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SPORTS A21
Saturday 20 February 2016
Junior hoping to drive
‘Amelia’ back to victory line
JENNA FRYER that you know can do the my mind. She must have
AP Auto Racing Writer been the most daring. She
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) things that this car can do, sort of fits that mold of the
— Her name is Amelia, and courage and determina-
boy, can she fly. you’re willing to take those tion that you need as a
She’ll be forever treasured race car driver. She must
by Dale Earnhardt Jr., even gambles and risks to pull have had that and more
though he wants noth- to be able to do the things
ing more than to give her out and pass. It’s just a fun she did in her lifetime.”
away Sunday. So it’s the car that gives
Amelia Earhart is the nick- car to drive. Really special Earnhardt the confidence
name of the sleek and su- to make the moves he did
perfast Chevrolet that Earn- car.” Thursday night while win-
hardt drove to three wins ning for the 17th time at
last season. The car never When Rick Hendrick leaned Daytona. The victory came
finished lower than third in on the 15th anniversary of
five races, and Earnhardt into the window after Earn- his father’s death. Although
couldn’t find a reason to he daydreamed about
keep her out of the upcom- hardt’s latest victory, the winning to honor his father,
ing Daytona 500. he really just didn’t want to
The decision was easy. In- driver urged his team own- embarrass himself with a
stead of building a new poor showing.
car specifically for the “The er to keep track of Amelia There was no chance of
Great American Race” — that happening as he
what most teams do every and consider putting her dominated by leading 43
offseason — Earnhardt opt- of the 60 laps Saturday and
ed to give Amelia another on display in his museum. passing Denny Hamlin, win- Dale Earnhardt Jr poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after win-
shot at getting to victory ner of last week’s exhibition ning the first of two qualifying races for Sunday’s NASCAR Day-
lane. She delivered Thurs- For now, he’s just fine if he race, with ease to claim tona 500 Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International
day night when Earnhardt the victory. Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016.
won a 150-mile qualifying says goodbye to her Sun- Earnhardt dismissed that
race to up her record to any special power got him Associated Press
four wins in six starts over day. past Hamlin with six laps
the last 13 months. remaining. Hamlin, who
“The car really does every- Daytona International seemingly has one of the
thing I ask it to do,” Earn- few cars that can contend
hardt said after his win. Speedway displays the with Amelia, said the pass
“When you have a car didn’t surprise him at all.
winning car for a year, and “I’ve seen those moves a ing as a Hendrick Motors-
lot because I watch him a ports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing
teams gladly exchange lot. You always are watch- showdown, with a possible
ing guys that are really suc- challenge from Team Pen-
them for the trophy. Earn- cessful at this kind of rac- ske.
ing,” Hamlin said. “I kind Defending Daytona 500
hardt, a two-time 500 win- of knew what was going winner Joey Logano, along
on, but when he’s coming with teammates Brad Ke-
ner, decided chassis No. at such a fast pace from selowski and Ryan Blaney,
behind, you have to an- all appear able to keep
88-872 needed a name ticipate. It’s almost like a up. It remains to be seen if
free kick in soccer. It’s like, they can actually organize
when crew chief Greg Ives ‘OK, I committed to the enough to become serious
right side and (he) kicked threats. Kyle Busch gave
declined to retire the car. to the left.’” So Earnhardt’s JGR a victory Thursday in
intent and desire for Sun- the second qualifier, which
“The fact that we’re go- day are absolutely clear, also included teammates
and through one week of Matt Kenseth and Carl Ed-
ing to keep running it, I Speedweeks, it’s develop- wards. q
said, ‘We gotta name it,’
and we were thinking of a
woman who has accom-
plished something that was
an awesome person that
was something we could
be proud of,” Earnhardt
said. “Amelia Earhart was
the first thing that came to
NASCAR creates new penalty system for behavioral offenses
BY DAN GELSTON He said there was no prec- tinsville for a previous se- able evidence and spe- action depending on how
AP SPORTS WRITER edent for NASCAR to sus- cific circumstances of the egregious the nature of the
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) pend him for his action. ries of slights in the Chase. incident.” action might be.”
-- NASCAR has beefed up The wide-ranging rulebook NASCAR offered a plate Attempting to manipulate
its punishment system and can serve punishments for The deliberate wrecking of of potential penalties for the outcome of a race of
will define specific behav- infractions ranging from a Martinsville-type repeat championship - much like
ioral offenses with prede- domestic abuse to critical Logano drew a two-race that include: a loss of 500- Michael Waltrip Racing
termined penalties. comments directed to- 100 driver/owner points; tried in 2013 - could result
The new system will serve as ward the series. suspension from NASCAR. $150,000-$200,000 fines, a in the loss of 25-50 cham-
a personal conduct code NASCAR will not issue pun- two-race suspension, indef- pionship points, $50,000-
for members in all three ishments via a class system Kenseth said he would inite suspension or termina- $100,000 fines, a one-race
national NASCAR series. like it does for technical in- tion. We understand that suspension, indefinite sus-
Unveiled two days before fractions. “What you’ll see is have handled the pay- and that there are points in pension or termination.
the season-opening Day- an effort by the sanctioning time that competitors cross There are fines that range
tona 500, the guidelines body to improve the level back differently had he the line, and they should up to $50,000 for disparag-
deal with on- and off-track of transparency,” said Jim have a better understand- ing the sport or NASCAR’s
infractions. Cassidy, senior vice presi- known he’d draw such an ing of what may transpire leadership and verbal
Among the sanctions, NAS- dent of racing operations. if it’s determined they cross abuse of NASCAR officials
CAR will punish a competi- NASCAR said it had worked unprecedented penalty. the line,” Cassidy said. or media members.
tor who takes premeditat- over the last year to come “(We have) the ability to NASCAR could issue indefi-
ed action against a driver up with a disciplinary plan “We don’t want perception look at the implications as it nite suspension or termina-
in the Chase. and the new system was relates to where a compet- tion for public statements
Matt Kenseth complained not tied to one event. that anything is, do as you itor might be. As it relates that disparage a person’s
last season about a two- But there was an outcry to their run for the champi- race, color or sexual orien-
race suspension for inten- last season when Kenseth see fit,” Cassidy said. “We onship, their position in the tation.
tionally wrecking Joey Lo- was punished for retaliat- Chase and ability to look at All penalties can be
gano during the Chase. ing against Logano at Mar- are so far from that today that and potential for the appealed.q
as a sport. It’s a good thing
for us. It’s a good thing for
our competitors and every-
one involved and the fans
to understand what’s hap-
pening.”
The new rules ban “pre-
meditatedly removing
another competitor from
championship contention
in a dangerous manner
when not racing for posi-
tion based on the avail-
