DAYTONA 500 SHOULD END RACING'S SNOOZE.(SPORTS)

Byline: MIKE HARRIS Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Forget the new rules. Ignore those snooze-filled qualifying races. The event NASCAR calls its Super Bowl is ready to rumble on the high banks at Daytona International Speedway.

``It's the Daytona 500 and I think you'll see an exciting race,'' said front-row starter Ricky Rudd, a favorite along with teammate and pole-winner Dale Jarrett.

``I hope so. The fans didn't pay a lot of money to come and see us run single-file.''

That's what they got Thursday in the two 50-lap qualifying races -- one pass for the lead and a lot of eyes-in-the-mirror defensive driving that produced more yawns than cheers.

Still, nearly everyone hopes today's 200-lap main event -- with 190,000 at the 2-mile oval and millions more watching live on TV -- will revert to the thrilling, …