Dover race notes

Posted 9:56AM on Sunday 2nd June 2002 ( 23 years ago )

DOVER, DELAWARE - Jeff Gordon knew that starting ninth Sunday at Dover International Speedway would give him virtually no chance to threaten the record he set last year by leading 381 of 400 laps in the MBNA Platinum 400. That's still the case, but his opportunity for a fifth victory on The Monster Mile was greatly enhanced Saturday when three drivers in front of him were forced to make changes that will send each to the rear of the 43-car field. Polesitter Matt Kenseth blew an engine during a practice session in which teammate Kurt Busch and Jerry Nadeau crashed and were forced into backups. ``You know, it's not very often that you qualify ninth and get to start third,'' Gordon said. ``I'm not wishing anything bad on anybody, but we'll take the third-place start, that's for sure.'' NASCAR does not change the starting grid when drivers go to the rear of the field. But it permits those cars left in line to slide forward during the parade lap, and Gordon will move all the way to third because Kenseth, Nadeau and Busch had qualified 1, 3 and 5 - on the all on left side of the grid. Now, four-time Dover winner Ricky Rudd, listed as seventh, becomes the de facto polesitter. Gordon has his eye on him. ``I'll be behind the No. 28 car, unless they change an engine tonight and I move up to the pole,'' said the four-time Winston Cup champion. Rudd had his own spin on the changes. ``Those are about the easiest passes I ever made,'' he said. UNLUCKY NADEAU: Jerry Nadeau, fired last month from his ride with Hendrick Motorsports, was hoping for an impressive finish Sunday in his final race as a substitute for the injured Johnny Benson. His chances were greatly damaged by the crash with Kurt Busch during practice Saturday. Both will have to come through the field to get into contention in the MBNA Platinum 400 - no easy feat at difficult Dover International Speedway. ``I'm more disappointed for these guys because they're the ones who have to do all the extra work in setting up the backup car,'' Nadeau said. ``All I have to do is drive it.'' Nadeau's victory in the final race of the 2000 season was the first in nine years for the No. 25 car of Hendrick - who also fields Chevrolets for Jeff Gordon, rookie Jimmie Johnson and Terry Labonte. That gives him reason for optimism. ``Hopefully, I'll have something going on here pretty soon,'' Nadeau said. Benson, who broke a rib in a crash last month in Richmond, Va., will be back in his Pontiac next weekend at Pocono Raceway. DOVER MEMORIES: Bobby Labonte has won in Winston Cup and Busch Series competition at Dover International Speedway. Still, first impressions can be lasting ones. The 2000 Winston Cup champion will never forget his first Dover race in NASCAR's top series, in 1991. ``That first race up here was a nightmare,'' Labonte said. ``We were so bad, it was a relief when we blew the motor.'' He started 33rd and finished 34th. PIT STOPS: Jeff Gordon, Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott lead active drivers with four victories each at Dover. ... Both Richard Petty and Bobby Allison won seven times at The Monster Mile. ... The polesitter has won only 10 of 64 races at Dover. ... David Pearson is the only driver to have two pole-race sweeps in one season, turning the double in 1973. ... After winning just twice in the first 58 Dover races, Pontiacs have prevailed in three of the last six. ... Tony Stewart, who swept at Dover in 2000, has six top-10 finishes in as many starts on the concrete surface. ... Pontiac, which had only three victories in the first 58 Dover races, now has won three of the last six. ... Ken Schrader got the last of his four career victories 11 years ago in this race, and is winless in his last 351 starts.

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