Bristol Randy Daniels Chevy S-10 Report

CHEVROLET NOTES AND QUOTES Winston Showdown (NHRA) Bristol Dragway Bristol, Tenn. Sunday, July 11, 1999

RANDY DANIELS TURNS 31 TODAY, RECEIVES $15,000 PRIZE FOR WINNING WINSTON SHOWDOWN IN HIS CHEVY S-10

Randy Daniels, driving his Daniels Motorsports Chevy S-10, won his third Pro Stock Truck title of the season today. He collected no points towards the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series championship, however, as his victory came in the Inaugural Winston Showdown, the NHRA'S first true all-star event held at the Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. No. 3 qualifier Daniels was awarded $15,000 for his win over Brad Jeter, in the Jeter Racing Chevy S-10. Jeter, No. 1 qualifier, dominated nearly every round this weekend, but red-lighted in the final against Daniels, who posted a 7.712-second elapsed time at 173.47 mph. Jeter was also his opponent at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., this year, when Randy won his first event of the year. "Beating Jeter for the second time gives you a little extra bragging rights going into the last few races of the year," he said. "He's still ahead of us in points, it's a shame that this race didn't count for points. But we can certainly use the $15,000. We were already making plans in the pits before we ran. But there was this big IF. We were making plans for what we were going to do with it. It's going right back into the program. This will help us in the beginning of next season." Only 12 Pro Stock Trucks entered this event, providing Jeter a "bye" (no opponent) run in the semifinals, assuring him a trip to the final round. He defeated Dominic Surace and Tim Freeman in the first two rounds. Daniels defeated David Spitzer, Don Smith and Steve Johns, the shop foreman for Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, in the semifinals, en route to the final. "I had been on the (Christmas) Tree all weekend, and I've been hitting it real well," explained Jeter. "I guess because it was dark I thought I saw the yellow light go on. I was just four thousandths (of a second) off. We had a great weekend, all in all. I know what to do to cut good lights, but I have to learn to slow them now." Daniels celebrated his 31st birthday today, and he was stunned when the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him in the winner's circle. "That was a real surprise. I didn't know how to take it. It's just about the neatest birthday I ever had. It's just wonderful; my only regret is that my girlfriend Amy and my mom Barbara couldn't be here. They have never been with me when I have won, but I'm sure they're celebrating back home in Grantsboro (N.C.)."