Insider's View: Wally Dallenbach

Darlington Raceway is by far one of the toughest racetracks on the Winston Cup schedule. It's a rough place to drive, it's tricky and it's extremely hard on tires. But I love it.

	Wally Dallenbach

Although I never qualified well at Darlington, I absolutely loved racing there. It's a track that warrants a lot of driver control because your car slides around so much. You're real busy behind the wheel all day long, but it really is a lot of fun.

Darlington has a lot in common with Rockingham, in that both tracks have rough surfaces that literally eat up tires. You'll see guys come in for tire whenever they can because after one or two laps, new rubber can quickly become toast. Tire management is definitely something that has to be taken care of in order to win at Darlington.

We hear a lot about the famed "Darlington Stripe," the scuff mark on the right side of a car after sliding along the outside wall. Keep your eyes on Turns 1 and 2 on Sunday because that's usually where most of those stripes are handed out.

Turns 1 and 2 at Darlington are like no other on the circuit. They are probably the most unconventional set of turns in racing. Normally at most racetracks, you'd drive your car up against the wall as you exit the main straight and enter the first turn. But not at Darlington.

At Darlington you ride the rim and let the car slide up and drift right against the outside wall before diving down and aiming at the bottom of the racetrack in Turn 2. Some guys will even hit the apron as they exit the second turn before heading down the backstretch.

TOO TOUGH TO TAME Fantasy Report: We tell you who to watch at Darlington Play video  •  Power Rankings  •  Track Smack  •  Complete Coverage

But you have to be careful not to get thrown up against the wall with the speed you're carrying. If you're not, you'll quickly receive the good old Darlington stripe.

You really race the track at Darlington more than anywhere else in the series. Yeah there's 42 other guys out there with you, but you have to be so conscious of what the racetrack will do you really have your hands full.

Where's the best place to pass at Darlington? How about pit road? The guys in the pits really have to be heroes Sunday because track position is so important. You just can't afford to give any of it up so the pressure is really going to be on pit road this weekend.

The list of guys I look to do well this weekend begins with Jeff Gordon. He is always in the Top 3 at Darlington and has won there six times, including last year's Southern 500. He ran well at Atlanta last weekend and I think is ready to win.

Jeff Burton is another one of those drivers that does very well at Darlington. His driving style just seems to compliment the old place and Jeff has an understanding of what the car need, as well as the tires, when he runs at Darlington.

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Put another veteran, Dale Jarrett, in my "Picks to Click" category this week. Dale will be making his 500th career Winston Cup start on Sunday and with a win already under his belt in 2003, confidence is high at Robert Yates Racing.

Finally I like Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s chances this weekend too. Junior is off to a good start this year as well and if genes have anything to do with success, Dale, Jr. should do well at Darlington where his dad was a master.

How'd you like to be a Winston Cup master this weekend? You can by playing our Top Drivers Fantasy Racing game and pick the drivers you think will do well at Darlington. You can walk away with CASH and the best part is you can play as many times each week as you'd like.