LaJoie Wins NAPA 300

Daytona Beach, Fla. February 13, 1999 - For the second time in his career Randy LaJoie visited Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway today after winning the NAPA AUTO PARTS 300 NASCAR Busch Series race.

LaJoie, the NASCAR Busch Series champion in 1996-97, started second and took the lead on lap 101, and led the final 20 laps.

"With no letters on the quarter panels," said LaJoie, "I was gonna make this thing (car) as wide as those white walls."

Jeff Green finished second after passing Casey Atwood with two laps left to go. Atwood’s car was tapped from behind and eventually overturned in the grass entering the tri-oval.

Andy Hillenburg, Matt Kenseth, and Bobby Hillin rounded out the top five. Adam Petty, grandson of racing legend Richard Petty, finished sixth in his first race at Daytona International Speedway, and his second start in the NASCAR Busch Series.

"I’m just as proud as a grandfather could be," said Richard Petty, a seven time Daytona 500 champion. "The situation was you’d watch him and hold your breath, he did a heck of a good job."

LaJoie averaged 138.391 mph in the race which had 11 lead changes among seven drivers and six cautions for 27 laps.

It was a tough day for the seven NASCAR Winston Cup regulars. Five didn’t finish, and Jeff Burton was the only one who finished on the lead lap. Pole sitter Ken Schrader led two times for 22 laps before exciting the race on lap 25 with a broken rear end.

LaJoie, winner of the 1997 NAPA 300 at Daytona, collected $90,950 for winning the opening race of the1999 NASCAR Busch Series season.