Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 8, 1993 TAG: 9305080049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
In October's Winston Classic, pole-sitter Miller spun on the first lap, never led and finished third.
"I was a little too psyched up. There was nobody around. I did it all myself," Miller said. "Just a little kid with a fast race car."
His Food Country USA Oldsmobile was quickest again on Friday when he won the pole for today's 300-lap Busch Grand National Series race, part of the Miller Genuine Draft 500. His fast lap was 91.293 mph, edging Ward Burton's Hardee's Buick (91.087).
"Unless something happens, I will make it through that first lap," Miller said. "It's not going to be my fault."
Miller and 31 others push the pedal at 1 p.m. today on live television (The Nashville Network). The race purse is $135,878, with at least $20,000 going to the winner.
The afternoon of racing originally was scheduled for March 21 but was snowed out. An All Pro Series race replaced the Late Model Stock Car event in what will be Martinsville's first major Saturday race.
A pole-sitter hasn't won in a Busch Series race at a spring event in Martinsville since Sam Ard did it in 1983. If Miller does, he'll break a 60-race non-winning streak, second-longest among active drivers who have won at least once.
Miller, a 40-year-old from Lawton, Mich., finished fifth last week at the Roses's Stores 300 in Rougemont, N.C.
"I feel like we're running maybe better," he said. "The car's real comfortable."
The day's best ride, however, was by a big racing name - Elliott. Nineteen-year-old Casey Elliott, nephew of Bill, zipped around the track at 93.194 mph to win the pole for the 200-lap All Pro Series race.
The All Pros, in their first-ever run at Martinsville, take off after the Busch race ends.
"I didn't expect that kind of lap," Elliott said. "It cornered exceptional. The car never run up the race track."
Elliott's Bosch Plugs Ford is titled to his mother, Sheila. Elliott's father, Ernie, makes him fix the car if he wrecks it. He chuckled when asked if the pole would improve his standing in the family.
"Maybe it'll pick me up a little bit," he said. "I'm still pretty far down the totem pole."
All Pro points leader Jody Ridley will start 17th.
In the Busch Grand National qualifying, Ward Burton of South Boston won the outside pole in his Liberty Ford with a fast lap of 92.805. Busch Grand National series points leader Steve Grissom qualified 29th.
Roger Sawyer of Chesapeake, Va., qualified 22nd in his first Busch Grand National race.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB