Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 21, 1991 TAG: 9104210092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
"They always do that," Earnhardt said. "If I have one bad race, they ask that."
Earnhardt agrees, however, that the 1991 Winston Cup season has not been progressing the way he would like. He won at Richmond and took over the Winston Cup points lead, but a 29th place at Darlington, S.C., and a 20th at Bristol dropped him to third in points.
"We don't like to have two bad races in a row, but that stuff will happen," Earnhardt said. "We've just got to get consistent again and quit screwing up. We've been making mistakes and we ain't consistent."
But North Wilkesboro Speedway, where the First Union 400 gets under way at 1 p.m. today, is a track that suits Earnhardt well.
The last time he finished out of the top 10 here was in April 1983. That's 15 races in a row in the top 10, with three wins in the First Union 400 (1986, 1987 and 1989). Last year, he finished third in the First Union 400 and second in the fall race, the Holly Farms 400.
In fact, Earnhardt has only two bad finishes in 24 career starts at North Wilkesboro - a 20th in the fall of 1982 and a 29th in the 1983 spring race.
"We have always run well at North Wilkesboro ever since I started racing," Earnhardt said. "I like the track. You know, it's your typical short track, and I like that."
Earnhardt's qualifying run on Saturday, however, was not to his liking.
"I just didn't drive it hard enough," he said. "We've got a long way to go to the front, but we'll be all right once they drop the green flag."
Bill Elliott is another superstar experiencing trying times on the Winston Cup circuit this year.
Elliott qualified 32nd in the field of 41 cars and needed a provisional starting position to make the race.
"We haven't been able to hit on anything since we've been here," Elliott said. "When you're off just a tick, you're ruined. Things just haven't been going well for us. I'm not sure why."
The bumps in Elliott's 1991 campaign include a 28th-place finish at Daytona, a 30th at Richmond and a 28th at Bristol. He is 15th in points, which is means he is doing well enough in his Harry Melling-owned Ford to get a provisional spot. (The top 30 cars in the points standings for car owners are eligible for provisional spots).
Sunday's 400-lap race features NASCAR's newest modification of its 1991 pit rules - the fifth change since the new rules were instituted in December. This change, announced Friday, brings the Winston Cup series nearly full circle to the 1990 rules.
"NASCAR kept changing and looking and searching for the best plan," said defending champion Brett Bodine, who is on the pole for today's race. "And there might be more changes after this. NASCAR is determined to make [the rules] the best possible."
One thing that still concerns Bodine and other drivers is that the pit roads at some tracks, including North Wilkesboro, are so small that it will be difficult for all drivers to get their cars fully within the boundaries of their stalls when pit road is crowded.
"The next step to make it safer is improving pit roads at the race tracks," Bodine said.
Earnhardt also approves of the latest changes. "It's letting us go back to racing on the race track," he said. And that, Earnhardt believes, simply improves his chances of pulling out of his minislump and into Victory Lane.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB