Friday, May 19, 2006
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Rather than being daredevils, as some folks suppose, most NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers in 2006 are pretty conservative on the racetrack.
It's not because they worry about life and limb. Their attitude has far more to do with points and sponsorship money.
Drivers who manage to remain in the top 10 or stay within 400 points of the leader through the first 26 Cup races get to race for the title over the final 10 events as part of the Chase for the championship.
For those who can't manage that, there is the fact that staying among the top 35 in car owner points guarantees a starting spot in every Cup race, no matter the qualifying speed. Missing races does not help a team find or keep a sponsor.
So, it's a refreshing change for these drivers who were weaned at lower levels on go-for-broke, dust-flying racing when they get to an event in which they can let it all hang out, so to speak.
Such an event is Saturday night's Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., a 90-lap invitational, non-points race for Cup drivers with a first prize of $1 million. Even in today's big money atmosphere in Cup, that's a grand prize worth battling for.
"Second means nothing in a race like this," said Mark Martin, "so you can just go for it all."
Greg Biffle, Martin's Roush Racing teammate, coming off his first victory of the season last Saturday at Darlington, is just as excited.
"The All-Star race is a lot of fun for the drivers and the fans," Biffle said. "Any race under the lights seems more exciting, I guess. There's also a lot of money on the line and that makes things interesting."
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