Realignment 2004: What they're saying

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- The first major changes in the 2004 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule were announced Friday at Michigan International Speedway, site of Sunday's Sirius 400.

California Speedway gets a second Winston Cup date, on Sunday night of Labor Day weekend; North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham loses its fall date; and Darlington Raceway moves its 53-year Labor Day tradition, the Southern 500, to Rockingham's fall date.

Here's what a sampling of the competitors at Michigan were saying about the changes on Friday:

DALE JARRETT (Driver, No. 88 UPS Ford): It stings a little bit to see it moved. I understand the economics of this sport and continuing to grow this sport. It makes sense to be in California twice with that being the second-largest market, but did it have to be on Labor Day? I'm not sure, but that seems to suit everybody. Everything is not gonna be exactly the way we would want it to be, but I'm glad to see Darlington is keeping two races.

I think the competition there is tremendous and that's what our sport was built on is good competition and we don't want to lose that. So even though we're losing a race from a time that, from a historical perspective has always been there, we still have to understand that we have to move forward. I'm just glad we're still at Darlington twice.

TONY STEWART (Driver, No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet): I don't make the race schedule; I just go wherever the race is on that weekend. It's disappointing (from a racer's standpoint) to lose a date at a track as unique as Rockingham. I really don't know what else to say. NASCAR has obviously done a great job of growing this sport, and if a second race at California is a way to continue that growth, then who's to argue?

ROBBIE LOOMIS (Crew Chief, No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet): I think the history of the Southern 500 is the reason they kept two dates at Darlington. You know, we all hate going further away from home. From the team's perspective, we'd have much rather stayed at Rockingham. But you know, California is a great race track -- great facility. It needs bigger garages, they need to work on that, but they've done a great job there.

It's great for racing. But also from the team perspective, I'd much rather have seen them race on Saturday night logistics-wise. However, I'm sure TV plays a lot into the decisions that were made. We're going to reach a lot more people. It'll be better for DuPont and Lowe's, and we need to take care of our sponsors and going into those markets will do that. That's only going to help us more in the future, I guess.

MARK MARTIN (Driver, No. 6 Viagra Ford): I hadn't really thought about it and I really don't have a huge comment on it. I understand, but the old diehard in me wishes it wasn't, but I understand.

JEFF BURTON (Driver, No. 99 CITGO Ford): I'm a big fan of the Southern 500. I like tradition, and I like the fact that the Southern 500 has been on the weekend, you know, forever, and I think that's cool. At the same time, I support going to as many places as we can go. And if you look around, it makes sense to go to California twice. We need to put this sport in front of as many people as we possible can, and to me, going to California twice makes a lot of sense -- and you can't let tradition stand in the way of progress.

I wish we could find a way to do both. But, when you look at the crowds and look at all the people that are watching on TV, Darlington has been lagging behind, and Rockingham also, so we got to continue to bring the thing to the fans that they want. I wish there was a way that we could do both, but obviously we can't.

DERRIKE COPE (Driver, No. 37 GBR Online/Friendly's Chevrolet): In my opinion, a second date for California is outstanding. I've thought for a while now that we needed to go out to California more. It's a big market with obvious great ties to television. I think right now NASCAR has a lot of fans in the Midwest that can get to the West Coast more conveniently than they could the East Coast. I'm a firm believer that you have got to have that West Coast market.

EDDIE JONES (General Manager, BAM Racing): With the growth of modern day NASCAR, it's imperative that we spread live racing as opposed to televised racing to as many markets as possible. California, Texas and any other markets west of the Mississippi river need to be opened to live NASCAR racing. California Speedway does a great job of filling the stands; so getting a second race date there is a great beginning to further tapping of these markets.

KEN SCHRADER (Driver, No. 49 BAM Racing Dodge): I don't look at it as Rockingham losing a race date -- I see it as the owners of the tracks moving a race from one facility to another. The Southern 500 at Darlington on Labor Day weekend has a lot of history and tradition, but look at the Fontana crowd. I definitely believe the second date at Fontana is beneficial to NASCAR. We need to go where it's more beneficial for all of our sponsors and everyone involved. I believe an extra race at the California Speedway versus an extra race at Rockingham is definitely better.

JEFF CHEW (Marketing Manager, GM Racing): I think a schedule realignment was inevitable in Winston Cup racing. With the shift in the markets, the opportunity to increase our presence on the West Coast, and particularly Southern California, in addition to the other race markets already in place makes tremendous sense.

We're saddened by the loss of a race at Rockingham, where Pontiac is the official car and Chevrolet the official truck, but we're pleased with NASCAR's decision that gives another one of our affiliated facilities a second date. California is a huge automotive market for General Motors.