| Tuesday, February 6, 2001 | |
| IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? | By Robin Smith Meiser
 Saturday, February 10 marks the official start to Speed Weeks 2001 at Daytona International Speedway. The traditional opener to the historic week for the 23rd year will be the Goody's Dash Discount Auto Parts 200. The series had its start in 1975 in North Wilkesboro North Carolina.
These compact versions of Winston Cup cars run 168 cubic inch, 134:1 compression four-cyclinder or 268 cubic inch, 9:1 compression V-6 engines and have 100-inch wheelbases. Chevrolet Cavaliers; Dodge Avengers; Ford Escorts; Pontiac Grand Ams and Sunfires; Toyota Celicas; and Mercury Cougars are the models that make up this touring division that race throughout the Southeast.
Relatively unknown until 1992 when Goody's Pharmaceuticals began title sponsorship, the series has experienced tremendous growth. Drivers such as Davey Allison, Michael Waltrip, Robert Pressley and Larry Pearson cut their race teeth in the Dash series. Shawna Robinson, the first woman to ever win a NASCAR touring event began in this series. Current champion Robert Huffman has taken the title three times.
One of the more colorful figures in the series is Tom "Doc" Brewer from High Point, N.C. He has earned his nickname honestly and actually is a physician. He is an internist who counts among his patients, current Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte and brother, two-time champion Terry.
Carrying the Pabst Blue Ribbon logo on his #44 Pontiac Sunfire, Brewer's best finish at Daytona has been third. The other sponsor on his car is none other than the notorious John Boy and Billy Race Team, the syndicated rock and roll morning show guys on 102.5 out of Tampa.
Brewer's new teammate is Tim Nichols of Cedar Bluff, Virginia who will make his Daytona Goody's Dash Series debut with the Old Milwaukee beer logo on his #52 Pontiac Sunfire.
Both drivers will be guests on Daytona Beach's WELE 1350's Talking Racing with Roland on Wednesday, February 7 from 6 pm to 7 pm., the perfect lead in to your Internet racing radio evening. Just go to www.wele.com to tune in and then tune into KARNAC.Racin' Talk from 7 pm until 9 pm. While you are listening to the shows, go to http://www.pabst.com/pbrr/index.asp to learn more about Doc, Tim and the Goody's Dash Series and have a few laughs with one of the craziest racing Websites around.
-Robin Meiser
[Robin Meiser and KARNAC.com Photographer Bill Hunt will be covering the Dash race from Daytona International Speedway.]
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