Three other drivers that were expected to battle for the championship are way down on the points list. Labonte is 13th. Mark Martin, who finished eighth last year, is 21st. And Jeff Burton, who finished third last year, is 25th. Jarrett sees the troubles his colleagues are having, and he remembers that he has been there, too.
Every driver has.
You just don't know why things happen, and sometimes the harder you work the further behind you get. But he doesn't believe those guys will stay far behind for long. Jarrett said he isn't sure how he has managed to remain successful as others have dropped off. Jarrett won the points title two years ago and finished fourth last year, when he won the Daytona 500. This year, he has been dominant at times.