Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992 TAG: 9202290185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: ROCKINGHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
GORDON UP TO SPEED AT ROCKINGHAM
For Jeff Gordon, two weeks and a different track made all the difference in the world Friday in qualifying for today's Goodwrench 200 NASCAR Grand National race at North Carolina Motor Speedway.Gordon wasn't fast enough to qualify for the Goody's 300 at Daytona International Speedway two weeks ago and had to use a provisional starting spot to make the field.
But at "The Rock" on Friday, nobody was faster than Gordon.
"Man, I sure do love this place," he said after winning the pole with a lap of 145.505 mph.
Robert Pressley was second-fastest at 145.061 mph, followed by 1991 Grand National champion Bobby Labonte at 144.563 mph, Jeff Burton at 144.557 mph and Dale Earnhardt at 143.825 mph. Rounding out the top 10 were Kenny Wallace (143.695 mph), Todd Bodine (143.650 mph), Mark Martin (143.470 mph), Jack Sprague (143.099 mph) and Ward Burton (142.999 mph).
Today's race begins at 1 p.m. and will be shown live on cable by The Nashville Network.
Gordon, 20, who is looking for his first Grand National victory in his second year in the series, said he drove wide-open through the corners Friday "and, man, was it ever loose - I almost lost it one time, too."
\ Jimmy Hensley of Ridgeway, Va., qualified 17th at 142.299 mph. He still is healing from a injuries received during the Goody's 300 in the worst crash in his career.
Hensley, 46, said he may need a relief driver for today's race.
"I don't know," he said. "The way it feels today, I might be looking at a backup. But every day it gets better."
Hensley cracked several ribs, bruised a lung and cracked a bone in his right foot when his car crashed in turn 3 after blowing a tire.
Hensley was wearing a chest protector Friday and had a metal plate in his shoe to protect his injuries from further abuse.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING