Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 14, 1992 TAG: 9203140294
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Trickle had broken the track record less than 30 minutes before Martin's run, guiding his Thunderbird around the 1.522-mile track at 179.664 mph.
After struggling to find the best setup for his car in practice, Martin's team made a few last-minute changes that allowed him to steal Trickle's thunder.
"We hit it about half-blind," Martin said. "Toward the end of practice, we weren't even a candidate to be the top five. But with about 20 minutes to go, we started picking up. We were getting the scent. We made one more spring change and did a little of this and a little of that. It was just the right combination."
The old record - 179.499 mph - was set in November 1988, by Rusty Wallace, who qualified 12th on Friday at 176.925 mph.
Terry Labonte, the only driver other than Davey Allison to finish in the top 10 in all three races this year, was third fastest at 179.006 mph in his Oldsmobile. Labonte had the fastest General Motors car.
Bill Elliott, fastest in practice, was fourth fastest at 178.948 mph in his Ford. "They just ran better," Elliott said of the cars that beat him. Defending champion Ken Schrader was fifth at 178.685 mph in a Chevrolet Lumina.
Also in the top 10 were Sterling Marlin in a Ford at 178.220 mph, a flu-ridden Dale Earnhardt in his Chevrolet at 178.133 mph, Alan Kulwicki in a Ford at 178.122 mph, Brett Bodine in a Ford at 177.879 mph and Harry Gant in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme at 177.769 mph.
This was Martin's 18th career pole, but his first at Atlanta. Still, Trickle was the real surprise of the day.
The team switched to Ford this year after Buick's withdrawal from Winston Cup racing.
"You gotta remember that this team has changed from General Motors cars to Ford cars over the winter," Trickle said. "You might say that although Mark's on the pole, we came a lot further."
After winning the rookie of the year title in 1989, Trickle experienced bad seasons in 1990 and '91. He bounced around with a couple of teams and competed in only 14 races last year after being unceremoniously dumped from Cale Yarborough's car in early 1991.
His qualifying run Friday was the best the Stavola Brothers team has had since Bobby Allison won the pole for the fall race in Charlotte in 1987.
"I just stuck it out," Trickle said. "I didn't go away. I wanted to be in Winston Cup and I finally - right now - have a team behind me. I think there's a pole in our near future and I think there's a win in our near future."
Although the Fords weren't quite as overpowering here Friday as they have been this year, they still took the top two starting spots and six of the top 10.
"Right now, Ford is up on the top of the cycle," Martin said. "We probably have better stuff to work with right now than our competition does. So obviously there's going to be more Fords up front. What will happen eventually is the GM teams will catch up and that cycle will run again."
The top 20 also included Rick Mast, who qualified 11th, and Ted Musgrave, who was 16th.
A large group of notable drivers failed to make the top 20. Geoff Bodine was 21st, Michael Waltrip 22nd, Ricky Rudd 23rd, Davey Allison 24th, Hut Stricklin 25th, Ernie Irvan 27th and Richard Petty 33rd.
Those drivers can try to improve their positions within the 21st through 40th starting positions during a second round of time trials at 10:30 a.m. today. The race begins at 1:10 p.m. Sunday.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB