Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 3, 1994 TAG: 9409070075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DARLINGTON, S.C. LENGTH: Medium
Lajoie captured the top starting spot for today's Gatorade 200 with a speed of 161.022 mph in his Chevrolet, smashing the mark of159.652 mph established by Mark Martin two years ago.
Martin also broke his record, but had to settle for the outside pole after a lap of 160.943 mph in a Ford. All of the 10 fastest drivers exceeded Martin's 1992 speed.
``This is my first Busch pole - ever,'' Lajoie said. ``I did have a Busch North pole, but that doesn't count. This is a lot sweeter, especially at Darlington because it's one of the toughest race tracks we go to.
``That was one lap, now we've got 147 to go tomorrow,'' he said.
Phil Parsons won the third starting spot in an Oldsmobile, followed by Mike McLaughlin, Elton Sawyer, Larry Pearson, Tracy Leslie, Chad Little, Ricky Craven and Dennis Setzer.
The race starts at 1 p.m., and will be telecast at 4 p.m. on tape-delay basis by ESPN.
WORKING ON A RIDE: Jimmy Hensley, released Monday as the driver of the No. 55 Ford Thunderbird, said he plans to be here today to work on trying to land another ride. His replacement, Butch Miller, ran 43rd in the first round of time trials Friday.
``Out of sight, out of mind, you know what I mean?'' Hensley said Friday from his home in Horsepasture, Va. ``I'm going to make my interest known, talk to a few people, watch the Busch race and come back home.''
As for the firing, ``well, it just wasn't going anywhere,'' he said. ``Everybody gave a good effort, and I did, and it just didn't work out, so now they can try somebody else.''
SABATES' CUBAN TIES: Multi-millionaire car owner Felix Sabates, who owns Kyle Petty's Pontiacs, is a contributor and supporter of the Cuban-American Foundation, which he said has been airdropping relief supplies to Cuban refugees fleeing their country on makeshift rafts.
``You don't have any idea how bad things are,'' said the Cuban native, who emigrated to the United States in the late 1950s as Castro was taking over. ``People are leaving in inner tubes, it's gotten so bad.''
Sabates said the irony that he often sails in the Carribbean waters in his yacht is not lost on him.
``Every day of my life I thank the Lord that he offered me the opportunities I now have,'' Sabates said. ``Here I am in a $9 million yacht with gourmet meals and expensive wines and famous people and there are people out there on rafts who would die for a glass of water.''
STATUS QUO FOR ANDRETTI: John Andretti is back in Richard Petty's No. 43 Pontiac Grand Prix for the Southern 500. He said his deal with Petty continues on a race-to-race basis.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB