Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503140044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Friday was Chevy day at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
A cluster of Chevrolet Monte Carlo drivers, led by reigning Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt captured the top five starting positions in Sunday's Purolator 500, with Earnhardt setting an event record of 185.077 mph.
Earnhardt's speed fell short of the track record of 185.830 mph set by Greg Sacks last fall, but it showed that NASCAR's efforts to reduce the speeds here with spoiler and air dam changes had minimal impact.
``For whatever reason, I don't know, they want to slow down,'' Earnhardt said of NASCAR. ``This is a race. We're down here to race. They built this race track to go through the corners fast, and if they don't want them to go that fast through the corners, then have 'em go down the straight and turn left and turn left like on a road course.
``This is a race track to race on, and I think they should let `em race. If they don't want to race, if they don't want to take the chance, then I'll stay home.''
Earnhardt not only wants NASCAR to leave the speeds alone, he wants track owner Bruton Smith to leave the track alone. Smith plans to flip-flop the front and back straights, possibly as early as next year.
``I like the race track. I like the layout,'' Earnhardt said. ``Bruton don't need to change it. He needs to leave the race track alone. It's nice. It's perfect. It's smooth. It's black. They don't need to change anything about the track - just build more grandstands and leave the track alone.''
And for that matter, he wants NASCAR to leave the Fords alone, despite the apparent Chevy dominance.
``I don't see a problem there,'' he said. ``Once the race gets started, you'll see more of a blend of Fords and Chevys up front.''
But for the start of Sunday's race, the closest a Ford will be to the front is the outside of the third row, which Ricky Rudd secured after having the sixth fastest qualifying run at 183.644 mph.
``We won our class,'' Rudd said.
Earnhardt barely won the pole. Bobby Labonte's lap of 185.046 mph was less than a tenth of a mile per hour slower.
``I know where I could have got a little more out of it,'' Labonte said.
But Earnhardt said he had a little speed left, too.
``I just felt like the track was loosening up a little bit and I was a little careful getting into [turn] 1. And I didn't run as deep as I could have in 3. We were carefully comfortable.''
Jeff Gordon was third-fastest at 184.454 mph, followed by Darrell Waltrip at 184.311 mph and last Sunday's winner, Terry Labonte, at 183.718 mph.
Starting behind Rudd in sixth will be Sterling Marlin in another Chevy at 183.625 mph, Derrike Cope in a Ford at 183.570 mph, Bobby Hamilton in the fastest Pontiac at 183.509 mph and Dick Trickle in a Ford at 183.466 mph.
Meanwhile, rookie Steve Kinser received a kiss on the cheek from team manager Richard Broome after turning in the 22nd fastest lap and all but assuring himself a non-provisional starting spot in Sunday's race.
``He'll come around,'' Broome said. ``Now, if I can just get the media to quit throwing rocks at him.''
Others weren't so happy.
Among the 48 drivers who attempted to qualify, drivers outside the top 38 included Jimmy Spencer (40th), Kyle Petty (43rd), Michael Waltrip (44th), Ward Burton (46th) and Kenny Wallace (47th). Wallace's speed of 174.004 mph was more than 11 miles per hour slower than Earnhardt's speed.
These drivers will have the opportunity to requalify during a second round of time trials at 11 a.m. today.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB