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The day started out with a breakfast press conference with NO BULL 5 participants Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Pontiac, and Jair Gensollen, the fan Stewart is paired up with for the NO BULL 5 portion of this Sunday's race.
"I have a lot of confidence in Tony," Gensollen said, "Let's just have a good time tomorrow. Whatever happens, happens."
"You keep that attitude and it will make my day a lot (easier)," Stewart replied.
Stewart is looking to build on Gensollen's confidence going into Sunday's race as he continues his climb back to the top of the point standings. Stewart isn't about to let a 43rd place finish at Daytona dispel his desire to win the points title.
"I think everybody is kind of realistic about the fact that knowing in 36 races that you're going to have three or four bad days during the year," Stewart said. "We just look at it that Daytona was one of them. You hate to use that card up early, but you know that that is probably going to happen to some of these other people down the road."
In the two final practices Saturday morning, Stewart was 10th and eighth fastest.
Speaking of the two final practices before Sunday's race, the rookies dominated as Ryan Newman posted the fastest speed in the first practice, 168.308 mph and Jimmie Johnson was fastest in the final practice with a speed of 167.328 mph.
In a separate news conference held this morning involving Ken Schrader, John King, the director of sponsorships for Masterfoods USA, the company who makes M&M's candies, announced a new promotion whereby the public will help the company pick a new M&M color.
Fans of the 50-year old candy will vote for one of three colors - aqua, pink, and purple.
The campaign will begin this Wednesday, March the 6th where candy lovers around the globe will take part in the Global Color Vote. People will be able to log on to www.mms.com and take part in the voting that will end on May 31, 2002. The winning color will be announced in New York City in June 2002 and the winning color will be displayed on the #36 Pontiac at the Bristol night race on August 24th. Today, there was an unveiling of a #36 Pontiac with a special paint scheme of the Global Color VoteTM. This car will be ran at 4 races during the voting - Martinsville, Talladega, California, and Richmond. The car is similar to the familiar bright yellow No. 36 but it features the color choices of purple, pink and aqua.
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