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Thursday, 08 May 2008 19:00 |
 By: Jay W. Pennell
Sprint Cup Correspondent
HardcoreRaceFans.com
Most Hardcore Race Fans throughout the NASCAR Nation could probably tell you a little something about this historic day at the Darlington Raceway. The race marked the 100th NASCAR Cup Series event to take place at the Lady In Black – the site of NASCAR’s first ever 500-mile event.
On this day a number of competitors were making milestone starts; Terry Labonte started his 750th career race, while Bill Elliot began his 700th, Kyle Petty rolled off in his 650th, Dale Jarrett strapped in for his 300th and Jeff Burton climbed behind the wheel of the No. 99 CITGO Ford for his 300th career start.
With these drivers making historic starts on this historic day, Elliott Sadler made some history of his own by capturing his first career pole in his Robert Yates Racing No. 38 M&M’s Ford. Penske Racing’s Ryan Newman started the day from the second position and helped Sadler lead the field to the green.
Five cautions in the opening seventy laps slowed the pace of the event and allowed many drivers to use pit strategy to gain track position. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin took turns out front during the mid-section of the event, with Jeff Gordon taking the top spot in the latter stages.
As the track grew slicker, Gordon and Sadler – then running second – brushed the wall with less than fifty laps remaining. Sadler was able to finish seventh, while Gordon limped home 33rd, seven laps down.
This allowed Kurt Busch – who started from the rear of the field after blowing an engine in practice – to make a daring three wide move for the lead going down the backstretch. If starting in the rear of the field at Darlington was not enough, shortly after Busch took the lead, the No. 97 Rubbermaid Ford lost the power steering, allowing Ricky Craven to close in on Busch and challenge for the lead.
Craven and Busch battled hard for the lead as the laps wound down in the event. As they came off Turn 4 with only three laps to go, Craven was able to slide his No. 32 Tide Pontiac under Busch’s Ford. Neither driver gave an inch and as they headed into the first turn they made contact, sending Busch into the outside wall and allowing Craven to get out front – just for a second. Busch gathered it up, hit Craven’s rear bumper and pulled a cross-over move to dive underneath for the lead going down the backstretch.
With just one lap to go, Craven showed he had learned from his mistake the lap before and stalked the No. 97 around Turns 1 and 2 and down the backstretch. As the two cars entered Turn 3, Busch blocked Craven using the middle groove of the track, but with no power steering bobbled as he rounded Turn 4. This slight bobble allowed Craven to dive underneath for a last-ditch effort as they came off the corner.
With Busch on the outside and Craven on the inside, the two made contact as they came off the corner and raced towards the checkered flag. Drag racing down the frontstretch literally inseparable, Craven took the win by .002 thousandths of a second – the closest finish in NASCAR history – as sparks flew and smoke billowed.
Fox broadcasters Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip summed up the finish to this race at the Darlington Raceway with McReynolds asking, “Have you ever?” and Waltrip in sync responding, “No I’ve never!”
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life,” Craven said. “This is exactly what you dream about, the perfect way to win at the perfect track.”
In a show of amazing sportsmanship after an astonishing race, Busch made his way to the winner’s circle to congratulate Craven on his victory. The two shook hands and compared views of the final three laps. Busch explained, “That was the coolest finish I’ve ever seen and I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”
That day, March 16, 2003, will forever be written in NASCAR history as one of the greatest races ever run in the sport’s history. Although the track has aged over the years and subsequently lost its second date the very next year, racing at the track “Too Tough To Tame” has always remained the same.
This weekend, drivers head to the Lady In Black after she has just received a major face-lift. New asphalt has drivers predicting speeds up to 200 mph entering the always treacherous corners. Expect many drivers – rookies and veterans alike – to earn their Darlington Stripes as they race to tame not only the competition, but the track itself. ![](\"/images/stories/hcrflogo.jpg\")
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