Spectators in the grandstand at Daytona International Speedway watch as Winston Cup cars zoom past during one of the Twin 125 qualifying races Thursday. Jimmy Spencer rolled his No. 26 Kmart Ford into the garage area after a recent round of practice at Daytona International Speedway, and the 1994 Pepsi 400 winner started to grouse as soon as his feet hit the concrete. Even though he likes restrictor-plate racing, Spencer is starting to look at racing at Daytona with some contempt. It doesn't take much skill to sit on the purple horse and go left.
Most drivers hate it because it saps throttle response.
They want a return to the good ol' days with no restrictor plates. Ernie Elliott, a longtime engine builder for his brother Bill, once said he doesn't believe anyone would. I could build a car that could go 230, but you won't find anybody brave enough to drive it. Not everyone agrees. It makes no difference to me.