but it was evident that the car was not only "holding it's own" but better than some on the track. This wasn't nearly the teams best race, but climbing up to 20th place was certainly quite an accomplishment. Being the car with the third highest improvement over starting position is even more spectacular knowing DW's lack of success on Dover's concrete surface. They ended up 4 laps down, but when you consider there were only 4 cars remaining on the lead lap at the end of the race it doesn't look quite so bad! Often times the race results don't reflect the true achievements made.

      Rumors are flying, as it goes in this sport, about the possibilities of a two car DEI team. Steve says they are not ready at this time for 2 cars - time will tell though. DW's plans were to return to the #17 car for Indy, but that was contingent on acquiring major sponsorship, which has not occurred yet. The fact does remain that he has been more comfortable in the DEI cars than in any others in a very long time. Don't be surprised to see DEI start running two cars at some point. Anyone who has been following DEI's growth, not just Steve's career knows that with Dale Jr.'s tremendous achievements in the Busch car Steve drove last year, it is only a matter of time before DEI will have 2 Winston Cup cars... one for Steve, and one for Dale Jr. Right now, the plans are to wait until at least the year 2000 for that. That would leave next year "available"... and DW has already announced that last year will be his final year, as he plans to run a farewell season, similar in fashion to the great Richard Petty.

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