Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991 TAG: 9103190060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Schrader topped off his gas tank with 65 laps - 97 miles - to go, and with Elliott closing fast, he won the rain-delayed $655,000 Motorcraft 500 on Monday.
He beat Elliott by 3.02 seconds for his first Winston Cup victory since winning at Charlotte, N.C., in October 1989.
"Bill was a little faster at times," Schrader said. "But Bill and I had pitted together once and he ran out of gas."
Twice, Elliott had to coast into his pit for fuel.
Schrader said he had no doubt about going the distance.
"My pit told me if we made 261 laps, we would top off the fuel and we would make it," he said.
There was no question about him second-guessing the team by watching the fuel-pressure gauge.
"You couldn't get me to look at that thing," he said. "I was going until it quit, then I was coasting in."
Schrader picked up $69,250 for his third career NASCAR Winston Cup victory. He averaged 140.470 mph on the 1.522-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway oval.
Dale Earnhardt finished third. He had turned in the fastest qualifying speed at 175.351 mph, but had to work up through the field from the No. 21 starting spot because he didn't qualify Friday because of engine problems.
Morgan Shepherd was fourth and Michael Waltrip was fifth.
"We ran out of gas two times and that killed us," Elliott said. "Both times we ran out were on the last two pit stops. That cost us the race."
Schrader, whose last pit stop came earlier than the other leaders, put his Chevrolet into the lead on lap 286 when Sterling Marlin pitted for two tires.
All 16 of the lead changes occurred when a leader pitted.
Earnhardt said his car's chassis "was just a little off today. We were a little off with our springs."
"At one point, we were in good shape, then we put stickers [new tires] on at the end and the chassis wasn't suited for that," he said.
The gamble by the Schrader crew paid off when there were no caution flags after the final round of pit stops.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB