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CNN Sunday Morning

Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing

Aired February 17, 2002 - 11:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Today is the Super Bowl of American stock car racing. Nascar is revved up for today's Daytona 500 in Florida. Those supercharged engines get cranked up just about 90 minutes from now, and CNN SI's Johnny Phelps is there with a race preview. Hi there, Johnny.

JOHNNY PHELPS, CNN SI CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. They are ready to crank up those engines in about an hour and a half for the Daytona 500. The crowd favorite for the 500 is Dale Earnhart, Jr. Now he was a fan favorite before his father died, but even more so since, and there are several reasons that he stands a good shot of winning the 500 today.

He was the last driver to win a Winston Cup race here at Daytona, last July, and he drove to victory yesterday in the Busch Grand National race. Dale, Jr. is a Chevy driver, and he is not pleased with all the benefits and the rules changes for the Fords and Dodges this week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DALE EARNHART, JR., NASCAR DRIVER: Pretty happy, but it's all for not, you know. As many changes as Nascar's made this week, three rule changes on the Fords, one on the Dodge. So it doesn't matter how hard you work, they're going to make it even once you get here.

JIMMY MAKAR, CREW CHIEF: It's frustrating, no doubt, to see things being done that seem to directly be hanged at making it harder for us to win races and do well. But I'll tell you, you know, these racing teams are strong and we're going to come out fighting. We're not going to lay down. We're going to be competitive, no matter what they do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHELPS: Clearly the GM crews, the drivers, and the crew chiefs not excited about what the Fords and Dodges have been getting this week. Dale, Jr. stands an opportunity to become the third driver to sweep the Busch and Winston Cup races on the same weekend here at Daytona, just the third driver to do it. He starts third on the grid. In fact, Chevrolets go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, about an hour and a half away from the green flag, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. I know people can't wait there, and I'm sure it's a huge crowd. What are the crowds looking like out there, Johnny?

PHELPS: It has been building all morning long. To give you an idea, since the green flag is what, 12:30, 12:45 or so, we entered the speedway at 7:45 this morning. There were already fans in the stands. They're excited about their racing. There will be about 200,000 here for the race today.

WHITFIELD: Wow, 200,000 strong. All right, thanks a lot, Johnny Phelps from Daytona.

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