Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 15, 1993 TAG: 9308150125
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, MICH. LENGTH: Medium
So fast that the slowest qualifier is faster than Brett Bodine's pole-winning speed for the June race at Michigan International Speedway.
So fast that the more than 100,000 spectators expected for the 400-mile race are likely to see one of the most competitive races ever on a track that has had more than its share of close races.
The difference apparently is a new Goodyear tire that has cut as much as a half-second from the lap speeds of some competitors in the 41-car field. On a track where a lap just over 39 seconds took the pole, that's a major difference.
"If what we've seen so far doesn't change, these tires don't lose much speed from wear," said Phil Holmer, the Winston Cup field manager for Goodyear. "If these guys catch on, and I'm sure they will, they'll probably be changing just two tires on their pit stops."
Leading the speed assault on the 2-mile, high-banked oval is Ken Schrader, who won the pole on Friday with a lap of 180.750 mph. But even Dick Trickle, the slowest of the 40 racers that qualified for the race at 175.644, was faster than Bodine's 175.456 in June.
"I think we've got a real good car, and these new tires are really fast, so it should be an interesting race," Schrader said.
Mark Martin dominated the June race, leading 141 of the 200 laps before finishing a disappointing sixth because he had to make a late gas stop under the green flag.
"Qualifying doesn't mean that much here. We don't have everybody covered like we did in June, but we still have an awesome race car," said Martin, who is on a roll right now, having jumped from 12th to fourth in the Winston Cup points in six races.
Martin, who won his first race of the season last Sunday at Watkins Glen, N.Y., added, "This team has had the best equipment the whole season. It's just been a question of luck."
Joe Nemechek beat out Kyle Petty for second-day qualifying honors as the field was set Saturday. Nemechek, the defending Busch Grand National champion, qualified for only his third NASCAR Winston Cup start with a fast lap 177.989 mph. The lap was a considerable improvement from the 176.125 he ran Friday. The effort placed Nemechek 21st in the 41-car lineup. Petty qualified 22nd at 177.834, with positions 23 through 30 held by drivers who stood on their first-day laps.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB