The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 25

c2 wwwtennetseaacom THE TENNESSEAN Saturday, April 14, 2001 5C SPORTS: AUTO RACING. HOCKEY mm Opening race likely to solve tire mystery NHL playoff schedule First round. All series are best of seven Eastern Conference Conference month, one of the few glimpses any team had before the haulers unloaded the cars Thursday. "That may help us," said Todd Berrier, Harvick's crew chief. "We didn't leave with the car like it was when we pulled it off the truck that day.

"But right now nobody knows where the bar is here as far as speed. It's too new, there's no history. Everybody in this garage wants to be the one to figure it out." The answers can provide the hundredths of seconds needed to tame the new track and the rest of the field. "You can change the springs, change the shocks, there's some adjustment there," Schrader said. "That's going to be the deal here who gets the car right on the first trip here." "But look around.

We've got everything you could possibly want to put in a car," Berrier said. "Now the trick is to be smart enough to put it together in the right way, to know where to put it in and Atlanta would be exactly the same when you're putting the car on there. But they're not, they're completely different. So, we'll have to learn this place." Harry Wiley, a partner in Avery Enterprises, the company distributing the tires for today's race, said a "conservative choice" was made when those tires were manufactured. He said the tires are slightly harder than they will be for races here years from now.

"Because we've only had some testing and no racing here, you go with a more conservative look," Wiley said. "That will change as time goes by. But a new surface is harder on the tires, so to compensate for that the compound has to be a little different." Almost none of the drivers got an early look at Nashville Superspeedway because it was under construction. Richard Childress Racing, with eventual Busch pole winner Kevin Harvick driving, did some tire tests last that way, but at second glance I would say the biggest challenge is to get some grip. There is no rubber out there.

"It's just one of those things. It's a great facility, but it will be better the next time we come back because there will have been some more racing on it." The 15-mile. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the track several drivers said they would use as a comparison to set up their cars today, but even that won't be a perfect match. Las Vegas has 12-degree banking in the corners, Nashville 14-degree banking. Nashville has 9-degree banking on the front straightaway, like Las Vegas, and 6-degree banking on the back straightaway as compared to 3 for Vegas.

"So you would think you could use a similar suspension set-up. You can look at the track and think it looks like someplace else we run, but that's not always the case," Sterling Marlin said. "You would think Charlotte Drivers compare new track to Vegas By JEFF LEGWOLD Staff Writer GLADEVILLE Nashville Superspeedway is like 133 miles worth of quantum physics. The geometry says it's Las Vegas Motor Speedway similar size, similar banking and similar straightaways. The engineering says the concrete is new, slick and a caved-in fender waiting to happen.

The math says far more cars will start today's Busch Series Pepsi 300 than finish it. "Eighty percent of this deal here is how the car handles," said Ken Schrader, a Winston Cup veteran who raced in yesterday's ARCA REMAX PFG Lester 150. "If it's right, it's good and you're good. If it's not, you're living a long day." Drafting and other race-day ploys are largely reserved for giants on the circuit like the 25-mile Day- tona International Speedway and the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway. Much of the strategy for today's race on spanking new Nashville Superspeedway will be formulated in the garage, with everyone involved trying to find the right mix of springs and shock absorbers in the suspension to keep the tires on the track.

"It's a new track so it's going to eat the tires," said Winston Cup driver Sterling Marlin, whose son Steadman will drive in today's race. "We just ran at Martinsville and we did 180 laps easy on the tires there. But here that won't happen." Most drivers say they prefer there be a buildup of rubber from several hundred tires after several hundred laps. "That's what gives you some grip," said David Green, who has five career Busch Series victories. "That's not here right now.

So at first glance, I stand here and say it looks like Vegas and we could set up (1) Colorado vs. (8) Vancouver Avalanche leads series 7-0 Gamel: Colorado 5, Vancouver 4 Today: at Colorado, 9 pm Monday: at Vancouver 930 pju Apri We at Vancouver, 930 pm "April 21 at Colorado, 9 pm Aprl 2a at Vancouver 930 pm Apri at Cdorado, 9 pm (2) Detroit vs. (7) Los Angeles Red Wings lead senes 1-0 Game 1: Detroit 5, Los Angeles 3 Today: at Detroit noon. Tomorrow: at LA, 1 0:30 pm Apri 1ft at LA, 930 p.m. 'Apri 21: at Detroit, 2 pm Apri 23: at LA, 930 pm 'Apri at Detroit 6pm (3) Dallas vs.

(6) Edmonton Stars lead series 7-0 Gamel: Dallas 2, Edmonton 1 (CD Today: at Dallas, 3 p.m. Tomorrow: at ErJrnonton, 7 pm Tuesday: at Edixxiton, 8 pm Apri 19: at Dallas, 7 p.m. Apri 21 at Edmonton, 6 pm "April 23: at Dallas, 6 p.m. (4) St Louis vs. (5) San Jose Blues lead series 7-0.

Game 1: St Louis 3, San Jose 1 Today: at St Louis, noon. Monday: at San Jose, 930 pm Tuesday, at San Jose, 930 pm "Apri 19: at St Louis, 6:30 pm "Apri 21 at San Jose, 2 pm Apri 23: at St Louis, 6:30 pm If necessary (1) N. Jersey vs.8) Carolina Devils lead series 1-0 Game 1: New Jersey 5, Carotia 1 Tomorrow: at New Jersey, 2 pm Tuesday at Carofra 633 p.m. Apri ia at Carotia, 630 pm Aprl 20 at New Jersey, 630 pm Aprl 24: at New Jersey, 630 pm (2) Ottawa vs. (7) Toronto Maple Leafs lead senes 1-0 Game 1: Toronto 1 Ottawa, 0 Today: at Ottawa 6 p.m.

Monday: at Toronto, 6 p.m. April at Toronto, 6 p.m. April 20: at Ottawa, 6 p.m. "April 22: at Toronto, 6 p.m. April 24: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

(3) Washington vs. (6) Pittsburgh Capitals lead series J-0 0 Today: at Washington, noon Monday: at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. April at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Apri 21: at Vtashington, 2 p.m. 'April 23: at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

Apri 24: at Washington, 6 p.m. (4) Philadelphia vs. (5) Buffalo Sabres lead series 1-0. Game 1: Buffalo 2, Phiadelphia 1 Today: at Phifedetprta, noon Monday: at Buffalo, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Apn 19: at PhiarJrDha, 630pm April Buffalo, 2 p.m. 'April 23 at PMarJefchia, 6 pm. Leafs edge Senators, 1-0 Associated Press OTTAWA Mats Sundin scored at 10:49 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 1-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators last night in their playoff opener. Sundin ripped a long slap shot past goalie Patrick Lalime on a play set up by Steve Thomas. Curtis Joseph made 36 saves for the Maple Leafs, and Lal ime stopped 26 shots for the Senators.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series is tonight in Ottawa, and Game 3 is Monday night in Toronto. The Senators, a 4-2 series loser to Toronto last year in the first round misfired on passes and had few good chances despite outshooting Toronto 12-4 in the first period! Thursday's late box Avalanche 5, Canucks 4 Vancouver 12 1 4 Colorado 2 2 1-5 First Period-1, Vancouver. Ohlund 1 (Mormon, Druken). 826 (pp). 2, Colorado.

Sake 1 (Fors-bsrg. Blake). 1522 (pp). 3, Colorado. Blake 1 (Sake.

Hetduk). 16:36 (pp). Penarttes-Hrate. Col Igoake interference). 8:00.

Ohlund. van (roughingl. 8:56: Berehowsky, Van (chargmg), Maple Leafs 1, Senators 0 Toronto 0 0 0 1 -1 Ottawa 0 0 0 0 -0 First Period-None. Penalties-Tucker, Tor (roughingl. Berg, Tor (interference), Oomi, Tor (interference).

McEachem. Ott (interference). 16 06. Hossa, Ott (tripping). 19:02.

Second Period-None. Penarbes-McCace. Tor (goats interference). Roy, Ott flnpcmg), 17:40. Third Pehod-None.

Penarties-Coreon, Tor (holding). Berezm, Tor (toughing). Fisher, Ott (cross-checking), Toronto bench, served by Thomas (too many men), 9:53: Thomas. Tor (roughing), Zamuner, Ott (roughing). 17:51.

Owtjme-1, Toronto, Sundin 1 (Thomas). 10:49. Penatties None Shots on goal-Toronto 4-9-8-6-27 Ottawa 12-7-11-6-36. Power-play Ccortunrties-Toronto 0 of Ottawa Oof 6. Goatee-Toronto.

Joseph 1-0-0 (36 shots-36 saves). Ottawa, Lalime 0-1-0 (27-26). Referees-Dan MaroueUi, Dean Warren. LinesmenWayne Sonney, Ray ScapmeHo. JEANNE RE1SEL STAFF Ken Schrader spends lime with his 5-year-old son, Sheldon, in victory lane after winning yesterday's ARCA race.

ARCA: Schrader winds way to win 14:55: Ohlund. van (delay ot game), 15:56. Second Penod-4, Vancouver. Klatt 1 (Momson. Lachance), 5, Colorado.

Drury 1 (Hmote), 6, Vancouver, Bertuzzi 1 (Pederson. Ruutu), 16:33: 7, Colorado. Sakic 2 (Blake, Forsberg), 18:55 (pp). Penalties-Pederaon, Van (tnppng). 2:09: Ruutu.

Van (elbowing). Foote. Cd (roughing). 19:56. Third Period-8.

Vancouver, Jovanovstd 1 (H.Sedin. SeOm). 10:17 9. Colorado. Druy 2 (Blake), 18:53.

Penalty-Sakic, Col (holding sock), 5:51. Shots on goal-Vancouver 7-9-7-23. Colorado 10-12-6-28. Power-play Opportiinitkw-Vancouver 0 of Colorado 3 of 5 3 Busch qualifying At Nashville Superspeedway Gladeville 1. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 159.678.

2. (10) Jeff Green, Ford, 159.048. 3. (26) Bobby Hamilton, Chevrolet, 158.481. 4.

(60) Greg Biffle, Ford, 158.371. 5. (23) Scott Wimmer, Pontiac, 158.262. 6. (46) Ashton Lewis, Chevrolet, 157.944.

7. (27) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 157.803. 8. (00) Todd Bodine, Chevrolet, 157.783. 9.

(43) Jay Sauter, Chevrolet 1 57.772. 10. (74) Chad Little, Chevrolet, 157.224. 1 1 (98) Elton Sawyer, Ford, 1 57.1 32. 12.

(57) Jason Keller, Ford, 157.101. 13. (37) Kevin Grubb, Chevrolet, 157.080. 14. (14) Larry Foyt, Chevrolet, 156.993.

15. (48) Kenny Wallace, Chevrolet, 156.952. 1 6. (33) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 1 56.931 17. (1) Bobby Hamilton, Chevrolet, 156.343.

18. (7) Randy LaJoie, Chevrolet, 156.180. 19. (55) Mark Green, Ford, 156.155. 20.

(71) Kevin Lepage, Ford, 156.1 14. 21. (8) Frank Kimmel, Chevrolet, 156.033. 22. (25) David Donohue, Chevrolet, 155.876.

23. (34) David Green, Chevrolet, 155.770. 24. (20) Mike McLaughlin, Pontiac, 155.699. 25.

(01) Andy Santerre, Chevrolet, 155.694. 26. (18) Jeff Purvis, Pontiac, 155.502. 27. (63) Shane Hall, Ford, 155.502.

28. (21) Mike Skinner, Chevrolet, 155.386. 29. (36) Hank Parker, Chevrolet, 155.125. 30.

(11) Marty Houston, Chevrolet, 154.975. 31 (92) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 1 54.51 1 32. (28) Brad Baker, Chevrolet, 154.367. 33. (59) Rich Bickle, Chevrolet, 154.277.

34. (95) Steadman Martin, Ford, 154.248. 35. (61) Tim Sauter, Chevrolet, 154.243. 36.

(66) Tim Fedewa, Chevrolet, 1 54.149. 37. (17) Clay Rogers, Chevrolet, Provisional 38. (99) Shawna Robinson, Chevrolet, Provisional 39. (16) Mark Day, Pontiac, Provisional 40.

(49) A.J. Frank, Chevrolet, Provisional 41. (44) Mike Harmon, Pontiac, Provisional 42. (32) Dan Pardus, Chevrolet, Provisional 43. (83) Jeff Streeter, Pontiac, Provisional ARCA results At Nashville Superspeedway Gladeville With starting position in parentheses, driver, type of car, laps completed, and reason out of race, if any: 1.

(9) Ken Schrader, Pontiac, 113. 2. (1) Frank Kimmel, Chevrolet, 113. 3. (6) Shawna Robinson, Ford, 113.

4. (1 5) Rick Carelli, Chevrolet, 1 1 3. 5. (2) Mike Swaim, Chevrolet, 113. 6.

(5) Jason Jarrett, Pontiac, 113. 7. (19) Tim Steele, Ford, 113. 8. (3) Stanton Barrett, Ford, 113.

9. (10) Andy Belmont, Ford, 113. 10. (29) Mike Harmon, Ford, 113. 1 1 (1 7) Ron Cox, Chevrolet, 1 1 3.

12. (18) Rick Markle, Chevrolet, 113. 13. (16) Steadman Marlin, Ford, 112. 14.

(14) A.J. Henriksen, Chevrolet, 112. 15. (33) Randy Briggs, Ford, 112. 1 6.

(26) Chuck Weber, Chevrolet, 111. 17. (31) Randal Ritter, Chevrolet, 111. 18. (27) Jeff Falk, Chevrolet, 111.

19. (22) Greg Sarff, Ford, 111. 20. (28) Mike Buckley, Chevrolet, 111. 21.

(23) Norm Banning, Chevrolet, 110. 22. (25) Donny Moretock, Ford, 109. 23. (32) Nate Monteith, Pontiac, 107.

24. (8) Stuart Kirby, Ford, 101, accident. 25. (30) Todd Bowsher, Ford, 99, accident 26. (1 1) Billy Venturini, Chevrolet, 91 accident 27.

(4) Robert Burroughs, Pontiac, 85. 28. (1 3) Joe Cooksey, Chevrolet, 80, engine. 29. (24) Cavin Councilor, Chevrolet, 69, accident.

30. (7) Philip Kranefuss, Ford, 49, accident. 31. (20) Mark Gibson, Ford, 18, ignition. 32.

(38) Jeff Streeter, Ford, 13, transmission. 33. (36) James Hytton, Ford, 10, brakes. 34. (12) Chase Montgomery, Chevrolet 5, accident 35.

(21) Anthony Hill, Ford, 5, accident 36. (34) Kevin Belmont, Ford, 2, engine. 37. (37) Brad Smith, Ford, 2, radiator. Time of race: 1 hour, 39 minutes, 50 seconds.

Margin of victory: .799 seconds. Caution flags: 7 for 51 laps. Lap leaders: Kimmel 1-33, Schrader 34, Kimmel 35-52, Barrett 53-62, Kimmel 63-73, Barrett 74- 78, Schrader 79-90, Carelli 91-100, Schrader 101-113. Ooalioi-vancouver. Ctoutier 0-1 (28 shots-23 saves).

Colorado. Roy 1-0 (23-19). Kats: Run over Orlando in season-opening victory Female driver Robinson finishes 3rd in PFG 150 GLADEVILLE Shawna Robinson, the only female driver in this weekend's races at Nashville Superspeedway, managed to bounce back from disappointment earlier yesterday to finish third in the PFG Lester 150. She challenged for the lead until the very end, perhaps silencing some skeptics. "I really thought I was going to victory lane today.

I could just feel it," she said. "This once again gave me the ability to show people that I can drive a race car, and honestly I don't think I need to prove that any more. I thjnk that point is proven." Robinson hadn't even planned on racing in the ARCA REMAX Series race until just two weeks ago when she landed a sponsor. Her strong finish gave her a great ending to what had been a tough day. Robinson wrecked her Busch Series car beyond repair during practice yesterday morning, then blew the motor on her backup car.

She'll have to start 38th today. "It was definitely a Friday the 1 3th day early on," she said, "but finishing third was a nice ending." -JIM WYATT track will get better. "You tear up some stuff no matter what series it is," he said. Five laps in, Montgomery was involved in the first wreck of the day when he collided with Hill in Turn 2, where most of the accidents took place. "Turn 2 was slick all week.

They just smoothed it out too much," Montgomery said. "There just haven't been enough cars on this track to hold." Although the track was kind to pole-sitter Kimmel, his car ended up costing him in the end. He led a good portion of the race and appeared to have the best car, but he was forced to pit on lap 74 and was never able to regain the lead. He did manage to pass Robinson on the final lap to finish second. "The car was vibrating," Kimmel said "We put a new set of tires on there and it seemed to go away.

We got back up at the end, but we just couldn't get there." Rick Carelli finished fourth and Mike Swaim finished fifth. Columbia's Steadman Marlin had the best finish among local drivers (13th), ahead of Franklin's Randal Ritter (17th), Kirby (24th) and Montgomery (34th). Marlin will also race in today's Pepsi 300. "I managed to stay out of trouble and that was hard," Marlin said "It was a good experience. I am ready to go again." Tennessean staff writer Jim Wyatt can be reached at 259-8015 or jimwyattl 1 1 hotmail.com Schrader a place in the venue's history, he's not sure how long the memory will last.

"I think most people will probably remember today's race more than this one," Schrader, who is not entered in today's Busch Series Pepsi 300, said with a smile. "But that's OK. It's always good to win." Schrader, who recently drove in his 500th career Winston Cup race, took the lead for good with less than 15 laps to go and held on to beat Frank Kimmel and Shawna Robinson in the IB-lap race. Officials with Dover Downs Entertainment, which operates the track, did not release an attendance figure for yesterday's race. But media covering the race estimated the crowd at around 20,000.

The crowd was treated to plenty of actioa There were five crashes, one involving two cars. Two other cars spun out but were able to resume racing after cautions. There were no major injuries. Six drivers Billy Venturini, Todd Bowsher, Philip Kranefuss, Anthony Hill, Nashville's Chase Montgomery and Bowling Green's Stuart Kirby were taken to the Superspeedwas infield care center, examined and released. Schrader managed to stay out of trouble, but admitted there were a few anxious moments on the slick new track.

"I'm not a big fan of concrete tracks. Concrete is for driving big trucks on to get to the race track," said Schrader, Pat Sperduto said "We came out fighting from the jump and that's something that we preach." The Predators cut the deficit to 43-25 after Chris Wallace hit Tommy Dorsey with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 2:42 left. Nashville was called for illegal defense and roughing-the-passer penalties early in the fourth quarter, wiping out a spectacular 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Adrian Lunsford. The defensive specialist from Iowa Wesleyan made another one that counted several plays later when he scored on a 45-yard interception return to give the Kats a 43-17 lead with 8:00 left. It was his sixth career touchdown on defense.

Kelly found Jones in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass that gave the Kats a 37-17 lead with L28 remaining in the third quarter. Jones set up the touchdown four plays earlier with a 30-yard reception that included three cutback moves that left the Orlando defenders flat-footed It took the Predators only three plays to narrow the Kats' advantage to 30-17 when Dorsey scored on a 3-yard run with 559 left in the third quarter. Jones caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to increase Nashville's lead to 30-10. who described some of his turns like this: "Ifs gripping, it's gripping, it's gripping Oh, darn, it ain't" But Schrader also said he thinks the going 0-2, and it just shows that this football team came together. Jarrick Hillery scored the final touchdown on a 2-yard run with 56 seconds left two plays after an onside kickoff attempt by the Predators failed, giving Nashville the ball at the Orlando 1L "It was payback time," Hillery said.

"We should have dominated them like that in the playoffs, but we just had a lot of turnovers." There were four skirmishes during the first half and a brawl during warmups. Police officers stepped in to keep the teams separated in the tunnel when the players left the field at halftime. "That's the way it's been," Predators receiverdefensive back Bret Cooper said "We knew they'd be hyped because of last year and today they came out talking, and pressing and pressing, but I don't think that affected the game. "Offensively, we're just young in some key spots and we had a lot of blown assignments." Orlando cut the margin to 13 points twice in the third quarter, but that was as close as the Predators came in the nationally televised rematch onTNN. Kats wide receiver Tyronne Jones had six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Orlando quarterback Chris Wallace came off the bench to complete 13-of-26 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, but he couldn't mount a comeback. "That team will be very good when we go down there May 13," Kats Coach Busch: Complaints about track's slickness continue bia's Steadman Marlin 34th. when you go across." Jimmie Johnson said the slippery patch sent his car spinning into the wall during yesterday's rxKt-qualifying practice. "It's definitely there. It's not our imaginatioa" said Johnson, who qualified 31st "You just hold your breath when you go over it" After crashing his primary car, Johnson went to a backup, only to blow the motor.

'It's been a helluva Friday the 13th," he said with a sigh. Several other local drivers made the field for the track's inaugural NASCAR race: Nashville's Bobby Hamilton Sr. qualified 17th, Clarksville's Jeff Purvis 26th, Nashville's Brad Baker 32nd and Colum cerns if the trouble spot were re-worked a bit before today's big race? Td definitely like to see that" Green said Despite the Busch drivers' complaints and some crashes in the slippery area during yesterday's ARCA race, there apparently is no plan for any touch-up. After Todd Bodine demolished his car during Friday's practice he complained that the new track, "is the worst I've ever seen for being slick," but NASCAR Busch Series Director John Darby pronounced it "fine." "It just needs to get some rubber laid down," Darby said "He Darby isn't racing out there," Green said yesterday. Superspeedway President Cliff Hawks said track workers dragged tires around the surface for two hours Thursday night to try to work some rubber into the concrete and improve tractioa "But then it rained and washed the track clean," Hawks said "so we're back to square one." And the complaints about the track surface continued There are a couple of slick spots and it tends to make the car loose," said Greg Biffle, a Busch rookie who qualified fourth, behind Nashville's Bobby Hamilton Jr.

"What happens is, the front tires go across the slick spots and slide, and then get traction on the other side as the rear tires are going across the spot It tends to make the car loose i Hamiltoa a Winston Cup veteran, said "There's nothing wrong with the track. It just needs to get a little rubber on it and it'll be fine." The front-runners said they intend to take it easy today, especially in the early going, as they feel out the track and its quirks. "You'll see a little patience," Harvick said "We'll do what our cars will do," Green said "We'll have to wait and see how things go." Tm just going to follow the veterans," Biffle said "and try to keep the fenders oa" Larry Woody covers auto racing for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-801 9 or after "wiggling" through the slick spot to put his Chevrolet on the pole at a speed of 159.678 mph. "Water, ice, dirt it feels like you hit something when you go over that spot," said Jeff Green, the defending Busch Series champion who starts his Ford on the outside of the front row.

The track is a different texture in that one spot It seems like they polished it and got it too smooth right there." "Instead of calling it "White Lightning' they ought to call it White said Randy LaJoie, who won the Busch Series race held last year at Nashville Speedway. Would it ease drivers' con- The Kats, who already have five players on the injured reserve list, suffered another setback when wide receiverlinebacker LC Stevens separated his shoulder after crashing into the wall late in the second quarter..