GOAD STUCK AT FORK IN ROAD FOR LOYALTY.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK Motors Sports

New England Patriots defensive-tackle-turned-NASCAR-jackman Tim Goad can't decide on which team to root for in the Super Bowl.

He played seven seasons with the Patriots and was teammates with receiver Troy Brown and linebacker and USC product Willie McGinest. He also played under Patriots coach Bill Belichick for a season when they were with the Cleveland Browns.

But he graduated from the University of North Carolina and says he wanted to end his NFL career playing for the Panthers.

``Personally, I'm torn,'' said Goad, who works on the pit crew for Kyle Petty's No. 45 Dodge Nextel Cup team. ``Having played football at UNC and living there for so many years, it's hard not to get excited about what the Panthers have accomplished. I always wanted to end my career with Carolina, but that never worked out. But I know a Super Bowl championship would mean so much to the people around here.''

Goad, like much of the NASCAR nation surrounding North Carolina, has jumped on the Panthers' bandwagon. But although his heart might be with Carolina, Goad's loyalty lies with the Patriots.

``The Patriots are tough to beat,'' Goad said. ``Most of those guys have already been to the Super Bowl. Just two years ago, they beat the St. Louis Rams and most of the guys off that team are still with them today, and in this game, experience means a great deal.

``This will be a great Super Bowl, especially if you like defense. Both Panthers coach John Fox and Belichick are great defensive minds. Look for the game to be low scoring, with whoever makes the appropriate adjustments at halftime coming out on top. My humble prediction: Pats 21, Cats 17.''

NASCAR Southwest Series: Rip Michels' hopes of starting his NASCAR Southwest Series career in high gear were stalled at the Winter Heat 100 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.

The three-time Irwindale Speedway track champion from Mission Hills scraped his way through the qualifying race to make the 42-car field for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series season opener and finished 31st.

He was the last driver to qualify for the 100-lap feature race. In a way, he should feel lucky he wasn't one of the 11 drivers who didn't qualify.

But Michels had high expectations in his first Southwest Series event. The long, hard weekend presented several hurdles, many of which were unexpected, many of which made his team more prepared for the next race.

``It was everything I thought it was going to be,'' Michels said. ``It's kind of a dream come true, but I would have liked to have done a lot better. I don't give myself too high of a grade. I have a lot to learn. The tour itself is pretty stringent and I didn't know some of the rules. It put us behind. It was tough. It took us three times to go through the tech line. It's a different procedure.''

Michels wasn't the only area driver who had problems.

Ben Walker of Santa Clarita was the highest-finishing area driver, coming in 12th.

A late wreck caused by a car running out of gas took out Canyon Country's Greg Pursley and Riverside's Todd Burns. Series veterans Bob Lyon of Agua Dulce, M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park and Keith Spangler of Chatsworth finished outside the top 20. And local favorites Tommy Fry of Simi Valley and Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills didn't make the field.

For all his challenges, Michels at least was able to make up some spots during the race and learn his way around the track. He will get two more chances to race at Phoenix - the Southwest Series visits the track again in October and November.

``It took a lot to make the race and finish the race, but I know we can do a lot better,'' said Michels, driver of the No. 12 Stock Building Supply Chevrolet. ``I knew we weren't going to go there and win or run in the top 10, but until you get there, then it hits home. When it happens, it's like ... this is difficult. It's so different than going to Irwindale.''

Eddy McKean, driver of the No. 19 Wide World of Maps/Magic Valley Pipe & Steel Pontiac, won the season opener at Phoenix. The 2002 Southwest Series champion took the lead on the second lap and didn't give it up.

Pole winner Burney Lamar jumped the start and was penalized with a stop-and-go in the pits. He lost his lead on the first lap and finished sixth.

``It's a huge step up in every way,'' Michels said. ``Tech was difficult, the caliber of drivers was difficult. Everything was so much more intense.''