Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994 TAG: 9402260096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKINGHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
But the big surprise was Shawna Robinson, who came out of nowhere to win on the outside pole in her Chevrolet at 147.802 mph. She also was riding on Hoosiers.
Robinson, 29, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, had never qualified better than 15th in two years of struggling just to make Grand National races. As a NASCAR Dash driver, however, she had three wins and two poles.
"It feels incredible," she said. "Actually, it feels good just to qualify well. This was definitely was a confidence booster when it was needed more than ever.
"The last two years, with continual non-finishes, crashes and failing to qualify, it's been to a point where I'm questioning whether I can [drive] or not."
Pressley was the only GN driver to top the previous track record of 147.999 mph.
The record lap, he said, "was really kind of simple."
"We went off in [turn] 1 and it felt good. And we never lifted in [turns] 3 and 4," he said. "Hoosier just has a good tire here."
Also in the top 10 were Kenny Wallace, Mark Martin, Johnny Benson, Roy Payne, Harry Gant, Terry Labonte, Mike Garvey and Joe Bessey. Garvey and Bessey were on Hoosiers.
\ RUDD TO GOODYEAR: Ricky Rudd said he signed an agreement to run Goodyear tires the rest of the year.
"I made a commitment at Daytona," he said. "I think Goodyear has quietly done its homework without making a big deal about it."
Rudd said he "couldn't be more pleased" about the performance of Goodyears, adding, "This is nothing against Bob Newton, but we only need one tire company in Winston Cup."
\ WALTRIP RECOVERING: Darrell Waltrip believes the tension of the tire wars at Daytona International Speedway brought on the kidney infection that put him in the hospital for three days this week.
"I think what really helped it along was all the pressure at Daytona," he said. "I was so tense. And I think that just made me sick. Daytona was hard on us."
He said he first became ill at Daytona, and "when I got home, I realized I was real sick, so we went down to the hospital and they admitted me."
"I'm not sick anymore, just pooped out," he said Friday. "I don't have any appetite. But if I can get something to eat and get some rest, I'll be all right by Sunday."
\ RECOVERING II: Barry Dodson, Waltrip's crew chief is on crutches after surgery Wednesday to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Dodson, who retired as an over-the-wall pit crew member this year after 22 years, said he'd had the injury about 10 years.
\ DW ON TV: Despite his illness, Waltrip has a busy weekend planned. He will make his debut as a color commentator today on TNN's live telecast of the Goodwrench 200 Grand National race. He also will be in the booth for TNN's other Grand National races.
Waltrip was hired for the GN telecasts to replace Neil Bonnett, who was killed Feb. 11 in a crash during practice at Daytona.
\ MARLIN COMES HOME: Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin did not expect the big reception he received when he returned home to Columbia, Tenn., on Monday.
"I thought some news guys were going to be there from Nashville, but there was a whole army of reporters and well-wishers down there," he said Thursday at a news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "They had five or six police cars and a limo. A friend of mine had a hearse down there. Half of it is painted up like our car and half is painted like Darrell's. We had a major-league funeral.
"They took it through town - horns and sirens blowing. When we got home, they had the yard rolled and bannered. A friend of mine bought all the yellow and red ribbons he could find, and they were all over the yard."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB