
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 22, 1994                   TAG: 9411160082
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ED HARDIN LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ROCKINGHAM, N.C.                                 LENGTH: Medium

AC DELCO 500 TO LOSE 100 LAPS

The Five Hours of Rockingham, one of the longest days in all of stock car racing, will be cut back by about an hour next year when the AC Delco 500 becomes the AC Delco 400.

NASCAR announced the change in distance Friday morning, much to the pleasure of drivers, crews and race-day personnel who have long held that a 500-mile race at the North Carolina Motor Speedway is just too long.

``We think it's a really good move,'' Winston Cup points leader Dale Earnhardt said. ``A couple of the newer races we've added to the schedule have been along these lines, and we've proven this type of length doesn't take away from the quality of the racing we have here. It adds to it.''

The change will affect the fall race only. The Goodwrench 500 held each February will retain its extra 100 miles.

PETTY JOB SEARCH: Richard Petty has learned that he indeed will need to find a replacement for John Andretti in 1995.

Sources said that Andretti, who took over the STP Pontiac ride earlier this season, has agreed to run for the new Kranefuss-Haas Ford team in 1995, a deal which will include an Indy car arrangement for the Indianapolis 500. Andretti plans to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day, a feat he pulled this past May.

Petty, sources said, will begin his search immediately. Among those drivers likely to be looking for work in 1995 are Jimmy Hensley, Hut Stricklin, Bobby Hillin and Busch drivers Ricky Craven and Randy Lajoie. High Point's Bobby Labonte will remain with Bill Davis and the Ford team now sponsored by Maxwell House. Davis has a new sponsor for 1995.

LIGHTENING THE LOAD: NASCAR will add a mandatory 100 pounds to all Busch Grand National cars in 1995 and take 100 pounds off the Winston Cup cars.

NASCAR hopes to make the two divisions more equal in weight standards, thus making the move easier for those running both circuits or for those moving from one to the other.

The 100 pound-difference for Winston Cup cars is also for safety reasons, NASCAR said. The lighter cars will create fewer G forces in corners as the Winston Cup speeds increase at almost every track on the tour, and impacts will be lessened, the sanctioning body said.

All teams will be required to use roof flaps - designed to keep cars from flipping upside down - at all NASCAR tracks in 1995.

by CNB