Earnhardt Jr. Returns to Busch Series in EAS/GNC Live Well 300 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Oct. 25, 2001) - The February Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway may have a new name - EAS/GNC Live Well 300 - but there will be some familiar faces in the season opener.

Winston Cup regulars such as Joe Nemechek, Matt Kenseth and Michael Waltrip are typically found moonlighting in the race. In this year's EAS/GNC Live Well 300 At Daytona on Feb. 16, Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins the list of Winston Cup drivers returning to their roots in the Busch Series.

Earnhardt Jr., who won two Busch Series championships in 1998 and 1999 before moving to the Winston Cup Series in 2000, will return to the Busch Series in 2002 and drive a limited schedule.

The 27-year-old Kannapolis, N.C., native and 2001 Pepsi 400 champion has driven in only one Busch Series race since he left the circuit, subbing for the injured Nemechek last May.

He'll be driving a limited schedule in his No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo sponsored by Nabisco Co. starting with the EAS/GNC Live Well 300, a race that he has never won.

Tickets for the EAS/GNC Live Well 300 are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.

Earnhardt Jr.'s Record At Daytona
Daytona 500
Year  Start  Finish   Money
2000    8      13    $107,775
2001    6       2    $975,907

Pepsi 400
Year  Start  Finish   Money
2000   31      35    $45,330
2001   13       1    $185,873

Gatorade 125's
Year  Start  Finish   Money
2000   11       4    $21,921
2001    9       2    $37,884

EAS/GNC Live Well 300
Year  Start  Finish   Money
1998    3      37    $21,425
1999   16      14    $30,200