NASCAR Scheduling changes have racers grumbling

A Labor Day race at Darlington has been a fixture since 1950. Will it end?
NEWPORT NEWS DAILY PRESS
CONCORD, N.C. -- Expect fairly significant changes when next year's Winston Cup schedule is released within the next few months. That prediction comes from several owners with reliable insight into how things will look.
Although officials say it's not a done deal, the '04 Southern 500 at Darlington (N.C.) Raceway appears set for late October or early November. It'll take the date currently held by the North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham.
Making moves
The '04 Labor Day weekend date -- a Darlington fixture since 1950 -- will go to the California Speedway. Tentative plans are for a Craftsman Series race on Friday night, a Busch Series race on Saturday afternoon and a Winston Cup race on Sunday evening. If the current schedule holds, the second Fontana date will be squeezed between Bristol and Richmond.
"The message is clear," said an owner who didn't want to be identified. "If NASCAR will move the Southern 500 from Labor Day, then nothing is sacred. NASCAR is letting track owners know the way things used to be isn't necessarily the way it's going to be."
Drivers, owners and long-time NASCAR said the change is unfortunate, but nothing that can't be overcome.
"At least they're not losing the name," said Joe Carver of Belcar Racing. "I can live with a different date. It's not nearly as bad as not having a Southern 500 at all."
Team owner Junie Donlavey, who entered the first Southern 500 in 1950, doesn't think NASCAR will erase a 53-year tradition. "You want to see people turned off by this sport?" he said angrily. "Do something like that and just watch 'em. I can't believe they'd do something like that."
Team owner Eddie Wood said it's bad Darlington is losing Labor Day and even worse its date is going to California. "Some things should be sacred," he added, "but it's obvious nothing is. And why we're going to that [bleep] place is beyond me."
Changing times
Team owner Richard Childress and the late Dale Earnhardt won three Southern 500s. He said even though Labor Day without Darlington will be "difficult and different" it's a sign of the times. "You have to accept that change is inevitable in racing," he said. "Nothing stays the same, so you have to change to keep moving forward. But Darlington on Labor Day has been such a big deal for our sport. It won't seem the same on another date."
Perhaps Richard Petty said it best: "The only real constant on our schedule for 50-some years was Darlington on Labor Day. For years, you knew where you'd be that weekend. They've always had two races there, but nobody got very excited about the spring race. Now, nobody will get very excited about the fall race, either."
Robby's travels
Robby Gordon continues to shuttle between Indianapolis and nearby Concord Regional Airport as he prepares for next Sunday's grueling Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 doubleheader.
He left here early Saturday morning, was rained out after five practice laps at Indy, then returned for Saturday night's Winston Open. He'll leave this morning for "Bump Day" at Indy and return Monday. He'll fly back to Indy for Thursday's final 500 practice lap, be here for Coca-Cola 600 practice and qualifying, then return to Indy after final Coca-Cola 600 practice on Saturday. He'll run the 500 on Sunday morning and into the afternoon, then dash back here for the 600.
He said his third 500/600 double has been the smoothest so far. "I'm using a private jet and private helicopters, so I'm not tired at all," he said. "Hey, I got my four hours sleep Friday night so I was ready to go [Saturday]. The more you do this, the better you get. I've learned from my past mistakes."