It's where Elliott spends his lunch break when he's in town, and where Pirkle has thousands of newspaper clippings of souvenirs featuring the Dawsonville native on the walls. Pirkle started a tradition of blasting the siren every time Elliott won a pole position or a race during the 1980s. The siren, mounted on the roof of the pool room, was serviced a year ago because it hadn't been used in years. Elliott closed the family race shop last November and signed to drive one of the new Dodge Intrepid race cars for Evernham Motorsports this year. Battling the heat Traffic may be the biggest story going into the Daytona 500, but engine heat may become the biggest concern during the race.
Drivers continue to say engine temperatures are alarmingly high in race conditions.
If temperatures become an issue, drivers in a Ford Taurus may have the advantage. During a two-day test session here last January, Fords spent most of the time testing new grilles, radiators and ductwork to keep their engines cool. The other manufacturers spent the time working on speed. LaJoie wins third Daytona Busch race Randy LaJoie knew a third trip to the Daytona winner's circle wouldn't be easy. The race finished under a caution flag. ''I got a heck of a break for the first time,'' LaJoie said.