Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 27, 1994 TAG: 9402270102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ROCKINGHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Labonte, who finished fourth in the season-opening Busch Grand National race a week ago at Daytona when Dale Earnhardt and two others passed him on the final turn, this time held off Gant to win the Goodwrench 200 by 0.25 seconds, about two car-lengths.
"We came close last week at Daytona, but we pulled it out today," said Labonte, who moved into the Grand National series points lead. "We had a good Busch season last year [with seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes], but we didn't win one. It really feels great to win for this team."
Labonte, driving a Chevrolet, led twice for 34 laps, including the final 29 on the 1.017-mile oval.
"We didn't pit the last time to get tires," he said. "We could have gotten four more, but I forgot what the rule was. I just didn't come down pit road.
"But it worked to our benefit. We were able to get a pretty good lead. We didn't need that last caution flag, but everything worked out pretty good."
The last of six caution flags came out on lap 186 when Kenny Wallace, the younger brother of Winston Cup star Rusty Wallace, blew his engine and hit the wall in turn 3.
Labonte was just ahead of Gant's Chevrolet when the green flag waved again on lap 192. It remained close until the first turn of the 197th and final lap when Gant tried to take a high line around Labonte and instead watched the leader shoot off to a lead of about four car-lengths on the backstretch.
Gant was unable to mount any real challenge the rest of the way.
Labonte picked up his third Grand National victory and first since the June 1991 race at Watkins Glen, N.Y. He averaged 106.161 mph and won $15,320.
Hermie Sadler finished third, followed by Randy LaJoie and pole-starter Robert Pressley, the only other drivers on the lead lap at the end.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB