Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 2, 1992 TAG: 9202020103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bob Zeller
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
1992 WINSTON CUP PREVIEW
NO. 1 RICK MASTAge: 34
Born: Lexington
Live: Rockbridge Baths
Car: Skoal Classic Racing Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Owner: Richard Jackson
Crew chief: Richard Jackson
1992 changes: Jackson is new crew chief after Bob Johnson departure.
1990 highlights: Best finish of year and career was fourth in Daytona 500. Had two other top-10 finishes at Talladega, Ala., and Dover, Del. Finished 21stin points; won $344,020.
Career highlights: No wins in 64 starts. Started racing in 1973, began entering Winston Cup races in 1988. Career Winston Cup earnings exceed $580,000.Starting second full year with Richard Jackson.
Scouting report: Mast was new to many tracks in 1991, his first full year inWinston Cup. Team suffered from instability, bad luck and inexperience. Expect better things in 1992, but probably not top 10 in points.
\ NO. 2 RUSTY WALLACE
Age: 35
Born: Fenton, Mo.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Penske Racing (partnership of Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace and Don Miller)
Crew chief: Eddie Dickerson
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Won two races, $502,073. Finished 10th in Winston Cup points.
Career highlights: Has 20 victories in 241 Winston Cup starts. Was 1989 Winston Cup champion and 1988 runner-up with six victories both years. Made debut in Winston Cup at Atlanta in 1980, finished second in Penske-owned car. Came to NASCAR from American Speed Association and United States Auto Club. Winston Cup rookie of the year in 1984; full time since then. Overall career earnings of $7.2 million. Drove for Raymond Beadle 1986-90.
Scouting report: Did well in first year as a car owner. This year, he should improve on his 10th-place finish in points. \
NO. 3 DALE EARNHARDT
Age: 40
Born: Kannapolis, N.C.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Richard Childress
Crew chief: Kirk Shelmerdine
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Winston Cup champion for second year in a row. Won four races, $2,416,685.
Career highlights: Winston Cup champion in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1991. Fifty-two career victories in 390 starts. Eleven wins in 1987. Total career earnings of more than $15.9 million is tops in U.S. racing. First raced in Winston Cup in 1975. Full time since 1979, when he was rookie of the year.
Scouting report: Can Earnhardt win three titles in a row? Only the rumor mill knows for sure. Strong starts in '90 and '91, despite Daytona problems, ledto championships. If he has a good early season this year, it will be hard to stop him. \
NO. 4 ERNIE IRVAN
Age: 33
Born: Modesto, Calif.
Lives: Rockwell, N.C.
Car: Kodak Film Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Morgan-McClure Racing
Crew chief: Tony Glover
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Best season yet. Won Daytona 500, Watkins Glen and $1.08 million. Finished fifth in Winston Cup points.
Career highlights: Began racing in 1974. First Winston Cup race in 1987. Joined Morgan-McClure team, replacing Phil Parsons in early 1990. First victory in August at Bristol, Tenn. Runner-up for 1988 rookie of the year. Has 117 career starts and earnings of $1,960,788.
Scouting report: Irvan's aggressiveness has made him the best of the recent Winston Cup newcomers, but also the most reckless. However, that didn't stop Earnhardt and it won't stop Ernie. He could win the title this year.
\ NO. 5 RICKY RUDD
Age: 34
Born: Chesapeake
Lives: Lake Norman, N.C., and Chesapeake
Car: Tide Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Rick Hendrick
Crew chief: Gary DeHart
1992 car changes: DeHart replaces Waddell Wilson as crew chief.
1991 highlights: His best points season. Won one race, $1.09 million and finished second to Earnhardt for championship.
Career highlights: Has 12 victories in 410 starts and career earnings of $6.13 million. Considered a road-course master, with five wins on road courses. Made Winston Cup debut in 1975. Rookie of the year in 1977. Full time since 1981.
Scouting report: Rudd couldn't mount a challenge to Earnhardt last year because of ill-handling cars. If chassis specialist DeHart's cars work with stay-at-home Wilson's engines, Rudd is a title threat. \
NO. 6 MARK MARTIN
Age: 33
Born: Batesville, Ark.
Lives: Jamestown, N.C.
Car: Valvoline Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew chief: Steve Hmiel
1992 changes: Old red-and-white Folger's car becomes red, blue and white Valvoline Ford. Team manager Hmiel also assumes crew-chief duties after Robin Pemberton departure.
1991 highlights: Won five poles and a race, but slipped to sixth in points after runner-up finish in 1990. Won $1.03 million.
Career highlights: First ran Winston Cup in 1981, full time in 1982 before returning to ASA and All-Pro. Returned full time to Winston Cup in 1988 with Roush. Five career victories in 173 Winston Cup starts. Total career earnings of$4.51 million.
Scouting report: With Pemberton gone and Roush adding a second team, Martin and Hmiel have their work cut out for them. Still, Martin should improve on last year's disappointing result. \
NO. 7 ALAN KULWICKI
Age: 37
Born: Greenfield, Wis.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Alan Kulwicki
Crew chief: Paul Andrews
1992 changes: Orange-and-white car continues with Hooters restaurant sponsorship Kulwicki obtained during the 1991 season.
1990 highlights: Won one race, $595,614. Finished 13th in Winston Cup points. Won four poles.
Career highlights: Has three wins in 173 Winston Cup starts. Career earningsof $2.86 million. ASA star before coming to Winston Cup in 1985. Rookie of the year in 1986. First victory in 1988 at Phoenix. Has run his own team since coming to Winston Cup.
Scouting report: Kulwicki has had one of the slower Fords in Daytona practice and he's not happy. But for the season, he's a good bet to improve on last year. He no longer has sponsorship problems, and he had more than his share of bad luck in 1991. He should finish in the top 10. \
NO. 8 RICK WILSON
Age: 39
Born: Bartow, Fla.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: Snickers Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Bill and Mickey Stavola
Crew chief: Ken Wilson
1992 changes: Car colors change from white and red to brown and red with white and blue trim.
1991 highlights: No top-10 finishes, 26th in points. Won 241,375.
Career highlights: No victories in 172 career starts. Has won $1.27 million.First raced Winston Cup in 1980; full time since 1988. Best finish was a second in the 1988 Firecracker 400.
Scouting report: Wilson's team has switched to Ford after Buick's withdrawalfrom Winston Cup and everybody's happier. That may get them into the top 20 in points, but not the top 10. Wilson needs a victory this year to prove himself. \
NO. 9 PHIL PARSONS
Age: 34
Born: Detroit
Lives: Denver, N.C.
Car: Melling Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Harry Melling
Crew chief: Gene Roberts
1992 changes: Parsons returns after absence of almost two years to replace Bill Elliott. Car will be red and white. Melling, unable to find a sponsor, is footing the bill.
1991 highlights: Did not run Winston Cup.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 169 Winston Cup starts. Total career earnings of $1.57 million. Started Winston Cup in 1983 with owner Johnny Hayes. Won the 1988 Winston 500 at Talladega.
Scouting report: With lack of sponsorship and Elliott's departure, this team seems shaky. Parsons was fast in practice at Daytona and he has to be hungry after his forced sabbatical. \
NO. 10 DERRIKE COPE
Age: 33
Born: San Diego
Lives: Charlotte, N.C.
Car: Purolator Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Bob Whitcomb
Crew chief: Doug Williams
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: No victories, two top-10 finishes. Finished 28th in points and won $419,380.
Career highlights: Has two victories in 127 starts. Won the 1990 Daytona 500and another race at Dover in his first full year on the Winston Cup circuit. Career earnings of $1.3 million. Was a catcher in baseball but turned to racing after a knee injury.
Scouting report: Cope bombed in 1991 as Whitcomb Racing started its own engine program. Now, that program is more stable and Cope surely will finish better than 28th in the Winston Cup standings. Another win would dispel nagging doubts about his ability. \
NO. 11 BILL ELLIOTT
Age: 36
Born: Cumming, Ga.
Lives: Blairsville, Ga.
Car: Budweiser Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Junior Johnson
Crew chief: Tim Brewer
1992 changes: As his family racing team splits up, Elliott replaces Geoff Bodine in Johnson's primary car, which remains Bud red.
1991 highlights: Won one race, $705,605 in final year with Melling Racing. Finished 11th in Winston Cup points, his worst finish since joining Winston Cup full time in 1983.
Career highlights: Has 34 victories in 348 career starts. Won Winston Cup in1988 with six victories. Won 11 races and Winston Million in 1985. Won Daytona 500 in 1985 and 1987. Began Winston Cup racing in 1976. First victory in 1983. Most popular driver in 1991 and from 1984-88. Total career earnings of $11.06 million is third-best among United States racers.
Scouting report: Elliott was fastest in Daytona practice. He should have no problem getting back in the top 10 in points, but in a new car with a new team, he may trail Earnhardt, Davey Allison and a few others. \
NO. 12 HUT STRICKLIN
Age: 30
Born: Birmingham, Ala.
Lives: Calera, Ala.
Car: Raybestos Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Bobby Allison
Crew chief: Jimmy Fennig
1992 changes: Team shifts to Chevy after Buick withdrawal.
1991 highlights: No victories, seven top-10 finishes in 29 starts. Won $426,524 and finished 16th in Winston Cup points.
Career highlights: Runner-up for 1989 rookie of the year. Has won more than $725,000 in three years on Winston Cup circuit. Best finish in 83 races was second at Michigan last year.
Scouting report: Stricklin is coming right along in his young career. If hisprogress continues at its present pace, he will win his first race this year. However, he probably won't crack the top 10 in points. \
NO. 15 GEOFF BODINE
Age: 42
Born: Elmira, N.Y.
Lives: Julian, N.C.
Car: Motorcraft Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Bud Moore
Crew chief: Bud Moore
1992 changes: Bodine takes over for Morgan Shepherd.
1991 highlights: Won one race, $625,256. Finished 14th in Winston Cup pointsdespite missing two races tp rib and lung injuries.
Career highlights: Has 11 career victories in 264 starts. Started Winston Cup in 1979. Rookie of the year in 1982. First victory in 1984. Won Daytona 500 in 1986. Ran for Rick Hendrick 1984-89. Has won $6 million. Was 1987 IROC champion.
Scouting report: Last year was Bodine's toughest year, but he still won a race. Now, he's going to a team that has won once in four years and struggled last year. The prospects don't appear promising, but look what Bodine salvaged from last year's mess. \
NO. 16 WALLY DALLENBACH JR.
Age: 28
Born: Basalt, Colo.
Lives: Huntersville, N.C.
Car: Keystone Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Jack Roush
Crew chief: Steve Loyd
1992 changes: This new team will field a red, yellow, green and white car.
1990 highlights: Won $54,020 in his first 11 Winston Cup races, driving for Junie Donlavey. Best finish was fifth at Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Career highlights: Comes to NASCAR from road racing, where he was 1985-86 TransAm champion and 1988-89 International Motorsports Association GTO runner- up. Raced in International Race of Champion series in 1987. Father Wally is a former Indy car racer and now serves as Championship Auto Racing Teams chief steward.
Scouting report: Roush's new second team obviously will be strongest at Sears Point (Calif.) and Watkins Glen. Dallenbach has great potential, but also has dues to pay. There are no overnight sensations in Winston Cup. \
NO. 17 DARRELL WALTRIP
Age: 45
Born: Owensboro, Ky.
Lives: Franklin, Tenn.
Car: Western Auto Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Darrell Waltrip
Crew chief: Jeff Hammond
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: As new car owner, won two races and finished eighth in points. Won $604,854.
Career highlights: Eighty-one victories in 537 starts; fifth on all-time victory list. Winston Cup champion in 1981, 1982 and 1985. Twelve victories in both 1981 and 1982. Won 1989 Daytona 500. Career earnings of $11.78 million is second among U.S. racers.
Scouting report: Ol' Darrell did more than anyone could expect in his rookie year as an owner/driver. His days of dominance are over, but he still is capableand competitive. Another championship? Don't count him out. \
NO. 18 DALE JARRETT
Age: 35
Born: Newton, N.C.
Lives: Hickory, N.C.
Car: Interstate Batteries Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew chief: Jimmy Makar
1992 changes: New team will field black-and-lime green car with red numbers.
1991 highlights: Won his first race. Finished 17th in points and won $444,2560.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 136 career starts. Started racing in 1979. First raced in Winston Cup in 1986, and is a regular since 1987. Career earnings of more than $900,000. Beat Davey Allison by 8 inches in first win at Michigan.
Scouting report: Don't expect too much from this new team in 1992, but with Rick Hendrick engines, Makar's chassis and Gibbs' leadership, a win or two is possible. If 1992 has magic, Jarrett will win right out of the box at Daytona and give Super Bowl champion Gibbs a unique double in sports. \
NO. 21 MORGAN SHEPHERD
Age: 50
Born: Conover, N.C.
Lives: Conover, N.C.
Car: Citgo Ford Thunderbird
Owners: Wood Brothers
Crew chief: Eddie Wood
1992 changes: Shepherd replaces Jarrett as driver of Wood Brothers Ford.
1991 highlights: No victories, but 14 top-10 finishes. Ranked 12th in Winston Cup points. Won $521,147.
Career highlights: Has three wins in 293 career starts. First Winston Cup race in 1970. Winston Cup regular since 1981 and had first victory that year. Drove for five teams in 1986. Career earnings of $3.57 million.
Scouting report: Morgan's career never has really taken hold and now he's 50. He should be better than a back marker, but may struggle to stay among the leaders. \
NO. 22 STERLING MARLIN
Age: 34
Born: Columbia, Tenn.
Lives: Columbia, Tenn.
Car: Maxwell House Ford Thunderbird 22
Owner: Junior Johnson
Crew chief: Mike Beam
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: No victories, 16 top-10 finishes and $633,690 in winnings. Was seventh in Winston Cup points, highest on the list without a victory.
Career highlights: Still looking for first victory after 219 Winston Cup starts. First raced Winston Cup in 1976. Rookie of the year in 1983. Full time since 1987. Best finishes were second at 1986 Firecracker 400, 1991 Bud 500 (Bristol, Tenn.) and 1991 Daytona 500.
Scouting report: It's time for Marlin to win or he's going back down the NASCAR career ladder. He raced well last year despite burns suffered in the spring at Bristol, but he didn't win. This year will show if he's got the right stuff. \
NO. 24 KENNY WALLACE
Age: 28
Born: St. Louis, Mo.
Lives: Harrisburg, N.C.
Car: Dirt Devil Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Sam McMahon III
Crew chief: Barry Dodson 1992 changes: Car becomes red and white with blue numbers, with new sponsor Dirt Devil. Wallace takes over as driver.
1991 highlights: Raced in five races, mostly as a substitute for injured Kyle Petty. Had no top-10 finishes. Won $58,325.
Career highlights: Finished second last year to Bobby Labonte for Grand National title in brother Rusty's car. Began career in 1986 with ASA, where he was rookie of the year. Joined Grand National circuit in 1989. Ran first Winston Cup races last year.
Scouting report: We may just as well proclaim Kenny the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year now, because he has no full-time competition for the title. However, has Wallace moved up too fast? He won no titles on the way, but if he improves on Team III's dismal 1991, the answer will be no.
\ NO. 25 KEN SCHRADER
Age: 36
Born: Fenton, Mo.
Lives: Concord, N.C.
Car: Kodiak Chevrolet Lumina 25
Owner: Rick Hendrick
Crew chief: Richard Broome
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Won two races and finished ninth in Winston Cup points. Earned $772,434.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 206 career starts. Career earnings of $4.48 million. Started racing in 1971. Was 1983 USAC national sprint champ. First Winston Cup race in 1984. Rookie of the year in 1985. Won first Winston Cup race at Talladega in 1988. Won the Daytona 500 pole in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
Scouting report: As the 1991 season wound down, Schrader ran out of gas and slipped badly in the points. He seems capable of a superstar year, but this is his fourth season with Hendrick, so it may not happen with this team. He still is good for two or three victories and another top 10 in points this year. \
NO. 26 BRETT BODINE
Age: 33
Born: Elmira, N.Y.
Lives: Harrisburg, N.C.
Car: Quaker State Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Kenny Bernstein
Crew chief: Donnie Richeson
1992 changes: Team switched to Ford after Buick's departure from Winston Cup.
1991 highlights: Had no wins, but six top-10 finishes in 29 starts. Finished19th in points and won $376,200. Career highlights: Has one victory in 131 Winston Cup starts. Started racing in 1977. Drove Modifieds in Northeast from 1977-86. Joined brother Geoff on Winston Cup circuit with debut at World 600 in 1986. Full time in Winston Cup since 1988. Has won $1.95 million in Winston Cup.
Scouting report: Bodine is excited about his new Ford and was quick in Daytona practice. He's not a threat for the title in 1992 and probably won't crack the top 10 in points, but a victory isn't out of the question. \
NO. 28 DAVEY ALLISON
Age: 30
Born: Hollywood, Fla.
Lives: Hueytown, Ala.
Car: Texaco/Havoline Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Robert Yates
Crew chief: Larry McReynolds
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Had his finest season, with five victories and $1.71 million in winnings. Finished third in Winston Cup championship.
Career highlights: Has 13 wins in 146 career starts. Made Winston Cup debut in 1985. Full time since 1987, when he was rookie of year. Has won at least two races every year since 1987. First to win two races in rookie season. Has won $4.41 million in racing's big leagues.
Scouting report: If the Fords are as competitive as they were last year, thebet here is Allison will win his first championship. The potent Allison-Yates- McReynolds trio should win a lot this year and pose a real threat to Earnhardt. \
NO. 30 MICHAEL WALTRIP
Age: 28
Born: Owensboro, Ky.
Lives: Statesville, N.C.
Car: Pennzoil Pontiac Grand Prix
Owners: Chuck Rider and Lowrance Harry
Crew chief: Bill Ingle
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Won no races, but had 12 top-10 finishes. Was 15th in points. Won $440,812.
Career highlights: Still looking for first win after 178 starts. Has won $1.84 million. First raced Winston Cup in 1985. Full time since 1986. Runner-up for 1986 rookie of the year.
Scouting report: Does the fire to win really burn inside Michael Waltrip? Last year, from time to time, it did, but he came up short. If Waltrip doesn't visit Victory Lane this year, his Winston Cup career could be in jeopardy.
\ NO. 33 HARRY GANT
Age: 52
Born: Taylorsville, N.C.
Lives: Taylorsville, N.C.
Car: Skoal Bandit Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Owner: Leo Jackson
Crew chief: Andy Petree
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: In the best winning year of his career, Gant won five races, including four in a row. He finished fourth in Winston Cup points and won$1.19 million.
Career highlights: Has 16 victories in 385 Winston Cup starts. Second in 1984 Winston Cup championship. Was 1985 IROC champ. First raced Winston Cup in 1973. Became a regular in 1979 at age 39. First win in 1982. Has won $6.55 million. Is the oldest driver to win a 500-mile race.
Scouting report: Gant probably won't equal last year's feats, but he's a definite threat for the championship. His team is intact and Jackson's chassis set-ups are among the best. Look for several victories and another top-five finish. \
NO. 41 GREG SACKS
Age: 39
Born: Mattituck, N.Y.
Lives: Maitland, Fla.
Car: Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Larry Hedrick
Crew chief: Dennis Connor
1992 changes: Sacks replaces Larry Pearson as driver.
1991 highlights: As a part-timer, Sacks had no top-10 finishes in 11 starts.Won $84,215.
Career highlights: Has one victory in 140 career starts. Won the 1985 Firecracker 400 in a research-and-development car prepared by Gary Nelson. Came up through the Northeast Modified ranks, winning 28 of 33 races in 1982. Finished second three times on superspeedways in 1990. Career earnings of $1.01 million.
Scouting report: Sacks has the intensity of a champion and has had flashes of brilliance. New team is weak, but Sacks should do more with the equipment than Pearson did. \
NO. 42 KYLE PETTY
Age: 31
Born: Randleman, N.C.
Lives: High Point, N.C.
Car: Mello Yello Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Felix Sabates
Crew chief: Robin Pemberton
1992 changes: Pemberton takes over crew-chief duties from NASCAR-bound Gary Nelson.
1991 highlights: Won one race and $413,727, but missed 11 events recovering from broken leg suffered at Talladega. Finished 31st in points.
Career highlights: Has four victories in 321 career starts. Career earningsof $3.71 million. Made Winston Cup debut in 1979. Full time since 1981. With first victory in 1986, became first third-generation driver to win a Winston Cuprace.
Scouting report: Petty had a good season going last year until Talladega. Ifthe team jells under Pemberton's easygoing leadership, Petty could break throughwith his first multiple-victory season. A top 10 in points is possible, too. Heseems hungrier than ever. \
NO. 43 RICHARD PETTY
Age: 54
Born: Level Cross, N.C.
Lives: Level Cross, N.C.
Car: STP Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Lynda Petty
Crew chief: Robbie Loomis
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Had one top-10 finish in 29 starts. Finished 24th in pointsand won $268,035.
Career highlights: The King's career is unmatched in stock car racing. Two hundred victories in 1,156 starts. Last win in 1984, at Daytona. Seven-time Winston Cup champion; seven-time Daytona 500 champion. Nine-time most popular driver. Won 27 races in 1967. First NASCAR race in 1958. Career earnings of $7.42 million.
Scouting report: While everybody hopes the crash-prone King safely completeshis career, Petty has other plans. His aim is to be competitive. It probably won't happen, especially in light of his final-year demands, but never underestimate a legend's ability to reach down deep just one more time. \
NO. 52 JIMMY MEANS
Age: 41
Born: Texarkana, Ark.
Lives: Forest City, N.C.
Car: Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: Jimmy Means
Crew chief: To be determined
1992 changes: Means has lost his Alka-Seltzer sponsorship and was driving a white car in Daytona practice.
1991 highlights: No top-10 finishes in 20 starts. Won $111,210 and finished 33rd in points.
Career highlights: As the quintessential privateer, Means never has had a top-five finish. His best was seventh in the 1983 Winston 500 at Talladega. No victories in 415 starts.
Career earnings of $1.65 million. Started racing in 1970.
Scouting report: We love you, Jimmy, but give it up. You may be a Richard Childress-in-the-rough, though. Hang up the helmet, concentrate on car ownershipand who knows? Like Childress, you may be a non-winning driver, but could be a big-winning owner. \
NO. 55 TED MUSGRAVE
Age: 36
Born: Franklin, Wis.
Lives: Troutman, N.C.
Car: Jasper Engines Pontiac Grand Prix
Owner: RaDiUs Motorsports
Crew chief: Buddy Parrott
1992 changes: Parrott joins team as crew chief.
1991 highlights: Runner-up in battle for Rookie of the Year. Had no top-10 finishes, but made every race. Won $200,910 and finished 23rd in Winston Cup points.
Career highlights: Came to NASCAR from ASA. Father raced in USAC in the 1950s and 1960s. Started racing in 1973. Raced outlaw stocks 1983-86, with top- five finishes in 97 percent of races run. Was 1987 ASA Rookie of the Year. First Winston Cup race in 1990. Best finish last year was 12th at Bristol in the spring.
Scouting report: Musgrave did quite well as a rookie on an underfinanced team, outpointing Jimmy Spencer, Richard Petty, Rick Wilson, Chad Little and Derrike Cope. He probably is still some distance from his first win, but he shows promise. \
NO. 66 CHAD LITTLE
Age: 28
Born: Spokane, Wash.
Lives: Charlotte, N.C.
Car: Phillips TropArtic Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Cale Yarborough
Crew chief: Bob Johnson
1992 changes: Little takes over as driver; Johnson replaces Doug Williams.
1991 highlights: One top-10 finish. Earned $184,190. Finished 27th in points.
Career highlights: Only Winston Cup driver who also has a law degree. Won a NASCAR Limited Sportsman championship in 1980 at age 17. First competed in Winston Cup at Riverside, Calif., in 1986. Last year was his first full year in Winston Cup.
Scouting report: Little is delighted with his new ride, but Yarborough so far has shown none of the brilliance he had as a driver. This car was woeful in 1991 and it wasn't the fault of all those drivers who tried to make it work. Little probably won't do any better this year. \
NO. 68 BOBBY HAMILTON
Age: 34
Born: Nashville, Tenn.
Lives: Nashville, Tenn.
Car: Country Time Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Owner: George Bradshaw
Crew chief: Dave Fuge
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: Rookie of the year, with four top-10 finishes in 28 starts.Finished 22nd in points and won $259,105.i
Career highlights: Started with Late Model Stocks in Nashville area. Led hisfirst Winston Cup race in Phoenix in 1989 before dropping out. Started racing Grand National cars in 1988 and won at Richmond in the fall.
Scouting report: Hamilton should improve this year now that he's got the hang of it. He should move into the top 20. A win is unlikely. \
NO. 71 DAVE MARCIS
Age: 50
Born: Wausau, Wis.
Lives: Avery's Creek, N.C.
Car: Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Dave Marcis
Crew chief: Chad Cummings (acting)
1992 changes: Car unsponsored
1991 highlights: One top-10 finish in 27 races. Won $219,760. Finished 29th in points.
Career highlights: Has five victories in 685 career starts. Started in Winston Cup in 1968 with his own car. Has driven for many car owners, including Roger Penske, but mostly has fielded his own cars. Finished second in points in 1975 and won three races in 1976.
Scouting report: What dream does a man chase when he's 50 and hasn't won in nine years? One thing for sure, Morgan Shepherd and a few other drivers have complained Marcis gets in their way while chasing it. \
NO. 94 TERRY LABONTE
Age: 35
Born: Corpus Christi, Texas
Lives: Thomasville, N.C.
Car: Sunoco Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (Chevrolet at superspeedways)
Owner: Billy Hagan
Crew Chief: Dewey Livengood
1992 changes: None
1991 highlights: One top-10 finish in 29 starts and one pole. Won $348,898 and finished 18th in points.
Career highlights: Won 1984 Winston Cup championship with two victories, sixseconds. Ten wins in 390 career starts. First race in Winston Cup in 1979. Firstwin in 1980. Won The Winston in 1988, IROC title in 1989. Has won $6.75 million in his career.
Scouting report: Labonte has had two winless years in a row and 1991 was even more dismal than 1990, despite a switch of teams. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much to suggest big improvement in 1992. \
NO. 98 JIMMY SPENCER
Age: 34
Born: Berwick, Pa.
Lives: Mooresville, N.C.
Car: Chevrolet Lumina
Owner: Travis Carter
Crew chief: Travis Carter
1992 changes: With new sponsorship from Moly Black Gold, an aftermarket oil additive, car will be black and gold.
1991 highlights: Had six top 10s while finishing 25th in points. Won $283,620.
Career highlights: Still looking for first victory after 72 starts. Has won more than $500,000 in Winston Cup. Two-time NASCAR national Modified champion (1986-87). Won three Grand National races in 1989.
Scouting report: "Mr. Excitement" showed he could lead at Bristol, but he still is learning patience and consistency - and the Winston Cup learning curve is long and slow. He'll win, but probably not in 1992.
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