Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrettis a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the Daytona 500 three timesand winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in 1999. He is the son of 2-time Grand National Champion Ned Jarrett, younger brother of Glenn Jarrett, father of former driver Jason Jarrett, and cousin of Todd Jarrett. In 2007, Jarrett joined the ESPN/ABC broadcasting team as an announcer in select Nationwide Series races. In 2008, after retiring from driving following...
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth26 November 1956
CityConover, NC
beginning felt prepared run since turned year
At the beginning of this year I felt like we were better prepared for this season, but it turned out that wasn't the case. It's disappointing that we haven't run any better than we have this year, especially since we've been able to be there at the end of the race.
cars hard judge knowing miles naked running
There's no way that you're going to be able to tell with the naked eye. And there's no way of knowing what was intentional, and how are you going to judge what was too hard when the cars are running 190 miles an hour?
dry far opportunity poles running spell time won
You like to think every time you come here you have that opportunity at least, but you look at it and we've had kind of a dry spell as far as running well here. We've won some poles and things, but that's not really what we're after.
decided explore gig gonna hopefully mind move run somebody totally
Right now I've pretty much made up my mind that I'm gonna run through 2008. Hopefully it's gonna be where I'm at. That hasn't been totally decided yet, but we're working on that and there have been other conversations, so I have to explore all of the options. But when that's up, my gig is pretty much done. I'm gonna be to where I need to move on and let somebody else get in.
hit knew next pick run sure trying
We were just trying to pick our way through there. The next thing I knew I got hit in the back. I wanted to make sure I didn't run over anything.
bad beat bit competition either everybody finish level missing outside reasonable run setup slight teams top win
You still have to beat everybody to win a title, but the level of competition has changed. In '99, if we had an off day, we could still run in the top 10 most of the time. Now, if you have just a little bit of an off day, you're going to finish outside of the top 20. You have so many teams that can make you go from a reasonable day to a really bad day with either just missing the setup or having a slight problem.
continue eventually include job running single ultimately
If you're going to continue to do that, eventually you're going to wreck. Ultimately we know our job is to go out here and race, but that doesn't have to include running into each other every single lap.
aspects biggest cars changes daytona effort finished future good guys immediate improve includes next overall personnel program race robert run since steps taking team various victory work
The important thing for us is to improve overall as a race team during these next 10 races, ... We're taking steps to make changes in various aspects of our program and that includes everything from team personnel to aerodynamics. The biggest thing we need in the immediate future is a good run. We haven't put up a good effort since Daytona where we finished fifth. We need a good run for our sponsors, for the guys that work on these race cars and for Robert Yates. The other thing that is important to us is getting back to victory lane. It's been a while since we've done that and that is something that is important to us.
bud competing daytona extra good guarantee headed indicator learn nice opportunity program race run seat teams time
A good run in the Bud Shootout doesn't guarantee a good run in the Daytona 500, but it is a nice indicator that this part of the program is at least headed in the right direction. The extra seat time is always good to have, and I think there are things you can learn by participating in that race that the teams who aren't competing don't have the opportunity to learn.
mean none race time watched
I've watched him race a long time and I don't mean him any disrespect, but if he comes here to race, that's none of our concern. I couldn't even tell you what he's running, how he's running.
bit exactly force good issue knowing rest scary smarter
I see something that's a little bit scary for the rest of us, ... He's getting smarter out there, knowing when he can go and when he can't. When his car isn't exactly right, he doesn't try to force the issue now, so they've done a really good job.
adapt changes changing driver goes good groove handling race racing require takes track
As the race goes on, the track changes a lot and you'll find yourself changing the racing groove in which you're running. So, while it does require a good handling car, it also takes a driver that is able to adapt to those changes.
competition difficult gains game gonna good guys hear incredible literally looking practice realize sheets stepped teams time top tough trying week
We feel like we've made some gains because we know that the competition has stepped up. It's incredible what's out there right now and I know you hear this from everybody, especially the guys that are trying to make their way into that top 10 about how tough it is, but you get around looking at time sheets from practice and things and you realize just how difficult it is. There are literally 22-25 teams every week that you say, 'Those are good cars.' And you're gonna have to be on your game to outrun those.
emotion guys says watch winning
To watch the emotion from those two guys says it all about winning the 500.