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Jiffy Lube 300 Pennsylvania 500 Steve tests at Indy Pennsylvania Appearances |
The Pepsi 400 has officially been postponed until Saturday night October 17th, due to the wild fires around the Daytona International Speedway area. Oddly enough , this puts two restrictor plate races back to back!
On July 12 the Jiffy Lube 300 will be held at New Hampshire International Speedway. The track at Louden is one of the tracks Steve is most familiar with, having run there while on the modified tour. It was a big surprise to the team when he failed to qualify at the "magic mile" last year, and he would like nothing more than to redeem himself this year. Steve really wanted to make his return here, but it isn't going to happen.
In friday morning's practice DW had the 22nd fastest time after running 30 laps. His top speed was 00:29.817 (127.627 m.p.h.) The evening practice was nearly identical in speed, however he was only 33rd fastest after 16 laps. He ran a time of 00:29.837 (127.653 m.p.h.). Saturdays's practice did not go well, as DW was 41st fastest after 37 laps, the quickest time being 00:30.146 (126.345 m.p.h.) Even that poor time topped Friday's qualifying numbers! Times for all the drivers were slow after rain delayed qualifying for a little over an hour. Darrell gave the Pennzoil team their best start, coming in 8th place with a time of 00:30.219 (126.040 m.p.h.) It is the team's only top-10 start in a points race. (DW started 9th in The Winston)
Race day went well for the team, although it wasn't the most spectacular race they've run this year. DW managed to just barely stay on the lead lap, just ahead of the dominating Jeff Burton, who once again won this race with more than a 7 second margin. DW never was able to get higher than his 8th place start, but did not fall below 19th, either. Most drivers had difficulty passing on the surface made treacherous by the crumbling surface and tire build-up. His 13th place finish was indeed an accomplishment for the DEI team, as this now puts the car 29th in owner standings, and DW into 23rd in the driver standings. Consider that when DW took over the ride the team was 45th in owner standings, and DW was 40th in the driver standings. Way to go team!
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We had a good day. You can't complain when we finish 13th and on the lead lap. If I was racing this car all along and looking at the big picture I'd be very happy. We are on a real role here because we are making huge gains in points and that is critical."
"If they don't do something to the track it's going to ruin all the races here. It isn't these people's fault. I just don't like it when the track tears up and we can't put on a show for the people." |
Steve arrived in Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday July 14th to test the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo for the Brickyard 400 in August. Here are some quotes from Steve.
(full story available at the Brickyard 400 site at www.brickyard400.com/features/testing-071398.html)
| "Coming here last night, we flew over the racetrack. It's just amazing the amount of tradition that's here and going back to the early 30s or 20s or so when they ran out here. Growing up as a kid my dad always raced and stuff.
"I remember watching the Indy 500 for years and years on TV and wondering if I would ever get to race here. And then when my roots turned toward NASCAR and stock car racing, I thought that dream would be gone. Four years ago that dream was realized when NASCAR made its first trip out here in the Brickyard." Really, we'd like to have our comeback here at the Brickyard be one to remember, especially with Pennzoil sponsoring the race. "We've made a pretty good effort to come out here and test, to come back, qualify well and run well in the race. If we can do that, I think that will put all the fears behind all of us, and we can continue headstrong through the rest of the year and show that this Pennzoil Chevrolet team can win some races." |
Steve will be making a couple of appearances in Pennsylvania prior to the Pennsylvania 500 in Pocono. This is his last race he'll miss due to the injuries suffered in the Atlanta crash. According to his online chat at NASCAR Online, he will be in Lyons, PA from 5pm - 7pm and in York from NOON until 2pm. The event in York is called the 5th Annual Invasion of NASCAR and will involve a number of other drivers, and activities. The event will run from 9am - 8 pm in Center City York. For more information email or call them @ 717-849-2301.
Winston Cup racing returned to the tri-oval track at Pocono Raceway for the Pennsylvania 500 on July 26. This was the second race here in just over a month. Steve was hoping to get the opportunity to run here this year, after having failed to qualify here last year, but he'll have to wait until next year as it was already announced that DEI would not prepare a second car.
Although this may not go down as the team's best race, it was still significant as it was DW's last ride with a team that has brought new life back into him. He started 27th, and finished 13th, but had it not been for bad breaks all day, they would most likely have finished much higher. The team had difficulties with radio communications early in the race, and a yellow flag that come out just after they pitted put them a lap down. With about 30 laps to go, DW had pulled just behind leader Jeff Gordon when another caution flew, and he was able to race him back to the line, and get his lap back. A few drivers crashed during the late laps which helped him achieve such a high finish.
| "That was fun and we had them going today, but, I really think we could have run with the leaders if we just didn't keep getting bad breaks." |
On Saturday night, the Waltrip and Earnhardt families, the Dale Earnhardt Inc. team, and Pennzoil officials threw a Going Away party at a restaurant near the Pocono racetrack. The three-time Winston Cup champion received a luxurious home entertainment center as well as a signed hood and a video chronicling his highlights in the #1 car.
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"Darrell when you joined us in March we had heard a lot of things about you, but what we didn't know is Darrell Waltrip the person. We are honored to work with you and thank you for helping us out." Phillipe Lopez
Waltrip is rarely at a loss or words, but picked his words carefully this night. "We have worked hard and raced hard, but just as importantly I have had fun with you guys. The only thing I ask of this team is to keep going forward when Steve returns. When he gets that first victory, whether it is this year or next year and I know it's coming, I want you to remember me and come get me to go to victory lane with you because I want to share it with you." |
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