Dale Jarrett wins NASCAR opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- In a last-lap battle Saturday night, three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett held off a charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. to capture the Bud Shootout.

The exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway kicked off the NASCAR season. The drivers will compete Sunday for the pole for next week's Daytona 500.

Jarrett drove his Ford Taurus to victory to culminate a wild finish with 14 lead changes among eight drivers.

The race became a seven-lap shootout after it was red-flagged for nearly 14 minutes following a crash involving race leaders Jeremy Mayfield and Dave Blaney damaged a crossover gate in the second turn.