Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED HARDIN LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ROCKINGHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Morning showers delayed a full day of preparation for Sunday's AC Delco 500, and four accidents - three by Busch Grand National drivers - made it impossible for Winston Cup drivers to qualify. David Green, the GN points leader, won the pole for Saturday's 200-mile Busch race with a record speed of 153.419 mph.
Geoff Bodine had the fastest car of the day, setting a 156.649-mph pace among the 88 drivers who tested the new pavement at the 1.017-mile speedway. Bodine predicted faster speeds today.
``I don't know what the speed will be, but it'll be fast,'' Bodine said. ``Too fast.''
The track was repaved after the February race here, and speeds have increased by more than 7 mph at the 30-year-old speedway. Bodine predicted his track record wouldn't hold up for even one car today.
``It'll take a second quicker than my time [to win the pole],'' said Bodine, whose track record of 151.716 mph was beaten by 42 drivers Thursday. ``A track record might not make the field.''
Kyle Petty tested here last week at a speed of 157.327 mph and suggested speeds could reach 160 mph, depending on tires and weather conditions.
The track was green when the Busch cars started practice after the rain Thursday, and almost immediately they started sliding into the walls. Dave Rezendes hit the barrier minutes after the track opened and was not able to qualify.
Busch drivers John Nemecheck and Barry Bostick hit the wall before the short practice session ended, and track officials quickly amended the day's schedule, which had included Busch and Winston Cup qualifying sessions.
Winston Cup cars did not take to the track until after 4 p.m. and that session, too, was delayed after California's Brad Noffsinger hit the inside retaining wall in the backstretch.
Green said the track is so fast drivers might not realize how fast they are going.
``The track surface is so smooth that every lap you run the faster you get,'' said Green, who needs to finish 22nd in Saturday's season-ending race to clinch the GN championship. ``You'll see better racing, I think. If I get into a heated battle, I'm going to back out of the heat a little bit.''
Judging from the first day of racing at Rockingham, it could be a long, hot weekend.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB