Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 7, 1993 TAG: 9305070072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Having a steady ride in the Busch Grand National Series beats iffy wheels on the Winston Cup trail, he says, and it's a pretty good living. Then again, there's this one little thing . . .
"I'd be happier if I was winning races right now," he said. "I know I'll sleep better when we get some winning behind us again."
Next chance: the 300-lap Busch Grand National race Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, one of two races in the Miller Genuine Draft 500. Bown's Nescafe Pontiac and at least 29 other cars will gun for $135,878 in prize money (more than $20,000 for the winner) when the green flag drops at 1 p.m.
Bown has three top-10 finishes this year and is sixth in the Grand National points standings. Steve Grissom is No. 1 by 13 points over David Green and 70 over defending champion Joe Nemechek. Hermie Sadler, in his state-sponsored Virginia Is For Lovers Oldsmobile, is a surprising fourth.
After the Grand National, at least 28 All Pro Series drivers run for the first time at Martinsville. The 200-lap, $61,450 All Pro race replaced a Late Model Stock Car event on the original Genuine Draft bill that was snowed out March 21. Jody Ridley, two-time defending All Pro points champion, leads the standings by 62 over Gary Bradberry and 66 over Mike Cope.
Qualifying for the Grand National race is 4 p.m. today, followed an hour later by All Pro time trials. The GN race will be telecast live on cable by The Nashville Network.
Martinsville's .526-mile track is in the backyard of Bown's car owner, Hubert Hensley of Ridgeway. With eighth- and sixth-place finishes in his past two races, Bown feels his first win since 1991 is near.
"I don't think we've at all peaked," the Portland, Ore., native said. "We're hoping to get on a roll and start knocking off some good finishes. [Martinsville] has been a good track for us in the past. We've been second, been third. I've always felt it's just a matter of time."
Some felt he wouldn't stay long on the Grand National circuit after a 1990 season that included six victories, 18 top-10 finishes, $323,399 in winnings and the series title. A full-time Winston Cup ride didn't materialize, and Bown, 29, had another solid Grand National year in '91: three victories, 14 top-10s and $244,739 in prize money.
"In '92, we fell flat on our face," he said from his home in Asheboro, N.C. "In spring, we wrecked everything we had. We just got way behind money-wise and car-wise. It took a long time to work back out of that."
He didn't win a race and finished out of the top 10 in points. But some tinkering this year, notably with his car's chassis setup on radial tires, has Bown optimistic.
A victory would convince him the team has put it back together. And it wouldn't hurt his chances of joining a Winston Cup team.
"I love to race," Bown said. "A good team, a good sponsor - I'd rather be doing this in the Busch series than be in Winston Cup with a ride now and then. I've got enough years ahead of me that I'd like to do [full-time Winston Cup]. I just try not to worry about it a whole lot, because it can drive you crazy. I wouldn't say it's over and done with . . . but you just go about your business and do your thing."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB