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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 23, 1994                   TAG: 9411230141
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PETTY PICKS HAMILTON AS DRIVER

Richard Petty has hired Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR's 1991 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, to drive the legendary No.43 Pontiac next season.

Hamilton, 37, replaces John Andretti, who is expected to join a new team being fielded by Michael Kranefuss and Carl Haas for 1995.

Hamilton is the fifth driver in No.43 since Petty retired in 1992. He'll aim to please where Jimmy Hensley, Rick Wilson and Wally Dallenbach Jr. could not. Andretti succeeded Dallenbach in late August and Petty had hoped to re-sign him, but the rookie apparently was wooed away.

Hamilton, who left Felix Sabates' team, has 96 Winston Cup starts, eight top-10 finishes and $1,275,000 in career earnings.

Hamilton was at Petty's Level Cross, N.C., shop Tuesday helping crew chief Robbie Loomis get his seat installed in the Pontiacs being prepared for January testing at Richmond and Daytona.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB