Jarrett looking for his storybook ending

Schwartz Fan · 01-16-2008, 02:08 PM

Jarrett looking for his storybook ending
SCENEDAILY - 2:19PM ET WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Can Dale Jarrett pull off what even he admits would be a storybook ending to his NASCAR Cup career?

The three-time Daytona 500 winner will make his final attempt at the race this February. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver plans to attempt only the first five points races this season, plus the Budweiser Shootout and the all-star race, and then retire from racing in the series.

A year ago, Jarrett might not have been willing to even discuss the possibility of a strong run in the race. With his MWR team still in the process of building its operation, the team faltered, and all three teams competed outside the top 35 in owners points and a locked-in position in the race. Jarrett missed the field for some races in 2007 and enters 2008 in the same position - without a guaranteed starting spot in a race. He is eligible for the past champions provisional if a more recent past champion outside the top 35, such as Kurt Busch, does not use it.

But Jarrett sees a greatly improved team in testing this week and thinks that his group is ready to make a charge.

With their increased level of performance in testing, and Jarrett's knowledge of how to prepare for and win the 500, he sees himself as being in much better position for his final attempt.

"We were trying a number of things as far as race set-ups go and just trying to get the car to where I felt like I could keep it wide open for a lot of laps because every one of these that I have ever seen - that's what wins them," Jarrett said following Tuesday's test sessions. "The three that I won, that is what won the race. It wasn't necessarily the best driver, it was the best car, and I'm pretty sure that if you talked to every other driver that's won this race they would tell you the same thing."

The 1999 Cup champion says that the Toyotas do have good speed and that the manufacturer has made good use of the time since last year's Daytona 500, a race that all three MWR drivers made.

The question is, has the team improved enough to give Jarrett that dream ending to his career.

"With this being my last Daytona 500, it would be perfect [to get the win]," he said. "Those are storybook endings, and we know those don't happen a lot, but we're in a lot better position to even discuss something like that, so that makes it a lot more fun."

Jarrett looking for his storybook ending

SmokeFan14 · 01-16-2008, 03:10 PM

A storybook ending for DJ? That would if someone would to give him a ride the rest of the year and finish off a whole year with the style and dignity that made him a Champion.

revvinjim · 01-17-2008, 02:16 AM

I don't see DJ pulling a Mark Martin, but you never know.

SmokeFan14 · 01-17-2008, 09:22 AM

Hey! Nice Pic rev, great shot!

revvinjim · 01-18-2008, 12:18 AM

The original photo is from Getty images posted on the Yahoo sports page. Motorsport.com has some great photo galleries as well, with some good pics from testing. That paint job they brought to testing is awesome.

SmokeFan14 · 01-18-2008, 09:39 AM

That's a testing shot? No body in gray for testing? Wow.

I was at the Cleveland Boat Show and they had an #11 Camry show car. I was surprised that there was a motor under the hood and that the thing looked pretty used.

revvinjim · 01-19-2008, 01:51 AM

The show car was likely the one they used at the short tracks last year. All they had to do was put the Camry nose and a Toyota engine in it.
Tony tested two cars at Daytona, the one in full paint and a gray one. I'm thinking the painted one was the one they used at Talladega, again, just changing the nose, the decals and the engine.

troublemaker · 01-19-2008, 09:32 AM

Hey DJ, guess you should've stayed where you were at, but I guess the almighty dollar was much more important. Hope Toyota and Mikey paid you well for your discrace last season. And I used to like you too. Greed does a body good,

admin · 01-19-2008, 10:03 AM

DJ got his early retirement check

01-16-2008, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,451	Jarrett looking for his storybook ending Jarrett looking for his storybook ending SCENEDAILY - 2:19PM ET WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 2008 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Can Dale Jarrett pull off what even he admits would be a storybook ending to his NASCAR Cup career? The three-time Daytona 500 winner will make his final attempt at the race this February. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver plans to attempt only the first five points races this season, plus the Budweiser Shootout and the all-star race, and then retire from racing in the series. A year ago, Jarrett might not have been willing to even discuss the possibility of a strong run in the race. With his MWR team still in the process of building its operation, the team faltered, and all three teams competed outside the top 35 in owners points and a locked-in position in the race. Jarrett missed the field for some races in 2007 and enters 2008 in the same position - without a guaranteed starting spot in a race. He is eligible for the past champions provisional if a more recent past champion outside the top 35, such as Kurt Busch, does not use it. But Jarrett sees a greatly improved team in testing this week and thinks that his group is ready to make a charge. With their increased level of performance in testing, and Jarrett's knowledge of how to prepare for and win the 500, he sees himself as being in much better position for his final attempt. "We were trying a number of things as far as race set-ups go and just trying to get the car to where I felt like I could keep it wide open for a lot of laps because every one of these that I have ever seen - that's what wins them," Jarrett said following Tuesday's test sessions. "The three that I won, that is what won the race. It wasn't necessarily the best driver, it was the best car, and I'm pretty sure that if you talked to every other driver that's won this race they would tell you the same thing." The 1999 Cup champion says that the Toyotas do have good speed and that the manufacturer has made good use of the time since last year's Daytona 500, a race that all three MWR drivers made. The question is, has the team improved enough to give Jarrett that dream ending to his career. "With this being my last Daytona 500, it would be perfect [to get the win]," he said. "Those are storybook endings, and we know those don't happen a lot, but we're in a lot better position to even discuss something like that, so that makes it a lot more fun." Jarrett looking for his storybook ending __________________

01-16-2008, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
SmokeFan14 New & Improved! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,084	A storybook ending for DJ? That would if someone would to give him a ride the rest of the year and finish off a whole year with the style and dignity that made him a Champion. __________________ Lewis Black on Soy Milk: There’s no such thing as soy milk. It’s soy juice. But they couldn’t sell soy juice, so they called it soy milk. Because anytime you say soy juice, you actually start to gag… We all know why there’s no soy milk, don't we? Because there’s no soy titty, is there? I was always told that in order to have milk, you must have breasts, and I have yet to see a soy bean with breasts! "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You put 4 wheels on a cockroach and Tony Stewart will find a way to win with it." - Mike Joy

01-17-2008, 02:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
revvinjim Resident Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,973	I don't see DJ pulling a Mark Martin, but you never know. __________________ Never argue with an idiot--people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

01-17-2008, 09:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
SmokeFan14 New & Improved! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,084	Hey! Nice Pic rev, great shot! __________________ Lewis Black on Soy Milk: There’s no such thing as soy milk. It’s soy juice. But they couldn’t sell soy juice, so they called it soy milk. Because anytime you say soy juice, you actually start to gag… We all know why there’s no soy milk, don't we? Because there’s no soy titty, is there? I was always told that in order to have milk, you must have breasts, and I have yet to see a soy bean with breasts! "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You put 4 wheels on a cockroach and Tony Stewart will find a way to win with it." - Mike Joy

01-18-2008, 12:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
revvinjim Resident Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,973	The original photo is from Getty images posted on the Yahoo sports page. Motorsport.com has some great photo galleries as well, with some good pics from testing. That paint job they brought to testing is awesome. __________________ Never argue with an idiot--people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

01-18-2008, 09:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
SmokeFan14 New & Improved! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,084	That's a testing shot? No body in gray for testing? Wow. I was at the Cleveland Boat Show and they had an #11 Camry show car. I was surprised that there was a motor under the hood and that the thing looked pretty used. __________________ Lewis Black on Soy Milk: There’s no such thing as soy milk. It’s soy juice. But they couldn’t sell soy juice, so they called it soy milk. Because anytime you say soy juice, you actually start to gag… We all know why there’s no soy milk, don't we? Because there’s no soy titty, is there? I was always told that in order to have milk, you must have breasts, and I have yet to see a soy bean with breasts! "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You put 4 wheels on a cockroach and Tony Stewart will find a way to win with it." - Mike Joy

01-19-2008, 01:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
revvinjim Resident Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,973	The show car was likely the one they used at the short tracks last year. All they had to do was put the Camry nose and a Toyota engine in it. Tony tested two cars at Daytona, the one in full paint and a gray one. I'm thinking the painted one was the one they used at Talladega, again, just changing the nose, the decals and the engine. __________________ Never argue with an idiot--people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

01-19-2008, 09:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
troublemaker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 941	Hey DJ, guess you should've stayed where you were at, but I guess the almighty dollar was much more important. Hope Toyota and Mikey paid you well for your discrace last season. And I used to like you too. Greed does a body good,

01-19-2008, 10:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,364	DJ got his early retirement check

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