Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990 TAG: 9007270076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: TALLADEGA, ALA. LENGTH: Medium
Earnhardt and team owner Richard Childress had contended that they lost the pole at Daytona three weeks ago because some other teams used illegal manifolds.
Reacting to the complaints, NASCAR officials instituted tougher inspection procedures Thursday and threatened to disqualify any team found violating the rules.
Several veteran crew chiefs said the qualifying session may have been "the cleanest" in several years.
The result was Earnhardt, driving a Chevrolet, winning his first pole in 96 races at a speed of 192.513 mph, the slowest pole speed at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway since 1978.
Bill Elliott won the Winston 500 pole at the track in May with a speed of 199.388 mph.
In addition to tighter enforcement of the manifold rules, the speeds also were slowed by NASCAR requiring a minimum 30-degree angle for the rear spoiler and carburetor restricter plates being 1/32nd-inch smaller.
But the smaller restrictor plate also was used earlier this month at Daytona, when Greg Sacks won the pole with a speed of 195.533 mph.
Earnhardt qualified third-fastest at Daytona, then claimed he had the fastest "legal" car in the qualifying session.
"I felt if everything was equal that I would have won the Daytona pole, so it feels real good to win the pole for this race with everyone having an equal chance," Earnhardt said.
Winston Cup director Dick Beaty admitted some teams used loose inserts in their engine's manifold at Daytona in qualifying.
Beaty warned all teams last week at the Pocono race that movable parts in the manifold would not be tolerated, and the teams were reminded of that again before Thursday's qualifying session.
"May God help anyone who is found to have an air leak in his engine," Beaty said.
Vacuum and pressure tests were made in post-qualifying inspections to ensure that teams were not illegally getting more air into the engine to overcome the loss of horsepower caused by the restrictor plates.
Beaty also announced that some manifolds would be x-rayed after Sunday's race.
"I am determined to put to rest all the talk in the garage that some teams are using trick stuff to beat the plates," Beaty said.
Beaty said all cars passed postrace inspections, and he was delighted with the slower speeds.
"I personally checked all of the manifolds and there were no movable parts in any of them," Beaty said.
"I feel raising the rear spoilers was an excellent move. We have accomplished what we wanted."
Previously, teams could practice and qualify with the rear spoilers as low as they wanted but were limited to a minimum 25-degree angle in the race.
Childress said the higher spoiler probably dropped qualifying speeds by 5-6 mph, but he said Earnhardt's pole victory was probably more the result of the stricter inspection.
"We felt real comfortable about our chances for winning the pole with NASCAR bearing down in inspection and everyone getting a good, even shot at it," Childress said.
"Maybe before, some other teams didn't understand the rule. But Beaty made it pretty clear to everyone after Daytona what the rule was."
The Chevrolets fielded by Hendrick Motorsports seemed to suffer the most.
Sacks and Ken Schrader, who has won the last three Daytona 500 poles, failed to win one of the top 20 starting positions, as did Ricky Rudd, another Hendrick driver.
The only one of Hendrick's four drivers to get a starting position in the first round was Jimmy Horton (15th fastest), who was subbing for injured Darrell Waltrip.
None of the Hendrick drivers who failed to get a starting position in the opening round blamed the problem on the tougher inspection.
"I am disappointed, but you've got to remember that I lost my good car in the wreck at Daytona," Sacks said. "We have a lot of work to do, but we can get this car to the front."
Schrader said his car just wasn't fast enough to make a run for the pole. "I think we will be all right for the race," he said.
Rudd also said he had not expected to qualify well. "But the car drives good and runs well in the draft, so I am not that worried about my qualifying speed," Rudd said.
Davey Allison, in a Ford, qualified second fastest at 191.670 mph, followed by Kyle Petty, Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki and rookie Rob Moroso.
Earnhardt was the only Chevrolet driver with a top-10 speed; five Ford drivers were in the top 10.
Final qualifying to determine the remaining 20 starting positions will be held today.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB