Darnell wins Craftsman pole at Daytona

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02/14/2008 - Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Erik Darnell won the pole for Friday night's Chevy Silverado 250 race at Daytona International Speedway. The No.99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford circled the fast 2.5-mile oval in 50.983 seconds (176.529 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was the second of Darnell's truck career. His other pole was in 2006 at Nashville.

Starting alongside Darnell will be Terry Cook, who posted a time of 51.179 seconds.

Mike Skinner (51.309) and Stacy Compton (51.313) will make up row two.

Defending series champion, Ron Hornaday Jr., will start fifth.

Last year's Craftsman Truck Series championship came down to the last race with Hornaday Jr. and his No.33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet edging out Skinner's No.5 Toyota team for the title.

"As racers, that was probably the most fun I've had in racing in quite a while," said Hornaday Jr.

They will both return for the truck series' 14th season of racing.

Three-time series champion Hornaday Jr. (1996, 1998, 2007) and Skinner (1995) will have a lot of competition this year, even from their own teammates. Joining Hornaday Jr. at KHI is three-time series champion Jack Sprague (1997, 1999, 2001). Veteran Johnny Benson will drive alongside Skinner. Benson finished third in 2007 and second in 2006.

Other former champions in the field will include: Todd Bodine (2006), Mike Bliss (2002) and Ted Musgrave (2005) making this year's collection of drivers as competitive as ever.

Last year, it was Sprague who opened the season on top, winning the Chevy Silverado 250 a couple of feet ahead of Benson. But that might not be a good thing if you want to be series champion. No driver has ever won the opener at Daytona and gone to win the title.

And interestingly, the opener is usually won by a "grizzled" veteran. Carl Edwards, in 2004 at the age of 26, is the only driver under the age of 40 to win the event. Joe Ruttman was the oldest winner at age 56.

The race is set to drop the green flag on Friday at 8 p.m. (et).

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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