Bristol Budweiser race preview

Quotes from Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Note: Dale Jr. will drive with a special Budweiser "Olympic" paint scheme this weekend in honor of the US Olympic Committee and the Summer Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. If Dale Jr. wins the race Saturday evening, and Bud King Top Fuel racer Kenny Bernstein wins the NHRA US Nationals next weekend in Indianapolis, Budweiser will award $5 million to be divided among the USOC, Dale Jr. , Kenny and a lucky consumer.

"I'm honored that I get to drive a car with the Olympic theme. I think the Olympics are something that everyone follows, and it's cool that we're involved with Budweiser on this. The fans get excited about these special paint schemes, and they've been asking me when we were going to do a special Bud car. This is the first one in my Winston Cup career, and it makes it more exciting for me and the team.

"If I could choose any Olympic event to enter (summer or winter games), it would have to be the bobsled. That looks like a lot of fun - but I would insist that more than one sled would be on the track at one time. THAT would be fun! You gotta have someone to beatâ€¦

"Bristol is among my favorite tracks - because it's so fast and so exciting. We were caught up in an early crash there (in the spring Winston Cup race), but even with a beat-up car, we ran pretty well. The fans are right on top of you and those grandstands go up as far as they can build 'em. The crowd gets so loud there that we can hear them in the car when we're under caution."

<pre> This Week's Race What: goracing.com 500, Winston Cup Race 23 of 34 Where: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN When: Saturday, August 26, 2000 Watch: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. Eastern BUD Pole qualifying will be seen live Friday afternoon on ESPN2 at 5:00 pm Eastern.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Bristol Previous Winston Cup starts: 1 (Spring 2000) Start / Finish: 12th / 38th Previous Busch Series Starts: 5 Best Busch Series Start: 1st (Spring, 1998) Best Busch Series Finish: 2nd (Spring, 1999)

</pre> Dale Jr. won his first Busch Series career Bud pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1998, and also made his first Busch Series front row start in the fall race in 1997.

What to Watch

The King of Speed, Kenny Bernstein, will join the Bud team this weekend at Bristol to see if Dale Jr. can score a victory. If the Bud car finds its way to victory lane Saturday evening, the spotlight falls onto Bernstein the following weekend at Indianapolis. Should both Bud drivers win, Budweiser will present $2.25 million to the US Olympic Committee, $2.25 million to a winning consumer (plus a trip to the Sydney Olympics), and $250 thousand to both Kenny and Dale Jr.

The Bristol night race is always among the most exciting and action-packed races of each season. If you choose to watch one Winston Cup race this year, this is the one. So, cancel the bowling night, buy a few six-packs of Budweiser (and maybe even a limited-edition Bud/Dale Jr./Olympic souvenir item), and turn the TV to ESPNâ€¦