Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990 TAG: 9006030124
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DOVER, DEL. LENGTH: Medium
Waltrip led 131 of 200 laps, including the final 53, on the high-banked, mile oval at Dover Downs International Speedway. He took home $10,975 for his second Busch Grand National victory of the season.
The fifth caution period of the day, caused by a wreck involving Patty Moise and Dave Rezendes, set the stage for Waltrip's duel with Gant in the final 29 laps.
Waltrip, Gant and pole-sitter Bobby Labonte broke away from the field on the way to a 1-2-3 finish. Waltrip's Pontiac averaged 108.141 mph.
"It was a great run for us," said Waltrip, who earlier in the day had been the fastest second-round qualifier for today's Budweiser 500, at 143.016 mph.
"We got out in front where we wanted to be. We elected not to stop early, which I was afraid was going to hurt us, but we came in and got fresh tires."
Gant said he ran "about as good as I could go."
"Whoever was out front on that last run was going to win this race," he said. "We were both about the same at the end. He [Waltrip] ran a good race, though."
Waltrip took the lead from Ernie Irvan on the 148th lap. Irvan tried to challenge Waltrip from the outside on the third turn, but their cars touched and Irvan crashed into the wall, putting him out of the race.
The victory was Waltrip's fourth on the Grand National circuit and second this year. He won at Indianapolis in August 1989, here in September 1989 and at Richmond, Va., in February.
Labonte's third-place finish moved him into the No. 2 spot in the points standings after 13 of 31 scheduled races. Chuck Bown of Ridgeway, Va., leads with 1,893 and Labonte has 1,859. Jimmy Hensley, also of Ridgeway, Va., is third with 1,852.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB