Rain Pushes NAPA 500 To Mon.
A cold, steady rain on Sunday forced NASCAR officials to postpone the season-ending NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The announcement was made just 45 minutes after the scheduled 12:30 p.m. EST start of the 500-mile race. It was rescheduled for 10:15 a.m. Monday. The ARCA Georgia Boot 400, which was postponed by rain on Saturday and moved to Monday morning, will now follow the NASCAR event.
The National Weather Service forecast clearing late Sunday night and a cool, partly sunny day on Monday.
With the 2000 championship already wrapped up by Bobby Labonte, there is still a lot riding on the 34th and final race of the Winston Cup season.
Except for Labonte in first and pole-winner Jeff Gordon in ninth, all of the positions in the top 20 are at least mathematically up for grabs.
That's important to the drivers because of the postseason money that's paid out and because only the top 20 drivers are invited to the Awards Banquet in December in New York City.
"That means a lot to everybody, to be up there in New York and get some recognition for you and your team," said Bill Elliott, who has a tentative hold on 20th place. "It's even better to be in the top 10 and get to go up on stage."
The biggest prize remaining is second place in the final standings, which is worth $1,050,000 - compared to $722,000 for third.
"The money is important, but I'd just rather be second than third," said seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, who will go into the race trailing Jeff Burton by 19 points in the duel for the runner-up spot.
"Sure, it's important to us to finish second," Burton said. "Last year, Bobby (Labonte) was second and now he's the champion."
Others battling for spots near the top of the standings include 1999 champion Dale Jarrett, six-time winner Tony Stewart, Rick Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Ward Burton, Steve Park, Mike Skinner, Johnny Benson, Matt Kenseth, Joe Nemechek, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Terry Labonte, Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin and Elliott.
In fact, Elliott, who will give up being an owner-driver after Monday to drive for the new Dodge entry of Ray Evernham in 2001, has four drivers breathing down his neck for the 20th position and the $160,000 that goes with it.
Jimmy Spencer, Jeremy Mayfield, Jerry Nadeau and John Andretti are all within 74 points of Elliott. The maximum points each race is 185, with the minimum 55.
This will also be the final race for Darrell Waltrip, ending his driving career after 84 victories, three championships and 29 years.
Waltrip, who will start last in the 43-car field, spent much of the weekend accepting congratulations and going-away presents, although he won't be going far. The 53-year-old Waltrip will move to the TV booth with Fox in 2001.
One of the most colorful and controversial figures in NASCAR's history, Waltrip said, "Every time there's a changing of the guard, we always say, `Oh man, what are we going to do?' But, somehow, some way, someone always steps up and things continue on.
"The more than change, the more they stay the same. I'm sure me not being in that race car, or being out on the track, will have very little effect on what happens to this sport."
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