Jarrett goes low, hangs Martin out, gets 2000 win

[Schwartz Fan]

Jarrett goes low, hangs Martin out, gets 2000 win
TOM HIGGINS’ SCUFFS | The Daytona 500 By The Decades
By Tom Higgins


EDITOR'S NOTE: In the run-up to the 2010 Daytona 500, Tom Higgins reflects on key races from each decade. This installment, the fourth of a five-part series, is about the 2000 race, won by Dale Jarrett.

There is a saying in golf that's probably as old as the game itself: "It's not how you drive, it's how you arrive."

The meaning, of course, being that no matter how a player manages to negotiate a fairway, the key thing is to knock the ball onto the green close to the pin, leaving an easy putt.

Dale Jarrett knows the adage well.

As a youth he was rated such a talented golfer that some predicted a great future for him on the PGA tour.

However, heredity and environment kicked in.

Dale opted instead for stock car racing, the sport of his father, the popular NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett.

Good choice!

On Feb. 20, 2000, the younger Jarrett won NASCAR's biggest event, the Daytona 500, for a third time.

Only the greats Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough have won the classic more often. Petty lists seven triumphs in the race, Yarborough four. The legendary Bobby Allison won it three times.

Dale Jarrett drove the 2.5-mile "fairway" quite well during the first 100 laps in the race a decade ago. He led 85 of those laps after starting from the pole in a Ford fielded by Robert Yates Racing.

Then Jarrett relatively backed off to save his car for the "arrival" late in the race. There was understandable concern about the machine lasting 500 fast miles. An accident late in the final practice session 24 hours earlier had damaged the car severely.

Jarrett's crew, led by Todd Parrott, had worked virtually through the night to make repairs.

Running conservatively after the halfway point worked. Jarrett led only four of the last 100 laps, but they were the final four.

Controversy marked the race, mainly between Jarrett and Mark Martin, who then was also driving a Ford.

A caution flag on Lap 157 bunched the leaders for a typically tight Daytona finish. When the green flag showed, underdog Johnny Benson was the leader in a Pontiac. He was trailed by Martin and Jarrett.

With 15 laps to go, the Ford team leaders agreed on a strategy for Martin and Jarrett to pass. The two, hooked closely in the draft, were to go high through Turn 2 on Lap 187 lap.

But Jarrett dove low.

Martin, left alone in the high groove, was furious, and said so in no uncertain terms.

"I had every intention of going with Mark," Jarrett said. "But then I saw Jeff Burton bearing in on me with Bill Elliott right behind him.

"I was getting ready to lose my position for sure. I had no choice."

Meanwhile, Benson gamely held onto the lead, bidding for a monumental upset.

Then, a multicar crash developed behind the lead pack, forcing another caution flag. The restart came on Lap 196.

Benson figured the yellow flag had soured his hopes, and sure enough.

"I knew what they (Jarrett, Burton and Elliott) were going to do," said Benson. "I did everything I could to prevent it. But it didn't matter where I went on the track, they were going to do the opposite."

Said Jarrett: "I knew Johnny was going to try and block me. As soon as I saw him move up the track, I turned hard left. Jeff Burton gave me the push I needed to get by on the inside."

Still another crash on the 198th lap forced another caution. As the leader, Jarrett was assured the victory in a race he had won in 1993 and '96.

Finishing second through fifth were Burton, Elliott, Rusty Wallace and Martin. Benson dropped back to 12th.

"When I got into Cup Series racing I had the dream every driver does of having a Daytona 500 trophy," said Jarrett. "To have three of them is incredible."

Jarrett's triumph grew even more thrilling and fulfilling for him as he rolled toward Victory Lane.

Stepping out to greet him was Richard Petty, who was a highly respected rival of Ned Jarrett in the 1960s.

"Being congratulated by Richard gave me chills," Dale said. "What a thoughtful thing for him to do."

The younger Jarrett, now 53, retired from driving after the 2008 season, listing 32 victories and the 1999 series championship.

He now works as an analyst on ABC and ESPN race telecasts and is involved in several businesses.


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