SANCTIONING BODY: National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing's (NASCAR) Winston Cup Series.

WHERE: Daytona International Speedway's 2.5-mile tri-oval with 31-degree banking in the corners, a 3,400-foot backstretch and a 3,800-foot front stretch located at Daytona Beach, Fla.

WHEN: Saturday night at 8.

BROADCAST: Television - NBC; Radio - Motor Racing Network.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Jeff Burton.

MORRIS NEWS SERVICE PICK TO WIN: Rusty Wallace.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Jimmy Spencer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Ricky Rudd, Tony Stewart and Dale Jarrett.

NOTES: Saturday's race marks the first return to Daytona since seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500 ... A rules package created solely for Daytona and its sister track at Talladega, Ala., that includes changes to the engine and body will create large packs of two-wide traffic. In turn, that creates the possibility of a multi-car accident like the 19-car pileup during the 500 ... Not only is Daytona one of the fastest speedways on the stock car circuit, it's also one of the hardest to master. A bump over the tunnel in the fourth turn makes the car bounce, and the raceway tends to create a myriad of handling problems throughout the night ... Saturday's race also marks the start of NBC's involvement to the racing season.

2001 WINSTON CUP SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jeff Gordon, 2,351; 2. Dale Jarrett, 2,225; 3. Ricky Rudd, 2,206; 4. Tony Stewart, 2,117; 5. Sterling Marlin, 2,108; 6. Rusty Wallace, 2,038; 7. Johnny Benson, 1,922; 8. Bobby Labonte, 1,906; 9. Kevin Harvick, 1,894; 10. Steve Park, 1,858.

OTHER KEY RACES: Saturday - O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Kansas Speedway (ESPN, 1 p.m.), Watkins Glen 150 for ARCA Series at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International; Sunday - GNC Live Well 200 for NASCAR Busch Series at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International (TBS, 1 p.m.); Ameristar Casino Indy 250 for Indy Racing League at Kansas Speedway (ESPN, 2 p.m.).

-- Don Coble