
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991                   TAG: 9103310151
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HICKORY, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

HENSLEY SETS RECORD FOR MOUNTAIN DEW POLE

Jimmy Hensley of Ridgeway, Va., led a record-shattering qualifying session Saturday to win the pole for today's NASCAR Busch Grand National Mountain Dew 500 at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Hensley was the fastest of 11 drivers who shattered a 3-year-old track qualifying record in time trials, taking full advantage of a new layer of asphalt applied to the .363-mile speedway over the winter.

Hensley's Oldsmobile turned a lap of 88.184 mph to become the sixth different pole winner in six Grand National series races this season.

His lap broke the previous track record of 87.254 mph, set by Dale Jarrett in 1988.

Nineteen-year-old rookie Jeff Gordon of Pittsboro, Ind., qualified second at 88.012 mph in a Ford. Winston Cup regular Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo., will start third, qualifying at 87.923 mph in a Chevrolet.

Thirty cars will start today's race, which has an $81,105 purse.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB