ea sports 500

When Sunday's EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway was five laps old, Mike Skinner told himself, "We can win this race - this is one great race car."

It was an abbreviated afternoon in Talladega (Ala.) for David Green, bearer of the NetZero HiSpeed Racing decals on his Hendrick Motorsports entry, after an accident on Lap nine wreaked havoc on the aerodynamics of his Chevrolet and relegated him to a 35th-place finish Sunday.

#10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson's post-race interviews have lasted longer than his Talladega races in 2003. Wrecks have limited Benson to little more than 13 competitive laps. But, what makes it even more frustrating is neither wreck was of Benson's doing.

Dale Earnhardt Incorporated teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jason Keller both had their Bud Pole qualifying times disallowed at the Talladega Superspeedway after NASCAR officials found illegalities with the height of the rear quarter panels of their Chevrolet Monte Carlo's.

Kenny Wallace and the #23 Stacker 2 Bill Davis Racing operation haven't enjoyed the success they would have liked so far in 2003 although optimism is high as they prepare for this weekend's EA Sports 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway.