NASCAR will give drivers time to recover from high emotions

DOVER, Del. -- Dale Jarrett's biggest concern Sunday might be his quick transition from being an American deeply touched by the terrorist attacks to a hard-charging racer.

The polesitter for the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 said drivers will need a few extra minutes after Tanya Tucker sings the national anthem to focus on the race. Aware of the emotion bound to be generated by 140,000 flag-waving fans, NASCAR is complying.

Drivers won't settle into their cars until Tucker is finished, a departure from already being strapped in during the anthem. This time, it will take more than just a few seconds before "home of the brave" gives way to "gentlemen, start your engines."

"There's probably not going to be a dry eye around here," Jarrett said, alluding to Tucker also singing "God Bless America" and Lee Greenwood offering "God Bless the USA" as part of extended prerace ceremonies at Dover Downs International Speedway.

The drivers will have about five minutes to compose themselves, said David Hoots, the Winston Cup race director.

"In recognition of this unique and emotional situation, that sort of interval seems appropriate," he said.

Jarrett sees a parallel between baseball resuming its schedule and NASCAR rolling again after the postponement last Sunday of the event in Loudon, N.H.

"Watching Monday when major league baseball began, if you could sit around and not get chills and a have a tear in your eye, there's something wrong with you," he said.

Tightened security

There appears to be very little wrong with the heightened security in place for the race. Reporters' computer bags have been checked, and three-time Dover winner Rusty Wallace was briefly denied access to the garage area Friday because he lacked the proper credential.

But there have been no major complaints about the tight security, which includes NASCAR's first ban on coolers.

"If anybody's going to be concerned with not being able to bring in a case and a half of beer, we probably don't want him in here anyway," said track president Denis McGlynn.

He said the track was cautiously confident it had done everything to meet security needs.

"Your focus is not on one guy shooting another guy," McGlynn said. "It's one guy blowing up 100."