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 Sunday, September 26
Jarrett makes up for lost time in a hurry
 
Associated Press

  DOVER, Del. -- Dale Jarrett, whose substantial lead in the Winston Cup standings has been shaky of late, left no doubt about his status this time.

Jarrett, who had lost 60 points from a 314-point lead over the last month, was a factor for most of the MBNA Gold 400 on Sunday at Dover Downs International Speedway. He wound up third behind Mark Martin and rookie Tony Stewart.

John Andretti
John Andretti hits the wall as his car burst into flames on the back straightaway during the MBNA Gold 400 on Sunday.

It was a far different finish from the way the weekend began. After poor performances in Bristol, Tenn., and Darlington, S.C., Jarrett posted only the 38th fastest time Friday in the first round of qualifying for this race.

On Saturday, he qualified 26th and methodically worked his way through then field until at one point only he and Martin were viable forces in the race.

Jarrett's finish _ combined with a fifth-place showing by Bobby Labonte, allowed him to gain three points and he leads by 257 points with seven of 34 races remaining. But points meant little on this day to Jarrett, who has been fighting a bad back all weekend.

"I was 75 percent better today," he said. "Once I got in and got settled it was OK."

Jarrett said the therapy he got from the MRO Rehab Center helped him a great deal. On Saturday, he had trouble doing anything physical. He felt almost normal during the race, but got a reminder from time to time on his pit stops.

"When they dropped the jack, that let me know it was still there," Jarrett said."

Another second for Stewart
Although Tony Stewart failed to add a new line to a resume that already makes him looks like the best rookie driver in Winston Cup history, he had another stout performance Sunday in the MBNA Gold 400.

Like many drivers in the race at Dover Downs International Speedway, Stewart complained about tires. One bad set cost him a chance to win a race he was dominating for some time.

"You never knew from one set to the next what kind of balance you were going to have," said Stewart, who praised his crew for remaining calm when anger was growing within him. "They kept their cool better than I did."

Still, he wound up second to Mark Martin, and figures to end this season with the highest points finish of any rookie. He's fourth now. Jody Ridley wound up seventh in 1981.

Stewart has become such a force that he has finished no worse than second in the last three races. He won two weeks ago in Richmond, Va., and wound up second a week later in Loudon, N.H.

Pit stops ...
There wasn't a sound from Brian Whitesell, who according to a CNN-SI report Friday would call the shots for Jeff Gordon instead of crew chief Ray Evernham. The only voice Gordon heard throughout the race was that of Evernham, whom the report said will leave Hendrick Motorsports. ... Independent Dave Marcis, whose last victory came in 1982, has been known to be critical of the new breed of drivers. On Sunday in the MBNA Gold 400, the target of his words was Chad Little. "I don't know about some of these new guys," Marcis said, blaming Little for the accident that put him off the track on lap 63. "Sometimes I think they can't see." ... Mark Martin won, but car owner Jack Roush seemed equally thrilled by the fourth-place finish of Busch Grand National ace Matt Kenseth. Next year, he will drive a car co-owned by Roush and Martin. "How 'bout that Matt Kenseth," Roush said. Martin also was excited by the performance of his protege. "Just give me credit for bringing him up," Martin said.

 


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