Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994 TAG: 9405280033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CONCORD, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
An 11-car wreck wiped out most of the rear of the field, clearing the way for Earnhardt to make his move.
Irvan led 27 laps, but Earnhardt passed him on the frontstretch on lap 34 and led the final seven laps to win by about two car lengths. Ken Schrader also got by Irvan on lap 34, but Irvan passed him as they approached the checkered flag.
"We were racing pretty good with Ernie and Ken," Earnhardt said. "That was a fun thing. I'd have rather not run it, but we did and won it."
The top 10 finishers in Friday's race qualified for today's Grand National feature. In addition to Earnhardt, Irvan and Schrader, they were Jason Keller, Morgan Shepherd, Dave Rezendes, Tommy Ellis, Ronald Cooper, Johnny Benson and Joe Bessey.
Reigning Grand National champion Steve Grissom starts at the back of the field in 43rd position with a champion's provisional starting spot. Earnhardt will start 33rd.
"The car is good, but I don't know how good we can run with the guys that are starting up front," Earnhardt said. "I think we're as good as the guys up until about the top 10 or so. I think Ernie, Schrader and myself ought to come up through there pretty good."
No one was seriously injured in the big crash, which happened in turn 2 on lap four, but George Crenshaw was taken to the hospital for X-rays of his left foot.
In the upset of the week, unheralded Mike Skinner starts on the pole after beating 63 other drivers in qualifying Thursday. Harry Gant is on the outside of the front row. Both drivers are on Hoosier tires. Elton Sawyer, the fastest Goodyear qualifier, starts third.
Sawyer's wife, driver Patty Moise, was involved in the crash in the qualifying race and did not make today's field. The race starts at 1 p.m.
\ SPRINT CHAMPION DIES: The death of three-time United States Auto Club sprint car champion Robbie Stanley in a sprint car race Thursday night at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway jolted many in the garage area in Charlotte.
Although primarily a Midwest open-wheel racer, Stanley had relocated to Concord to make a career in NASCAR racing. He was planning to run a limited Grand National schedule this year. He also ran in several GN races last year, including those at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Milwaukee.
Stanley, 26, a native of Brownsburg, Ind., received fatal head injuries when he spun his car coming off turn 4 of the high-banked, half-mile paved track and it was struck by two other cars. Stanley's car burst into flames after the collision. It happened on the seventh lap of the 30-lap feature. No other drivers were injured.
Stanley was the USAC sprint champion the past three seasons. Going into Thursday night's race, he was leading the points again in a bid to become the first USAC driver to win four straight sprint titles. He was in 12th position when the accident happened.
\ MINTER WINS THIRD POLE: Sportsman driver Shari Minter won the pole for today's Duron 100 sportsman race with a speed of 155.790 mph in a Chevrolet.
It was Minter's third straight sportsman pole since competition began here last week, and she dedicated it to Stanley.
"This car we're running, we bought it from Robbie last October," she said.
Thirty-eight cars will start the 67-lap race, scheduled to get the green flag at 11 a.m.
\ BOWN GETS SPONSOR: Driver Jim Bown and the Hensley Racing team of Ridgeway, Va., announced Friday that Lysol brand disinfectant spray will become their full-season sponsor in 1995.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB