Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994 TAG: 9403110132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Shawna Robinson drove to a special place in motorsports history Thursday, becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR pole for a major superspeedway race.
Robinson, 28, achieved the feat in record style during qualifying for Saturday's Busch Light 300 with a lap of 174.330 mph, fastest for the Grand National division at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"My boyfriend dreamed Wednesday night that I was going to qualify third quickest," said Robinson, who drives a Chevrolet for a team owned by Ed Ferree. "I'm going to have to call and tell him that he missed by two spots."
Robinson's fiance is Jeff Clark, jackman for Ernie Irvan's Winston Cup team.
Irvan was among those waiting in line behind Robinson - who went out 13th among 60 qualifiers - at the 1.522-mile track.
"I had to sweat for a long time," said Robinson, an Iowa native who lives in Charlotte, N.C. "With Ernie, Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip and Terry Labonte all back there with years of Winston Cup experience, I knew my lap was in jeopardy of being beaten. I went and hid. I bit off my fingernails."
Turns out Winston Cup rookie Joe Nemechek, the 1992 Grand National champion, came closest. He was clocked at 174.158 mph in his Chevy.
After time trials, Nemechek, whom Robinson credits with helping her team with parts and advice, came to victory lane and presented her a rose.
Chevy drivers Mike Wallace and Randy Porter qualified third and fourth fastest, respectively, and Waltrip completed the top five in a Pontiac.
Robinson and Nemechek qualified on Hoosier tires. Wallace was the fastest Goodyear qualifier.
"My lap didn't feel all that fast," said Robinson, who was second in time trials for the Goodwrench 200 two weeks ago at Rockingham, N.C. "I felt like it was slow. The veterans tell me good laps usually feel slow. I came in hoping I hadn't messed up, and the crew told me it was a record speed.
"I haven't been a very good qualifier and that was something I started the season intent on improving. Ed Ferree and the other guys on the team are helping me by building such good cars."
Patty Moise, a rival of Robinson's on the Grand National circuit, has three superspeedway poles, all in Automobile Racing Club of America competition. Moise isn't entered in the 300.
Thursday's session set positions 1-25 in the field. Positions 26-40 will be decided today, starting at 9:30 a.m., with 36 cars entered for the 15 starting slots.
Robinson's performance one-upped qualifying at 2:30 p.m. today for Sunday's Purolator 500, the companion Winston Cup race.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB