Can Veterans Break Pepsi 400 "Jinx" on July 6?

     DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 20) -- A veteran group of NASCAR
Winston Cup drivers has earned no less than 201 victories, yet
they are 0-for-106 going into the 38th running of the Pepsi 400
July 6 at 11 a.m. at Daytona International Speedway.
     When lists of favorites for the "Mid-Summer Classic" event
are drawn up, the names of Geoff Bodine, Dale Jarrett, Terry
Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace and Darrell
Waltrip could certainly be included.
     Whether it's a jinx, bad luck or "just racing," the fact is
this potent crew has scored only 16 top five finishes in those
106 starts. Waltrip himself has scored eight of those 16 top
finishes, so he is qualified to explain the drought.
     "There might be a jinx -- but for 17 years I thought the
Daytona 500 was a jinx," said the driver of the Parts America
Chevrolet, who captured the world's greatest race in 1989 in what
he calls his "most memorable" win. "I've sat on the pole for the
400 but I haven't won that race -- yet. I wouldn't mind making
the Pepsi 400 my 85th win."
     Despite their lack of solid results in the Pepsi 400, this
group's credentials are unquestionably strong. Bodine won the
1986 Daytona 500, Jarrett is a two-time winner of that race,
Labonte has won several Daytona events, Martin should've won the
'89 Pepsi 400 before he ran out of gas, Rudd has a 13-year streak
with at least one victory and Wallace is the winningest driver in
the sport over the last four seasons.
     Whether they can score a key victory to kick off the second
half of the season will begin to come into focus July 4 in Busch
Pole Award Qualifying. The field of up to 43 cars will be filled
in Busch Beer Second-Round Qualifying July 5.
     Good reserved seats for the Pepsi 400 are still available.
For information and ticket orders call the Speedway Ticket Office
at (904) 253-RACE (7223).