| | By Ron Buck
ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 |
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When |
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
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Where |
Richmond International Raceway (three-quarter mile oval, 14-degree banking).
Richmond, Va.
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Distance |
300 miles (400 laps) |
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Defending champion |
Tony Stewart |
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1999 Pole Sitter |
Mike Skinner, 125.465 mph
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Qualifying |
Friday, first round, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Saturday, second round, 1:15 p.m. ET.
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Track Records |
Qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, 126.499 mph (May 1999)
Race record: Dale Jarrett, 109.047 mph (September 1997)
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On the Track
It's time to hand out another $1 million -- maybe.
Not that Richmond needed any extra attractions, the two night races each season always provide plenty of short-track excitement, but for the first time since the Winston No Bull was introduced three years ago the winner of Saturday night's Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 could take hom a cool million.
The five who have the chance at winning the No Bull Bonus are a glimpse of the future, past and current Winston Cup scene.
Two rookies -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth -- will try for their first million-dollar wins.
Two former Winston Cup champions, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett, have each cashed the $1 million checks in the past. Earnhardt took home the cash for winning the '99 Winston 500 and '98 Daytona 500. Jarrett, meanwhile, won the '98 Winston 500 that was worth $1 million.
And then there is current points leader Bobby Labonte, who has yet to take home the bonus in five attempts. Labonte was second in the '98 Daytona 500 and last year's Coca-Cola 600.
The five, who qualified for the bonus by finishing in the top five at the Coca-Cola 600, must be considered contenders Saturday night on the three-quarter oval -- especially the Earnhardts. Little E won the spring race at Richmond, while his father took 10th. Jarrett was third in the Pontiac Excitement 400, while Kenseth was 15th. Labonte struggled to a 26th-place finish, but don't let the poor spring race fool you. The 18 gang has been finding a way to get the job done with a possible Winston Cup championship just 10 races down the road.
As for the other 38 drivers in the field, Tony Stewart figures to be around at the end to spoil the million-dollar drivers' nights. Stewart picked up his first career Cup victory a year ago under the Richmond lights. Jeff Burton, a driver who knows how to take home an extra million dollars, won't be chasing the bonus, but should be challenging the leaders.
A short track ... bright lights ... and a million dollars on the line.
Sounds like fun.
Drivers to Watch
Bobby Labonte: Continues to turn in outstanding performances on tracks he could have stumbled at -- Exibit A: winning last week's Southern 500 -- his third victory of the season. Still leads Dale Jarrett by 111 points with 10 races left. Has visited Victory Lane at Richmond, but hadn't been to Darlington's either. Was third in spring race last year and second in this race.
Dale Jarrett: Keeping the pressure on Labonte with 15 straight top-10 finishes. Just waiting for the leader to stumble. He won this race in 1997, but numbers say he's better in the spring event, where he won last May, and was second in 1998 and third the year before.
Jeff Burton: Won't win the title, but could easily win Saturday night. He won this race in 1998 and was fifth in the spring race this year. Don't worry about his qualifying effort. It just doesn't matter. He'll be near the front by the halfway mark and with a little good fortune in Victory Lane by the end.
Dale Earnhardt Jr: One of the five drivers going for a $1 million on Saturday night in the No Bull-ring. And this track suites him. He's won two of the last three races at Richmond, including Busch series, winning last fall's Busch race and this spring's Winston Cup event.
Rusty Wallace: Back at a track he enjoys after another frustrating day at Darlington. The renowned short-track expert is tied for second with Darrell Waltrip for most wins at Richmond (6) -- Richard Petty leads all drivers with seven wins in the fall race at Richmond and 14 overall. This past spring, he finished fifth at Richmond after starting from the pole. A good bet to win and even better bet to take the pole again.
Tony Stewart: First career Winston Cup victory came a year ago in Richmond and propelled him two two more victories over the final nine races. Finished eighth in May and has three wins and a one pole this year. Has posted four top-10s in the past five races.
Mark Martin: Should be coming off a Busch win on Friday night when he fires up the Winston Cup car Saturday night. Holds the track record of all-time Busch wins at Richmond with five. Won only Cup race this season at Martinsville.
Jeff Gordon: See, we knew Gordon couldn't keep letting us down. His fourth-place finish at Darlington snapped a four-race streak of finishes 23rd or lower. Richmond has been another good track for the 24. He was a runner-up to Jeff Burton in this race two years ago and won the '96 spring race.
Dale Earnhardt: Can he make up 205 points in 10 races? Not likely, but he can still catch Jarrett and the two-time winner of this race in 1987 and 1990 isn't about to let off the gas. Has also captured the spring Richmond race in 1985, 1987 and 1991. He still has 19 top-10 finishes in 24 starts with a win at Atlanta.
Bobby Hamilton: One of the more consistent drivers at Richmond, with top-10 finishes in eight of the last 11 races; was seventh in this event last fall, but just 31st in the spring race this year. A poor campaign with just a single top 10. He should double that total Saturday night.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor.
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ALSO SEE
Weber: Looking to get 'rich' in Richmond
Stewart seeking redemption as he returns to Richmond
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jeff Burton talks racing in Richmond and more with ESPN's Bill Weber.
RealVideo: 28.8
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