NASCAR News
NASCAR news and updates. Read the latest NASCAR news, stories and highlights.

No promise of repeat from Earnhardt.
Dale Earnhardt Jr became the first driver to win twice last season when he won the Richmond night race twelve months ago, but the Budweiser-backed driver refuses to make any predictions for a repeat in 2001.
NASCAR Result: NAPA 500.
1. Rusty Wallace No.2 Ford Penske Racing 250 laps 2. Jeff Gordon No.24 Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 250 laps 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr No.8 Chevrolet Dale Earnhardt Incorporated 250 laps
Labonte on California pole.
Bobby Labonte, reported to have been killed in a plane crash on Friday, proved to the world that he is alive and well as he claimed his first pole position of the 2001 season for his Joe Gibbs Racing team.
Donlavey Racing hires Lopez as team consultant.
Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey has hired Felipe Lopez as a consultant for his NASCAR Winston Cup team that fields Fords for veteran driver Hut Stricklin.
Labonte looking forward to some real racing.
Had it not been for an engine failure in the 1998 running of the NAPA Auto Parts 500, Bobby Labonte would have a record that would be hard to top at the pristine California Speedway.
Hamilton takes Talladega classic.
NASCAR returned to the Superspeedway's with a vengeance on Sunday as Bobby Hamilton held off a pack of 28 cars to win his first race since Martinsville 1998 and score Andy Petree's first NASCAR Winston Cup victory as a team owner in a wild race at Talladega.
Talladega pole for Compton.
Stacy Compton (pictured here in 2000 livery) scored his first career Winston Cup pole position as Dodge's swept the top three positions in Bud Pole qualifying for the Talladega 500 at the fearsome 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway.
Houston feels a boost of confidence.
After getting a boost of confidence with his best performance of the season at the recent Winston Cup race in Martinsville, rookie driver Andy Houston is looking for continued improvement at this weekend's Talladega 500.
Viant and Turner launch interactive community.
Viant Corp, a leading builder of digital businesses, and Turner Sports Interactive have announced the partnership which recently relaunched NASCAR.com , the official site of The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing.

Earnhardt report: Belt not to blame.
A court appointed medical expert has concluded that the broken seat belt was not to blame for Dale Earnhardt's death at this year's Daytona 500.
Junie Donlavey celebrates 77th birthday.
Hills Bros Coffee Racing team owner Junie Donlavey will celebrate his 77th birthday April 8 in his home state of Virginia. The following are birthday messages offered by some of Donlavey' acquaintances throughout his 52-year involvement in motorsports:

Qualifying, race date changes for Brickyard 400.
The Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have a different look in 2001 due to changes in the race date, race starting time and qualifying format.
So close, and yet...
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the Budweiser team were among the dominant cars at the Harrah's 500, starting from the pole position and leading five times for 107 laps.

Q&A: Dale Jarrett.
Dale Jarrett, driver of the No. 88 UPS Taurus, heads to Texas this weekend leading the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings by 45 points over second-place Jeff Gordon.

Benson relying on Hendrick Power for Harrah's 500.
One of the keys to #10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson's early season success in 2001 revolves around the work of Hendrick Motorsports.
Shawna Robinson set to 'run with the big boys.'
Veteran racecar driver and mother of two, Shawna Robinson, plans on making a big splash in the NASCAR scene this year, running limited Busch Grand National and Winston Cup schedules.
Sam Bass to open gallery at Texas.
Five months after expanding his Charlotte-based gallery, NASCAR artist Sam Bass is once again expanding - this time to Texas.

Q & A: Johnny Benson.
Transcript of Johnny Benson's apperance at Winston Breakfast Saturday in Bristol. Q: Do you have any rituals you maintain during a hot streak?
Melling responds to NASCAR penalties.
According to a NASCAR news media release issued today, Melling Racing crew chief Chad Knaus has been fined $5000 and suspended for two races for rules infractions under sections 12-4A and 12-4Q of the official rule book.
Busch driver working to live up to name.
A kid with dreams of becoming a race driver like his dad should have it made, especially if the name is Foyt - but Larry Foyt found out different.
No walk in the Park for Jarrett at Darlington.
After knocking on the door to victory lane all season, Dale Jarrett finally opened his 2001 account in Sunday's Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at the Darlington Raceway but only after getting the jump over long-time race leader Steve Park.
UPS deliver at Darlington.
Dale Jarrett scored his first win of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season in Sunday's Dodge Dealers 400 at the fearsome Darlington Raceway as he beat Steve Park and Jeremy Mayfield in a typical Darlington war of attrition.
Raybestos Rookie Contenders' update.
Raybestos Rookie Contender Kevin Harvick won Sunday's Cracker Barrel 500 in his third career Winston Cup start, the quickest ever for a rookie in the sport's modern era. Ron Bouchard, who won the 1981 Talladega 500 in his 11th career start, held the previous record.
Houston to face Darlington challenge.
Though Andy Houston has tested but never competed at Darlington Raceway, the rookie Winston Cup driver has no false impressions of the daunting 1.366-mile oval.